I found these of J when he was little. I'm not sure how long ago these were taken, but it was probably when he was 14 or 15. That would be...1999 or 2000? I emailed to him to ID when they were taken so I'll let you know...
He looks so young!
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Pictures...
Update: Apparently J had never seen these pictures before - the first two are from when he was 13 and the third is from when he was 14. His comment: "I've been biking way too long!"
I found these of J when he was little. I'm not sure how long ago these were taken, but it was probably when he was 14 or 15. That would be...1999 or 2000? I emailed to him to ID when they were taken so I'll let you know...
He looks so young!
I found these of J when he was little. I'm not sure how long ago these were taken, but it was probably when he was 14 or 15. That would be...1999 or 2000? I emailed to him to ID when they were taken so I'll let you know...
He looks so young!
Riding.
Yesterday's ride was one of those that reminds you why you ride a bike in the first place - an absolutely stunning, very quiet, solitary adventure to new roads.
The weather was brilliant, the temperature flashing sixty degrees even on the billboard in the parking lot. It's near the end of march and I've only been out of doors a handful of times, the majority of them being out of state races so when I see good weather, I jump at the chance. I had made up my mind to go appreciate some hills (not a climber) this wednesday as part of the recovery week that Jon mapped out for me. I could climb up and down the lake bluffs (again!) or I could take the half day of school and drive a bit north and west to the holy hill area.
I'm not really a believer in the drive to ride sort of deal, I think it's bad (environmental) practice, but I let my standards slip just this once, loaded up the car, and headed out.
I pulled over at some fitness club, stopped in to use the bathroom and they tried to direct me to their spin class. I have no idea who would spin on a day like yesterday. If it's beautiful, I'm outside.
Anyways, off I went on my bike, west into the headwind (I figured I would want to use the tailwind at the end of my ride and it was this perfect east west wind...). I looped all around, trying to meander my way up the to the cathedral. Somehow, I never made it there, but ended up wayyy south and wayyyyy west of it. Once I was off the main road, I saw...count 'em...two cars. the roads were empty. I know it's bad form to take up the middle of the road but the rural location combined with the empty streets just invited me to stretch my narrow biking self out over the entire road and head up and down the hills.
I pedaled past a vinyard, a racoon who had a staredown with me, a stunning old country church, a teepee, this beautiful river that came at the end of a decent descent, uncountable horses and farms, log cabins and the most beautiful sleepy spring.
It was so quiet out there. With the exception of an ocassional pedestrian walking their dog, it was just me and the trees. there was one point I just stopped and listened because I had, unbeknownst to me, forgotten what it was like for it to be quiet and so still. I left that ride with the silence ringing in my ears.
I pedaled on and when the sun was starting to hide behind the hills I decided to head back. Because I was racing a setting sun, I decided to take the most direct rout instead of the slowest one. The kicker to the ride was that on the way back I was able to tuck and use the rollers and tailwind to push me up and down about four hills on the way home! I just sat there and my bike moved magically. Tres brilliant.
Tonight J and I are fixing my (still unfixed :( ) Derailure and making dinner, and plotting the future like we always did. Last night we had a little coversation like this:
J: "Hey, I'm thinking about getting back into racing!"
Me: "What?!?!" (Backstory...J like racing his bike, did it for ten years, decided he hated it and quit)
J: "Yeah...tandem crits! With you on the back!"
Me: "Uh...not sure that's a good idea"
Aparently theres a tandem crit circut where he grew up. And he's really getting into the idea of getting a tandem for us to ride around on.
The weather was brilliant, the temperature flashing sixty degrees even on the billboard in the parking lot. It's near the end of march and I've only been out of doors a handful of times, the majority of them being out of state races so when I see good weather, I jump at the chance. I had made up my mind to go appreciate some hills (not a climber) this wednesday as part of the recovery week that Jon mapped out for me. I could climb up and down the lake bluffs (again!) or I could take the half day of school and drive a bit north and west to the holy hill area.
I'm not really a believer in the drive to ride sort of deal, I think it's bad (environmental) practice, but I let my standards slip just this once, loaded up the car, and headed out.
I pulled over at some fitness club, stopped in to use the bathroom and they tried to direct me to their spin class. I have no idea who would spin on a day like yesterday. If it's beautiful, I'm outside.
Anyways, off I went on my bike, west into the headwind (I figured I would want to use the tailwind at the end of my ride and it was this perfect east west wind...). I looped all around, trying to meander my way up the to the cathedral. Somehow, I never made it there, but ended up wayyy south and wayyyyy west of it. Once I was off the main road, I saw...count 'em...two cars. the roads were empty. I know it's bad form to take up the middle of the road but the rural location combined with the empty streets just invited me to stretch my narrow biking self out over the entire road and head up and down the hills.
I pedaled past a vinyard, a racoon who had a staredown with me, a stunning old country church, a teepee, this beautiful river that came at the end of a decent descent, uncountable horses and farms, log cabins and the most beautiful sleepy spring.
It was so quiet out there. With the exception of an ocassional pedestrian walking their dog, it was just me and the trees. there was one point I just stopped and listened because I had, unbeknownst to me, forgotten what it was like for it to be quiet and so still. I left that ride with the silence ringing in my ears.
I pedaled on and when the sun was starting to hide behind the hills I decided to head back. Because I was racing a setting sun, I decided to take the most direct rout instead of the slowest one. The kicker to the ride was that on the way back I was able to tuck and use the rollers and tailwind to push me up and down about four hills on the way home! I just sat there and my bike moved magically. Tres brilliant.
Tonight J and I are fixing my (still unfixed :( ) Derailure and making dinner, and plotting the future like we always did. Last night we had a little coversation like this:
J: "Hey, I'm thinking about getting back into racing!"
Me: "What?!?!" (Backstory...J like racing his bike, did it for ten years, decided he hated it and quit)
J: "Yeah...tandem crits! With you on the back!"
Me: "Uh...not sure that's a good idea"
Aparently theres a tandem crit circut where he grew up. And he's really getting into the idea of getting a tandem for us to ride around on.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Friday, March 21, 2008
Bliss:
Take some gluten free pasta shells and throw them into a pot of boiling water. While that is cooking, take a tablespoon or two of olive oil and put it into a frying pan. Take some minced garlic and sizzle that for awhile. Then, take a few assorted olives, mince them up, and throw those in too, along with some of the oil the olives were sitting in.
When they get softer, throw in a few table spoons of soft goat cheese. Stir in and fry until the cheese becomes a beautiful golden color. Then, take a table spoon or two of Marinara sauce and stir it in until you find the pink color to your liking.
Let that sit on low heat to stay warm while the pasta finishes. When it is done, put the pasta on your prettiest plate and top with the sauce. Grate some Malvarosa over the top and enjoy to candle light and the Amelie soundtrack. Chew Slowly.
When dinner is done, do all the dishes quickly, and follow up with some Black and Gold Carmel chocolate squares to the Red House Painters. Sit on the couch and think good thoughts about everything.
When they get softer, throw in a few table spoons of soft goat cheese. Stir in and fry until the cheese becomes a beautiful golden color. Then, take a table spoon or two of Marinara sauce and stir it in until you find the pink color to your liking.
Let that sit on low heat to stay warm while the pasta finishes. When it is done, put the pasta on your prettiest plate and top with the sauce. Grate some Malvarosa over the top and enjoy to candle light and the Amelie soundtrack. Chew Slowly.
When dinner is done, do all the dishes quickly, and follow up with some Black and Gold Carmel chocolate squares to the Red House Painters. Sit on the couch and think good thoughts about everything.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
My Prairie Life
When I was a kid I grew up in a place that had not yet been developed into subdivisions and businesses. We had farm fields and meadows that at one time were wheat fields (even now the people with lawns battle the wheat that springs up!) a giant pit of sand, a forest, and the bluest skies and loveliest rains that you would ever see.
It was a privilege to grow up for a span of a few years in this relative country side, with lakes for swimming and no threats of broken glass to harm bare feet and trees to climb, and it has left me with an indelible love of the country side and all things outdoors.
Now that I am older and tucked away in a city, when I am seeking solace I think back to a time I remember: standing in the middle of a prairie, in the middle of a rusting model T frame, the grass all the way up to my neck, just my head above the waving prairie. I still remember the sound it made when I walked through it and the way the dry grasses stung my bare legs and feet in the height of summer.
When I am stressed out or missing being small, I remember being enclosed in the sweet prairie grasses, hidden from everything, left to wander in the sea of green, with a wreath of flowers on my head and I am comforted.
It was a privilege to grow up for a span of a few years in this relative country side, with lakes for swimming and no threats of broken glass to harm bare feet and trees to climb, and it has left me with an indelible love of the country side and all things outdoors.
Now that I am older and tucked away in a city, when I am seeking solace I think back to a time I remember: standing in the middle of a prairie, in the middle of a rusting model T frame, the grass all the way up to my neck, just my head above the waving prairie. I still remember the sound it made when I walked through it and the way the dry grasses stung my bare legs and feet in the height of summer.
When I am stressed out or missing being small, I remember being enclosed in the sweet prairie grasses, hidden from everything, left to wander in the sea of green, with a wreath of flowers on my head and I am comforted.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
When everything feels terrible:
I am reminding myself to be sweet to myself. To nurse myself back to life with vegitable soup with lots of pepper and the forbidden peanut m&ms. To cut out the excess and focus on surviving. To rank priorities. To put my head down and drive it until I catch what I want.
I am a grown up. I can take care of myself.
...Sometimes.
...But sometimes I just want my mom.
I am a grown up. I can take care of myself.
...Sometimes.
...But sometimes I just want my mom.
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Bike Racing
So all that training leads to racing:
Chasing down someone during the crit
Post flat tire road race, with K, who did pretty well for herself - 10th in the crit, which was her second race, ever. Her first was the road. Yay K! I adopted her this weekend cause she is a RIOT and a half.
This is us post spandex time.
This is me laughing at the end of the crit because that was one of the funnier experiences of my life. Ask me why in person some time and I'll let you know how it went.
Chasing down someone during the crit
Post flat tire road race, with K, who did pretty well for herself - 10th in the crit, which was her second race, ever. Her first was the road. Yay K! I adopted her this weekend cause she is a RIOT and a half.
This is us post spandex time.
This is me laughing at the end of the crit because that was one of the funnier experiences of my life. Ask me why in person some time and I'll let you know how it went.
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