A funny thing happened on my way to the bike race . . .

More about us later, but one quick-thinking cyclist captured this craziness that took place early in the morning.

Photo Meme

Instructions for the meme are:
Go to www.photobucket.com (don't sign in)
For each question below, type your answer in the "search" box and hit ENTER
Use only the first page of hits that come up and select a picture. If no matches are found to your search query you can revise your answer.
Copy the html for the photo you select and paste it in your post.

1. What is your first name?



2. What is your favorite food?



3. Where did you go to school?



4. What is your relationship status?



5. What is your favorite color?



6. Who is your celebrity crush?



7. Who are you listening to right now?



8. Favorite movie:



9. Favorite book:



10. Favorite Disney Princess:



11. Favorite drink:



12. Where is your dream vacation?



13. Favorite dessert:



14. What did you want to be when you grew up?



15. What do you love most in life?



16. One word to describe yourself:



17. One word to describe your style:



18. What is your ideal home?



19. Favorite mode of transportation:



20. What are you passionate about?



Thanks Nicole!

When Your Dad's A Professional Photog

He'll document your first apple with several shots. Including one that will hang in your parent's hallway for your entire life where people will comment on how adorable you are. And then you'll use it for your college graduation invites, tiled all Warhol-esque, because it turns out you like hearing about how adorable you are.



Years later, he and your mom will be entertaining your children while you pedal around in the semi-rain. He'll have his camera to document your triumphant return. And maybe, just maybe, he'll take some photos of the aforementioned kids. One will make you think of that photo taken so long ago.



And when you're blown away by how perfect both of those are, his talent will stop at nothing and capture your baby, who has grown so much.



Thanks Dad*!

*http://www.paultriller.com

Put Your Feet Up

Pattern: Jaywalkers by Grumperina

Yarn: Sprouty25 Superwash Merino in Pink is the New Black colorway

These socks fit like a dream. The yarn is a perfect substitution and yielded perfect gauge with size 1 needles.

I knit them one at a time on DPNs and had nary a moment of Second Sock Syndrome. The undulations of the colors coupled with the easily memorizable, but noticeable pattern kept me very happy.

And although Florida is not the wool sock capital of the world, I will treasure them on cooler days. Luckily I had a trip to South Carolina this weekend which gave them their first days out on the town. :)

Spongebob!!

I have had a love-hate relationship with Mr. Squarepants throughout my adult life. I loved him in college (but I also loved South Park in college), hated him when Ali was 2 and 3 years old and now we watch him fairly regularly before school. But only if everything has been brushed and gathered and applied to various parts of the body that's going to school. :)

Whether you love him or hate him, this is hilarious!




Thanks Eden!

Eleven Miles

Confession time: Although I have been dutifully collecting donations and spreading the word about the upcoming Tour de Cure, I have not actually gotten on my bike.

No big deal you say?

O, but it is. Here are some of the reasons:

a. The bootie. No matter how fancy your pants are and how thick your chamois is (and mine are very fancy and thick) your bootie is in direct contact with a very little seat. In addition to maximum pant-provided comfort, I have a women's specific seat. All that said, if you cycle fairly regularly, the bootie pain subsides and you're good to go. Having not been riding regularly, I may be in some pain.

b. Stamina. You use a lot of muscles that don't really do much but get used for cycle and not training them is pretty dumb. Don't believe me, ask a pro cyclist to join you in a foot race. You may beat them if they only train to cycle, 'cause if you're that specialized, you suck at everything else.

c. My neck and shoulders. Try as I might to have "spaghetti arms" I rest on my arms a lot, creating quite a bit of tightness in the shoulders.

All that said, this morning I woke up with a desire to at least attempt to be in it to win it next weekend.

Yes, next weekend is the Tour.

And we're riding 22 miles.

Today we rode 11. And I rocked it out.

Call it having 50 lbs less to pedal around or increased stamina from the Jazzin', but it was great. Wayne pulled the girl's in the child trailer and we were able to cycle together. :)

We hit the Cross Seminole Trail for the first time, had some lunch in Oviedo and when we were done, felt like we could do more. In the cycling community a lot of rides have names, like the Taco Bell Run or Yahala Bakery Run because you take a break at these places and then head back. I've named this the Townhouse Breakfast Run.

I'm sure that tomorrow I'll be sore. And I'm definitely tired now, but next weekend is seeming a lot more feasible. And if I sneak in a short ride during the week, my bootie and shoulders should be much happier.

If you haven't already, and want to support a really great cause, click on the photo of my bike in the upper-left corner and donate to the American Diabetes Association. They help a lot of people and it feels good to help people. :)

And if you've been reading since last year - I still haven't fallen off my bike. Amazing.

Jazzy

Yesterday I woke up at 7AM, one half hour earlier than usual. Today it was 6:30AM. This will continue. Not increasingly waking up a half an hour earlier, but waking up at 6:30 - that's before the sun comes up in case you didn't know.

I've worked out a new schedule to incorporate my new routine. Waking up earlier allows me more time to work in the morning so I can get my little tele-commuting hours in and the laundry still gets done.

And my new routine includes a new class. Take the title of this post and combine it with a word that's synonomous with workout and, yeah, that's the one. I know you're having visions of old ladies sweating to the oldies, but its really more than that. Quite a few other moms were there. Emily even had some baby friends to hang out with. And they played Justin Timberlake. Swoon!

Inspired by the original Aerobic Dancer, I'm hoping to continue my weight loss journey. And I'm not so proud that I won't admit that I'm a little sore. Especially my abs and triceps - quite possibly my weakest muscles.

---

I've finished sock 1 and turned the heel on sock 2. I may have two Jaywalkers by Valentine's Day. :)

When I completed sock 1, I held it up for Wayne's approval and instead of dismissing it, something very strange happened. Wayne first complimented the pattern - he digs the zig zags - then asked to hold it. Next thing I know, he's wearing my beautiful pink and black sock.

(Wayne's feet are bigger than mine, but I have fairly large feet for a chick - we do not wear the same size shoe, but can usually share things like socks and Old Navy flip flops.)

He was even more impressed with how it fit. So when I finish mine, I'll go purchase some manly sock yarn - all mine has pink in it - and knit up some manly Jaywalkers for my love.

The AMAZING Ali-Roo!!

ETA: It looks like I broke my blog with the video, only half of you are able to load it. So to make things easier - click HERE and it'll take you to blip.tv :)
It starts to get really good around 1:50 :)

Then click here to watch the follow up interview.