My amazing fishing trip!

So...I have been promising pictures of my incredible experience deep sea fishing last week.

I was out fishing on a party boat off of Cape May, NJ on Thursday when a large animal jumped 5 feet from the side of our boat while we were cruising. We were amazed. My friend thought it was a shark and we were all thankful he (it) fell back in the water and not onto the boat!!

The animal continued to thrash and jump in our wake as we continued to our next fishing spot. I hoped I got him in all the pics I was snapping. The mate told us what we were seeing was actually a whale!  I was so excited...people pay big money for whale watching cruises and here we are getting a free show!

We stopped shortly thereafter and dropped lines. This particularly friendly and curious whale came back and continued to circle the boat the whole time we were fishing. I got some incredible shots. The mate said he had never seen a whale do this. He actually was swimming so close he brushed our lines.  See how close he is in the second and third pics...you can see the fishing pole & line and the top of his white fins in the second picture and the side of the boat and the top of his body in the third picture.  AMAZING!

I sent my pics off to a website for identification and it turns out we were entertained by a humpback whale!  What an awesome experience!  Made the whole day completely worthwhile despite the fact that I didn't catch any keepers!

Week 6 down...8 to go!

WOW...almost 1/2 way through this training program. Who knew I could do this?

Monday-off
Tuesday-5.1 miles, 51'33"
Wednesday-7 miles, 1:11, 8X100m striders at end, climbed Cape May lighthouse later that day...oy vay...did that hurt!  My legs shook afterwards!
Thursday-supposed to cross train, skipped this due to being out on party boat deep see fishing
Friday-off
Saturday-9 miles, 1:48 (105-110 heat index)
Sunday-2.7 miles, 30 minutes

I know...I still owe you guys pics from my fishing trip.  I will get to them soon...I promise.  Here's a hint...I had to send my pictures to a website for confirmation on what we saw!!

Are you kidding me...

Heat index: 105-110.
Miles: 9
Time: 1 hour, 48 minutes (walked 2 big hills)
Water consumption: refill of bottle 5 (yes, 5) times.
Issues: blister

I tried a nuun tablet and really liked it...not too heavy at all.  I definitely needed it to replenish the electrolytes.  Will we ever get a break from this heat?

MIA

Sorry I've been MIA....been down the shore on vacation!  I've been trying not to work too much (not so successful there) and have been trying to relax and enjoy quality time with the family.  It's been a good week...ARL turned 9!  We had a wonderful celebration filled with all her favorite foods...crab legs, shrimp, scallops and ice cream cake for dessert.  I've been getting my runs in early in the morning (3 miles, 5, miles, 7 miles).   We've enjoyed time at the beach, arcade, rides, etc.  We went to Cape May and climbed 199 steps to the top of the lighthouse!  The kids have been busy practicing for a play they performed for us last night.  We were impressed with their show...they had real lines, played multiple parts, and had costume changes!

I managed to escape for 8 hours on a deep sea fishing trip yesterday.  Didn't catch anything worth keeping, but a had a trip I will never forget.  More on that to come once I get the pictures off my camera!

Week 5 Recap!

Aaaahhhh...another week down...9 to go.

Monday-off
Tuesday-4 miles, 40:37, abs
Wednesday-6.4 miles, 1:07, 8X100 striders
Thursday-cross train, 30 min bike, arms, legs, abs
Friday-off
Saturday-8 miles, 1:28
Sunday-3.3 miles, 30 minutes, abs

Total: 21.7 miles

Dealing with rejection

Loyal readers of my blog know that I've been working on a business plan for a little idea of mine for quite some time.  I sent my business plan off to two candle companies in late January of this year.  One company I never heard from despite repeated follow ups.

The other company actually responded saying they liked my idea and were sending it off to their innovations lab for evaluation.  Today, I received a rejection from them.  It made me sad for about 10 minutes.   Luckily, I opened it just before lunch time.  I had a big bowl of my Mom's homemade chicken pot pie (can you think of a better comfort food) and began planning my next move.

Did I honestly think that my idea would be accepted on my first try?  No.  Will I give up and say it wasn't meant to be?  No.  It just means I need to tackle this from a slightly different way.  Maybe, instead of licensing my idea, I do it myself.   I find a manufacturing partner, get some initial designs/samples made, and go on QVC myself.  Can I do this?  Damn right...I can do anything I set my mind to. 

I think step one will be to reach out to a former colleague of mine.  He's an entrepreneur and has done very well.  I think I need to buy him lunch and pick his brain!

So blog readers....what advice do you have for me?  Any ideas/suggestions?  Any of you entrepreneurs who started your own business?   Most importantly, does anyone have any connections in the candle industry?

I've got the best kids!

My kids are home for the summer with a Nanny.  Our Nanny has the whole summer planned out with activities to keep them busy.  Yesterday's plan was for craft day at our local library and a lemonade stand in the front yard. 

My daughter thought she was going to make big bucks at this lemonade stand (enough to buy some DS games).  I tried to realistically set her expectations and said that she would be lucky to make $5.  At 25 cents for a small and 50 cents for a large, it will take a lot of lemonade to make the kind of money she was hoping for. 

They had several customers who were quite generous and allowed them to keep the change.  At 4 pm when the stand ended, the kids quickly rushed in to count their earnings.  They ended up with $20 (I was shocked).  My daughter touched my heart when she announced that she would keep $7, my son would get to keep $7 and the remainder ($6) would go in our charity bottle for lung cancer.   We lost my Dad (their beloved Pop Pop) to lung cancer in April 2008.  Like me, she has made this her charity and does what she can to raise money and raise awareness.  She made the charity bottle out of an old apple juice bottle and gave it to me as my Christmas gift this year. 

Please check out the National Lung Cancer Partnership at www.nationallungcancerpartnership.org or consider sponsoring our team in our annual run/walk in Philadelphia.   Search for Team Charlie's Angels at www.freetobreathe.org. 

Marvelous Monday!

OK...so there is nothing really THAT Marvelous about today, but I thought it was a title that might inspire you to read the post.  It is a beautiful day here in the suburbs of Philadelphia...and here are a few things that I'm happy or smiling about today:

1. I am going out to dinner with my family tonight to celebrate my kids' outstanding report cards.  I have two smart kids and I don't have to cook...that makes me happy!
2. Tonight is night 4 of my son's 2-week private swim lessons...his miracle teacher (Ms. Kelly) has managed to get him to swim 5 feet without flotation in just 3 lessons.  LOVE HER!
3. My boss resigned a few weeks ago (bad...not smiling about this one) and I was a bit nervous about the transition at my largest client.  Meetings are going well and the client is accepting the new principal on the account with open arms.  YEAH...less stress in my life!
4. Today is Monday...for those reading my blog regularly, you know that means that Monday is a rest day in my 1/2 marathon training schedule.  That means no running or exercise of any kind today.  That really makes me smile!

Week 4 Complete: Recap!

Week 4 down, 10 more to go!!  Milelage is definitely getting further...but I'm still feeling good. 

Monday-off
Tuesday-4.3 miles, 43 minutes, abs
Wednesday-5.5 miles, 57 minutes, intensive core workout
Thursday-30 minutes bike, arms, legs, abs
Friday-off
Saturday-7 miles, 1:15
Sunday-3.9 miles, 42 minutes, abs

And now, we are off to the pool.  Time for some relaxing.

Wet Run!

Today's schedule called for a 70 minute training run. When we started out it was just barely dripping on us. Around mile 2 or 3 it turned into a light drizzle. No worries from me...it felt really good compared to the 90 degrees we've been running in lately.

Around mile 5, the downpour began. Again, I'm not too upset...I'm getting cooled down as I go. By mile 6, the rain is getting old. There is not a dry spot on me, it keeps making sweat go in my eyes (ouch), I'm mildly concerned about how much rain my iPod can withstand, and I'm just ready for this run to be over. Finished...Done....I've had enough!

Stats: 7 miles, 1:15. Soaked to the bone (but still smiling).

Have a great rest of your weekend!

Heat, Humidity, GO AWAY!

Yawwwwnnnn....is it bed time yet?  I have been getting up at the crack of dawn to get my runs in.  For those who haven't heard, Philly is having a heat wave.  It was over a 100 yesterday and they are calling for 100 today.  Given my commitment to my 1/2 marathon training program, the only way to beat the heat is to get out there early. 

This morning my alarm went off at 4:41.  We went out for a 5.5 mile run.  When we came home, there was not a dry spot anywhere on me.  I took a COLD shower and was still sweating.

Tomorrow is a cross train day and Friday is a day of rest.  The day of rest sounds so wonderful right now!  My legs are heavy from the run and I'm tired from getting up so darn early.  Lots of coffee to make it through today.

Week 3 complete!

One more week down...it looked like this:

Monday-off
Tuesday-4 miles, 41 minutes, abs
Wednesday-5.1 miles, 51 minutes
Thursday-30 minutes bike, arms, legs, abs
Firday-off
Saturday-6 miles, 1:01
Sunday-3 miles, 31 minutes, abs

It's been an eating and drinking fest this weekend...so I'm running just to burn the extra calories.  I'll behave myself next week to make up for the indulgences!

A fun weekend ahead!

Our friends from Baltimore are coming for the holiday weekend! I am looking forward to a relaxing weekend of eating, drinking, and catching up!

They have a 9 year old daughter and a 6 year old son, too. The kids are finally at the age where we don't have to be involved every minute...once their friends are here, they are off playing!  We see them only when they are hungry, thirsty, bleeding, or upset because something isn't going their way.

I'll be back Monday after the holiday with my week 3 recap.  Happy 4th!