Last post of 2010

I just registered for Boulder Peak and Xterra Lory.  Both had a price increase after today (Boulder Peak being much more of an increase at $25) so I figured since I plan on doing them, I may as well sign up now.  Not that I am signing up for all of my races now--some don't even have their 2011 registration open and others I can wait since the price doesn't go up for a little while.  Up until October of this year, I lived in NJ for almost 6.5 years which was the majority of my time racing triathlons.  Living in CO brings many new challenges with races I have never done.  Combine that with my undertaking of off-road triathlons and 2011 should be a very interesting year.

2010 was a difficult year at times with the iron deficiency and continued migraine troubles but the year also was highlighted by some major life changes.  My 3 big highlights from 2010 are:

1) Making a big change and moving to CO and starting a new job.  Change can be difficult, but it also helps me to push myself and grow and learn new things.
2) Getting Mickey the dog
3) trying out Xterra despite not having a mountain bike of my own to ride.  I'm so glad I tried something different and found something new that I really like.


This past week. Cooper and Frito went to the vet for a checkup and because we had noticed that one of Cooper's front teeth had turned purple (i.e. it was dead).  I was a bit concerned about that and some of the lumps that he had.  In NJ, the vet I went to classified Cooper and Frito as seniors and ran all sorts of test as a result.  They also said Cooper needed to have a dental exam and that his lumps needed to be removed because they may be cancerous.  Of course I ran the senior tests (I didn't have a choice if I wanted the exam done there), and also had Cooper have surgery to remove several lumps and have a dental exam and tooth removed.  The vet here didn't classify them as seniors and said that as long as the lumps weren't growing, they were just fatty masses and cause no harm.  And that his teeth were okay and he didn't need them removed--just maybe a cleaning sometime.  It was so nice not to be pressured into surgery under false information and spending over $1000 for something Cooper really doesn't need, not to mention save him the trauma of walking around in a cone for a week.  I am a bit frustrated that the vets office in NJ just seemed to be wringing every dollar that they could out of me, and glad that we have a vet here that is honest and not out to rip people off. 

Cooper and Frito were both 3-4 lbs lighter...they have always been very thin dogs, but I guess all the extra activity they have been getting here has leaned them out even more.  Mickey is now the heaviest dog in the house.

So I guess this is my last post for 2010.  Happy New Year!