Fun Weekend...

My weekend; for the most part was so much fun!

Shaner had a birthday party at his house. I went with Jennifer, and oh what fun we had!

We drank in excess. I am not even kidding - Mike's hard lemonades go down so smooth!!! I had gone through 12 before I even thought about it - funny thing is I got a little drunk but not as bad as I had thought I might be - considering I haven't been out drinking for a VERY long time!

I think the alcohol clouded my judgement though - we played volleyball and I was diving and running for balls - my rear end and my thighs hurt like mad today! I can barely stand to walk up the stairs.

I can hardly wait to do it again! :o)~

Ride Safe my friends!

The Perfect Day

Today was the PERFECT DAY!!!

Okay, as close to perfect as I've had in a very long time...I was off work today - getting paid for my birthday holiday (that's an awesome bonus)!

I got up and got the kids off to school and then the day was mine.

Just as I was standing outside of the house getting ready to mount the Gary Fisher and take off to enjoy the day my cell started buzzing - daughter asking for money for homecoming tickets and lunch...so I rode down to her high school and dropped off the money. I then took off again, only to stop because my phone was buzzing again...Jennifer this time, we met at the Junction for breakfast.

After breakfast I went to my eyedoctor - who happens to be a runner and cyclist. When he saw my helmet we started talking bikes...longest eye exam I've ever had and certainly the most pleasant. I left with my new contacts in my eyes...I had forgotten how much brighter the sun is when wearing contacts...WOW!

I stopped at the library, hung out for a bit. Went outside talked to my friend on the phone...had a conversation with the post office delivery man. Then dropped by the church to get some papers I needed for class.

From there I rode over to the bike shop - really what's a beautiful day off without a stop at the bike shop? Tobie came up behind me and said hello and when I turned around he said he hadn't recognized me in street clothes LMAO! Too funny. So, he showed me some of the new stuff in the shop - I hung out a while, talked bikes, riding and kids then left there...proud to have not spent any of the money I really don't have to spend anyway!

I rolled through town and out to Walmart to pick up a pair of sunglasses to accompany my brand new contacts and picked up a sandwich. Stopped by the beauty shop and visited my dear mother. She was in a mood today and talked a lot of shit LOL!

After leaving there I headed home - what a glorious day to ride. I'm amazed at what a gorgeous day I had. It was completely relaxing. I have not felt so relaxed and at ease in so long. It's amazing to me! I appreciated and needed this day in a way that I can't even begin to explain.

I haven't had a completely wonderful day in a while. I guess it could be said that everyday is as enjoyable as we make it but some days without all the interference that others bring can be phenominal...and that is what today was for me!

Ride safe my friends.

Another lovely Indian Summer Day...

It's about 80 degrees again today. I wish I were going out for a bike ride but instead I will be going to teach class. Okay, let me say that I do not regret that I am teaching this class. I actually am finding that it does my spirit some good, and I hope it helps to counter some of the sins I've committed - seriously. I'm not always the greatest person in the world - people who know me well know this is factual. I try to be a good person - to not hurt others etc...but we all know that inevitably even good intentions sometimes fail. Thus the sorry state of my soul sometimes.

So, that being said...other events of the day...
My baby brothers birthday was today. I haven't actually talked to him - trying to get a hold of him is akin to trying to find bigfoot...he's just never around when you want him to be! heehee! He would really be mad at me if he heard me say that. I believe the boy turned 27 today - damn he's getting old! LOL!

That's about it - I've got to go get changed here soon - my husband apparently won't be home in time for me to take the truck to class which means I have to figure out how to juggle the snacks on my bike...as well as a jug of juice....hhhmmm should be interesting!

As always - ride safe my friends...

Oh yeah, as a post script - please sign into the people who actually read the crap I write section on the right...I'm interested to see who you are :)

Today is...

Possibly going to be a bit rainy. UGH! It will however still be 80 degrees out!

So, my birthday was nice. Even the admin. seemed to respect the birthday and leave me to my own devices without much in the way of interruptions.

My boss gave me a nice card with some money in it..told me to go buy something nice. My buddy gave me a couple of lottery cards (I won 3 bucks). My mom had flowers delivered to me..carnations and daisey's, they were very cute. My sis, Ron and Jim all sent me a text wishing me a happy birthday.

The boys were hilarious! They made me cards and gave me a box with gifts...A dolphin statue (which a friend of mine had given to Gaven a while back), a snowman (which I must not have put back into the christmas box), and a Boxcar Children Book (because I told them when I was little I loved the original boxcar children book). It was very cute. Mom got me some perfume and some Biosilk (Love that stuff).

Anyway, that's about it - today is another day and not my birthday so no messing around. Gotta get ready for work and head in. The boys are getting a ride again - I have to go pick up some stuff for my class tonight after work and do some other stuff.

Friday I go to the eye doctor and hopefully I will have my contacts!

Happy Riding!

Another Year Older

Today I turn 34. I'm not sure where all the time has gone. On the one hand, I feel like I should not be this old yet on the other I feel older than 34.

Oh well! Happy Birthday to me! I'd like to have the day off and go ride a century! Not going to happen today - but it's a thought lol. There is a century ride this weekend I hope to make.

Anyway, my birthday present to myself will be contacts...getting those Friday - my insurance is paying all but 40 dollars (exam and lenses), that's a deal I just can't pass up!

Okay, I'm off!
Happy Riding.
ME!

Saying Goodbye to a friend.

I got off work today and headed off to Scott's house. He's leaving for Afghanistan. It was nice visiting- he's been all over the country over the last two years, so I haven't seen him much.

We've been friends for 20 years. I'm so worried about him being there. It doesn't matter that he says he's going to be fine. People die over there - he tried to tell me he could just as easily die here - however, I think that his chances of being caught in some life or death situation grow quite a bit by being over there.

I hugged him goodbye and it was all I could do not to cry!

I think I'll go for a ride outside now the summer suns calling my name...

Okay, yeah I borrowed the title for this evenings entry from the Brady Bunch Movie and then changed a work...

So, today was indeed a gorgeous day for a bike ride. I left the house at about 6:15 a.m. I took the route through the park and as I was rounding the last corner as the gas station comes into view I saw 3 young deer standing along the bike path. I pulled out my camera but was unable to get a good shot because it was still pretty dark out. I wish I had been able to get a good picture because I'd love to share how beautiful it was.

After I got off work I rode the Sycamore to St. Charles bike path. I've never been out on it before - isn't that sad? - I really enjoyed riding it. This weekend is definately feeling like an Indian Summer. I rode the commuter bike out there -and the battery on the computer needs to be replaced - so I have no idea how fast or slow I rode, how far it was or what my cadence was - but it was once of the most enjoyable rides I've had in a long time.

I was totally exhausted when I got home though - I've never ridden that far on that bike, which weighs about ten pounds more than my road bike (before adding the weight of all the crap in my panniers...which were full because I had worked before riding out). I'm thinking it was probably about 50 miles on that bike total but I could be wrong...I'll try to figure it out...Bob says he thinks 50 or more...not too bad...I'm proud of myself. I certainly miss the lightness of the Trek though. lol!
Thanks to John for suggesting I ride it - I probably wouldn't have if he hadn't said how nice it was. I'm really tired now though :)
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Other things...I turn 34 on Tuesday. My baby sister had her birthday this past Wednesday, my uncle shares my birthday and then my little brother will be having his birthday on Thursday. It's a busy time of year for our family. For my birthday I'd like a million dollars...K? haha!
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We went to the DHS Football game last night...of course we went, Cassy plays in the band! The JV team won 15 - 14 (ran a two point conversion) it was a really good game! The Varsity team won as well - I can't remember the final score I think 32 - 14 (?) but either way it was also an exciting game! Fun stuff!
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I went to the doctor the other day - lost 5 lbs in a week. That's totally stress related, but will take whatever weight loss I can get! I actually need a bunch of new clothes - everything is just hanging off of me right now. My slacks all look sloppy because I've lost so much weight and my jeans are sliding off of me -which makes them longer than they already are (I have very short legs so I don't need longer pant legs).

Anyway, that's it! Have a super weekend!

Happy Riding!

Tired Dogs....

Pic of Vivian sleeping on Brownie....
and yes I'm aware that the couch has to be the ugliest thing ever - but it's super comfy and the cover is in the dryer this morning...but I had to take the pic it was so darn sweet!

I've got nothing else.
Have a great day!

Happy Riding - 80's all week - I so need to get a good 50 miler in this week!

A Little Flooding Along the Kishwaukee RIver

The Kishwaukee River has overflowed it's banks once again following many days of rain. The weather man had called for an end to the rain yesterday around 4:30 p.m. ...He was wrong- It continued to rain through most of this morning.
The boys and I rode our bikes to school and of course I was soaking wet - it was a bad scene - especially since I didn't look outside but had taken the weather guy at his word and figured it certainly had stopped - HAHAHA! What a dumb thing to do - so my makeup was a bit of a mess by the time I made it to work. UGH!

Anyway, enjoy the pics. I jumped off my bike while going over the wooden bridge on the bike path to take these. I'm off to look for what in the world I should make for dinner!

First night of R.C.I.C.

I may have mentioned in the past that I am teaching a class at church. Tonight was the first meeting of the R.C.I.C. group - It went really well. I've got all teenagers - this is so much easier for me - I know that may sound bad -but you can talk to teenagers (they are high schoolers) in a way that you can't with younger kids, you can be more open about subjects, you can expect that they will question and converse and reason things out - I like that. It's stimulating - I enjoy that kind of interaction. So, I'm happy to say that the first meeting went off without a hitch - and that we enjoyed ourselves. I really like the group I've got - and I hope it continues to go well!

Okay, I'm exhausted. I've got to get a blood draw in the morning for the doctor - he wants to find out what else is going on with me before we go anywhere about my heart murmur... I do wonder if that is somehow causing me to lose some of my speed with riding - it seems like the last month or even month and a half I've been slower than I was before and seem to have to struggle a little more to hit the speeds I was hitting before....UGH!

Ride Safe!

Ron....

So, today I heard from Ron - it doesn't happen all that often. He stopped by tonight. Hung out a while - the kids all love him ---of course the kids love him - all kids do...well, Cassy excluded- but if she were around him long enough she would again too. She's just mad because he took her Aunt Missy away from her and now Aunt Missy is still gone but Ron is back.

Anyway, Ron is still Ron ... does that make sense? lol not if you don't know him I suppose.

So some history is in order - Ron is Bob's best friend from High School. They always hung out - if Bob was somewhere usually Ron, Chas and I were as well...(Chas used to be Ron's girlfriend). We were a little foursome who hung out - we were all friends, together, separately etc. Ron was always the life of the party - the life of everything - if Ron was around - it was fun...great stories, funny as all get out - just plain FUN! Then Ron and Chas broke up - a couple years later Ron blew town and went to North Carolina...bam - we rarely hear from Ron - we never hear from Chas - (that was okay - she and I got into it there in the end because of her thoughts that she could make decisions about Cassy). So, Ron comes around when his brother got very ill - we hang out - we think Ron has settled down a bit - but that turned out to be an inaccurate assessment of the situation. After his brothers funeral Ron went wild...he was already wild...I'm talking downward spiral wild! During this time he and my sister got together. They were together for several years but it all ended badly - so, he moved back here.

Fast forward a few months - he comes to the house today - 2nd time since he's been back. Anyway, nice visit - but still Ron - at least he is more understanding these days of the fact that those of us with children (or multiple children) can't go hang out elsewhere all the time - if you want to see us you have to come over or set something up ahead of time ...end of story!

I know Bob hopes he comes around more - Bob misses that friendship with him - he misses having another guy that he's close to. So, for his sake I hope Ron sticks around and renews the friendship.

That's it for now - I have to pick up Sassy Cassy from band practice in a few.

Ride Safe!

Cody is sad...cookie is gone

Moment's after I posted my earlier blog my son Cody came out of his bedroom holding his beloved hamster, Cookie, who was a couple of years old had died.. Life expectancy is about 2 - 4 years. He was very upset - crying...okay crying would be putting it mildly - at 6:30 he was still crying! Poor kid!

We will be having a burial for the little hamster - she was very cute (even if she was a rodent).

I feel bad for the kid - He was so distraught. I find this interesting because he told Cassy one day that 'dying is part of life and the life cycle always ends in death' and then went on to tell her that she should stop crying because it didn't make any sense to cry about something she knew would happen....

I guess he is aware now that even though we all know all things die - it doesn't make it easy to accept when it's something or someone you love.

Attached is a picture of him crying after having found the hamster.

Can people live without the drama?

As I was grabbing my things to leave work I received a text message from a girl in another department. She wanted to know if I had shared a note that another girl had written which she had shown me. I saw the note, I laughed, I moved on with my day. After several more text messages she informs me that her department manager told her that I had distributed the note to all the other department heads ( to make her look bad...which I assure you is not something anyone needs to do...she manages that task just fine without assistance)...now I will say this, there is no doubt that I believe this department head is an idiot and I am amazed that she can keep a job...however, sharing a note, which I did not write, nor that I necessarily agree with (she was called an idiot in it but it also went on about other things that I did not feel were issues)...would be something I don't really care to do, if for no other reason than I really just want to go to work, get my crap done and collect a paycheck at the end of the payperiod my agenda does not include being involved in drama.

I am going to go out on a bit of a limb and say that I believe the department head that the letter was written to is still angry because I called her out on some things recently and she didn't like it - as a matter of fact she had a lot of rude things to say about me to everyone else in the building. I wonder how she pulled out of her nether region the idea that I had distributed the stupid letter - again, making her look dumb isn't something others need to do.

I am a little aggrivated that I am being drawn in to some ignorant drama that I have nothing at all to do with. BLEH!

Don't we have enough drama in our lives? I mean do any of us truly need more things to worry about or more problems to deal with? I have plenty...including the busing issue with my kids, their heart condition, my husbands bum shoulder, my own medical conditions, etc etc....I just want to go to work and be left in peace! DAMNIT!

Okay, that's all for now...pouring rain today - so the ride in was very wet and then of course none of my clothes was dry when I went to leave so I was already wet before I even left work - it was really coming down on my way home - which I didn't think was possible since it felt like it was coming down as hard as possible this morning....apparently I was mistaken! LOL ! I was told I was nuts a few times today as people came by and asked if I had ridden my bike today. You would think that after two years of riding almost daily they would know better than to ask me...I'm like the damn postal workers...neither rain nor snow....

Happy Riding folks. I have an Open - House for my 3 boys to go to tonight!