CRAPS!

In July Colorado gaming introduced higher stake limits which now allows for casinos here to have my all time favorite game, Craps!

It started innocently enough, meeting up with my RAGBRAI team members for FAC cocktails on Friday afternoon. Some where in the conversation I mentioned I was heading to Las Vegas in the near future for a friends wedding and my buddy said how much he enjoyed Craps, I replied “me too!”

After a few drinks we left the bar, hopped on the Ramblin Express and headed to Cripple Creek to test out the new higher stakes gaming laws, and test the craps dealer’s skillz.

It was obvious we were not in Vegas when the dealers seemed shocked to cash in $100 for chips and we started playing with $5 chips and not the $1, also when I was on a 30 minute roll, I noticed I had the pit boss, the casino manager and other big men watching every single roll of my dice. For the night we each walked out with a few hundred dollars than we came in with and apparently the casino bosses were not too pleased, at the same time there was nothing they could say or do, I was legit and I wasn’t making that much money.

Looking forward to my trip to Las Vegas where a hot roll on the tables gets you food and lodging comps, not dirty looks by old greasy men, and watered down cocktails.

How Much Information is Too Much?

This is something I struggle with. How much is too much to make public on a blog. I used to lightly think about this, but recently, after recent developements, I really don’t want everyone knowing where I can be found on any certain day. So forgive me if posts are about things I have done, versus things or places I intend to go. Which is a drag because there is a lot of exciting stuff coming up I REALLY want to write about…

So to my readers, I apologize, but I will remain in the blogosphere, for now…

When the Cats Away

The hands will play!

Puffy hands needed a little girl time this weekend.

Started with a fun car ride

Some shopping:













Cocktails

Dinner

Finally to top the weekend off with a ride

Getting My Head Around It All

I am doing a little calculation of my upcoming events:

In the next 8 weeks I have:

-Two marathon relays
-One Olympic distance triathlon
-PPRR Fall series starts (in which I will run 3 of the 4 races since there is a schedule conflict with the Denver Marathon)
-Great American Beer Festival (which well all know is a marathon of beer drinking, networking and socializing in itself)
-Venus De Miles Century Bike Ride (undecided)
-Trip to Las Vegas for Carl and Erin’s wedding (a marathon of drinking, gambling and all around debauchery)
-Sprinkle in a couple other 5K runs/races

Good times, Good times...

Breaking Up

Dear Sugar,

We have had a long term affair going on as you know, over 35 years to be exact. I am proud to say I am ready to let you go and move on.

When I was younger, it was a secret affair, my parents tried to keep you away from me as much as possible, but I snuck you in sodas and candy bars and holidays. You know, I always let you in when my mom and dad weren’t watching. As I became an adult you were with me everyday. . I will not even tell you what my dentist warned me about you all these years. It isn’t very nice. In the past few years I have seen your intentions have not been healthy for me and I still managed to make excuses for my love of you.

It is now time for me to say good-bye. In the past nine days, over our trial separation, I have come to realize how much my life is better without you, I have lost weight, my athletic performance has improved and I am now enjoying the craving free days that follow.

I know you will find someone else, in fact there are many people I know that have told me they have the same love affair with you, so I know losing me won’t hurt you too much.

You are the sweetest thing I know, but I am ready to live life less sweet.

-Vargasgirl

My Motivation

Two years ago a person very close to me found out he was sick. This news hit him and his family hard. A new father with two small daughters, a wife and a thriving business, bad news was not something he was used too, much less something so personal. As personal as you can get, this was his life.

He was the athlete, the one that could do anything he tried on the first try. Not only accomplishing but doing it well, having corporate sponsorships as a teenager was not a dream or a challenge it was his reality. He lived a charmed life, still does.

Recently, in the past year he has become victorious over his battle with the debilitating disease that has tried to slow him down.

The great thing about the human brain, it can and relearn thing, but in the mean time. No running, no bike riding, no mountain climbing, snowboarding and wakeboarding are like jumping back 20 years. Or as he told me, fast forward to being an 80 year old person in a body that looks 33, but acts 80. Can you imagine going to bed one night and waking up the next day feeling like you aged 50 years?

Neither can I

However; What I can do is pick up where he left off. I may not be as athletic, but I can sure as hell try.

That is my motivation, to do because others can not (especially someone I love).

AFLAC!!!

Tomorrow I will be running in my second Iron Girl event.
Last year I set my 5k PR on this course.

The best thing about this event, other than the fact that you are running with all women, is the plush Aflac duck they give to all finishers.



Sasha the Wonderpup, LOVED this toy last year. She adopted it from me and carried it with her until it disintegrated.

I am most excited about this race this year that my number one cheerleader (my dad) will be there cheering me on.

Pushing for a new PR!