Courtenay Brown

So I wanted to write a proper post rather than just posting photos but I am risking being DISOWNED by my family (and shut out of the afternoon shave-ice run) because of my inter-netting so I'd better run... Enjoy! And doesn't Kelly look kinda like my sis? And don't I look kinda like my little brother? [gallery = 15]

I am at an internet cafe because *GASP* our house here does not have internet (and I got in trubs for gasping at my mom about this... Sorry Sal!) so this will be blessedly brief, and unfortunately sans photos of my fabulous birthday suit. I forgot my camera download cable back at the house - something to look forward to for tomorrow! I have some great ones of Kelly too. Anyhow, I had an awesome day yesterday at the LA triathlon!!! The best 30th birthday I could have asked for. The nitty gritty: The ocean swim was fun but, um, slow. For me anyway. I did the 1.5k in 33 mins, my slowest for this distance all year, *BUT* there were waves ...

I am so ready to race! Especially now that I spent 45 minutes hand-making numbers for myself. Somehow I lost my race packet! Argh! So hopefully I don't get in trubs for making my own bike and helmet numbers, but seriously it was not my fault, even though this race cost $180 to enter (and it's only Olympic distance!!) they only gave you one plastic bag with your race packet and race goodies, no extra bags for transition gear... Although I did get told I could buy one?!?! In the midst of all the registration mayhem I dumped out all my goody bag items because I needed the plastic bag ...

So I just went out for my first official ocean swim. No living in Hawaii when I was seven and getting pummeled by waves whenever I tried to body surf does not count. I am *still* so adventurous!

I am soooo adventurous. At least I feel that way after majorly breaking out of my comfort zone over the past few days! I got to Santa Monica yesterday afternoon, by way of two shuttles and two planes and only barely enough snacks. The only other things on my schedule for yesterday after the trip here were: swim, put bike together, and hang out with the world-famous People Paula and hopefully our other high school friend Tadia. All doable, right? First was the swim, at the Santa Monica Swim Center, the outdoor 50 meter pool I like to gloat about to all my friends. It is an awesome pool. But it's not walking distance from where I am staying, ...

Whoa so I am finally packed. It took for forever, probably because my itinerary is more than just your standard race trip... Tomorrow I leave for the airport at 6:45 a.m. The first leg of my two-week trip is Los Angeles, where I will be through Sunday. I'm staying at my mom's novelist friend's beachfront home in Santa Monica - poor me, right? I'm bringing my camera. Then Sunday is the LA Triathlon (and cough cough MY THIRTIETH BIRTHDAY in case any of you have been hiding under rocks for the last 3 months and/or in case you forgot)!! I got confirmation that I am racing in the Elite Amateur field, which is awesome - so far this year I have not ...