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Snack Helmets & Counting Nuts....

Thursday, 05 January 2012 02:00

WARNING: Some of the content contained herein may have undergone minor embellishment.

Going Off Course - We like Minneapolis triathlete / occasional USAT official with a great smile and an Attack Cat named "Izzy," Lois Nilson, a lot. Why?

Lois proudly attended Michigan State University. She did so, in part, because she didn't like the University of Michigan's football helmets, which really are incredibly ugly, aren't they? Not only are wolverines NOT maise (slang for "yellow") and blue (they're brownish or greyish), they don't have the same kind of ridiculous stripes that appear on the helmets.

And speaking of football helmets, Lois LOVES the tasteful hard-hats worn by her beloved MSU Spartans. So much so that she owns and uses-on-a-daily-basis an official Michigan State University Snack Helmet (photo above). Per-capita, Michiganders eat the second most nachos and chips and salsa in the US. (Wisconsin is #1 in these categories.)

Lois brought her Michiganny love for Mexican nibblies AND her snack helmet to Minnesota when she moved here a long time ago. In the evenings she enjoys watching HGTV, especially the totally excellent "Holmes on Homes," and making good use of her Snack Hat. There are two dip trays that fit into the face mask and she fills both of them; one with her own nummilicious homemade salsa; the other with either molten Valveeta or guac. And she washes all that good stuff down with several bottles of good 'ol Bud Light, which, like her having been from Detroit, she unashamedly admits to. Most folks claim that they prefer Guinness or Sierra Nevada to Anheiser Busch products, yet their fridges are full of Bud Light. Explain that! Lois is too darned honest to lie about such things.

What's not to like about that?

And what's not to like about the fact that she used to be a professional nut counter; that she believes that "The Shawshank Redemption" is the best movie ever; and that her BFF is Chrissie Wellington?

Lois is a kinda tall, humble lady who claims to be a boring person. As far as we know, that is the only lie she's ever told.

Here is some more stuff about her:

Lois Nilson Mini-Bio:

Hi MTN Guys - I am pretty boring but here are some answers for you.........

Hometown - I was born in Ft. Wayne, IN; moved to Cincinnati, OH in first grade and then we moved to Detroit, MI when I was in sixth grade and stayed in MI until after I graduated from college.

Education - Michigan State University '79

Occupation - I am a Social Worker for Hennepin County in a management/supervisor position.

Family - I am the oldest of three, both of my younger brothers are fast runners who got their running genes from my father who ran marathons well into his 70's. I somehow missed out on the fast gene but got my endurance from my mother who can walk for hours.

Worst job - I had many summer jobs during college but the worst was at a factory that provided the screws, nuts and bolts for the car factories in Detroit. I sat at a station all day and counted nuts, bolts and screws for each order, none of which were the same. I did get a lot of funny looks when I said I spent my summer working at the screw factory.

Pets - An attack cat named Izzy. She is sort of mean to everyone but me (she knows who feeds her!)

Pet Peeves - I grew up with a father whose mantra was "To be on time is to be late, to be early is to be on time". So I get inpatient with people who are late and not timely.

Have you ever been beaten up? - heck no, remember I was the oldest sibling, I did the beating up!

Favorites:

TV shows - I love to watch home improvement shows on DIY network. My favorite is Holmes on Homes, no one does righteous indignation better then Mike Holmes when he sees bad renovation jobs. Although I better not invite him to my house, he would have plenty to say!

Movies - I can watch Shawshank Redemption over and over.

Actors - Morgan Freeman (photo L) is always good (see above).

Singers/Bands - I listen to the 60's station on satellite radio, you could say I'm not real current.

Restaurants - I love any hole in the wall place that has a good hamburger.

Beer - I will admit that I love a good cold Bud Lite. It drives my beer lover friends crazy!

Ice Cream - Napoleon because I can't choose just one flavor. (Lois - FYI, it's "Neapolitan," not "Napoleon.")

Junk food - I love nachos and good homemade salsa.

Sports teams - Still a Michigan State Spartan fan.

Favorite car - My current car is a Mercury Mariner, it is my favorite because my bike fits inside easily.

Heroes - All of the back of the pack of racers that I share the course with at every race. The determination they show while still encouraging others is inspiring. They are out there not for the glory of a podium finish but because they love the sport of triathlon. They keep me coming back to race again.

Dream vacation - The Canadian Rockies

Hobbies - fixing up my almost 100 year old house, I am well known at Ace Hardware

Embarrassing incident - Being the last person to finish IM CDA in 09. A very humiliating experience. I promised my body I would never make it do another IM and I have kept that promise!

Not much else to say - told you I was boring!!!!