Hey everyone! I'm still here.  :O) Have been very busy lately between triathlon training and keeping up with my own personal life so haven't had much time on the computer. Yesterday I biked 19.6 miles and today I swam a mile in 45 minutes. Also talked my hubby into playing some tennis with me.

I'm so excited to be participating in Team In Training to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society! I've met some wonderful people and am getting in shape... all for a good cause! I have some pledges from the doctors I work for and some fundraisers planned, but I still need help reaching my goal. If anyone would like to make a donation in my honor, please follow this link or send me a personal message. THANKS!!! :O)   http://pages.teamintraining.org/wa/lavatri09/aburns15jt

Here's me with two of my Teammates before our bike ride yesterday. It was funny that we all happened to be wearing matching jerseys. It was a little cloudy out :O)

What a day! Started quite early to get to the voting polls. My local one opened at 7am and I got there 10-15 minutes early. By 7am the line was out the door!

Work was pretty busy. This evening I went to the new gym (didn't wear the pedometer there). It was nice to lift some weights. Might even be a little sore tomorrow. The best part was sitting in the hot tub afterwards. :O)

Came home to find that our new president has been announced. :O) Still waiting to see if the governor I voted for is elected... so far she's 2% ahead... too close.

Here's a picture of some storm clouds this evening. Taken from my work... so beautiful!

Jumped on the treadmill for 45 minutes this morning and got about half of my day's steps. Work was a nice easy day. Dinner with my friend was fantastic. She is doing so well after her big ordeal (husband in ICU for a few weeks).

Tried to go to bed early but didn't sleep well... Looking forward to being done with the Prednisone medication, 2 more days!

Here's a picture of the outdoor pool I did laps in on Sunday. :O) Can't wait to do it again!

Never put my pedometer on today but wouldn't have gotten too many steps anyways. Had two fantastic things happen to me today! :O) First; my husband and I got a membership at an aquatics/athletic club. I got to swim laps for half an hour in an OUTDOOR pool!!!! The pool was heated and the weather mild enough to make it an enjoyable stint of exercise. :) The club has great indoor and outdoor pool schedules, tennis courts, a gym, and lots of classes... and cheaper than the gym we were at previously! I did 50 lengths in the pool.... 20 more and I would have swam a mile! ;)

Second, a friend of mine finally called me back! Her husband almost died a few weeks ago after serious complications during emergency surgery for pancreatitis. Last time I talked to her he was still unconscious, in intensive care, and had a feeding tube. Today she told me that he is well and just has to pass a few more tests before he can return to work in a week or two. I've been so worried for my friend! I can't even tell you the relief I felt when she called!!! I'm meeting her for dinner and wine tomorrow to catch up. :O) I could jump up and down right now!

Here's a mug shot of me from this July. Just something different. :O)

What a day! Started it off by heading into downtown Seattle for some breakfast, window shopping, and walking. Feeling a little tired and hung over today. :P

Here's the BIG NEWS: My hubby went with me to the Team In Training "Kick-off" event and ending up joining the Team too!!!!! He's going to raise funds, train for, and participate in a cross country ski event in Alaska next March. I can't believe it! I've tried so hard to push him / lead him to get more healthy... but now he has something to do for himself. I really have a good feeling about this! I am so excited to start training and ultimately finish my first triathlon!!

Here's a picture I took last week during a break at work. I was appreciating the lovely colors even on a dreary rainy day. :O)

Had a great time tonight out on the town with my hubby. I dressed as a black witch and he was the devil in a nice suit. ;) I actually wore my costume to work and got tons of compliments. Ate and drank way toooo much, but had a blast on my date! :)

Went back to work today and it was a pretty easy day. Skipped my exercise this morning.. Training for the triathlon starts next week and I'm actually really looking forward to it. Still feeling cruddy today and hating the side effects of the medicine. I'll make it through! Better days are coming!! :O)

Here's a picture of my prize from Curves after I completed the "Quest" challenge last month. It was this or a pink bag. :P

Stayed home from work again. I did end up going to the pool for about half an hour with my husband this evening. I love being in the water! :) By the evening my ear wasn't hurting any more so hopefully I can return to life as normal tomorrow. (Oh, and I never even put on the pedometer today.) :(

Confession: I went to McDonalds for a late night junk food meal (after swimming). I blame this on the prednisone which gives me the munchies. :P Gotta show more self control if I want to loose weight and have a decent finish in my triathlon!

Here's a picture I took with my Iphone... trying to be artsy ;)

Didn't actually wear the pedometer today so this is a token number. . . I actually called in sick to work. My ear and the lymph nodes on the right side of my head are still swollen and sore and I felt like my immune system could use a day or two of rest. Honestly I am getting a little nervous as to why they have been inflamed for so long (for most of 10 months, some days worse than others). Doc started me on the prednisone today so hopefully that will help.

Back to my steps... walked half an hour on the treadmill on an incline. Then spent a good portion of the day on the couch. Did get the bike out and went for an 11.5 mile ride. I LOVE MY NEW BIKE!!!! Also did some house work so that would have gotten some more steps.

This evening my husband and I went to "tech night" at one of our local motorcycle stores. We learned a little more about winter storage for the bikes and some basic maintenance.

Here's a picture of me and my new favorite sport. :O)

Did a lot of sitting around when I got home, but I did catch up on some computer stuff. HERE'S MY BIG NEWS: I've joined Team In Training and signed up for my first triathlon (March 29th in Hawaii). I'll be raising funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I have a pretty high goal so any help would be much appreciated. Here's a link to my TNT page: http://pages.teamintraining.org/wa/lavatri09/aburns15jt

Check it out and please send it along to anyone who may want to donate towards a good cause. I start training with my new team in one week and am so excited!!! I feel really good about making this commitment. I am working for a good cause, getting healthier, and having fun with people who have the same goals. I'll definitely keep everyone posted on my progress! Here's a link to my personal blog so you can see my great pictures from last week: http://www.amylynndesign.com/Site/Blog/Blog.html

The story about this picture is on my blog.

Skipped my treadmill walk this morning and ended up being too tired in the evening to do it. Nothing exciting today, just work and a few errands.

I have some big news to share, but will have to wait until tonight or tomorrow when I have more time. :)

Just wanted to let you know that I'm still here! Totally forgot my pedometer today. Walked 2 miles on the treadmill this morning and was super busy at work. Yesterday was mostly a lazy day. Did my Curves workout but stayed home from work. Got my annual physical and my 6 month teeth cleaning. Yippy. :P

Unfortunately I have an ear infection... probably why I've been tired and lacking motivation for the last week. Between that and the chronically inflamed lymph nodes around that ear, my doc has decided on aggressive treatment with 3 weeks of oral antibiotics followed by Prednisone. I also have ear drops to use. :(

Ah well, at least I live in the modern day where I can be treated and not have to suffer long. :) Hope all my walking comrades are doing well!

Here's a picture of some roses I took last weekend at the Pike Place Market. Has anyone ever seen multi-colored roses before??? I wonder if they died a white rose or somehow genetically manipulated the rose to grow that way. Either way, I'm pretty impressed. :O)

Nothing real exciting to note today. Here's a picture of me and a friend taken at my last party (after a few too many drinks).  :O)

cool number! :P Not a real exciting day. Here's a picture of my father-in-law and his brother. :O) Already looking forward to Thanksgiving!

Got home and ended up spending most of my evening in front of the tv. :( But in my defense, it was in fact "important tv." :P The presidential debate and then the WA state governor debate. I was more interested in the second one because I'm really having a hard time deciding who to vote for next month for our state.

Had another good day at work. I'm pretty much happy to be doing anything other than training. :O) Today's picture is what I saw when turning into my driveway/street on the way home from work. I really love the place I live!!!

Yeay! I broke 10k today. :O) That's with the treadmill this morning and a walk down town after work. I'm not sure how a person who works full time and commutes can get enough exercise every day... I guess I'll just have to get creative with finding ways.

Not a super fun day. Got stuck again with the student intern that I was training previously. He just doesn't get the computer and isn't the smartest guy around. It's seriously stretching my patience to continue working with him. But he's only got a week and a half left. I can make it!

Here's a picture of my kitty chowing down on some grass. My husband had to take it away from him and hide it in the fridge... Never knew a cat would get so excited for grass! :P

Well... guess I didn't start my "10k every day" campaign off too well. :O) I'll make up for it tomorrow.  Had a nice day at work scribing, and learning tons. Came home and cooked some Parmesan chicken with baked squash. Also made a salsa and didn't wash all the chili oil off my hands and managed to get it in my eyes. Ouch!

The highlight of my day was after lunch when I sat down for a few minutes by a waterfall fountain. I had the pleasure of seeing a tiny hummingbird stop by to take a bath. Here's a picture I attempted with my Iphone, but of coarse the little guy was too small and fast to be caught on camera.  :O)

Had a lovely day! Went walking with a friend and her dog then spent a little while visiting at her place. Then my hubby and I went for a nice ride on our motorcycles to enjoy the lovely Fall colors and country roads... getting a little too cold to ride now.

We went grocery shopping and stocked the kitchen full of healthy foods. I'm ready to get back on track after a lazy/stressful week last week. This week will be better!

I'm a little annoyed at myself/my pedometer today. I looked at it while walking and had about 9k steps on it. Looked at it when I got home and there were only 235! Somehow I had deleted it! So I just added 10k to the 1438 I did since this afternoon.

Here's my friend offering Rudy a c-o-o-k-i-e... have to spell it or else he goes bonkers... except now he's learning how to spell. :O)

Not as many steps as I had planned for today. Ah well. :P I still had a good time shopping at the local Farmers Market. Then shopping for our Halloween costumes. We also met some friends at a wine bar this evening. A really fun day!

My hubby ordered me a new omron pedometer today so he can have his back. I lost the belt clip so wasn't able to wear it on days when I wore pocket-less exercise clothes. Now I won't have any excuses. :) My new goal for the rest of this year is to get at least 10k steps every day. It won't be easy, especially on the weekends, but if I'm successful 80% of the time I'll still feel better.

Here's a link to my blog: http://www.amylynndesign.com/Site/Blog/Blog.html

This is a picture of Prince Colby Jack on my pillow next to the fire place. :)

These are Thursday's steps. Feeling a little crumby this week. Need to get back on track with diet and exercise.

On a more positive note, I now have my name on a silver star on the wall at my local Curves gym. (for loosing a few inches last month)   :O)