Swim Bike Run

Only a little over a week left before I start my first ever triathlon and I must say I'm very excited. The process has been interesting at times (like swimming in the Potomac one morning) but I'm enjoying the variety in the workouts. I enjoy running but in the end I run to live. If I didn't run I would be over 300 pounds and growing. Running is the only way I have found to ensure that I keep it around 200 (203 currently) However, running can get a bit boring - especially at the 9 plus mile marker. Triathlon gives me drive to change up my workout and still make gains on my distance running. Swimming for 30 minutes or pedaling for an hour then running a short 5k is an incredible workout. Plus with the variety it never gets boring. Team Trinity is also great. They say misery loves company - and if that is true Team Trinity is all about misery. The team is fun in that you always have a workout partner no matter what time you can head out. So watch out sprint triathlon - I've got your number.

Another Itty Bitty City

For the fourth year in a row the family headed down to Fredericksburg to look for the obscure parts of the city that were photographed by the Free-Lance Star. This year I did very little of the hunting because Jackson and Bethanee were finding them left and right. It is always a good time and we knocked out 11 of the twenty in about 1 hour of hunting.

A first for Jillian

All who know Jillian know that she is angelic and doesn't get into much (the house is not baby proofed). Today, she went into her room for a nap as usual. I heard her talking and figured she was in her bed "reading" books. Then I heard feet pattering across the floor in her room. Probably just getting books off her shelf. About 45 minutes into her nap time, I hear her come out into the hallway and run across the upstairs. I call up to her to get back in her bed for nap time. I go up to find her in my bathroom covered with white cream. And when I say covered I mean covered. The only area untouched is her eye area and forehead. I thought she had lathered herself in sunscreen by the looks of it, but the fragrance was not one of Coppertone. As I tried to wipe it off, the texture seemed rather sticky. Then, the familiar scent dawns on me. She has lathered herself from a tube of Desitin. I scolded her as I tried to wash it off. If you've ever used Desitin you know it is fairly waterproof which is what makes it a great diaper cream. Inside I had to laugh at the sight. I learned that I do not need to apply her sunscreen any longer, she is quite capable of doing it herself. Although I would have liked to capture the moment on camera, I did not want to encourage her with the positive attention. Needless to say, Desitin is put away. I do have to figure out how to get it out of the carpet.

Grocery Store Date Night

Wegmans opened their new store in Fredericksburg over the weekend so Tracee and I had to join the fun so we got a babysitter and had date night at a grocery store. So cool. Now Wegmans is not just any grocery store, it is more like a carnival. We had dinner with Bryan and Amie in the Seafood Department. Yes we ate dinner in Wegmans while people shopped around us. After dinner we purchased coffee and dessert and headed up to the cafe seating area. Everything was no nice and clean, we had a great time. I will definately go back to Wegmans for date night.

Fishing Time

Another one of Jackson's ideas, Fishing. While we were camping at the lake he saw some people fishing and decided that he want to become a fisherman. So on Monday we went to Wal-Mart and purchased a fishing pole kit with all of the necessary gear. Since we knew that Bethanee would also want to join the fun we bought her a pink pole. This afternoon after Super Supper Club we headed down to the landing for some fishing fun. Jackson quickly relized that fishing is not as excited as it looked. But we had a good time and I think they will enjoy fishing.

Run Amuck 2009

The family got an early start this morning as we headed to Marine Corps Base Quantico for the Run Amuck, a four mile mud run with obstacles. Jackson and Bethanee also had a kids version of the race. We got to the event a little late so it was a rush to get my bib number and shoe tag before the stagered start. In fact I was so late I mistakenly tried to go in the wrong group only to be told that I was to start in three minutes, whoa three minutes to spare. The course was a mess - which is exactly what they wanted. Muddy hills, ropes, tunnels, and mud pits where all on the race course that was four miles long. I was in the second wave while my runner buddy, Tim "The Locomotive" Long was in the very last heat. I was finishing as he was heading outon the course, I thought about (only for a second) turning around and going again. We were also joined by Cory, a young man from our church that is joining the Marine Corp next year. The kids race had tires, hay bails, and a blowup obsticle course. Bethanee and Jackson did a great job. The run was a blast - definately on Must Runs for next year. Sign up early for this one, it sells out every year. Oh and wear an old pair of shoes.

Flip Flop Smoothie Day

My day started out perfectly as I met Team Trinity for some hard core Tri-Training, 22.5 miles bike followed by a 4 mile run. It was an awesome start to the day. Our biking jerseys came in this week so we now look official (officially crazy). I then made my way to the office with the knowledge that I had only one case and and then a few appointments in the afternoon. I grabbed the file and went over to Stafford County General District Court. The court looked a bit light but no matter, I began looking for my client, humm, no client. I went up to the clerk and showed her my summons to ask where I was on the docket. She quickly looked the summons over and said (a bit sarcastically) "Mr. Pelt, see this word right here, it tells you the county in which the general district court is located, it says Spotsylvania, your in Stafford." Well okay then ..... I get to frantically drive to Spotsy - there goes my relazing one case day. I made it in time, but was in an aweful mood as I left the Courthouse. Then a friend called to ask if I was wearing flip flops? Thinking that was a strange question - why I asked. Well it is Free Smoothie if you are wearing flip flops day of course. Well that is just great because I'm in a suit and no flip flops in sight. But wait, I was driving Tracee's van today and I remembered that Jackson left a pair of flip flops in car last night, I could kiss that kid. So I left my ego in the van (with my shoes and socks), rolled up my suit pants, and put Jackson's flip flops on and proceeded to claim my free smoothie - My day was back on track.

Lowes Motor Speedway

On the way home from visits with grandparents we stopped just North of Charlotte, NC at Lowes Motor Speedway in Concord, NC. This track is one of the best in the NASCAR Circuit and since they added lights a few years back they can race on Saturday Night. We pulled up to the speedway and headed to the gift shop to discover that they give tours of the track. We loaded up in a 15 passenger van and headed out on the track for two laps at 85 miles per hour on the 24 degree banked turns. It was awesome to ride the actual track even if it was only in a van. If you are on I-85 headed towards Charlotte it is worth the stop.

Pelt Brothers Reunite

The last time I saw my brother was just before they left for a three year tour in Japan. We did a ski trip together at Snowshoe, WV during Feburary 2006. Jackson was 1 year old and Jillian was not even thought of yet. Three years later Jeff and his family are back from Japan and stationed in California. They decided to do an Eastcoast tour and we headed south to catch a reunion visit. It was great to see the kids rediscover eachother. Bethanee and Camila are less than a year apart and Jackson and Isabella are less than a year apart. Jillian spent the entire weekend just trying to keep up with the big kids. Jeff announced that he is staying in the Marine Corps for 20 years which means that they will do a Washington, DC tour sometime. So my dream of living near my brother will someday be realized.

Stone Mountain, GA

The last time I visited Stone Mountain, GA (the world's largest granite mountain) was in the eighties. I remember it being a neat place but not that exciting. Wow what a difference 20 years makes and the 1996 Olympics. Stone Mountain 2009 is like an amusement park with all types of activities for the family. The park was completely redone for the Summer Olympics as some of the water sports were conducted in the park. My brother's family (fresh from Japan) and our family spent the day in the park with the three very excited kids. We had a blast and had to leave before we visited all of the sights. Jackson was a big fan of the gondola ride to the top of the dome and Bethanee and Camila climbed a very advanced ropes course with the help of Uncle Jeff. Next time we will have to catch the paddleboat and petting zoo.

Ran Out of Gas

I have a good friend that ran out of gas the other day and it was a source of shame. However, he only had to go get some gas and then start the rest of his day. In the grand scheme of things he survived with nothing more than a bruised ego. In this week's NASCAR race Jimmy Johnson and Greg Biffle both ran out of gas on the final lap, THE FINAL LAP, and both saw a 6 figure paycheck slip through their fingers as they both obly needed about 1 quart more of fuel. Lesson learned, when the first and second place cars both run out of gas before the finish line then the third place car is the winner. Congrats Mark Martin and Naethan. Check out the final lap HERE.

Early Dismissal

In school it happened around 11:30. You would wait for the bell to ring at a very odd time and then all of the sudden people would start going home in the middle of the day, early dismissal. It was always exciting to change your schedule and gain a few extra hours of daylight playtime. I was able to relive the experience on Friday when a case I had in the middle of the day that was suddenly settled late on Thursday leaving the entire day open - early dismissal Friday. It was a great feeling.

Aquia Landing Fun

What do you get when you mix warm sunshine, sand, river water, and five kids. A FUN time (and a sandy car). Today I watched Brendan, our neighbor boy, and arranged a play date for Bethanee with a friend from her class. We headed to the landing for sunshine and a picnic lunch. As usual we had the beach to ourselves.

Goodbye, My Friend

On Tuesday I watched my dear friend Mark E. Stratton make his final trip up I-95 to Arlington Naional Cemetary. It was somewhat symbolic that Mark would travel the same road he traveled for several years from Stafford to Arlington. This time he had a police escort as they shut the interstate down. We proceeded North past the Pentagon, just fifteen cars on the HOV Lane. It was a range of emotions from pride in the American fighting spirit as I watched the honor guard march in front of the caissone while a military jet flew over with a sharp wing flap to watching a seven year old girl sob as she hugged a wooden casket. The early rain cleared up to see the herse stop near the Caisson so that the body bearers could place him on the black horse drawn carriage. The crowd of about 300 made up of every branch of the military followed the procession to Section 60 (the Iraq and Afghanistan Section). It was a sad day as I said goodbye to good friend. When our house burnt to the ground Mark, from Afghanistan, called to instruct me to go to his closest to get a few suits - he joked that he would not be needing them anytime soon. He told me "what's mine is yours my brother." I miss my friend.

Jasper's Final Day

In the fall of 2001 Tracee and I researched adopting an Irish Setter. I grew up with an setter and Tracee wanted a dog to brush and pamper. After an few interviews we qualified to adopt Jasper from an attorney in Washington, D.C. Jasper was living in a small apartment and at the time we had a fenced backyard. I still remember the night we drove to D.C. to pick him up. He was 4 years old when he came to live with us and he was 12 when he past away on Monday. He had stopped eating on Friday so we knew the end was near. Tracee held him during his last moments of life. In the end he was good dog, a little qwerky but all and all a good dog. When I got home from work I dug a grave in the front yard next to a Japanese Maple. That evening we had a small funeral service to say goodbye to a member of the family.

Road Bike - Stage Two Triathlon

I've been riding a bike for almost 35 years but I have never trained on a bike. In fact I just purchased my first road bike, an older Cannondale. A road bike has skinny tires and the strange curly handle bars that lean you over the front wheel. Stage two of the sprint trathlon is a 14 mile bike ride. Today Bryan and I knocked out 15 miles in Prince William Forest Park. The park has a 7.5 mile loop that is all but deserted. It makes for a great riding location with plenty of flat with a mix of hills. We covered 15 miles in just under an hour. 4 weeks until my first triathon.