Hanging out with Raleigh

Unfortunately, no, I didn't get to hang out with my niece. However I will get to hang with her next week, and I'm looking forward to seeing her and the rest of my nieces, nephews, and family. Even though my niece wasn't here, my I did get to hang out with my bike today! The weather has been beautiful the past couple of days, and today I decided to bust out my bike and ride out to visit the hubby while at work. I had a good time, and learned a lot.

1) The ride TO seeing hubby is MUCH faster and the hills are much shorter than on the way home.

2) It is IMPORTANT not to ride your bike through the middle of a police standoff, and yes, that black SUV that pulled over and has the gentleman in the white polo is a part of the police department as well, and ALSO has a gun.

3) I need to add water bottle holders to my bike, it was too difficult to figure out while riding today.

4) It takes roughly 1 hour and 40 minutes round trip to ride out to Ryan's work, his parent's house and back home.

5) My FIFTH gear has been slipping, and I need to investigate why.

6) I finally understand the purpose of those bike clippy shoes, or at a minimum toe holder thingys.

7) Shower AFTER all housework has been done, because once your muscles are relaxed, you're not going to want to do anything.

8) After the sun starts to set, warmer clothes may be necessary

9) I like my mountain bike, but I am envious of my cousin Marni's new aerobars! I faked like I had some today, but I fooled no one.

10) I think that bike shorts will do wonders for my comfort level! Chris and Marni, I don't know how you do it on those saddles!

11) Things I learned about "trying to be aero-dynamic".

A) I looked at Marni and Chris' pictures of being in the "aero" position and noticed that the lower, and more parrallel your back is with the ground the better, however this caused some quandries for me today as I rode. Here's what I've come up with. PLEASE correct me in places where I'm wrong. I don't know what I'm doing, but I'd like to figure it out.

1. My bike is not a road bike, it's a "mountain" bike so it's not designed for aero-dynamics, however there are things that can be done to modify body position

2. While riding downhill, it appears that there is less resistance if I keep my feet parrallel with the ground, instead of with one leg extended, and the other bent. This poses another quandry; comfort or more bang for your hill?

3. Tucking your arms in and central keeps your shoulders smaller and causes less resistance. think, "try to touch your elbows together, try to touch your elbows together, what am I doing? " over and over and over.

4. Head down, eyes up. Eyes down = bad.

5. It seems that tucking my knees in centrally also helped, but I don't know if that's just me or not.

Well that's it for now. My legs are sore, and I'm spent. I'm learning how to build a wall tomorrow. I need to bring the 24V drill Ceci and Dave got Ryan (and me;) ) my notebook and camera. Hopefully the wall will go up easily, and I'll learn a lot. We'll see. Pics to follow!

Sundays a coming

April doesn't seem to be a good month when it comes to people passing away.

My Grandma LaBarge passed away on Easter Sunday, fifteen years ago this Thursday. I was nine, and my Grandma was the first person I knew that passed away.

Also, April is the infamous month for the Waco, Texas event, the Oklahoma City Bombing and Columbine and most recently the Virginia Tech shooting.

Also within the past week my friend Ashleigh lost her mom to a battle with cancer. She passed away suddenly this past Saturday. I hear that my friend, her sister and their father are doing okay. I can only imagine.

The saying goes, "April showers bring May flowers", and it's as true with seasonal changes as it is with life changes. I find April an appropriate month, seeing that it not only hosts the above events, but also is the month where we celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus. One of my favorite times of year is on Good Friday when I get to call my dad and quote a sermon he had heard a few years ago, "Friday's here...but Sundays a coming'". So it's okay to mourn, and to be affected, and to let events and the passing away of loved ones change and impact you, but it's also important to remember that even though Friday is here, Sundays a coming!

Summer

I'm looking forward to summer!!! Wish I was in Hawai'i

My poor neglected blog

The baseball season has resumed, and Ryan and I went to the opening home week for the Cleveland Indians this week. Now, we didn't go out to Cleveland to Jacob's field to see the game. Cleveland was snowed out and they used our stadium to play against the Aneheim Angels this week. It was a good time, and the sausage race continued as usual. It's been fun, but I've been tired lately, and neglecting my blog. More pictures and better stories to follow.

My super cool husband

I found out, in more than one way this week, how super cool my husband is.

I started the week off on a sour note when I got sick. I know, I got sick again, but whatever.

Anyway, I went to work on Monday with the intention of getting an appointment and going home. However, it seems that I wasn't the only one who was feeling under the weather. Aparently like seven people from the nursing staff called in, and so our staff was already very short handed. I got home from work on Monday ABSOLUTELY exhausted and with a raging fever (103 degrees or so), Ryan helped get me to bed and I didn't move for the next five hours or so. I called in sick on Tuesday, and spent the day in bed. I was waiting for my hubby to come home after work when I got a call around five to check on me. It was Ryan, he was on his way to job number two and he wanted to make sure that I was okay. I wasn't feeling well, so he came home between jobs, brought me some tylenol/saltines and cold water and called in late to his job just so he could come and take care of me. :)

Last night Ryan asked if I'd go to his last bowling league night. Apparently there is an awards ceremony the last night of the season. I watched him bowl, and then stayed for the awards ceremony where Ryan walked away with the highest average, highest pin total, highest game and highest team score. THAT'S MY SUPER COOL HUSBAND!