I rode my mtn bike to pick up my road bike

On Wednesday night, my car had issues, the same issues it had on Tuesday when my neighbor & friend dropped it off at the dealership (where I bought it) for me while I commuted to work by bus. I picked it up on Tuesday night thinking it had been fixed, but this was not the case. So, I again needed to take it back to the dealership for a second go-around.

My intent yesterday morning was to take the car back into the shop and scream the service guys into submission. After all, my not having a working automobile on Wednesday night meant my having to pay $30 for a cab ride home from a dinner party on Thursday, Thanksgiving, a day my Dealership was closed. And I had already shelled out $168 for a new battery that was suppose to have fixed the problem on Tuesday when I picked it up the first time. Therefore, some screaming was in order. However, I never so much as raised my voice due to two very understanding employees, one a different Service Manager than the jerk I dealt with on Tuesday, and the other, the Service Director, one position away from General Manager for the Dealer (who was next on the list if my problem wasn't solved). They sympathized, agreed that they (Nissan) had dropped the ball, and promised to get it right this time.

Of course, I had to leave the car there all day, and as luck would have it, my road bike was in the shop cause I had taken it there last Saturday and had been unable (due to the car issue) to pick it up since. I did, however, have Nellie to ride. So, I figured that the only way I was going to get Patsy back was to ride Nellie from my neighborhood to Glendale, drop Nellie off for a mini-maintenance (which she needs desperately), pick up Patsy and ride home. Is this making sense? Simply put, I rode my mtn bike to pick up my road bike yesterday. And that was a trip, I can tell you.





My plan was to dress in road riding attire (something I don't care to do on my mountain bike), wear my trail SPDs to ride Nellie and carry a backpack with my road SIDIs in it to change into at the shop. This meant riding Patsy home with a backpack on my back, so very Fred-like. Given that I never care much how I look on a bike, this was not out of character for me in the least, and really, who cares? But riding a road bike with a backpack isn't exactly the most comfortable thing, so the ride itself was a challenge, both legs of it.





At the Dealership, I called Herb who had planned to meet me in Burbank and ride with me to the shop. Why he wanted to join, I didn't know, nor did I ask. I like company and as long as he was cool with my being on a mountain bike (thus, slower), he could join. We thought one other friend might join too, but he wanted to meet us at the shop and with the timing, we never saw him. When Herb answered the phone, I was quick to tell him that I was running late due to my rather long conversation with the Service Director at the Dealer.

"That's okay. We'll meet you along the way here."

"We?" I asked.

"Yeah, Mark, Jason and Andy are here," he explained. "They said they want to ride too and that they'd join."

"Did you explain to them that I'm on a mountain bike and that I'm riding to the shop to pick up Patsy?" I couldn't believe that any of them would like that idea.

"Yup. They want to come too." Herb sometimes has a way of saying things as if he is defending the rights of those who've suffered some terrible injustice. 'I mean, really, if they want to join, what's the problem?' - that kind of tone.

"Fine by me," I replied. "But I can only ride so fast with my knobbies on pavement."

"Yeah, well. Get to moving!" was his only reply.

Sigh.



I then took off from the Dealer like a bat out of hell...a big, thick bat flying through felt curtains. Seriously, mountain bikes are heavier than road bikes and the position is upright. Not picking on the mountain biking, I love it. But I love it when it's on mountains, in dirt. On pavement, it's harder to push those thick tires and trying to 'bust a move' is daunting. By the time I'd passed through Studio City into Burbank, my legs were screaming at me and I was soaked with sweat. It was here that Herb called me.

"Where you at?" he asked. And before I could reply, "We just passed Tujunga and are heading your direction."

I caught my breath enough to say, "I'm at Tujunga."

"Oh. You did good timing. We'll turn around and meet you there."



Ha! Yes, I did do good timing on my 30 pound bike wearing a backpack and at least five more extra pounds of post-Thanksgiving bloat. I'd also worn myself out already, something the men neither considered or wanted to hear any whining about. After they caught up to me at Tujunga, we all as a pack (me being the one odd-looking dork on a mtn bike) took off on a steady pace to the shop. I kept up pretty well except whenever there was even a slight incline. The men waited a couple of times when I got caught at stoplights behind them, but, overall, we rode together to my LBS.



There, I dismounted Nellie and made the switch to Patsy. I was thrilled to get her back cleaner than she's been in a long time. The Colonel teased me, of course, since he is the King of Squeaky Clean Bike Chains. I never get my bike as clean as he can, and I think my shop might have almost impressed him with the job they did.



After leaving Glendale, we rode back a different route to Los Feliz, onto the bike path and back to The Hub. Mark, Jason and Andy dropped Herb and me and took off super fast to get home for "honey do" lists. Herb and I had lunch, met up with Ellen, drove to Costco (she and I had one item each that we hoped to find there, neither of which Costco had) and then I took off back to the Dealership to pick up my car.





The problem with the car? Alternator; something they said was fine this last Tuesday. It cost me $250 to fix it, but they waved the labor charges and took off $40 from the original quote of $290 for the part (to cover my cab fees on Thanksgiving). I thanked them, drove home and went to bed very early. I was completely knackered after my split ride yesterday. I kind of dug it actually and may do that again in the future, only next time, I think I'll skip the hammering to meet and stay up with a pack of slicks-riding men! I mean, why suffer?

I'm very lucky and very thankful

The weather in Los Angeles could not be more un-Thanksgiving like and I couldn't be happier about that. Today is gorgeous-gorgeous, the kind with sky to ocean blues, a sun high above and warmer than usual temps kept cooler by soft breezes. Today's weather was just begging for folks to come out to play, and we obliged. By we, I mean Joannie and me.

She picked me up this morning since my stupid, frickin' P.O.S. Nissan Dealer did not fix the Sentra they sold me over seven years ago, the one that is now giving me grief. Instead, they had my car all day Tuesday, shoved a new battery into it (for $168) and sent me on my way. Guess what? The car is doing exactly the same thing I took it into the shop for - console lights flash then dim and then my headlights dim. I'm scared to drive it and the only way (and reason) I'm getting to my Thanksgiving Day (evening) plans at a friend's house in Bel Air is because she found me a ride over the hill. Otherwise, I'd be sitting at home with Boo tonight eating a frozen dinner. My Dealer is getting their asses handed to them tomorrow.

Back to Thanksgiving, however, and all that I'm thankful for this year. Joannie is high up on the list! She agreed to a last minute ride on dirt Mulholland out to The Ruins and back. We, of course, started from our usual spot, top of Reseda Blvd. Even out the truck at a quarter of eight, it was warmer than expected. I took my base layer off and just wore my t-shirt & shorts. Joannie went in full tights but never complained or removed them during the ride.





The first two hills on Reseda always annoy me. They are, after all, right in the very beginning of the ride, and they are always butt burners. I got halfway up the first one and stalled out...right smack in front of Joannie. Poor thing. She'd had made it up if my hefty butt hadn't pedaled over in front of her. No problem, she just clipped back in and finished the hill with ease. I tried to clip back in, twice, mumbled some things I won't repeat here, gave up and just walked the bike up. I did, however, make it up the second hill. I mean really now....how lazy-lard-ass can I be?



My mood in the beginning was far from dark, but like I told Joannie, I was in a deep funk last week. Not sure why and really, I have little tolerance for my own pathetic sad-sack act. I wasted a week that I could have been disciplined and working out. Instead, I'm more bloated and blubbery than I've been in the last four months! I'm thankful to Joannie for joining me today. Without her, I'd have doubtfully ridden as far as I did.




After the first two hills, the only other butt-burner is the hill up to The Hub. I was surprised at how quickly I went up it. I had Joannie there, and our conversation was, as usual, interesting and ongoing - kind of keeps your mind off the pain! At The Hub, there was a table with Gatorade manned by volunteers for the annual Turkey Trot, a run up on those Santa Monica trails. Lots of runners out there too, as well as mountain bikers, and so many hot men. I told Joannie that I had no idea those trails were where the real drumsticks were on Thanksgiving and how I'd like to take a few home with me to nibble on later. That's as racy as the conversation got.



After The Hub, it's a undulating trek out to The Ruins, including one fairly easy single track. At the top of The Ruins, we tossed our bikes down and joined some other folks in surveying the outrageous views before us. It was so clear, we could see all the way down the coast and even to the Long Beach port! It has never been that clear and beautiful up there than like it was today. We must have sat there for a good 20 minutes we were so mesmerized.







Reluctantly, we returned, laughing all the way over private jokes and such. Our endorphin fix had been met, and we both were so happy and thankful to have each other and to be out on such a scenic southern California day. I love Joannie and having her warm presence next to me on a bike this morning was more than I could have ever wished for on Thanksgiving.



After our ride, we split a Lox sandwich and sipped dark coffee with lots of milk. We wanted to linger longer but she needed to get salad fixings and I needed to get green beans.




I'm making the simplest of dishes for tonight's Thanksgiving dinner and party - Green Beans Almondine! Basically, it's steamed green beans, butter, garlic, almonds and a pinch of salt. I'm making six pounds of it as there will be 31 folks at the dinner. Everyone brings a side dish and the host (my friend) has the meats and cocktails catered. I can't wait to see all the usual characters I see every year I am fortunate enough to attend. I'm very lucky and very thankful.

Well, that's it. I wish you and your family a wonderful, safe Thanksgiving as well. So much to be grateful for even in a difficult year like this one. Maybe even more so...

it is time "I give"

Yesterday, on the way to work, I was listening to The Kevin & Bean Show. They had a guest on who talked about 'adopting a family' for the holidays. I've heard of this before and thought it a great idea and then went on to just focus on my holiday, only to forget all about it. But this time, I really paid attention. Sure, folks need help all year long, but at the holidays, it can be particularly rough for families, especially those with small children.

Adopt-a-Family is a great way to give in the non-superficial-BS-Christmas (as in "ho-ho-ho" Santa) kind of way. "Huh?" you ask. How can it not be the Santa Claus gift giving if a person buys gifts for families at Christmas time? Well, cause, you see, most of these families aren't asking for stupid gifts - they are asking for gift cards to buy food and/or clothes and necessities for their families, items they can't afford on their own. Luxuries for them. Everyday standard items for the rest of us fat, lucky folks (okay, the fat comment was really only directed at myself and no one else!)

So, when I arrived at work, I looked it up online. There are tons of these "Adopt a Family" projects going on all over the country, even one affiliated with where I work. You just need to do your homework to ensure the organization is reputable and then sign up (never send cash!). With all my musings of late on what "I want," I realized it is time "I give," and I signed up immediately to adopt two families.

Both families consist of single women with one child and both women are very ill. When I read the form describing these families and listing what they are hoping for from a sponsor, neither woman requested gifts for her child, instead asking for gift cards just for food (no, not for alcohol as the cards don't allow for that). These requests for simple basics in life broke my heart. No one should be hungry and, certainly, no one should be hungry and ill with a small child at home.

I bring this up on here for those of you who may like this idea and consider sponsoring a family (or two) yourself. The suggested donation is $50/family unless you can afford and would like to give more. I plan to. I haven't broken it to my family yet (not that they expect gifts nor will they be unhappy about my decision), but I'm not spending a dime on them and, instead, I'm giving generously to these two families.

I have a job and my health; now it's time that I give up something else, and that would be some money and a little of my time. I can't wait to hand deliver the gifts and meet these two women. You get the choice, by the way, to personally deliver the gifts or mail them. Mailing gifts to me is just outright tacky unless you live over 50 miles away. No, I want to meet these two families, look them in the eye, and wish for them a better year in 2010 and many blessings to come. You simply can't do that in a card like you can in person.

Here are some Adopt-a-family links for anyone interested:

Adoptafamily.org
Salvation Army Adopt a Family
Volunteers of America Adopt a Family

On another topic, I took the bus to work today. My car gave me grief last night and it turned out that it needed a new battery. Cost me $168, but in the long run, I'm going to make money off of this repair. How? Well, I've decided that I'm giving up my $$/month parking pass and $$/month gas fees to ride the bus to and from work. Commuting by bicycle is too dangerous, especially during the winter months when it's darker and people are rushed due to the holidays. So, bus it is. Surprisingly (well, not really), the bus is fast(er) and stress free - just a tad less convenient. Once I get a routine down pat, it will save me $140/month and the headache of driving! Not to mention that I'll get more exercise walking. I walked 1.5 miles today commuting by bus. The more exercise I get, the better!

like I always say...nothing better

I wish I'd had more "get-up" in my "go" in the morning, but nothing could be farther from the truth. This melancholy, depressed state of mine (especially when it comes to fitness) is so old, it's beginning to smell...like rotten tomatoes or burnt human hair. Where the hell did my fitness mojo go? And it hasn't just been this year, either. This is has been an ongoing saga for me.





The ridiculous (and puzzling) aspect to my lull in discipline/enthusiasm/determination is that it is in direct opposition to my insane and genuine passion for cycling. I really do think so very often about my next ride and get giddy. But that anticipation doesn't translate into die-hard dedication to all things fitness and weight loss related. Instead, I'm a walking (and jiggling while I walk) oxymoron. I should be lean, mean and ready for action at all times and not this person I've become, someone slow to rise, reluctant to dress and resistant to moving.



Well, today I did ride, dress and move by way of knobbies on a not-too-challenging but certainly worthy trail in Cheseboro, a very well-known series of dirt trails out here. I rode with The Pink (you know, the gal who weighs about as much as just one of my legs does?) and she took me on almost the same route we rode last time, when Herb was along as well. Only this time, we took a different route back, down Sheep Corral, a rather technical (in spots) single/double track that I found thrilling, even in the (very few) sections I dismounted and walked.


The weather was perfect for mountain biking but, as usual, warmed just a smidgen above the temperature I'd have preferred on some of our very exposed climbs. Glorious sunlight does more than just warm the skin, though - it manipulates the vista hues on our often brown mountainous regions out here to something beyond...well...just brown. I found beauty along the sections of the trail that had little shrubbery just as much as I did throughout the tree-lined parts - both of which Cheseboro offers.





There were lots of other riders out and horses and hikers and little bunny rabbits and prairie dogs darting here and there. It took me a good hour into the ride to truly warm to the idea of being on my bike and then it was a mere two hours later that I reluctantly had to get off of it. So glad I went, suffered up the climbs (only walked once, and that was on the 'wall' climb), hung out with my friend and just enjoyed the morning on two wheels. Like I always say...nothing better.




Tomorrow I rise at 4:45am and go to the gym. I repeat...I go to the gym tomorrow. And Tuesday and Wednesday - Thursday, I ride. That's Thanksgiving, of course (ugh). The holidays (which I despise) are here. Might as well suck it up, belly up and then ride it off yet another year.

you're gonna pay for that later

I didn't ride this morning and opted instead to take Patsy into my local bike shop. While riding on road of late, I've felt she hasn't performed well, and pedaling her seems more laborious than necessary; plus there is this "click, click, click" noise for which I cannot identify the source. I've been told (repeatedly) that my bottom bracket could be the culprit and that it might need replacing or more grease packed in it. Yeah...told this not by my bike mechanic, might I add.

But seeing as how Patsy hasn't had a full maintenance session (or salon day, as I like to call it), it was time to do so. I chose today since I hate driving in rush hour traffic from the west side to my LBS in Glendale during the week. In fact, I hate to drive northeast at all on weekday evenings. Thus, I would rather give up a road ride day once in a blue moon to get to my LBS with relative ease. I will still ride today (in a few minutes, in fact), but just around my hood on Nellie. I have a mtn bike ride tomorrow, so I don't need to knock out hard miles today, anyway.

Back to the LBS visit...

I drove Patsy over and dragged her in unceremoniously (remember, I'm lusting over the idea of having a new titanium bike custom-built just for me) and asked to see Oscar.

"Hi, Mary," Oscar said, stepping out from the back with his usual smile.

"Howdy. Pats needs her annual maintenance; you know? The 65.00 dollar one?" I smiled back.

"69.00," he reminded me.

I chuckled and slapped him playfully on his upper arm (which I'm sure he'd rather I didn't do). "Right, $70. Anyway, she needs a full maintenance and that noise I brought her in for last time is still happening. Do you think it's the bottom bracket? Does it need to be packed with grease?"

By this time Fernando, a new, very friendly mechanic at the shop, appeared. "Let's check it to see," he suggested. He and Oscar then fiddled with the round area on the bottom of my crank beneath the pedals, both putting their ears to the bike.

"No, your bottom bracket moves fine, isn't loose and doesn't feel rough or worn to me," Oscar said, with Fernando nodding in agreement.

"Do you think it needs to be packed with grease?" I asked (cause I was told it might need to be).

"No, Mary," Oscar said, repressing what I think may have been a very large sigh. "It's ceramic and cannot be adjusted. But it definitely does not need to be replaced. I thought we talked about this the last time you were here."

Now, this is the man who has sold me all three of my bikes and who stands to make more money off of me by simply saying, "sure, we'll replace it." I wouldn't know the difference and would pay to have it done even if not necessary. I trust he knows what he's talking about. So, the notion that I need a new bottom bracket or have a bracket in need of a good grease packing is now a moot one, for sure, final, to infinite and back.

"Well, why then do I feel so sluggish when I ride my bike lately?" I asked Oscar.

There was a long pause before Oscar answered. "Well...some days when I ride, I just have a bad day, I climb slower than other people and they pass me, too." Again, what appeared to be a repressed sigh passed over his otherwise cheerful features.

"You're describing my normal ride experience, Oscar. I'm asking you what else could be causing such sluggish rides,"

Oscar said nothing.

"Oh," I said and smirked. "It would be my ample ass, I suppose. Lovely."

With that I left Patsy to be groomed for $70 and will pick her up on Tuesday night. I'm going to ride the hell out of her next week, every chance I get during the four day weekend. If it is my ass (which let's get real here, it is), I'm the only one who can fix the problem. I admitted to Dad last night that I didn't exercise once this last week and have been mopey and depressed. Like Dad said to me, "you're gonna pay for that later." Sigh.

Oh, and one last thing on the topic of material items - I saw this at the shop. $2,600 and change, but oh, how I do want it...

I want

You know how when I was unemployed and all, I said that I didn't need much and wasn't all that concerned with material items? Yeah, well, I lied...cause there are things I want. And now that I'm employed, I'm itching to run out and buy them. I will not.

But I am making a laundry list of what I want so that perhaps over the next year or so, I can save and buy a few of the items I lust for at present. I am not putting these items (certainly not the big ticket ones) on a credit card, so I will have to earn the money first before I spend it, and since I like having a healthy savings account, I will not be dipping into that either.

Oh, and one last thing, I won't be sponging off my dear 'ol dad. In fact (Dad), if he tries to buy me a single item on the list below (well, okay, he can spring for the most expensive item if he really wants to...heh heh), I will send it back, get the money, put it into a money order and mail it to him. (This is being written for only one person's benefit, and we know who he is.)

So, without further ado, here is my list:

A new Camelback backpack for long(er) hikes and possible an overnight backpack/camping kind of trip. I'm not going to become a backpacker as I'm too scared of bears, mountain lions and having to poop in the woods, but I wouldn't mind an over-nighter at some designated campgrounds (with porta-potties, hopefully).


An emergency (for real) kit to put in my new backpack. Not this one in particular, but one similar yet maybe a tad smaller. Mainly, I need to dig all my emergency blankets, first aid items and head lamps out and then add to that. You never, ever want to be caught out in the wilderness without these items, and a day hike can turn into a lesson in survival in a matter of hours.

New Years Eve day, 2006, my friend, Nancy, and I found that out the hard way when we went for just a two-three hour hike in an area that had been recently burned. It suddenly, without warning or being forecasted, began raining hard. We found ourselves in a situation where it was getting late in the day, water was getting deep around us (up to our knees in spots) and we were lost - with NO emergency supplies (neither of us, and we both knew better!). We got out finally (our three hour tour turned into nearly six!), but I will never do something like that again.



New road shorts and some mountain skorts - I want a few nice pairs that don't rub it all raw. Chafing is over-rated and I'm tired of the cheapo shorts I squeeze my buttage into. Speaking of, I'd like to have a body like the one modeling the shorts and skorts above as well. Maybe I should add "bootcamp and fatcamp" to my list of I Want? Anyway, for anyone laughing at the skorts, those are damn cute on us girls, let me tell you. I know a super badass gal named Dionne who sports those skorts on mountain bike rides. I'm convinced I can be badass and girly too - bring on the skorts!

A new black cycling jacket. My old one still fits me (barely) but it's getting worn. This one looks warm, streamlined (i.e. thinning) and comfy.


A new odometer with heart rate monitor and one with two bike mounts so that I can move it from Patsy to Nellie with ease. I hated that stupid Garmin I had (over-priced POS), so I'm thinking something simple. I don't really care how much elevation I've climbed. That info never did anything for me except to ask "Oh, really? We climbed that much?" Just tell me what my miles are so I know how many miles are left to food, civilization, beer...things like that.

Okay, this is a HUGE want right here. SIDI mtn bike shoes (drool). The mtn bike shoes I wear at present are as cheap as they come and work just fine. I don't need these over-priced shoes to ride dirt. I just ...want...them. (grin)

A new couch. Back in 1998, when Stephen passed away, his mother, my aunt, offered me his couch (along with many other items, including a trunk, some tables, a dresser, etc.). It's the couch I own today, and one I'd have bitten your ear off about if you'd suggested getting rid of it just two years ago. I remember the very day Stephen had the couch delivered to his apartment. He had invited me over for dinner, and when I walked through his front door, he was smiling ear-to-ear, so excited over his new purchase. It's a great couch, too, blue, big and so very comfy. It's also worn and faded, beginning to sag. Having it reupholstered would cost more than it did brand new (I've looked into it). And, truthfully, the last thing Stephen would have ever wanted was for me to hang onto his now worn blue couch that he'd have likely already replaced were he alive today. Personally, I wish he was alive and that I had never had his blue couch at all. It's time I replace it. I can keep the memory though (how could I forget?), and when I get a new couch, think of how happy he'd be for me.

I want, I want, I want...so badly. Yet, I'm so disciplined. I promised myself back in 2002 when I bought a brand new Nissan Sentra (for a very well-haggled price mind you) that I would drive it into the ground before I ever bought another car. I am not breaking that promise. However, my car is now almost eight years old and has near 100,000 miles on it. It might last to 200,000 as I get oil changes, etc., but once it starts to go (and the repairs add up), I'm going to be looking for one of these babies - a Honda CRV. Why a CRV? Cause it gets very good gas mileage, Hondas are one of the highest quality cars with the best resell value and I can put my bike in it. I plan, when I buy, to buy a used CRV, like maybe a year or two old if possible. I'm not so sure I ever want to buy a brand new car again - seems like a huge waste of money just to say, "I'm the only one who owned it." After all, you can get a brand new 'lemon' you know?


Last but not least, my biggest want of all (yup, even over the car) - new bike - custom built titanium one. I'm not putting a link to this bike cause it isn't the exact one I want, just a photo. But that near $2,500 is about the price I'm looking at to get the frame built and all the components put on. I love Patsy, she has served me well (and will continue to do so), but she's got a hell of a lot of miles on her as well as scratches and dings. I've had her now for 3.5 years. In the next two years, I hope to retire her and mount a ti-bike that I'm going to name "Road Chickie" with a decal at the top reading "MErider." Yes, seeing Herb's custom built ti bike got my mind set on one, especially knowing that I can have it custom built to my exact requirements (women specific!). Drool, pant, drool...one of these days.

Okay, that's it (for now). That sums up the majority of my materialistic cravings. There are other items along the way as well, but this should hold me over for awhile.

cue "Theme from Rocky" here

I'm not sure what it is about this time of year, but I turn sour, lethargic and most unwilling to commit to much of anything. Even in my leaner, more fit years, this has been the case. This year just happens to be more noticeable since my rather ample ass is more...er...defined these days. And by defined, I don't mean rock-solid and formidable. I mean sagging, like my spirits.

I can't blame CAM either. No, it's something more to do with the shorter days and stupid Holiday crap that gets to me. I am not a Christmas kind of gal. Never have been. I cringe every time I enter a store and hear some stupid Christmas carol over the sound system. Can we please have some pumpkin pie and 'gobble-gobble' before the gawddim "ho, ho, hoing" starts? And every year, I get a little more Grinch like...just like my dad, only he's the Scrooge (sorry, Dad, but even Mom says so). I'm more the Grinch, as I would personally like to take all the trappings of the holiday (tinsel, trees, presents, etc.), bundle them up on some over-sized sled and send them flying over some cliff ledge. Only, I wouldn't send Boo, with reindeer antlers on her head, over the ledge as well (you know? - the little dog that the Grinch ties to the sled?)



If I could fast forward through the holiday-fueled, drunk/pie fests to January, I'd be a happy girl. January holds new promises, if not the stomach-gripping appreciation/realization that we are all still alive/getting older. We make new plans, resolutions and promises to both lose, gain and just 'be better' for yet another year to come...until, another Holiday season pops up to remind us that very few of those goals/resolutions were ever even part way met. "Where did the year go?" we ask ourselves. I know where mine went (in 2009), and I'm a happier if not fatter person for it.

Which leads me to why the hell I'm on here blabbering away - I want, NOW, to set my goals (not resolutions, mind you) for next year...at least, when it comes to cycling/fitness. And, I've been giving this a lot of thought. Over the last six years, I've accomplished several goals I set out to conquer: riding a double century, Triple Crown (riding 3 double centuries in one year), 6,000 miles in a year, CAM and "ride my bike." So, now what?'

This is what I've come up with:

1. Get back into 'Baldy shape' - this means, riding to the top of Mt. Baldy a minimum of once a month (what I've coined as BAM - Baldy a Month challenge). Baldy is my all-time favorite ride and it's epic. Cyclists who ride up there on a regular basis are in great shape. I use to be one of them. I now will be one of them. Bring it on!

2. More mountain biking. Seriously - I want to explore and push myself to get stronger on dirt. Mountain biking kicks my ass - it's now time to kick some ass right back at it (or something along those lines - cue "Theme from Rocky" here).

3. At least 6 centuries and preferably ones I've never ridden. I need not only new trails to discover but some new roads, cause (yawn), I've not been inspired of late!

4. A strenuous hike a month. Yup, this does too have to do with cycling. It's called cross-training, and Lord knows, I need it. Plus, I love to hike just about as much as I love to ride (look out! 2011 may be a year where I hike all month and ride only once...get it?)

5. Balance, balance, balance...another goal so very cycling-related: I'm taking off from riding/hiking/anything one Sunday a month to accomplish all things chore-like, including cleaning my stupid, frickin' pigsty. Without this 'time out' I can't get it all done. I also can't live like that anymore. Balance will be restored, or I won't ride at all.

There you have it. My goals. They may change between now and January 1st (doubt it) or more may be added (likely), but that's the first layer of brick in the 2010 foundation (pronounced 'twenty ten foundation'). I know one thing I am not doing for sure - CAM! That's a goal I can now certainly mark off my list. I haven't ruled out something ridiculous (like another double century or even triple crown) in the future, but not in 2010. I want to have fun riding, push myself a little harder, and, most importantly, find new roads/trails to travel before I take on another round of punishing goal setting. 2010 will be more about discovery and regaining fitness. That, I can live with...

end with our butts sunk down into sofa cusions

Sheesh...I need new legs, folks. Seriously, mine are failing me. Doesn't help that for all my smack talk about lifting weights, I didn't do squat (as in, not even one) at the gym last week. I'm blubbering out in my size (not saying) pants these days. Next week, next week...back at it, I promise (just talking to myself here).

This morning, I woke up on the wrong side of the bed with the sheet wrapped too tight all up in my crack or something. I was annoyed, heavy and not wanting to move all that quickly. No, I didn't drink last night and, really, I got to bed in plenty of time for a solid eight hours of shut eye. Maybe it's the weather? My hormones? Whatever - it can go away anytime now. As is it, I pushed my 8:30am mountain bike ride back 1/2 hour (Herb is so flexible that way!). I then puttered around, not accomplishing much (although, I did get my blog up on here about yesterday's ride that I actually wrote last night).

Herb arrived on time, yet I was still scrambling, trying to get my laundry in the dryer. I then went off on this ridiculous tirade about how I have no balance in my life, no time, blah blah blah. It's a wonder that Herb didn't shove my ass in the dryer and turn it on. Instead, he does what he always does when he arrives to find me in these cantankerous moods - shrugged and walked away to load up his bike.




Once the laundry was drying, and I was on the bike, I felt better. My legs, however, didn't get the message this morning that they needed to perform. Instead, there was quad and calf mutiny, a kind of strike if you will, and no amount of "woo-hooing" and BSing Herb that I was so "happy to be on my bike, and oh, how pretty it is out here today" would motivate them into submission. I therefore pedaled as if in deep sand all the way up Sepulveda Blvd. to Mulholland, over to Dirt Mulholland, complaining the whole way.





Our big (and aborted) plan was to ride to the Nike Missile Site, down Mandeville Canyon, back up Sullivan Canyon, over to Reseda and back. Yeah, right. We made it to the missile site (Herb well ahead of me on every climb) and sat in the warm sun with the freezing wind ruining our enjoyment of it, completely defeated. Herb's back was killing him, and my legs at that point were quivering their absolute resolute to fail me. Stupid legs, stupid ride..."blehhhhhhhhhh!" Like I told Herb - from now on whenever he (or I) are complaining or being negative, we can no longer use words. We just have to go "blehhhhhhhhhh!" with our tongues out and down to our chins. This makes it simple for everyone around us to realize what losers we are being.





Aside from all this, there was lots of beauty out there today, if it hadn't been so damn cold with the winds kicking up around us. Oh, and lots of doggies everywhere, very well behaved even when not on leashes. And there was one darling little puppy that I would have stolen if he'd had fit in my backpack. The hikers and other bikers out were friendly too, and really, this should have been an epic ride day. But after considering our options, we voted for the easiest - back the way we came.



So, back along dirt Mulholland we pedaled, down paved Mulholland to Woodcliff and into my neighborhood. We then split a sandwich and cupcake (shhhh) with coffee and cocoa at a local cafe. There were couches there where we sunk deep down into one and just accepted our patheticness. Hey, they can't all be balls-to-the-walls kinds of rides, you know? Sometimes, they need to be brief and end with our butts sunk down into sofa cushions.




Now, as I write this, I'm procrastinating from cleaning up my place which has become (can you guess? and will you be surprised?) a pigsty again. No, I will not get a cleaning lady. If I can't keep my one bedroom apartment clean on my own, I got real issues. Oh, wait...maybe I shouldn't admit that on here, cause, clearly, I can't keep my one bedroom apartment clean on my own.

Sigh. Guess I'll get over to the hardware store. I need to buy a lamp and get glass cut-outs for my coffee table. Good way to keep the procrastination going.