This is the good life

2010-08-29T18:26:00.001-05:00

You just don’t know where someone has been or what their life is like. This is just one example.

How did you get your first bike? Did you get an allowance as a child? I didn’t get an allowance. My parents told us that we were a family and we needed to work together to make ends meet. Our allowance was food on the table and a place to sleep. I got my first bike by saving money from birthdays, working as a paper route sub, and baby-sitting.

How did you get your first car? I was lucky enough to have my parents sign a bank note for $800, I had my first car loan. I worked a lot of hours while in high school to pay off that loan and to save for college.

I paid for college. No my parents were not able to help me with books or tuition. I was lucky to live with them while studying and working. It took me a few years to get my associate degree but I got it free and clear. Going away to college was a dream that I couldn’t afford. Cutting loose and partying is something I kind of regret not doing but it was a good choice to stay at home and work.

Working is something I have done since I can remember. I learned the valuable lesson of buying what you can afford. Sometimes it takes a long time to save.

How old is your car? Mine is over 9 years and has over 136,000 miles on it. I take good care of it and it is running like a champ.

Someday I’m going to be driving a BMW or something else that is nice. I’ve been saving a long time. Think what you want but not all people with nice things are jerks. Not all people are just given things...some work really hard and can afford them and appreciate them.

It is time to make a deal

2010-08-04T21:52:00.002-05:00

The deal is the facts. Yes, the honest truth is the deal. I have a difficult time losing weight. My resolve is strong, I like to exercise, and my diet is healthy. Now is the time to write it down and figure it out. I have a polar heart rate monitor that tracks my exercise and a new app for my phone to track calories eaten.

The plan is to workout at the gym 2-3 times a week and burn 1,000 calories each visit. In edition to the gym I want to add 1-2 workouts at home or on the weekend. My goal for total calories eaten is 1,200-1,500 daily. I would like to follow this plan for a month and see what happens. If I lose weight no further action is required. This will mean that I’m back on track. If not, back to the doctor. The last time I lost weight I had to follow a special very low cal diet that I got from a naturopath. I don’t want to do that again unless it is necessary. I’m so afraid of becoming anorexic. I get very frustrated with my situation and feel so out of control. The only way I feel in control is to eat very little. I know that is not healthy.

Check this out

2010-07-22T13:43:00.004-05:00

Check this blog out

www.fatcyclist.com

I was listening to my favorite radio program today (the story) and heard about this blog. The Fat cyclist is a blog about bikes, life, and raising money to fight cancer. You should check it out if any of this is interesting to you.

The story is a radio program on NPR. It is about people from all walks of life. The interviewer is Dick Gordon is great! He asks the question you want to ask. If you don't have a public radio station to listen to I think the program can be downloaded as a podcast. The Story is one of my favorite things and I'm sure the fatcyclist.com will soon be a favorite as well.

www.thestory.org

This is the good life and I'm sticking to it!

2010-07-12T18:16:00.002-05:00

OK this is the deal. I have issues with my pituitary. I don’t know why that is so difficult for me to admit. Embarrassment is a funny emotion. 10 years ago I was diagnosed with a little problem with my pituitary. I will need to take medicine for the rest of my life. In the grand scheme of life this is no big deal. I’m lucky there is a drug to treat my problem and thankfully I don’t have cancer.

Losing weight is difficult for me. Last year I worked really hard and lost 25lbs with the help of a doctor. All seemed great but I was still seeking relief from chronic dizziness. The medicine that I take to help my pituitary may cause dizziness. Feeling really good about my self and my general health, last fall I took a break from my meds. I was trying to fix the dizziness. It was a risk. It didn’t work. The dizziness remained and my hormones crashed in April. I felt like I had lost control of my body. While my hormones are slowly regaining balance the dizziness remains and it is depressing. All of this has effected my confidence and other activities (climbing).

I miss mountain biking! I miss my biking friends. They will always be my friends but I miss the lifestyle of racing and being with like minded people. Biking was my happy place, my escape, and it made me feel strong. I used to feel tough and powerful. I was really good at it too. The dizziness has hidden this refuge from me and I don’t know how to find it. As a positive I did realize that I’m more than my bike. I’m creative. I like to draw and take photos and I like school and learning.

Once again I’m going to try to climb the mountain of dizziness and fix this problem. I just want to be free. In October I’m going to see a neurologist. This means more tests and feeling like a loser. I feel so stupid at the doctor’s office but something is wrong and I’m not giving up this time. I’m lucky to have the time and support to tackle this problem. Now I just have to do it!

I should get back to writing

2010-06-29T22:05:00.002-05:00

I'm going to try and post at least once a month. At times I think it helps me work out ideas if I write them down. Taking better care of myself is on the agenda and in some way this counts. Staying positive is one of my goals. I will try...
b

Good luck Mr. Baseball

2010-04-27T18:03:00.002-05:00

Good luck Uecker! Wow, heart surgery...here is to a speedy recovery.

Olympic fever

2010-02-21T20:02:00.000-06:00

I have watched a lot of the Olympic coverage, skiing, ice skating, snowboarding, and speed skating. Surely someone else has watched more but I can’t stop watching. The personal stories are fascinating. I love to hear about their lives and what kind of challenges they have faced. A pairs ice skating couple that is husband and wife have lived in a dorm for years. They have given up so much of life to skate in the olympics. One skier representing Canada is a recovering alcholic. So many people, so many stories, not just competition or maybe just another reflection of life? It seems to be a fine line between success and total destruction. So many athletes past and present have struggled with obsessive behaviors. It is a fine line between prominence and loser.

Thanks

2010-02-17T16:18:00.002-06:00

I want to say thanks to all of the people that helped me heal. Thanks to John for taking good care of me for weeks after my surgery. He did laundry, cooked, and cleaned. Not to mention he was driving me around too. Marriage is a partnership and I have the best partner.

I would also like to thank Karen J and Karen Z for getting me out to see movies and to appointments. Thanks so much for being good freinds!

My Mom also deserves thanks. Mom took me to buy groceries and run errands. Thanks!

Thanks to all for helping me heal. Without these people I would not be walking and feeling so good.

9 weeks tomorrow

2010-02-17T14:51:00.001-06:00

Well, I was going to write about my ankle and the progress I’ve made but I have soooo much on my mind. Maybe I need to blog more. Sometimes writing helps me to organize my thoughts. If one had to follow that crazy path it would wind all over the place. Later in the week I can write about other stuff.

Ok...The ankle is doing great! I’m really ahead of schedule thanks to taking good care of myself before and after my surgery. I’m lucky to have the knowledge and will to take the time and effort to live well. I was walking in a few days and now I just want to get back to lifting some weights and running. No running for a long time but I can do other stuff. No weight for awhile either. It maybe time to try something new or get back to something I’ve missed. For the last 10 years I’ve been practicing yoga. It helps me focus and clear my mind. Being a very physical person I deal with life and the ups and downs of life by working out. Yoga reminds me that I have options and to breathe. Time to get back to yoga.

Happy New Year!

2009-12-31T08:43:00.002-06:00

I love New Years! This is a great holiday because everyone is on the same page. Everyone’s calendar changes tonight. I love the feeling of starting over and reflecting. I’m hoping for a clear sky this evening. There is nothing so breathtaking as peering into a winter sky with all of the stars twinkling. This is another day to be thankful for the love, the health, and the great life that I live. I’m so lucky! So here is to another wonderful year!

Cheers

I'm doing well

2009-12-21T09:25:00.002-06:00

The surgery was a success. Things are going well, very little pain or swelling. It turns out there was a piece of unattached cartilage in the joint. It was removed and the bone was fractured so it would bleed. I guess that causes the body to generate new tissue. Because of the micro fracture I can not put weight on my foot for 6 weeks. I will be on crutches for 6 weeks and then I don't know what will happen...more info after Wednesday.

Good thing I have been working out. My legs, core, arms, and back are strong which makes getting around on one foot a lot easier. All of the lunges and squats are really paying off! Thanks NX level for helping me get strong!

Big thanks to my friend Karen J for coming over and Saturday and staying with me. John had to go to a family xmas party and I needed someone to help me out for the evening. Thanks!!!!

FYI
Now accepting visitors and rides places! I'm a little slow but I need to get out of the house for short trips.

Photo from the rampage

2009-12-13T20:41:00.001-06:00

Santa rampage

2009-12-13T20:30:00.003-06:00

The Santa cycle rampage was awesome! John and I had a blast! What is more fun than a bunch of crazy people biking in Santa suits? Cars would stop and people would take our picture...Lots of laughing and smiles! I'm not a christmas person but I want to make this a tradition...It was sooo much fun!

one more thing

2009-12-02T20:48:00.001-06:00

One more thing to think about...All the money in the world, a beautiful spouse, a great talent, and smarts...Doesn’t always make one happy. I wish you luck Tiger....Happiness is something money can’t buy

Random

2009-12-02T20:27:00.002-06:00

I need to get back to yoga. I really miss it. As of late I have been really anxious. Maybe it is my up coming ankle surgery, maybe it is the end of the semester and I have to finish stuff a little early to get ready for said surgery...maybe I just need to get back to yoga.

Yoga reminds me to breathe and be patient with myself and the world. I don’t see this as a religious quality but a human one. This is where I could talk about my agnostic views but maybe another day.... Ok...just a little... why can’t people just be nice to be nice? Why does there have to be a carrot of some kind?

Blogging is for spilling my guts...no worries about complete thoughts or things that always make sense or being spelled correctly...I try but I’m not a scholar, a rocket scientist, or a writer. I love the randomness!

Thanksgiving

2009-11-23T14:38:00.001-06:00

Thanksgiving is upon us. I actually like this holiday. This is a celebration of thanks no doubt but it is not or should I say doesn’t have to be a holiday cluttered with religion. This holiday is about giving thanks to people of all walks of life. This is a simple day no matter what your religious practice. Being thankful has no limits or controls.

I have much to be thankful for...Love, health, family, and friends.

Thank You!

2009-11-11T12:44:00.001-06:00

Veteran's Day

Thank you!

To all that have served our country...Thank You! I’m grateful for my many freedoms.

food

2009-11-10T17:20:00.003-06:00

I rarely shop at Pick n save. The quality of the food is...well...shity. I like to eat fresh veggies and fruit not to mention organic meat. I know that puts me in the minority. Think about this...I rarely get sick and in the last few months I have been able to go off of my bromocriptine. That is a major accomplishment! Organic meat just tastes better. I know it may be more expensive but so is going to the doctor and buying medication.

I was at Pick n Save tonight. I can’t believe the stuff in carts!!! Sugar and crap of all colors and shapes....soda, juice boxes, chips, not a vegetable in sight! White bread and lots of other empty calorie foods filled the carts. Here is the deal...if I’m going to pay for health care stop parking so close, take the stairs and try to eat something that is in its original state.

Try this kind of fast food. An apple...you don’t even have to unwrap it!

Good day in the forest

2009-11-07T20:48:00.002-06:00

What a great day for a walk in the woods. Today we picked John's brother up and went for a hike in the kettle moraine. I wanted to get more activity today but Dan doesn't get a lot of exercise and we have to watch his foot. Dan doesn't feel pain like most people. Let me tell you pain is a very important part of life. It can keep you safe and healthy...

a great harvest

2009-09-16T17:45:00.002-05:00

Ah, Fall...I love this time of year! For dinner tonight we are having grilled garden fresh veggies and chicken. Yum! I would love to eat like this everyday. We eat well all year....but getting fresh veggies from John's parents is the best!

What is your problem?

2009-09-08T20:39:00.002-05:00

Really? What is the big deal with the President sending a message to school children? Stay in school and work hard so the government doesn't have to bail you out. It seems like a generation or two may have missed this message. Oh, wait...the school day is already packed with too much??? So there isn't 20 minutes for the leader of our country let kids know how important it is to work hard? Really?

happy birthday

2009-09-04T09:21:00.001-05:00

Happy Birthday to my awesome sister Ann! You rock sister! Hope you have a great day!!!!

Welcome back

2009-09-04T09:10:00.002-05:00

I'm back to blogging. Facebook is fun to catch up with people but it is... let's say too conservative. Fb is not the place for political rants. Well I don't think it is. Blogging is the place to spill your guts. If someone doesn't like it oh well. Opinions are like assholes...everyone has one. With school starting I'm sure to have plenty of material.

First things first...as for school. Teachers are amazing people! They have to put up with all kinds of people and personalities and still teach. Bravo to all that take on this challenge!!!

school is cool

2008-12-15T18:20:00.002-06:00

Well I hope it is...Today I signed up for 2 classes at WCTC. I'm enrolled in page layout and fundamentals of design for a total of 6 credits. These are the first classes in the digital photography certificate program. I don't know if I will complete the program or if I will try to get in the graphic arts program. It is a start of something new. I'm excited and hope I remember how to study. The last time I had a college class was summer of 95.

More pictures from Spain

2008-12-08T11:30:00.007-06:00

Rock of Gibraltar

don't say it...facebook

2008-12-06T11:16:00.001-06:00

Lately I have been a bit obsessed with facebook. That is why the blogg has been neglected. My 20-year class reunion is this spring and I have been catching up with classmates. It has been fun and a little bit bizarre. And the part no one wants to hear…I feel inadequate. I know that I live the good life…the kind of life most people dream about but in a way I feel kind of like a kid. I work part time, ride my bike, go to yoga, and clean the house. Don’t worry I’m not complaining…I just wish I had some kind of accomplishment…Not that I’m a person to brag or boost…just something to make me feel like I matter or something to make me feel like I contribute to society.

Wow I need some coffee!!!

Pictures from Spain

2008-12-06T10:41:00.008-06:00

Some pictures from Spain

2008-11-16T21:06:00.005-06:00

Ok...I want to post some pictures but I don't know how to with my Mac. It is different from my pc.

Help?

Home sweet home

2008-11-09T19:29:00.001-06:00

We are back from Spain. What a great trip! More details and pictures to follow.

hurry here...hustlin there...

2008-11-01T01:30:00.001-05:00

What a busy week. Getting ready for a trip to Spain, dog sitting, a doctor appointment, going to the B.B. King concert, and two trips to get the radio in John’s new truck fixed. I really didn’t have much time this week for goofing-off like I usually do… I didn’t plan on dog sitting this week but a friend called kind of last minute and I felt really bad for the doggies.

Craig dropped Buck and Rhodie off Wednesday afternoon. Considering that the pups don’t get a lot of exercise and or training…things went really well. We hiked two days on the ice age trail. I kind of miss them now that they are back home. Someday I’m going to have my own dog.

Well it is off to Spain. This is another great opportunity. John is speaking at a conference in Barcelona. I’m so very lucky to be able to tag along!!! After the conference we are going on a little tour of Spain. I hope I packed everything. It can be a little rainy this time of year so I have a lot of clothing options and an umbrella.
b

FYI...BB King was great!

dogs

2008-10-30T20:34:00.002-05:00

Someday I will have my own dog. For now I'm just a dog sitter. Currently I'm watching two dogs. So far they have pissed on two of my rugs and kept me up most of last night barking and whining.

We did go for a walk with Karen and Cody today. That went really well. We hiked on the ice age trail at holy hill. It was a beautiful day! That is the fun part of having a dog. We are going to try it tomorrow too.

Election

2008-10-25T22:37:00.002-05:00

OK...I'm ready for this to be over.

I voted the other day. In Wisconsin you can vote early. It is a great way to avoid the lines. We are going to be out of town anyway.

election - standing on my all natural soapbox

2008-10-07T21:58:00.003-05:00

The election is one month away. Wow...no matter what happens it will make history. For some reason I feel more drawn to this election that any other in my limited voting history. Maybe I'm growing up, maybe it's the economy, or maybe I have more to loose.

This is a difficult choice.

1. I don't like anyone telling me what I can do to my body. So that makes me pro choice.

2. I have made good choices and lived with in my means. I don't want to bail anyone out.

3. I believe the government should help people that can't help themselves...Right now there are a lot of people that could be helping themselves out! There are people that could be working that choose to mooch off the system. Then there are people that have been hit by a hurricane or suffer from a disability that are struggling...these people really need the help but how do you police it???

Very interesting!

Happy Birthday

2008-10-05T17:34:00.006-05:00

Thinking about Birthdays is fun. For me it serves as a check in with life. I really don’t feel my age. Maybe its because I don’t have kids. In some ways I still feel like a kid. Some of my favorite things to do are the very same things I loved as a kid. I consider myself very lucky to be able to enjoy life like a kid.

I had an amazing birthday this year. John planned a weekend for us at he Osthoff resort in Elkhart Lake, Wi. We really like the area. It is a very small town in the Northern Kettle Moraine State Forest. We had pizza at our favorite place in Sheboygan....Il Ritrovo. We also had a couples massage and hiked the Iceage Trail. It was just the get away we needed.

Here is to another year! I’m very thankful for my health and that I’m loved.

Other things this weekend...

Badger game Saturday night

Helping our friend Karen at the Lake Front Marathon (way to go Karen on your first!!!)

Brewer game Sunday...bummer but there is always next year and I can’t wait to go to a spring training game

busy...busy..

A weekend at home

2008-09-28T21:30:00.002-05:00

Well... almost.

Friday night we drove to Pleasant Prairie to visit the Pitts family. It was a great time. We had dinner, drank beer, and had a fire. We need to hang out more!

Saturday we picked up our new pick up truck. We finally got a Nissan Frontier. After shopping at 3 different dealers we found a dealer that could produce a truck. I just don't get it... We had to be the easiest customers to work with. We knew exactly the truck we wanted to buy. We didn't have a trade and we didn't need to finance...Does it get any easier? I will post a picture in a few days.

After we picked up the pick up we went to John's parent's. John had to help his Dad with some stuff. Then we just sat around listening to the Brewer game. I NEVER want to attend a sporting event with his parents. It was terrible listening to them complain and make negative comments. Why do people think a negative comment follow up by laughter is ok? Like the giggle changes what they have said? Like it takes away the negativity. It makes me uncomfortable.

We went out for dinner early with the family. I think we got to the restaurant at 4:45pm. That is a little early for me but this time it worked out. John and I stayed at Wayne and Dawn's a little late the night before...We left their house at 2:15am :) So eating early was good so I could get to bed early. Dinner was good until the Badgers lost and so did the Brewers.... love that positive energy!

Today we got to work in the yard. This is one of my favorite things to do with John. I planted bulbs (some of which we purchased right from the source in Amsterdam). John cut the grass and cleaned out Big Red. My Uncle John picked up Big Red this afternoon. Bye Bye Big Red!!! You were a great truck!

later,

The wounds are healing

2008-09-23T22:16:00.002-05:00

I can walk around without a bandage on my elbow.

The Brewers just beat the Pirates!

We put money down on another pick up truck....This time I think we are going to get it.

Life is good!!!!

Chequamegon

2008-09-14T20:30:00.008-05:00

What can I say....We finished. I was hoping for a better time than last year. That goal was met. However it wasn't good enough for me to feel satisfied. This year conditions where very tough. It was wet and muddy. Last year the course was dry and very fast.

This summer I have been on my bike a lot. I really wanted to feel good at the start of the race and I felt like shit. It was difficult to breathe and I was tired. For the first few miles I kept pedaling hoping that my engine would turn on. It didn't. Both John and I were climbing the hills well but it was very challenging to keep going. I did keep going because this day was about John. He really struggled to finish last year after his broken collar bone. I didn't want to complain and bring him down. He was doing great. I just wanted to be there for him and help him set a good pace. When we reached OO I had to pee. So I took a short break, I took another hit off of my inhaler, and we got some fuel. At this point I think we were in good shape to finish in under 4 hours. Considering the weather I would have been happy with that.

Just a few miles after OO I crashed big time on a wet, rocky, downhill. I was really going fast...and then I wasn't. I hit the ground hard!!! My right calf muscle was screaming. Someone thought I broke my leg by the way it was positioned on the ground. Standing was not an option for a few minutes. People kept asking me if I needed medical. I just needed a few minutes to figure out if I could get up on my own. My right arm was hurting. John was a bit ahead of me but he heard me yelp when I went down. He was by my side in a second. I was able to get up after a few rounds of deep breathing. Thanks to the guy that directed traffic around me. I was really scared of being run over.

At this point I didn't know if I could pedal the 18 or so miles to the end of the race. I really wanted both of us to finish. I thought I would have to take the four wheeler back but I got back on the bike. I wanted to try. My front tire was not moving. The front brake was stuck because the cable had been stretched. It took a few minutes to get it adjusted and then I was worried it wouldn't hold for the duration.

We started back out slowly. My calf muscle still screaming but I was afraid to stop. I thought it would cramp up and I would not be able to move. John was so nice to hang with me. We took the next few miles one hill at a time. My legs were cramping but I knew we could make it.

We did make it!!! Thanks John for helping me, staying with me, and helping me wash the dirt out of my arm. Thanks to Jay for driving us to the start and for being there when we finished.

Fat tire time

2008-09-11T18:58:00.002-05:00

This weekend we are going up to the Chequamegon National Forest for the fat tire festive/race. Last year John and I did the race too. It was a lot of fun and a beautiful day last year. Our time last year was slow but it was a great accomplishment for John. John broke his collar bone in June last year so he wasn't able to ride his bike at all last summer. Just the fact the he still did the 40 and finished was pretty awsome.

This year will be different. Both of us have been riding more and we are healthy....So let the party begin!!!!
b

Still looking

2008-09-10T08:01:00.002-05:00

We are still looking for a new truck. FYI don't shop for a vehicle at Boucher in Waukesha. We put money down on a new truck and they never produced it. The truck was coming from just over the border in Il. The thing that makes me the most angry is that they never updated us or even tried to keep us in the loop. Bad car dealer...bad! I guess truck sales aren't as slow is projected. Too bad for them...We are going to buy a truck somewhere else.

From Hayward Wi to Amsterdam

2008-08-25T19:06:00.001-05:00

Wow! What an action packed couple of weeks! First a trip to northern Wisco for some awesome mountain biking! The trails in the Cable area are really cool! Pictures and more details to follow…

We weren’t even home 24 hours and we jetted off to Amsterdam. This was a tight turn around for both John and me. I had to wash a lot stinky of biking clothing fast. John had a bunch of work to finish before leaving the country and we both had to unpack and repack.

I’m a little tired right now. I don’t know what day it is but I do know that I will be able to sleep in my own bed tonight! A thorough update will follow in the next few days.
b

truck shopping

2008-08-12T17:23:00.001-05:00

How to buy a new car?

Or should I say a new truck? Automobile shopping really sucks! Why does the consumer have to jump threw hoops to make a purchase? Why don’t cars and trucks have a price tag like bread or milk? Excuse me but I would like to buy this gallon of milk. Can you tell me what the price is? Well the msrp is $4.00. Let me ask my manager if we can do better. You are in luck! We are having a sale today it will cost you $3.75. But your ad says the milk is $2.99 a gallon for the rest of the month? Oh, let me ask my manager? Why yes it is $2.99.

Days go by and you run in to your neighbor and they got the milk for $2.75. What a bunch of shit! This is how cars are sold only with ten more trips to ask the “manager” what to do.

This is why we buy a car once every 8-9 years…
With the cost of gas these days we where considering a small SUV. Something that would get better gas mileage than Big Red (2000 explorer). We changed our minds. We where loading up bikes and all of our stuff for 24-9 and it barely fit in our mid size SUV. We also had to consider the fact that we are always going to travel to rock/ice climb and bike. Sometimes the conditions aren’t so nice when we play outdoors and it would be really nice to put our muddy gear in a pick up truck. So we are looking for a truck… We are hoping to get one that gets about the same mileage as Big Red. With all of the cash rebates on trucks we should get a good deal…. and that is a lot of gas money. Someday when we replace my explorer we will get something really good on gas. Maybe there will be a SUV that gets 50 miles to the gallon by then…

Russell he's the best!

2008-08-07T14:31:00.002-05:00

Check out my buddy Russell. He made the front page of the business section of the Milwaukee Journal.

Way to go Russell! Fools best recognize...
b

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=780706

Trip to Amsterdam delayed

2008-08-06T07:56:00.000-05:00

Well in the crazy world of business…our trip to Amsterdam has been delayed. I hope I still get to go. I consider myself very lucky to have the opportunity to tag along with John on some of his business trips. Hopefully the date will get nailed down this week and I can start packing!!!

I t really is a good thing we aren’t leaving this week. We are traveling up to Cable, Wi next week to mtb. If we would have gone to Amsterdam this week we would only have one night sleep to recover from jet lag before going up North.
b

Last few days

2008-08-04T10:32:00.001-05:00

Maybe I really do need surgery on my ankle??? Last Monday I was lying on the couch watching TV before going to bed. I was stretching my ankle and moving it around in circles when it made a LOUD PAINFUL CRACK. Ouch! John was close by and he heard it. John thought it sounded like a 2 by 4 snapping. Good thing I didn’t have weight on it. I put some ice on it right away. It has been irritated ever since.

This past weekend was 24-9. I decided not to race the 12 solo. I’ve been having some issues finding my confidence lately. I did put a set back seat post on my bike and also changed the tires. That has really helped me feel better on the bike. I almost changed my mind about racing at the last minute…I did pack enough stuff but with my ankle hurting I chose to hang out and help John’s team and Annie’s team. We pre road the course Friday night. It was fast and dusty. Sometime Saturday night I did manage to get a night lap in. I love riding at night!!!

Mtb races are a funny. You see so many people from so many walks of life. I love dogs but I don’t like the random dog that is not tied up. There was an uncut male dog with free range that was peeing on people’s stuff and barking. We had two dogs with us and I was afraid that rouge dog would start a fight. We had to keep an eye open at all times.
I’m so proud of my husband John for riding at 24-9. Baby you have come a long way! John started riding a bike for real about 4 years ago. As he would say he is a tactile learner. This means we have been to the hospital a twice and urgent care once. Now that he understands what an advantage long legs are I better step up my game so I can keep up! Great job sweetie!

Summer's Bounty

2008-07-22T14:07:00.005-05:00

Today I picked the first harvest of raspberries! This is the first year with our plants. The berries are sweet and tasty.

Here are a few pictures of our yard. We have the most beautiful lilies!
b

Nice weekend

2008-07-20T20:46:00.001-05:00

Friday John and I drove up to my sister’s house. It was a great weekend. Friday we biked at Hartman Creek State Park. My sister is building trails there. They have some really sweet single track started! I can’t wait for more.

Saturday we biked at Nine Mile. There are tons of trails there! The variety of trails is awesome. After biking we went to the beach. What a perfect day!

Thanks Annie and Michelle for a great weekend. Good company, good food, lots to do, and a great night sleep!
bonnie

Tag what?

2008-07-14T08:54:00.003-05:00

So, the villainous Shed Master Russell (see link on side of page) has tagged me. Well I really don’t like to follow rules so this will be my best attempt at playing along.
Here are the rules:
· link to the person who tagged you.
· post the rules on your blog.
· write six random things about yourself.
· tag six people at the end of your post.
· let each person know they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog
1. I am over 5 feet tall
2. My middle name is Ann
3. I don’t like to share stuff (consider yourself lucky if I share with you)
4. Thunderstorms are cool
5. I love ice climbing
6. Cherries are my favorite fruit

The 4th of July

2008-07-08T16:06:00.002-05:00

This was one of the best 4th. The crappy bike ride was way cool! Big thanks to Russell for organizing and hosting! Russell is one creative party guy. I should have taken pictures. For pictures check these blogs…
http://lifeintherustytoolshed.blogspot.com/
www.shacknwithdasug.blogspot.com/

There were prizes for the crappiest bike, most patriotic, and coolest. Oh, and don’t forget the Boones Farm for utmost fireworks enjoyment! To round out the evening we stopped at Gilles custard on the way back to the shed. Lastly a few local fireworks and a fire before we drove home. Nice!!!!
Thanks Russell!!!!!!!

What to do???

2008-07-02T21:43:00.001-05:00

Today was an interesting day. At 9:45am this morning John and I stopped at the Doctor’s office. The results of my MRI are in and now I need to make a decision…to have ankle surgery or not? The MRI shows swelling in one of the bones in my ankle. What is causing the swelling? The irritation maybe a cartilage problem or something else. There is only one way to find out and fix it. That means an ankle scope and 4-6 weeks on crutches, a little more of a recovery than the last scope in 2004.

Right now my ankle is ok…it doesn’t hurt a lot. It does swell and get uncomfortable. I don’t have to have the surgery but it wont get any better and it might get worse. There is no way to know. I can hold off on the surgery until fall if I choose to have it.

The Doctor’s office is going to call next week and see what I want to do. Right now I think I’m going to schedule the surgery and see how the next few months go. I can always cancel.
b

Happy Birthday!!!

2008-07-02T21:14:00.002-05:00

Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband! I love you! Today we got to brew beer with friends. I think that is a good birthday.

b

Biking!!!

2008-06-30T19:57:00.001-05:00

Wow in the last week I have logged a few miles! It all started on Sunday with the River Edge Ride. We biked 70 miles on the road. It was a nice easy pace with stops.

Tuesday Karen Z and I biked at John Muir. I think we road 20 miles.

Thursday we traveled to the N. Kettles. We started at Greenbush. We biked all of the loops. The mosquitoes were REALLY BAD!!!!!!! So we went to New Fane. The mosquitoes were better but the loops are so short. It was fun so add another 20 miles to the total.

Saturday morning we got out a for a last minute early ride at the S Kettles. We couldn’t stay long because my brother was rolling into town. Add another 15 to the total.
So one week…125 miles not too bad….

Sunday

2008-06-23T20:20:00.001-05:00

Yesterday was the River Edge Nature Center Ride.
http://www.riveredge.us/

It was a great time. We had to get up early but it was worth it. The ride starts in the small town of Newburg. We roamed the country roads and climbed the rolling hills of Wisconsin for 70 miles. The rest stops were plentifully and the company even better. We even met up with some fellow cyclist we haven’t seen in awhile.

Cast of characters
John
Jay
Karen
Mike
Kelly
Andrea
Brian
Leanne
&Me

New phone

2008-06-19T14:26:00.000-05:00

Today we got digital phone. Lookout! We now have unlimited long distance calling! The only downside is when the power goes out we don’t have a phone. I guess we just have to make sure the cell is charged in case of an emergency.

That's a big mulch pile!

2008-06-15T09:04:00.000-05:00

The mulch is done! I know it sounds crazy but we ordered 60 yards of shredded oak. I’m happy to report that I shoveled most of it myself. Persistence pays off. It seemed like the impossible but one shovel at a time and it is done. It really looks nice I will take some pictures in the next few days.b

Good News

2008-06-10T15:13:00.002-05:00

Good News!
Dan is coming home from the hospital! He will be leaving sometime tomorrow so one last night in the joint and a few more rounds of IV antibiotics. He will be going home with Mom and Dad. Dan will have to rest and stay off of his foot. It sounds like the infection is deep but thankfully not in his bones. That is the way we want to keep it!

Rainy day

2008-06-08T11:45:00.001-05:00

So what is there to do on a rainy day? Drink copious amounts of coffee and watch Ice Road Truckers of course.

http://www.history.com/minisites/iceroadtruckers

This show is nuts. I can’t stop watching it. These guys are crazy. And then there are the ice water divers! Wow! I don’t think you want to get into a drinking contest with anyone from this far up north.

Check it out and enjoy. Don’t yell at me if you get hooked and don’t get anything done today.

b

Dan update

2008-06-07T18:34:00.001-05:00

Well after more info Dan’s infection is MRSA. If you don’t know what MRSA is check out this link.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mrsa/DS00735

It is very serious. Dan could loose his big toe. We will know more on Monday. b

Brother Dan

2008-06-06T11:30:00.000-05:00

To feel pain is a good thing. I know this sounds weird but it is healthy. My brother in-law Dan has autism. Some people with autism are sensitive to light, sound, and other various things. Dan doesn’t feel pain. It is a strange disease. Because he doesn’t feel pain something that might seem harmless can turn into a big problem. Dan got a blister on his foot. It didn’t hurt him so it took awhile for someone to find it. In a short period of time it got infected. It isn’t difficult to take care of but Dan needs continuous care. Someone has to help him and make sure the wound is clean and covered. Dan lives at group home during the week and comes home on the weekend. Sometime during the week there was a break in the chain of care and Dan’s foot got really bad. He has been to urgent care a few times for IV antibiotics. That didn’t work. Dan is now in the hospital. I’m sure he will be fine. Dan is a good patient. So more tests and needle sticks for brother Dan. Last night they had trouble getting his IV in. At least he wasn’t in pain…
b

24-9

2008-05-30T21:47:00.002-05:00

I’m in. Ok…maybe not exactly. For the last few years I have been a part of an all girls team at 24-9. This year I’m going to do a 12-hour solo. Things change. I didn’t want to be a part of a team and let people down. So this year I have to prove it to myself that I’m still a mountain biker. I can do this.

www.24-9.com

b

Nightmares

2008-05-28T03:15:00.000-05:00

All of my life I have had bad dreams. Sometimes I have nightmares. As far back as I can remember…I would wake up crying. That is horrible. When I was a little kid I wouldn’t want to go to sleep because I was scared. I would stay up as long as I could. I didn’t like to sleepover at friends houses because I was afraid I would wake them up too. Even as an adult these dreams have continued. I know they are not real. Sometimes they are really stupid and totally impossible. The badness happens to me or someone I love. However they always seem real and carry a lot of emotion. Some dreams seem so real that I actually have to call the person the next day to see if they are ok. This has gone on a long time. Stress makes it worse. When I was taking Topamax to treat migraines my nightmares were the worst! Instead of having the occasional bad dream I was having one terrifying one after another. I would have 7or 8 of them a night. This happened for an entire week. When taking Topamax you have to increase your dosage a little bit at a time. It was during the third week of increase that the nightmares started. After the next increase they stopped. Several weeks later when I decided to stop taking the drug (it wasn’t helping my migraines) I had to step down the level. Just when I reached the same level as in the 3rd week the terror began again. It was really bad!!!!!!! So I will wipe my eyes, get a drink of water, and try to go back to sleep once again. When I was a kid my sister and I had to share a room. I always felt so bad when I would wake her up. I would be crying. She is almost 3 years younger than me. Sometimes she would get out of bed and pat me on the head and tell me everything was OK. Thanks Annie…I’m going to go back to bed…. I’m going to try and think of happy things

Sweet dreams…..b

Snake Identified

2008-05-27T23:11:00.002-05:00

I think the snake Eric found today is a Eastern Milk Snake. For more info check out this DNR site. http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/critter/reptile/milksnake.htm

Yuk....but harmless
bonnie

I thought I saw a snake!

2008-05-27T22:05:00.002-05:00

I did, I did!!!!!!!!

While shoveling mulch with my buddy Karen J, my neighbor brought over a snake. He found this lovely creature by the mailbox. Does anyone know what it is? I’ve never seen one like this before. Great the hood is going to hell!
bonnie

The past few days

2008-05-27T19:22:00.004-05:00

My back started to feel better Saturday. I have to sing the praises of ice. It really works! That along with some stretching really did the trick. Don’t get me wrong I tried to get into the PT and Amy at Natural Balance Therapy (www.naturalbalancetherapy.com) but they were booked.

On Saturday I got to dog sit. Karen Z dropped Cody off at 9am. Cody doesn’t get to stay over at other peoples’ house. That lucky dog gets to stay with Grandma and Grandpa all the time. He was a great houseguest, he didn’t bark or whine. Cody can stay over anytime. Good Dog!

Big Thanks to Karen J!!!!!!!! Karen came over and helped me shovel mulch. That’s what friends are for. Thanks again.

bonnie

just the other day

2008-05-22T10:40:00.004-05:00

only I had my camera...I saw a neon sign for Botox. What???

In other news...The first 25 yards of mulch has been spread. It really looks nice.

The bad news is I hurt my back. I don't know how I'm going to get the next 25 yards done. Darn muscles....After a lot of vitamin I and some ice I'm at least able to walk. What the hell? I'm not old yet??? Looking for good help to spead mulch...

Everyone is doing it???

2008-05-19T20:44:00.003-05:00

Welcome to the ramblings. I'm going to give the blog thing a try. Now the world can hear me roar. Here's to some personal growth and hopefully no embarrasement.
b