Boondogglen

Th Xmas card ;)

2011-12-13T21:41:00.000-08:00

Photo Card

View the entire collection of cards.

Lemmings..

2008-11-20T08:23:00.000-08:00

Lately I feel like we are all caught in some crazy fire drill where people are histerically trampling each other running from a bomb threat that is really just a stink bomb someone lit off in the boys bathroom. What never needed to be a tragedy suddenly becomes one as people are injured or killed in the crush to run from the perceived threat.

The US economy is suffering from mass hysteria piling on top of the real problems that do exist. We apparently forgot everything we learned in those orderly fire drills freom elementary school. As CFO's and investors tighten their belt they feed the now self fullfilling prophecy that at least in the near future our economy will be in recession. But while it is frustrating to watch this effect ripple through the economy who can blame them?

Want to know where to place some of the blame? Listen to the "This american life" podcasts below

These guys from this american life did a great job of explaining what triggered the current financial avalanch without using tons of market jargon and in an interesting story telling style. They lead you through the story with interviews of people in every step of the financial lending/investing chain.
http://www.thislife.org/radio_episode.aspx?episode=355

Here they explain how the CDS vehicle made things even worse.
http://www.thislife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?episode=365

And then ther is the fuel thrown on the fire from yesterday if you are bored and want to do some reading.
http://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/files/fomcminutes20081029.pdf

Testing...1..2.. is this thing on?

2008-11-19T22:06:00.000-08:00

BBwaaa....guess who's back! Not sure why I stopped blogging, not sure why I am starting again, guess I just felt like it. Okay so here's the quickk 411 on what has passed in our lives over the last 21 months;

- married the coolest guy ever, and got an awesome family-in-law in the deal

- moved to a cute little place in Redwood City

- got a cat that pretty much owns us

- my sister moved to the Big Apple

- Allie & Mike decided they should swap coasts again and moved to NY as well

I'm sure theres more, but it escapes me right now. I guess I'll update the rest as it comes to me.

So on to other subjects that tickle my fancy.

Heard on the news today that in Barcelona they have successfully transplanted a womans damaged esophagus with one grown from stem cells. This is amazing. Why can't we do this in the US? Ok, thats a rhetorical question, but seriously. You would think we would be the first on the bal with this kind of advance. Not just because it obviously has amazing potential to help people but because it is in our countries best self interest to be at or near the head of the technology curve. The classic saying "innovate or die" is especially appropriate considering our current economic woes.

Ok...off to bed for now.

Yippeee!

2007-02-22T16:13:00.000-08:00

skiing

The new BR Lights site is up! After much keytapping and headscratching the monster has finally taken form.

Please DO check out the site and the awesome lights it promotes. (http://brlights.com/)

Please DO NOT look to closely at the Frankencode ;) (I'm learning)

Please DO feel free to blog me on any bugs you find, suggestions you have etc. Trust me I need all the input I can get!

.....and now for some purty pictures from Canada!

This was the only one we got while actually skiing. The boys totalled up that we did 120K vertical during the 5 days. Not much time for snapshots when you're trying to keep up. ;)

I love Canada. It's gorgeous! I will hopefully get a gallery of shots up soon...

Ok, this is not Canada, it's Seattle. I thought it was awefully pretty though.

Ok, must stop procrastinating and work.

If your reading this roomies I swear I'll be back by soon and I may as well just mail the rent.

;)

Inspiration (a.k.a. - a swift kick in the A$$)

2007-02-06T10:43:00.000-08:00

I balanced at the edge of the skate park, outfitted head to toe with safety gear considering how I would umm...."drop in". I felt all silly on my big long wheelbase mtn bike, and I suddenly got a bit nervous and shy. Then I watched these guys just tear it up for a while.

The pictures absolutely do not do justice to their skills. These guys were dropping in the side of an 8ft+ bowl, playing follow the leader up the nearly vertical sides, and spinning 360 degrees on one wheel!

As I stood watching in awe of their raw determination and incedible talent I noticed that they were just plain having fun. It reminded me that's what it is all about. It's not about how fast you are, or how big you go, etc....it's about whether you had fun.

So get on your bike, look silly, and have some frikken fun. ;)

Ohhh...I almost forgot. You can't tell but those wheelchairs are not your everyday equipment. Skate wheels in the front, Spinnergy wheels in the back (red chair), rear suspension (black chair), and i'm sure there are more bells and whistles I'm forgetting. The guy in red (Scott) teaches, competes and is a public speaker! Check out his website at www.wheelchairskater.com

Someone...please stop me

2007-01-22T15:11:00.000-08:00

ok...yeah I know this one is skibbyish but all the white lycra comments brought it on and I didn't have that much time

Team Wrong Way our White Knights in Shiny Lycra ? ;)

I really should be working....

2007-01-19T11:45:00.000-08:00

But, Mike said he wants to come out and "play"

Sure Mike we'll play a round but you'll have to lose the outfit....

Tag? Hmmmm....

2007-01-18T12:49:00.000-08:00

Let me see what I have.....

1) In the 80's I misguidedly wanted to change my legal name to Crystal, not sure why but it was way cooler than Jennifer. I hated the fact that my only form of transport was.....a bike ;)

2) I love cottage cheese mixed with anything sweet. Iknow... grossey, but it's something about the salt and sweet like eating watermelon with salt.

3) I studied ballet for 5 years when I was a wee one. I loved the tutu's. I think my mom still has a rainbow headband and tutu somewhere...oy

4) Wintergreen makes me nausious

5) I love golf. My Grandpa used to set me up with one of those putput return thingys and a putter in the living room and I would go for hours with it. My drives are not fantastic but thanks to Grandpa I have a mean shortgame. ;)

Lets see...um I tag brenna, and um Allie

Weeeee....I'm back!

2006-12-28T14:18:00.000-08:00

As I sit here in the Phoenix Airport I realize just how addicted I am to the net! Oy, a whole whopping 4 days without it and I'm in wicked withdrawl. ;)

A few things I learned during detox.....

- It's really quiet where I grew up.

- Never hunt elk while wearing pink pajamas

- You can have too many cats

- I miss having shotguns and clay pigeons in the back yard...I know, soooo redneck

....I really wish the overhead anouncement thingys weren't so loud....very distracting....

- Sporting goods stores are bigger than Super Wal-Marts here

- Mothers will always baffle you and you will always love them

- Horses still make me happier than pretty much anything else in the world

- Ducks are hard to catch, and they smell funny

- The cows still don't come home on their own

Please forgive these...they were taken while the car was moving in a big hurry with a polarizing lens still on, but I still think they're pretty. I have better shots but they are on another drive...I will post those when I get settled Fri.

On the left is the bottom of Sedona, the right is a shot of the Verde Valley and you can see the San Francisco Peaks in the middle of the shot. Our ranch is about 40 mi to the east of the SF peaks.

....Doh, I guess it's good thing those overhead talkys are loud. My flight is boarding!

During Intermission

2006-12-22T12:57:00.000-08:00

I'll post a p-shop requested by the audience....

Sorry Frank...unfortunately those we love most are being dragged into this ugly scene ;)

Ok...get your popcorn and drinks now kids

Wheels Turning (in my head)

2006-12-17T08:49:00.000-08:00

So this weekend I got to tag along with the TWW boys. They and the Fox Racing Shox team devoted their time, tools and expertise to help build 1000 bikes for the Turning Weels Charity. It was a blast to see these guys and gals who play so hard on the trails work even harder to kick out bike after bike for some soon to be very happy kids!

Here's a few highlight pics:

The work this team did was amazing.....I wonder what they'll do next? Maybe a TWW calendar for charity? I think I heard some mutterings...could this be Mr January?

Bahhhhh.....

2006-11-28T17:43:00.000-08:00

Alright all Bah Hummbuggin and Sugarbucks jokes aside, I dig the Starbucks Peppermint Mocha love....

I would drink that happy goodness everyday twice a day if I were just immune to the sour tummy and wicked buzz that come with abuse. ;(

ahhh....well maybe one more to help me get through the next application. Yes, I said application...I'm finally there, i'll have my Mktg degree in hand so soon I can taste it but the fun isn't over yet. Now I get to bite my nails and pray as I wait to see what schools might accept my application for transfer while I scrape the wishing pond for pennies...shhhhh ;)

The one good thing

2006-11-20T20:16:00.000-08:00

...about daylight savings is nightriding. Silly crazy empire strikes back kinda tunnel vision as you swoop through the trees at amazing speeds. ;) Love it...it scares me a bit when my eyes lock onto some tree placed directly in my way and I feel a George of the Jungle moment bubbling under the surface, but even then it's exhilerating.

I haven't done much night riding but I know the lights I have just aren't cutting it. So I'm gonna try some cool new toyzz...

Check em' out here www.brlights.com

Feel the force Luke......

Friday came early!

2006-11-16T17:36:00.000-08:00

You always wish it would but it rarely does...until now. Worked my caboosey off this week to get pretty much everything done by Thurs so I can wander off with my bikes for a few days and see what kinda trouble I can get myself into on two wheels.

Going to go here ;)

Haven't been there in at least a year. I'm soooo looking forward to it. Especially since I get to ride with this nut!

After I might do a little bit o' this

Photo courtesy of Linda Locke

But who knows maybe I'll just go to the beach with a good book, a blanket and some hooch in a flask and enjoy the afternoon. In the end well.....

Sometimes that's just how it has to be.

Fresh Air

2006-11-15T10:21:00.000-08:00

I need to settle into the days tasks and bury myself in the work at hand, but i'm not ready just yet. Instead I will sit here and sip my Gingerbread Mocha thing and daydream about riding later. As I dream about feel of a tight turn and exhilaration of a drop to a vista where I can breathe free, I know that a solo ride is just what I need to clear my head. Yes, that will do nicely.

--------

"Gingerbread Mocha" ....ummm is anyone else disturbed by the slow creep of Cristmas ever closer to summer? I went into some store week before last and the whole thing was decorated for Christmas with some overplayed bad cover of a rondom carol chittering overhead in the tinny speakers. Bah...hum bug

From the horses mouth

2006-11-14T10:44:00.000-08:00

With very American cynicism I listen to the various news outlets spoon feeding me bits of information strained, twisted, and reformed for the sake of ratings and I wonder where in those bits lies the truth. If I took each piece and refit them together like the colors in a stained glass window when I step back will I get the whole picture?

Today I found a fascinating piece of glass to add to my disfunctional window on the world..... http://aliveinbaghdad.org/

"You get the government you vote for"

2006-11-07T20:57:00.000-08:00

Do we really?

The talk of this election has been less about issues and much more about speech interpretation, and ill timed news releases. Elections it seems have become much more about a popularity contest he said she said than about what a cantidate intends to do.

So after all the Enquirer style fluff blows over it still comes down to whether your vote counts when you become the wizard behind the curtain. Now we have electronic voting machines
But we seem to just have exchanged hanging chads for bugs.

Honestly all of it tires me. I want to give in to the little voice in my head that says ...oh bother.

At least some of us vote for the government we get.

Tapped

2006-11-04T16:17:00.000-08:00

It is amazing to me how in a few moments time words can deftly transport you into anothers mind. Their chosen story painted on a limitless canvas as they are not constrained by the stroke of their brush or quality of film. A few words strung like dewdrops along a blade of grass, hanging pregnant with meaning can bear fruit brimming with lucious joy to venomous heartbreak.

sputter ..poot

2006-10-31T23:41:00.000-08:00

What happened to my party days? Tonight I gladly just hung out chatting and gorging on yummy Thai food instead of hitting downtown SC with 20k other hooligans halloweening it up.

Oh wait, I know what happened. I partied till my bones were tired this weekend. ;) Way better than beer brawls an stabbings...

Surf City

2006-10-31T11:51:00.000-08:00

Ok...Quick post

Last Friday I finished building my pretty new one of these

It's my first cross bike and I am sooo in love with that sexy thang! I can't stop talking about it, although I think some of my friends wish I would. ;) However my performance this weekend had nothing to do with my lovely lightning fast new bike or all that "training" I've been putting in.....oh no, it was all about the Vanderkitten socks baby! (pictures to come)

And now for some sappiness. Surf City on Halloween weekend is quite possibly one of my very favorite times of the year despite the nasty time change. Each year I find myself recovering from a weekend of hard fun work, good friends, new friends, silly costumes, cheering till my throat is raw, gettin dirty, cold beer, and mmmmm pie. Not to gush but I love Cyclocross above all other bikey type events. It is inclusive of all ages, genders, and skill levels and it has this intoxicating irreverent feel to it. Like it's thumbing it's nose at sports and athletes that take themselves so seriously that they've forgotten that it's all about having fun. (Thanks Sabine, Laura and too many other cool people to mention for reminding us all!)

PS. a HUGE thank you to Douggie and Michael for all the help and advise on the bike as I got it together!! I couldn't have done it without you guys!

Update

2006-10-17T14:32:00.000-07:00

I've been busy since I last wrote...mostly looking for my missing socks. Somewhere in there I found time to ride my bike, start classes again and see my best friend tie the knot. So heres a quick re-cap...well as quick as I can make it.

August - The most mentionable part of Aug was a trip to Downieville with friends for my birthday. I decided to do it in style and stayed in a hotel right in town rather than camping. We shuttled and rode the downhill twice on Saturday and once on Sunday, giggling the whole way. Post ride we chased the local icecream cart around town and demolished a guilty pleasure or two. We spent the rest of the evening sitting by the river with a glass of wine in hand while drinking in the beauty of our surroundings. Pure bliss! I couldn't have asked for more. Thank you Heather, Dawn and Doug for making it a fantastic trip! Who's birthday is next!

Sept - I flew back to MI in Sept, just in time for what I am told is the most beautiful time of year there. The hardwood forests were changing color in vibrant splashes that sparkled all happy and gemlike reflected in the abundant lakes and streams. Riding through those woods was like riding through the fairy land you dream up in your childhood. I half expected a silly little knome or woodsprite to dance from the ferny undergrowth as we wound along the miles of narrow undulating single track.

I spent the first part of my trip in Boyne, MI which is 'Up North" of Detroit by a few hours. We were there for Allie's bachelorette party. To quickly sum the weekend up there were 6 girls, bikes, karioke, fantastic scones, beautiful sunrises, tequila warmed mudbathing, fourwheeler riding, too many of Lornas infamous Jello shots and a late night/early morning dip in the lake. I miss everyone already. We all left vowing to get together again soon. That kind of fun is so good for the soul.

The remainder of my trip was spent working towards the day my friend would become a Mrs. Her husband is everything I could wish for her to have in a partner, and I couldn't be happier for her. I just hope for his sake he keeps a 2x4 handy for her stubborn streak...oh and an extra watch that is set to "Allie time". ;) The man has hockey pads and more watches than a NY street vendor though so he's off to a good start.

And now for some "Shmooop"...thank you so much to Allie, Mike and her extraordinary family and friends for their hospitality during my stay. I have decided I am adopting her funny lovely family, whether they like it or not. Homecooked chicken soup with dumplings from scratch, Pastitsio that was so good I ate it for breakfast, and a furniture store built like the Winchester Mystery House are enough to lure any girl aren't they? Oh...and I know now where Allie gets her quick wit and wicked sense of humor...that rotten little apple didn't fall far. ;)

Anyway...I'll spare you all any furthur shmoop for the moment as I really should be paying attention in class rather than babbling on. I promise a link to MI pics and some fresh babbling about Cyclocross soon.

Mismatch

2006-07-18T13:22:00.000-07:00

So after washing every article of clothing I own this weekend, I thought I would be able to pair up all my little orphan socks. After 20 odd minutes of sorting, folding, and headscratching I gave up and decided to go with the flow.

I'm not going to throw out a perfectly good orphan sock just to fit in....hmpppffh. Who wants to wear perfectly matched socks all the time anyway. Blah...boring I say. Auf Wiedersehen stuffy ol' convention.

Although my liberation from the conventions of proper attire some relief, I find myself irritated by something a bit more absurd...our government. With all the strife in Lebanon our government is, of course, jumping to the aide of US citizens in Lebanon.

Yipee!!! Wow...that's great...right? Sure it is, except for the nasty little fine print where they make each person sign an open ended promissory note BEFORE they will help them leave the country. Hmmmm....sounds a little highway robberish to me. I mean fine, charge them for the service as they got themselves stuck there in the first place, but have some class. Get them out, before you hash out the details.

When a French official was asked if France was holding their citizens up for compensation, I think the answer went something like this after the sniggering subsided;

"Of course not, and besides I don't want to talk to you no more, you empty headed animal food trough wiper. I fart in your general direction. Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries."

As if the French didn't already have plenty of ammunition, ughhh.

Quote of the week "Yeeehaw is not a foreign policy"

Zabriskie is coming back as a wolf

2006-07-18T10:17:00.000-07:00

The more I see of Z in the tour the more I can't help but like the guy. The other day I was innocently meandering the web looking for a bike frame and I ran across this most random podcast page. For the next ten minutes or so I just cracked up...as I tried to imagine this fella chatting up flatulence, and being reincarnated as a cow with the guys in the peleton. How could you possibly take this guy seriously? I think that is part of his evil plan though. Throw them all off with random stoner comments and then bare teeth and become a threat when they least expect it. Zabriskie is no cow, he is a wolf disguised as a adorably funky sheep.

Bye, Bye Basso.....

2006-06-30T07:25:00.000-07:00

Dope
a) A stupid person; a dolt.
b) Drugs considered as a group

It makes sense that this word emcompasses both of these meanings.

I love seeing cycling hit mainstream news but not this way.

Not so kissable now....

PS Could CNN stop calling Georgy "Hiccupy"?

Warm Fuzzies

2006-06-18T20:52:00.000-07:00

Sometimes that's all we need, a little push from someone who believes in us.

As I gasped my way up a climb this weekend my thoughts were most definitely not all bubbles and happiness. However despite my refusing a physical push and mild snarling in his direction, the epitome of patience softly encouraged me to push harder. I have to admit I am extremely grateful. Having someone believe in you is...well, it's one of the best perks of friendship.

For Soni and other underprivileged individuals.

2006-06-09T18:48:00.000-07:00

(click to play)

Plugins

2006-06-08T20:58:00.000-07:00

Best Legal Speak of '06
*********************************
Hey: Listen Up.

You don't want bad karma, do you? Well, this is the official License Agreement. It spells out some legal stuff you need to know and to agree to before using this software.

Please respect our hard work. Read the following, consider it, contemplate it, inhale it, chew on it, think about it, if you have questions, ask us. Nothing can be changed here, so if you don't agree to something, you had better not install this software.

Now we return to our lawyerspeak. Listen Up.

mutterings

2006-06-04T19:39:00.000-07:00

"If we, citizens, do not support our artists, then we sacrifice our imagination on the altar of crude reality and we end up believing in nothing and having worthless dreams."
(Life of Pi, Yann Martel 2001)

nonsynchronization of income and spending.....

2006-06-02T00:45:00.000-07:00

apparently the reason for my low account balance as well as the federal deficit

Oh...look boys I figured out how to fix some o' that pesky nonsynchy thing...we'll just grab a few cookies from the education cookie jar...mmmm those were goood

to add insult to injury the Fed has decided it is a lovely idea to raise interest rates for college loans...happy, happy...joy, joy

Maybe this is why I dreamed about psycho squirrels last night. Hundreds of em hopping around the room...eeekkk

Lack of sleep forced a Red Bull rampage this afternoon which sucked cause when the wings come of you fall like a rock. Flies shouldn't drink Red Bull either since they already have wings, it makes them drunk and easy to swat.

PS...Miss Mary is the bombdiggity. Outta this world cooking and she pins numbers like it's a pro-sport...

Hardchargers and Bodybags

2006-05-29T23:30:00.000-07:00

Today I got up quite cheerily (for me at least) around 6am and made my way over to the Memorial day criterium on a whim. Some of my favorite people were going to be there and damn if it wasn't a lovely day.

I was a little nervous to say the least as I rolled up to the line pinned up by Miss Mary on my silly new bike. I haven't done one of these roundy round bits in a while so I listened intently to the quirky somewhat overanimated official as he read off the rules. Just as I was beginning to relax and be ready for the whistle the official reminds us to be careful out there...and oh by the way he says I don't want anyone going home in a body bag today....uh...gulp? Did he just say body bag? Oh crap there's the whistle...uh legs, check, lungs, check, brain, mmm

With the body bag comment still reeling in my head I was cautious through the first few corners. After a couple laps I finally settled in and felt a bit more solid. I wandered around in the pack just getting the feel of being out there. It was fun. In retrospect though I would have done a couple things differently. 1) Uh...don't attack alone just before the preem. 2) I wish I had gotten in the right position to give Soni shelter from the wind and some form of a leadout on the last lap. 3) Do not listen to little men wearing blue

Thank you Agent Starling and Soni for your patience in the pack with me!

Morning Services

2006-05-17T09:49:00.000-07:00

Dewy morning mist peppers my skin
perfect sermon enveloped in warm fog
from mother earths soft breath, gentle for now
she rumbles in the crashing waves
constrained as am I
rudely awakened
by the return to reality

Hidden Gem...

2006-05-16T23:03:00.000-07:00

Puttering around p-base looking at all the Kitty Kat racing fun I come across this gem. How this polecat shot didn't make front page I dunno...maybe it's cause there was just so much quality fodder.

For PAB...

2006-05-15T19:34:00.000-07:00

from mutterings over morning coffee a revelation on unique gourmet coffees....

The Straight Poop

The answer to everything....

2006-05-15T19:25:00.000-07:00

"Don't think. Thinking is the enemy of creativity. It's self-conscious and anything self-conscious is lousy. You cannot try to do things. You simply must do things." Ray Bradbury

For example:

Today I didn't just TRY to get up in time to ride to work, I just did. It felt fanfrikkentabulous.

This weekend I did not think about whether pie would increase my waistline. I just snarfed it up like an addict with a key to the evidence room.

My advise... go forth, snarf pie, get up early, do things that make you smile.

Yipppeee!!!

2006-04-24T23:21:00.000-07:00

sunny sun sunn! Can this be real or is some demented meteorologist just teasing us for kicks?

2006-04-16T17:51:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter

Fantasy Land

2006-04-14T10:15:00.000-07:00

I live in my own little happy world and I love the days when the real world decides to see things my way. Yesterday I purchased a pair of jeans that fit amazingly well on a hurried shopping trip. The funny part is they were a size 4! Hah...like I am a size 4. Maybe it's just divine positive encouragement to get my caboose in better shape.

In other good news WalMart decided to stop selling guns in almost a third of it's stores due to lack of demand. Could this mean that our nasty little world is getting a bit kinder? Yes, I am still living in my little fantasy land...you do see the Do Not Disturb sign on the knob don't you?

Anyone have a clay pigeon? ....Pull.....

Blog Lapse

2006-04-10T18:53:00.000-07:00

Oh yes...so I have been re-miss in my bloggage, but it's because well...I was painting my toenails, stacking cats, or swimming with sea turtles. Take your pick, I don't have a worthy excuse. ;)

Anyway here's what I have been up to lately for a start, and I will resume regular bloggage later this week;

one week hellish finals, 5 gazillion loads of laundry, cleaning my room, making a mad mess of my room within 5 minutes of cleaning, watching the roomba, playing with my camera, buying stuff, selling stuff, signing up for another quarter of getting edumacated, debating the ridiculousness of the system with the dean of business, desperately searching for a shrubbery, hanging out with two madwomen (whom I adore & admire), traipsing 12 jillion times across the SO and back, taking a mud-bath, wondering why a swallow would carry coconuts, wondering where Miss Mary, Sabine, and Laura purchase their super powers....I bought some last week at the flea market and they suck

K....thats it for now....phhhhlllffttt

TGIF

2006-03-17T15:06:00.000-08:00

Fridays are nice right up until that lovely moment when you realize how much crap you still have to get done to make it to the finish line. But then there is a ray of sunshine that makes you giggle and you see a weee speck of light at the end of the tunnel.

Gonads and Strife

Weeeee....snow in SC????

2006-03-12T14:52:00.000-08:00

Ok so we were 9 again for two or three hours Friday night as we ducked between cars and fired off hastily formed ice/snow balls at each other. We were only 3 blocks from the Pacific Ocean but it seemed like we had temporarily been beamed into an icy Mid-West winter. Well, that is until the local kids pulled out their boogey boards and anything else they could find to sled on the icy street waves.

It didn't last long though the 1/4" to almost 1/2" iceballs began tearing through the trees and budding spring flowers again and we rushed back inside to warm our cold fingers by the fire.

The next day I went for a ride with PJ and we tried to get some cool picures of the remaining phenom. We also just played a bit with the white stuff.

boys

will be

boys

Marriage, fun? Fiddle-dee-dee. Fun for men you mean.

2006-03-09T19:47:00.000-08:00

Silly Scarlett...just get a robot to do your chores. Oh my how fun it is to see my little robot knock about and clean while I go get some fresh air on two wheels....ahhhhh. I love that there are clever geeky people out there that are always working on some widget to make the rest of us nerds happy!

Walter is not a good name for an alligator...

2006-03-03T08:43:00.000-08:00

And it's snowing in Santa Cruz...ughhh isn't winter over yet? The cherry trees lied!

Don't get me wrong, I love the rain but I am so ready to soak up a little sunshine.

No Blog Blog

2006-02-21T10:14:00.000-08:00

Hi

No bloggage today. I've been busy with clinic prep and important stuff like riding my bike and doing my homework.

I do want to say congrats to one of my favorite people in the whole world today though. Miss Queen Bee got out and kicked some BBB sprint skills into action this weekend at Dinuba!

Interview Sockkage

2006-02-16T14:40:00.000-08:00

Today I made someones interview not sock!

Yes I said sock not suck.

So I'm sitting there quite seriously asking this fellow what his experience level is with such n' such software...yadda..yadda, and I notice that he seems to be looking at the ground alot when I try to make eye contact. Hmmm...maybe somethings down there. So when he's not looking I steal a glance at the area near my primly crossed feet to see what is so interesting.

Doh...I've pulled a Sabine. My Happy Bunny socks peeking from above my Danskos have upstaged me! Hah...oh well. I just left it like that. A good sense of humor is a requirement for this job anyway...

Sunday service

2006-02-13T22:40:00.000-08:00

Perfect weather
Camera fodder
Calming forest
Yummy trails
Two wheels
Bliss

AMEN

PS Thank you to a talented, wonderful, patient photo genius for teaching me some new tricks.

Antioxidant Oxymoron?

2006-02-12T20:27:00.000-08:00

"Healthy chocolate that makes my skin glowing and lovely...uhh, sign me up for a life supply" I thought to myself as I stood in line and giggled "Yeah right that'll work just like an all you can eat diet." Disbelief aside I gave in to the marketing hook anyway and snagged a bar of this manna from Eve to try at home.

Report to come later....

Lazy days

2006-02-09T08:11:00.000-08:00

Ughhh...I so want to shrug off work and go relax in the lovely sunshine today.

Maybe I should start making heavenly hotcakes for a living or better yet just break commodes. $10,000 for a broken toilet?? Will seeing Jesus in the commode really bring you closer to god? This kind of stuff makes me giggle and feel sad all at the same time.

Ouija Fun

2006-02-08T10:01:00.000-08:00

So last week I found one of these Psychic Therapist cards on my car. I was amused for a moment or two and then it found it's way to my circular filing system. Yesterday I found three tacked to my car, these also all meandered their way the same direction as the first. I am curious though;
- Are American leaves not readable? Why the discrimination?
- What is raeding?? ;)
- If they can't spell, how can this person read?
- Isn't mystery part of the fun of life? Can you read a book before it is written? Mumbo Jumbo...

Bootee Bar

2006-02-07T14:57:00.000-08:00

My cup of yogurt breakfast and cup of soup lunch just weren't hitting the spot...damn builder bars are yummy

Silly Monkey

2006-02-07T11:13:00.000-08:00

I love that my life is full of silly monkeys!! They make me happy!

Thats all.

2006-02-06T22:13:00.000-08:00

Ok so until recently I had no clue what kind of car Sputnik was (based on the name I assumed some random Russian thingy...they make cars?), however I noticed a reference in Xbunny's blog and did a Google search on the Toyata Previa which until now I had never heard of. Some of the pictures I found killed me!

Pimpin!!...hah! Gotta love the Toyotas...they are so friggin reliable.

BLOCK

2006-02-05T09:01:00.000-08:00

f
l
o
w

h pp
a y

f f
r a
e l
e l

WALL

cowardly pen
wilted page

meet inspiration

Beware bush dwelling radar men wielding mini stop signs and a ticket book

2006-02-04T14:07:00.000-08:00

Ahhhh...I love the internet. Taking traffic school online from Sammy Signal in the comfort of my home with a steamy cup of coffee sure beats the alternative.

What I learned today:

1) speed limit signs are not strategically placed to generate revenue
2) if you are slow as hell and holding up traffic on a mountain road you are required by law to pull over and allow people to pass (hah...please teach more people this)
3) You can be fined for driving across a fire hose
4) pregnant women do not qualify as a carpool

#4 made me laugh...I got to thinking that if the whole point of the carpool lane is to reduce traffic and polution then what good does it do for all those soccer mom's to get the advantage? Hauling about all their own kiddos willy nilly doesn't reduce the number of cars on the road any more than an unborn fetus does.

Making Nice...

2006-02-01T10:14:00.000-08:00

Ok...please don't report me to BPS (Bicycle Protective Services). After the last update I spent the day cleaning and pampering both of my bikes. My road bike has decided to give me a second chance and my mountain bike is thinking about it. ;)

Trouble in Paradise

2006-01-21T13:26:00.000-08:00

Had the first fight of 2006 with my road bike today. The conversation went like this:

Bike: "Are you nuts? You can't ride me like this you silly humanoid"

Me: "Please just one more ride. I promise your new parts are on order. They'll be here soon and I'll clean you right after todays ride."

Bike: "Nope, Ive had it with you. I'm not puttin' out one more spin of my wheels till you fix me proper. "

Me: "fine"

Bike "Fine...hmmpffhhh"

I'm moving to Narnia

2006-01-21T08:17:00.000-08:00

Saw the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe last night. It was beautiful. Made me feel about 10 years old again. For a couple hours I shagged my adult self off into a corner and enjoyed the ride. I tried not to think about how these sad stiff fellows remind me of little kernels of our imagination frozen in time as we grow up. I miss being so wrapped up in a book that I feel like I can smell, taste, hear and see what is happening as I read it. Call me silly if you want, I want to believe in mystical creatures, and witches, and talking lions for just a bit longer....

Bummer

2006-01-19T15:38:00.000-08:00

8:30am crap hhuuchhhnagg crunch...huh?
9:30am get in car Dukes o' Hazard style
10:30am 16 phone calls, 3 advil, 2 funky mechanics, and 1 very sweet bummed friend later...

Is it Friday yet??

PS I think Marys luck is rubbin off ;)

PG Fox post

2006-01-17T15:10:00.000-08:00

Mikes rated R shoes for girls with bad backs and unhappy feet...

Slogging

2006-01-16T12:17:00.000-08:00

The technical term for cycling in pouring rain. God I love my bike! I should have paid more attention to this advice before I rode but ...oh well.

The best part is the hot shower after ....ahhhhhh

mmmmm....cake

2006-01-13T09:49:00.000-08:00

I have to say that standing at the cake counter trying to choose which of many devilishly delectable confections you will take home is way too much pressure. This one just yelled EAT ME and all the sudden I was Alice and could not resist the temptation.

Miss Mary...I hope you win the Lottery!!!!

Bueller?...Bueller??

2006-01-09T22:33:00.000-08:00

…..and no beautiful ferrari spin off my school stresses with, oh well. I’ll just have to spend my free time adding miles to the odometer the hard way, with a trainer and a comfy chamois (is there such a thing). When does daylight saving start??? ;)

Ooooowwwweeeee......

2005-12-28T08:03:00.000-08:00

Waking up and realizing you have to work after Binas Margs; worse than being hit in the head with a rubber ball.

Livin' on a Prayer

2005-12-27T23:57:00.000-08:00

I gave love a bad name and I couldn't start a fire without a spark, now I'm wanted dead or alive, but it's all the same because were wasting alive and I'm just a cowboy on a steel horse inorexably drawn to the corporate music lexicon to piddle copper on sentimental tokens of an age when I had a nasty reputation....raise your hands to a band that set the night on fire baby!!! Just let it go.............all you need is a six pack and a radio and you never have to say goodbye!

I don't like spiders...

2005-12-27T20:06:00.000-08:00

...but I don't mind taking pictures of them and blinding all 6-8 freaky deaky eyes with my flash!

Potty Talk

2005-12-20T18:56:00.000-08:00

Hello and welcome to Potty Talk. Today we discuss this do's and don'ts of lavatory conversations and cell phones.

If you are on the phone don't take me in the bathroom with you! No conversation is that important to me. There are some moments in life that you should just keep to yourself. Chatting away with me over your recent breakup and relieving your emotions while relieving yourself does not make us any closer as friends.

There i've said my piece. See you next time some burr gets in my britches...

Shopping Survival

2005-12-17T17:28:00.000-08:00

So I have a love hate relationship with the whole Christmas gifting process. For example I love the new jeans I got for myself...don't judge, we all do the one for me and one for them thing. Besides these jeans jumped off the rack and into my bag, what was I supposed to do. I also love finding the perfect little whatsit or thingamadoodle to make my favorite people smile.

The icky part of this whole process comes in when you are bushwhacked by random kiosk dwelling product pushers who approach you with a tenacious hungry glint in their eye. They sense weakness and attack most often when you are alone meandering towards your car on weary legs with gift laden arms slowing your progress. Next thing you know, in moment of overwhelming pity and sheer defeat, you find an oily sandy substance has been plopped into your hands while having the attributes of dead sea salts extolled to you in grandiose terms.

This year I decided to develop a method to avoid stepping in one of these shopping potholes. I now walk boldly by these kiosks looking intensely distracted and glancing furtively at my watch. When the wolves dare begin their stalking approach I furrow my brow and look a bit angry. I resist the urge to snarl and growl......

I know this behavior does not engender the spirit of Christmas but I firmly believe you have to draw the line somewhere in order to preserve your overall cheer.

Finals Week

2005-12-12T15:35:00.000-08:00

Uggghhhh...Finals week is killin me!

I sooo need a massage and some good sleep.

A purse worth more than my bike???

2005-12-06T23:56:00.000-08:00

MSRP $2,125 I don't get it....