Wine Podcast

I have recently gotten into learning about wine. I have always had a passing interest about the various varietals of wine but I had never realized the complexity of the topic. As always, I started with searching iTunes for highly rated podcasts as a way to educate myself. I found an excellent one called "Wine for Normal People". Each episode discusses a topic or a type of grape, but does so in an easy to understand approach. This is not a pretentious podcast at all, it is designed for everyone to appreciate it.

I am trying to build up my wine cellar, lol. At this point we own about 8 bottles of moderately priced wine, some white and some red. I think it would be interesting to take a wine tour of Napa or Sonoma, or better yet Italy or France! Well, enough dreaming time for now, gotta get going on the weekly chores.....

Ironman 2012

Exciting news for this week! Me, Jackie, Brittany, and Tyler will be volunteering at the 2012 Ford Ironman in Lake Placid, New York. Last year we went to watch the event and I was very inspired. As a result we decided that this year we wold get more involved as a volunteer. We will be at one of the run aid stations, handing out fluids and such. We are all very excited for the summer to arrive so we can get going to this event!

So here is the kicker, once you volunteer you can then enter! It is very difficult to get into these events so one way to get in is to volunteer at a previous race. This gives you an entry into the following year's event. Can you say WOW. This puts a goal out there in front of me to think about. It is a long shot to think that I will be able to do this but it will be a motivating goal nonetheless.

I am still thinking WOW.

Mini Vacations!

Isn't travel fun? This week Jackie and I sent to London for a four day getaway. It was an overnight flight which was both good and bad. It was good that we didn't really lose any time traveling but it was bad that we didn't sleep and felt tired for most of the short trip. We had been there before but still had a list of things to do on this trip. They included a photo exhibit at the museum of Natural History, a trip to Hampton Court Palace, and a viewing of Mama Mia. We stayed at the Chancery Court Hotel in Holborn, which turned out to be very good. It was right beside a tube station and that is all you really need in London. We had a few good meals at good restaurants as well, including a French one in Covent Garden. Of course, we spent too much money as well!

Wouldn't it be great to be rich and just travel all the time? I wonder where we will go next, we tend to not venture to far off the beaten path. I would like to try somewhere in Asia Pacific at some point. Italy has always been on my list as well.

Eating is never controlled when traveling, that is the bad part. Tomorrow is weigh day and it won't be pretty at all. I did manage to get one workout in while in London as well as plenty of walking.

Back to Work

Well, it was a busy week. Holidays are over and it was time to start earning some money again. It was a busy week at work, and I was expecting it. I made some good progress on my goals as well.

On the home front we booked a mini vacation, for next week! We are going to London for a 4 day weekend. I have been there once before and it was fun, but expensive. We are staying at the Chancery Court hotel, which will be a new experience for us. We haven't planned the entire trip yet but it will include shopping and sightseeing and EATING.

So the EATING is the bad part, still having trouble with my weight. I just can't seem to drop the weight like I did last year. Of course, I will keep trying but the mini vacation will not help, I am sure of that. I did do all of my workouts this week, so that was a check in the positive column of life.

Have a safe week everyone!

Happy New Year!

Well the new year is upon us! What goals does everyone have planned for this year? If you don't set some goals you know you will never achieve them! Dream big! I have a few races on my goal list this year. I want to do more triathlons as well as beat my PB on the 1/2 Marathon distance. I have not picked out specific races to enter yet, but I will in the near future.

I also have a goal to win a lottery, I figure that will be an easy one to achieve though, no trouble there at all right?

In all seriousness, I want to do more traveling this year. This past year was focused on paying off debt so we didn't get away as much as I would have liked. Hopefully this year will be different.

And of course, I want to get back to my ideal weight of 170 lbs. I am not that far off it, but it will take lots of hard work to get those last few pounds!!

Have a great year everyone!