winning

Shorter days, lower temps, many layers...I am trying to be more at ease with wintertime. I have spent more time outside, bundling up & braving the cold in an attempt to kick winter blues in the ass.

It's working!

For the first time in many years, I have been sleeping better and feel less down than winters past.

In spite of what could have been a near-disaster yesterday (not climbing-related per se, mom), I never whined or complained once (or panicked for that matter). In fact, I woke up this morning and bundled up for more...

February begins tomorrow.

playing along (10 Simple Things)

This was the first blog I followed...I don't remember how I happened upon it, but it's still one that I check out almost daily. Now we just happen to be friends & teammates. Awesome. In that vein, I was inspired to play along...Ten Simple Things That Make Me Happy: 1) Olive oil & sugar hand treatment (thank you Nurse Larson)...hold a handful of white sugar, pour olive oil into it to make a paste...scrub, scrub, scrub all over hands for as long as you'd like. Rinse well with mild soap. Winter icky dry hands become magically, delightfully soft...mmmm, simple indeed. 2) breakfast at Penn's Table 3) Havaianas flip-flops (the slim variety, particularly red) 4) reading with my son/to my son at the end of the day 5) making the bed/un-making the bed 6) letters, notes (hand written) 7) pistachio ice cream from Brown's Cow 8) a box of sharpened berol prismacolor colored pencils (the giant box) 9) new pajamas 10) riding my bike...on the road, in the woods, along the tape, alone, in a group, with my dad, with my friends, with my competition, in the freezing cold, under the blazing sun, dodging raindrops, crunching through a crust of snow, in the drops, off the saddle, getting dropped, bridging a gap, nailing a course, cleaning that rock garden, big ring, little ring, winning a race, losing a race, climbing Orange, descending Red & White...riding my bike. your turn

drizzle

It occurred to me that I missed out on fall rides at French Creek this year...what a shame. My dad & I rocked out our old-school loop this morning as a light drizzle fell...the rocks were slick, of course...what an excellent ride. I needed that...something a little tricky, with plenty of hills. He said, "Maybe I'm just getting old, but do you ever think about full suspension?" "Nope. Maybe it's cause I don't know what I'm missing." Talked about putting the Ellsworth back together, just for fun...and by the end of the ride, was singing the praises of his hardtail again. (for what it's worth, I don't think he's getting old) I mentioned something about a Red & White night ride, but was reminded how icy it is by Miller's Point this time of year. Oh yeah. Easy conversation, hard pace...perfect ride, if only too short. Today was the first time in a while that I woke up truly excited to get on my bike...in fact, I was ready to go with time to spare (unheard of). Driving home, we had Radiohead on. I'm lucky I got to see them live...was thinking about what a great show that was. Was thinking about a lot of good things.

fleshing out an update the lazy way

I'm not afraid to fly anymore. I am still afraid of the dentist (yes, I work in that very field...hopefully not forever). I bet I won't get married again. It is unlikely that I will have another child. I drew an excellent picture of a raccoon holding a juice box with my eyes closed. I heard too many bad ideas this week. I want to go out on a proper date. I hope I can hang onto my house for a long time. I still don't like any fruit beside strawberries and pineapple. I want to ride my bike on different (new to me) trails this summer. I considered sending myself flowers after I was insulted the other day. I don't know what to do with all this...stuff.

is drinking beer & wearing sweatpants...

Oh, you know it. What could have been a mere facebook status is a blog post. Turning my horrendous day into a relaxing evening... one Golden Monkey at a time. (likely will amount to one Golden Monkey, because that's all it takes...) These are no ordinary sweatpants, either (anyone who knows me, knows I'm not a sweatpants kind of girl...nothing against their fleecy comfiness, just not my thing)... What a weird day, weird week, weird turn of events...I am actually excited for Monday and what it may bring.

kid stuff

I miss being a stay-at-home-mom (more like unemployed-out-and-about-doing-whatever-we-want-on-a-whim-mom).

I am lucky to know what that was like for a couple very treasured, very cherished years.

After my son was born, I went back to work very part-time, which dwindled to one day a week, which became no days a week (my favorite).

When Jeff & I broke up, I eased back into my role as a provider, little by little, so as to rock the boat delicately. Even now, my schedule is pretty forgiving and I am somehow getting by...

I don't even know where I am going with this, except to say...

I miss it.

terribly.

A while ago, one of my favorite coworkers asked me why we broke up.

So few people have actually asked that.

It was refreshing to cut through the bullshit...

(wait, that's not kid stuff...)

Anyway.

It's been a hectic few months, as I have been filling in for a woman on maternity leave...

work and its related stresses have been consuming me a little more than I've realized.

I'm getting my Wednesdays back starting tomorrow...

days to fill with little adventures or absolutely nothing at all with my kid who is growing up way to fast.

the prom

MAC Prom 2010...

late for awards.

Drunk...yes, drunk...from one beer.

Dinner at Le Bus.

Lively bunch (a drunken bunch, except for the youngsters).

Great people... shame we only hang out late September through mid-December.

Good times.

And...I believe we have a name for our Bakers Dozen team.

sucky

Ventured out for a late afternoon ride...it sucked. I sucked. Conditions sucked. My attitude sucked. I tried to make breakfast for dinner (luckily, it's a cooking-for-one night), but it sucked. Who ruins eggs? I ruin eggs. I need a change of scenery. I squashed a migraine just in the nick of time a few nights ago...sort of... I ruined my eggs tonight...I'm still pissed off about that. I should treat myself to dinner...dinner prepared by someone else. Wow...that's quite enough.

remind me...

it's cold out there..."biting winds," according to local weather. Biting, indeed. Remind me next month, in my winter funk, that it was a blast riding in this gusty nastiness. Remind me that frozen, crunchy hardpack is the cure for all that ails me... Remind me that warmers + balaclava + booties= not so brutal after all... It won't be much worse than this and it is already January. I am not wishing my winter away. I got a badass helmet for Christmas...the sentiment on the to-from tag? "it ain't for cross!" Ice awaits! (thwack...crunch, crunch...thwack!!)

I don't usually make resolutions, but...

This year, I resolve to:

be the best parent I can be every day, even when it sucks, especially when it sucks...even when I have no idea what I'm doing...

stop leaving shoes in my wake all over the freaking house

get my personal life straightened out (wait, my what??? )

indulge my inner wannabe art student

indulge my inner wannabe cross racer (that's easy) and pay for a coach if finances dictate as such (very unlikely, but, a girl can dream...)

Yeah, the first one is the biggie...2009 was a life-changing, tough year, but I/we made it.