WOOHOO! BOY IS IT HOT!!!
Well I had Friday off and worked my way down to Tacoma area. I stopped in at my girlfriend's and got to hold her new baby who is about 4 weeks old. She slept in my arms really well - according to her mother - and didn't fuss for me at all. She was really surprised. It was sweet to hold such a cute, precious baby. It has been a long time since I've hold a baby that young. I can't wait to see the baby again and visit with her mom. We sat for a couple hours and just had a very sweet visit. It was already like 80+ degrees in early morning. I left her place by around noon. It was nice to sit in the backyard on a swing, in the shade and just relax.
Then I worked my way to my sister's house. The news was saying it was like 100/102 degrees in our area of Belfair. I got there and we relaxed, went swimming in the 12' x 3' pool. We then worked our way to the Key Peninsula fair. It was alot of fun for Abby as she got to ride the carousel and we got to check out the different rides, food and vendors. We then got home and we came back to seeing the pigs got out. So we chased the pigs around the yard. My sister's step-son pinched the hose while I chased one that decided he wanted to lay in the front yard where a 'pool' of water was building up in a 'muddy spot'. I wanted to get him out of there before he started to dig. 5 pigs and a ton of fun. My sister was getting the water running to fill their tanks. My sister's husband tripped over a log and fell. He seemed to be ok but hurt and pissed. Then he and his son fixed the pole that fell on the ground and allowed the 5 pigs to get out. My sister's step-son (Justin) is such a dork! He grabbed the pigs from the rear feet to drag them over the fence (proper way -yes) but then he smeared me with all the pig crap on his hands! EWW! LOL!!!
The next two days we just kind of relaxed in the air conditioned home and did some more swimming. We tried to just relax as much as possible. Saturday Night Abby and I were able to tent camp in the front yard. That was a lot of fun. We grilled some chicken, I made mashed potatoes and then some cream of corn. We then roasted marshmallows on the grill (as there was a burn ban with the heat being so high) and made some s'mores. Justin and I assembled my sister's new bike that she bought. Abby and I then relaxed til we were tired enough to go to the tent. We layed in the tent for about 10 or 15 minutes talking and looking at the stars out of the mesh roof of the tent. It was very sweet and a lot of fun.
We enjoyed a great, restful weekend (to the most part - minus Justin being a bit too much to deal with) and had a great big dinner together on Sunday night. We had my sister's step-sons, a daughter-in-law and grand child joining us. I then headed back to drop some things off at my mom's and say hello to her before heading home. Of course, when I got home my apartment felt like 90 degrees! I had to sleep with my patio door open, fan on, limited clothes and sleeping on the futon rather than in bed. It was so miserable!!! *sigh* I'm just grateful I got to stay in air conditioning and a nice pool all weekend. thanks Sis! And of course, I LOVED the company. :)
Wednesday Night Racing with 11 women...
The rain showers were on and off and more clouds were threatening. I got to the velodrome and maybe 4 people were there at 6:10 pm. Hardly anyone showed up until around 6:30 or later. Traffic was a nightmare as well and the Rob Thomas concert was starting (sweet to hear the concert for free from a distance!).
They didn't confirm racing 'til 7 pm until then I was standing around hoping it would get cancelled. I didn't get warmed up until 7:20 with the races starting at 7:30. Jane was still at work 'til 7.
We were informed one of the stronger women that has been racing with the masters but hasn't been racing due to an injury would be racing with us. She is on our team and didn't want to race against her husband since the Masters A and B fields were so small and they combined them. The first race was an 8 lap scratch. I did ok - came over a few people at the very end as I felt I had oomph and came in 4th which doesn't get any points but came in 4th instead of 7th or 8th or something. :) Our teammate kind of pulled off on the front and held it and the rest of the field was kind of slaughtered. Second race was an 8 lap snowball... I took the 5th lap which was worth 5 points. Then the 4x4 - I just didn't feel it in me and didn't really care... so I just did what I could do. Also, one of the Counterbalance girls crashed off turn 1. :( It was not a good night for her. I felt really bad for her. She lucked out with just some road rash. She is a great person and a great rider so I hope this will not deter her from still coming out. We had a lot of new people in the field and when the field slowed down they overlapped tires. Some of the women were having a hard time getting back into the race and Jane was yelling at them to stay in the race, get focused, hold their lines. I yelled a couple things as well but I was getting focused myself and thinking - until I hear a double gun shot we are racing still.
Overall for the night I placed 4th for the Omnium which means I got 1 or 2 upgrade
points(because of the field being 11 women it may be worth 2 points). So I did ok. :)
Teaching a track class on Saturday for women... and then Sunday doing my first road race. Not really nervous as I don't have any high expectations at all.
Random Updates of the last week...
4th of July: Jane and I went to Burien to watch the crit race. It was exciting to watch everyone and get to talk to people like the Starbuck's women. We had a lot of fun. Jane was getting psyched up for her race at the Redmond Derby Days on the 8th. I then went home and rested and spent a quiet night to myself. Much needed time to really think about some goals and perspectives in life.
Wednesday Night Racing: Racing went pretty well. We had a couple new people with us and it was a lot of fun. My legs didn't feel exploded like they normally do afterwards; however, I also feel I am lacking a bit of energy in them as well. Not sure if it is loss of strength, dehydration, lack of complex carbs or what. A couple of my friends came out and watched. It was nice to have that support and know that they were there. They seemed to enjoy watching but they missed my 4x4 race where I did the best. I let the miss 'n out go - as usual - but the officials made us race 3 laps prior to pulling any of us out. So the last 2 races I jumped off the front and pulled at 26.5 just to make the group a bit tired. Seemed to work and I was able to take 2nd, 2nd, 3rd and 4th on the 4x4 race. Felt really good! Jane did awesome with her strategy in tricking some of the racers in sprinting on a non-sprint lap. hee hee ;)
Friday Night: Worked the track registration. Then got suckered into helping with the Kiddie Kilo which was actually a good thing. The woman that usually runs it wasn't feeling all that well and wanted help; however, RIGHT before the Kiddie Kilo there was a nasty crash which involved two of our team mates and one other guy. Since she is a doctor, she immediately went down there to assist and I was able to do the kiddie kilo. It worked out just fine. Later, I had one beer and I was under the bleechers. UGH! I was told I was quite comical the whole night after that. LOL! Such a cheap date I am... it is really pathetic. It was good though I was able to let loose of a bunch of frustration, disappointment, stress and all else I've been feeling as of late.
The weekend: Went to a family reunion over in Allyn, WA. It was quite interesting. I went on a family member's yacht for a couple hours. It was a lot of fun to be on the water and get to visit with a few people that I am not as close to and a couple people that I am closer too but haven't spent quality time with. It was a lot of fun as we went down the Hood Canal area. We then came back and I went for an hour and half bike ride. It felt hot and I was trying to keep my speed above 16-20 mph. I succeeded on most of it but it was a 'roller coaster' like ride on Hwy 3 and it was HOT. I then returned to have dinner, play with the kids and so on. I then spent the night in a hotel with my family and went to my sister's for breakfast and hang out the rest of the day. It was good to just be there and be with family. We did a memorial for those that have passed since the last gathering and so on. Since it was not my immediate family's reunion I felt a bit like a third wheel. However, it was good to see new faces and to socialize with those familiar ones.
Monday: Where else was I??? The track of course! I helped out with the track. We had 48 racers and it was a good night. Everything went well and seemed flawless. However, the guy that 'substituted' for our regular official seemed flaky. VERY flaky - flapping his arms like he was trying to fly every time he gave direction, spoke too soft for everyone to hear and barely could keep up with the race nonetheless do anything else. Totally not the same... thank goodness that doesn't happen very much! The bell fell on our bell ringer too! :( UGH! Then I took over on the bell - at the end - until I had to put bikes away and then another official, who was racing that night, took over. Thank you! VERY SWEET of him to help so I wasn't there forever! :)
Tuesday: Had a movie date. That was a lot of fun watching "The Lake House". Afterwards, we went to go have some happy hour appetizers at Newport Bay. It was a blast. I really enjoyed myself even if I didn't get home til close to midnight. :)
It was a really good movie. Made me question a lot of things regarding my own life. I wonder about my future, about my goals, my dreams, my needs and my wants. I wonder about reality vs. fantasy, couplehood vs. single life, about people's actions speaking louder than their words or their promises they make. I am people - in my life - following through, building a bond, creating a friendship, enjoying each other's qualities (good and bad), enjoying activities together, sitting down for one on one time and not just building a fantasy '3rd dimension' type relationship. I'm more a hands-on type person rather than an electro-technology building person when it comes to friendships/relationships. I feel I am worth having a relationship with (friendship or romantic). Whether friendship or a romantic relationship, I am willing to offer so much, to share so much, to achieve so much, to be joyous, to be independent but work in solidarity and to absorb that other person's attributes in the same manner. I don't care to play games, to have someone toy with my emotions or to lead me on. I don't like to waste my time or emotions in the electro world if it can't be more involved in a physical world. Face to face communication, one-on-one socialization with mental and emotional building. I feel if I am worth being in a relationship with someone they will make it worth their time to make it 'real'. If not then what are they hiding from? What are they wanting? What games are they playing? How unreal are they in such a real world? Why can't they work towards combatting their enemies or their demons to take on something - someone - so much more positive, worthwhile and enjoyable?
Sure I have some friendships that are mostly email type friendships. So be it. It is not a bad thing but it doesn't make me feel as connected to them. I am one that likes to truly feel connected to those that can positively influence my life. This is especially important on a romantic level more than a friendship level. I can hold a 'friendship' in emails, text messages, etc. but that is all it can be for me. I think after time you lose the belief that it can be of anything more if it never comes face to face. It's just how I am and how I will always be. I don't give my emotions too easily but when I do it is guaranteed to be sincere, open and strong. I don't like when others use me or my other friends to get their needs met but never willing to reciprocate. I'd rather not be 'friends' with those that can't reciprocate and make room for those that can treat me with respect, honesty, integrity and understanding.
Is love worth waiting for? Do you put your life on hold – living day by day – waiting for that one? Do you continue to move on with your life and possibly your paths shall cross another time in the future? Do you continue to move on with your life and never look back – always moving forward? Will whatever force is driving two people together, yet apart, ever change (with time) towards a positive shift or will it always give the same result?
Getting ready for the races tonight.... feeling dehydrated or lacking of energy. I ate too much this weekend and ate some wheat here and there all week. Felt really exhausted all week. Even Tuesday I took a nap at lunch (30 mins) then slept in the car for an hour before driving to the movies. I was completely exhausted! My brain also felt like it was in a 'fog' and finally feels like it is lifting. I think wheat is not doing my body good. :( I hope to get it kicked by Sunday as I am going to do my first road race! ACK! Very nervous and excited at the same time! WOOHOO!!! :)
Random Poems or quotes...
For every beauty there is an eye somewhere to see it.
For every truth there is an ear somewhere to hear it.
For every love there is a heart somewhere to receive it.
But though my beauty meet no eye it still doth glow.
Though my truth meet no ear it still doth shine.
But when my love meets no heart it can only break.
-Ivan Panin
The only gracious way to accept an insult is to ignore it; if you can't ignore it, top it; if you can't top it, laugh at it; if you can't laugh at it, it's probably deserved.
-Russell Lynes
No human relation gives one possession in another--every two souls are absolutely different. In friendship or in love, the two side by side raise hands together to find what one cannot reach alone.
-Kabil Gibran
Love your enemies, for they tell you your faults.
What a weekend!!!
My weekend started with going for a ride with my girlfriend. I drove to her Microsoft office, changed clothes and then headed out. We had a lovely bike ride that I was able to pull most of the way and we were going pretty much steady 18 mph the whole time. It was nice! I felt strong... I felt good. I got a little burnt from the dang glorious sun! WOW! It's the northwest and we got sun! What's up with that?!
Then I got to sit in traffic for 1.5 hours to go to Tacoma to pick-up my great nephew. We then played with his sister in the soft tub at my mother's for an hour or so. I had a bit of unwinding time to do before that which was nice to sit in the soft tub prior to them coming home from the park. AHHHHHH! Calgon take me away! then we went to another girlfriends' house where my great-nephew got to enjoy her cats and dogs. He loved it. He was so cute watching these kids across the street running through the sprinkler. He yelled over, "I'll be right there, okay?" LOL! We were just laughing. It was so cute. He would then grab my girlfriends hand and say - come with me, come, come and see. He would then run her over to the cat and try to pet the cat. LOL! We then got to see the bicycle races. Most everyone that met him loved him. He was so cute but I was a bit frazzled worrying about him just running out there.
On my way to the bicycle races, I contacted Jill as she was planning on coming to watch our coach race. However, she had just got news as to the situation with her boyfriend. He was arrested during Critical Mass.
After the races I then took him home, got him to bed which was around 11:20 when we stopped watching a moving, having a fit (he wanted momma, dadda, grandma, sister, etc.) and cried ourselves to sleep. Poor guy. Then I was awakened at 1:30 and 3:30 with him crying 'airplane, I want airplane' and whatever else. OY! Ok now I'm tired.... then at 6:30 he woke up with a bloody nose so he was blood curdling screaming! OY! Ok now I'm really tired. We both fell back asleep after I tried to get the blood out of the items that were bloody. I went to bed til about 8 then woke up and did some cleaning for about 2 hours when he finally woke up around 11. I got him in a bath and headed out the door.
I took him to Marymoor to watch the Radio Control airplanes. He loved watching them go up in the air, doing tricks, climbing on the bleechers and so on. Then I took him to the playground and we played, had lunch and just enjoyed our time together. We had a lot of fun, he was really well behaved and very cute about everything. I really enjoyed being with him but he's definitely 2 handfulls rather than 1. I then took him down to his grandma's where his mother was. I got to hang with them for a few hours and then came home.
Sunday: Track workout. It was a great workout and lots of fun and education going on. I felt very much in a good zone but my legs felt like they needed more 'fuel'. Paul Swift flipped my stem so I wouldn't be so low and that actually felt a lot better. I felt like I could put my weight more forward on the bike and was stronger in my jumps. A bunch of us were hanging in the infield towards the end and were joking with Paul. He has a great sense of humor but definitely very 'business' on the track with fits and so forth. It's really nice when us 'amateurs' get help from the pros and veterans.
Then 4 of us girls decided we were going to go hiking and to meet at North Bend for lunch. We had lunch and Jane's friend joined us. So there were 5 of us. We then went to Rattlesnake Lake with the intention of hiking and then swimming. Jane and I had a deadline to be back at 7 in Bellevue. So we decided with the time frame we had to work with to just go swimming. That was a lot of fun! The girls jumped off the rock and so on while I watched. It was a blast!
We then had our meeting and I made it home around 10. *sigh* It was a fun, relaxing and busy weekend. It felt really good though. I'm looking forward to having the 4th off though and chillin' a bit more. *sigh* I wish I had more Fridays off... like all the time... but at least I get to enjoy it 2x/month for the summer. That will be awesome! Our family reunion is this weekend so that should be exciting. :)
