The English Beat!

Tonight I get to go see one of my all time favorite bands play in Denver.

How much do I love them? In 1991, before tattoos were cool or even very socially acceptable, I got the "Beat girl" tattooed on my ankle.

My mother cried. (no joke--but that is another story entirely!)

Ogden Theater
Tonight, 8pm.

The Funk

Here we are...in the full swing of the holidays and It appears I have been neglecting my blog. Well maybe not fully neglecting it, I do look at it sideways from the corner of the room every now and again and think of witty quips to make, but they never seem to appear.

The holidays are a strange time for me. Sometimes I embrace them with gusto and other times I get the uncontrollable urge to run away to a far away land, usually the desserts of Nevada or the desire to go to the other end of the earth. The sirens of Bali, Indonesia have been calling loudly lately.

Forgive me if I seem out of sorts, this usually happens this time of year, holiday stress mixed with poor early season ski conditions that prevent me from my therapy, falling down a mountain with a board of some sort strapped to my feet.

I have been finding some sort of solace in getting my required amount of self induced pain while trotting up my favorite ass kicking hike locally, the pikes peak incline. Although even that torments me, I can not seem to break my record time. No matter how hard I push. Also, I use the term “trotting” very liberally.

My head will get right again, I promise. In the meantime, pray to the snow gods for big snowfalls and accumulations.

Thanks for reading…Peace!

It’s my food! GO AWAY!!!

Okay, this is the week of venting my peeves. I do not understand why people seem to feel the need to make comments about what other people eat. I think I must be the only vegetarian in my entire office. I don’t walk around while people eat their hamburgers and say things like “ewwwww”, or “Why would you eat THAT?!” For some reason though, people seem to feel the need to comment on my food. I can almost understand it when I am reheating a tofu dish or spinach soufflé. Today though, I don’t understand. I forgot my lunch so I went to the cafeteria, made a spinach salad and a cheese sandwich. In my opinion, these are very basic lunch type foods, it is not like I made some exotic lunch that would cause curiosity lookers.
I had no less than three different people stop by my office and make some sort of comment about something I was eating.
I don’t get it! Why do I have to work with the food police? I will bet most of those people have magnets on their cars…

Keeping it Ghetto:

Before I write anymore, I need to put a disclaimer here. I live in a great neighborhood, I really do. I feel safe, and relatively there is low crime. But for whatever reason, if there is going to be a murder or stabbing, it seems to happen around my house.

In November 2005 the police shot a wanted criminal literally right in front of my house.

On February 1, 2007: My friendly, neighborhood crack whore that was the punch-line of so many of my stories, stabbed her son over cigarettes. Side note: This was the night of E's and I's first date, making for an interesting evening no doubt.

This morning while I was getting ready for work, I heard that last night there was a stabbing in the central area of Colorado Springs, sure enough, It was at the Co-housing complex across the street from my house. This was not a random stabbing, it was a family dispute that got out of control. Sad.

Things that make you go hmmm:
Three for Three
Three murders in three years, all within 300 feet of my front door.

Read the news story here

Randomness: (Be Warned)

The past few weeks I have felt like I have been floating in between dreams, ideas, obligations and denial that the holidays are approaching, very quickly I may add.

I have posted little here on my blog because everything I think of posting consists of a sentence or two.

How much fun is that? Not very much.

Here are some of the random thoughts that have been occupying my time:

I have made a decision to go forward with plastic surgery on my hand after the holidays, which leads me to search for a reputable plastic surgeon. I am learning if you are not interested in a face lift or a breast augmentation, this is quite a task. It is very difficult to find a surgeon that is excited about fixing scars. Much less one that is a result of a car accident. Not to mention the number of people that have given me referrals because their girlfriends or wives really liked the doctor. Did I mention I was NOT interested in a boob job. My ta ta’s are just fine, thank.you.very.much. It is my hand that is not so attractive. And really, it isn’t that bad, but I would say at least once a week I have to answer the question “what did you do to your hand?”. Since I am tend to grow keloid scars, ie: big ugly scar tissue scars, it makes any scar look that much more, uh, for lack of a better word, gross.

So if you are local and reading my blog, any recommendations on a good plastic surgeon that specializes in scars?

**********************************************************************************

This past weekend was spent spending time with friends, family, close to home and far away. Thursday night I met with an old friend of mine from as far back as elementary school and her boyfriend. It was an enjoyable time, however; it was also interesting to see how two people can process the same turn events is such different ways. My heart aches for her and I hope she finds peace she is so desperately looking for.

Friday night I met up with another visiting friend from out of town, I had known her since junior high school. I got to meet her husband, daughter and her brother and his family. Last time I saw her brother was literally when he graduated from our high school 20 years ago. Yikes! She and her husband are thinking of relocating to a town close to here. It is funny how for years and years you may not see someone but one day they pop back into your life and you feel like not a day has passed and you can’t wait to see them again, hear stories their lives and make plans to see each other soon.

Saturday, E and I headed to Boulder for his Cyclo-cross race and after that we headed to GlenHaven for a semi-surprise birthday party for my mom. Pictures and more details to come later for both those events, since I used my camera to occupy my 4 and 2 year old nieces, I have no battery life or memory left on my camera. I can’t wait to charge the batteries and see what pictures I have waiting for me.

Sunday morning, E and I left The Inn at Glenhaven at ~9:00 am, we managed to pull into Palmer Park in Colorado Springs at 11:28am for the final Pikes Peak Road Runners Fall Series Race that was scheduled to start at 11:30, luckily they were running a tad late and I was able to pick up E’s number while he changed clothes. As he walked up to the start line the race started. Talk about cutting it close…

More updates from the races and mom’s birthday party to come at a later time…

********************************************************************************

So far I am committed to 4 thanksgiving events… Whoever thought that being a vegetarian would excuse a person from the turkey holiday is sadly mistaken. At least there will be pleanty of wine and cocktails at most of the events.

********************************************************************************

My company announced last week that instead of our standard one week shut-down around the holidays it is extending it to two weeks, this is good and bad news, since my customer does not take time off between Christmas and New Years, I am still expected to be available during this time and routine meetings must be made, but I see lots of short work days in those two weeks.

***********************************************************************************

I have developed a sincere despise for a VERY random thing, are you ready for it? Magnet ‘stickers’ for cars, such as the “Support Our Troup” ribbons, breast cancer awareness ribbons and every other god-forsaken ribbon out there. Are Americans really that wishy washy that we can’t commit to a cause that we believe in enough to stick the sticker on our car? We need to make it removable without a trace? Wait, don’t answer that.
True, I refuse to put stickers on my car. My first car was practically a political billboard and there was no guessing what I believed. I guess now I prefer to voice my options over the internet, in person and via any other means, but to put a magnet on my car? No thanks. In fact I have a strange urge to start taking these off cars and collecting them. Who knows why, maybe because I figure if people need such non-commital way to voice their opinions that will probably change with what is the popular attitude at the moment, I feel like they should just nave the magnet to begin with.
Don’t’ worry, I haven’t taken any magnets yet…that would be illegal.
I do feel better though for that minor rant.
As my old buddy Brian C says:
“Thanks for listening, peace”

Change

is coming...And not a moment too soon.

Happy Halloween!!!

Calling It Out and Keeping It Real

Note: The following blog is not the happy-go-lucky typical blog I may normally post, it is raw and for me, something I needed to write about. It is life, it is a window into a dark sub-part of my extended family. You have been officially warned...

I have a drug addict in my family.

Many family members of mine would be upset to know I just typed that last line, they still may if they read this blog. Oh well, one thing I have always been is outspoken and I will call it as I see it.

When I see a person get sent to rehad more than three times, follow the same patterns as they did before, steal, cheat and lie, and expect the rest of the family to support them, my patience runs a tad thin one may say.

This morning, I was drinking my tea, reading the Denver news like I usually do and I saw an article that sparked my interest. A headline about a meth bust. I opened it and in the list of people arrested, I see my niece’s name.

Lovely

Just a couple of weeks ago she sat near me at my sisters wedding, this is the same girl who I as there when she was born and at one point I would do anything for this child. As I sat next to this shell of a person, I realized the vibrant young, beautiful girl was gone, I was sitting next to an empty shell of a drug addict wearing a pretty dress.

My sister lived at home until my niece was 3 years old, being I was a young teenager it was my responsibility to be her in-home babysitter. As she got older and started experimenting with drugs, I was still able to talk to her. I felt like we had a good connection and she told me things she didn’t trust to anyone else. We had good conversations and she promised me she would never do anything but experiment. I guess I held onto false hope. Like I had always known, never trust a junkie. Little did I know at the time she was just that. I have known many addicts in my life and I have a low tolerance for them. The first time she went to rehab I held onto some hope she would come home cured, or at least able to be a contributing member of society. What I learned was she came home to fall into her same habits, manipulate the same people and thrive off the enabling that surrounds her.

One of the hardest things I have ever done was to practice ‘tough love’ on someone I love so dearly. I was there the moment she came into this world, in fact she is the only birth I have ever experienced. It is hard to look at someone you care so deeply, at one time thought you would carry the world on your shoulders for them, and in your mind say “I can not and will not help this person”.

I don’t really know why I felt the need to blog about this, I guess to feel some catharsis about the whole ugly situation, to hope through my frustration and writing something will change. These are changes I have no control over. All I can do is be thankful this person is in jail and safe from themselves for the time being and hope that someday they will find the strength in themselves to change their life. Until them I will continue with my own, be thankful I am removed from the situation by proximity and keep my family in my thoughts that they also have the strength to realize they too can not make this person change.

Election Humor

The best reference yet to John McCain and Sarah Palin:

“John McBush and Bible Spice”

Girlfriends Get-A-Way

This weekend I got the opportunity to reconnect with some old girlfriends. These are girls I have not seen since I was 18 years old, *ahem* eighteen or so years ago. LL, AGM and I decided to meet up in Keystone, thanks to LL arranging a condo rental.

It was fun to get together and catch up. Unfortunately I was too busy talking, eating, and drinking to take any pictures. I am kicking myself now.

It is so fun to see and listen to the stories our lives have taken us all. None of us got too far away, but far enough from our hometown to create our new lives with the tools we all received during the times we spent together last. We have discovered selves that are not defined by the high school we went to, the clothes we wore, the neighborhood we lived in or the people we hung out with. We are now the people we decided to become. What an amazing thing.

I have always been a believer that we make impacts on everyone’s lives we touch, and many times we never learn, or even know for that matter the impact we made.

I am lucky that I have the most amazing friends in my life, both from my childhood, and all through my adulthood so far.

As for my impact on my friends? My claim to fame I learned this weekend, Sautéed Honey Nut Cheerios. The legend lives on. Who would have guessed an afternoon culinary experiment in my parents kitchen when I was 12 years old would be the thing that another girlfriend remembers most, and now serve to their children. AWESOME!!!

Time to fry up some Cheerios...

Mi Hermano

Here is my brother, aka: Todd, The other T, and sometimes we refer to each other as our twin.

Even though there is a 4 year, one week and one day age difference, (I’m older) he is definitely the more mature one. You can tell here with his family. His wife Susan, and his beautiful daughters Natalie and Hailey. I know I am biased since I am their aunt but I think they are two of the most amazing short people I have ever met. Of course next to my nephews Colton and Wyatt…

Natalie is the oldest and practically the splitting image of me. She has my personality to a T. Notice how she is pushing away from her parents in this picture? She has some adventuring to do and this photograph is taking too much of her time. My brother agrees there are times he sees her do something that he swears it is his sister in smaller from. Hailey is the miniature version of her mother Susan. Hailey is determined to do anything her older sister does and is constantly observing and taking in everything around her.

This past weekend I got to spend time with my nieces at my sisters wedding. We had a fabulous time and there was many crack up moments, like ‘they’ say, kids do tend to say the darndest things.

When I first pulled up to the hotel in Estes Park, I passed my brother and his family in their car. I was told later that Natalie saw my car and announced “there goes Aunt T, she is going to her hotel room to get all fancy”. On the day we left after I gave both girls hugs and kisses good bye, as I walked away to my car, Natalie announced that I had to leave, I was going to Australia. Boy don’t I wish!

Hailey on the other hand is more of the quiet type. She doesn’t talk much but observes everything. During our visit, she developed a small crush on E. When we left on Saturday she stood at the hotel front door and pressed her face against the glass saying “goodbye E”…

Like an old friend once told me… “there is no greater feeling in the world than be loved by a child”

Geranium!

With the threat of our first freeze looming around the corner I decided to bring my geranium in for the winter.

I remember last winter when my grandmother passed away in December, in her basement we found her geraniums, they were the same three she had since I can remember. She brought them into her basement in the winter, they would shrivel up, and come spring they would pop back to life on her porch.

This year for Mothers day my step-mother gave me a gorgeous red geranium that flourished in my huge pot on my patio.

Here is the ‘before’ picture…



Come back next Spring for the after…I am sure it won’t be as pretty…I just hope I can keep it alive.

What The ...?!?!

Things that make you say “WHAT THE…”

The other day I was driving down the street. I passed a catholic church and looked to my left and saw this…



I took a double take, drove around the block to take a picture and it was still there. The only thing I could find out is it was a protester and on the back of the “priest’s” cloak was “Pope Grope”

Uh, okay…

“If you don’t vote you can’t bitch”

That has always been the saying my parents raised me with and I have taken to heart in my adult life. Voting has always been a big deal to me, I specifically remember going to register to vote on my 18th birthday. It is a big deal to me. My grandmother told me stories of when women were not allowed to vote. She came of voting age right around the time the 19th amendment was passed.

I have never been one to push others to vote. I just repeat my voting mantra. A while ago, in a political debate with a person close to me who will remain anonymous, they told me they never voted.

”What?!?! Are you f’ing kidding me?” I thought in my head, maybe with a few more adjectives, but only expressed the “What?!?!” part verbally. Maybe a little more was expressed, however I kept the expletives to myself.

I then stated: “If you don’t vote you can’t bitch”—the debate was ended, in my mind, I won.

Yesterday they registered to vote. Without any provoking from me.

Bring on the political debates, although we have very similar political views so the debates are more Political discussions…

Today is the deadline in Colorado to register to vote. Just a friendly reminder…

Rough

It has been a rough week.

Yesturday I had to say goodbye to a close friend that passed away suddenly.

I have a lot to report on, the fall colors, E and I's weekend in Durango, my sisters wedding and a final farewell to my friend Kelly.

I'll post some of these things when I am feeling a little more open and a little less drained and raw.

In the meantime, Enjoy a picture of my favorite baboshka kitty...



Bella, planning her attack on me when I least expect it...

Pikes Peak

This weekend my parents came to visit me. I took them up the Cog railway to the top of Pikes Peak, not only did we get to walk in snow, we also felt the first snowflakes on our head.

Winter/Ski season is right around the corner! This makes My father and myself VERY excited…My step mom and E, notsomuch…

Dick and Betty on top of Pikes Peak

Weight Watchers Can Bite Me

There is a woman in my office who sits right outside my office door. She is on weight watchers and it is great for her. I just met this woman but according to her she has lost 60 pounds and still losing. Great job I say!!!

Now here is the annoying thing. All.she.talks.about is points, and how many points she can eat, has eaten or what not. I am happy with my weight and I don’t play “the Diet game”, I eat when I am hungry and I exercise. It works for me. I am approximately the same size I have been since college. In fact I recently just dropped a pant size when I went jeans shopping...YAY ME! Sure I fluxuate (sp?) some but as a general rule I eat healthy. Today however has been an ‘off’ day. I am allowed those too…

Anyways…

Here is a conversation that just transpired: I was sitting in my office, reading email and she starts talking to me...


WW Woman: “Everytime I look in your office today you have been eating”

Me: (Popping a Junior Mint in my mouth) “yeah? So..”

WW Woman: “And except for the salad you were eating earlier, all of it has been junk food”

Me: “uh huh”

Bitch.

She better be glad I am a vegetarian or I may eat her next…Ew, that sounds dirty. Yuck.

I think I have some dark chocolate in my drawer…I think I’ll eat that next.

High School Flashback

Since NM posted this on her blog months ago...I did a little cropping and finally decided to show the world what I looked like in High School. Fort Collins High School Boosters Dance circa 1989.

There are SO many funny parts of this picture.

--Ah, the dresses. In attempting to be unique and inspired by John Hughes films, both NM and I altered our dressed to make sure they had that special touch of individuality and show proof how creative we were. I asked a friend to make me my hat. It matched the cumberbunt of the dress I designed, and sewed. Can anyone say Pretty in Pink? We were Pretty in Black and looking back, more cheesy than cool. Oh well, coolness was never my forte.

--The hair. Yes, my bangs were down to my chin and straight normally, for this dance I spent HOURS curling the poorly bleached, orange strands of hair to sit just right on my head and around my green satin beret type hat. NM, had amazing long and naturally red hair. I was the one that couldn't put the dye bottle down.

--The cheesy grin. I think I had that grin because I couldn’t breath. Remember, I made my cumberbunt and I wasn’t too good about sizing it. I remember holding my breath most of the night.

--Did I really admit, not once, but twice I wore a cumberbunt? Hey…it was the 80’s what can I say? At least I was over my turquoise mascara phase by this time...

(NM—back atcha, I told ya I would post it :) -- eventually)

Insert Angelic Singing

IKEA IS COMING TO COLORADO!!!

File Under Things You Don't Want To Hear

Dentist:
"So how do you feel about a root canal today?"
Me:
"uh, okay..."

Mountain States Cup Series: RECAP

As everyone close to me knows, this summer has been spent chasing E around mountains in Colorado and New Mexico while he raced his mountain bike. Sometimes I would take my Kona (once I got the replacement) and I would ride around while he raced, and I admired wildflowers, dirt and the fact I was not racing (thank goodness). When I wasn’t riding my bike I would hike the course and play lone cheerleader for the cross country racers and Main Cheerleader and support for E. Cross country racers don’t get the fanfare downhill racers get. There is less carnage so less people are interested to watch people suffer as they ride their bikes up steep ski hills. In my opinion, it doesn't take much athletism to ride a chairlift, point your bike downhill and hang on. Cross country riders however, ride up the hills before they ride down. That is something to give credit too. That is just my opinion, back to the news and podium shots of this past weekend. There were quite a few!

This weekend E rode tremendously and not only took 2nd in his category for Short Track, but placed 3rd when they combined his age group with the next age group also. Sunday he raced the 18 mile Cross country course in 1:35. He placed 5th for the day and setting himself firmly in second place for the series. AWESOME!!! GREAT JOB E!!! I am proud of you!

On the Podium Saturday for the Curcuit Race:

On the Series Finally Podium: Second for the Series. Nice Hardware!!!

MS took a hiatus from the MSC series after purchasing a condo with his wife J in Winterpark, subsequently committing to the Winterpark series. We were sad not to have them at the MSC series races, but happy to help them enjoy their condo in Winterpark. Last weekend MS placed second in the pro class in Winterpark and this weekend he raced semi-pro, placed third and once again joined the podium crowd at MSC. GREAT JOB!!!

MS is on the far right, next to another C. Springs local character; Kalin, who also rode an amazing season. Sitting on the top podium spot for the Fall Classic

Another friend (RA) took first for the series in his age group of expert men 50+. All year it seems he has been collecting National and State championship jerseys, and he would have once again placed first in this weekend race, had he not decided to kiss a tree half-way through the race. Still, after his tree love session he still managed second place for the race and first for the series. After crossing the finish line, getting bandaged up, while we took his bloody bike to the car. When I asked RA how he was doing he gave the quote of the weekend “Chicks dig scars”. I guess that sums it up.

RA waves from the podium spot he is the least accustomed too this weekend. I should have gotten a close up shot so you could see his bandage and blood on the jersey. That's hawt...


Because I think RA is a rockstar, I have to include a picture of him putting on his National Championship Jersey in July.




Thank you to RA and his wife SA also for being such amazing hosts and inviting us to stay at their home in Breckenridge.

Next up: Cyclo-cross Season

YUM!

Last summer Bristol Brewing introduced Cheyenne Canon Pinon Nut Ale. Not only was it delicious but I was so busy drinking it I forgot to stock up on it for the time when there would be no more. Then fall rolled around and the ale ran out.

I was sad

I was sadder than sad, my new favorite beer was gone, and I forgot to stock up.

Now it is back!!!

Happy again I am

(I read WAY too much Dr. Seuss)

Seriously though, do yourself a favor, if you live locally, pick yourself up a bottle. You won’t regret it. If you don't live locally, you may bribe me to buy you some, but no guarentee I won't drink it before I give it to you.

Oh yeah, and 100% of profits go to Friends of Cheyenne Canon. So you’re really doing a public service by drinking this beer.

Doesn’t it feel good to be philanthropic?

GO RAMS!

With the Democratic National Convention and Hillary Clinton running around Denver in her Bronco Orange pantsuits, the big event for this weekend has been overshadowed…

The Rocky Mountain Showdown!!!


Sunday Aug. 31, Kick-off is at 5:30pm

GO RAMS!!!

Where is the Frozen Dead Guy?

This weekend E and I headed up to Eldora for his mountain bike race.

We decided to stay in Nederland and partake in the fun adventures Nederland had to offer. Ned Fest Music festival was in full swing so the town was full of Trustifarian hippy’s that shelled out 45 shackles to listen to crappy hippy music and peruse a crap-fair. That was off limits unless you paid the cash to listen to the bad music. We decided instead to wander around town and look for the frozen dead guy.

The shed we found looked like it would be where the frozen dead guy was, but it was empty…as was the shed next too it that was unlocked. I know, because I had to look inside, all that was in it was a kayak and a dozen or so document boxes.

So we didn’t find the frozen dead guy, what we did find was a bunch of stinky hippies and a couple of successful races for E. Who placed 3rd in Short Track and 4th in Cross Country, securing his second place standing in the Mountain States Cup Series for the season.



I’ll take the smell of a mountain biker any day over Patchouli…ANY DAY!

Puppy Picture Friday

Look! Mom got a new camera...



I'd really like a cookie now, look how cute I am...

Random Topic for Discussion

Yesterday in a weekly staff meeting we had an interesting topic of discussion. See, once a week my team of 5 will get a room, we address agenda topics, issues with our account and other work related matters, and the last 30 minutes or left over time we sometimes go off on strange conversation tangents since it is the one time during the week we are away from our desks, computers and daily work. In the spring time we would discuss gardening tips , in the winter, winter driving skills, who knows where these discussions may lead. It is always interesting, random, unplanned and I feel like it builds a personal team rapport. We get to know each other outside of our work titles. Yesterday was no different.

One person made comment that they had to go to the doctor in the afternoon and they (jokingly) stated the doctor may tell them they only have 6 months to live.

This brought up the question: “if you were told you only had 6 months to live, would you come to work the next day?”

I was surprised by the response. I was the only person that stated, not only NO, but HELL NO! If I was told I had 6 months to live, the last thing I would do would be spend my last days in the office. No offense co-workers, love ya, but I gotta go.

The arguments most people on my team had revolved around families and they needed to support their families in their dying months. My thought was, even more of a reason to not be at work, spend time with your families.

I guess I think differently than most people.

Homemade Gifts for Small People

Approximately 4.5 years ago my best friend told me she and her husband were expecting their first child. I wanted to make something special for her and her new baby.

I started cross stitching

A few months later my Carpal Tunnel issues got to be unbearable. I traded in stitching for massage therapy, accupunture, and physical therapy, and eventually dual surgerys on my hands (but hat is a WHOLE other story)

I recuperated

I started stitching again.

My friend had another baby.

Her son is now 4 and her daughter is now past her first birthday.

The gifts have changed some.

This weekend I presented her with her baby’s gifts. A yellow Super-hero Cape for her oldest. The completed baby quilt for her youngest.

I was told her son’s favorite color was yellow, and unbeknownst to me just the week before he had been asking his mom what he could use as a cape.

The night that she got home and gave her son the gift I had made for him I got the best phone call I have had in a long time. A sweet, excited voice on the other end of my phone filled with excitement telling me how much he loves his super-hero cape and now he can fly. I asked if he was ready to rid the world of all evil now that he was an official super-hero. He responded “no, I think I’ll just fly around”.



I like that, not all super hero's need to save the world, We need some to just fly around...

Weekend in Steamboat

What do you get when you mix three friends, wine, good food, shopping and a hot springs under a full moon?

A fantastic weekend!

My best friend from high school (Nuclear Mom) left her husband in charge of child duties and jumped on a plane from Washington. I don’t know who to be more grateful too, her for doing it or her amazing husband that said three months ago, “you should go, we’ll be fiiine, really, go”. (What a great guy!)

My other girlfriend from college drove up from Denver and met us on Saturday. By the time she had arrived, NM and I had scoped out the best shoe stores, spied a couple of new restaurants we were thinking of trying and found who had the best wine list for mid-day refreshments.

Bonus for us in the evening, it was a full moon for our adventure to Strawberry Park. One of my favorite hot springs nestled in the mountains away from light pollution and near my old house when I lived in Steamboat another lifetime ago. We sat in the water, sipped our ‘juice boxes’ and girl talked. Figured out all of life’s mysteries and quickly forgot them as the fog rolled off the water.

Life happens and friendships ebb and flow. It is weekends like this that makes me grateful to have such amazing girl friends in my life.

And a REALLY cute new pair of shoes!!! Or two…

Offensive Language

Apparently my last post had a curse word in it.

On the radio this morning, I learned “Retard” is now a curse word and the PC police want us to refer to is as “the R word”—Whatever

My bad…

Bee’s Prefer Retards

Tonight, on his way home from work, E came by and picked me up so I could get my rode bike I left at his house and go for a bike ride tonight.

He was on his super cool, tough, expensive looking Harley Davidson motorcycle. I wore my cycling shoes and bicycle helmet.

I looked HAWT!

We were laughing that it looked like he was taking a retard on a motorcycle ride. At that moment, I felt a sting on my left wrist. I looked down and a bee was in full on “if I am dying from this I am going to make it a good one dammit” sting operation. Little bastard!

Holy Schnikey THAT HURT!!!

Even better, I didn’t want to move around too much while riding on the back of the bike so I am flayling my left arm trying to get the little ‘F’er’ to stop stinging me and get off me. I am NOT a bug pin cushion, thank you very much!

Add Bees to my list of flying things I hate, right next to hummingbirds…

Dear Iowa:

Please send the remainder of my lungs back to me. I think I left them in your state. I was in Winterpark this weekend and even though my legs had no problems with the climbs, my partial lungs were crying. Please send express delivery since next weekend is Steamboat and even though there is no riding being planned I may like to have my full lung capasity for the long girl talks and laughing that will certainly ensue.
Thanks!

So Sad

I have thought of many different ways to write this post, but I figured others said it better than me.

Bottom line, two more cyclists were killed this week in Colorado Springs, by a person abusing drugs none-the-less. I am angry, sad, and full of mixed emotions. I was an acquaintance of EJ and knew of Jayson.

Last night was a very emotional memorial bike ride from Wooglins Deli to the crime scene on 26th street. It was amazing to see how many people came out in the rain to ride for these guys, how the police gave help by blocking traffic and offering support.

Over 100 people showed up for the ride and even more were waiting with at the crime scene. The cycling community in the Springs is a very tight one, and to lose two lives in such a senseless manner is emotionally shattering.

My heart aches.

Details can be read here, and some other friends have written blogs here and here.

There are so many things I can write about, the survivalists, the senseless-ness, the almosts...I think I’ll leave this post here.

Ragbrai Lessons and Pictures

Alright I have been home a week now. Here is my Ragbrai assessment with pictures.


Our team, Morning of Final day. We don't look too bad for clocking in over 400 miles at this point. Plus, we are still smiling. That is a bonus

I had a fabulous time. A few things I learned.

1) Iowans have to be the nicest people in the whole wide world. At any time someone that lives in Iowa will gladly talk to you, ask you where you are from and offer encouragement. Sometimes they even offer showers too. With clean towels to boot!
By the fan fare we had you would have thought le Tour de France was rolling through towns, kids would high five, and families would be sitting in their lawn chairs waving. It really is amazing! Even farmers would set up HUGE Slip and Slides on their lawns to offer cyclists a break from the heat in the afternoon. Upper torso clothing optional. Everyone I saw kept their cycling shorts on. Wet Chamoix just adds that much more enjoyment. Luckily these slides were usually close to the overnight towns. So the final part of the bike ride that day wasn’t too far.


2) Iowa is NOT Vegetarian friendly. Unless you are content to live off corn, Pie and Iceberg lettuce salads. The best dinner in towns can usually be found in a church or a street vendor selling spaghetti. Unless you are lucky enough to find a pizza joint. Luckily there was Pastafari and Peanut butter jam ont eh route every day. Nothing is better than a made to order PB&J and cold milk break while on a long bike ride.
I did however find vegetarian chili dog on day 5. Now I remember why it has been over 20 years since I ate a chili dog. It was terrible! But I needed food and who could pass up this picture opportunity?


3) Miss Bick and I are still great travel partners, however by the end of the week our tent did have a funky foot smell. Conveniently stinky foot smell night coincided with water bottle margarita night, so we didn’t notice the smell of our tent. (in our defense the humidity in Iowa was intense and our tent was packed away wet every morning from all the dew, the stinky foot smell we are convinced was the tent…not us.)

Our home for the week, Day 1--before funky smell:


3) Super hero capes DO help you climb the big hills in Iowa. Miss Bick and I sported capes two different days.



5) Cows can be vocal if you try to feed them. Here I stopped to try to pet a cow. Why? Because that is what one would do in Iowa, right? The farmer came over and called her cows to the fence. The cows were very vocal with what they thought about all these cyclists going by. They also have terrible breath.


6) When encouraged to evacuate camp because a storm is coming near. It is a good idea to evacuate. One night we were woken up by fire trucks at 2:30 in the morning telling us a storm with high winds and hail was near. The next morning, we learned, even though we missed the storm, a tornado touched down in the next town and reeked havoc on a farm. So maybe the night spent in the basement of a town’s auditorium wasn’t so bad.

7) Peeing in a cornfield is sometimes better than the Kybo’s in the next town.

8) Kybo = Porta Potty. In Iowa everyone calls them Kybo’s—I don’t know why.

When asked "would you do it again?"

Answer "HELL YEAH!!!"

Questions: "Next year?"

Answer: "uh, let me get back to you on that. I still crave the "lay on the beach and do very little" vacations..."

I'm an Aunt Again!

Yesturday afternoon, August 3, 2008. My sister Leslie and her fiance Jon welcomed into the world their son, Wyatt James Hanson.

Welcome to the world little man! I can't wait to meet you in person.

8/6/08
Update: Yesturday I played hooky from work and went up to meet Wyatt. As soon as I held him he put his little hand on my cheek and I was done. He knows who to schmooze in this family.

His dad dressed him for this picture...

I'm Home--Ragbrai Successful!

471 miles, one crazy sun tan, and random allergic reaction and lots of great memories.
I am home.
More updates later once I get some pictures to post and I unpack my gear and get some rest...

Ragbrai Day 1 Report

Setting: Harlan, Iowa
Time: 8pm
Miles ridden today to get here: 58
Temp: Much better now that I am sitting in an air conditioned trailer stalling around on a computer taking advantage of free internet access (did I mention Air conditioning?)
Plan for tomorrow: wake up, pack up camp and be on the bike before 5 am for minimum 87 mile day. Seriously considering doing the century loop.
Status of my bum: Not too bad...yet
Beers waiting to be consumed tonight: a few

Over all the experience has proved to be everything I hoped. Before arriving in Iowa my biggest fear was the heat and humidity. Now I am learning my biggest challenge over the next 6 days will be nutrition. Iowa still has yet to really grasp the concept of vegetarian cuisine.

Okay, my computer time is up. Hopefully I will get to update again later

SLURPEE!!!

Don't forget, Today 7/11 is FREE SLURPEE DAY!!!

Rush right out and practice your american born rights to enjoy Slurpees on hot summer days!!!

Ragbrai Countdown

A week from today I will be on my way to Iowa. For a relaxing week of riding my bike (~460 miles total), camping in random little towns and hanging out with my Super Girlfriends!!! All in the lovely state of Iowa, where I hear the Mosquitoes are in full effect and the heat and humidity is showing no mercy.



Sometimes I am left to wonder about how and why I make certain decisions in my life…

MS 150 2008 Part II

E and I finished riding 80 miles on Sunday at 2 pm, hung around the FRCC campus that was the finish line/expo area for about an hour and a half eating, collecting our baggage and changing clothes before heading home. We pulled into The Springs, collected my doggy from day camp and headed to E’s house. We pulled into the driveway at 5 pm. By 5:05 pm we were fast asleep. Woke up for a brief time around 1 am to unload the car, put our doggies to bed, and go back to sleep until the alarm so rudely awoke us this morning. I guess we were a little bit tired.

There were a few changes to the ride and route this year. The biggest being that they put a cap on the ride, making it about half the size it was before. I still don’t understand why they would ‘close’ a ride for charity. One would thing the organizers would want it to be as large as possible. This gives me something to research. This years ride was 3700 people, compared to the 7000+ it was last year. It started and ended at Front Range Community College in Westminster. Instead of going to Carter lake this year, we by past that area. My only guess is people didn’t like the steep climb up to the lake. Personally I was sad not to go that way, true it was a steep climb up, but also a great descent down afterwards. Gravity baby, Gravity…

At least we still had the killer climb at Horsetooth Reservoir and on day two I got to attack my childhood nemesis again, the climb up the first dam at Horsetooth Reservoir.

As a kid we lived an the base of this hill and on our dirt bikes it was a grueling hill, one we rarely accomplished without a rest or walking our bikes at one point or another. For the second year in a row, I spanked it! Childhood vendetta resolved once again.

All in all it was a great ride and I felt stronger than the year before. Less than three weeks from now I’ll be on my bike riding across Iowa…WAHOO!!!

MS150 2008

For more than 10 years I have been actively involved with the National MS society. I have attended many walks, both as a volunteer and a walker. Tomorrow I am participating in my second MS bike ride, peddling my happy ass over 150 miles in the span of two days.

Multiple Sclerosis is a nasty disease that affects people near and dear to me. For me to ride my bike for two days is nothing like the challenges I see people I care about deal with every day of their lives. Challenges that most times go unnoticed because they battle silently and strongly while living lives that make people envy them unbeknownst of the struggles they face, with a disease that attacks people in the prime of their lives. For this, it seems almost selfish I get to do something I love (ride my bike), to raise awareness and money for this cause.

The weekend schedule is:

Tonight: Drive to Boulder tonight to stay at E’s best friend’s house. (Thanks E and J for letting us crash at your pad )

Tomorrow:
Wake up at 4:30
Get to start in Westminster around 5am
Get set up, check in over night bag to go to Fort Collins by truck, eat. Wake up.

6:00 am: Start peddling

Pedal some more

Have a snack

Pedal

Eat a snow cone at Carter lake (I hope the snow cone stop is there again this year)

Pedal

Pedal

Pedal

(you get the point—maybe have a snack or two)

Arrive in Fort Collins, high five my brother as he is volunteering on the route.

Ride onto campus of my alma mater (CSU).

Collect overnight bag, ride to parents house… Drink Margaritas on newly constructed deck…Go to sleep

Sunday:
Repeat Saturday’s adventure in reverse. Minus the margarita. That would not the be the way to start the ride on Sunday morning—Instead move margarita consumption to my porch on Sunday evening after I retrieve my dog from doggy camp.

To all my friends and family that donated to me for this ride I thank you more than you know! Without the support of you all I would not have been able to raise the money required to participate in this ride, and with each pedal stroke I’ll know your contributions are getting us that much closer to finding a cure for this horrendous disease.


Hope everyone has a great weekend!!!

Geeks Who Drink, er Brawl?

Last night I went to Jack Quinn’s Irish Pub for the weekly trivia game.

A bar fight broke out.

Over the theme song from the TV show SCRUBS.

I am still scratching my head…Yes, a bar fight over trivia…

Not much else to say. WEIRD!!!

Random Picture of the Day

I took this picture a couple Fridays ago while have margaritas with my friends Libby and Warren...

Even though I had to use my phone to take it...I like it.




Have great weekend!

Old 97's

AMAZING Concert last night.

Rhett and the boys put on a show that lasted into the early morning.


If you ever get the chance to see Rhett Miller or the Old 97's live I highly recommend it. Not only is it one of my favorite bands, Rhett is probably one of the most charismatic people I have ever met.

The opening bands were I Love Math (from Dallas)on tour for the first time. You could tell they were heavily influenced by the old 97's. I bought their CD. The second band was Hayes Carll. E liked them a lot and bought their Cd. They were a bit too twangy country for my taste, but respectable talented musicians none the less.

What a great night!!! Definitely worth the three cups of chia tea I have needed today to stay awake.

My Mental Health Vacation

The last week of May I took off of work for some personal mental health time.

The vacation started off with a small adventure to Angel Fire New Mexico for E’s bike race. He took Fourth in his class and for the first time I got to see him on the podium. (when he uploads the pics from his camera, I'll post them)
In the meantime, here is a bike he wishes he could race on...


We came home on Memorial day and the rest of the week I spent working on my landscaping at my house. With the help of a girlfriend (JH) we laid down close to a thousand square feet of landscaping cloth, commandeered a truckload of ‘free’ mulch, loaded, unloaded, and distributed the mulch and ordered 3 tons of rock.



JH was my consultant behind my landscape plan. I have always admired her yard, and when she offered to help me I took her up on the offer. Without her help, expertise, sweat and muscle that is no way I could have gotten as much done this week as I did. Not to mention the pile of very cool rocks she hauled over to my house to create the border around my bulb garden.


As for the ‘Free’ Mulch we got. There is a program here in our town where the parks department offers free mulch to anyone that hauls it away. Unfortunately we found out after loading up ‘The Battlewagon’ to the brim we were not at the free mulch pile. The free mulch pile was about 100 yards away, behind another fence we didn’t see. OOOPS Who knows what mulch we stole…If anyone from the City parks department is reading this, I’m sorry….



Here is what Three Tons of rock look like in a pile



and here it is almost completely spread out…I am about 95% completed.

After moving rock on Thursday and Friday I took Saturday off of doing anything too physical, instead I worked out my credit card at home depot gathering all the supplies I will need to build Sasha’s dog run in the back yard. E and I went out to dinner and then it was home and to bed early since we were leaving for Castlerock at 5:30 am to ride in the Elephant Rock Bicycle Festival.

Have I mentioned how much I LOVE this bike?

We were both debating if we would do the 65 or 100 mile course, after starting towards Monument and fighting a headwind the.entire.way, we both decided 65 miles would be the way to go.



We met up with my friend’s boyfriend (WC) about halfway through.


Unfortunately my friend (LW) had to drop out early and SAG to the finish line due to her IT band in her knee giving her fits. She was super frustrated and hopes this won’t affect our trip to Iowa later this summer. LW, WC, and I are all meeting Miss Bick in Iowa for RAGBRAI in July.

Now I am back to work and good thing too...My body has been crying for a break.