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.

Nice Numbers

In July, I began a drug research study at the Diabetes Center at my local hospital. I took an FDA approved medication twice a day and met with a dietician and a nurse every two weeks. The purpose of the study was to monitor the effect of a Lifestyle Modification Program on people taking the drug vs. those taking a placebo. I won't know what I was taking for another few weeks, but my nurses are fairly confident I was taking the drug due to my nausea throughout the study.

Twice a day I gave myself a shot in the belly. Everyday I followed a meal plan that expected a lot more vegetable eating and smaller portions. For the last six months I've written down everything I've eaten. I've gone over each item and my blood sugars, taken at least twice a day, with my dietician. I've increased my activity per the plan.

Yesterday was my last appointment.

When I started, I expected that I might lose 10-15 pounds. I surpassed that within the first month. Seeing results was an amazing feeling and encouraged me to continue.

Here's me in July 2007, a week before I started the study.



Yesterday we did my final weigh in and waist measurements. In simple terms, wow!

July weight: 256 lbs.
January weight: 203 lbs.

-53 lbs!!

July waist measurements: 47"
January waist measurements: 40"

-7 inches!!

July pant size: 22Plus
January pant size: 16 (At Old Navy no less)

-3 sizes!!

And I look like this:





Please, scroll back and forth. It's crazy. I almost can't believe it myself and it's me, who I see everyday.

Actually, I lost another 7 inches. From where? Here's a hint.



Alison has asked to take photos of my hair this afternoon when she gets home from school, so I'll post those later. :)

ETA: My hair needed to be washed by the time Ali got home from school and I didn't get a shower until late last night. Unfortunately, then I didn't blowdry it and today it is flat. So instead of a AGT photo shoot, here's pic from Sunday that looks pretty good. :)

Cutie Heads

We had a late Christmas with my out-of-town sister and her family while they were here for the wedding. This afforded me the time to sneak in some Christmas knitting while trying to finish the Clapotis. Since they live in a frosty place where snow is known to appear, they're usually the recipients of my warmer knits.

This year I decided to keep thier heads warm.



Pattern: An Unoriginal Hat by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

Yarn: Araucania Nature Wool Chunky in colorway 21

--
Pattern: Basic Cable Hat by Christine Quirion

Yarn: Cascade 220 in Hot Pink

--
Pattern: Basic 2x2 Ribbed Hat by me

Yarn: I'm not sure, some sort of chunky single wool.

And before the weekend was over, I was able to knit a matching baby-size Unoriginal Hat for Penny. :)

The sock is coming along well. I've completed the gusset and am working down the foot. Hopefully by the end of the week I'll be casting on sock 2. Unfortunately, my knitting is not only battling my schedule but a greater battle as well.

That is SO last year!

Unlike my post-Christmas knitting slump of last year, January has been pretty good in my knitting world. I have two finished items that I'm pulling together pictures of and a work in progress that I've been wanting to start FOREVER!





I'm finally jumped on board with the Jaywalker train (and so has Becky!) and I've already turned the heel on the first one. The yarn is Pink is the New Black by the lovely and talented Ann-Marie. You can get your own at her etsy shop. She's got a skein on sale RIGHT NOW! :)



This yarn was destined to be a pair of Jaywalkers, but I didn't have the needles to make it work until December. So hip-hip-hooray - I may have a finished pair of socks in the first part of '08!

A Day at the Beach (in January)

On Sunday afternoon, we accompanied my cousins, aunt and uncle from Vermont to Cocoa Beach. It was cold when we left Orlando, in the lower 50s cold. At the beach it was colder, what with the wind and the overcast skies.

My cousin Marc braved the water and actually went swimming for a little while, but my kids built sand castles while decked out in snow clothes. :)





Marc didn't want to miss one bit of beachy fun, so he let us bury him in the sand.

Beware the Bridal Clap!

Not that Clap - a Clapotis!





Pattern: Clapotis by Kate Gilbert

Yarn: Twisted Sisters Mirage

Mods: I did an extra repeat in the increase section, but other than that, stuck to the pattern.

Made for: Erin, for her wedding

Started: October 2007 Finished: January 2008

I was really glad I made this, especially when the weather at the wedding took a turn for the chilly and rainy.

While dress shopping, Erin had looked at some little jackets, but nothing was super flattering, so I offered to knit something. For a while, everything was going perfect with the wedding plans - so in basic sisterly fashion, I slowed my knitting. I figured if the only thing she had to stress about was the shawl, good for her.

Then her fiance, who works on an oil rig as a 5-star kitchen manager (those guys eat like kings) didn't get to come home for Christmas. Then New Year's. When all was said and done, he was gone over 35 days very near the wedding, causing A LOT of stress.

So I knit faster and delivered this finished lovely on Erin's birthday, one week before the wedding.

My mother informed me yesterday that some red wine got spilled on it. Hopefully the lovely ladies at Twisted Sisters will have some tips for getting it out. :)

To help you with those resolutions . . .

How many of you resolved to be a better person or give back?? Well if you are still looking for a way to make that happen, check out VolunteerMatch. You can search for opportunities in your area, even Canada!! :)

And if you're more of a giver from your pocketbook and not your schedule, I'm riding in the American Diabetes Association's Tour de Cure and need some more fundraising dollars. Just click on that picture of my pretty bike in the top left corner. :)

Delurkers

So as I was typing that it sounded in my head like "Berzerker" from Clerks - crazy Megan.

Anyway, today is Delurking Day! So, if you're reading this - whether you arrived from some crazy google search for "ghetto knit ikea cap" or "panties shrimp itch" or you subscribe to me via bloglines or read me through AtlasQuest - take a minute and leave a comment and tell me about you and your blog if you have one.

I will definitely reply to each and every comment if there's an available email address to reply to.

Three Things

I read a really great post the other day on BlogHer that inspired this post. I can't find it to link to it though, my apologies to the original author. :)

I'm not a New Year's resolution-er. I really never have been, but this year I've made a very short list.

Just three things.

Three little things I can do to make the world a better place.

1. No more paper or plastic. I'm going to purchase enough of these handy totes, which keep popping up at every grocery store I shop at, so that I will not need to use disposable bags. Now, we reuse our bags and recycle them back at the store when the pile gets too big, but we can stop. And we will stop. This year. In the grand scheme of things I know this won't halt global warming, but it's a start.



2. Recycle. We haven't recycled the entire time we've been married - 6 years. I'm pretty sure that it was illegal to -not- recycle at our last house, but we never got caught. I just got off the phone with Public Works and our shiny new bins will arrive next week. :)

3. Read the New Testament in 2008. This one is a little more esoteric, but stick with me and you'll see how it fits. I have a deep desire to be more Christ-like. By committing to reading His words and his vision for my life I can only get closer. And if I'm more Christ-like, the world will most definitely benefit from it. Care to join me?

No mo' ghetto-flo'!!

Happy New Year!!

We invested a hefty chunk of change and time this past weekend in fixing up the new house. I'm about to show you the before pictures and I just want to warn you that they are gross. Seriously, we've been living on chipped up terrazo and super-stained carpet for a month now. It's so gross I'm a little embarrassed that the internet will now know I let my kids walk around on this, but it makes for much more dramatic after photos. :)

Okay, so ghetto-floor:





After many hours of measuring, cutting and feeding a bunch of hungry, single guys from church (Thanks Matt, Chris, Ed & Colin) . . .




We managed to do the whole 1200 square feet of the house that aren't the kitchen, bathroom or laundry room. Every square foot. Complete with crack-a-lacking 5 1/4 inch floor trim. It makes all the paint pop and the house look like a completely different house. A house that I really like living in (which, let me tell you, it was not before).






The girls really like it. :)