A-Z

One thing from each letter of the alphabet that has to do with me. ("B" is an exception)

A: Apples - An apple a day keeps the doctor away. I have believed in this for as long as I could believe.

B: Baseball, Barnes & Noble, Berries, Bananas - Baseball is my all time favorite sport to watch. B&N is my favorite store to browse, wander, kill time and spend any extra money I have in. Berries, particularly strawberries, are an absolute essential in my fridge (in the middle of winter I struggle...too expensive so I go frozen). Bananas are a gem of a recovery food and are fantastic frozen.

C: Corolla - My reliable, efficient Toyota. I love my car and all that it does for me. 73K on it as of last week.

D: Divorce - It's over with. Is there someone else? "No, but there is a Dream of someone else." *(see "Y" as well)*

E: ESPN - The cable channel for the sports maniac in me. If I could only have one channel this would be it.

F: Family - A pretty sweet group of individuals mainly consisting of my dad, mom, sister, two grandmas, an extra special aunt and uncle, three cousins and their two kids, a handful of great-aunts and great-uncles and second cousins. Love them all.

G: Gratitude - Everyday, I am thankful for everything on this list, and more.

H: Hawaii - I have spent one week on Maui (with a brief stop in Honolulu) and would go back tomorrow if I had the chance. The beauty is beyond what you see on tv or on paper. The laid-back lifestyle is incredible. I will get there again soon. I just have to.

I: iPod - Currently holds over 8600 songs, several movies, tv shows, podcasts and photos. I am lucky to have 3 of them (classic, nano and shuffle) and they each serve a special purpose. To say I am obsessed may be putting it lightly.

J: Jack - This is my favorite and first choice for a baby boy name.

K: Kamakawiwo'ole', Israel - My favorite musician from the great Hawaiian islands. His music puts me in a place like few other artists can.

L: Lefse - A staple on the Miller-family Thanksgiving table. Supposedly my great-aunt Helen would make it. I've always loved it. With just a little butter.

M: Music - I love almost all music. Save for the "angry" sounding music, I am a fan of everything. Soft rock, hard rock, hip hop, classical, christian, alternative...it's all on my iPod. I also love playing music which lately only consists of playing the piano when I am staying at my parents in Duluth.

N: Nuun - I tried Nuun (pronounced "noon") for the first time over a year ago. I'm hooked. It's an electrolyte replacement tablet that you drop in water (it fizzes). Provides electrolytes without any sugar (like Gatorade or PowerAde). I drink it daily. They introduced about six new flavors recently and I would like to get my hands on them.

O: Oboe - Not gonna lie, I was a decent musician many years ago. The oboe was my primary wind instrument. It has such a live sound compared to the clarinet, which was the first instrument I started playing.

P: Peanut Butter - I will never be without. Interestingly, my dad is severely allergic. I am grateful my parents let me eat it regardless. Just always lick the knife (or spoon) clean before putting it in the sink.

Q: Quinoa - A whole grain that contains all essential amino acids (which other grains do not). Easier to prepare than rice, it has become a staple in my diet. It sits better in my stomach than rice does as well.

R: Running - I run. I have actually started to enjoy running even. I have never ever considered myself a "runner." I started running track in 7th grade and since then have completed many races from 5K to Half-Marathon including triathlons of varying distances....so, I'm not sure at what point my brain will allow me to consider myself a "runner." I wonder if there is a "speed" I need to attain or, a "distance" I need to cover before I think of myself as a runner?

S: Shoes - I'm not a typical girl with a closet full of shoes. I've never gone into DSW shoe warehouse, started drooling and left with 3 boxes. I've done that in a running shoe store - left with multiple boxes of the same shoe. I can't remember the last pair of non-training shoes I have bought other than a pair of Chacos sandals two years ago. I have my favorite brands: Chacos, Asics, Dansko - that's all I need to be happy.

T: Triathlon - This is my dream. This is who I am. After getting my first taste of it in 1997 (14 years ago? yikes!) I have really started focusing on training in this lifestyle the past year and a half. When I am training is when I am the happiest. It's a lifestyle and it suits me well at this point in my journey called life (AKA My Rockstar Tour). swimbikerun :) :) :)

U: Undies - Boy cut or hipster are the best. Bikini style for workouts. I don't care for cotton - ever. Can't live without them so you might as well find cute ones and yes, I have been known to dance around in just undies on my own time.

V: Vegas - I'm not a vacation every six months or every year kind of girl. I wish. On a complete whim I bought a flight to Vegas last July and never regretted it. If you haven't been there I highly recommend it. It is as hot as they say it is. It's awesome.

W: Water - Blessed to be raised on Lake Superior I was spoiled with the great "taste" of water straight out of the tap. I drink it non-stop and I swim in it. I love the stuff.

X: XT - My Canon Rebel XT camera. I bought it about 4 years ago and I imagine it has captured well over 20,000 images during that time. An investment that has not let me down.

Y: "You've Got Mail" - In my top 5 movies of all time. Probably top 3. I love love love Tom Hanks and I love Meg Ryan. I have it on VHS, DVD and it's on my iPod. I think there was a stretch of time that I watched it (or until I fell asleep) every night for close to a month. I have it memorized start to finish.

Z: Zoot - My first triathlon racing kit. It's black and teal with a just a little yellow on it. The company makes awesome training and racing apparel.