Mud and More Mud

Halloween came and went quite quickly. Amy, Dave, Kresten and I lounged around in the living room drinking wine, giving out candy, and eating small appetizers that Amy was producing from the kitchen. It's what I call a pretty good Friday night, but hey, add wine to any event, and Schug at that, and I am pretty happy! I did not end up donning my gladiator costume for the evening however. Once again the lure of Halloween night has been eclipsed by the previous weekend's Halloween cross! However, that evening Dave and I decided, perhaps not smartly, to race the next day in Santa Rosa. There is a cross series being put on by Bike Monkey, and we thought it would be fun to go check it out.

Saturday morning came, rain included, and we left the house to head north. The more north we went, the more rain we encountered. Once we arrived at the venue, we were directed to park across the street and at the local high school. And, of course, just as the Subaru pulled into its parking space, the deluge truly began! A couple minutes to slip on my chamois and jersey, layer my heavy Velo Bella jacket, North Face jacket, and rain jacket over the top, and we were off across the street to register and pre-ride.

Everything was so wet I am not sure my signature would legally holdup in court. But I am sure they will cash the check, no matter its wet condition. Dave pinned my number on, he put my messenger bag over a shoulder, and then I was off to try things out. Let me put it this way, I made it about 1/4 of the way on the course and decided it might take me too long to pre-ride and make the start. Yes, it was that muddy. It was one of those courses you figure there's really no reason to make yourself suffer a whole other lap, other than the ones you have to race.

It would have been a very fast course had the rain not come. There was a creek crossing that was a little sketchy, and another small bridge crossing that came after a sharp left turn and 2 foot drop. But in the rain, it was slow. SUPER SLOW! Kicking my ass around that course was hard. Maybe not as hard as Watsonville, but that's only because there was no eroding run ups!! Nonetheless, it was fun. It's always fun to get muddy on your cross bike! And I was wearing the white velo bella jersey for effect.

I hope you all voted today!! I did (two weeks ago).

Sunday Racing and Studying

Sunday I raced at McLaren Park. The first race of the season, at least for me, is always interesting. You never really know what to expect. The course was really a mountain course. Lots of climbing and a lot of single track, and some bogged down wet grass (my favorite!!). I actually did pretty well for myself, considering how little I have been on my bike and how much climbing there was. I was proud of myself. I kicked my ass into gear and just went for it!

That is kind of how I feel my life has been lately! Having to just say I am going to something, and just doing it. At the end of last month, I was on the phone with my dad one night. He was asking me if I had started applications, my GRE studying, finishing my writing sample, etc. And all of a sudden I just started crying. I wasn't crying because my dad was hounding me, but because it finally the moment for me where I realized I was at a crossroads. I know it sounds banal, but I felt as though there was a fork in the road. One way, I would end up ten years older at a job a hated and not doing what I love, regretting that I never even tried. The other way, well at least I attempted to accomplish what I wanted to do. I hung up with my dad that night, still lachrymose, but with a little more determination. That weekend I went to the bookstore. I spent $70 on some GRE study materials. When I went back home, I got on my computer and just chose two dates. October 29th and November 8th. I said on those two days I am taking my GRE. (My GRE General Subject test is the first date, and my English Subject Test is the second date). I just kicked my ass into gear and said it's now or never.

Since then I have been steadily preparing for my GRE. I have my flashcards for verbal everywhere I go. Learning new words is a lot of work. And apparently my vocabulary sucks!! I am studying my math. Do you know how long it has been since I have done math? I mean multiplying exponents, dealing with fractions, long division math? I can tell you how much that $250 blazer will be if it is 35% off, but as far as figuring out if 5/3 = x/2, I am screwed. But it is coming along. With a week and a day to go, I am nervous, but hopeful. Because I guess that is the best that you really can be, is hopeful!

I have started my applications, which will come into full swing after the GREs. But for now I have to focus on them. And my Halloween Cross outfit, of course. Luckily, I think I am almost complete. And I pick up my bike from the shop tomorrow or Thursday, and then it's off to Surf City for the weekend.

Bingo & The Vice Presidential Debate

As the VP debate looms on the evening's horizon, the only positive part of the evening that I can discern is drinking to this political past time. And drinking in style! Along with my chardonnay, I believe the best display of patriotic pride that I have found is:

www.palinbingo.com

Oh yes, you saw that correctly...Palin Bingo. Pretty much the most glorious thing to happen to Sarah Palin since being named the GOP VP nominee.

So tonight, in honor of the most talked about vice presidential debates, that Sarah Palin attempted to put off until after the election, I will enjoy my patriotic game all the way to victory. I hope she prepared herself well, for she can see Russia from her house, and since that is the international dateline, she can also see into the future. I wonder if her predictions will come true? I guess we must all wait and see, and enjoy Palin Bingo.

The Olympics

I cannot believe that the Olympics are almost over. We are on Day 15. It ends on Sunday...tear! These Olympics have been pretty amazing! Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh winning gold, in the rain! Amazing! Michael Phelps swimming to victory like he was born half fish, half god! Women's soccer winning gold! Usain Bolt blowing away the fields in his races. The guy's winning their bronze in team gymnastics. Nastia Luikin and Shawn Johnson doing awesome in their routines! There has been controversy over age, judges, air quality, etc., but I have loved this Olympics!!! And I am sad it is almost over!


One of my favorite things about this Olympics has been yahoo! I refresh yahoo.com incessantly, seeing if there are new stories, new controversies, new medals, but most of all if there is a new post by the Fourth Place Medal Investigative Unit! Has anyone else seen this amazing little posting. It has revealed Kerri Walsh mysterious black tape on her shoulder, Michael Phelps' father, the supposed Olympic tv show curse, the very "serious" investigation into the age of some Chinese gymnasts, and so much more.

But my favorite Fourth Place Medal Investigative Unit story is as follows:

Leryn Franco is just your run-of-the-mill javelin thrower/pageant queen/model with her own calendar. But during the Beijing Olympics the 26-year old Paraguayan became so much more to the American people; she became our javelin thrower/pageant queen/model with her own calendar. So, my fellow Americans, it is with a heavy heart that I regret to inform you that our favorite Paraguayan athlete (sorry Jose Luis Chilavert) was eliminated from the Olympics on Tuesday after failing to qualify for the javelin finals. Take all the time you need.

Ms. Franco became the object of our attention after she was noticed by NBC cameras during the Parade of Nations at the Olympic Opening Ceremony. Fourth-Place Medal's fledgling Investigative Unit discovered her identity eight magical days ago and since then our schoolboy crush blossomed into unrequited love.

Leryn -- can we call you Leryn? -- didn't return our collective calls, but we didn't mind. We knew she was busy preparing for her event: the javelin throw. She competed this morning, finishing second-to-last in the qualifying round with a throw that was 12 meters short of her personal best. It was a disappointment, to be sure, but not altogether surprising. After all, Leryn's goal was never to medal; it was to win the hearts of men and women worldwide. And in that event, Leryn Franco won gold.

How fabulous is that story? Just thought I would share it with you! Hope you are enjoying the Olympics as much as I am!!!

Wednesday!

So it's hump day, and work isn't getting any more interesting! I spend a lot of time dealing with PG&E, which is practically a full-time job around here. It's amazing at the ridiculousness of that company. If they did provide something everybody needed, they would be out of business in a week. But alas, we bow to our public utilities companies, and just accept the fact that they've got us by the balls.

In other news, I did see some cute pictures today, of some very adorable animals.



I am loving, loving! the new Bella kits. I think they are adorable, and can't wait to wear my new Velo Bella jacket when it gets chilly. Which in San Francisco means tomorrow, or right now. As the summer breezes by, I am amazed by how fast things move when you are sitting at a desk all day. I need to get motivated and back into writing, researching, reading, and riding my bike. Any words of inspiration?

The Great Weather

So the gloomy weather in San Francisco, that everyone knows is crap in the summer, has been intermittently interrupted by a couple patches of good sunny weather. Last weekend I took a nice long ride over to the North Bay to enjoy the sunshine all over the bay. It was gorgeous.


Yesterday was amazing in the City, but because Amy and Dave took Kresten and I up to Navarro Winery in Philo, none of us got to soak up the sunshine here. So with today's overcast, Kresten and I escaped to Larkspur for a walk and lunch. And then we sat out on the water in Sausalito and read our books.

I hope everyone else is enjoying their weekends and getting such much needed rays.

Mamma Mia...

Mamma mia, here I go again
My my, how can I resist you?
Mamma mia, does it show again?
My my, just how much Ive missed you
Yes, Ive been brokenhearted
Blue since the day we parted
Why, why did I ever let you go?
Mamma mia, now I really know,
My my, I could never let you go.

I went and saw Mamma Mia yesterday afternoon. The entire theatre was laughing and dancing along to the music! It was hilarious. How great is it when people just break out into song at practically any moment!

When the Long Wait Came to an End

So today began with coffee and breakfast and the paper. However, my Sunday turned into reading and waiting when I rode my motorcycle to Stonestown to wait for my new iPhone! The 2-3 hour wait was long, but I was ready to brave the crowd and get my iPhone. It was a long a wait! A wait of reading, moving every once in a while, and then reading some more. Oh yeah, and this was the line outside the mall, not outside the Apple Store. Around 1:45 pm, me and five others were lead through the mall to the Apple Store. It was one of those great feelings where you feel like the wait has paid off. So then the wait outside the Store began. A half an hour later, I was called to enter the sacred area of Apple, only to realize there was another smaller line to wait in. By the time I was able to make my first call, to Amy, it was about 2:35. That's right folks, I waited over 3 and half hours for a phone...a phone!

Nonetheless, it rocks! And despite the wait, I have a new iPhone! Yay!

That is how I spent my Sunday morning/afternoon. I hope yours was less full of waiting in line, and more filled with something more fun!

The Four Day Week!

Today was long...really long! And one of the only thing keeping me going is that there are only three days left. Friday is a holiday! And it kind of rocks!

This weekend I finally got my top-siders! Yay! And a new pair of knickers, since my other pair has a hole in it from my corkscrew in my bike bag. And yesterday, Amy, Dave, Kresten, and I went paddling in Santa Rosa.

The other good thing is the gorgeous irises in my room that Amy bought me, and the ones I bought myself this morning to put at my desk! But other than that, the only news to report is that this morning I really wanted to telecommute...from my bed! Maybe have a meeting. Save something to the server. File some stuff!

Quick Question

No matter how long I live in the City, this question still plagues me.

Friday I was melting from the heat. Walking outside for any period of time left one sweating. It was what I would consider warm long into the evening.

On Saturday it was 85 degrees and absolutely sunny and gorgeous! Amy and I sat in the backyard, having lunch and lounging for hours, while soaking up the good weather.

I wake up Sunday, and its foggy, 50 degrees, and windy! I spent most of the afternoon inside, took a ride with Dave around 4, and then holed up in my room till evening.

I wake this morning, a whole bunch more of the same. I put tights on under my pants as not to be too cold on the way to work on my motorcycle.

How can this be the same city? It still baffles my mind how fun in the sun becomes so damn cold!

That's all I have this afternoon. Especially since I am at work, and better keep at it. When do I get to become a student again?!!

The Track and Friday Night!

Last night Amy, Dave and I headed down to San Jose for some Friday Night Track Racing, Hoedown Style! And yesterday Amy and I found pink cowboy hats, and yes they are pretty Bella fabulous! The racing was exciting, despite the biting cold and lack of light at the end of the night. Dave and I saved a ground squirrel out of a drain pipe. Callie almost chased some Mallard ducks. I now really want to learn to ride a track bike. And I got to see a bunch of people I had not seen in a while. So it was a pretty good night!

In other news, I found a job! Not a horribly exciting one, but it pays well, I like the company, and my boss, and it's Monday through Friday. I am going to be a working girl come Monday!

And here's a picture from graduation! Wow I still cannot believe that I am done!

I'm done...I'm so done! So now I'm back!

I know it has been ages, ages, since I have taken a break from things and blogged. But now that I have graduated, finished finals, written all my papers, and suffered through it all, I can honestly say I'm back. Maybe now that I can blog, I can have time to ride my bike as well. It's been such a long time since I've done either.

This week has been a long one...finals started last Thursday, one on Friday, a paper due Monday, graduation ceremony on Monday, final on Tuesday, birthday Tuesday, break Wednesday, and my last final Thursday. Whew! I feel relieved it's all done. Now I may sit on my futon, eat my ill-gotten gains of Godiva, and watch the Adventure Pack of Indiana Jones that Amy and Dave bought me. I know it's a little disappointing after the weed waker Dave bought me last year (I have yet to use it though). Who else wants to see the new Indiana Jones?

Well, here's to my new found holiday from school. I will attempt to blog more from now on! I'll try!

The Three Minute Meditation!

I pick up my ipod, put my headphones, turn on a song, and crank up the volume!

Who needs quiet when you can have lyrics!

All These Things that I've Done

Yesterday was absolutely gorgeous and a ride was definitely in order. I decided to head from the house, over the bridge, and through the Marin Headlands. 30 miles of sun, nature, birds chirping, waves breaking, and fellow cyclists out on the same mission as me: to enjoy the weather the best we cyclists know how, on a bike! I climbed a lot, keeping Hernando's, Sabine's, and Dave's climbing tips on my mind, descended a few times enjoying the breeze, and took some pictures. It was a great ride!

Looking down onto the beaches!

After I finished the first big climb...and still smiling!

The top of the steepest mile of life!

Yeah, I climbed that!

On the way back to the City

Same old story, not much to say!

I brush my teeth and put the cap back on
I know you hate it when I leave the light on
I pick up a book and turn the sheets down and then
Take a deep breath and a good look around!

It's Valentine's Day...

It's Always Darkest Just Before Dawn

I just woke up so I can work out this morning on my bike. Just a quick ride down to the beach, through the park, and up 7th avenue back to the house. And then it's shower time and I'm off to Berkeley for work at 10. And then class from 12-3. I am going to go upstairs to grab something before I leave and I know Callie is going to bark at me because she's a good guard dog! Then she'll realize it's me and go back to being a puppy! She is so adorable!

He left no time to regret!

I accomplished everything on my list today! Yay! I danced, i rode, i worked, i studied, i rode again, i danced, i changed, i worked out, i came back!
The weather was great most of the day! As I was coming back into the City the weather was still great. I went to get on my bike and take a ride, and thank god I put on some arm warmers and a vest because as I made my way down to the beach the fog was rolling in!!! Nonetheless I had a great work out, rocking Amy Winehouse all the way up 7th ave and to the house! It has been a good day!

Todays's Plan

1. Shower
2. Have a dance party with Callie while finding clothes and getting ready
3. Ride my wonderful motorcycle across the bridge (not the bridge below)
4. Grab an americano at strada (very important)
5. Work (probably do some blogging at the same time)
6. Class - an hour of middle english
7. Ride my wonderful motorcycle back across the bridge
8. Drop my stuff, change my clothes, dance party, grab my bike, go for a ride
9. Shower, change clothes, dance party
10. From here on out the plan is up to the fates of the evening! I love this City!

Popscene

Thursday night was going to be a pretty low-key, laid back evening, but low and behold it was not. I talked to a friend, Scott, who was thinking about going to a club downtown to hear a Sweedish pop sensation, Robyn. And on the spur of the moment I decided to join him. I had so much fun. Dancing, drinking beer, listening to loud music. It was great! I am so glad that I decided to go.

Now the weather is absolutely gorgeous, it's Saturday, and I am going for a ride. I hope wherever you are the sun is out and shining.

Goals for the weekend:

1. clean my room
2. do laundry
3. ride my bike
4. do some reading
5. enjoy the weather

The Super Bowl...and Cultural Invigoration

So the Super Bowl!!! Can you believe what a great game that was?!! So awesome! It was like watching a college game, with heart, spirit, meaningfullness, all there on the field. Everyone I talked to has said the same thing: "Yeah, I was going to turn it on, see the start, and then flip to something else. But, then I got sucked in and watched the entire thing! It was great!" It was a great game!!! I bet those New Yorkers are happy right now. With sub zero weather and snow blasting them daily, they should have something to celebrate for. On a side note, did anyone else see the close up of the Giants' trainer who has been there since 1948. That's 60 years people! My god the guy must be ancient! Plus, you know someone's been living in upstate NY too long when their nose is permanantly purple from the weather!

On to the next part of my tale. Two words: Polish Club! Established 1926! (If I remember correctly) That was where I watched the Super Bowl this year. And it was a blast. A huge projection screen, bbq ribs, wings, and hot dogs, beer, chips, some crazy football fans, not to mention the fact you could walk around and hear polish being spoken. Someone mentioning Mother Teresa's role in the Super Bowl. Someone else screaming "COMMERCIALS" every time the game paused for money reasons. Scott chugging beers for absolutely no reason at all. I got called Vanna as I held a platter for wings to be put on. It was great.

Plus...when I awoke this morning from my sweet slumber, it was SUNNY! The deluge has ended. It has rained for 40 days and 40 nights, and finally the dove has returned with an olive branch my friends. I can not convey to you my happiness. Yeah, I know we Californians need all the water we can get, blah, blah, blah...but hey I can't be rained on any more. At least give me a week's peace!

So I am at work, and I should probably be doing some. So later fools! I don't have time for this stuff. Who am I kidding? Of course I have time for it! And on a final note! WHO'S READY FOR SOME BELLA CRAZINESS IN THE FORM OF A CYCLING BASH? I know I am! Until next time...stay classy San Frandiego!

At least the Seats are Comfortable!

The new building on Cal's campus that has been being built since my freshman year is finally finished and inhabitable. It's named after someone who I don't know and probably never will. Nonetheless, I have a lecture in this new, state-of-the-art building. Unfortunately the lecture is Poltical Science 3: Research Methods (i.e. Stats for Social Scientists). It is so very boring, and of course I have to take this class. No choice. No chance for escape. No getting out.

But...the seats are amazingly comfortable! I am serious. This seats are large, squishy, and with enough room so you don't feel like you are on top of your neighbor. I tend go for the one seat barrier rule though, if at all possible. The only problem with this is that if someone comes in late, you are the person they may attack for a seat. And no matter what you are probably going to get a person who elbows you every few minutes with a "What did he say?" or the person who must have ran 5 miles before coming to class or the person whose cells phone keeps buzzing throughout class! It's a risk, but I have secrets as how to avoid this. If I told you I would have to kill you! Sorry.

On a final note...i heard it's supposed to stop raining next week. Thank the lord. The deluge is nearly over! When I see the dove return with a small branch I will let you know immediatly.

You know what else makes me happy?

The sun today makes me happy!

Amy and Dave's wonderfullness makes me happy!

Callie incessant need to be scratched and petted makes me happy!

Medieval English makes me happy!

Having a drink after a long day makes me happy!

Knowing that no matter that I am not sure what I am doing next year, but everyone still supports me makes me happy!

People who smile make me happy!

You make me happy!

You Make Me So Happy

I got my new bike on Saturday and rode it to school today! It just makes me smile!

Rain Rain Rain!

Rain Rain Go Away, Come Again Another Day!

I know we need the rain. We need snow in the mountains to help California's constant water shortages in the summer. We need rain to water all of the plants and grasses. We need the rain so we Californians are not constantly spoiled by good weather. But really, this rain is becoming quite annoying. Especially when I am supposed to pick up my new motorcycle tomorrow.

Tomorrow my dad is coming up to San Francisco to sign the last of the papers, pay the remaining balance, and hand over the pink slip for the scooter. Then a Kawasaki Ninja 250 is mine. Did I mention it has only 20 miles on it! And it's black with red flame decals. I am excited. But with this rain, how am I supposed ride home and enjoy my new bike?

Plus on top of it all I really want to ride my bicycle! Maybe tomorrow will bring brighter prospects!

My Last First Day!

Today was my last first day as an undergraduate at Cal! Craziness! I can't believe that this is my last semester at Cal. I am graduating in May. And if anyone asks what I am doing for my year off, I am not sure and trying to figure it out. Any ideas of what someone who wants to teach medieval English literature should do for a year while I take my GREs and apply for grad school? If so please forward them asap.

But back to my last first day...I have two English classes this semester: medieval English lit and lit and history. Then have two poli sci classes: research and methods, and constitutional law. Now this constitutional law class is going to be very interesting. The professor says he's been teaching since "nineteen hundred and sixty-eight," that's how he said it. He began the class by providing a life history and talking about how all his family spoke of growing up was politics...that's it. Plus, he speaks under his breath and sort of mumbles. And we are in this classroom that was designed when someone thought people would be 4'10'' and 100 lbs for the rest of time, so we are all packed in like sardines. It's lots of fun! The whole class will be interesting and I will update as interesting news comes in.