Training: day 1

Probably the most embarassing fact I will divulge ever in my life: I weighed myself yesterday and I weigh 186 lbs! Bleh!!! How gross do I feel! So goal primero UNO: lose 26 lbs before cyclocross nationals 2010. This is day one, decisively a success in a long battle. Why? I drank no beer and I exercised on my ball for 30 minutes. I'm off too a good start......

A little dirt for your viewing pleasure: a video from FarFromEarth Films

CYCLE CROSS BEND OREGON 2009(sat. last race mens) from FARfromEARTH Films on Vimeo.

"uh.....what happened to the last eight months?" and training: the prelude

I have to admit I was a little bit shocked when I looked at my last entry and saw it was from April. What can I say, I do what I want. Life happens, work, play, sleep, drink beer, and eat and that about takes up most of my time. And now with the addition of another to our family, I have even less time......introducing Linka our four month old Aussie pup, she's pretty much the coolest dog ever. She even went to the fantastic 2009 cyclocross nationals in Bend this month and showed off her abilities to capture the attention of every person that happened to walk by her. She's the perfect dog for us, put her in the middle of a huge race with tons of people, bicycles, dogs, beer, and icy cold weather and she rocks out like the star she is! I mean seriously people, how many dogs do you know that wear a scarf, not to mention, a cyclocross nationals scarf and look as rockstar as she does? ok, maybe I'm a little biased, but so what? I'm allowed.
So cyclocross nationals, ummmm.......pretty much the best event I've been too EVER!!!! We had the most fantastic time in Bend, rented a house, parked the truck and didn't drive the whole time we were there, walked to the race venue, walked downtown, ate at a different brewery every night, drank tonsssss of good beer.....I think it might have been my own personal heaven. The race was packed, people from everywhere, cowbells, snow, mud, and a drummer group from Portland that kept my booty shaking the entire time. Not to mention, most of the race course was on Deschutes Brewery property and they had a massive heated beer tent, dog friendly of course. Also, there were events every night after the race, a bike art walk through downtown, two huge parties, the second of which we attended at the Deschutes Brewery Warehouse (I almost passed out when I walked in and saw pallets of beer stacked to the 30 foot high ceilings). The whole weekend was wicked fun and we have already decided that we will be returning next year without a doubt. But it doesn't end there my friends.
Our return to Bend will be the subject of my musings for the next 11 months, for we have decided to launch the brainchild of Mike & Erich in preparation for our participation in the festivities of the coming cyclocross nationals. We will begin training in a mere three days for possibly the greatest event of our lives thusfar. My personal goal: to increase my fitness, become a stronger rider, and decrease my weight to 160 lbs so that I can participate in the grueling "Athena Queen of the Universe" race at the Deschutes Brewery Warehouse party. The hardest part of the commitment will possibly be giving up drinking beer, kind of ironic when my goal is competing in a race at my favorite brewery.:) Anyhow, I'm sure it will be an interesting journey, for me especially. And I plan on documenting it in its entirety. Who knows maybe I'll publish a book when I'm done! Heehee, ok probably not. So I'm off, I only have three more days to party my pants off before training begins, and Erich's birthday is New Years Eve so I have some partying to do!:)

spring frenzy

So it's been a while, work, life....blah,blah,blah....you know how it is. But the great thing about working as much as I've been is that my plant buying ability has unfathomable limits.:) Some things I've procurred include: a dwarf bearss lime tree, several bunch grasses, geraniums, about 20 shrubs for lining our upcoming backyard fence, a jalapeno, a yellow banana pepper, and a dozen more dahlias. Approximately half of these have been planted and already I have plans to go to the nursery today. I have my eye on this magnolia tree.......
I've also been nurturing my other dirt addiction....an addiction by association at first, now a budding addiction of my own. We've been hitting the trails and pedaling through the woods with abandon the past couple of weeks. Of course, last week, being the clutz I am, I crashed on the flattest widest part of the trail and got so banged up I haven't been able to ride for a week now. Perhaps it would be beneficial for my other half if I took out a life insurance policy. :) And truth be told this new addiction is nicely dovetailed with my original one as I spend most of the time while we are riding staring and commenting on the beautiful native wildflowers, dogwood trees, and interesting bushes growing along the trails.:)
Back to the home dirt, the front yard is nearly done. We will plant about 100sq ft more sod and I have a few more plants to put in.....then a slate walk way and a few more rocks.....and I think I shall call it complete. The next big project: the backyard which has thus far been the sole haven of our unruly semi-retarded dog. First, the deck....the FIL is drawing plans and will utilize his expert crafstmanship to navigate an entirely new deck.....this I am sooooo excited about. (I've already got my eye on a new bbq:) Next, the fence.....so the pooch can scoot around without the use of the cable run she is now attached to. We will plant a myriad of shrubs along the south edge to provide privacy from the neighbor, along which a path will lead to my future potting shed. The fence will also facilitate a bigger better garden which I can keep safe from little deer teeth and pesky gophers that would prefer to munch on my veggies and herbs. So many things in the works, I cannot wait for all the fun in store.:) In fact, I think I'll shower and go buy some more "supplies"...........

berry berry quite contrary i'm gonna make you grow!

i procurred THREE raspberry plants the other day! for only 5 bucks a piece!!! i can't wait to plant them.....but alas, i will have to wait.....winter has peeked her head through the balmy warmth and graced us with a little rain.....now if we can just coax a little more from her...........

new job + winter errr....cold = dirt withdrawals

so i've been working my butt off the last month at my new job as a nurse. and i pretty much love it. it was totally worth all the hard work of school and don't get me wrong, the job is hard work too but at least now i've got a nice little(and by little, i mean not so little) paycheck to show for it. so i can't really complain. and the weather had been rather wintry, until the last week which has been ridiculously warm. we are talking mid-70's in the middle of january! crazy. my daffodils are starting to come up!!! but as much as i love spring, we need more winter. bring on the rain and snow, i'll take as much as you can dish out!