And it starts...

The hubby had practice last night and since I'm not running or riding this week (except for Friday, of course) I had plenty-o-time to make steaks and mashed potatoes from scratch. (I usually only make taters for holidays!!)

Since I had so much extra time I decided to park my arse on the sofa with a glass (or glasses...) of red wine and see what the fabulous DVR had ready for me.

Much to my surprise I had Oprahs from as far back as Sept 3rd! (I have it programmed to only record new episodes) So I sat there and went through them - some I skimmed but others I watched - like her big 24th Anniversary part on the Magnificent Mile with the Black Eyed Peas. It was great!!

And then there was one where she played viewer favorites of surprises over the years. I LOVE watching people get great surprises!! I was so happy for them I actually teared up for several. (ok, I cried. "tearing up" doesn't quite describe it...)

Which is why I felt sheepish when D came home and my eyes were red... You know a new season of Oprah has started when I'm cryin' at the TV (that or Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is on....)

Duh...

I couldn't figure out why I've been SO hungry this week. I mean, if a zebra walked into my office I'd probably eat it! (sorry KVeg...)

Then I just realized that I snuck out Monday and got a Wendy's #1 meal for lunch. Instead of throwing out my trash in the kitchen (like I usually do) I threw it out in my office.

Hence - all week my office has smelled like french fries.

No wonder I've been ravenous!

Nerves

Did I mention my century ride is Friday?? That would be 100 miles in one day.

Yes, I've done this ride before but I was a novice at the experience. I really had no idea what to expect.

Now I know. And in this case, knowing is not a good thing.

I've tried to keep it out of my mind as long as possible. Every time I ride I keep thinking "gee! I'm riding my bike! What fun! la-dee-da-dee!!" In other words - I try very and hard (and successfully) to block out why I've been riding.

Yeah, yeah - I know how to get through it. And I will, no doubt. But still....

The last few training rides - especially the last one - have not instilled me with confidence. Which is not good seeing as how I need all the confidence I can get!

Also I'm concerned about an old injury I apparently have aggravated by riding. I haven't run or rode all this week just to give it time to recoup before the actual ride. Let's hope this strategy works.

Yippie!!

Anyone watch the VMAs last night?? Did you see the New Moon trailer??

Just kidding.. I'm not going to blog about it. But I am going to tell you about my weekend! (minus the part where I stayed up to watch the VMAs/ New Moon trailer...)

We hosted our little dinner group Saturday night. We have 8 of us that meet once a month at a house and we all bring food of a predetermined country. Last month it was Greece, last night it was Spain. I made a few things - not all of it turning out properly.

I tried my hand at ceviche. I'd heard it was actually easy to make. If you don't know what that is - it's fish cooked with acid (like lime juice) instead of heat. Then you add some tomatoes, avocados and cilantro, toss and you're done. I've eaten it several times and it was great. But for some reason my fish wasn't "cooking" in my lime juice. I'm sticking it in the freezer until trash day so I don't stink up the house...

I made two veggies dishes that turned out ok. But my biggest hit was the sangria.

Now all my recipes came form a Spanish cooking site - except the sangria. I decided to go Bobby Flay on that one. He makes some great, albeit, STRONG sangria. Here's the recipe:

2 bottles red Spanish table wine
1 cup brandy
1/2 cup triple sec
1 cup OJ
1/2 pomegranate juice
1/2 cup simple syrup (or more to taste)
orange slices
apple slices
pomegranate seeds
Mix together and let sit at least 24 hours before serving

So after our night of great food (and lots of sangria) I went on our last training ride Sunday morning. It was supposed to be a 10 mile easy ride culminating at a local firehouse pancake breakfast.

We ended up going almost 30 miles, much faster than ride pace on a hilly course. Needless to say I was pissed. I wasn't feeling 100% due to the wine and then the asthma kicked in not long into the ride. I was one cranky bitch, for sure. I made it but only after lots of bitching and complaining. If I'd known it was going to be longer and faster I would have skipped it since I'd had a late night before.

This might be my last century ride with this group. I'm not happy with how they conduct training rides. I don't think I've been on one ride this year that goes the distance promoted and at the ride pace (which is supposed to be all the rides). We usually go farther and a lot faster. The distance isn't an issue except for when your plans for the day get all screwed up because the ride took two hours longer than you were lead to believe. (and the weekend rides usually take several hours to begin with!) The fast pace - well that's an issue. I'm not looking to ever start racing so I don't care to go fast. I only need to go as fast as we're going to go the day of the ride. Plus when they go fast the slower riders end up getting left behind. At least this year they come back and get us. But I usually try to keep up (which is just dumb) and then I'm spent for the last half of the ride. I'm definitely ready to put this century ride behind me and start training for my half marathon.

Easing minds

No Sara, my office is not covered in Twilight posters. And no, Emily, I don't have any Twilight posters hanging on the ceiling above my bed (although not a bad idea... ; )

And no - I don't plan on purchasing any posters of any kind, Twilight or other, to hang in any of the aforementioned places.

I should also reiterate that I am one of those fans that can differentiate between the character "Edward" and the person "Rob". Because I'm clearly infatuated with "Edward", not "Rob".

As the Aussie put it "how can you have a crush on someone who doesn't BATHE!?!?!?!" See, Stephenie Meyer describes Edward as smelling great! That's good. Not-bathing-Rob - not good. I'm all about smelling-good men!!! I LOVE men's cologne!!!!! Ok, not all of it, but most of it.

And the best part - my husband BATHES!!! And smells GREAT!!!

See, I can clearly define the boundaries between fictional and reality. It's all about the cologne!

And, unlike Mrs. CA here, I would never buy Twilight candy...

(in her defense someone gave it to her, she didn't actually buy it...)

YEAH!!!!

I admit it. I broke down and bought it. It came in the mail yesterday!!!

Help getting IN and OUT of a shirt..

Ok - so I've heard of someone helping you get your clothes OFF... ; )

But hell - I couldn't even get IN! This past Friday the hubby and I headed to NYC to meet up with a friend of mine who was in town from London, England. Of course I had to wear the sexy NYC shoes (more on those later...) and of course KVeg wouldn't let me out of the house without an appropriate "party" top. (we were all wearing jeans this time.)

I ran over to KVeg's Thursday night and grabbed a cute black strappy top with beading on the chest. The bottom half of the top was several layers of gauzy stuff. (I have a picture some where but I'll have to post it separately until I can get the hubby to email it to me...)

Did I mention KVeg is a tiny girl?? She's tall - very tall. But thin - VERY thin. Luckily I tried on the shirt at home before we left. No zippers or buttons - just a pull it over you head arrangement. As I was pulling it over my head all the gauzy stuff got wrapped around in the back and I literally got stuck in it. I had to enlist the help of the hubby to untwist it and then to YANK it over my lats. It occurred to me later to look at the size - a SMALL from the Express...

I finally got it on properly. I had HONEST-TO-GOD cleavage!!! I mean them babies were TOUCHING!!! I've NEVER had that happen before.

Of course I couldn't breathe deep for fear I'd pop the banding around my chest/ lats. I would feel really bad to bring home KVeg's top in tatters.

Of course this made me wonder - how in the hell does KVeg fit into this?? The circumference of her ribcage is small for sure. But how in the hell did her boobs fit in there??? To this day it's still a mystery....

We met up with the Aussie (my friend is actually Australian, living and working in England) and the Brit. (Her friend is a true Brit originally from Yorkshire.) We chatted as I tried to get back in the top. (again enlisting the hubby's help) What I found the most interesting... she comes to the US and what does she buy? Kitchen gadgets. Really. But if you think about it that makes sense. I mean Brits aren't known for great food so why would they bother with nifty kitchen gadgets?? ; ) I've already bought her a "Slap Chop" I'm going to send her. Just because I think it's funny....

We walked to a nearby bar/ restaurant that I found on line.

NOTE: Next time people - I'm talking to all of you - don't put me in charge of finding the "hot spots". I do well with the accommodations responsibility on a trip, not the entertainment. (unless of course, you fear for your life...)

Yeah, well I shoulda known that a place called the "Ding Dong Lounge" might be a bit sketchy....
(but it got good reviews!!!)

So we hopped in a cab and went to an Italian place I had found. (I couldn't believe they were still relying on my list after the Ding Dong incident...) But we ended up having a great meal at 'Cesca's on the Upper West Side. I recommend it if you're in the area. We asked for a recommendation for a bar close by. We walked and walked... we couldn't find it so we settled on the first nice place we found.

Needless to say when we got back to the hotel I kicked off my sexy shoes and... well, my friends, my feet were NOT bringing sexy back to NYC. They were an oozing, blistering mess. Gross, I know. At least I didn't take a picture. And once again - the hubby was a great sport as he shared a room with three women... AGAIN! (he did the same thing when we went to Disney back in December...)

I wasn't kidding when I say it was a quick trip. We got up the next morning, we all went to a diner and had some chow and the hubby and I were on the road by 10:30.

The rest of the weekend we went for a 35mile bike ride with friends and then headed out to the GREAT NEW YORK STATE FAIR!

I forgot my phone in the car - so no pictures. Sorry. But it doesn't matter - we were in and out in 2.5 hours. I really just go for the food, beer and wine. And that's what I did. I ate and drank and drank some more. I'm still in awe that our parents EVER let us ride those death-trap machines they call "rides". What were they thinking??? Did they not love us??

Addendum to previous post...

It just remembered that I have never seen one episode of 90210 or Melrose Place. That was the talk of the town when I was in HS. I refused to watch it because I didn't want to succumb to that stupidness. So I can't say I was a closet fan because I truly never saw it.

I'm sure there's something I completely disregarded in college but it's not coming to me right at the moment...

Not to worry

I know some of your are starting to get worried about my "Twilight obsession". I'm flattered that you care enough, well... to care.

I was thinking about it and I'm wondering if you're worried because I've never reacted to something in this way before. It's true - there have been many a pop culture pursuits over the years but I have NEVER dove in and became a crazed fan.

Many would probably see this as my general disinterest in pop culture.

This would be an erroneous assumption.

I have always considered myself a mature, intellectual women. (laugh if you must). Even in junior high I was "above" all the childish preoccupations of my classmates. My BFF at the time was also a mature, intellectual girl - but for some incomprehensible reason, was a big fan of WWF and Def Lepard... I didn't understand it - especially the WWF. And don't even get me started on New Kids on the Block! All the girls went to their concert when it came to town. I didn't understand the fuss over a bunch of stupid boys.

But secretly I LOVED NKOTB! But I would never admit it. They were childish. I went so far as to say I didn't even like them at all.

I've done this my whole life. Something grabbed my attention I hide my interest for fear of being made to look like a stupid fool.

No more. I don't care what anyone thinks. I'm getting to old to worry about it. I've been worrying my whole life and I'm not going to do it any more.

I've already admitted to the NKOTB. I had an obsession with trashy romance novels in junior high too. People knew about it but I don't think they realized how deep the obsession went.

So no - I haven't gone off the deep end this time with Twilight... I'm just opening up and sharing my usual obsession with the outside world!!

More of my obession.

I found a great website that sells all kinds of T-shirts and stuff. But coincidentally, they also have the largest selection of Twilight T's I have ever seen. Here are some of my favorite sayings from the site (which, of course you can get made into T's, bags, mugs, stickers, you name it...)

• Twilight ruined my wife
• Somebody change me please, my mommy's reading Twilight
• I was pale before Twilight made it cool
• WARNING: I drive like a Cullen
• Meanwhile in a little town called Spoons...
• Save gas, ride a vampire
• I would strip for the Cullen boys
• SPOILER: Edward is a vampire
• Forget a knight in shiny armor, I want a vampire in a shiny Volvo
• Team Bella: We trip over flat surfaces
• Edward can break my headboard, bite my pillows and bruise my body any day
• Edward ruined it for mortal men
• I'm no Alice, you're just predictable

and of course my favorite....

• Edward is a VILF

If you don't get some then that just means you haven't read the books. It's ok, I won't hold it against you.

Why I hate shopping.

I was shopping for a jacket at the mall. I was thinking of a cotton one I found for $125 but was browsing in case I found something better. I hardly ever wear leather but as I was walking past a leather coat store one in the window caught my eye. (think urban biker in brown) I went in to peek at it (just for giggles) only to find out it was on sale for $150!

Well hell! That's only a bit more than I was willing to pay for a cotton jacket!! I bought it in a moment of shopping euphoria.

The next day I started having second thoughts. I determined I wouldn't wear it nearly that much and decided to return it.

Well - apparently the store does NOT take RETURNS!!

WTF???

They do store credit but there was nothing else in the store I was interested in. It's all leather and suede jackets. They do not do returns.

Gee - I'm f*%king glad someone told me that when I bought it!!

Apparently there was a sign - not obvious - and then don't verbally tell you this policy.

When I went today to return it I started out nice. Then I got bitchy and ended up storming out. I will refrain on commenting about the manager I was dealing with. Needless to say he royally pissed me off - and not just because of their shitty, non-existent return policy.

If you're interested I'm putting it on craigslist and maybe ebay.

This is why I don't shop. It's just not worth it.

I told you

See, I told you I was exhausted. I just reread my last entry and halfway through I start talking about dreams and things that made no sense...

(shaking her head in disbelief...)

Well, I did it again. I went on a terribly long training ride on Sunday with our cycling group. It was 50 PLUS miles over rolling hills (that's what they said... I classified most of them real hills!!). At one point we were on Lake Ontario!! Y'all know where I live - get a map and check it out. We went far!!!! Not to mention the last 15 miles or so it POURED the rain. And it was only 60 degrees.... yuck. The ride took a total of 5 hours. (we stopped a few times for bathroom, more water, etc...)

I always refer back to when I was a kid and I'd go to the Y in the winter and swim/ play my little heart out and then come home tired. That is what I remember as being "complete exhaustion". I strive for that feeling every time I do any kind of hard workout. I want to come home, my body tired and a general feeling of lead in my chest. As if I almost can't make it into bed before I fall asleep...

Yeah - well I can't seem to capture that kind of tiredness any more and it's really driving me crazy. I was for SURE that I would come home and all I would want to do was let the dogs out, take a hot shower and fall into bed for a few hours.

Nope. Didn't happen. I let the dogs out and took a ridiculously long, hot shower. (it takes a long time to scrub off all that bike grease and dead-animal-road-grime...) Although my body felt like I'd been beaten with a baseball bat from my lower back down, I COULD NOT fall asleep!!

ARG!!! I was completely frustrated. I did end up falling asleep later in the afternoon - but it wasn't that deep, coma-like sleep. I kept waking up, rolling over, tossing and turning.

What does on have to do to get that coma sleep!?!?!? (aside from propofol)

But I do have to say that the past few weeks I've been having exceptionally vivid, strange dreams. (so I'm falling asleep at some point...) At first I thought it was the Tylenol PM. But I've continued to have these types of dreams when I haven't taken any. And what's better (I think) is that I can actually remember them. Usually I know I dreamed but I can't really recall exact details.

So what have I been doing with this dream knowledge?? Racking my brain for deeper, true meaning. No, I'm not consulting any dream books (although I think I own at least one). But trying to put them into context in my real life. But sometimes there's that red-herring. For instance, you wake up thinking you had a dream about someone from in your past. But when you think about it the person was irrelevant. Your brain just put a face to a "character" in order to tell the rest of the story.

I'm not sure any of it means anything, really. But it gives my brain something to chew on while I'm running or biking. Because I DO know that I really have serious issues with the repetition that comes with running and biking.

Am I Trying to Kill Myself???

So, for my friend eyeheartorange, I thought I'd clarify my current athletic endeavors.

Yes, I am training for a century ride on September 18th. I've done this once before, it nearly killed me, and I'm dumb enough to try and do it again. Don't ask me why - I must have a death wish.

And as if that wasn't enough, I realize that I completely slack with cardio during the winter here in CNY. I'm great at lifting weights, but that's it. So to keep me honest during the winter I signed on to run my first half marathon on January 17th in Phoenix, AZ.

I'm not sure what's gotten in to me but if it's something that's keeping me healthy (if it doesn't kill me first) then why not?

A friend of mine keeps asking me to do a triathlon seeing as how I'm into two of three parts - but I don't swim. I can, mind you. If I got dumped out in the open water I can definitely keep myself from drowning (for a bit). But the two times I actually attempted swimming laps I was certain I was going to drown. Not a comfortable feeling. The worst I can do running is fall and skin a knee. The worst I can do biking is fall off (ok, I suppose I could get run over by a car which, admittedly, is worse than just falling off...) but I could drown and DIE swimming. If you get tired you'd better not be too tired to keep yourself afloat until you can be rescued! The risk is a bit too high for me. And it also is probably the reason they having swimming as the first event in a tri as opposed to the last event. Too many people would drown from exhaustion!

So for now I'll keep it on land.

I have to go how far?

I finished up the Twilight series books this weekend. I know, Emily - the addiction is much worse than you feared. But alas, I've had my Edward, Bella and Jacob fix to last me a while... at least until the new movie comes out!!

Since I finished up with the books on Saturday D proposed we do a "group ride" on Sunday morning. Let me explain what that is before any of you come up with utterly disturbing definitions of your own.

D and I are doing the same century ride (100 miles) we did two years ago. It's a fundraiser for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The money raised is used for educational materials for kids on how to stay safe (on the Internet too!) and to help recover missing children. The organization provides 2 group training rides a week for about 2 months prior to the ride to help you get into shape. It's also to help people who've never ridden to get used to riding close in a big group.

Sunday's ride was billed as a 30-40 mile ride in the "easy" category. The longest I've ridden this season has only been 19 miles. But since it said it was easy = flat I figured I give it a try. Including me and D, only 7 people showed up. We've all done the century ride before so there was no one that needed any special instruction , etc... Apparently that meant that the organizers of this ride could just "ride".

At first I wasn't worried. Ok, so no one needed to learn how to ride close and side-by-side. Big deal. The course we were riding that day had already been mapped out and it said it would be flat. However the ride is supposed to be ridden at "ride pace". The day of the actual ride we all ride together in a group, averaging about 16 mph on the flats. Well, 2 guys in this group were racers and everyone else was very experienced and had been riding since probably the snow was completely gone back in the spring. But not me!

I think we averaged about 20-22 mph. It damn near killed me. I made it but I was exhausted when we were done. I also felt self-conscious because the few times they did slow down to pace it was only because I wasn't sure if I could make the whole ride going at the faster speeds.

oh - and it was a full 40 miles....

I don't think I'm going to do any exercising today. Or if I do it will be just a 2 mile jog or something. My arse is NOT getting back on that seat tonight, I can tell you that!!

I think I've already hit up most of you for money - but if not...

If you'd like to donate to that cause (I have to raise $300 for the ride) you can donate directly on my RFMC Page.