Are you kidding me?

Are you kidding me? It is supposed to snow tomorrow. I just want to go out and have a great day at RMR, but instead it is going to be freezing and wet and miserable.

Are you kidding me? Remember in ET (the Extra Terrestrial) when then erect that huge quarantine tent in the front yard? Well my neighbors have one of those. It has been up for 2 days now. The only thing I can figure is that they've outgrown the garage as a family room/party place and have had to add on to their house West Valley style. This and the permanent yard sale across the street add to the charm of this neighborHOOD.

Are you Freaking kidding me? They closed the liquor store closest to my house. This meant that I had a choice of driving downtown, to Magna, or to Kearns to get a bottle of wine or going home and drinking the BF's crappy Natural Light. Do you realize that in other states people can stop at the grocery store on their way home from work to buy a bottle of wine to have with dinner? Did you ever notice that on the door of the liquor store they have a warning about drinking and driving? I did not know that I could actually start drinking in the liquor store. Today was the first day I actually considered it. I always thought it was a take home kind of place.

I do feel better since I found some Castle Creek Outlaw Red! They had it in the California Wines section. Sad when even the liquor store refuses to admit that alcoholic beverages can be made here in our very own Moab.

The Ladies

I have to start by saying that my camera is a peice of crap. I think it is really a 3D camera because every time I use the flash I get this weird effect. (This was the best picture-the rest hurt your eyes or I'd post them too.) I'll have to find some 3D glasses and see if it helps when viewing these photos.

Anyway, last night was a nice little get together with the other women on my team. It was great to meet all of them. They are all amazing women juggling careers, school, BFs, husbands, kids and a love of the bike and racing. We have a lot of women with a lot of strengths and we are going to kick some butt this year!

We had some great food, wine and even a fashion show (trying on the kits). Laura H. our women's leader came out to welcome all of us. It was really cool. Tomorrow we officially kick off our season with the first crit at RMR. We'll have at least 4 Women racing C flight and at least 1 in B and A flight. Go Ski Utah!!!

Too Funny

I had to order one. I'm sure I'll offend someone but cycling and racing in this extremely religious state you see some pretty low stuff all done by people that are headed to church the next day. More than once I've been cut off by a minivan headed into a church parking lot on Sunday.

Bacon Coma!

Well I finally snapped. I couldn't turn down the BLT at lunch. I justified it because I was getting tomatoes and it was on wheat bread and I was teaching 3 classes today- I'd burn it off. Of course, the bread was about an inch thick. I finished it all off with a nice big snickerdoodle cookie. Bad idea. 3:30 found me drooling on my desk. Fortunately, my employee woke me up just as the new psychologist that will be working in my clinic came in to meet me. I'm sure I looked great with glazed eyes, drool and a sleep hickie on my head. She'll probably start therapy on me right away.

My lethargy stayed with me through my drive home and a 15 minute power nap did nothing to help. The gym was just weird tonight. As I sat outside the classroom waiting for my class to begin people just kept coming up and talking to me. First a guy in a wheelchair came up and shared his joy of zipping around the track. "I couldn't go this fast with 2 good legs!" he said. I just smiled and continued my stupor.

Then my neighbor from Camaroon came over for a visit. He is the biggest blackest man I've ever met. It is fascinating when he hangs out in a traditional African dress in his front yard. It helps me to understand why men like skirts on women. As always my "big, strong legs" are a favorite subject with this man. Is he hitting on me?

Finally, some man I've never met in my life comes walking up to me. I'm seriously looking around trying to figure out why he's headed my way. "How are you? Don't you remember me?" He then did some weird pose with his head and body as if this would somehow trigger a memory for me. "I'm Kenny Olson". Again, more smiling, nodding and blank staring on my part. I felt so out of it from the freaking bacon. Maybe I looked like I needed a friend or something?

Unfortunately, no one showed for the step class I was subbing. So I spent some time working with the new instructor. She's never really done step let alone taught it. I tried to give her my 18 years of teaching knowlege in 45 minutes but she's going to need some work.

Spin class was the usual odd mix of people. I turned up the music and zoned out until my calves started cramping. Too much salt and sugar is obviously not good for you. As Isabelle says when she knows she is going to do something naughty "DON'T DO IT." Good advice from a 2 year old. However, she is like her aunt. Even while saying don't do it, she knows she will.

That's my Girl!

"Maaum. Why are you here? I don't want my friends to know I have a mother, I want them to think I crawled out from under a rock."

Like Whatever!!!

That is my beautiful baby girl! There she goes with that big old attitude of hers. Today was the last Westlake Jr. High Girls' Basketball game. Ashley played great defense and as usual had great hustle. Her JV team beat the Generals (not the same team the Harlem Globetrotters play) 24 to 8! I'm really proud of her for trying new things and always doing her best. Although, I am not going to miss those early morning practices. (Ashley is never a very happy camper at 5:30 in the morning.)

I love you kiddo! I'm very proud of you!!

Snow Canyon (no snow to be seen!)

Today we rode up Snow Canyon from our hotel. The day wasn't as nice as yesterday but the roads were dry and nice. There was a terrible head/crosswind going up so it was a great workout. The descent was a little scary with the tight turns and the wind pushing us all over. The legs are nice and trashed from 3 hard rides in a row. We're back home now to cold temperatures and I'm sure another impending storm.

This week I am looking forward to meeting with the other Cat 4 Women. I heard they did a great training ride yesterday and I'm sad I wasn't there. This Saturday also starts the crits. I'm looking forward to clearing out a few more cobwebs and getting rid of any crash videos that I have left in my head.

Desert Rampage!

Not a cloud in the sky! Yesterday was my first attempt at a mountain bike race (not counting Tour de Suds where I do more suds than racing). I Started off well into the six mile course sitting second and third. Once we got to the technical climbing section of a river bed wash, women started dismounting and walking up the 2 and 3 foot ledges. I was sitting 4th coming out of the wash and onto the long dirt climb. I hung onto that position but by the time I reached the top I was having some vertigo issues. I stopped and did a gu and then picked my way down a steep gravely descent. I felt better in time for the next climb but by then I had lost more positions. I ended up finishing 7th.

I enjoyed the rest of the day soaking in the rays and feeding Sam. Today we're off for a nice road ride up Snow Canyon.