The great 2012 remodel

I thought an 8 year old house would be pretty current but according to many I am drastically wrong. Here's what needed updating:
Fireplace
Paint
Carpet
Entertainment center
Tv and stereo
Lockers in hallway instead of closet
Bookshelf in piano room.

$30k later. Here we are. House in shambles. Camping in the basement. Trying to find good ways to pay for it and be happy about the lost opportunity cost of that $30k.

I will say this. It really does look good. Nicole picked out great colors and the fireplace/entertainment center are first class.

So I will so my best to not think of the new airplane, car, or boat that is now a part of my home and simply enjoy my new abode.

Moab Triathlon

So I decided to run a triathlon. Just a sprint distance. Meaning...1/2 mile swim, 8 mile Mountain bike, and 5k run. Let's just say I was a tad out of my league.

For the swim... I came in 72nd place out of 74. But I did beat two swimmers. Hooray. Problem number 1: no wetsuit. It was 60 degree water temp. Not good for controlling your breathing. I was virtually the only one without a wetsuit. Problem number 2: wind. Blowing straight in my face on the final stretch. Not a great idea. Problem number 3: lack of training. I had trained for maybe a total of 3 hours in a pool. Never done an open water swim. Smart. Needless to say..I was cramping up, hanging on to rescue crew, and willing myself to finish the swim before I drowned.

The transitions were fine for my first time. The bike ride was extremely technical and I spent a lot of time walking the course. An old jeep trail called Steelbender. Very tough trail. But I finished in about the middle of the pack.

The run was tough too. Uphill to a waterfall, then back down and around Kens Lake. Running in sand the entire time. Finished in about the top 20%.

What an experience. Challenged me like I had never been challenged before and it taught me that procrastination and being unprepared can literally kill you.

The rest of the trip was a blast too. Hiking arches. Morning and evening bike rides on Slickrock trail. And Mike snorting BBQ sauce at the restaurant. Good stuff.

St John

The annual adults only trip to somewhere warm in the winter. This year: St John, USVI.

Absolutely stunning beaches and water. Snorkled every day. House was kind of a dump but it did the job. Food was pretty good but it was all bar/pub/grill food that was slowly killing us with calories and fat. We didn't have quite the navigational adventure like Costa Rica this time, but we did have an iguana in our pool, outdoor showers, skinny/steep/windy roads, and a mass mosquito migration that ate us alive one day. The rubber dingy rental was a kick, as was the power boat tour of the BVIs. Travis showed us a nice contrast between a purple sunburn and a celestially white butt, Teniel showed everyone her two friends that left the bikini top after a powerful wave, and I showed everyone my inability to manscape my armpits. Which I'm still defending as masculinity.

Overall it was a lot of fun as usual. Cinnamon Bay was the best beach. Willy T's the best floating restaurant and the soggy Dollar Bar was the epitome of Carribean relaxation. It's cold here. Why dont I live somewhere warm???