This week was great -- we got through Halloween, the guys were thrilled to bits to be out in their costumes, no one had a melt down during trick or treating, and the weather seems to have cooled off -- FINALLY. Right now, it is 84 degrees and sunny, with a breeze. In other words, practically perfect in every way! Especially for bike riding, which is good since Ron is out doing a 70 mile ride this morning.

Last night, we went to the big Halloween party next door. My neighbors are totally into it -- this year's theme was Haunted Luau and there was a palm tree in the dining room, and a FULL SIZE Minnow (remember the boat from Gilligan's Island?) in their pool - complete with a skeleton fishing off the back. It was amazing! Here are a couple of pictures of us in our costumes. Ron is a tourist, and I am an Ironman athlete that was half-eaten by a shark. I thought this was appropriate since I do have that fear of critters...

Ron is going away on travel this week, and leaving Monday morning. He will be back on Friday afternoon. It could be a very long week. I am just glad that he is away this week when I am tapering for my big race of the season, and I am not in full pedal to the metal training mode. I can be a little more relaxed this week about training. I will be leaving on Saturday morning for Parker, Arizona. The coolest thing about this race is that half the bike course is in Arizona and half of it is in California and we have to go over two dams during the bike portion of the race. I am hoping to get lots of pictures -- it looks spectacular on the race website! If you want to check it out, go here: http://www.mountainmanevents.com/bluewatertriathlon.htm

The guys are doing well and nothing huge is going on. Andy does have another book report to do that is due at the end of November. He has to do a diorama for this one. I am trying not to kill myself. The use of crayons and markers are not allowed, by the way, according to the teacher. I could just kill her. We will get through this... probably over Thanksgiving weekend.