Even in Death Life goes on....

Two weeks ago this saturday I had a friend die of cancer she was only 46 I am 44. Believe me when I say this hit close to home. Even though she smoked like a smoke stack that does not mean in two years that I will not be sticken with cancer. However life goes on. I had a very enjoyable girls day out with Julie and Alexa S. We rode the mayors ride. Great day, great ride, great friend. This morning I get a call from Bill, Seymour one of the cats that we had adopted had been hit and killed by a car. I was and am second guessing myself should I have taken him to the animal rescue league. Would he have been better off there. Bill and I aquired 5 cats from the neighbors when they just left them, I loved them like I did my own house cats. However life goes on. One of the adoptes had 4 kittens on Tuesday and Seymour is one of the dads. Death is very difficult however we need to live life to the fullest for we have no idea what tomorrow bring. I want all of you to give a hug and tell those the you love that you love them. whether they are people or animals. Dont let anyone fool you animals have feeling to. There is a saying that starts out like this...Dance as if no one is watching...I love to dance music is good for the soul ..Tonight I have been drinking toasts to those friend that I have lost....Animal and people...thank you for being a friend and I hope that you are at the pearly gates waiting for me when it is my time to go...Until then I am going to do alot of dancing...come and dance with me...PEACE

The Final Curtain has Closed

Since December all of my time and energy has been on the play No No Nanette, from learning lines to helping build the set. As with anything in life all good things must come to an end. Last night the final curtain closed on NCT's production of No No Nanette. It was a great run for the theater and the cast. I am having what they call post production depression. It usually happens. For the past 4 months I have been so focused on the play and then it is all over. I know in my heart that it is time for something else however I will miss the people and the performances.

The show was set in the 1920's so that ment pen curls and for some reason my hair took the longest..














I was the crabby maid













However a play is not all work we have alot of fun goofing around....











So the final curtain has fallen and I thank all of the cast/crew for a great show!







My biking has been put on hold for the play, now the bike and road are calling to me. It is time to make up some miles and enjoy the nature that God has created.

PEACE...

I am still alive..

I cannot believe that it has been over a month since I last posted. March was a very very busy month. We had play practice 5 nights a week so life was basically sleep, work, play practice, sleep, work, play practice. My biking has really suffered. However only this week and then I can hit the roads again.

We opened last Friday night with NO NO Nannette. We had a great crowd that makes all of the hours of practice worth while. If you need something to do this weekend drive down to Newton YMCA to see No No Nannette. It isnt everyday you get to see me with pin curls and a cigarette.

I have kept swimming but I have not been on a bike in over a week. Bad Julie I know. I promised that I would not ride on the road this week. I do not want to risk an injury. But wait until next week I have a lot of making up to do.

Here are my goals for this year.

1. Ride 2000 + Miles, I dont know if I can to this again but it is worth a try.
2. Do 3-100 mile rides all different routes.
3. Do a race be it a mt bike race, road race or cross race.
4. To just enjoy the bike sometimes I forget that it is for fun. I have a tendency to make it a job. That is why I gave biking up 10 years ago. It was not fun anymore. I do not want that to happen again.

I will post some pics when I get them from the play. Until then Keep riding and keep smiling...

PEACE

What a strange week....

What a strange week. The weather has gone crazy. We were one of the many without electricity. Luckly it was for only 54 hours. At one point the house was in the 40's. It is freaky to see your breath in your own house. Bill and I adapted quite well. We used candles and put many many blankets on the bed to keep warm. We also did alot of reading by flashlight and candle light. It was actually peaceful. Just the simplicity of it.

When we got the bad weather Thursday night and Friday I was sure that we would lose power again but so far so good. When you go thru mini crisis like this you really find out who your friends are. I must say Bill and I have some great friends.

On a happy note one of those great friends had a baby boy tonight. We just had lunch with her and her husband this afternoon and at 7:34pm she had a 8lb 13oz baby boy. Life keeps going on no matter what else is going on in the world.

Below are some pics I took of the damage. Enjoy and be thankful for what you have it can be taken away so quickly...PEACE!

A tree branch barely missed Bill's truck, actually it took off part of the bug guard.









Our trees were at there limit for snow and Ice. If you look closely you can see the electrical wires the branches are hanging over them.










1st Ave the main road in town had a huge 120 year old tree fall across it. Taking down all of the power in the area.















A friend had a big branch fall on her house. The following pic is not one of Bill's smarter moments...

BRRRR and more....

Ok I will admit I was one of the 500 crazies on the BRR ride. I didnt make it the whole way. I rode 1/2. I was very happy with that. My toes are what gave out on me. I figured when I could no longer feel them it was time to call it a day. Kind of strange but hubby and I figured out later that it was because I had to many socks on and they couldnt circulate. Who would have thought. I had icicles hanging from my eye lashes. The bad side effect was I was down with a cold all last week and didnt exercise at all. I finally felt well enough to start exercising again on Sunday. Would I do it again Sure would. I learned a few things. Fewer socks and ski goggles. Otherwise I was dressed fine. So see you all at BRR next year. I know Julie S. Will be ready to go. She couldnt make it this year with me she hurt her back. I missed her but we will have more rides this year.

Aside from riding in the cold I have been busy with a play. One of my other hobbies is theatre. Newton Community Theater is putting on No No Nannette the last weekend of March and the first of April. I am the sarcastic maid..no typcasting involved there. If you are free come and see the show.

Well Bill has hockey tonight so I am treating myself to a valentines day present...a massage...love massages.

Keep riding or doing you thing..

Peace

BRRR it is cold out.

When you look in the dictionary under the word commen sense... you will not find my name in the list. Yes I took the bike out today in 18 mile an hours winds. It reminded me of the bike ride from hell last year(that would be Brr to those of you who do not know). There is a reason for my insanity. I want to ride my new bike Saturday, however Bill said that I needed to get out and get a few miles on it so we can find any issues. I guess he was right. I threw the chain twice...I think that is considered an issue. I do not know if I will ride it Saturday on Brrr or take my trusty road bike. If the roads are clear I will probably use the road bike. But you never know. I do know it will not be the mountain bike, that about killed me last year. I was happy with my winter riding gear, I was for the most part warm and comfy.

Peace.

Official Crazy Catagory Member

I am an official member. I went for a bike ride today and when I started out it was 17 degrees. I got to try all of my new winter riding gear and for the most part it was not to bad. You have to train to do BRR...get use to that cold.



This is a pic of my birthday present from Bill's mom. It is my Elmer Fudd hat, it might look dorky but it is warm....



Happy riding to all of you crazy people.

PEACE

How well do you actually know me?

Julie Sedore had a quiz on her blog and it was fun. So I am doing one of my own to see how well people know me. Have fun and if you dont do well that is fine. I dont expect many to know me to well.

More than you ever wanted to know about me... Take my quiz! Take This Quiz | See Scores | Make Own Quiz

Bill made it home

Bill finally made it home last night. It was not a pleasant drive for him and his friend Dan. Took about 13.5 hours from Tulsa. Dan spent the night on the couch. He has spent many a night on our couch, Whenever he comes to help Bill. The Cats were kind of freaked out, they kept looking at me like "Mom that strange dude is on the couch again". My souviner from the Chili Bowl was three bottles of Mexican Coca Cola. I asked Bill if it had the real stuff in it, he didnt know. Yah right, how come I only got three bottles instead of the 8 pack bottles usually come in..hmmm.

On a different subject. I had said something to Bill about wanting to try some cyclecross races...well I am now the proud owner of a new cyclecross frame. It is the winter work in progress on Bill's Blog on the Irwins's web page. Check it out if you get the chance. http://irwinsbikes.com/bill/

When Bill is away Julie Plays

Bill has been in Oklahoma all week for the Chili Bowl, the Chili Bowl is an indoor sprint car race. I know does not sound to exciting to me either. Anyway when Bill is away I try new stuff. So today I made homemade bread, refried beans and chicken parmesan. The first batch of bread I made I tried to make healthy, I substituted flax meal for oil. Didnt turn out to well kind of dry. The second batch was wheat/oatmeal bread. It didnt turn out to bad, I think that it is an aquired taste. The refried beans turned out very well however it is a all day project and I dont like them that well. The chicken parmesan was wonderful, it is a keeper. I have another bread recipe I just might try tomorrow. Aside from baking the kids(cats) and I watched the Colt football game and a couple of movies. One upon a time in Mexico and the Italian job. Both entertaining.

Trivia Fact: It has been proven that when Bill is gone in the winter for more than two days it will snow at least 4 inches. Take a look outside it has snowed. So next time you want to know if it is going to snow just call and I will let you know if Bill is going to be gone.

Well that is about all for now, if anyone would like the Chicken Parmesan recipe let me know. I am going to hunt for some more recipes to try.

Have fun in the snow....Peace

I am now ready for biking season

It was another beautiful day today but I gave up riding so that I could get my road bike ready for the coming season. I had been telling Bill since November that i wanted to get my bike cleaned and checked. Well it didnt happen so I put my bike in the car and headed to Irwins. Bill was laughing when he saw me walk in, He knew exactly what I wanted. So now thanks to Kyle and Bill my bike has a clean chain, a tightened bottom bracket and is all polished and pretty.



Since I was at Irwins I thought that i might as well stock up on some stuff. So I am now the proud owner of a new pink/purple helmet,



a pair of inbetween gloves, they are for when the claws are to warm and the fingerless are to cold



and some socks. If you want some great socks look into getting some Pearl Izumi wool or some of the wool Specialized. They are wonderful!



I also got my Mountain Bike down today. I did not ride it at all last year. I need to do some Mt Bike riding this year. It is a Cinelli. Cinelli made a few mountain bikes back in the early 90's, I like the bike so I dont see why I need to get a newer one.



Hopefully I will be able to get out tomorrow, If not there is always the trainer.

Happy Biking...

December 29th?

I cannot believe that it is December 29th. I think that this is the first time I have been out on my rode bike in December. It was a beautiful day again. I rode my usual ride to Reasnor and back. I have a wonderful surprise on the way back. I topped a hill, looked up in the trees and there was a Bald Eagle sitting there as pretty as you please. I just stopped and watched. The Eagle flew away after a few minutes. What a beautiful creature. It is one thing to be looking for them but it is another to just happen across one.

I know that alot of people dont want to hear this but I am ready for some snow. I enjoy the snow and the cold. So maybe just a couple of weeks of it would be nice.


"Good old days start with good new days like today."

PEACE

Reflection on 2006, Looking ahead 2007

It is hard to believe that 2006 is coming to an end but it is, so it is time to reflect on 2006 and to look forward to 2007. I do not make New Years Resolutions I have a list of things that I want to do and/or see before my life is over. So I add or subtract from this list each year. Some of the items that have been completed from my list are:

1. See Niagra Fall
2. Visit the Statue of Liberty-Got to go into her crown
3. See a broadway Play
4. Run a Marathon
5. do RAGBRAI
6. Ride Amtrak
7. Get stamp in passport
8. Visit Africa
9. Alien museum in Roswell New Mexico.
10. Visit Vietnam war Memorial
11. Visit the Smithsonian


I have one in process: Visit all 50 states, I have visited alot but have some to go mostly real southern states , Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi.. and Western states, Montana, Wyoming.

What I have accompolished this year that was on my list

1. Learned to do the butterfly. It might not be pretty but I can do it.
2. started riding my bike again, this has been a 10 year process
3. saw Lance...I just wanted to see him. RAGBRAI allowed that.

Some of the Items still on my list. Some are long term some are quick fixes so to speak.

1. do a triathelon, I would like to someday do a 1/2 or full Iron Man. 2. do a cyclecross race
3. cycle the French Alps especially Alp d' huez (I am looking for someone to go with me on this one)
4. I would like to visit Scotland, Ireland, See Nessie..(Loch Ness Monster),
5. Auschwitz-one of the most powerful places on earth
6. Learn to scuba dive
7. Learn or relearn to ride a motorcycle
8. Get a tatoo..shhh dont let mom know.

Some new ones will be added and some will come off because they are no longer important to me.

An anonymous frier in a Nebraska monastery wrote this late in life.

If I had my life to live over again,
I'd try to make more mistakes next time.
I would relax, I would limber up,
I would be sillier than I have been this trip.
I would take more trips. I would be crazier.
I would climb more mountains, swim more rivers,
and watch more sunsets.
I would do more walking and looking.
I would eat more ice cream and less beans.
If I had to do it over again I would go places,
do things, and travel lighter.
If I had my life to live over I would start barefooted
earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the
fall.
I would ride on more merry-go-rounds.
I'd pick more daisies.

So if you see me stopping and petting a cat or dog, or smelling a flower you know why. I tell people that the first 40 years of my life I tried to please everyone but me so the Next 40 are for me. I welcome all my friends to come along. You never know what kind of fun we will have.

Have a wonderful and fullfilling 2007! I hope to see you around.

Peace

Merry Christmas Everybody!

Christmas Memories:

One Christmas my sisters and I received ice skates from Santa. We were lucky enough to live next to a couple of ponds and a river. So Mom, Dad, my sisters and I all bundled up and went and cleared snow off of one of the ponds. We all went ice skating. I think I was around 6 years old. For some reason I alway remember this.

One year I received a simple music box as a gift it was a nativity scene under a glass dome and it plays Silent Night. Everytime I listen to this play I want to cry. It is the most beautiful sound.


Christmas is not about the gifts it is about the giving. It is about friends and family. I sometimes think that we lose site of this. This Christmas sit back and think about everyone who has touched your life this year or ever. Give thanks for family and friends. For what you have not what you dont have. Give thanks for the time that you are given.

"We cannot buy time, it is a gift from God"

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

The Conviences of modern life.

I have had the pleasure of being without a washing machine for a week, actually at this writing I am still without a washing machine, I have one at LOWE's but It needs to be picked up...Another story entirely.

It was not a pleasure to be without this convience. I have clothing piling up all over the place. Now you say "why dont you go to a laundromat"...not this chick. Got scared to death at one, never again, Also another story.

I can also hear you thinking ..."Why did it take you a week to get a new one". Well my lovely husband has something against the local Maytag hardware store in town. He would rather wait a week for a belt to be ordered. Not me I can be impatient at times and this was one of them. But the catch is I was out of town on business so I had no control over the situation. When I got home I went to this local hardware store,got the belt and attempted to fix the washing machine(I have the bruises and sore finger tips to prove it). Well our machine had alot more issues then just the belt. Cheaper to buy a new one than to try and fix the old.

This did get me thinking about all of the modern conviences that we take for granted everyday. Televisions, Internet, phones, computers etc. Then I asked myself of all of these conviences which one could I not do without and why?

My answer the Washing machine, I hate to talk on the phone. the computer can be a real hassle sometimes. I can wash my own dishes by hand, have for years. Line dry my clothing. However I dont have a wash board and stream close to wash clothing.

So now I ask you which convience could you NOT live without and why?

Peace

The Fortnight Before Christmas, new spin on an old Classic

THE FORTNIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS BY Wiley Miller

T'was the fortnight before Christmas,
And all through the Pole,
El Nino arrived and left a big hole,
Santa's product was good but his marketing stunk,
He hoped for salvation to get out of his funk.
But his stockholding elves, Tired of ink that is red,
Had visions of buyout dance in there heads.
Production had stalled and quotas weren't met.
Though Santa was worried, he wasn't done yet.
But try as he might, E.F. Hutton had spoke
To tell one and all that Santa was broke.
Christmas arrived with no stuff to unwrap.
No gadgets or gismos or other such crap.
But this wasn't a Christmas in which to be sad,
As the best gift of all is one we already had.
It's a smile and a hug that brings us true joy,
And lasts a lot longer than any gizmo or toy.
So turn to a loved one, whether nearby or far,
And tell them a loved on is just what they are......

2000.4

Well I did it I hit 2000 miles on my bike! Next year I hope to do more than 2000 but I will take each little victory as it comes. My next step is to get the road bike throughly cleaned. I will continue to ride on the trainer downstairs to the spinnervals dvd and if it is nice out the mountain bike has not been out for awile. In February comes Brrr or as I named it last year the "Ride from Hell". Hopefully in 2007 it will not be as bad.

I am glad that I took up riding again. I rode bikes all of the time up until about 10 years ago. I then just up and quit. I didnt realize how much I missed the freedom that I feel when I ride. The sites that I see and the benefits of the exercise. Hopefully I will learn to take it all in stride and will be riding for alot of years to come. I am past the years of being a competitive racer but that does not mean I will not try some races. I have learned that the first one across the line is not the only winner. If you try and you finish no matter how long it takes...then you are a winner!!!

"You are only a failure if you fail to try"

Peace

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope that everyone had a nice Thanksgiving. It is hard to believe that the holidays are upon us. Enjoy the weather this weekend, this is Iowa it can turn overnight!

Peace

Shadow Divers

I recently finished reading a book that I would recommend to anyone. It was called Shadow Divers by Robert Kurson. The book is a non-fiction account of a group of deep sea divers who discovered a sunken U-boat off of the coast of New Jersey and the 6 years it took to aquire the identity of the lost U-boat. What struck me about this book is the way you are drawn into their world, you get to know the divers and the other charactors involved. The dedication that it took to do hours of research and the feeling that they needed to see this through. The main divers John Chatterton and Richie Kohler felt that they owed it to the men who lost their lives on this boat to Identify it and to let their living relatives know what really happened.

I got so drawn into the book that as I was reading during lunch one day, something happened that made me want to cry..instead i just put the book down and said "no that cant happen". When it is fiction you know that it is just a story however this is non-fiction, there is no editing to make it end like you want.

I do not know much about deep sea diving or ship wreck diving, however the book explains it very well. It is almost like the sirens of Greek mythology it just seduces you and makes you crave more.

If you are looking for a good read pick this book up. Let me know what you think. Because I did a lot of thinking after I had finished.

"Life is a matter of luck and the odds in favor of success are in no way enhanced by extreme caution"

- Erich Topp(1943)
one of the most highly decorated U-boat commanders of WWII


PEACE

Reflection: Another Year Older

On the 17th I turned 44. It is interesting when you are young and you hear that someone is 44 you think of some old, grey haired lady with a cane or walker. Well it is not quite that bad. I do have some grey hairs but the cane and walker are going to have to wait for awhile.

Looking back over my first 44 years here are a few thing that I have noticed or learned.

1. Boys do not have cooties
2. Playing Cowboys and Indians was a good thing.
3. If you do not get to do something..you will not just die
4. If I had to do High School over again. I would not worry a bit about being popular, having a boyfriend etc. I would soak it all in , hang out with the nerds, the jocks, the druggies and the brains. You can learn from them all.
5. I learned that kissing is fun. Thank you Eddie.
6. Collage is difficult but it is a good experience. Enjoy it the big bad working world is not what it is all cracked up to be.
7. You need to start taking care of your body in your 20's, if you wait until you are 40 you will have alot of catching up to do.
8. Never say Never you will live to eat those words.
9. Anyone can run a marathon with enough grit and determaination.
10. Dream big, it is true the sky is the limit. Do not let anyone say you can't do that.
11. It is true eveyone you meet for any significant amount of time leaves alittle bit of themselves with you.
12. You become more spiritual or religous as you get older. You are not so invinsable anymore.
13. It is ok to cry.
14. It is good to laugh
15. Stop and smell the roses.
16. Eat ice cream if you want just not the whole 1/2 gallon.
17. Hang out with happy or fun people.
18. Listen to the stories that your parents and grandparents have to tell, they are amazing people.

Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally warn out and screaming....Damn what a ride!!!!

I cannot wait to see what the next 44 years hold, maybe some of you will take part of the journey with me..



Peace