Last Tri of the Season

Saturday was my last triathlon of 2012 (or so I think as of right now). The season is basically over here in the Midwest and I need to get the workout calendars for Team Giacachers updated to work towards our next half-marathon coming up in January. But that's another blog for another time...

So the Olathe Women's Triathlon was on 9/8. Mom came up to cheer me on as Joe spent the weekend fishing in Arkansas. The weather was beeeeeeautiful. Couldn't have been any nicer or more calm. Perfect temps for a race.

Here's me getting my gear ready in transition.

My chain has been falling off and I wanted to take a look at it before hitting the road, so I spent a little time that morning riding around inside the transition area.

The lake was calm & peaceful. Last year they delayed the start while the steam burned off, but it was a little warmer this year - everything ran on time. It was about 60 degrees outside, but the water was a warm 82. No wetsuits allowed!

Getting ready for the swim. I was in the next to last age group heat, so I had a 35 minute wait from the official start of the race before my time to swim. By this time it had warmed up 5 or so degrees, but it was still nice to wade in for the standing start.

After the race they gave us a nice finisher's medal. Overall, my times weren't as fast as the last tri, but it was still a good time. Highly recommend this race.

Big thanks and much love to Mom for being my one-woman cheering section. She was everywhere on the course - I saw her during both transitions and a couple times during the run. Very motivational!

Jaco beach

Eating lunch at the beach on our way to Manuel Antonio.

Monteverde

After a boat ride and a very bumpy four wheel drive transfer, we made it to Monteverde cloud forest.
Today a hike in the morning and then relaxing in the pool at our hotel this afternoon. As I write this from the chair using the pool internet, Joe is hanging out in the pool with Sarah and Hank. Kat and Ryan are on the chairs next to me.

I love the giant leaves. We are on a hunt for the biggest ones we can find.

Joe enjoys the airplane plants.

Dinner second night

I think blogging while I have internet access and time is probably my best option, so here goes.
We're on our way to dinner at a SODA. I think it's some sort of Costa Rican diner.

Zipline

We are back from our tree top adventure.

La Fortuna, day 2

We spent most of yesterday traveling here. Two flights and a 3 hour car transfer, but it was completely worth it.

It is beautiful here. It is warm and  humid but feels more pleasant than home has lately. Plus, everything is green.
The top of  Arenal volcano was visible when we arrived, so we took pictures while we could.

Today we zipline and enjoy the hotel.

Here is Joe enjoying his breakfast.

Packing for Costa Rica

Vacation. Paid Time Off. Running away from home. Call it what you will, but the time has come for us to take a journey. Joe and I don't travel as much now as we did in our pre- and early married days, back when we were both working at the firm. We had numerous days off there and less responsibilities. We were not owners of a dog day care. Things were different then, but not better. Because of this though, we haven't been on a big trip in at least a year if not two. Until tomorrow. Because tomorrow we leave for...

Costa Rica!

Yay! With our friends Katrina & Ryan Wymore and Hank Crowder & Sarah Patterson, we are taking to the open road. Well, not so much the open road, but definitely to the open air, and down to Central America. Back in 2011 we discussed the idea of taking a big trip all together. Many destinations were optioned, and we decided on Costa Rica in August 2012. It is close, but not too close, it will be adventurous, but not too adventurous, and we could book it all together as a private tour. Exciting!

We leave tomorrow morning. Joe and I are approximately 40% packed - and by packed I mean that we've laid stuff out all over the house and made numerous lists. 

This does not count as being packed:

Neither does this:

That suitcase is new and completely empty.

But soon it will be full and we will be 100% packed and on our way to adventure, fun, sand, sun, volcanoes, rainforests, cloudforests, and fab memories with our best friends.

See you in 10 days!

Dogs in the Workplace

I'm traveling for work again to St. Louis and the client I'm working at has "Cartoon Corners" up all over their office. They encourage the staff to post work appropriate jokes, cartoons, email forwards, etc. One of the items I found today in the breakroom was a poster of Dogs in the Workplace. Finding it hilarious, I thought I'd share. Enjoy!