100 mile bike is OVER

Whew! The ride is O-V-E-R! Thank god...

Well, I wasn't able to do the whole 100 miles. I'm kinda bummed. but I learned that apparently my "mild" exercise-induced asthma isn't so mild after all... and I don't have it well controlled either... which is triple embarassing seeing as I work for the company leader in AEROSOL DELIVERY DEVICES!!!!!

So, long story short (because giving you the play-by play of a 100 mile ride would be tough for even the best story teller...) 3.97 miles into the ride I had to stop because of my crappy-ass asthma (that isn't supposed to be a big deal!!! AAHHHHH!!!!) I had to get off my bike, get in the SAG wagon ("safety and gear") and ride until I was better. It took me only about 10-15 minutes and I was fine and ready to go!!

"all right - let me out. I'm fine. I've only missed a few miles. let me out!!"

only problem - rule is, once you're in the SAG wagon - for whatever reason (medical emergency, flat tire, etc...) you're in until the next stop. Figures - I got in the wagon early in the LONGEST section (the very FIRST section, might I add...) So I was held hostage until we got to the first stop/school.

Well, that's how David got to finish and I was about 20 miles off. Oh well. Next year I'll get the asthma under control (and condition better for the hills. They were KILLER!!!)

We still had a good time even though we came upon a thunderhead and saw lightening that made me think that Dorothy and Toto were about to make an appearance in a tornado, got caught a shitty downpour (from said thunderhead we saw that we apparently had ridden into) - like the kind where you're riding and the raindrops are stinging your skin. (of course we were still riding....)

But now I have a personal score to settle... so you can bet your pretty panties I'm doing this again next year!!! So - start saving your pennies now becuase I'll be out hitting y'all up again for donations come about July-ish....

BTW - the pic above is from the local news channel. The guys in front in the white jerseys are two of the "shepards" (leaders). The left is Carl and right is Todd. They are AWESOME. Both are racers. Shepards are strong riders that set the pace, watch out for the other riders, assist with issues, etc... kinda like scout leaders... Carl and Todd pet the pace the WHOLE ride. I should mention that a ride like this is ALL about draft. If you're leading you have no draft, you're creating it for everyone else... which means you're one hell of a strong rider. Oh, did I mention that we had a wicked headwind all day too??? These guys need to be given some SERIOUS props!! Although I'm sure that in the scheme of things this ride was really nothing for them, but thee deserve some credit....

Wish me luck!!

Well, it's almost here! My crazy 100 mile bike ride is THIS FRIDAY.

Like as in, day after tomorrow.

I think I want to run and hide under the bed.

Do you think they'll find me there??????????

Really. What was I thinking??

Well, it's here and it's too late to tell them I've changed my mind after all. Plus, I've accidentally raised $455 !!!!! People are really expecting me to do this... So I guess I'm committed.

(In case you have forgotten, or I have forgotten to tell you, I am raising $$ for the NY chapter of the Center for Missing and Exploited Children.)

Send me all your energy vibes people!! (and your cojones vibes too!!) I need it all!!!! I'll be cycling ALL DAY Friday (from 7:50am to about 5pm!!!)

Wish me luck!!! And pray for NO RAIN!!!

More girls weekend

Ok - so I have mroe pics to post. These are the rest of the pics from my girls weekend when we went bikinng in the Pocono's.

This is right before we got started. Becca, Lena, Tracy, Sara, Jenn and me. Sexy, aren't we?? ; )







Along the way there was a water fall. We all decided to get our picture taken.


Here's Becca - of "candy nipple" fame...

















And Lena, our fearless leader.














And here's Jenn, posin' for the camera.

















Tracy was a FABULOUS sport. She was kicking the ride with a chest/ head cold!!! (Did I mention we did TWENTY SIX MILES??!!!)











Check me out! (in me kerchief.... am I'm 60 years old, or what??!!!)













Sara decided to take a detour and I decided to go with her.











Here's a biking shot of Sara in action













And, another group picture in front of the lovely waterfall.

We had a lovely time!! Actually, it ROCKED!! We need to f***ing do it again!! And SOON!!!

Update on dinner

I want to know what he made.... Hey, PB&J would still count in my book, but what did he "whip up"???? -MadHatter

Ok - truth be told - he ended up not actually making dinner - but the fact that he offered to help - that's all I was looking for. It's a start. He has made "real" dinner for me at least once - maybe twice. (I don't count boiling water for pasta, ordering pizza or suggesting going out as "making dinner")

BTW - D doesn't "whip up". Since's he's new to cooking he's a by-the-cookbook kind of guy. Which is fine with me but always requires a LOT of preplanning. He'll learn laddies, he'll learn...

I'm going away more often

real conversation with my husband yesterday...


ME: (on the phone, calling from work) hun, I'm running to the grocery after work while you're at practice. want to add anything to the list?


D: whacha got on the list for dinner this week?


ME: well, I've got that new pasta dish I was telling you about for tonight and other stuff... blah, blah, blah....


D: won't you be at that cycling meeting when I get home from practice tonight?


ME: yeah - I figured I could just make dinner for us when I get home - is that ok??


D: I guess. Or is there anything you'd like me start getting ready for dinner while you're on your way home?


ME: *complete silence* what did you say?


D: well, I figured you aren't going to be getting home until late so I figured I might be able to get something started while you're on your way home.


Ladies... I DID IT!!! Three years of training and I finally got him to VOLUNTARILY ask if there was something he could do to help with dinner!!!


WHOO HOO!!!!!



That's it. I'm going away for the weekend more often.

Girls weekend in the Poconos

This past weekend I was lucky enough to spend the weekend with 5 other gals in need of a girls weekend from my adventure group. And these are no ordinary ladies, might I add. Now, I know y'all want all the juicy details.... well, I can't spill EVERYTHING! I mean, I could, but then I'd have to kill you. We made a pact, what can I say??

But here are some things I can tell you.... (the rest of the pics will have to wait because I have to get them from the other girls. Case in point - this pic is kinda yellow b/c I took it with my cell phone in the not-so-well-lit hotel room... no, not that kind of hotel room... well, maybe it was. but I'm not tellin', and you'll never know...)

It was me, Becca (pictured above with her candy-coated nipples), Jenn (in the background), both of which were my roomies, Lena, Tracy and Sara. We biked the rails-to-trails in the Poconos, ate good food, drank good (and bad) wine, ate chocolate, played games, and my favorites - DID SHOTS AND PEDICURES!!! (not at the same time... but almost at the same time... which accounted for the not-so-hot-looking pedicures the next morning...)

Conversation winner of the weekend:

While we're waiting for our shots to arrive at the bar -

ME: Sara, what career/ job have you NOT have???

(BTW, Sara, in her short 28-29 years of life has done everything from police dispatcher, contracter, mary kay lady, land lord (or 'slum lord' as she calls herself), quasi-massage therapist, hardware store book keeper, working with the developmentally disabled... pretty much you name it, she's done it... I'm sure I'm leaving out the most interesting stuff too... I just can't think of it right off the top of my head.)

ME: Have you ever danced on a pole?? (smile on my face. funny, ha, ha)

SARA: for money? (serious as a monk)

ME: uh, really?

I was speechless. BTW - no, she hadn't for money....

Who knew??

As soon as we drive into the driveway after our camping trip (around 6pm) I get out of the car and immediately let the dogs out, go inside, feed the dogs, get the mail, start going through the mail, you get the idea. At the same time David starts unpacking the car, carrying the cooler inside, bags inside, camping gear to the basement, you get the idea. We do what we can until we just can't do any more.

The next day I take my car to work and later that night when I get home I go to the basement to start sorting through the camping stuff (what needs washed, what can put away, what is for camping only vs. could be used for backpacking....) while David said he was going to finish cleaning out my car. Now, I wasn't exactly sure what he meant by this as there was no more gear left in my car.

My brain processes "clean out car" = "remove all extraneous 'things' from said vehicle"

David's brain processes "clean out car" - "remove all extraneous 'things' *(*anything not nailed down that did not accompany the car from the factory) from car, vacuum distusting dog hair and dust off seats, throw away all trash in trash bag (and trash not in trash bag), actully move seats and vacuum all 'junk' out from under said seats that has been there for god knows how long, wash dog slobber off outside and inside of windows"

WOW! I said. It's not even his car! He doesn't even have to drive the "car full of filth"! He said he did it because the following weekend (this coming weekend) I was going away for a girls weekend and he knew I'd be driving a bunch of my friends in my car and he wanted it to be clean for me.

Isn't he sweet??

Our First Camping Trip

Nikki's version:
This was my first camping trip. It took me a few hours to realize it. At first I thought that mom and dad could have picked a closer park. I mean really!! For the first TWO HOURS I stood anxiously looking out the window wondering when in the heck we were going to get there. It finally dawned on me it wasn't going to be any time soon. I finally decided to take a load off. Liam's butt seemed to make a good pillow.












Ugh!! Are we THERE YET???!!!











I should have know we weren't just out for a few hours at the park when I saw dad packed this on the back of the car...











After a few days in the wilderness I was sick and tired of waking up to gunshots at the firing range across the lake!! (At least mom let me get in bed and snuggle with her until the shots stopped...)













Don't get me wrong, I love spending time with the fam and all, but I have had enough and was ready to get home to air conditioning and a dry, padded bed on level ground. At least the ride home was air conditioned and I was able to get the "double bed"!!! God I can't wait until we get home! I've had enough of this "communing with nature" crap!













Liam's version:


Ah! Fresh air, back to my roots. Lounging around, laying out on the ground, laying my head where ever it happens to land. Chasing balls out in the lake, shakin' off and lettin' the air blow through your fur... that's the life. Not a care in the world. Just how I like it.





























I will admit that the A/C on the way home was kinda nice... just don't tell Nikki I said that....

I'm behind

ok - Ihaven't posted in a while due to jury duty and vacation. Give me a minute to get my pics in order and I'll post here soon.