What a day to have a "DAY"
This could become quite convoluted and disconnected, so please bear with me! I had a bit of a race in Big Bear today, about a 40 minute drive from the good old FF. I have raced there many times and neither the trails nor altitude affect me, which is a good thing.
If the local Community College offered a course called "Listen to your inner self you retard" i would take it, twice. I could save a lot of many things by mastering that art.
GOOD NEWS: I did NOT DNF!!
Yesterday i started losing my voice, then the unwanted boogies came and my belly hurt, real BAD!! I went to bed at 9, to sleep at 12, and that is just how it goes.
This morning i had full use of 1/4 of one nostril, and could only talk softly (HUGE dilemma for me, some would welcome it though). My head was all squirly and was everything else about me.
I took Timber as my sidekick, with the idea that i would just do feed's, or pull out and take the dog for a walk. Christie and Matt told me not to race, but DUH, it was paid for, must get points.
I had a 7 minute warm up riding to the start line. My front brake was rubbing, i told myself fix it at the line. I didn't. it rubbed all day. At the line i told myself, ok, you have 300 yards. If you yak then, pull out. if you black out, quit. But beyond that, you are on your own. This was not a lap course, so no 6 miles and back to base camp. This was probably 20 something and if you quit, you still ride out.
The line boasted 5 solid pro women, 3 experts in my class, and about 5 experts in the other classes. at the start i immediately turned off my HR monitor because it was beeping the FAST beep, like you are on the LINE. I pedaled up the hill and just kept passing people. I passed all the experts, then all the pros, and thought that was weird. then i just kept climbing. The wild card pro caught me after about 15 minutes and we rode together, which was awesome! She told me i was killing it, which i told it was because i was very angry and upset.
Now here's the deal. Anger only lasts for so long. This past week or so i have dropped about 6 L-B's, (I have been trying to shed some girth for 15 months. Now that it is gone, i want it back) leaving me completely void of any sort of glycogen store. I was left with NOTHING. I had led the entire group, way out there, for about 1 hour 6 minutes. Then i didn't.
POINT of the DAY: Hold onto those fleeting things. Those glances, kittens playing in the grass, smell of fresh baked cookies. I could have totally flipped out, but just knowing that i had been THERE for that LONG will be remembered for months, and give me fuel for my next task.
The really cool thing about leading a race and then popping off the back like a reverse rocket is that you get to talk to everyone. Although i was in survival mode and my language sounded like this "Blgoadhw", it was cool to see people. AS i WALKED my bike up the second hill (i can't remember when i walked my bike out of exhaustion the last time. At least it is carbon, so it is svelte) some guys asked if i was ok. I said i just hit the wall, first time this year. They just told me i was due. Pretty straight forward. Then my friend from Sho Air caught me walking again, and he said i still looked cute, and that was the ticket.
I knew my body would shut down today, that is why i don't care. I also was glad it was a local Cal State race and that i did get points. The girl i was riding with for the first hour or so got a 2:10, i got a 2:43. I am not ashamed! As Matt F says "Suffering Builds Character" and you are given a choice to accept that, or dwell on the GINORMOUS time gap. But it's ok, pride should fall quickly, and for a bit i was riding with Chrissy Bono, who usually places first in pro, and she was way off the back because her legs were very upset. We just looked at each other, commented on the difference of scenery back there, and kept pedalling.
I was chatting with the pro winner at the awards. She said she was just killing a road race a few weeks back, then she dropped and cramped and came in 40 minutes back and as she crossed the line, the workers pulled it up off the ground!! They were taking down the finish chute when i came through today.
Like i have said many times: I will DNF if there is excessive blood; bones protruding; or a puppy that needs to be saved.
I just hope i dont STAY ill, i have things to take care of!
As usual, the people i race with are fantastic. The community that is build around mountain biking is one that is hard to find elsewhere.
Sunday, July 1
Friday, June 29
Tooth Update
Way back when i lied about getting my teeth fixed. I had an appointment. I walked in, told the receptionist i was not mentally and emotionally up to it, and walked out. 2.5 months later, i decided it was go time. Last thursday i sped down the hill for the 5th face numbing experience.
The vineers needed to pulled off again, which required three shots that made my lip look all Hollywood with collagen, for free. My nose was numb, so i think it ran on the dentist's hand.
Since the product was completely bonded to what barely remains of my teeth, the amount of torque and force to get them off kept pulling my head off the chair and banging it back down. The taste of blood was all too familiar from my last mid-ride nose bleed.
Then the big fake uni-tooth got slapped on. One tooth that looks like three, that is awesome. They contain a slight yellow hue, and one of them has lost a corner to a spoon.
I decided that i like Juice it Up better than Jamba Juice because it is cheaper, the lines and shorter, the workers not so "I'm Cool" and the parking much easier to come by.
The teeth will stay put, hopefully, until August 1st. Then the real deal will be put on. They wanted me to do it the week between National Champs in Vermont and another National in North Carolina, but i said i could not bear the stress and the trauma.
So far, they feel ok. I can't feel the wind like usual, and cold drinks are ok. But, Timber gave me a solid head-butt at the precise location of the unitooth, making them feel loose, and super sore.
And that's that. Things could always be worse, that's is the truth.
For those of you SoCal mountain bikers, check out the "Fitness With Lupus" blog to the right. Bruce M has gone down hard and bad in Colorado. Send them some love.
The vineers needed to pulled off again, which required three shots that made my lip look all Hollywood with collagen, for free. My nose was numb, so i think it ran on the dentist's hand.
Since the product was completely bonded to what barely remains of my teeth, the amount of torque and force to get them off kept pulling my head off the chair and banging it back down. The taste of blood was all too familiar from my last mid-ride nose bleed.
Then the big fake uni-tooth got slapped on. One tooth that looks like three, that is awesome. They contain a slight yellow hue, and one of them has lost a corner to a spoon.
I decided that i like Juice it Up better than Jamba Juice because it is cheaper, the lines and shorter, the workers not so "I'm Cool" and the parking much easier to come by.
The teeth will stay put, hopefully, until August 1st. Then the real deal will be put on. They wanted me to do it the week between National Champs in Vermont and another National in North Carolina, but i said i could not bear the stress and the trauma.
So far, they feel ok. I can't feel the wind like usual, and cold drinks are ok. But, Timber gave me a solid head-butt at the precise location of the unitooth, making them feel loose, and super sore.
And that's that. Things could always be worse, that's is the truth.
For those of you SoCal mountain bikers, check out the "Fitness With Lupus" blog to the right. Bruce M has gone down hard and bad in Colorado. Send them some love.
Thursday, June 28
Smack Talkers Beware...
We, the contingency of SoCal mountain bikers known as Jose O Therapy (Team Jose Ole combined with Pass Physical Therapy) have come up with an idea to fight the ever growing plague of hate talk via the internet.
A rundown of the board memebers is to follow, just be sure to know that i will be in sales, because i talk, a lot...
Fresh Memo From President and Founder Matt Freeman:
"I just thought of a brilliant financial opportunity for us. We start a business that teaches people Internet Tact. The internet has given everyone a forum that used to not exist. It used to be, if you wanted to say something to the world, you'd wear a sandwich board with your message and stand on a street corner or you'd stand in the town square and yell, "Here ye, here ye!" Now, anyone can say anything they want, uneditted, and somewhat annonomyously. We could call the company, "Web Tact-ics" or something gay (not that there's anything wrong with that) like that. Who's in?"
I have also been told that the Jeep will be the company vehicle, it is shiny and stands out.
A rundown of the board memebers is to follow, just be sure to know that i will be in sales, because i talk, a lot...
Fresh Memo From President and Founder Matt Freeman:
"I just thought of a brilliant financial opportunity for us. We start a business that teaches people Internet Tact. The internet has given everyone a forum that used to not exist. It used to be, if you wanted to say something to the world, you'd wear a sandwich board with your message and stand on a street corner or you'd stand in the town square and yell, "Here ye, here ye!" Now, anyone can say anything they want, uneditted, and somewhat annonomyously. We could call the company, "Web Tact-ics" or something gay (not that there's anything wrong with that) like that. Who's in?"
I have also been told that the Jeep will be the company vehicle, it is shiny and stands out.
Tuesday, June 26
Photos, for those who do not read, or who find me bland
Flying Pet
Is This White Trash???
Kid Implements
Giving Some Love to a Neglected Friend (and the "NEW" blue subaru behind it!!)
For Sale FOR REAL!! DO NOT talk to any perspective buyers and tell them what is REALLY under the hood!!
I am really hungry, but the oven/stove make the house really hot. Option one and only: Eat a 3 day old omlette. I think i will go for cereal.
Feeding Time, and i hold the prize!
It doesn't "look" that bad...
Doing some racing in Deer Valley, UT
Is This White Trash???
Kid Implements
Giving Some Love to a Neglected Friend (and the "NEW" blue subaru behind it!!)
For Sale FOR REAL!! DO NOT talk to any perspective buyers and tell them what is REALLY under the hood!!
I am really hungry, but the oven/stove make the house really hot. Option one and only: Eat a 3 day old omlette. I think i will go for cereal.
Feeding Time, and i hold the prize!
It doesn't "look" that bad...
Doing some racing in Deer Valley, UT
Successfully Failing
First Day on The Job:
LOST: One sock
FOUND: Shoe
FORGOT: Goggles for swim lessons, swim trunks, flip flops
I feel as if i have worked an 8 hr day on the field chasing junior high kids. but in fact, it has just been me, two pets, and an eight year old. something odd happens when you add a human as big as one of my legs to the mix. Laundry somehow quadruples, dishes pile, and random items become missing or found for that matter.
With the extra laundry, my pinky hurts. This is because in order for the spin cycle to work, i have to open the lid, hold the spinner thing with one hand and stick my pinky into the hole that makes it actually spin. Then hold on for dear life, hoping that it wont knock over the Oxyclean again. (Sorry again Mr. Freeman, for filling my trainer with oxyclean, then putting it in the back of your non-van with suspect white powder.)
I feel like i haven't ridden a bike in about 8 days, but it has actually only been 36 hours. But, i need to retrieve a new seat and front wheel from two seperate locations that just seem too far away.
I found a camera, actually i found three. So on my next adventure, where ever that may be, i will be well equipped to add some photos.
Until then, laundry, dishes, sweeping, organizing and perhaps a brief cat nap on the futon are in order.
LOST: One sock
FOUND: Shoe
FORGOT: Goggles for swim lessons, swim trunks, flip flops
I feel as if i have worked an 8 hr day on the field chasing junior high kids. but in fact, it has just been me, two pets, and an eight year old. something odd happens when you add a human as big as one of my legs to the mix. Laundry somehow quadruples, dishes pile, and random items become missing or found for that matter.
With the extra laundry, my pinky hurts. This is because in order for the spin cycle to work, i have to open the lid, hold the spinner thing with one hand and stick my pinky into the hole that makes it actually spin. Then hold on for dear life, hoping that it wont knock over the Oxyclean again. (Sorry again Mr. Freeman, for filling my trainer with oxyclean, then putting it in the back of your non-van with suspect white powder.)
I feel like i haven't ridden a bike in about 8 days, but it has actually only been 36 hours. But, i need to retrieve a new seat and front wheel from two seperate locations that just seem too far away.
I found a camera, actually i found three. So on my next adventure, where ever that may be, i will be well equipped to add some photos.
Until then, laundry, dishes, sweeping, organizing and perhaps a brief cat nap on the futon are in order.
Friday, June 22
Order of Trim Spa, For One, Please
I never thought we would have to go to this spot. But Timber is jiggly and squishy. But i don't think this product is for him. There is a series of recent events that has caused me to examine my posterior from quite a few vantage points.
Being a house wife and all, who does the bare minimum in the house and who is expecting child, in the form of an 8 year old to arrive Sunday, precious time must not be wasted. Matt - New Trek Demo Boy, needed a tour guide on the SART this week. I jumped at the opportunity, and well, maybe i should have taken an older bike.
I have embarked on some super secret covert training, so i can not divulge too much. The snowball affect of my mechanical in DV, coupled with a crack in the rim of my front wheel, tumbled me onto a borrowed bike for CovOp1. This was to be a 2.5 hour mountain bike ride. at minute 7, i snapped the seat tube. Makes one wonder. After pulling out broken piece, shoving post back in, i was looking at well over 2 hours in the saddle, BMX style. Oh, yea. I did feel real bad too. I thought i had slimmed down, and i didn't even take it off any sweet jumps.
Day two had much the same affect to the rear. I picked up my bike from the shop and headed straight for the trails. Approximate same distance to travel via mountain bike. 40 minutes in. Crack, crack, plink, ouch. There went both seat rails. Hmmm. The angle of the seat quickly went south, or the nose went quite north. I could not forgo the forthcoming events of single track drops, creeks, and oh dear, i may have said too much already, so i plodded along.
Now that i have compared the exact same route, with similarly, yet vastly different in the comfort, efficiency, and lame-looking department, bike "issues" as they say, i have concluded the following:
1. Trim Spa was good for Nicole
2. Riding with a too low seat takes a lot longer. No glutes or hamstring insertions are used, thus adding a lot to climb times.
3. Riding with a seat that is going the wrong direction in so many ways, has much longer lasting issues and should be avoided. Although travel time is quicker, the pay out is much smaller.
4.You are also forced to ride OUT of the saddle a lot which is a great training tool, for 30 seconds. Not 30 minutes. But you will sure find the dead spots in your pedal stroke and have the luxury of forgoing the gym for the upper body workout.
5. Descending without a seat post and saddle (i had to ride the single track and switch backs with it in my hand, since riding buddy was way ahead. then randomly he showed up behind me. i guess i am a bad tour guide, he took a wrong turn. Said, hmm, looks like you need a seat.)is quite invigorating and helps with balance and bike handling. Both hands on the bars a must.
6. Descending with a broken seat: tricky. It is good for balance, yet if choose the precisely incorrect moment to sit, this being a hard tail and all, you will realize that the bike is now a solid, immovable nor flexible object. Focus, and be careful.
Thanx to Mattfor his understanding and patience
Being a house wife and all, who does the bare minimum in the house and who is expecting child, in the form of an 8 year old to arrive Sunday, precious time must not be wasted. Matt - New Trek Demo Boy, needed a tour guide on the SART this week. I jumped at the opportunity, and well, maybe i should have taken an older bike.
I have embarked on some super secret covert training, so i can not divulge too much. The snowball affect of my mechanical in DV, coupled with a crack in the rim of my front wheel, tumbled me onto a borrowed bike for CovOp1. This was to be a 2.5 hour mountain bike ride. at minute 7, i snapped the seat tube. Makes one wonder. After pulling out broken piece, shoving post back in, i was looking at well over 2 hours in the saddle, BMX style. Oh, yea. I did feel real bad too. I thought i had slimmed down, and i didn't even take it off any sweet jumps.
Day two had much the same affect to the rear. I picked up my bike from the shop and headed straight for the trails. Approximate same distance to travel via mountain bike. 40 minutes in. Crack, crack, plink, ouch. There went both seat rails. Hmmm. The angle of the seat quickly went south, or the nose went quite north. I could not forgo the forthcoming events of single track drops, creeks, and oh dear, i may have said too much already, so i plodded along.
Now that i have compared the exact same route, with similarly, yet vastly different in the comfort, efficiency, and lame-looking department, bike "issues" as they say, i have concluded the following:
1. Trim Spa was good for Nicole
2. Riding with a too low seat takes a lot longer. No glutes or hamstring insertions are used, thus adding a lot to climb times.
3. Riding with a seat that is going the wrong direction in so many ways, has much longer lasting issues and should be avoided. Although travel time is quicker, the pay out is much smaller.
4.You are also forced to ride OUT of the saddle a lot which is a great training tool, for 30 seconds. Not 30 minutes. But you will sure find the dead spots in your pedal stroke and have the luxury of forgoing the gym for the upper body workout.
5. Descending without a seat post and saddle (i had to ride the single track and switch backs with it in my hand, since riding buddy was way ahead. then randomly he showed up behind me. i guess i am a bad tour guide, he took a wrong turn. Said, hmm, looks like you need a seat.)is quite invigorating and helps with balance and bike handling. Both hands on the bars a must.
6. Descending with a broken seat: tricky. It is good for balance, yet if choose the precisely incorrect moment to sit, this being a hard tail and all, you will realize that the bike is now a solid, immovable nor flexible object. Focus, and be careful.
Thanx to Mattfor his understanding and patience
Monday, June 18
I Have Nothing To Say
And the LIES continue...
I have logged onto my blog at least three times today without writing a single word. Now i will make a near futile attempt to cultivate interest in the reader to continue doing just that. Reading my blog.
WHY I MAY FAIL:
1. I have no photos. I can not find my camera, and i have no desire to search the net for things pertaining to my thoughts.
2. I am hungry. My interest is in only one spot...snacks
3. I think there may be other people with more interesting lives than mine
A Flit and a Flutter
About twice a week i scour my home for the loose change husband Jason has hidden, chucked on the floor, or sent through the washing machine. This is my coffee money, thus very important. Once it is found, i put it in a ziplock, then go to the coffee shop for an Iced Coffee. (You know you have "arrived" when you walk through the door and they say "Your iced coffee is ready, Slim B - that is an entire other story, the slim b part). ANYWAYS, if i LOOSE this loot or a single dollar bill, i flip out. i must find it and i will waste precious time looking for it.
Christie lost a $50 BILL. That was where i was going with that. we were packing the bikes in Deer Valley and a fidy was part of a payment for lodging. she placed it down on the ground next to her phone and that was that. About 20 minutes later, she wanted it, as did i, and it was GONE. Things got chaotic, sorta ugly you know. i started walking around, to look like i was doing something. Katerina Nash (a mountain biking wonder, who just won a race, and i told her she was "cool" - what is this, '85?) was dumping out a big barrel of water and it was running down towards our bike boxes. the allure of the stream pulled me closer, and there it was, with a flit and a flutter, it would have been gone. it was nessled in some tall grasses, blowing in the stiff wind. the bill was found. ANd that is about as exciting as it gets.
PRIZES
Shelli, is super cool. She is also now a Doctor of Physical Therapy (whats up with that?) and needed some gifts. i got her one HERE please check it out, it is REALLY Cool! (i got christie one for her bday too) But her Family got her one HERE. That is SOOO COOL!! There are some people who ride because they can, not because they are on fancy stuff. That is Shelli. Beware ladies, shelli's new bike is going to tear you apart. She has not gotten a new one in YEARS. the one she has been racing on is a HAND-ME-DOWN from a cousin as were the SHOES!! It may have even been a steel frame hardtail, but she shreds the down hill like a pro. I am afraid to see what she does to the trail on a dual suspension ride! If you can not tell, i am pretty stoked about this one!!
FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT
We (Christie, Matt and Joy) met up with (Romolo, Carolyn, Ely, Nigel and Sean) oy that is a full condo!!! In Park City UT for round 4 of the NMBS. This is the first race at elevation, where the mountain folk start to come out of the woods, so to speak. The venue is always great, although last year i was afraid, scared, intimdated, and inexperienced. This year the worked seemed to pay off. Lining up with the largest field ever, things were at a high level of expectation. I was able to push to the front with Maureen (the Sleeper from Phoenix who wore a Curious George Jersey, who know is sportin a nice team bike and wearing the Vanderkitten goods! Congrats on THAT) we were able to shake third, but faught the good hard fight to get away from each other!! I guestimate that i was holding a 48 second lead heading into the last 2 kilometers, then my drivetrain rebelled. i think we all know the sounds and the feelings and the emotions of begging and pleading with the machine to work for just a few more minutes!! As the the chain sucked itself up by the bottom bracket i had to STOP and pull it out. Then there she was, and there she wasn't! She ended up in first by 7 seconds. Almost as long as a Bull Ride at the Rodeo. Now I know how those cowboys feel. BUT, i was not disheartened! I have never raced that hard for so long and been pushed to that SPOT!! Maureen and i did our cool down together, chatted about sponsors and next year and how each of us were totally amazed at the other ability and our ability to stay with the other one! A truly rewarding day!!
I have logged onto my blog at least three times today without writing a single word. Now i will make a near futile attempt to cultivate interest in the reader to continue doing just that. Reading my blog.
WHY I MAY FAIL:
1. I have no photos. I can not find my camera, and i have no desire to search the net for things pertaining to my thoughts.
2. I am hungry. My interest is in only one spot...snacks
3. I think there may be other people with more interesting lives than mine
A Flit and a Flutter
About twice a week i scour my home for the loose change husband Jason has hidden, chucked on the floor, or sent through the washing machine. This is my coffee money, thus very important. Once it is found, i put it in a ziplock, then go to the coffee shop for an Iced Coffee. (You know you have "arrived" when you walk through the door and they say "Your iced coffee is ready, Slim B - that is an entire other story, the slim b part). ANYWAYS, if i LOOSE this loot or a single dollar bill, i flip out. i must find it and i will waste precious time looking for it.
Christie lost a $50 BILL. That was where i was going with that. we were packing the bikes in Deer Valley and a fidy was part of a payment for lodging. she placed it down on the ground next to her phone and that was that. About 20 minutes later, she wanted it, as did i, and it was GONE. Things got chaotic, sorta ugly you know. i started walking around, to look like i was doing something. Katerina Nash (a mountain biking wonder, who just won a race, and i told her she was "cool" - what is this, '85?) was dumping out a big barrel of water and it was running down towards our bike boxes. the allure of the stream pulled me closer, and there it was, with a flit and a flutter, it would have been gone. it was nessled in some tall grasses, blowing in the stiff wind. the bill was found. ANd that is about as exciting as it gets.
PRIZES
Shelli, is super cool. She is also now a Doctor of Physical Therapy (whats up with that?) and needed some gifts. i got her one HERE please check it out, it is REALLY Cool! (i got christie one for her bday too) But her Family got her one HERE. That is SOOO COOL!! There are some people who ride because they can, not because they are on fancy stuff. That is Shelli. Beware ladies, shelli's new bike is going to tear you apart. She has not gotten a new one in YEARS. the one she has been racing on is a HAND-ME-DOWN from a cousin as were the SHOES!! It may have even been a steel frame hardtail, but she shreds the down hill like a pro. I am afraid to see what she does to the trail on a dual suspension ride! If you can not tell, i am pretty stoked about this one!!
FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT
We (Christie, Matt and Joy) met up with (Romolo, Carolyn, Ely, Nigel and Sean) oy that is a full condo!!! In Park City UT for round 4 of the NMBS. This is the first race at elevation, where the mountain folk start to come out of the woods, so to speak. The venue is always great, although last year i was afraid, scared, intimdated, and inexperienced. This year the worked seemed to pay off. Lining up with the largest field ever, things were at a high level of expectation. I was able to push to the front with Maureen (the Sleeper from Phoenix who wore a Curious George Jersey, who know is sportin a nice team bike and wearing the Vanderkitten goods! Congrats on THAT) we were able to shake third, but faught the good hard fight to get away from each other!! I guestimate that i was holding a 48 second lead heading into the last 2 kilometers, then my drivetrain rebelled. i think we all know the sounds and the feelings and the emotions of begging and pleading with the machine to work for just a few more minutes!! As the the chain sucked itself up by the bottom bracket i had to STOP and pull it out. Then there she was, and there she wasn't! She ended up in first by 7 seconds. Almost as long as a Bull Ride at the Rodeo. Now I know how those cowboys feel. BUT, i was not disheartened! I have never raced that hard for so long and been pushed to that SPOT!! Maureen and i did our cool down together, chatted about sponsors and next year and how each of us were totally amazed at the other ability and our ability to stay with the other one! A truly rewarding day!!
Monday, June 11
Dude, i work here
I need to be brief. The lack of structured work has forced me to delve into projects i usually avoid and waste half my day away. my little mind has been churning for hours and a plethora of verbage could be dispelled onto this post. But i will stay strong, and just do a wee one!
GYM: The turnover of ill-qualified trainers at LA FITNESS where i work is astounding. I have been there over 4 years, many of them only 4 weeks. Today, as i was exiting post class, a trainer pulled me aside and the conversation went something like this: "I see you are very dedicated and just wanted to let you know if you ever need a trainer, some extra help, i am here. just ask." I just looked at him thinking: Dedicated to what? Sometimes showing up at 5:30am to teach spin? Or to working out? BUt i don't "work out" or even lift weights right now. What could he even offer me. I am a trained professional. Ok, so i just teach PE. So i replied, well, i am a competative mountain biker and my coach has me on a strict plan, so i think i will be fine. And, do you know i work here?
GYM: The turnover of ill-qualified trainers at LA FITNESS where i work is astounding. I have been there over 4 years, many of them only 4 weeks. Today, as i was exiting post class, a trainer pulled me aside and the conversation went something like this: "I see you are very dedicated and just wanted to let you know if you ever need a trainer, some extra help, i am here. just ask." I just looked at him thinking: Dedicated to what? Sometimes showing up at 5:30am to teach spin? Or to working out? BUt i don't "work out" or even lift weights right now. What could he even offer me. I am a trained professional. Ok, so i just teach PE. So i replied, well, i am a competative mountain biker and my coach has me on a strict plan, so i think i will be fine. And, do you know i work here?
Someone reminds me of TUMNUS. Have you ever had the horrid feeling while someone is telling you something oh so important, that you are about to explode with laughter because you finally, after milliseconds of brain churning thought, realize who they remind you of? I had one of those today, and this is who they reminded me of:
This is a direct quote from the coach regarding my latest training update. I think i need a hobby.
"Yo Joy
always an entertaining read - your head must be fun to be in!!!"
Wednesday, June 6
This is How They Feel
While we pedal our little souls out, the spectators look a lot like this. My Grandparents and parents and in laws for that matter, came to watch me race at Firestone a few weeks back. It made me feel REAL bad because it was so hot, so late in the day, and SOOOO boring. But they were awesome and Jason did a stellar job at the feed zone. Except he looked like nature wearing brown and khaki, so my teammate Ed the single speeder almost missed him!
My Dad is a professional photographer, so i would come spinning around a corner and there his giant lens would be and my mom was doing half-jacks (cheater jumping jacks) beside him yelling "yippee Joy." (This is true) My dad recently got part of his luggage stolen in either Mozambique or South Africa the part that went missing were the dozens of cables and chargers for ALL his equipment and computers. Over $500 worth and many hours of searching in stores and online for the goods.
What else:
Tour of Gila Pics: Back when in New MExico - This is Suzanne being the best sag wagon ever. I hope that is my brothers leg...who is to tell. Jeremy said she gave everyone on the team full leg rub downs after every race. Something to look into. I think Greg Pleiss, maybe? Or Marius, just keep an open mind.
My Dad is a professional photographer, so i would come spinning around a corner and there his giant lens would be and my mom was doing half-jacks (cheater jumping jacks) beside him yelling "yippee Joy." (This is true) My dad recently got part of his luggage stolen in either Mozambique or South Africa the part that went missing were the dozens of cables and chargers for ALL his equipment and computers. Over $500 worth and many hours of searching in stores and online for the goods.
What else:
1.) I drive with the windows down. A GIANT bee slammed into my car door, ricochet directly into my nose where it took a 90 degree turn, landing in my lap. I had to scoop it up, fluttering wildly and throw it out the window.
2.) Today is the beginning of the rest of my life, er, summer. Free lunch at Mexican restaurant with coworkers, quick check of the office for snacks and clothes (i found my crocs too) and then off on a bike ride. This is why i get paid the small bucks.
3.) A few updates from Boulder and Blue Sky Velo and Jeremy...the brother
Jeremy raced the IronHorse Classic a few weeks back! On the big long ride that follows the train, he got 16th and $60, whats up with that?!! He also sprinted for 7th in the crit, and promptly ran DIRECTLY into the barrier of hay, taking some other guy out too because the rest of the pack was swooping around the corner he MISSED that he had just ridden about 45 times. oy.
Tour of Gila Pics: Back when in New MExico - This is Suzanne being the best sag wagon ever. I hope that is my brothers leg...who is to tell. Jeremy said she gave everyone on the team full leg rub downs after every race. Something to look into. I think Greg Pleiss, maybe? Or Marius, just keep an open mind.
Total Chick race here, i think their teammate is in this picture. But i simply posted it for the fact that there is a boy lodged in the stack of tires to the left. Awesome. 
Suzanne killin' it on her cruiser bike, at night!
Wednesday, May 30
'Cause that's How I Roll
I did this fantastic update about some bike rides, and you just can't make everyone happy. Seems to be the story lately, you are too early too work, no wait, i think you were too late! You rode a bit too fast in your race, or, hmm, that was actually a bit too slow for the status quo. Now on that last post, i just wasn't keen enough to mention two other warriors of the woods: Silent Ed and Uncle Greg.
ed: I call him Gone in 60 Seconds, because he was. He is a super fast local who has sworn off racing, i believe, and just wrips up single track. He also cut out early to go live normal life.
uncle greg: Now he was "UPSET" at the lack of a mention in the blog. he has been on a "hiatus" from serious riding, so maybe that is why i neglected the name drop. Or, maybe it was the fact that he started a good 5 miles UP the road from us, making Ed chase him, who was chased by Matt for the reason that Matt was somewhat waiting for me, and i was chasing all of them. OR, it could be he was riding in Stealth T Brown All black, so i just didn't realize he was there. I did see him when he got a flat and was sitting in 7 Oaks and stopped waiting for me and talking about things in his garage. Please note this was unintentional but will probably happen again, to someone somewhere.
Things off the Bike are WAY more interesting than On the Bike:
DOZER PEED ON MY LEG. The pets like to cruise around the mountains in the Jeep, hanging their heads and catapulting slobber all over the car and infesting their fur into the interior. We got home the other day and "Happy Helpers" were trimming all the trees on the road. As soon as i opened the car door, the pets bolted to their unsuspecting friends. I lunged for them, landing a lucky grab getting both their collars in my hands. At that precise moment, Dozer was being manly and was on track to marking a large pine cone in the driveway. MY leg got in the way and i received quite the shower from about my knee down. I had no choice but to hold tight and stomp up the driveway pulling both pets with me, squishing in my flops, and kicking up dust clouds that quickly molded into a paste of pee-dust on my leg. I called Jason at work. He could do nothing to help me. He actually laughed at me. I hate it when people laugh at me.
Old News, Big Accomplishments:
Charlie from work took an hour and a half off his Breathless Agony time. He said it was because he didn't cramp and slept a lot before. Good to know!
Denise Monaham (i spelled that wrong) won some swimming events at her first home meet!!
I helped out at a Mom and Daughter mountain bike clinic with Tonya Bray Way back on Mothers Day our in Calabasas! Super cool with 10 year olds and their moms, and 30 year olds and their moms! They learned to ride down stairs, bunny hop, ride up a hill, and were able to eat some really great food!!
ed: I call him Gone in 60 Seconds, because he was. He is a super fast local who has sworn off racing, i believe, and just wrips up single track. He also cut out early to go live normal life.
uncle greg: Now he was "UPSET" at the lack of a mention in the blog. he has been on a "hiatus" from serious riding, so maybe that is why i neglected the name drop. Or, maybe it was the fact that he started a good 5 miles UP the road from us, making Ed chase him, who was chased by Matt for the reason that Matt was somewhat waiting for me, and i was chasing all of them. OR, it could be he was riding in Stealth T Brown All black, so i just didn't realize he was there. I did see him when he got a flat and was sitting in 7 Oaks and stopped waiting for me and talking about things in his garage. Please note this was unintentional but will probably happen again, to someone somewhere.
Things off the Bike are WAY more interesting than On the Bike:
DOZER PEED ON MY LEG. The pets like to cruise around the mountains in the Jeep, hanging their heads and catapulting slobber all over the car and infesting their fur into the interior. We got home the other day and "Happy Helpers" were trimming all the trees on the road. As soon as i opened the car door, the pets bolted to their unsuspecting friends. I lunged for them, landing a lucky grab getting both their collars in my hands. At that precise moment, Dozer was being manly and was on track to marking a large pine cone in the driveway. MY leg got in the way and i received quite the shower from about my knee down. I had no choice but to hold tight and stomp up the driveway pulling both pets with me, squishing in my flops, and kicking up dust clouds that quickly molded into a paste of pee-dust on my leg. I called Jason at work. He could do nothing to help me. He actually laughed at me. I hate it when people laugh at me.
Old News, Big Accomplishments:
Charlie from work took an hour and a half off his Breathless Agony time. He said it was because he didn't cramp and slept a lot before. Good to know!
Denise Monaham (i spelled that wrong) won some swimming events at her first home meet!!
I helped out at a Mom and Daughter mountain bike clinic with Tonya Bray Way back on Mothers Day our in Calabasas! Super cool with 10 year olds and their moms, and 30 year olds and their moms! They learned to ride down stairs, bunny hop, ride up a hill, and were able to eat some really great food!!
Monday, May 28
Does This bike make me look fat?
This weekend i was able to log near-epic rides. (nobody was airlifted, dehydrated or lost, thus the near). Ride number one caused some bike damage, leading me to ride a FAT bike for big ride number two. Here, the story unfolds. Quickly.
ONE: I was able to meet up with Adam, Art, Van, Eric and Robert from Team PossAbilities at Loch Leven. I rode from the house and we started the climb up to AO. There, we hit up the usuals of the Postal Loop, up Hill Ranch Road to Glass road and down the single track. For those of you who have no idea what in the world i am talking about, i took no pictures to help you out. Up in the San Bernardino mountains the Santa Ana River trail traverses some of the coolest terrain in the area.
The Company: GREAT! Super cool guys, solid athletes, and totally safe to ride with!
The Weather: Bit warm, would have been horrid down in the valley!
The Mechanical: Now i have extremely lucky on the mechanical side of mountain biking. On this ride, however, there are a lot of rocks, roots, dirt and sharp corners in narrow single track going down the hill. Going around one such corner, i realized my front brake lever was all the way to the grip and nothing was happening. MY rear wheel was locked up and i was "sliding" on about 6 inches of single track. Oops. I had lost my front disc brake pads and the the pin that holds them in. I gingerly made it to the huge water crossing where i met random guys who had just crossed. They were really funny and i told them i had been left in the woods alone with no brake and i had been crying. I finally caught my group where we decided to put rear brake in the front for more breaking power. (I actually didn't cry, just so you know. i quite thankful this happened on a training ride!!)
Once back to AO, i met Jason for a delicious lunch at the OAKS, we like to support the local economy!
When i was cleaning the bike and figuring out what parts i need to get by next weekends Cal State race, i realized my rear tire was a goner!! The sidewall was pulling away from the bead by about 2 inches!! I was VERY lucky i had decided not to descend back down Loch Leven with one brake and a sidewall that was about to blow!! I have heard that going down on the asphalt remnants from the 60's, weeds, and dirt of Loch Leven REALLY sucks!!
RIDE TWO: i TOTALLY did not want to ride my road bike this weekend and since both Christie and Shellie were out of town, i needed to be creative with my riding motivation. Mr. Freeman said to come along for another ride in the woods. I took the bait, and pulled out the Fat Possum. Now this is the bike that could make me look fat. It weighs in around 38 lbs (compared to the 22.5 of my bike). I think it has 6" of travel both front and back, but it was set up for Jason, so i only got about 3" out of both shocks!! It feels like riding a cruiser bike, all laid back and what not. So we just started climbing. Once at the top of Jenks Lake, i sheepishly asked Matt, um, how long did we just climb. 1.5 hours, 12.7 miles. At that point i received a phone call from Jason "So, how do you like my bike???" It really SUCKS. I haven't even riden down a hill yet!!! I kept entertaining the idea of bailing out, but there was true EPIC down hill to come.
Once we collected the group (they waited as i just continually pedalled) it was on. I haven't bailed, cased it, jumped off and purely wrecked so much all year. Nothing BAD happened just a lot of really odd looking and located bruises and nicks.
Funniest Part: We took an off shoot to the trail that i had never taken before, within about 4 minutes of over grown descent, we popped out on the river, crossing a bridge DIRECTLY into an occupied campsite, pumpin the Musica en Espanol, consuming cervesa and fishing. We had to actually pick up our bikes so we wouldnt hit any of their camping implements or children. Once squeezing through their tent lines i realized we were actually in 7 Oaks, right by their store when i promptly blurted "This is weirder than living in Forest Falls" Matt said the guy in the store heard me and was offended and charged them $8 for peanuts. i think he was lying. There was a swimming pool, Mobile home for sale only $53,000!!! We might go look at it today. or not.
This is when i remembered where we actually were and how much climbing loomed ahead to get us back to Angeles Oaks. Oy. What a day to feel fat, and ride Fat. Now my moral side took over and i began to feel bad.
This is Jason's bike, and i have made him ride it 18.6 miles in Big Bear, at altitude. He also rode it on the Hell ride last year. Every time i dumped this bike, it was a struggle to pick it back up with my weenie-cyclist arms. I couldn't clip out because the pedal was too tight. No wonder Jason threw his helmet 7 times and walked a lot. But it was even hard to push the dang thing.
Oh well. Today is a holiday, so no kids. I got up at 4:30am to go teach spin, very unwillingly. I kept remembering the last holiday that fell on a monday and that we did not have spin, but i was not informed otherwise, so i went. And there was a sign on the door that the first aerobics class of the day was at 8:30am and it was step. I stared blankly at the door for about 58 seconds. I had brought my swimmers so i sat in the hot tub in an attempt to appease my very angry quads, then came home for a nap with the puppies that began at 6:45 am. They like to cuddle!
ONE: I was able to meet up with Adam, Art, Van, Eric and Robert from Team PossAbilities at Loch Leven. I rode from the house and we started the climb up to AO. There, we hit up the usuals of the Postal Loop, up Hill Ranch Road to Glass road and down the single track. For those of you who have no idea what in the world i am talking about, i took no pictures to help you out. Up in the San Bernardino mountains the Santa Ana River trail traverses some of the coolest terrain in the area.
The Company: GREAT! Super cool guys, solid athletes, and totally safe to ride with!
The Weather: Bit warm, would have been horrid down in the valley!
The Mechanical: Now i have extremely lucky on the mechanical side of mountain biking. On this ride, however, there are a lot of rocks, roots, dirt and sharp corners in narrow single track going down the hill. Going around one such corner, i realized my front brake lever was all the way to the grip and nothing was happening. MY rear wheel was locked up and i was "sliding" on about 6 inches of single track. Oops. I had lost my front disc brake pads and the the pin that holds them in. I gingerly made it to the huge water crossing where i met random guys who had just crossed. They were really funny and i told them i had been left in the woods alone with no brake and i had been crying. I finally caught my group where we decided to put rear brake in the front for more breaking power. (I actually didn't cry, just so you know. i quite thankful this happened on a training ride!!)
Once back to AO, i met Jason for a delicious lunch at the OAKS, we like to support the local economy!
When i was cleaning the bike and figuring out what parts i need to get by next weekends Cal State race, i realized my rear tire was a goner!! The sidewall was pulling away from the bead by about 2 inches!! I was VERY lucky i had decided not to descend back down Loch Leven with one brake and a sidewall that was about to blow!! I have heard that going down on the asphalt remnants from the 60's, weeds, and dirt of Loch Leven REALLY sucks!!
RIDE TWO: i TOTALLY did not want to ride my road bike this weekend and since both Christie and Shellie were out of town, i needed to be creative with my riding motivation. Mr. Freeman said to come along for another ride in the woods. I took the bait, and pulled out the Fat Possum. Now this is the bike that could make me look fat. It weighs in around 38 lbs (compared to the 22.5 of my bike). I think it has 6" of travel both front and back, but it was set up for Jason, so i only got about 3" out of both shocks!! It feels like riding a cruiser bike, all laid back and what not. So we just started climbing. Once at the top of Jenks Lake, i sheepishly asked Matt, um, how long did we just climb. 1.5 hours, 12.7 miles. At that point i received a phone call from Jason "So, how do you like my bike???" It really SUCKS. I haven't even riden down a hill yet!!! I kept entertaining the idea of bailing out, but there was true EPIC down hill to come.
Once we collected the group (they waited as i just continually pedalled) it was on. I haven't bailed, cased it, jumped off and purely wrecked so much all year. Nothing BAD happened just a lot of really odd looking and located bruises and nicks.
Funniest Part: We took an off shoot to the trail that i had never taken before, within about 4 minutes of over grown descent, we popped out on the river, crossing a bridge DIRECTLY into an occupied campsite, pumpin the Musica en Espanol, consuming cervesa and fishing. We had to actually pick up our bikes so we wouldnt hit any of their camping implements or children. Once squeezing through their tent lines i realized we were actually in 7 Oaks, right by their store when i promptly blurted "This is weirder than living in Forest Falls" Matt said the guy in the store heard me and was offended and charged them $8 for peanuts. i think he was lying. There was a swimming pool, Mobile home for sale only $53,000!!! We might go look at it today. or not.
This is when i remembered where we actually were and how much climbing loomed ahead to get us back to Angeles Oaks. Oy. What a day to feel fat, and ride Fat. Now my moral side took over and i began to feel bad.
This is Jason's bike, and i have made him ride it 18.6 miles in Big Bear, at altitude. He also rode it on the Hell ride last year. Every time i dumped this bike, it was a struggle to pick it back up with my weenie-cyclist arms. I couldn't clip out because the pedal was too tight. No wonder Jason threw his helmet 7 times and walked a lot. But it was even hard to push the dang thing.
Oh well. Today is a holiday, so no kids. I got up at 4:30am to go teach spin, very unwillingly. I kept remembering the last holiday that fell on a monday and that we did not have spin, but i was not informed otherwise, so i went. And there was a sign on the door that the first aerobics class of the day was at 8:30am and it was step. I stared blankly at the door for about 58 seconds. I had brought my swimmers so i sat in the hot tub in an attempt to appease my very angry quads, then came home for a nap with the puppies that began at 6:45 am. They like to cuddle!
Tuesday, May 22
Swimming Holes, Kittens, and ice cream Bars
We raced at Castaic on Sunday, round number 3 of the Cal State Series. It has become a necessary evil that most people approach with deep distain. Upon arriving, i asked semi-pro Romolo Forcino if he had come out to pre-ride. His reply was patent of anyone who had ever raced there before. "NO. I know how to ride up a hill." And that about sums it up.
Pro women started at 1:18 pm with us experts just two minutes behind. The morning marine layer had burned off, allowing the sun the begin the burning of our flesh. It was hot. The thing with this course is that all the climbing is on super exposed fire roads. The only shade is a quick bit of single track which was actually very entertaining due to the fact that it runs through a picnic area and parallel with the lake shore riddled with fisher-people. There were many unknowing and unwilling spectators as we careened through the park and ruffled the tranquility of their afternoon walk or lunch with their family.
Thats what brings me to the swimming hole. The lake looked really yucky, but i SO wanted to fall of the trail and into it. I have not been this hot since Santa Barbara last year. The air was thick and stagnant, with barely any break.
i also had to think about kittens and puppies to keep my mind calm and sane. The funny thing is that i felt about 180% better than i did at this event last October.
Then i really wanted ice cream, but the level of exertion on my system made me choose wisely, and avoid all such products until later in the day.
Once the race was over and i had sprinted another guy on a specialized for the finish (he was a semi-pro and i passed him in the feed zone, his mom yelled "Hey, you just got passed by a girl." He came up next to me knowing he had ANOTHER LAP to race and told me he would sprint through the start finish line. He won. Then raced another lap.) The only "technical section" was a small bit of descending double track with really sandy switchback. And there was some of those going up too. Anyways, on the DOWN ones lap too, i was mid-pack with the pro/semi-pro mens field (being lapped and all) which quickly turned into the "High heart rate" for the day. They were super nice, but totally on a different mission than I. Personally, i was attempting to stay about 5 switchbacks ahead of my nearest fo (who happened to be in another class anyways) and these guys were on a mission for pure domination and destruction of a guy about half a switchback behind. But it was cool to see their lines and try to take them and it was cool to see one of them clip out!
I could see a thick layer of salt on my skin and on my kit and my head began turning flips. Later, by the wiesness of Caoch Gareth, i learned that these are signs of dehydration. Go figure. Monday i felt like i had a severe flu and hated everything, except my pets.
I know i have said i wont really blog straight up race reports, but i have nothing else to say. I think this was a redemption race for this course for sure, i actually enjoyed the experience and was able to come out with a bit of a victory too.
Christie, on the other had, fell to the fate of a bee. The wee little monster took her race result into his own stinger and stung her, forcing her to pull out of the race after two laps. Good work out though and the epi-pen was not needed!
Pro women started at 1:18 pm with us experts just two minutes behind. The morning marine layer had burned off, allowing the sun the begin the burning of our flesh. It was hot. The thing with this course is that all the climbing is on super exposed fire roads. The only shade is a quick bit of single track which was actually very entertaining due to the fact that it runs through a picnic area and parallel with the lake shore riddled with fisher-people. There were many unknowing and unwilling spectators as we careened through the park and ruffled the tranquility of their afternoon walk or lunch with their family.
Thats what brings me to the swimming hole. The lake looked really yucky, but i SO wanted to fall of the trail and into it. I have not been this hot since Santa Barbara last year. The air was thick and stagnant, with barely any break.
i also had to think about kittens and puppies to keep my mind calm and sane. The funny thing is that i felt about 180% better than i did at this event last October.
Then i really wanted ice cream, but the level of exertion on my system made me choose wisely, and avoid all such products until later in the day.
Once the race was over and i had sprinted another guy on a specialized for the finish (he was a semi-pro and i passed him in the feed zone, his mom yelled "Hey, you just got passed by a girl." He came up next to me knowing he had ANOTHER LAP to race and told me he would sprint through the start finish line. He won. Then raced another lap.) The only "technical section" was a small bit of descending double track with really sandy switchback. And there was some of those going up too. Anyways, on the DOWN ones lap too, i was mid-pack with the pro/semi-pro mens field (being lapped and all) which quickly turned into the "High heart rate" for the day. They were super nice, but totally on a different mission than I. Personally, i was attempting to stay about 5 switchbacks ahead of my nearest fo (who happened to be in another class anyways) and these guys were on a mission for pure domination and destruction of a guy about half a switchback behind. But it was cool to see their lines and try to take them and it was cool to see one of them clip out!
I could see a thick layer of salt on my skin and on my kit and my head began turning flips. Later, by the wiesness of Caoch Gareth, i learned that these are signs of dehydration. Go figure. Monday i felt like i had a severe flu and hated everything, except my pets.
I know i have said i wont really blog straight up race reports, but i have nothing else to say. I think this was a redemption race for this course for sure, i actually enjoyed the experience and was able to come out with a bit of a victory too.
Christie, on the other had, fell to the fate of a bee. The wee little monster took her race result into his own stinger and stung her, forcing her to pull out of the race after two laps. Good work out though and the epi-pen was not needed!
Wednesday, May 16
I found some things online
ACMA'S: Last night a pivotal event was held celebrating Country Music Legends and newcomers. I sure hope you watched it, Tivo'd it, or will have already ordered the leather-bound box set. This is Montgomery Gentry, duh. I really like their outfits, especially the skull detail paired with big hat. The gallery of photos is amazing, the outfits cunning and well thought out. Levi's with white shirt, black ten gallon hat. Small dress with lace up boots. Great Combo!! Sometimes i wear hats, but only outside.
Jason has a hat, but i made him stop wearing it unless he is hiking on the TICK trail, so he wont get ticks. 
Speaking of Ticks, I hope Carrot Top checks his head well before he goes to bed. He is looking a little top-heavy in the bicep area, dont you think? I always thought of him as more scrawny and sinewy than this shot. Also, he could develop his quads more too.
The Plight of Wee Man
Wee Man, tim-Tam himself, had a run in with the Vet. it was late Saturday night as he sat next to me on the futon, slightly leaning in. My hand lightly grazed over some odd formations on his side. They looked like raised crop signs, and they swiftly began to multiply. Now whether or not it was wheat reacting with his insides, aliens yerning for contact, or a bug in his bed, we will never quite know.
I changed his "sheets" and vacuumed his room. I gave him benedryl and watched his every move. They spread and joined and raised higher, getting hotter and hotter. So, i took him to the vet. He has never been there, so he thought it was a very glamorous play date. He sauntered about, sliding on the slick floor. All the other pets there were owned by Buick-driving men with canes. their pets could have been show stoppers in Best in Show. All of which could stand under Wee Man without touching his teets. he just flattened himself on the ground and let them tackle him and roll around. The vet asked me if i have thought about taking him to obedient school. Um no, i AM the school. I live in the woods, my life is chaos, i am crazy, so what would expect of my pets? the nerve.
Bottom line and statistics:
1. Wee Man Weighs in at 71.6 LBS!!
2. New Diet: Tree-Hugging, high end Hollywood type hypo-allergenic food that contains more organic and pure ingredients then MY diet!!
3. Two shots of something fantastic that made the Bumps dissapear within 44 minutes
Oral medication: 3 2x a day
4. Shampoo, again, more expensive then mine combined with the new hair brush i bought to be used 2 times a week. We dont have a tub, so it's shower time. It also has to stay ON him for 20 minutes. Good luck with that one!!
He is now probably chillin in his crate, staring Dozer down, praying that he will unlatch his door!!
I changed his "sheets" and vacuumed his room. I gave him benedryl and watched his every move. They spread and joined and raised higher, getting hotter and hotter. So, i took him to the vet. He has never been there, so he thought it was a very glamorous play date. He sauntered about, sliding on the slick floor. All the other pets there were owned by Buick-driving men with canes. their pets could have been show stoppers in Best in Show. All of which could stand under Wee Man without touching his teets. he just flattened himself on the ground and let them tackle him and roll around. The vet asked me if i have thought about taking him to obedient school. Um no, i AM the school. I live in the woods, my life is chaos, i am crazy, so what would expect of my pets? the nerve.
Bottom line and statistics:
1. Wee Man Weighs in at 71.6 LBS!!
2. New Diet: Tree-Hugging, high end Hollywood type hypo-allergenic food that contains more organic and pure ingredients then MY diet!!
3. Two shots of something fantastic that made the Bumps dissapear within 44 minutes
Oral medication: 3 2x a day
4. Shampoo, again, more expensive then mine combined with the new hair brush i bought to be used 2 times a week. We dont have a tub, so it's shower time. It also has to stay ON him for 20 minutes. Good luck with that one!!
He is now probably chillin in his crate, staring Dozer down, praying that he will unlatch his door!!
Tuesday, May 8
Go Protect a Trail
Most people talk a dumpster full of trash about the mountain bike scene in the Inland Empire. But they don't live here. Ye haw for them for living in such pristine and wonderfully environmentally sound communities where the single track must run to the state line and the foliage is green year round with little or no human intrusion. Good for them.
But we live here. We have decided to train in sand, dust, half-asphalt conditions that shockingly have prepared us to compete wheel-to-wheel with the above mentioned trail warriors. Oh yes, did i forget about the dozens of mile of single track network that i can ride to from my house and sneak up on deer, snakes, bear, mountain lion, fox, and bobcats. Or were they sneaking up on me? People are so quick to dismiss an entire region without being educated about it. Better for i guess, they can go shred their own pine needles.
The little we do have is precious, and it is being encroached on.
Thursday May 10th 6 PM Loma Linda Civic Center Community Room
Town meeting regarding the land in and around Hulda Crooks Park.
Be there. If not to say anything, at least to know why giant earth movers could in fact soon be moving the earth you call a trail.
New trails are being cut in the Crafton Hills as we speak. Although 57 family sized homes are being built at the base of the hill, the Crafton Nature Conservancy has worked hours with the developer to protect the land and the animals and to allow for only minimal development. Go thank a park worker.
PRized Possession
My dad sent me this picture, i think it is from Ecuador. He had sent me a picture of a "bike shop" in Africa but i cant find it. This gentleman only has this bike. He travels all through the country side doing his work, on his bike. He has probably never thought about the height of his seat, the weight of the tubes in his tires or whether or not to use tubes for that matter. But check out his smile. THAT is why i ride bikes!!
But we live here. We have decided to train in sand, dust, half-asphalt conditions that shockingly have prepared us to compete wheel-to-wheel with the above mentioned trail warriors. Oh yes, did i forget about the dozens of mile of single track network that i can ride to from my house and sneak up on deer, snakes, bear, mountain lion, fox, and bobcats. Or were they sneaking up on me? People are so quick to dismiss an entire region without being educated about it. Better for i guess, they can go shred their own pine needles.
The little we do have is precious, and it is being encroached on.
Thursday May 10th 6 PM Loma Linda Civic Center Community Room
Town meeting regarding the land in and around Hulda Crooks Park.
Be there. If not to say anything, at least to know why giant earth movers could in fact soon be moving the earth you call a trail.
New trails are being cut in the Crafton Hills as we speak. Although 57 family sized homes are being built at the base of the hill, the Crafton Nature Conservancy has worked hours with the developer to protect the land and the animals and to allow for only minimal development. Go thank a park worker.
PRized Possession
My dad sent me this picture, i think it is from Ecuador. He had sent me a picture of a "bike shop" in Africa but i cant find it. This gentleman only has this bike. He travels all through the country side doing his work, on his bike. He has probably never thought about the height of his seat, the weight of the tubes in his tires or whether or not to use tubes for that matter. But check out his smile. THAT is why i ride bikes!!
Sunday, May 6
Little Known Facts
Tour of the Gila Update: The brother, forges on with his top 15 performances. In friday's really long road race: 12th place, right in the lead pack. Pulling into Saturdays Criterium, i was skeptical, but when i clicked on the results last night, i was stoked to see yet another 12th place finish, bumping up to 16th over all in the General Classifications. Dang. We'll see what today brings!!
NMBS #3 Fontana: That was yesterday, a pretty tough ride. I was able to hold onto first place, squeaking out another national win. I was very greatful to have stayed up right the entire race, even though my legs were quaking like little leaves on many of the descents, all three laps!! Once again the girls in my category are a class act, very professional and kind, which is a breath of fresh air. I was also lucky to have support out on the course from my team and Jason, and being a local race, many of the local racers/fans were out in droves!! Also, Tanya from Cannondale and all my other racing homies.
So many people talk so bad about this event, it is actually funny. The course is challenging and entertaining and very tough. It tends to morph even between laps, you will NEVER be able to ride the same line!! The air was clean all weekend, the temps pretty mellow, and the wind moderate, pretty darn nice for Fontana. I was out checking things out on Friday, and a guy was complaining about the horrible air, high winds, and nasty surroundings. Lets just say i told him whats up. Can you see the mountains? Check. Are the paint ball gangs here? No. Is the trash picked up? Yes. Can you ride these trails? No.
Grafitti in action: This is sorta funny and ghetto. I was walking to the bathrooms by the softball field and much to my suprise, i saw grafitti being created. Now i always thought this happened at night, by street light and created by ex-cons, always male. But no. It was 1 pm. A "girl" and her son were standing behind the bleachers with a huge expo marker, making signs on the top seat. The boy was asking his mother if he was making the letters the correct way and they headed over to tag the drinking fountain. I just looked down and walked into the bathroom. She had big hoop earings, i know what those mean. She could probably throw down and wouldnt hesitate to do it in front of her proginy.
Trohpies that WIN: I give Team Southridge a HUGE thumbs up, you guys are winners, award. I get really tired of lame around the neck awards or plastic monstous things. Now once again, dont think i am cocky. i race against 4-10 people most of the time so the podium isnt a long shot.
For yesterdays event, i got a WInners Jersey!!! Stamped with "Fontana 2007 race winner" front and back. I will make sure NOT to wear it riding through Rialto or anywhere else for that matter that may have a territory war going on.
Then, there was a set of ODI grips. BRIGHT GOLD!!! What more would i ever want?? They were all placed neatly in the Holy Grail, i mean a really big mug/cup/challis thing that is the best EVER!! I am actually being serious, and i will post pictures of them soon.
Sponsor of the day: I could not have done it without these guys:
1. Pedialyte: I drink 1-2 of these two days prior to an event. I usually split it with water, but i think it helps keep me hydrated and avoids awful things like hypernetremia - again.
2. The Reese's Fast Break: Excellent the day before and after the race. NEVER during or right before, stupid idea. but at 270 calories of pure goodness, you really cant go wrong!
Some people are WAY nicer than me: Sarah Kaufmann, from Rauring Mouse is great. She was second place yesterday and gave me quite the run for my spot. I had seen that she was registered, but her name was a new one so i googled her (duh). I figured out she is quite the endurance racers competing in 8-24 hour events. And doing well. Uh-oh. On lap one, i was about 12 seconds ahead of her and i dropped my chain. I had to stop to fix it. i started flippen out (in my head) Thinking i was about to lose the lead blah blah blah. She stopped. She asked if i was ok. She waited for me to start again, she never went passed me. Now, if i was to take a poll of all the racers i know, i would guarentee that about 99.2% of you would ride by, wish me luck, and kick up a rooster tail of dust. Not the case. If she had passed me, who knows what would have happened, but i do know that she is very classy and quite the racer.
We had a guest!: Mary Ellen ASh stayed with us up here in the woods. The pets liked her and she liked the pets, so that is a very good thing!! I totally let the house explode, vowing to do no dishes or laundry folding over the weekend. sorry about that! But it was a fun time!
Friday, May 4
They didn't even KNOW
Today during our Cinco de Mayo party on the field, a wooden bat-wielding student headed for the Pinata and jokingly swung it towards my leg. I responded with an automatic "Dont Do a Nancy Kerrigan on me." they just stared. So the explanations were quite necessary.
"Olympic figure skater hopeful Nancy Kerrigan (at right) is attacked by a man apparently working with rival skater Tanya Harding (left). Kerrigan and Harding are vying for spots on the US Olympic team. The attack is widely thought to be one way of ensuring that Harding would make the team and earn a Gold medal in Lillehammer. She does make the team, but her turn is lackluster and is characterized by complaints to judges about her skates' poor performance. Kerrigan will go to become an international skating star. Harding will participate in a women's smack down wrestling contest."
I could push this issue really far, but i just feel like doing a photo-log of the events back in 1994. The year i graduated from 8th grade
What began as an innocent quest for Olympic stardom, turned into a debackle that will forever taint Figure Skating.
Tanya Harding, the native Rural Orgonian realized she she may not make the cut, so she took matters into her own hands, or shall we say her pocket book as she hired an un0skilled hit man to make the crack on the knee heard around the world.
"WHY???" Nancy wailed as the crow bar richoched off the side of her patella. She was still clad in super-hero duds heading for the locker room. Nancy was able to rehab and go to the Olympics, as did Tanya.
Harding also tried to jump-start her athletic career in boxing. I think she lost. Or at least she should have.
On a better note, go watch Blades of Glory
"Olympic figure skater hopeful Nancy Kerrigan (at right) is attacked by a man apparently working with rival skater Tanya Harding (left). Kerrigan and Harding are vying for spots on the US Olympic team. The attack is widely thought to be one way of ensuring that Harding would make the team and earn a Gold medal in Lillehammer. She does make the team, but her turn is lackluster and is characterized by complaints to judges about her skates' poor performance. Kerrigan will go to become an international skating star. Harding will participate in a women's smack down wrestling contest."
I could push this issue really far, but i just feel like doing a photo-log of the events back in 1994. The year i graduated from 8th grade
What began as an innocent quest for Olympic stardom, turned into a debackle that will forever taint Figure Skating.
Tanya Harding, the native Rural Orgonian realized she she may not make the cut, so she took matters into her own hands, or shall we say her pocket book as she hired an un0skilled hit man to make the crack on the knee heard around the world.
"WHY???" Nancy wailed as the crow bar richoched off the side of her patella. She was still clad in super-hero duds heading for the locker room. Nancy was able to rehab and go to the Olympics, as did Tanya.Kerrigan has gone on to do charity work, skating with the stars and many other productive things like child bearing.
Harding, on the other hand, has found her face in mug shots, gained some L-B's, divorced her husband, and otherwise slandered herself. She cried at events, complaining that her lace was not tied right and got a redo, and still didn't do well. 
Harding also tried to jump-start her athletic career in boxing. I think she lost. Or at least she should have.
On a better note, go watch Blades of Glory
Thursday, May 3
Elated!!!
Many of you know i have an older brother who is a Cat 3 roadie out of Boulder, CO. Pretty the sole person i blame for getting me into this mountain biking problem we call racing. Now this has been a very long winter for him and his wife Suzanne as i have mentioned in previous posts.
This past sunday, as we were having our weekly "how many hours did you ride today and how bad was the heat or how deep was the snow" conversation, he dropped the "I am doing a stage race this weekend" line. Well, i am doing a NMBS race this weekend.
So i get on line as usual to check out his results at THE TOUR OF THE GILA which is just this MONSTER of an undertaking in New MExico.
TT: Day one
18TH PLACE (out of 73!!!!!!) JEREMY DUERKSEN BLUE SKY VELO 2:23 min off the leader. For some reason i was under the belief that he doesnt train any more. hmmm. then i thought well he has a solid mountain biking background, and mtn bikers do well at tt...
RR: Day two
13th place!!!!!!!! out of 71!! 4:59 off the front. He is sitting pretty in 14th place GC!!! I am so excited, but i dont have his phone number or Suzannes to call them and get the play by play recap (he sucks at those though, probably because he is a boy and my sister and i took all the talking time when we were small) and tell him out AWESOME he is!!!
Hopefully he is sleeping or watching ROCKY BALBOA right now to get him all amped up for day 3 of the 5 day race. That is a very, long, event!!!
This past sunday, as we were having our weekly "how many hours did you ride today and how bad was the heat or how deep was the snow" conversation, he dropped the "I am doing a stage race this weekend" line. Well, i am doing a NMBS race this weekend.
So i get on line as usual to check out his results at THE TOUR OF THE GILA which is just this MONSTER of an undertaking in New MExico.
TT: Day one
18TH PLACE (out of 73!!!!!!) JEREMY DUERKSEN BLUE SKY VELO 2:23 min off the leader. For some reason i was under the belief that he doesnt train any more. hmmm. then i thought well he has a solid mountain biking background, and mtn bikers do well at tt...
RR: Day two
13th place!!!!!!!! out of 71!! 4:59 off the front. He is sitting pretty in 14th place GC!!! I am so excited, but i dont have his phone number or Suzannes to call them and get the play by play recap (he sucks at those though, probably because he is a boy and my sister and i took all the talking time when we were small) and tell him out AWESOME he is!!!
Hopefully he is sleeping or watching ROCKY BALBOA right now to get him all amped up for day 3 of the 5 day race. That is a very, long, event!!!
Wednesday, May 2
Don't Call me, Part 2
Way back when our home line was taken out blah blah blah. Well now, my cell phone is down for the count and i am too cheap to fix the problem. I left my charger at Jason's dads house so now i am just waiting for it to arrive in the mail.
If you are cool enough, you have that number. then you can call it and hear me tell you to call my house in the woods if you really need me. Then you can call there and leave a message. Later on i might call you back and give you Jason's personal cell phone number, not his work cell phone number. then if you need to, you can call me on that one.
Also, if you are "in" you can drop me an email.
If you do not meet the above requirements, you have either fallen off my "list" or made it onto the "other" list. Best of luck
If you are cool enough, you have that number. then you can call it and hear me tell you to call my house in the woods if you really need me. Then you can call there and leave a message. Later on i might call you back and give you Jason's personal cell phone number, not his work cell phone number. then if you need to, you can call me on that one.
Also, if you are "in" you can drop me an email.
If you do not meet the above requirements, you have either fallen off my "list" or made it onto the "other" list. Best of luck
Tuesday, May 1
I owe it all to.....
COACH'S OATS I got a bag of this cereal from my sponsor bike shop, and i have been eating it every morning since. I usually add some fresh fruit like strawberries or bananas with some almond milk. it must have been the trick, the last missing element, to my first NMBS WIN!!!
I will never really know what the trick was, but i will continually attempt to repeat it or find that groove. Maybe it was the high noon start, just like 3rd period PE out on the field. Or maybe the near 100 degree weather with high winds kicking up towers of dust. Once again, another great day in the Inland Empire. Or maybe it was because my parents, grandparents, inlaws, husband, and dogs were there. OR, last but not least, maybe it was because i had TEAMMATES out on course!!
To have all those great people there, AND my mountain biking family (who i feel i terribly neglected over the weekend. Can we be friends again?!?!) was fantastic!!
NICE PEOPLE after a dusty pre-ride on saturday, i headed to the car leary that i was going to have a mechanical. I am pretty new with hydrolic disc brakes and i really stink at adjusting them. I was accompanied on my ride with a constant whir and ting, not a good sound. As i was loading up and talking to the husband, i mentioned to him that my brakes were being lame. AS soon as i hung up, the van FULL of guys next to me asked if they could work on my bike. Maybe it was that we were all on Specialized or that we recognized eachother from So Cal racing, or i was just a lame girl alone in a cow pasture. None the less, the hooked me up big time!! I am not going to admit to all the things they fixed, but lets just say that about 10% of them were my fault. Come race time, the Sho Air guys were out on course or in the feed zone and start finish line and they were cheering for me!! How cool is that! MOre contacts made, more friends to be found!!
Nice people part 2: I was very tired on Monday morning. Jason and i had this great plan of saving money and car pooling to work. Um, no. That would mean an entire hour early to work for me, not gonna happen. So i was left with the jeep, on E. I rolled it down the driveway and coasted out of the woods and off the mountain just in time to roll into Circle K. As i raveged through my bag, i realized that my man-wallet was on table at home, UP the mountain. I had $2.20 and i was officially late for roll call for first period. Oops. I run inside and ask if they take checks. No stupid. what IS a check?? When i ran back in with my change, the lady behind the counter GAVE ME $4.00!!!! She sees me about 4 times and week and told me to bring it by the next day. I gave her a 5 yesterday. how nice is that though? Another un-named coworker loaned me some more cash because it was JASON'S BIRTHDAY and the gas i had put in the car wasnt enough to get me home to get my wallet!!! I also bought $10 off of Charlie with a check so that i could get Jason his lunch, which i was supposed to have made, birthday and all, but didnt. Oy, what a way to roll through a Monday!!!
I will never really know what the trick was, but i will continually attempt to repeat it or find that groove. Maybe it was the high noon start, just like 3rd period PE out on the field. Or maybe the near 100 degree weather with high winds kicking up towers of dust. Once again, another great day in the Inland Empire. Or maybe it was because my parents, grandparents, inlaws, husband, and dogs were there. OR, last but not least, maybe it was because i had TEAMMATES out on course!!
To have all those great people there, AND my mountain biking family (who i feel i terribly neglected over the weekend. Can we be friends again?!?!) was fantastic!!
NICE PEOPLE after a dusty pre-ride on saturday, i headed to the car leary that i was going to have a mechanical. I am pretty new with hydrolic disc brakes and i really stink at adjusting them. I was accompanied on my ride with a constant whir and ting, not a good sound. As i was loading up and talking to the husband, i mentioned to him that my brakes were being lame. AS soon as i hung up, the van FULL of guys next to me asked if they could work on my bike. Maybe it was that we were all on Specialized or that we recognized eachother from So Cal racing, or i was just a lame girl alone in a cow pasture. None the less, the hooked me up big time!! I am not going to admit to all the things they fixed, but lets just say that about 10% of them were my fault. Come race time, the Sho Air guys were out on course or in the feed zone and start finish line and they were cheering for me!! How cool is that! MOre contacts made, more friends to be found!!
Nice people part 2: I was very tired on Monday morning. Jason and i had this great plan of saving money and car pooling to work. Um, no. That would mean an entire hour early to work for me, not gonna happen. So i was left with the jeep, on E. I rolled it down the driveway and coasted out of the woods and off the mountain just in time to roll into Circle K. As i raveged through my bag, i realized that my man-wallet was on table at home, UP the mountain. I had $2.20 and i was officially late for roll call for first period. Oops. I run inside and ask if they take checks. No stupid. what IS a check?? When i ran back in with my change, the lady behind the counter GAVE ME $4.00!!!! She sees me about 4 times and week and told me to bring it by the next day. I gave her a 5 yesterday. how nice is that though? Another un-named coworker loaned me some more cash because it was JASON'S BIRTHDAY and the gas i had put in the car wasnt enough to get me home to get my wallet!!! I also bought $10 off of Charlie with a check so that i could get Jason his lunch, which i was supposed to have made, birthday and all, but didnt. Oy, what a way to roll through a Monday!!!
Friday, April 27
Oh the Tears
I have no time for this post as i am juggling three loads of laundry, dishes, car packing and clothes folding. BUT, people always comment about my odd KEEN flip flops and ask what the point is. THIS is the point: 
I was carrying a load of freshly dried laundry up the earthen steps which have no symmetry or similarity to each other, causing me to mis-judge the height of the next one and tag it with my two toes. IF i had spent the extre 48 seconds looking for the flops on the left instead of grabbing the first pair of matching flops, i would have been saved. Since i was carrying a precious load that could not be dropped in the dirt, i just kept plodding along. Now i have to cut my toe nail too short since some of it broke off and i also have to cut a flap of skin off the end of my toe.
Earlier today, when the dogs got out and i was chasing them in my CROCS through ungroomed forest, i flipped a stick up with my toe and cut my shin open with the other end of it. Yet again, i stayed strong and continued my quest of catching the pets. I could hear the neighbor shooing them away and the anger of the 5 dogs behind us that are behind cold, steal fences. MAybe we should invest...
Thursday, April 26
One Down
I finished a book, all on my own. The Skinny B has been completed. This book talks issues spanning from animal cruelty in the slaughter houses to the difference between Stevia and Splenda. A lot of cool ideas were proposed, and a few that either i don't get or i need to investigate more. The basis of the book was to read the labels and to actually understand what the ingredients are and what they do to your body!!
So here are my questions from the book:
1.) The book said to only eat three meals a day, small ones. What about the 5 meal plan?
2.) The authors said to wait to eat until you are starving. I thought that was bad??
3.) Minimal protein
4.) They did not discuss exercise until page 192, and very briefly. And when they did discuss it, it was to "have fun and move around." for me, that doesn't cut it!!
I think that is it....
I just spent 30 minutes searching myspace, linking to all my students and ex-students. Very traumatizing and eye-opening!!!
New Book: Eat To Live: the Revolutionary Formula for Fast and sustained weight loss
And NO, i don't think i need to lose weight and i am not flipping out aobut body fat 5, BMI, or pant size!! But, i want to stream line my nutrients, really know what is in everything i eat, and figure out how what to eat for the most benefit. i have been feeling lethargic and "heavy" and i know that i could clean out the system and put better stuff in.
i will let you know if i find any secrets!!!
So here are my questions from the book:
1.) The book said to only eat three meals a day, small ones. What about the 5 meal plan?
2.) The authors said to wait to eat until you are starving. I thought that was bad??
3.) Minimal protein
4.) They did not discuss exercise until page 192, and very briefly. And when they did discuss it, it was to "have fun and move around." for me, that doesn't cut it!!
I think that is it....
I just spent 30 minutes searching myspace, linking to all my students and ex-students. Very traumatizing and eye-opening!!!
New Book: Eat To Live: the Revolutionary Formula for Fast and sustained weight loss
And NO, i don't think i need to lose weight and i am not flipping out aobut body fat 5, BMI, or pant size!! But, i want to stream line my nutrients, really know what is in everything i eat, and figure out how what to eat for the most benefit. i have been feeling lethargic and "heavy" and i know that i could clean out the system and put better stuff in.
i will let you know if i find any secrets!!!
Tuesday, April 24
Movie Review
FREEDOM WRITERS
I like true stories.
I feel that anyone remotely involved in education should watch this movie because it encompasses the reality of our children. The system that i teach in is privilaged, but that is not to say that the individuals sitting in the gym have not come from pain and have not endured more horrific experiences in their 14 years of life than i have in my 27. This movie high lights the ignorance of many educators, but it also exposes what can actually happen when one becomes invested in their work and their children. Not to say that i am going to begin freely giving of my time, but it will make me look at things with a much different view. So should i try to get relocated to San Bernardino or Oakland? I don't know, but i think i may have found a cause and a foundation worth investing some time, spirit, and resources in.
Civic duties are being pushed these days and the media is running wild with the atrocities afar. But what is happening in our own zip codes and driving routes? What about the kids at the bus stop who actually slept there? We don't even know and that is sad. The problem is where and how to start - i have to educate myself. What is the drop out rate in my county? What about pregnancy? Abortion? Drug abuse? What about in my school? But it is private school they say, the untouchables. That can make it even worse.
Before i stress about the fact that i accidently bought a size 9.5 sneaker instead of a 9.0, maybe i should smile at a kid. Sometimes, that is the only fleeting form of true affection they will receive.
Not to be odd, but you should watch the movie. And it is true. That makes it even better!!!! And only a few bad words, and they help with the emotional context.
I like true stories.
I feel that anyone remotely involved in education should watch this movie because it encompasses the reality of our children. The system that i teach in is privilaged, but that is not to say that the individuals sitting in the gym have not come from pain and have not endured more horrific experiences in their 14 years of life than i have in my 27. This movie high lights the ignorance of many educators, but it also exposes what can actually happen when one becomes invested in their work and their children. Not to say that i am going to begin freely giving of my time, but it will make me look at things with a much different view. So should i try to get relocated to San Bernardino or Oakland? I don't know, but i think i may have found a cause and a foundation worth investing some time, spirit, and resources in.
Civic duties are being pushed these days and the media is running wild with the atrocities afar. But what is happening in our own zip codes and driving routes? What about the kids at the bus stop who actually slept there? We don't even know and that is sad. The problem is where and how to start - i have to educate myself. What is the drop out rate in my county? What about pregnancy? Abortion? Drug abuse? What about in my school? But it is private school they say, the untouchables. That can make it even worse.
Before i stress about the fact that i accidently bought a size 9.5 sneaker instead of a 9.0, maybe i should smile at a kid. Sometimes, that is the only fleeting form of true affection they will receive.
Not to be odd, but you should watch the movie. And it is true. That makes it even better!!!! And only a few bad words, and they help with the emotional context.
http://www.mbaction.com/detail.asp?id=2251
THere IS a Playoff!!!!
So far, so late in the season...what to do!
THere IS a Playoff!!!!
So far, so late in the season...what to do!
Monday, April 23
50 Cent Gumballs and Boys who smell like Soup
I have an allotted amount of time to update this blog before i need to do the dishes, make dinner, fold the laundry, clean the floors, and well... read my book!
I read it, in a book: I don't read, so being on page 82 is impressive!! This book is about the yucky stuff in food and what it does once it is in you! Very good ideas, but i can not fully promote it until i finish it, which i am attempting to do!!
And he thought i lied: 
I do admit, i tell a lot of tall tales. But this one was always true. Jason bails out about 7:30 pm due to strenouos work, rock climbing, or my continual speaking. Timber LOVES to sleep ON him!! Jason never believed me, but i caught it on camera last night! I was laughing so hard, Timber even came down for a snack with me and got back up there. Jason thought i had been a dutiful wife and put a blanket over him!! I can't wait until Pet #2 is full grown!!
I do admit, i tell a lot of tall tales. But this one was always true. Jason bails out about 7:30 pm due to strenouos work, rock climbing, or my continual speaking. Timber LOVES to sleep ON him!! Jason never believed me, but i caught it on camera last night! I was laughing so hard, Timber even came down for a snack with me and got back up there. Jason thought i had been a dutiful wife and put a blanket over him!! I can't wait until Pet #2 is full grown!!Whose that hound?: Tim-Tam is looking more and more houndish these days. IF he keeps it up, he will get fixed. Poor pet!! Enjoy the glory days!!
Snuggle Bunnies: Some people are afraid of them, but how could you be?? This is them passed out after an all day excersion of hot-laps in Christie and Greg's yard with Murphy. Tomorrow they will again commence ramming speed with hopefully the same results!
Ok enough with the stupid pets.
Boys Who Smell Like Soup: While out pre-riding the Fontana national course this past sunday, we saw a myriad of odd things. NOthing too shocking though. It was very curtious of the warring paint-ball factions to call a truse to let us ride through. AS we wound down the smooth (once in a life-time) single track you could hear them yelling "RIDERS" we waited and grouped up so that no lone rider would be left to fend for themselves. These guys mean business.
There was also a cleanup crew doing forced manual labor, i dont want to jump to conclusions as to where they call home....but.....they did an excellent job! There were big pick up trucks with the backs filled with shopping carts, toilets, lawn mower parts and anything else that had been left out to filter into the sediments.
On the last little technical climb, there was a group of boys who should have been doing homework, meandering around with odd shaped bags and skateboards. THESE guys are the ones who smelled like soup. And THAT was weird!!
Pitching a Fit: i haven't complained in a really long time, and this rant has absolutely nothing to do with me, so that means i can maintain my free-loving ora.
I am the California State Champion. Now before you think i am arrogant, hold on. This means i won a series based in CA. THis does not mean i am the fastest expert female racers 19-29 in the state. It means i raced the most events and beat people sometimes. It is not indicitive of true dominance, so i feel weird toiting the title. This year, the series was changed to the Southern Cal State Championship Series. There is Also a NorCal Series, which is actually pretty rockin! Fist event NVDC at my old college and a must for next season. EVERYON skip the mud fest, drive just bit farther north, and race this one. Please note, there were cash prizes and swooping single track through a forest...
Now the split has come with great controversy. People feel jipped, that they can no longer dominate a region the size of the eastern sea-board. Yes, it would be cool to be the East Coast Multi-State Champion, forever, i need to look into that. But this is how it worked last year: LArgest expert field 19-29: 4; Where they came from: 3 hours from my house (virutally Maryland and Delaware and Virginia and West Virginia) When the races in Humbolt County took place, and if i had decided to travel 15 hours to a NON-national race, guess who i would have raced against? Those SoCal Local Gals!!!
So, i propose a playoff or double-elimination tournament between the north and the south. Teaching PE and all i totally know how to set up tournies and make people feel positive about winning a consolation prize.
All in all, i am pleased to race without the pressure of traveling 800 miles to race myself just to maintain points. This way they points will be closer and harder to get because there are fewer events and no points and a half races.
That is all i have to say.
Actually, i have some more introspective tid bits, but food is a must!
Racing in Phoenix!Friday, April 20
Whose the Powder Puff NOW
FUNNY THING OF THE DAY: Yesterday, while at the bike shop, a parishioner asked me the following question.:
"So you race mountain bikes? Well when do you develop your cardio?? Do you have to go to the gym for that??"
Um, no. I go to the gym to get huge, which cyclists actually shouldnt do, so then i just one million ab things in an attempt to avoid future abdominal tears.
Is raining/snowing: When i brought Tim-Tam inside from 'doing his business' this morning, his fur was speckled with snow. This is where the Powder Puff comes in. I am supposed to ride about 1.5 hours today (i can't tell you what i am doing, but just assume i am keeping my HR at 33% of max) but it is cold and raining here in Redlands, and snowing and really foggy up in the woods. So decisions need to be made. Do i ride the trainer? probably. There are racers from Colorado and the east coast who are cool enough to boast a Zero Tolerance For trainer hours. So does that make me weak? Thin-skinnd? A powder puff? probably. But i am ok with that, plus i could watch some pretty killer moves while on trainer.
THE TOOTH FROM THE UNDERWORLD: my tooth turned grey/blue again. I was supposed to have it taken out 2 weeks ago, but told my dentist friend that i was afraid, and wanted to wait. AFter months of a lot of pain, nerves on edge at all times, and teeth aching just from a slight breeze, they seem to have finally "healed" (it just looks rotten) so that i really wanted 3 weeks of pain-free riding and eating. But today, the cycle must begin again. I am taking my iPod for the event, i dont want to hear a thing. I know exactly what is going to happen and i dont really want the play-by-play going through my head.
"So you race mountain bikes? Well when do you develop your cardio?? Do you have to go to the gym for that??"
Um, no. I go to the gym to get huge, which cyclists actually shouldnt do, so then i just one million ab things in an attempt to avoid future abdominal tears.
Is raining/snowing: When i brought Tim-Tam inside from 'doing his business' this morning, his fur was speckled with snow. This is where the Powder Puff comes in. I am supposed to ride about 1.5 hours today (i can't tell you what i am doing, but just assume i am keeping my HR at 33% of max) but it is cold and raining here in Redlands, and snowing and really foggy up in the woods. So decisions need to be made. Do i ride the trainer? probably. There are racers from Colorado and the east coast who are cool enough to boast a Zero Tolerance For trainer hours. So does that make me weak? Thin-skinnd? A powder puff? probably. But i am ok with that, plus i could watch some pretty killer moves while on trainer.
THE TOOTH FROM THE UNDERWORLD: my tooth turned grey/blue again. I was supposed to have it taken out 2 weeks ago, but told my dentist friend that i was afraid, and wanted to wait. AFter months of a lot of pain, nerves on edge at all times, and teeth aching just from a slight breeze, they seem to have finally "healed" (it just looks rotten) so that i really wanted 3 weeks of pain-free riding and eating. But today, the cycle must begin again. I am taking my iPod for the event, i dont want to hear a thing. I know exactly what is going to happen and i dont really want the play-by-play going through my head.
Saturday, April 14
Domestic Disturbance
RED: For some reason, all our bikes are red! The Sugar is out with a coworker/friend who got both their bikes stolen, thus, need some wheels. But it is red too! Jason hates red, but he really likes purple, but i dont want a purple bike. BUt TREVOR is selling his purple RIG, if you want it. Don't make fun of my earthen garage either.LITTLE LOVERS: It looks like Timber has a lazy eye, but i just woke him up, thats all. Yes, they are allowed on the Futon, with a pillow and blanket. What can i say... 
THE DOMESTIC PART: i did a deap clean yesteday. 7 loads of laundry. 4 loads of dishes (I am the dishwasher) all floors and surfaces cleaned extensively. THus the yellow gloves. My hands were beginning to resemble Jasons construction man-hands, and that is just NOT right. I also had ALL windows open to avoid exfixiation.
THE DOMESTIC PART: i did a deap clean yesteday. 7 loads of laundry. 4 loads of dishes (I am the dishwasher) all floors and surfaces cleaned extensively. THus the yellow gloves. My hands were beginning to resemble Jasons construction man-hands, and that is just NOT right. I also had ALL windows open to avoid exfixiation.
REALITY CHECK: Although i feel invinsible, this past week i have been walking on the dark side. The extensive training hours and exposure to numorous illness harbored in the grimmy hands and faces of middle school children, i succumed to a head cold. Now out of all these products that i have been dousing my system with, the only thing that cut the fever and cleared the nose was the following concoction:
JUICE OF ONE LEMON
JUICE OF ONE LEMON
TWO GARLIC CLOVES, CRUSHED
1/2 BOILING WATER
CAYANNE PEPPER
HONEY
Im not even joking. Try it, trust me, right when you starting feeling it come on, and it will clear you up in a heart beat.
I only lost a day and a half of stealth training, so now it is on!
BBQ's: The summer kitchen is ready to go!!
Just like a kid: Jason and Wee Man
Just like a kid: Jason and Wee Man
Now it is probably obvious that i am erring on the bored side of things. I slept over 11 hours last night, ate a lot of fruit and wholesome carbs. My illness has subsided, but it sure made for 4 bad days. I had to run/chaperone/control/cater the Jr/Sr Non-Prom for my school. It was more labor intensive than my wedding reception. I ended up putting my nice pants one while wearing my sneakers and Sea OTter sweetshirt (in memory of those duking it out this weekend) the whole night, while everyone else was dressed in their formal best. We were outside at a home with 50sih weather and high winds. Can you imagine what that does to a chocolate fondue fountain?
So it was a really good idea to not go to Sea Otter. I had forgotten, sorta, about the non-prom which sent my stress level extra high with very long work hours and extra things to do. To say the least, i would have been a basket case on the road today.
Christie and Shelli have been calling me with updates from the Otter. As we speak, it is raining as Shelli contemplates not pre riding. I think that Christie is in the middle of the pro womens short track, hopefully that mud isnt as deep as last year. I have been dutifully checking results, calculating times and differences, and making assumptions as to where i would have finished. Pretty sure i would have won. Just kidding, who ever really knows. But there are a lot of the same racers as in Phoenix, so nothing really shocking has come up, actually all my pre-event predictions are ringing true. Scary.
Off to walk the dogs, then maybe later on, like 5pm, ride my BIKE!!!!!
late
Tuesday, April 10
We need a maid
So i know i am OCD and love to clean, organize, and reorganize, but as of late, Jason and i have let things fall through the floor. And not the literal through the floor in the form of the non-trap door in my closet. But come on, two pets, 4 bikes to clean and house, no dishwasher, two people that work full-time and no live-in children to assign chores to. Does any one want to work with food as your pay??? I will let you play with Timber too...only when you have completed your chores though.
SEA OTTER OR BUST....then i'm busted: this coming weekend i am not making the pilrimage up north to the Fabelled Sea Otter Classic. as the event grew closer, the memory of distain i have for the event and the multiple vows to never return become more vivid. LASt year was fun because Jason and Uriah went, and they got to go to the Acquarium and Sea Kayaking. It was fun. But i missed the STXC race and got pulled from the XC event only to return home after 1am covered in mud. Not to say i have not enjoyed the event in previous years or that i would not love to attend and compete there this year. But i have to look at the BIG gigantic picture of the season and realize i need to fly to Vermont and North Carolina in the future, so maybe save some chump change. I also had a problem in that i could not leave home until sometime on Saturday, making it quite the shot gun event.
However, since we all know i am a social butterfly, i am going to totally miss meeting up with old friends and making new ones!
Best of luck to all of you who are going up there to race or watch. Keep me posted on like an hourly basis. And remember, it is just a race, one small weekend mixed in with a thousand others.
SEA OTTER OR BUST....then i'm busted: this coming weekend i am not making the pilrimage up north to the Fabelled Sea Otter Classic. as the event grew closer, the memory of distain i have for the event and the multiple vows to never return become more vivid. LASt year was fun because Jason and Uriah went, and they got to go to the Acquarium and Sea Kayaking. It was fun. But i missed the STXC race and got pulled from the XC event only to return home after 1am covered in mud. Not to say i have not enjoyed the event in previous years or that i would not love to attend and compete there this year. But i have to look at the BIG gigantic picture of the season and realize i need to fly to Vermont and North Carolina in the future, so maybe save some chump change. I also had a problem in that i could not leave home until sometime on Saturday, making it quite the shot gun event.
However, since we all know i am a social butterfly, i am going to totally miss meeting up with old friends and making new ones!
Best of luck to all of you who are going up there to race or watch. Keep me posted on like an hourly basis. And remember, it is just a race, one small weekend mixed in with a thousand others.
Friday, April 6
Nothing, but a good time
Oh sorry, that is my ring tone right now. i actually went to one of their concerts in college, with Winger and Cinderella. Anyways...
I thought i just broke my toe and that everyone should know.
i was briskly walking to the front office here at work, when my left foot went about 4 degrees off the sidewalk and tagged the top of a sprinkler that hadn't fallen back into its slot after it did its watering. The immediate consequence was a deluge of water spraying everywhere as the broken sprinkler head rocketed up into the air. Of course i looked down to see why i almost kissed asphalt, so my face received the brunt of explosion.
Good times.
Off for a ride, hopefully not by any sprinkler heads. Speaking of the little Devils, my frined Haley broker her face, literally on one in Peru on new years eve a few years back. reconstructive surgery and all, i think i am going to use a hose, or better yet, not own anything that actually requires watering.
I thought i just broke my toe and that everyone should know.
i was briskly walking to the front office here at work, when my left foot went about 4 degrees off the sidewalk and tagged the top of a sprinkler that hadn't fallen back into its slot after it did its watering. The immediate consequence was a deluge of water spraying everywhere as the broken sprinkler head rocketed up into the air. Of course i looked down to see why i almost kissed asphalt, so my face received the brunt of explosion.
Good times.
Off for a ride, hopefully not by any sprinkler heads. Speaking of the little Devils, my frined Haley broker her face, literally on one in Peru on new years eve a few years back. reconstructive surgery and all, i think i am going to use a hose, or better yet, not own anything that actually requires watering.
Tuesday, April 3
ULTIMATE
In the land of Physical Education, we are playing Ultimate Frisbee. Please feel free to stop by on your lunch break of free time and join in on the fun. It is a great mix of cardiovascular development, teamwork, calisthenics, and hand-eye coordination.
I would suggest not wearing these shoes. They are the new craze (again) and all the kids who have them on have gone down for the count. The grass seems to never get dry, and you can only take two steps with the frisbee, then you have to stop. This abrubpt movement has sent many to the turf, one bounced and one rolled. This made us all laugh, a lot, which brings me to topic #2:
I THINK I TORE AN AB: Not laughing, although all the vast amounts of daily laughter probably helped shield me from deeper tissue damage. Shelli, who will be a DOCTOR OF PHYSICAL THERAPY in June, told it was probably micro tears to the intercostal tissue surrounding the ribs. duh. It is also a good thing i join in on the Pilates videos i have the kids do at times, or i would truly be hurting. I dont want to get into too much detail, but it has something to do with a lot of biking on rough terrain and the death grib and flexed out core to keep me on the bike, with the rubber side down. Although i only ate cacti once, or actually my bike ate me (the ground was never fully encountered) i feel like that guy on The Princess Bride who rolled down the hill yelling "As You Wish" he must have really hurt a lot.
SOOOO why was i riding a bike:
A BIT OF RACING: dOWN In old Phoenix area, which reminds me to NEVER VENTURE THERE IN THE SUMMER. Oh so very warm!! The races were great, had a good time. Somehow avoided flats and mechanicals and only got about 15 cacti tallons stuck in my shin.
INvites: I talk a lot so i love venues with ample amounts of people to talk to. You can talk about crazy race kits (but i totally avoided the girl who had shorts with a side panel that blared Kill Joy whats up with that?) new bikes, winter wonders and the like. I did recieve invites to go ride in places such as Berkley, San Diego and Big Bear, and to stay in fun homes with grand people. They are crazy, because i can actually get to those places. Its not like they are in Oklahoma or something and just being nice. They dont even know what i will do for a good ride and that i dont care that i drive a planet hating eco-terrorist Jeep that if it had been driven to the race, would have taken 17 tanks of gas. I am already making weekend plans. Not really, but i wanted to scare them.
TO MAKE A SHORT STORY LONGER: tHE GIRLS in my expert class and the class next to us were great this weekend. i think everyone went away without any death threats or restraining orders. It was awesome to meet Emma who will have the most fantastic racing kit by Sea Otter, hopefully, and who had a stranger use his mouth on the trail to remove the cacti stickers. Then there was Maureen, who i called the sleeper. She waited until the third day of racing to show her cards. She was a tricky one, but i called it in the car on the way to the venue. She showed up with a Curious George jersey and stuck to my wheel until i kissed my bike, then she passed only to be spotted in the far off desert scape from then on.
The Backbone crew is, well, crazy, but also super helpful. Roger stepped up big time hittin me up the a bottle feed (sounds like an infant, felt like one from time to time on the bike) on lap 3 and Chris would just pop out from behind a random huge cactis and shout obscenities, i mean encouragements, and Jim was taking actual real live footage of a cool little descent. I flashed a sign. And of course, James was back in rare form, helping everyone.
There is always the old crew too, the new Intense Team that is going podium crazy, Heidi K who became best friends with misfortune, getting lost on one course and accruing 3 flat tires on another. then there were the new upgrades to pro, Heather, Emily, and Kim covered in dust and sweat enduring their grueling inaguaral event. Then the other car, of Romolo, Carolyn, Mandy and Chad, we ate suspect food together, and now we are all BFF's. Kidding.
I was elated to have Shelli back in racing land, and she kicked some tail. she came in second by maybe 2 minutes, that without training, for about a year and a half. Natural, raw talent i say.
Then, of course, the Nomads
. We were cool enough to ride in Mr. Freemans Mazda 5. He told us to pack like Nomads since the car was so dang small for 4 people with bikes and gear. Fortunately for Matt, i didnt take that literally because I think Nomads take their whole life with them!! But we (Christie, Matt, Trevor and I) fit in nice and snugg eventhough Christie touched my arm once. The trip was really fun, an excellent end to my break from work. When we got there we met Mandy, who stayed with us too.
. We were cool enough to ride in Mr. Freemans Mazda 5. He told us to pack like Nomads since the car was so dang small for 4 people with bikes and gear. Fortunately for Matt, i didnt take that literally because I think Nomads take their whole life with them!! But we (Christie, Matt, Trevor and I) fit in nice and snugg eventhough Christie touched my arm once. The trip was really fun, an excellent end to my break from work. When we got there we met Mandy, who stayed with us too. LASTLY: I would like to talk about food. I did my first solo BBQ attempt just now. Jason is doing super overtime (YES) so i am, well, blogging and eating. duh. I made chicken (real) with this cilantro pesto i made then some grilled asparagus. ooo, good. While on the trip i decided that Smarties are a very BAD post race meal, and that KFC actually is ok for the night before. you just have to order ALL the sides, mashed potatos, rice, bean, green beans, and mac and sneeze, and no french fries.
I had a bunch of coworkers over for (DONT LAUGH) a girls brunch while all the non teachers were at work. We had coffee, then some more, chilled raspberry soup, potato crust frittata, baked french toast, and apple crisp. Flash backs from when i worked at a bed and breakfast in the Napa Valley, but i didnt even make my bed when they all came over.
Maybe i should have spent that last half hour cleaning my bike and unpacking. maybe tomorrow. probably not.
Have a nice day
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