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Car Keys in the Freezer & Peanut Butter Cheeseburgers...

Friday, 18 March 2011 05:00

WARNING: Much of what you are about to read is highly exaggerated.

Going Off Course - Woodbury triathlete Tina Welzien forgets stuff.

We're not talking about Big Time forgetfulness here. She's never forgotten what town she lives in or her boyfriend's first name. That kind of stuff.

It's your basic "where-the-heck-did-I-put-my-car-keys" brand of forgetfulness that Tina is prone to. Silly, cute stuff. (Tina, your keys are in the freezer next to your copy of "A Prayer for Owen Meany," and your carton of now-liquid Cookies 'n Cream is on the bookshelf in your bedroom.)...

If you go to MOA with Tina, for instance, know that you will be responsible for remembering where the car is parked.

Also adding to Tina's total charm package is her addiction to chewy candy. Some might say she has a sweet tooth, but when it comes to stuff like Swedish Fish (Yum!) and Gummy Bears, it's more accurate to say that Ms. Welzien has a whole mouthful of sweet teeth.

She also believes that a cheeseburger can be made yummier by the addition of peanut butter and she's never been to a movie that she couldn't sleep through. On her "Off Course Questionnaire" she said her favorite alcoholic beverage is "wine." Perhaps brand and varietal names are among the things she tends to forget? More likely, however, is that she has yet to taste a wine that she didn't enjoy, which is totally cool. We should all be as easy to please.

Tina is very pretty and has big hair. She's also fun-loving, has been to Peru and is a gifted educator who works with special needs children.

Check out her bio:

Name: Tina Welzien

Age: 29 (my USAT age is 30)

Where you live now: Woodbury, MN

Where were you born: I grew up in the sticks in Lonsdale, MN. a small town outside of Northfield.

Education: Luther College, Decorah Iowa

Degrees BA- Elementary Education

Occupation- Elementary, Special Education Teacher

Former Occupations- I have had lots of swimming related jobs; swimming lesson instructor, swim coach, swim lesson coordinator. When I was in college, I worked in the admissions office as a tour guide.

Family? Wife? Husband? No but my boyfriend is really cool.

Anything you wish you could change about yourself? I wish I could make it through a movie in the movie theatre without falling asleep.

Pet Peeves? When people are having personal conversations on their cell phones at the grocery store, Target etc.

Bad Habits? I have a tendency to set things down and not remember where I set them (phone, car keys, ipod, garmin).

FAVORITES:

Movies: Casablanca and Forrest Gump

TV Shows: Law and Order SVU, The Biggest Loser

Books: A Prayer For Owen Meany by John Irving, and Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

Musicians/bands: Pearl Jam, Wilco, Spoon, Guster, Ben Folds, Trampled by Turtles, Nirvana, and U2

Songs: Running to Stand Still by U2 and Ants Marching by Dave Matthews Band

Restaurants: Blue Door Pub, The Nook and the free sample section at Trader Joes.

Meals: Juicy Lucy, fries and a piece of key lime pie for dessert.

Junk Food: I really enjoy sweets-- Any kind of chewy candy- Swedish Fish, Sour Patch Kids, Gummy Bears. Cookies and Cake are also on the top of the list.

Favorite Crunchy Snack Food? Peanut butter pretzels from Trader Joes.

Favorite Pizza? Pepperoni and Pineapple

Favorite Ice Cream? Cookies and Cream

Favorite Hamburger? Juicy Lucy & the peanut butter cheeseburger from T-Bocks in Decorah, IA (Phoot above-with bacon!)

Favorite Alcoholic Beverages? Wine

Non-tri hobbies? Cooking (mostly chicken), snowshoeing, backpacking, hiking, camping, traveling, seeing live music, and spending time with friends/family.