My sister just turned 40. Shhh don't tell anyone! It got me thinking that I will be 40 in three years. Shhh don't tell anyone! Anyway, I decided that I would like to do something epic physically and after much deliberation I've decided to train for an Olympic Distance Triathlon. It's a 1.5 km swim, 40 km bike ride and 10 km run.

This is a lofty goal on a number of levels but mostly because I can't swim. Now, I took swimming lessons a few years ago to do My First Triathlon in Harrison but I didn't do very well with the front crawl so I did some on my back and some on my feet for 400 m. Oy. And I haven't been swimming since. So I think I am starting nearly from scratch.

My first step in the lofty fitness goal (LFG) is to run a 5 km run this fall. A couple of ladies in one of my fitness classes are interested in training for the 10 km run portion of my LFG with me and one of them has ambitions to become a runner so we are going to start with the 5 km run together.

Also I am signing up for swimming lessons in the next session at the South Surrey Pool.

Let the training begin!

Today Elise is a fairy with a pet unicorn on a leash and I am afraid of it but don't worry, I can pet it because she holds it tightly so she won't jump up. Yesterday she was a puppy called Scamp and Daniella was a puppy called Angel. Yesterday Daniella was a broomstick and Elise was the witch riding on her. I can't keep up with the speed that they change personae but I do try. I'll call them for dinner "Here Scamp! whistle whistle Here Angel!" only to be told "We're not puppies, Mama, we're kittens. We drink milk." sigh. So, always wanting to encourage imaginative play, I put two bowls of milk on the floor (hooray for hardwood!) and let them drink it.

They are moving in a world of their own design (lucky them) and I am just along for the ride (lucky me).

It has been my dream as long as I can remember. I started writing it over a year ago and at last it is finished. My first novel. I have always been excellent at starting things. I have great ideas but little finishing power so for me to have written a book from start to finish is a real achievement for me. I am super proud that the first draft is completed.

It has been a wonderful journey. It is true when authors say their book wrote itself. I would come home from the library and my mojo spot on the comfy chairs by the fireplace and say "You'll never guess what happened!" My characters would do and say things at will and I was just there to record it. There were plenty of surprises in the story to keep me entertained. I cried when I wrote the ending.

Next step is to have my small group of 5 test readers aged 8-12 read it to make sure it's good enough. Then I will send it to my small group of adult test readers for grammar and flow. I don't expect to make significant changes to what I've written so far as it seems that any professionals in the writing industry like what flows from my brain to my pen best.

Then I am going to try to get an agent.

With any luck, you will see The Changeling of Avalon by Christine Dencer Dalzell on bookshelves one day soon.

Erin, yes I am referring to him as "the old dog", is learning a new trick. He is changing his ways. He is choosing to eat a piece of fruit instead of ice cream. He is choosing to do something productive, like small home projects, instead of watching TV. He is choosing to go to bed early instead of staying up late surfing the web. He has accepted that he is a food snob and can no longer eat food that is salty, processed crap.

I'm proud of you, Old Dog! You are an inspiration.

Long time no blog. Terrible for someone who's supposed to be a writer! I was going to post a FB status update but decided to do this instead.

The girls and I have a new tradition. When Erin is out for the evening we have a girls night. We watch a movie while we are having supper (such a treat!). Daniella always requests cheese fondue because one girls night that's what we had so now every girls night, that's what is served. Cheese fondue or I play waitress and short order cook and make them each whatever they want.

So, I am tucking in with my glass of wine, making cheese fondue, hoping to weigh in on what movie we watch (GOD please not MIckey Mouse Clubhouse!!) and I have my small bag of chips to munch on while I watch a chick flick after they go to bed. Tonight's selection: the first Sex and the City movie which I haven't seen yet and my friend Bev loaned me. Shaping up to be a great girls night indeed!