Can I call myself a "Triathlete," now?

I did it!

All that training, excitement, and nervous anticipation came to a head for me on Saturday morning as I competed in my very first (but certainly not my last) triathlon, The Loggerhead Triathlon in Jupiter, FL. 

Disclaimer: Despite all the nerves, the training, and the exhaustion, this race was merely a warm up.  My "Real" race - the one I have circled on the calendar, the one I have been raising money for, and the one that will definitely push me out (way out) of my comfort zone, is still 5 weeks away.

From today.

Eek!
Five weeks to double the distance I just swam, biked and ran?

Okay, people, I can do this.  Of course I can!  I just did it (sort of).
Saturday's race was what is called a sprint distance - this was a 3/8 mile swim, a 13 mile bike, and a 3.1 mile run. I did it, and survived to tell the tale.  The weather was perfect, the sunrise gorgeous, and all my nerves vanished as soon as I hit the water.
I certainly didn't break any course records, but I had a blast, and (more importantly) I am feeling great today - no soreness.   Obviously I didn't push myself hard enough (right, Coach?) because I should feel some soreness today.  Going over my results, I am pleased but I know what I need to work on for next time.  Mostly what I feel right now is pure exhiliration!  I loved this race, and you can tell how much fun I was having from my photos:

Running out of the water after my swim

Getting ready to hop on my bike

Finishing strong!
(Don't pay any attention to that clock
My actual race time was 1:38:17)

I remember smiling a lot during this race.  Is that weird?  I was so happy to be actually competing, and feeling strong!  I kind of felt cheesy to be grinning at all of the others, some of whom did not look too happy to be racing, but I seriously couldn't help it.

I now have five weeks to get myself ready for an Olympic distance race... a 1 mile swim, a 25 mile bike, and a 6.2 mile run.
Eek!
I am looking forward to next weekend's workout with a little fear and trepidation.  I have a sneaky feeling that Coach Lisa was just toying with us so as not to push the Loggerhead Tri Team too far.  Now that only the Nation's Tri Folks are left, I am preparing for boot camp!
See, we had about 20 people on our triathlon team for Team in Training.  Most of the team was training for the Loggerhead Triathlon.  Now that race is over, there are only eight of us left who have signed up to go the distance for the Nation's Triathlon, both in fundraising and training. 

I know that I can do this.

I've even signed up for my NEXT triathlon... another sprint distance race in Lake Worth at the end of September.  This one is on my own, no support from the Team.  I think I have been bitten by the Tri-bug!

Why Team in Training Rocks...
Part of the Team in Training tradition is the pre-race pasta party.  Here's where we fuel up, get a last-minute pep talk, some coaching advice, and most importantly, remember why we signed on that dotted line to begin with.  While we were getting situated in the dining area, a slideshow was playing on the screen in the room.  On the screen were photos of all of our Team's heros  all of whom have been diagnosed with a blood cancer.  I saw photos of moms, dads, brothers, nieces, children, and friends - some are in remission, some are still fighting, and some have passed on. 
In all of that pre-race excitement it's easy to get selfish and forget about that.   It's easy to forget the real reason we are wearing the teal and purple on race day - not just because it looks cool (it does, believe me!), but to spread the word and to let everyone know why you are racing. 
Here comes the pitch...
To those of you who have donated to my fundraising effort (whether it be money, time, items for the auction, or baked goods): Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
If you haven't yet donated, but still want to, please do, but call or e-mail me first.  Several of my teammates have not raised their minimum amounts and since all the money goes to the same place, and to the same wonderful cause, I'd like you to consider helping them reach their goals by donating on their fundraising webpages. I am truly blessed to have such a generous network of friends and family, and it's only fair to spread the wealth.

Before Saturday's race, I wrote my hero's name (Kim) on my bracelet and I had a photo of her pinned to my back.  During my race, many folks cheered for us - it felt good to hear, "Go Team!" and to know they were talking to you.  During the run, when I was losing steam, someone yelled at me while I was passing them, "Go Team! Stay strong for Kim!"  That was the burst I needed to finish strong and whoop it up as I crossed that line.
So, since my next race is a longer distance, I thought it would be nice to have some extra inspiration.  For those of you reading this, if someone in your life has been diagnosed with a blood cancer (Leukemia, Lymphoma, Hodgkin's Disease, or Myeloma), please e-mail me their name and a photo (if you have one).  I want to add them to my list of honored heros.  I'll need all the inspiration I can get to get through those 32.2 miles.
Thanks.

Home Again, Home Again...

I've been home exactly four days, we are unpacked, laundry is done, grocery shopping complete (as if that could ever happen), and we are all back to work and camp just like we never left.
Well, except for the memories...

View of Niagara Falls from our hotel!

And the photos...
(and the extra 5 pounds I seem to have picked up)

We arrived in Buffalo, picked up our luggage and a rental car, and headed straight for the border.  Once in Canada we checked into our hotel (Marriott Fallsview - I highly recommend it!), opened the curatins, and this is what we saw...
Upon realizing that the view pretty much has a permanent rainbow, Isabella declares Niagara Falls her favorite place.  Of course, she found many favorite places during our 12 day trip.

Running along the Falls

Nigara Falls is truly magnificent.  I could not stop staring, and taking photos, and pointing the view out to everyone else.  I was determined to keep up with my training while on vacation, so on the second day, I set out to run along the Falls Scenic Route.  I ran for about an hour,  but didn't log many miles, because I had to keep stopping to marvel at the view, and take more pictures.  Seriously, how could you not stop and gawk when THIS view was in the picture?
In any case, I had a lovely run and just when I was getting a little warm, the mist (the cold mist) would blow my way and cool me off.  It was great!

After a full day of touring, it was time to head back to the good old US of A to get ready for phase two of our trip... Sarah and Joe's wedding! We have been waiting for this event for years, and it truly paid off!  Every bit of the weekend was just perfect - the hotel - gorgeous! The rehearsal dinner - delicious! The chapel - adorable and perfect! The wedding reception - one of the BEST ever!  The weather - well, let's not talk about the weather... rain on your wedding day is good luck, right?

Here's some of my favorite photos from the wedding...

 

We had a great time with friends and family.  It was wonderful to see my sister, Valerie and Isabella had a great time with her cousin James.   We can't wait for his baby brother to be born! 

After Buffalo, we went to Hershey Park, where Isabella tried to set several speed records for her age class on the roller coasters.  This kid is an adrenaline junkie (just like her dad!); if she was tall enough, they got in line to ride!  I don't have any photos of Isabella on any of these coasters, because while she and Ray were riding, I was busy pacing on the ground and my hands were too shaky to focus the camera; plus they were going too fast!

After all that excitement, we were ready to slow down a bit and went to Rhode Island to visit Grandma and Grandpa Welch.  We had a lovely and relaxing time at their summer home and spent many hours on Grandpa's sailboat, Tranquility.  Isabella even got to try her hand at steering and coiling the lines!  She was most impressed with the fact that the boat had a "house" on it, and spent much of her time below deck, trying out the berths, eating snacks from the galley, and visting the head several times.  She remarked that the only thing missing was a TV! 

So, after 12 days away, I managed to log only 7 miles running, maybe half a mile swimming, and approximately 30 minutes on an excersize bike in one of the hotels.  Pathetic, huh?  I have my first real triathlon this weekend in Jupiter and I am a little (okay, a LOT) nervous.  I did manage to do a little training this week to make sure everything was still working.  So far, so good.  The race is only a sprint, so I'm not worried about the distances (700 yd swim, 13 mile bike, 3.1 mile run).  I know I can do it, so I'm not sure what I'm nervous about.  I just hope I will be able to relax enough to enjoy it.  The forecast is for sunny skies and smooth seas.  I hope there are a few clouds in the sky, though.  That South Florida sun is brutal!

I'm going to pack my race bag now.  I have a handy checklist provided by my coach and she put everything on this list!  Tomorrow night is the pre-race pasta party (gotta load up on carbs), and then I will check into my room at the lovely Jupiter Beach Resort.  Mom, Isabella, and I decided that we'd rather stay in a hotel that is a 5 minute walk from the race, than have to deal with a 45 minute drive at 5:00 in the morning.  Honestly, I didn't want to have the added pressure of dragging a very sleepy and very cranky almost six-year-old out of bed on my list of pre-race responsibilities!

I'll check in when I finish!

Whoo-Hoo!!

Yea, that's right: Whoo-Hoo!

On so many levels.

First of all... I made my fundraising minimum!  That's right!  $3500.00 in the bank (well, actually in LLS's bank - but you know what I mean).
Second... Mock triathlon: Rocked it! Swim, bike, run... DONE!
Third... I'm going on va-ca-tion, I'm going on va-ca-tion!

What is there to not be happy about?

I am so relieved to see that fundraising meter go all the way to the top.  I had no idea how heavily this was hanging over my head, but once I finished, I felt that huge weight just float away.  I think that I was more stressed about raising the money than I was about the actual event.  You see, I can control how hard I train, and how early I get up, and how long I am willing to stay out there.  I have no control, however on whether or not people are willing to donate money to help me out. 
Well, you all came through, and then some!  The fundraising at work was very time consuming, but very, very worth it.  I earned nearly $1000 just from donations at work (silent auction, bake sale, pizza party, pancake breakfast)!  The rest came from family and friends, and friends of friends who wanted to help out. 
I am humbled by your generosity
.
Now... about that mock triathlon.
As far as my nerves were concerned, was nothing "mock" about it.  Butterflies in my stomach? Well, they were more like gigantic bats flying around and gnawing at me from the inside.  Normally I can barely eat before a race, even though I know I need the fuel.  I have to force myself to choke down an energy bar of some sort in the car, and pray it stays put.  This time I decided to take the sage advice of a teammate and get up a little earlier and eat first thing - before my stomach had the chance to get nervous.  Eating a peanut butter and honey sandwich followed by a banana was not really what I wanted to be doing at 4:30 AM, but it worked! 
We got to the beach and registered, they told us where to set up, and I began pulling the mountains of gear from my car.  Swim cap, goggles, towel, socks, bike shoes, bike, water bottles, bandana, bike helmet, sunglasses, energy gel, running shoes, running hat...
Somewhere in the midst of my preaparations, I noticed my Mom and my cousin, Nancy had arrived to cheer me on.  I got such a happy feeling seeing them there. Even though this wasn't a real race, I was so touched that they got up at the crack of dawn to come out and support me.

Whoa.  Did anyone see how big those waves are? Yikes! After some discussion on the safety of sending a bunch of newbies out into 4' waves, the professional lifeguard on our team went out for a test swim.  He proclaimed the water safe, but choppy, with no rip currents, and we were off! 
The swim was a challenge, but I was happy to finish towards the front of the pack.  We hit the beach running, and headed back for our bikes. 
I tried desperately to remember everything... goggles and swim cap off, dry feet, no, wait, rinse off sand, then dry feet, socks on, bike shoes, bandana (sweat rag), bike helmet, sunglasses... walk bike to pavement, get on (ick, squishy wet bike shorts), suck it up, clip shoe in, go!
Whoops, red light. 
Unclip shoe, stop, wait, get a drin... no, green light! Clip shoe! Pedal! Ahh, hill! Another red light! Unclip shoe! Stop, oh, I can make a right on red - duh.  Clip shoe, Go Go GO!
After a few false starts, I was off!  Of course everyone who was with me out of transition made it through the light that I got stopped at, so they had a few minutes head start, but I was up to speed quickly and cruising along at my happy 17-18 mph. All of the training and drills has really paid off - I felt good on my bike - really good!  I drank my first water bottle, and managed (without stopping) to switch it out for a fresh one.  And to think a few short weeks ago, I could barely switch gears!
After the bike comes the run.  Walk bike to tree (rack), balance bike, helmet off, ick, sweaty bandana off, dry face, bike shoes off, running shoes on, visor on head, grab gatorade bottle, go! - Go! - Um? Legs? Go! Hello? The legs finally agreed to go and we were off (again).  It was only a 2 mile run, but I got a stitch in my side like I have never felt.  Owowowow!  I tried walking, stretching, deep breathing, ignoring it, nothing was working.  A fellow runner suggested poking myself in the side where the pain was - I thought he was crazy, but tried it.  What do you know?  It worked!  It probably just took my mind off of it, but whatever.
I finished in 1:10:39 - is that good? average? abysmal?  I have no idea as I have nothing to judge it against.  I was happy to finish, and even happier to see my whole family waiting for me at the end.  Mom, Ray, Isabella, and Nancy - how lucky am I?

As for the vacation, well, we leave in a few days.  Going to a wedding in Buffalo, then off to Canada, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island.
I... Can't... Wait!
Most of the preparations are in place - housesitter prepped, mail stopped, house clean, laundry done...
I'll try and post from the road.  I hope to get in some miles in the hotel gyms and pools, because I have my first real triathlon a week after we get back!

July, part Two

Well, how about that? I needed some time to focus on things at home, and I got it.  Not exactly the way I planned, though.
Today I am stuck (yes, stuck) at home with a child so desperate to get out of the petting zoo at camp today that first she made herself sick to her stomach (literally), and then had leg cramps so bad she lay on the floor crying for at least 30 minutes until I finally caved.  Really? Fear of mobile petting zoos - I wonder what the clinical diagnosis of that is?
And, no, it has nothing to do with Yoda.  Keep reading for the Jedi reference.
I am fortunate to be able to get a lot of work done from home.  I am very connected to my office, so I have been able to call in to two different meetings, keep up with my e-mail, and read and edit a report.  I have been able to do this in silence because when one is home sick from camp or school, the one hour of TV allotment runs out very quickly.  Isabella has been very busy doing puzzles, coloring, and working in her reading workbooks.  I guess on some level that is better than a mobile petting zoo?
Anyway... Fundrasing for my race just keeps getting better.  I am fortunate to work in a department with approximately 130 others.  We basically had a captive audience for the silent auction, bake sale, pizza party, and tomorrow is a pancake breakfast.  Two of my co-workers are also racing for Team in Training, so we have been splitting the profits.  As of today, I am at 68% of my fundraising goal.  I have two months to go before my race.  I'm feeling pretty good!
This weekend's workout was tough, but good.  We had a substitute coach; and it was certainly different to go from one coaching style to another.  I'm sure that he is a very good coach, but I am looking forward to getting Lisa back! 
Next week we are racing in a mock triathlon at Lake Worth Beach.  This will be the first time we will be able to put all three disciplines together and actually swim, bike, and run on the same day!  I am really looking forward to this.  It will be nice to put everything together without the pressures of an actual race.

I am most excited about trying out my new mad skills on my bike.  After weeks of leg cramps and sore feet, I have finally accepted my fate and bought bike shoes (gasp!).  Yes, the scary (and ugly) shoes that attach directly to your pedals, making you one with the bike.  For some reason, these are called clip-less pedals.  That doesn't really make sense, because the shoes attach to the pedal by clipping in.  Can anyone explain this to me?  It doesn't matter what they're called, because I call them the scary shoes.  But I am happy to report that my first ride went without incident.  I did not fall, mostly because I was determined not to - I'm pretty sure I had to use the Force at least once to stay upright.  I have watched many of my teammates fall, usually while at a stop sign.  The only thing they hurt was their pride; but of course the new coach had to scare us all with tales of broken elbows and shattered hips, all from falling at a stop sign (gee, thanks). 

One amazing story from this weekend involves one of my teammates.  She has been struggling, but determined, on the bike and I finally found out why.  SHE JUST LEARNED TO RIDE. 

Seriously. 

In March. 

Now I feel like a total tool for calling myself names, and complaining about feeling unsteady on my bike.  I joke around, but I have known how to ride a bike since I was 6 (not that I was any good).  My learning curve was a tiny wiggle compared to hers, and she will not give up.

Well, neither will I. 

Do or do not... there is no try.

I'll check in after Saturday's "Mock" race, hopefully.

July, Part one

Yes, I know, it's been quite some time since I've checked in.  I don't know why I can't manage to keep more up to date with this blogging thing - I really do have lots to tell you all!
I'll start with July 4th weekend...
As you may remember, this was a big weekend for me.  Our first ocean swim as a team, and the 4th is (was?) my Dad's birthday.  I knew this would be a big weekend, both physically and emotionally. 
In any case, we met at Lake Worth Beach (coincidentally, my folks' favorite beach) bright and early on Saturday the 3rd.  We even found parking!
After an inspirational message and some swimming tips from Coach Lisa, we were ready to hit the water.  It looked pretty good to me - nice rolling waves, and crystal clear visibility.  Some of our team mates started to get a little nervous, but Lisa had brought along lots of help in the way of extra coaches and experienced triathletes to act as lifeguards.  The idea was to swim out to the first bouy (about 200 yds from shore), swim along the shoreline to the next one (maybe 300 yds away), and back to shore. 
It... Was... Great!!
I finally felt like a natural at something.  The ocean really is my home.  I still don't know how I can possibly get seasick on top of the ocean, when I feel so good anytime I'm in or under the water. 
I got to the beach, and looked around for everyone, and realized that most of the team was still swimming.  How about that?  I finished in the first wave of something, finally!
We repeated the swim out, swim down, swim back pattern three more times, and by the end most of the team had shaken off their fears of drowning, sharks, jellyfish, or whatever was getting in their way and we more or less all finished at the same time.  It felt so good, and I am getting very excited about the actual race.  After the swim, we all went to John G's for breakfast, where we proceeded to eat them out of inventory.  Not really, but we were very hungry!  We talked about a fundraising bowl-a thon and some other ideas.  They all sound like fun to me!

Sunday was the bike ride, and the weather looked bad - thunderstorms were forecast all day.  I mentioned in my last blog that I was going to ask my Dad to help us out with the weather, and he sure did!  It stopped raining shortly before we got to Boynton Beach (our starting point).  During the ride, it was cloudy, but never rained - the sun never came out either - perfect weather for a 30 mile bike ride in July!  Thanks, Dad!
I have overcome most of my fears on the bike, and at the urging of my friends, have stopped making fun of myself - I mostly do it for laughs, but you know that, right?
I do have one very funny story, though...
Because it was a Sunday, Ray and Isabella were going to church at 10:00.  I knew I wouldn't make it, but helped Isabella pick out a blue dress and I told her she could wear a temporary tattoo (a glittery American flag) to church since it was the 4th (and Papa Jim's birthday).  All her clothes (and her tattoos) were laid out neatly on her dresser the night before.
I left for the ride, knowing that they were all set to go, but sort of wishing I could go too.
During our bike ride, we seperated into two groups - 1) The faster, more experienced group and 2) The less fast group.  Actually we were three groups: I started in group 1, but quickly dropped into group 1a) The wants to be faster, but can't quite keep up at 20 mph group. 
I was holding steady between 17 and 18 mph, not really minding being alone, enjoying my workout.  Coach Lisa stayed with me most of the way, which was very nice.  We turned around somewhere on Palm Beach, and as we were headed back, my phone started to ring. Normally I would ignore my phone, but the ringtone told me it was Ray.  I got concerned, because he knew I had a long ride planned, and would only call in an emergency.  I yelled ahead to Lisa and told her I had to answer my phone.  I pulled off the road and answered.
Me: (expecting Ray) "Hi, what's wrong?"
Bella: (sniff) "Mommy?!"
Me: "Isabella, what's the matter?"
Bella: (sob) "I need another flag tattoo!"
Me: (silently counting to 10)
Bella: "Mommy?"
Me: "Yes, Isabella, I'm here.  I'm in the middle of a very long bike ride. This isn't really an emergency.  Why did you call me?"
Bella: (more sobbing) "I wrecked it!"
Me: "You wrecked what?
Bella: "My tattoo!  I need another one!"
Me: (trying not to lose my temper) "Oh, honey, you wrecked your tattoo?  Where's Daddy?"
Bella: "He's in the bathroom!" (continued sobbing)
Me: (counting to 10, again) "Please put Daddy on the phone."
Now, the whole time, I could only imagine what was going through Lisa's mind.  Probaly something along the lines of, Who lets a five year old have a cell phone and get a tattoo?
In the meantime, Isabella barges into the bathroom and sobbing loudly, gives the phone to Ray.
(Now, there's a visual you didn't need!)
Ray: "Hello?"
Me: "What is going on?"
Ray: "I don't know, I was getting in the shower.  Why is she crying?"

And to think I was so happy when she learned my cell phone number...
Ever the Superhero, Ray managed to save the day (and the tattoo), and off to church they went.
Crisis resolved, I now had to convince my legs that they were not finished, and still had ten miles left to bike.  My legs disagreed, but eventually I won that battle.
As we pulled into the parking lot, the fast people were waiting for us, and of course I had to tell them why we were late.  Much merriment ensued (at my expense).
Lesson learned: cell phones and tattoos are not for five-year-olds.
More stories to come... As soon as find the time to blog again!

Stories of Hope

That's really what this is about, right?
Hope.  Faith.  Perserverance.
(Sorry, no funny stories about me scaring myself to death on the bike today.)

It is amazing and humbling, the journey I have embarked upon. 
I am so over committed, it's almost funny.
(almost)
When I think about the challenge I have taken on, I wonder what the heck I was thinking about when I signed that dotted line.
And then, I get a story e-mailed to me like this one.  It tells the amazing story of my co-worker's brother, Scott Dameron, and his battles; first with lymphoma, then with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.  It turns out that her son is also battling cancer. 
So are several co-workers' fathers.
Then I found out about someone else's sister, and cousin, and friend...

Just about everyone in my Training group has a similar story.  Some race in honor (or memory) of the same person every time, others have a list of honored heros a mile long.  My coach dedicates every mile of her races to a different hero.
Some of us just joined the Team in order to meet a new personal challenge, and to have someone coach you through it.  Others join because their race of choice is sold out, and racing with Team in Training is the only way to get in.

It doesn't really matter, though.  We're all racing for a cure.

I have met half of my fundraising goal, but still have a way to go.  We have several fundraisers planned at my office, so the next few weeks are going to be full of bake sales, pizza parties, and a pancake breakfast.  Hopefully that gets us where we need to be, financially speaking.

This weekend, we start our open water swim (yay!).  I have been saying all along that I should have no problems with that - and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I'm not all talk!

This weekend, I dedicate to my Dad.  He would have been 66 on Sunday (July 4th).  Hopefully he'll put a word in with the Man Upstairs for good weather, flat seas, and empty roads as I swim, bike, and run my way around Palm Beach County.

Breakthrough! (and a Happy Father's Day message)

I am feeling good, people!  That's right!  Here's me doing my happy dance!
It's been a while since my last update, so I am sorry for the one of you who is following my blog, and the rest of you who may be secretly following my blog, but not putting your names down (is that stalking?).

Anyway, I think I can finally ride a bike!  I know you are probably tired of hearing me complain about something that we have all been able to do since grade school.  Well, all I have to say to that is: Pthbbbth!
I have come to terms with the skinny, wobbly tires, and the shifting gears, and the cars (and all the other riders) whizzing past me.

This girl has finally learned to ride a bike! 

Please do not confuse me with Lance Armstrong, or even any of those semi-professionals with their aerodynamic helmets and their integrated hydration systems, and their shoes attached to the bike, going the same speed as the cars on A1A... No, no, no, not even close!
But...
Last Sunday I rode 28 miles with the team and did NOT FINISH LAST!  I also did not collapse into bed when I finished.
On Thursday I rode 17 miles with a friend, and we averaged 18 mph.  I also (and this is huge) managed to get a drink from my water bottle while my bike was in motion!  Previously I was only able to drink when I was at a stoplight. 
I am actually looking forward to Sunday's ride.
For the first time, I think I am really going to be able to do this! Yay, me!
(Or, as my TNT webpage says, GO LEANNE!)
I think I am done bragging for now.
oh, wait, one more... I swam a mile this morning!  A real mile - not just I swam so many laps, I must have done a mile, mile.  A whole mile! Actually, I went a little further (1800 yds).
Now I'm sure I can do this!

My fundraising is going really well, better than I expected, actually.  I'm up to 41% of my goal - that's HUGE!  I sent out my letters to everyone in my address book, and I also sent them to my neighbors, and the area businesses we go to most.  Our favorite sushi restaurant sent me a nice big check the very next day (we eat there a lot)! 
Like my Dad used to say, "If you don't ask, you don't get." 
I asked, and so many of you have responded - thank you!

Speaking of Dad, it is Father's Day weekend. 
I miss my Dad all the time, but especially on days like today.  They probably don't celebrate Father's Day in heaven - it might get a bit confusing.  Or, maybe everyone just signs a card for God, and they leave it at that.

Anyway, to all the Dads that are here on Earth, Happy Father's Day!

And now, I have to give a shout out to my hubby, and his awesome feats of Fatherhood (I hope I don't embarrass him too much).
Last week he was in some airport, somewhere, as usual.  Isabella and I were driving home from the Marlins baseball game and she wanted to call her Daddy to tell him about the game and how much she missed him.  He was in the Admiral's Club, which is basically a VIP business travelers club with lots of big comfy chairs, desks, dataports, big screen TVs, a bar or two... you get the picture.  It's more or less a quiet, relaxing place for business travelers.
Isabella was telling Ray about her day and you could tell he was trying to keep his voice down, but she kept asking him to talk louder (which he did).  Then, at the end of the call, she blew him several loud kisses into the phone, and then requested hers back from him.  As I was driving, I was picturing my big, strong, handsome husband blowing loud, wet, mushy kisses into his cellphone in the middle of the Admirals Club, and I couldn't help but giggle and wonder how he was going to get out of that. 
Guess what?
He didn't even try to get out of it, but complied with her request. 
I could hear those kisses all the way in the front seat.
That's love.
Happy Father's Day, Ray - you are the best!
I know that I couldn't complete this training if you (and my mom) weren't willing to take up the slack at home.
Thank you