And the reason why is that I’ve been too busy WINNING things. Who has time for blogging when there is winning to be done?
See…it all began with the chili cookoff/pie baking contest at church. Dave had decided to enter his mom’s famous Avocado pie. The pie that, back in the day, won them the first microwave in the neighborhood in a Betty Crocker contest. He was fully expecting to win. I hated to show up empty-handed, so I whipped together a chili recipe found in my Better Homes and Gardens cookbook. You know, the red-checked one that everyone has a copy of in their kitchen and has for generations. So I guess you could say I used an old family recipe. Only my family didn’t invent it.
Long story short, everyone wins a prize. For instance, Dave’s Avocado Pie won "Best Lime Pie." He won a rubber spatula. Me, on the other hand…as the prizes were going out, I became convinced that I wouldn’t get one. First of all, I had the audacity to show up with the chili in a pot. Not a CROCK pot, just a regular old pot. That’s practically grounds for disqualification at a church function. And I sent it with Dave, who was pretty sure he forgot to tell anyone that I made it. But lo and behold…last name read…was mine. OVERALL BEST CHILI. Yes, folks. That’s me. I’m practically worshipped at church now. AND I got an apron. A handmade (with love) apron with chili peppers on it. I am the champion.
You think that experience would be enough winning for me. But I hadn’t had enough, apparently. Last weekend was the triathalon. I mentioned it here before. It was an event that I got all excited about, talked some friends into it, then proceeded to chicken out for a month or so. But then my sister-in-law Jami, fitness guru and runner extrodinaire, moved here and got me off my butt. So I put in a good month of training. Which, shouldn’t be enough, but miraculously, it was. I really enjoyed the whole experience. Even though I could’ve done without the lake moss in my mouth, I would do it again in a heartbeat. And wouldn’t you know, I won 366th place. Which isn’t last place. Which was what I was shooting for. I figured out if I could shave five minute off my total time (which was 1 hour 29 minutes, BTW) I would’ve been in the top half. That’s my goal for next year…top half finish. But I’m happy with how I did this year. Finishing, not last, was my goal. Goal accomplished. Here’s the pic. I had to change it to black and white so you can’t see how shockingly red my face is. Jami, pictured with me, took 18th place. She probably could’ve won the whole darn thing if they had marked the course well enough so she didn’t have to stop and ask the runner behind her where they were supposed to go (which runner, by the way, was WAY behind her, as Jami ROOOOCKS at running! She was so far ahead of the pack there was no one to show her the way- I hope I’m not embarrassing you, James!) 
If you look real close, you can see my winner metal around my neck. Everyone got them, but that’s because we’re all winners, I guess.
18 Comments
Hey! Goooooooo YOU! I can’t believe you did a triathalon…. I’m so not worthy to even post on your blog! LOL
Cute apron you chili making goddess!
That triatholon metal is neat and all… but that APRON… wow.
That’s all I can say.
Wow.
That’s AWESOME, Shannon!!! “Not last” is way better than most of us do, and the fact that you’ve already set a goal and plan to be there next year is HUGE. You ROCK!!
So proud of you!!
I am just SO proud to be related to you (through marriage)
(P.S. for the records: I’m pretty sure that if I didn’t get lost, I wouldn’t have “won the whole darn thing,” maybe just cut off 30 more seconds…….:) )
Shannon, way to go! Seriously. I am so happy for you that you finished the triathlon!! AND that you did it with Jami. Fun. Can I just say that I was cracking up at the whole chili contest thing? Don’t underestimate BH&G cookbook, baby. It’s one of my favorites. I will be so disappointed if you don’t wear your apron to make that special chili next time we see you guys.
Wow Shannon! You are awesome- I am so proud of you! I think Jeff and I need to move to San Jose. I feel that we are missing out on way too much- I want to be part of the party.
You mentioning the cooking contest reminded me about your newly redone kitchen. You definitely need to post pictures of the “laboratory of delectable cuisine.”
Whohoooooo for you, Shannon!! Way to go!!
We are totally impressed here in Kaysville! Love your celebrating 366th place. That you did the tri at all is so worthy of celebration (and a cooking master, too!). Way to go.
Woo-hoo!!! SO happy for you, dude!
and FYI..that’s the only cookbook we own…
Congrats on teh triathalon! What an accomplishment!!! Congrats on the chili win too! Ü
SO cool!!! Whoohoo! You are amazing! A very well rounded gal!
wow! congratulations to you!
I’m so happy for you Shannon! I am singing “We Are the Champions” in my head…
awesome on finishing the race - that is so cool!!!
congrats on the chili cook off too!
You stud closet athlete!! Welcome to the CPT!!! (Caldwell Pain Train) no more excuses from you. We can still get you signed up for June 25 in Idaho…..
hey shannon!
congrats on both
of your wins!
completing a triatholon
is amazing!
so wonderful for you!
i used to run and i did
a few races (just running) before having
children and i remember
before my first race, my goal
was the same as yours…to not
be last. (i wasn’t)and i guess
i always think about the last finisher…
how do they feel? did they have
the same goal as us and not achieve
it? i guess this is my big philosophical
thought for the day…what is the last
finisher thinking because we all know
someone has to be last.
Shannon! Way to go! Triathlons are kind of fun in a weird sort of way! Jami’s talents didn’t come from me…
good for you! a triathalon — amazing!! and i would love to try your chili!!