Stop me if you've heard this before . . . but I am going to lose 5 lbs this month.

I had a great January, losing 8 lbs. I've had a mediocre February in that I didn't lose anything, but at least I maintained! For March I'm going back to what worked so well in January. 5 lbs will go, if only I stick to my guns and do it.

So just do it.

But today is Feb. 29. Leap day. The extra day we get this year. I am using it to have a little dietary splurge to get my desires sated for a month. I'm having wine and potato chips. I may go really crazy and have some ice cream after dinner.

But tomorrow -- the progress program begins again. South Beach Diet Phase 1.5. That means it's mostly Phase 1 but I have my organic flax seed cereal with soy milk for breakie.

Workout will be a walk/jog with Misty for 30 minutes every night after work, followed by weightlifting.

So, off we go. Today I weigh 127. By the end of March I expect to be 122. That sounds easy, but historically speaking I've had a very hard time getting there. It's only 5 lbs, but that's a whole size. I'll be in an entirely new set of clothes then. It makes a dramatic difference in my appearance. I can't wait. I'm still having people who haven't seen me in a while comment on the 'significant' amount of weight I lost (their words) since they saw me last, and that was only 7 lbs.

Sailing was great yesterday. Such a beautiful day. I learned that one of the women I sail with has lost 100lbs and kept it off for 10 years now. She said that she gained the weight by eating her way through a bad marriage and once she got out of that she changed her mindset about food. It's all in the mind, she said. Isn't that the truth. Now she's hiking regularly, is remarried, and has taken up sailing now. Good for her.

The la-la land awards just started. That opening sequence was funny!

Back to work tomorrow. Pffft.

Kilo,

Go for it, you will do it this month.

You are so lucky to live in sunny(and warm) California, please realize how fortunate you are to be able to just go outside and exercise and take advantage of it to the max.

Sorry, just a little Albertan, waiting for the warm dry weather, LOL.

Hoping you have great success Kilo. :lift:

Good luck to you on those five lbs. to be lost. The closer we get to goal, the harder it is. But we gotta keep trying.

Hi Crazy! Hi Jo! Nice to see you both here.

I do appreciate the weather here. Even when it's raining like now. I managed to get Misty out between bursts of showers.

So I went to the dentist today. New dentist. Got there on time, filled out all the new patient info . . . got called back in the room quickly . . . the girl took my x-rays and got me all ready for the dentist . . . and I sat and waited. And waited. And waited. Every so often the girl would come back and say, "I'm sorry, Dr. is running late today." I waited for an hour. I'd been in the office for an hour and half at that point. I got up, went out to the receptionist and said, "I need to reschedule this appt. I can't wait any longer."

They got all apologetic, one ran back to the dr, he said he'd be there in 2 minutes and that the procedure on my tooth would take 25 minutes. Two hours at the dentist, more than half of it wasted. He apologized profusely when he finally came into the room and again when he was finished with me. I told him that if he's running late, just call me at my office and ask if I can come in later. Then we'd have no problem. Don't act like my time not valuable.

His eyes grew very wide at this, and then he nodded. Novel concept? I wonder. I also wonder if he took my complaint to heart or if he thinks I'm beneath his contempt. Don't know. Medical professionals do have that holier-than-thou belief drummed into them from early in their training.

Anyway. He did a really good job on this tooth (a repair of a chipped tooth, right up front. Color match is good and you'd never tell that it is a bum tooth) so I'll probably go back and give him another chance.

The March program is going pretty well. Food is quite good. Exercise could stand improvement. I took Misty for a jog this evening and then did some yoga. Yesterday I did yoga but that's it. Haven't lifted weights yet. Ok, so the March program isn't going very well. Except for the food. The food is good.

Wow. I thought I would inaugurate my first trip back into journal land with a visit to my ole friend Kill.

I've missed ya! It's horrible with us both being working women now, huh? No time for mindless chatter...

I absolutely think you can reach 122, but I do know also what a challenge it will be for you. You seem to reach some kind of set point higher than that, so I am squeezing my eyes tight and willing those pounds to disappear once and for all!!!!!

Pffft on the set point. I am 126 today. One down, four to go. I think my body is very ready to give up a bit more weight. I just need to take advantage of that.

I miss our mindless chatter, too. Thanks for stopping by, ol' Chum.

125 today. TOM has ended and I'm releasing the excess tonnage from that, I guess. Whatever it is, I'll take it.

We leave for skiing tonight after work. Fun, fun, fun. May I burn off a few more calories.

Hey girl!

Nice new journal...and you are losing...you are such a loser!!!

Congrats!...

You are doing awesome!...You will make it to 122 ... I know it!

mcmarto

Baby, you are CRANKING down those 20s!!!

I am so bloody proud of you!

I'm with ya...pffft to the set point!!! Obviously, I was very, very wrong. (Wouldn't be the first time!)

Damn, Kill. You are going skiing? We will never hook up at this rate! Where are you going? I am psyched for you though. I know you love it!

I almost scammed a free way to California next weekend, but it would have been a loooong flight there and only a day and a half visit then a loooong flight back AND I would have had to share our visit with my oldest friend, who is turning 40 next week. Oh well, one of these days I'll get out there. Promise.

Let me know when you get back! (You'll probably weigh 124 by then!!!)

Hiya Kilo! Found your new journal tonight & looks like you are off to a great start on your march through March. I feel like you -- had a good January, but disappointed myself in February. I want to lose, lose, lose this month, too!

Sailing, then skiing. Sounds like fun! Also sounds like you need a wide variety of clothes -- your closet won't know what season it is. I got to wear a t-shirt and spring jacket today to walk outside -- amazing! We had a record high of 67. High winds and overcast skies, but 67 nonetheless. Hope your skiing is as fabulous as your sailing was!

Lisrey :D

Oh Chum, you're not wrong. You know how long I've been stuck at 130. But FINALLY I'm in the 20's!

We had a blast skiing. Mammoth, first time ever for me. It's a long darned drive up there. Left about 6:30 and got there just after midnight. Skied all day Friday (great time). Today we skied until 1 and then headed home. Not sure all that driving was worth it, though we did have a very good time. I am really happy with my skiing at the moment. I am one with my skis at last. :laugh: I skiied the steepest slope of my life so far, too. Whoo. Scary. Well, I can't really say I skied it, but I made it down in one piece.

In any event, we are home. I'm glad we came home tonight and have tomorrow off before having to go back to work.

Hi Lisrey, glad you found me! March through march, I like that. I do need a lot of attire for these sports, it's true. Hence the job, I guess. It boggles the mind how much skiing costs, for instance. This for a sport that I've done 7 days this year. Ack. Best not to think about it.

Oh it sounds wonderful! I can't imagine ever being "one" with my skis.

I have no skis.

There is a reason for this.

I fall frequently, even when wearing sturdy shoes on a dry sidewalk in the sunshine.

Sigh.

Welcome home!!!!!

Back in my skiing days, I was never one with my skis, ever. In fact, most of the time I felt completely out of control. But it was fun. Exhilerating to be just slightly over the edge of danger. Guess that's one of skiing's big draws. I absolutely know what you mean about not exactly skiing the steep hill, but getting down in one piece. That was me, 100%. Come to think of it, that's kinda how I feel on my ice skates, too...

7 days of skiing in 2004? Or 7 days this winter season? I think that's pretty good, either way. How much longer does your season last? We have to drive about 6 hours here to get to mountains big enough for decent skiing. There are closer places to ski, but they're not worth it. I think the far away places will probably have snow through the end of March, but down here it's all gone at this point.

Glad you had such a good time!!

Lisrey :D

Exhilirating is a good word. Dropping over the edge onto a steep that you're not sure you can do is quite the rush. Whoo! I like the speed, too. Fast and steep. Yeah baby. That's completely a function of being one with my skis. Finally. When I was having gear issues and fighting my skis and boots I wouldn't go fast because I didn't trust them. Now, I am free! Free to ski however I want! Whee!

Ahem. Yes I am an adult.

We skied 7 days this winter season, Lisrey. 3 in Sun Valley, 2 in Tahoe, and 2 in Mammoth. All nice trips and I definitely enjoyed them. It was worth it. We may get one more trip in before the season ends. We'll see.

Today. I WILL faux that forking bathroom cabinet. I really need that project out of my hair.

Then I want to take the bike for a ride. It is supposed to get up to 82 today, so must take advantage.

Misty needs a long walk, too. She gets no exercise while we're out skiing. Poor Misty.

I suppose I should get at it.

Sopranos tonight!

If any of you want to truly understand me, read this:

http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/2003/03/rauch.htm

Hilarious, it is. And so true.

Bathroom cabinet project has gone horribly wrong (as expected) and I am strongly advocating a simple, basic color now. Fork the faux. But I did get the door painted, the light fixture touched-up-around, the mirror remounted, and the pictures rehung.

And. Eek of eeks, my parents are coming down to stay for a week. They arrive this Friday. I think they mentioned they might do this but I conveniently blocked it out. Good thing they'll have a working bathroom they can use.

82!! I want 82!! (I'm just whining because the snow is back here today. Biting wind driving down little frozen bullets of ice going on... blech.)

I loved the article. I can so relate. According to the MBTI, I'm a borderline introvert. My Sweetie is a bigtime introvert & HE thinks I'M an extrovert... that in itself is pretty funny. I found myself really agreeing with the part about many introverts in social situations feeling like actors. That is me. In the Enneagram model of personality, I am a 3, "the performer." Have you done the MBTI or the Enneagram, Kilo? Pretty fascinating stuff.

Lisrey :)

Fascinating as all get out. I am a 5 on the Enneagram. "The Investigator" No surprise there. The bf is a 7 "The Enthusiast", and I am learning loads about him from reading his profile. Wish he'd read it. Sigh. I sent him the link to this article but I doubt he'll read it, either. If he does, he won't understand it. He's a massive extrovert.

I'm an INTJ on the Myers-Briggs. I am heavily I & T but borderline N & J. Introverted. Not shy. Big difference.

It actually got up to 91 today, Lisrey. Hot! We opened all the doors and windows and aired the place out. My paint dried almost instantly upon contact. It's supposed to be hot all week. Yay.

Wow, your life must be very interesting living with a 7! My Sweetie never did figure out his Enneagram type, but I suspect he's a 5 with a 4 wing. I am a bigtime 3. I sent your article to my Sweetie. I am sure he will think it's gospel.

My MBTI is ISTJ. I'm borderline I and S, with a huge T. I think so fast that it disguises my I. Seems like a lot of women are feelers. We'd probably get along well as T's!

Ya know, I'd actually be happy with 55 or 60... We had it this weekend. Can't we have it back??

Good for you tackling those bathroom projects. Even if it's not quite what you want yet, you're several steps closer.

Lisrey :laugh:

You're off to a great start towards leaving the 120s behind you!

I think skiing seven days of the season is pretty good, considering that you live far from any of the "good" resorts. (I'm pretty ignorant about these things, but I have heard that our local mountains aren't very good...they're all I've ever tried). The cost of skiing puts us off, too.

I'm sorry that the faux finish wasn't working out. At least you're making some good progress on the bathroom project.

Most of the personality scales that you and Lisrey have been discussing are foreign to me, although the name Myers-Briggs sounds vaguely familiar (I would have guessed it as a pharmaceutical company, though!). I'll have to do a search for Enneagram. I suspect that I am not an introvert, but a little shy (insecurity that I will be able to break into a group, etc.). My DH thinks that I talk way too much, especially once he has already agreed with my point. I always thought this was just a gender difference, but you have made me consider that there may be more to it. Anyhow now I do understand you better!

Local skiing leaves a lot to be desired. I prefer to skip it altogether and go up there in the summertime for hiking. It's much nicer then.

Those personality analyses are interesting. And surprisingly accurate. The Enneagram is actually even useful because it helps you change your responses to life rather than just endlessly analyzing who you are now.

Speaking of which, the bf did read that article. Being an extrovert, he missed the humor in it completely and thought it was pious and overblown. When I pointed out that it was truth written in a humorous style, he sort of got it a bit better. He now calls me his "little introvert." I suspect your DH is one too, Lutha. The thing that drives me most nuts about the bf is how he repeats himself endlessly. Sometimes I count how many times he says the same thing. Usually it is seven. I'll ask him a question and he'll answer it seven times, babbling away, rephrasing his answer over and over again. Sigh.

Though maybe this article did sink in a bit. He was raving over his food tonight, saying with about every third bite, "man this is good, don't you like it?" when he suddenly apologized and said, 'sorry I'm going on and on about this, but it's so good.'

It was good, and I told him so. Twice, even. That's downright effusive. Creole shrimp. Mmm.

I suspect we Thinkers would get along well, Lisrey. I'd be surprised if Lutha weren't a Thinker, too. Maybe you could take the MBTI test if you're interested, Lutha.

In other news, I plan to ride the bike to work tomorrow. First time. It's so warm that I can't pass up the opportunity. Wish me luck. There are issues. It's a whopping 15 minute easy ride, so I don't expect to work up a sweat, thus causing the makeup to run or my body to require re-showering. I could be sadly mistaken on that. We'll see. It is fortunate that I work with a bunch of IT geeks who are not exactly a well-groomed or fashionable group to begin with. If I show up with helmet-head they likely won't even notice.

Here's an actual MTBI test, Lutha, if you're interested in learning your type. http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp

I just retook it. I'm still an INTJ but less strongly so on all counts. I am getting boring and middle-of-the-road in my middle age, I guess.

I just did your test and I'm an INFP. Do these have any real meaning or are they just for fun?

Chum, they definitely have real meaning. There are whole books written on these typing systems. You can learn a lot from this kind of self-analysis. And if you can figure out the types of the people around you, that's extremely helpful, too. I can sure see how you are FP! Not sure I would have typed you as an I, but it's hard to know something like that from online correspondence & one lovely breakfast, eh? :)

Kilo, you've probably been using what you've learned about yourself, and used it to move more toward the middle ground. Not boring at all, but enlightened & active in self-improvement. I know I have done so over the years since first doing the MBTI.

When I took this online test, it typed me as INTJ, which I don't believe is accurate -- the "S" is much more me than the "N." This is a simplified version, plus my TV is distracting me... :laugh: But it's still fun!

Lisrey :*

Yeah, what Lisrey said. It's real and very meaningful, especially if you are having 'issues.' The Enneagram, especially, banged the ol' nail on the head about the root of the bf's OCD. With luck, he'll see that and take the steps he needs to deal with it.

We can hope.

Living with a 7 is always exciting, 'tis true Lisrey. Except for that OCD bit.

I DID ride the bike to work today. Took longer than I thought -- 25 minutes from door to desk, but I was thrilled with the ride. 18 minutes en route. Nice and easy ride. Made it there with the lipstick intact and acceptably sweat-free. The ducks in the river were just waking up and quacking happily. It was beautiful. Plenty warm.

The ride home was equally delightful. Nice transition from work to home. Several of my co-workers, including my boss, said they were jealous.

7 minutes by car. 18 by bike. No question which I'd rather do.

I shall ride again tomorrow.

When I got home tonight I walked the Mistypoo in the park for a half hour or so, then came home and painted the bathroom cabinet. Whoo. Finally got that done. I had a vision from on high about how to do what I wanted in there, and it actually worked. I think it looks ok. Good enough. High time to move on and be done with this bathroom.

An update on what I'm doing with the diet/exercise program these days:

Breakie: Trader Joe's organic Flax Seed cereal with Organic unsweetened soy milk. Coffee w/ half-n-half.

Snack.1: 1oz o' cheese or some of the lunch I've packed.

Lunch: Half of the lunch I've packed, always leftovers from the night before. If no packed lunch, I'll have a Subway low-carb wrap or similar meal from a nearby restaurant.

Snack.2: Some mixed nuts or the rest of the lunch that I have left. Maybe a Carb-Sense Myoplex bar or shake, though I try to keep those to only one a week or so.

Late afternoon: My mix of Trader Joe's Organic Green Drink with colloidal minerals and psyllium husks in a huge glass of water. Mmmm.

Water throughout the day. I don't keep track of how much, but I drink a lot of water. Always I have a cup of water going at work and always it seems to be empty so I am refilling it.

Dinner: Salad and a protein -- usually fish or turkey.

Exercise: Ride the bike to/from work. Or walk/jog home. Or walk 30 mins at lunch. One of the above, at any rate. Then, walk/jog with Misty when I get home (20 minutes or so). On good days, I get my 45 minute yoga tape done, too. And a quick weight-lifting session (been slacking badly on that lately). Maybe I'll have to switch the weights back to mornings and just get up earlier. Gah.

I'm an ENFP. The polar opposite of Shawn, an INTJ.

We did alot with this in a management training course I took at IKEA; the higher powers there seemed to respect the strength of this inventory.

:)

Now returning you to your previously scheduled journal!

Hello kilogo!
Thanks for sharing the test.
I came out as INFJ (at least today, lol).
Now, I will go read my "profile".

These results are fun, no? If you really get into it, you read the analysis and start to figure yourself out. And others. I am quite ne to the Enneagram but so far I quite like it. Research that if you're interested.

So Shawn is the same MBTI type as me, eh? That's interesting.

I rode the bike to work again today. I need a new bike. Mine is a mountain bike. It feels heavy. It is many years old. Bikes these days are *gasp* expensive. Far more expensive than they were last time I went bike shopping.

But a new lighter faster bike would certainly be nice. My 3.77 mile ride is taking me 18 minutes. Too long. I think with a new lighter faster bike I could do it in 12 or so. Shall I spend a huge pile of change to save 6 minutes?

My ulterior motive here is that I want a bike I can use for triathlons. Not that I plan to do a triathlon any time soon, mind you, but my lack of a bike has been a barrier to me ever doing another one. Maybe, just maybe, if I had the bike I'd get the urge again. Or at least I wouldn't waste my time thinking, 'if only I had a decent bike . . . '

Those of you in the know (Jessica), how much would a decent bike suitable for a triathlon cost me? $1500? I know I can pay a lot more, but would that get me a good bike that'll get me to work in 12 minutes and possibly work for a triathlon?

Also -- terrain. Will a $1500 lightweight bike be able to handle a dirt path? It's a nice, flat, groomed, hard dirt/gravel path, but it's not pavement. Am I going to be blowing out tires on this?

Or should I just stick with what I have. Take it to a bike shop and have them tune it up, maybe. It was a good bike in its day. 15 yrs ago. The upper stem is too long and it makes my back hurt after a while. Maybe they can adjust things so it fits me better, too.

WOW...you are doing great!

Keep up the good work...oh...Baby O is home...since Monday!

I have a cold...can't visit...soon!

What is better DSL through my cable company or DSL through my phone company???

mcmarto

Your cable company offers a cable modem, which is a fiber optic link. A much faster connection but you share it with others, so if your cable company oversells (gasp) performance can be affected. But that's what I have, it works quite well, it's fast, and I like it.

DSL through your phone line comes in various speeds, faster costs more of course. But the link is yours; no one else shares it; so your speed should always be the same. It's become quite common and works well in most homes.

So in summary, neh, both are good. Doesn't matter unless there is a problem with either your phone lines or the cable's fiber backbone, neither of which you'll know until you get it installed. So talk to your neighbors to see what they have and how it's working, and consider price.

I don't know a whole lot about bikes, but mine is of about the same vintage and is a hybrid mountain/road bike. I took it to a pro at a bike shop last summer and got it fitted to my size and needs, and got road tires put on. Made a huge difference in how I felt riding! The bike shop guy told me he couldn't believe what a heavy little bike I had... but I don't ride enough to want to invest in something new. You will probably ride a lot more than I do; maybe a whole new bike would be worth it for you.

I asked a good friend who is really into biking for a recommendation on the bike shop. She agreed that finding someone who really knows what they're doing (and how to fit women) is extremely important if you go the re-fit way.

I have been riding my exercise bike trying to build stamina for this summer's outdoor riding. I am a bigitme bike wimp, but this year I plan to ride more and ride stronger!

Lisrey :up:

re bike-- Shawn says you can get into a decent road bike for $850, like a basic Specialized Allez. He's skeptical about the non-road thing, saying to the effect of, "road bikes are designed for the road" (no, really?) BUT he says if it's hard packed dirt/gravel it shouldn't be a problem. Primarily, the issue will be more stability than tire blow-outs (though the latter is a possibility) I should think a local bike shop may have a rental program, or you can explain your issues and they *should* be able to allow you to "test" the bike.

I was thinking about it today; the difference between a road bike and a mtn bike is like...cow pony to thoroughbred. I miss my mountain bike so much, it was sturdy and maneuverable and fun as He...ck. My road bike is freakin' awesome and I love it more each time I get in the saddle, but it just can't do what my old Cannondale could do. (sniff.) Then again, my old C-dale couldn't do half of what my Merlin does. So, whatever. :shrug:

Possibly they can make your bike fit you better, they very well could make it a better ride for you. Or, it could be time to step up the investment toward your commute...then again, it would depend on how you're feeling about the job's longevity, which would point to a bike that can be used for other pursuits. I don't know, honestly, what you would rather do with your saddle time outside the "commute" deal; personally I love my road bike because I can easily hop on and get my 60 minutes saddle time from my door back to my door. On the mtn bike, we had to drive 30-ish minutes minimum, ride, then drive back. We don't have that kind of time anymore.


I know, TMI, most of which you already knew.

Good luck getting it all figured out :)

Hi Kilogo,

It's been AGES since I spoke to you or visited, so here I am. I just took that test too, that you so nicely provided the link for. I find out I am a protector guardian?? Anyway, I am ISFJ (introverted sensing feeling judging) Whatever! Trouble is it does sound a lot like me. Scarey!!!

Anyway, I wanted to tell you that I bought a recumbent bike that came with a set of hand weights included. It has 3 sets; 2 lb, 3 lbs, and 5 lbs. Yesterday I did some exercise using the 2 lb weights, and I was lucky to do one set of 12 reps doing the basic arm exercises. I did 3 exercises, 12 reps each and I was done. But it's a start, right? I also rode the bike for about 7 minutes, but the best part was taking a walk in the sunshine for 15 minutes. Altogether, I managed to get in 30 minutes, and then this morning woke up stiff and sore........haha So today I rested, tomorrow we go for broke again.

How ya doing sweetie. I sure have missed you. But I know you have a lot less time now and I understand that. I sure hope all is well with you. I need to come and read more often, but I signed up at a bunch of survey sites, and I've been having fun filling time taking surveys.......haha. You know, a few of them actually pay you. No millionaire stuff there, but a little "pocket" change is fun at times.

Take care now and have a great weekend.

Hugs,
Sandie

Hi Kilogo,

I took the test and came up with the same result as Sandielynne - ISFJ - only slightly weighted on the I and S parts, with the F and J stronger. Unlike Sandie, "Protector Guardian" doesn't sound a lot like me, at least to myself! I did have trouble with quite a few of the questions. Maybe that's because I am really pretty middle-of-the-road, myself? I would not be the least surprised that our extremes tend to mellow as we age. Then again maybe it just shows how much I dislike making decisions.

I think your bike to work is awesome! I had not realized that the weight of the bicycle would make that much difference in the time. Maybe you are actually getting more of a workout, pushing that big thing along? If you want a new road bicycle for other reasons, that makes sense, but I can't see justifying it for six minutes each way.

Congrats on getting that bathroom cabinet done! Sounds like you were all ready for your parents' arrival.

Your daily menu sounds a little limited for my taste, but if you can be satisfied that is of course the important thing. You will be adding some fruit back in after a couple of weeks, right?

Hi all. Thanks for the info. Definitely not TMI, Jessica, and I didn't know all of that. I haven't ridden a road bike since high school, and back then it was steel 10-speeds. I like my mountain bike, too. We've had good times together over the years. But I think a lighter bike would be better for simple transportation. Your idea about renting a potential bike to try it out is a great one. I'll be looking for a good local bike shop this week. One that can actually fit short women!

I don't want a workout on the way to work, you see. I want to arrive sweat-free and with hair and makeup intact. I don't want to get involved in the haul the clothes to work, shower and get ready there thing. That's not what I had in mind. A lighter bike would make the whole experience that much more pleasant and I'll be more likely to do it more often. That's my thinking right now, anyway. The 6 minutes is really just an indicator that the bike is heavy and slow. Though I admit that I'd like my bike commute and car commute to be close the the same time. That'd be great.

Lisrey is much more of an expert on the MTBI and Enneagram than I. I do think that mellowing and maturing do affect the results. Maturity is a good thing.

I enjoy my daily menu immensely. The bf always makes extraordinarily tasty and healthy dinners. Never the same thing twice. They make good lunches the next day, too. A basic tenant of my weight-loss philosophy is that if you don't like it, you're not going to do it for long. Or you're going to be miserable. You've got to find what works for you. We all know this or have figured it out over time. I think the foods I eat taste good, and I like how they make me feel - healthy. Vibrantly healthy, even. It's a great feeling. I'll never go back to the sluggishness that I experienced when eating the processed, preserved, pre-made artificial crap that so many Americans call food.

I do eat fruit. Avocados are fruit, and I'm having a lot of them these days. I try to make use of the lemons from the lemon tree, too.

Hey Sandielynne, nice to see you! Work is sucking the free time out of my life along with my soul, 'tis true. Good job on the weights! You start where you start and then build from there. It's not a contest. The walking outside the is the best feeling, isn't it? I'm glad I have Misty who insists on her walk every day. I always enjoy it once I get out there, even if I don't always feel like doing it after work.

So mummy and diddy arrived yesterday afternoon. They seemed to really like the bathroom redo. They said the colors were beautiful, they spent time admiring all the little accessories, and said it was a warm and inviting bathroom. That was nice.

Bro arrives today. We have to go up to LAX to pick him up, which always sucks. But it must be done.

(another bike consideration; if you decide the road bike isn't going to be realistic, try a light weight, like aluminum, hardtail mountain bike with slicks...The weight difference(chrom-oly to aluminum) may be a huge benefit and you'll still have all the maneuverability... Or you might find a well fitting road bike to be maneuverable enough...) (good luck at LAX. Bleeech.)

Thanks, Jessica. Keep the tips coming. My bike is aluminum. It retailed for $850 15 years ago (though I only paid $250 for it, yay), so it is theoretically a quite good bike. But you're saying change the tires to slicks? Hmm. Never thought of that. Slicks plus a tune-up and a proper fitting might do the trick for me.

Off to the aeropuerto now. Bleeech.

That's exactly what I did. Road slicks, tune-up, fitting. For me, the fitting included swapping out to new handlebars to minimize pressure on my carpal tunnels. I am very happy with it.

Lisrey :*

Thanks for the info...

I thought it was the other way around...I though you shared the DSL...and had your own cable link?...Something like that!

Well the DSL is cheaper around here...but...I think their might be something wrong with my phone line...today...my phone is dead...hopefully its just the phone...when you call my ph# it rings and my voicemail picks up!...The computer boy working on my computer said that my computer worked just fine at his house (DSL)...he said I had 42 updates that needed to be downloaded for Microsoft?...He removed all the AOL crap (I know...three cheers for me)...and...the Norton I could not get off...he replaced it with some other anti-virus program...and he has updated and installed all new programs onto my computer!...All for free...I just have to pay for more memory....hopefully it will come home soon...boohoo!

Ok...I am off...have a great weekend!

mcmarto

Good morning. The whole family is here now (well, bro but not his wife or kid). I am teaching my women's sailing class today so they are going to take me to the harbor and then entertain themselves down there for the day.

Given your ongoing problems with your phone lines, mc, a cable modem is probably a better choice for you. That's great about all the things your friend did for it. Especially removing AOL!! Three cheers for McMarto!! The memory is cheap and you'll see a big difference in performance with it. Get thyself a cable modem and your computing/internet experience will be dramatically better. And AOL-free! You'll get to see the real internet, not the aolesque version that you're used to. Prepare to clear your mind of the brainwashing that's been done to you. Some people can't handle all that internet freedom and go running back to AOL. Just remember -- it's the brainwashing. The longer you are away the clearer your mind gets. In time, you'll wonder why you ever went with them in the first place. Be patient, be strong.

I can definitely relate to that bit about not wanting a workout on the way to work! Heck, sometimes even when I go walking outside and there is the slightest bit of dampness or wind, my hair is bad for the rest of the day...and since I often go early to minimize the sweating, that can be significant. The guy who sits across from me often walks two miles to work. But he is practically bald (and of course no make-up)!

Hahahahahaha...you are too funny!

Well...I did have a problem with my phone line...so I called the phone co. on Sunday...it was all automated...yes/no questions...it put me on hold for a minute then told me that it would be fixed by 5...an hour later my phone is ringing...they were in the alley...they had fixed the problem...a broken line!...Yahoo!

Now for me to get the cable modem is actually more of a hassle...mainly because they would have to come and run more cable in my apartment...it is also $18 more a month...plus I have to spend $80 on the equipment...sooooo...since we are hoping of moving soon...I do not want to invest that much...

Thanks for all the info and recommendations!!!

My computer should be back home by Friday...I think I may have a "Welcome Home" party for it!...hahahaha!

Hope you are having fun with your family!

mcmarto

Hello. How is your family? How was sailing? Is your mom back SBDing after seeing all your progress? Are you holding up ok? I heard that Terry bikes are designed with short women in mind.

Not that you're short.

You're just darn cute.

OK...so I have the DSL hook up...well...by next Tuesday...eeek...I cannot last another whole week without my computer...

PLUS...I think they did something on the computers at work...I cannot check my e-mail...not on AOL...boohoo!

mcmarto

Hi Kilogo,

Glad to see you are having a nice time with family and all. Not surprised they liked your remodeling of the bathroom. It sounded great to me, but then I know nothing of that kind of thing. Have no talent in that department whatsoever. Very limited imagination. That's my problem.........haha

Well, I did good with the weights one day, and then my shoulder hurt so bad I didn't touch them again since. I have been horrible where exercising is concerned. I don't know why but I just can't seem to get a routine going. Maybe it has something to do with the snow and all this crap we are getting. When it's really nice and sunny outside, I can't sit still. And even when I can't walk for very long, I am eager to do the best I can and thrilled to be able to do 15 minutes. I think I am over-anxious for Spring to finally arrive in earnest instead of teasing me.

I hear it has been terrible hot out there in sunny California. Talk about extremes, right? We have 8" of snow and expecting another 6" tomorrow, and you are cooking out there and probably can't breath without the air conditioning. Ha Ha.

Well, just had to stop by and say hello. I miss our chats a lot. I hope you had a good week and that your weekend will be just grand.

Hugs,
Sandie

OK...so he installed the McAfee anti-virus program on my computer...it keeps telling me people are attacking me...some kind of tear........is this true?...AND how are they really attacking me and why?

Hope you are having fun with your family!

mcmarto

Sigh. It's been a tough week. Hatred for this job and contempt for my co-workers is filling the void where my soul once was.

Family visting has been good. They leave tomorrow, which will be lovely, too.

Thanks for the tip on Terry Bikes, Chum. Hadn't heard of them before. Bikes for women only. Designed by a mechanical engineer who is an avid bicyclist and realized that bikes are built all wrong for women. So she designed a new one, properly. And you can order it over the internet. They have one for road work and 'the casual triathlon'. Whoo. $1200.

Or about $200 to get my mtn bike fitted and tuned and possibly slicked.

Hi Mc. Yay for the new computer. The internet is a dangerous place. You can turn off that notification.

Hi Sandielynne. We are having lovely cool fog these days. Too chilly to ride to work, even. That usually means the inland folks are hot. Get an exercise routine going, eh?

Hi Lutha. Being bald would definitely help. How's that working for you, Chum? Maybe I could just buzz my head super-short. My hair is limp-prone, too.

I am a bloated sow from all the eating out we've done with the parents. The bf leaves Monday for a business trip so Misty and I will have a chance to exist in peace and austerity by ourselves for a few days. That should help. Maybe I'll put an empty casserole dish in a cold oven, sit in front of it and contemplate the uselessness of my existence all night.

Sounds like fun, no?

eww. Sounds like happy kilo days?

Alot of the bikes out now can be altered to fit specific body types for less than Terry's, though they're great bikes. Alot of road bikes have a smaller triangle geometry that sits you more upright, even. (my Merlin Solis does.)(But I'm a tallish, long legged gal.) IF you already have an aluminum bike, I vote slicks and tune up. Then decide if you even want to continue doing the work you're doing. If it "pays (your) way but it corrodes (your) soul" (words from a fantastic Smiths song) than....ermmmm...maybe it ain't a great fit?

happier thoughts. :)

OMG.

I am howling. In pain. In laughter. In vacuity.

I hate it that your soul is being eaten by the evil job monsters. Perhaps you should look elsewhere? Can it be fixed there??? Ack. This is terrible, terrible news. Do tell.

I am relieved and pleased, though, that you had a lovely visit with the family pack. And their leaving will mean that you and I will get to chat again from time to time (when you are not busy eroding your soul and I am not busy sleeping).

Jess would have much better advice than I on bikes. Remember I've spent most of my existence these past couple of years as a slug. I know about Terry and they rock, but if Jess says "slicks" (whatever the hell that means" then do it, by all means. You two ARE, afterall, WINE buddies. Though it must be pointed out that she drinks $2.95 wine. I don't drink wine, but I think that must be rot gut or something.

Jess has great advice on bikes. $1200 is more than I want to pay for a bike right now, possibly ever. I am going the tune-up route unless the guy tells me my bike is just too wrong for me (very possible).

As for the job, I am sure it will not last long. I sort of have this goal to make it through probation, mainly because at this point I don't think I will. More because I will tell them to Fork Off and just leave one day than because they will choose not to keep me. 4 more months.

Though my boss did tell me yesterday that this place is best for people who fear and resist change, move slowly, and don't expect much. She's been there 2 years. People with creativity and passion tend to move on rather quickly, she said.

Great. Why don't they mention these things in the interview?

The price of wine has gone down dramatically. You can get quite good wine for less than $10 these days. Overproduction. Concha y Toro for $2.95 is a great price, and it's not rot gut. It's more of an afternoon casual wine. I've consumed my fair share of that brand over the years.

It's better than Trader Joe's Two-Buck Chuck.

Speaking of TJ's, they are selling a bundle of cut daffodils for 99 cents. Take them home, plop them in water, and it 2 days you have the most gorgeous bouquet. Beautiful. I love daffodils.

OK. Poopy on Chum.

Poopy on Chum's poopy wine criticism.

Poopy on Chum'y poopy expensive bikes.

Poopy also on the evil employer's dishonesty about job during interview process. Didn't your friend recommend this job to you? Poopy on evil recommending friend who probably also drinks Two Buck Chuck.

I think daffodils are quite charming. Especially the teeny tiny ones.

I heart daffs. Lots are out right now. I will take a p-foto for you, Chum (and kilo. Cuz it's kilo's journal. And she defended my rot gut :D )

Hey Kil!

I did not know you disliked your job that much!!!

Hopefully...eventually...you will be able to move!

I am moving on after 6 years at my current school...my first year was terrible...my 2nd good...my 3rd year was like hell on earth...year 4 was getting better...year 5 was terrible...I should have left then...but noooooo I stuck it out for year 6...eeek...

Enjoy your few days alone with Misty...hope your weekend is nice!

mc

Kilo - I hated my job and my butt got canned for it (I guess it showed.. then again, telling him to start looking for someone else didn't help.. jerks).. I would climb the walls if I had a job where creativity is squashed! Oy!

I hope you get a relaxing weekend.

Corinna

Hey Corinna, welcome to the journal. Vocally hating a job is a good way to get canned, 'tis true. This is my current challenge, I guess. I am beginning to think stoic silence is my best move until the bank account swells to an acceptable point again.

My other challenge is to not dwell on this forking work situation on my days off and evenings. That's just not right.

I bought myself a lovely new dress watch just now (overstock.com), and I am delighted with that decision. It's purty. Not too pricey. Did you know you can pay $25,000 for a women's dress watch? I mean, of course you can. But who would? Not me.

Hi Mc. 6 years at a job that sucks! You have decided to move on now?

Hi Jess. Concha y Toro! It is a delightfully sour wine, no? We buy it often when travelling in Mexico or South America. It reminds me of a snip of one of my favorite poems (this bit is about a man who is trying to sell his brew at a local pub):

'Tis true the stuff I bring for sale
Is not so brisk a brew as ale.
Out of a stem that scored the hand
I wrung it from a weary land.
But take it; if the smack is sour
All the better for the embittered hour.

Yeah I'm reading the good happy stuff these days.

Hi Poopy Chum. I don't think they poopy lied to me. It just didn't come up. Maybe I should ask that in the next poopy interview, "oh by the way, is the company similar to a police state?" You're right about my friend. Misleading b@stard. Though he's not in my dept. He deals with the actual processing of the, um, product that my company handles whereas I am in computers and doing the same things I would be doing for any company, no matter its purpose. I wonder if his dept is different. Or if he's a small, mean, backstabbing, petty little man and I just never noticed before.

Hope not. He has been there 20 years, though.

The parentals and sibling are gone. I have sucked up the leaves of winter with my nifty leaf sucker/chopper and deposited them in the compost pile. The bf weed-whacked the tall grass of spring and the yard looks somewhat orderly again. I am taking a little wine break right now. mmmm. Rancho Zabaco zin, if anyone cares. $7/bottle and a mighty fine afternoon wine.

Thank you for the welcome! :)

I used to work for Gucci, so yes, I know how much people will pay for god awful ugly things! *shudder*

I hope you are enjoying your wine and I bet the dress looks fab on you.

Corinna

Sorry about the job trouble. I think you are wise to wait it out a little while and gain a little financial independence before throwing in the towel, but nothing says you can't work and look at the same time... I hear you on not dwelling on work while you are off. It's tough, especially when you are overwhelmed with work like me. Last time I remember you talking about workload you were bored, I think? Has that changed yet?

Good for you, treating yourself to the watch! And the daffodils! My daffs in my front bed are about 3" out of the ground now... Spring is going to spring here someday.

Lisrey :flower:

hmmmmm....perhaps friend's position in life has tainted his job judgement?

The CyT Merlot is....mmmm...perhaps sourer than others, but has a sort of bright and refreshing pop to it; the Carmenere was ....sour...but a bit like the last few Beaujolais Nouveau's have been. Am now having Zin envy. And Cali warmth envy.

Hello Kilogo,

So the family are gone, the BF is or will be gone and it will be just you and the Misty gal. Sounds nice to me. Glad you had such a nice visit with your family though. Always important to share time with loved ones.

I am so sorry that your job has turned into such a bad one. It sounded like it had so much going for it, and then pffftt, what a let-down eh?

I must say though that I'm jealous just thinking about you lounging outside under the breeze of your avacado tree enjoying the nice weather and the GREEN grass.......:c( :c( Oh, I wish, I wish, I wish.........

Hugs,
Sandie

I didn't know there were different wines for different times of day. This information lends a whole new meaning to the prospect of drinking to me. What is a delightful breakfast wine? Is there a good TOM wine? Something salty perhaps? Or a bit chocolaty? hee hee

Oh the leaf mulching chopping business must have been satisfying. I wonder how the movie Fargo might have ended differently if they'd used a leaf blower instead of a wood chipper to dispose of the body. Food for thought I guess. Coen brothers latest movie was dreck anyway.

I looked for you yesterday but you were nowhere to be found. I realize now that you were composting and imbibing. Sounds like a delightfully relaxing way to spend a Saturday afternoon!

Btw, I truly cannot imagine spending $25 grand on a watch. That is insanity to me. But you knew I'd say that didn't you? (Was that a trap??? hahaha)

Have a splendiforous day my friend!

Of course there are, Chum. Champagne is the traditional breakfast wine. Some adulter it with orange juice to make a mimosa. I like a hearty thick cab for TOM. There are chocolately wines, and wines that blend perfectly with chocolate. You can find peppery zins, which I absolutely love. Good wines contain myriad flavors and hints of flavors, like blackberry, vanilla, sage . . . the grapes pick up the subtle flavors of the soils they come from, you see.

The cheaper wines don't have much for complexity that way.

I know, you don't care.

You white zin drinkers have no idea what I'm talking about.

I looked for you yesterday, too, but you were either already in bed or still out having your lovely lobster dinner. You were not about when I was having my wine/dt break, either. Pfft.

Hey Sandielynne! Sad but true about the job. Excitement and then letdown. Ah well. Experiencing emotions, good and bad, let us know we're alive, right?

Hi Jess. Delightful pop, yes. I don't think I've had the Carmererer wine you mentioned. Don't like Beaujolais. Too light for me. I like the thick strong stuff.

Hi Lisrey. I am envious of your horsie lessons! Enjoy that for all of us, ok?

Hi Corinna. Gucci? That must have been interesting. I will never understand that paying for a name brand thing. Paying for quality, yes. But just so people can say, 'oooo, you spent a ton of money on that . . . .' Nah.

:o I (occasional;ly) add oj to my champers (in the am)--it makes my feel I've somehow "upped" its nutritional value. (Hah.)...Then again, I also used to drink white zin, and enjoy it. :o

Sometimes oj is a necessary thing in champers. If the champers is crappy to begin with (like you get in restaurants), oj makes it palatable.

I posted too quickly above and left out half of my lovely visitors. I edited it rather than post again. Oops.

So did you all build a bonfire in the backyard, paint your naked bodies with mud and frolic through the wee hours celebrating the vernal equinox last night?

Good for you.

what is champers or white zin?

Actually, I worked for YSL Beauté, which are owned by Gucci.. But we housed their fashions.. We had this ostrich bag and shoes that made one's feet look like they had WARTS on them!!! And they were $3K! *shudder*

I'd do Tom Ford for $1, though.. though he'd be more interested in most any man. Hmph. Then again, he resigned from Gucci this year, I hear.

Blah blah blah.. Lost it's glamour after they laid me off. Hehehe

Corinna

Champers = champagne
White zin = white zinfandel, a sweet wine reminiscent of soda pop. Alcoholic 7-up, if you will. With a pink tinge.

$3K for ugly shoes. What a wild and crazy world that must be. Vive la difference, I guess.

I need input from the doggie experts here. Misty did something last night that shocked and amazed me.

We give Misty a bath about once a month, you see. We close the doors and block off her dog door and sort of herd her into the bathroom. Once there, the bf picks her up and puts her in the bathtub. She hates that part. She snaps at him, tries to run and hide, tucks her tail, growls and snaps some more, and generally makes it very difficult to get her in the tub.

Once that battle is won, though, she stands stoically and endures the bathing process. When we're done, I towel her off, then she does her giddy romp through the house going, 'I'm a wet dog! I'm a clean dog! I'm a clean wet dog!" She seems to really enjoy being wet and clean.

Typical dog wash, in other words.

So last night we got ready to bathe her. She recognized the signs and tried to flee to the back yard. We were one step ahead of her, though, and got her trapped in the bathroom before she got cranky. Then -- the shock. She jumped into the bathtub. All on her own. Just hopped right in as if to say, 'ok, let's get this over with.'

WTF? Why would a 7-yr-old dog all of the sudden decide a bath isn't so bad and she'd be better off to cooperate? Why oh why? This just doesn't match any concept of dog behaviour that I have. I'd appreciate any insight any of you might have into this.

Maybe she has finally lost her mind.

Maybe you and BF are such expert trainers that after 7 years she has finally learned what to do. You know how long it takes to train a dog. Look how long it took to teach her how to twirl.

Maybe she has a boyfriend.

Maybe she wanted to celebrate the spring equinox.

Maybe she is going through a mid-life crisis.

(Don't let her around any boats or giraffe biscuits.)

Number 1 - very likely

2 - nah. We got her as an adult dog 2 yrs ago.

3 - nah. She's spayed.

4 - could be. She is mamma's dog, after all. But does one need to be clean for that? I think not.

5 - could be. She is mamma's dog, after all. She might make a great boat dog. She'd probably eat giraffe biscuits if lost at sea and starving, too.

What did you do for exercise this weekend, dear Kill?

What did you buy at Trader Joe's?

What have you been eating?

Are you still doing weights??

Do you still drink that green stuff?

Just thought I'd enquire about your health habits. Pfft.

I couldn't agree with this more: http://www.msmagazine.com/Editor_Martha.htm

Let's not forget our outrage when Bush's buddy Kenny Lay gets off with nothing but a little slap on the wrist. I just don't see what we can do about it. Except vote that mealy-mouthed liar out of office this November.

My eating and exercising habits are boring even me, Chum, so I shan't go into them now.

A little tidbit that I think is a sign of the squashed humanity in my co-workers from years of working in such an Orwellian environment, though. I have been drinking the green stuff for years. It does look vile. Thick and dark green. I call it my swamp water. At every place I ever worked I got loud, negative responses to it. Gawd! What is that foul stuff you're drinking? Bleah!! Gross! You're nuts! That kind of thing. But here, not a word. Everyone has seen it, no one says a thing. Lack of interest? Lack of curiosity? Fear of persecution somehow? I dunno. But it's weird.

Hey girl!

I have only disliked my job in the last 2 years...year 5...I contemplated not going back...but my assistant was going to become my teaching partner...so we had plans to have our classrooms work together...blah...blah...blah...well...she does teach my students Science...and I teacher her students fine arts...but that is pretty much it...

I ended up with that awful man as my assistant this year...so I finally gave my notice...during week 8...I gave them a 32 week notice...hahahaha!

Thanks for all the wine info...I still haven't had one I liked...but I guess I am just not a wine person........

mcmarto

Damn weird.

They see too much pain and loneliness and boredom in their miserable jobs I suppose to notice your strange-o queer-o grass drinks.

So, I won't ask about your food intake. Or your exercise. Yawn.

Can I ask how you are doing all by your lonesome without BF? Are you doing the little Tom Cruise dance in your undies and sunglasses (wait, he lives in your neighborhood, perhaps you just invited him over for the dance)? Have you been eating stew the entire time he's been away?

Sigh. I'm not too interesting myself. I'm forced to come up with a poem or something.

There once was a gal named Kill,
Her coworkers watched her drink her green algae-like swill
Without even a twitch
Not a, "what's that crap, you weirdo beoitch?"
So, Kill drank her swill with absolutely nil of a grill or a
Thrill.

HA HA HA HA

Now HOW do I follow an act like that????


First off Kilo with her remark about the dirty liar in office at the moment, and then Chum with her "poetry?"

I will make note that like Mc, I've yet to find a wine I like either. I have tried a few, some weren't as bad as others, but to my tastebuds, none of them were good enough to have more than one of. And the worst of them was Champagne and Sparkling something or other.......haha

Kilo, good old Chum has agreed to make me steamed artichoke when I visit. Now isn't that sweet of her? I wonder if she will also take me to the produce market and show me how to choose a good ripe one as well. I thought I remembered her saying at some point that there was such a place near by, but that could be just my aging memory that doesn't always function correctly.

Anyhoo, I wanted to say hello and see how you was doing.

Hugs,
Sandie

Oh gosh...you must be having too much fun...especially if I beat you back here!...Girllllllllllllllllll!

Well...I have my new DSL hook up...of course with just a few problems...but I got it up and running today!...

Yahoo!

mcmarto

Hi hi hi. Sadly, I am not having fun. But the bf has returned safe and sound, so I guess it's life back to normal. This is a good thing.

Whoo for the DSL, Mc. You will likely become a true internet addict now. Sped up and AOL-free.

Hi Sandielynne. A proper artichoke, whoo whoo!! I'm sure you will have quite the adventure with our fun Chum. Be prepared for her looking like a little girl, though. She looks nowhere near her real age.

Have you read this? from http://www.fractioustimes.com/moat/ : "Here's a fascinating (and frightening) collection of documents from the file collection of former US Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill. Particularly interesting to me was the meeting agenda from February 1st 2001 - the first week of the Bush Administration - containing items such as Political-Military Plan for Post-Saddam Iraq Crisis."

I actually read a long time ago that a plan to topple regimes in the Middle East, starting with Iraq, then Iran, then Syria, then others as necessary, was developed during the Reagan administration. Dubya is just the first president stupid enough and Cheney the first VP evil enough to actually go through with it.

Hey Chumalum. Thanks for the poem. You are so very witty. All the wine edification was for you and now my gentle readers think I am trying to get them to drink it. Nay, nay, nay.

I stepped on the scale today and am a solid 126, so I am pleased that I am 'maintaining' despire the parental weekend. I do need to get my arse in gear and get a more rigorous workout program going. Now that life is back to 'normal' I will do so.

I am sailing on a new boat this Sunday. A little bitty boat, crew of two, me and a buddy. Could be fun.

Oh wow...it does sound like fun!

The DSL action is good...I actually was more of a computer addict 2 or 3 years ago...it has slowed down...sometimes I find myself sitting at the computer thinking of what to look up!...hahaha...this never used to happen to me before!

mcmarto

Hi Mc. I hope it's fun. We shall see. Little bitty boats tend to tip over when you race them hard (or don't know what you're doing), so I may get wet this Sunday. That'll be interesting.

It's high time to get off my lazy butt and get the weight-loss program back in gear. A month's hard push should get me comfortably into the teens. Now there's a goal.

We start spring training on the softball team next week. I don't know if this all-female team will come together. 20 expressed an initial interest, now only 7 have committed to actually playing the whole season on the team. I'm going to drag the bf to the park tomorrow and make him play catch with me to see if I can still catch & throw. And field a ground ball. It's been many years. I'm hoping it's like riding a bike and will come back quickly.

Off to lift weights. Have a great day, all.

WOW...hopefully the team will come together!

I have not played softball since grade school!...Eeek!

My goal this weekend...get to the gym...and...get the treadmill working again...if not...if weather permits...go for a nice walk near the lake!...

Hey guess what?...Day 3 and I cannot log on to my DSL line...I spent an hour on the line with two different guys...they finally got me back on...eeek!...I had to shut off my firewall...is this good or bad?...

Have a nice weekend!

mcmarto

Yay! Have fun sailing the little boat and playing catch. I personally am the worst softball player on Earth. I have no depth perception, so I swing either way too early or way too late. And I can't catch a pop-up -- it is more likely to hit me on the head! (Feel free to laugh hysterically at this -- it is pretty funny to see... Actually a big reason I hated exercise as a kid, though.)

Good luck with your "hard push!"

Lisrey :D

It is amazing how much about athleticism has to do with eyesight. I have come to realize that I got very lucky that way. Counting my blessings here.

Mc -- that's to be expected. They'll work out the kinks eventually, one hopes. It'll stay up for longer stretches of time, anyway. Let's guess on that firewall thing. All those attack warnings? Well now there's nothing stopping them from succeeding in the attack. Don't keep anything important on a non-firewalled computer, like bank or credit card numbers or such.

Hi Lisrey. I would never laugh hysterically at you. A small chuckle with you, perhaps, but not at you.

I got my hair cut very short today. The bf is the only man I've ever encountered who actually prefers short hair, so he's happy. I truly don't care very much, so long as it's easy to deal with and stays out of my eyes. Mission accomplished on that front.

Then we went to the bike shop. We being Misty and I. Taking a brain-addled dog shopping doesn't make for the most serene shopping experience.

But it was educational. I took my mtn bike in and told the guy that I wanted to have a fitting done. His eyes bugged out and said, 'that bike?'

Yeah.

'For you?'

Yeah.

"Um, no," he said. That's pretty much what I figured. My bike is just wrong for me. So I told him what I need in a bike. A short commute bike, 4 miles on pavement and a groomed gravel path. I want to get there faster and more easily than I'm getting there now. I have no intentions of riding longer distances than that or really riding it anywhere else. (Fork the triathlon idea, that's just not going to happen any time soon).

They led me to the hybrid bikes. That looks the perfect bike style for me. I got off my high horse and realized that a higher-end bike is just wasted money in my situation (whoosh). I'm looking at around $400 for one of these.

But then the problem arose. I asked the guy if they could fit a small woman like me. He shrugged and said, 'sure.' Then we tried a few bikes and the fit was not great. He looked in his catalog for a smaller one and said that was the smallest frame they made (15"). They call it their women's xs size and it's still too big. He started talking about dumping the shock-seat to a standard one that adjusts farther and such, but didn't have an answer for the slightly-too-long top stem.

I'm 5'2", people. Most bikes are just not designed to fit anyone smaller than 5'5".

So I came home and looked at the Terry Bikes again. For my height, they make a lovely hybrid ($450) with 24" wheels. They contend it is impossible to keep the geometry of the bike correct for the small woman without going to the smaller wheels. If you keep the standard 26" wheels, you have to sacrifice here and there so much that you make for an inefficient and less powerful stroke, thus losing the benefit in speed that the bigger wheels would give a taller person.

But do I believe them? Sigh. Tough decision. I just don't know enough about it. Component for component, the Trek hybrid looks to be a much better deal for the money. But it truly won't fit as well as the Terry. But it'll fit a heck of a lot better than what I've been riding and for my whopping 4 mile rides it'll probably be ok.

Decisions, decisions. Further research is required. I can go back to the bike shop (without Misty) and test ride a few bikes. They don't rent or demo bikes other than a test ride around the block, sadly.

I can also order the Terry bike and ride it for two weeks. If I decide I don't like it, I can send it back and am out the cost of shipping ($25). Probably both ways, so say $50.

Any input here is appreciated (jess). Just remember -- 5'2". 30" inseam (with shoes).

Kilo,

I'm 5'0" with a 28" inseam. My bike is the 15" frame Trek hybrid (800 Antelope) with small tires. I don't ride much, but I want to ride more. I got the re-fit at the end of last year and the road slicks. I think I'm finally happy with this bike that I bought in 1992... I do have a hard time keeping up with my Sweetie as his bike is a road bike that's quite tall compared to mine (he's 6'3"). The tire size really does make a difference in how much ground you cover.

Can't tell you anything about the bike you're comparing, but if you can test it out that sounds like a good first step. Good luck to you on your choice!

Lisrey :*

Hi Kilo,

I'm the wrong one to be giving advice about a bike. I don't have a clue. But you might ask CJ. I remember back about 18 months or so when she was checking out a lot of bikes. She just might already know who would have the best type or style for you. She always does a lot of research on everything. I assume she probably did on the bikes too. Hey, it can't hurt to ask, right?

Otherwise, thanks for stopping in for a visit. It was good to see your message the other day. And yes, Chumlette has agreed to make me some "good" artichoke and I have agreed to eat them. Now I will just have to trust you both and hope that my tastebuds agree with yours..........LOL

Take care and have a nice weekend sailing.
Hugs,
Sandie

Hi ladies! Must be a DT evening. CJ rides road bikes, long distances. Whole different ballgame than what I am looking for. I seem to remember she paid $1,500 for her last bike, too. Plus, I think she actually likes to ride a bike. I don't. I just want to get to work without a car.

Can't wait for the artichoke report, Sandielynne! I am expecting you to be shocked and amazed at the difference in flavor between that and the nasty pickled preserved ones that you have tried.

That's my biggest concern with the Terry bike, Lisrey -- the wheel size. If my whole goal is to get there faster then getting a bike with small wheels might just defeat that. Most of the time I lean towards the Trek 7100, 7200, or 7300 bikes.

But if I get a bike that fits perfectly, will I ride more comfortably and thus achieve my sweat-free arrival goal? I just don't know.

I don't see how you could keep up with a 6'3" man on a bike, no matter what bike you rode. I'd be insisting on a tandem if I were you.

Ooo. REI sells this type of bike, too. In a 14" frame.

While at the REI site I had to poke through their outlet store items and ended up with a new waterproof/breathable jacket for sailing and some clothing.

I bought a new sport watch (chrono/countdown) yesterday. The dress watch I ordered the other day arrived, and it's very cool.

The new bike is definitely in my near future.

So I am on a consumeristic rampage. I am either making up for a year of unemployed austerity or am trying to make myself happier through purchases. Maybe both.

Mmmmmm. Bike stuff. Smaller bike=more comfort, less speed. But you *can* get set up reasonably comfortably on a 15" frame. I'll talk more to Shawn, the resident expert, and see what he says. :)

Thanks for the info ... now I am scared...I actually enjoyed the firewall when it told me it was blocking stuff...will I never be able to put it back on???...Boohoo!!!

Good luck with the bike search...hopefully you will find a nice one...anyplace where you can look for a used one?

mcmarto

I'd call your DSL people and tell them you need to use a firewall. Have them recommend one that works with their setup. Maybe they even provide one, Mc.

I bought a bike. REI came through for me. I rode a bunch of bikes around their parking lot and picked the one I like. 14" frame. 700 tires. Hybrid. Rides a lot better than my existing bike. Cheap (for a bike) -- $400. I think it's the right bike for me, though.

Jess -- ask Shawn this for me if you would. But don't if it's going to draw his wrath on me or something. But when bike shop guys see a short woman like me asking for a bike that actually fits, do they roll their eyes and just try to slap her into whatever bike they have on the floor? Or is that just my pre-conceived notion of their attitude?

I guess that's a silly question. Of course they just try to push what's on the floor. Not their fault the mfgs don't build for shorties and so have nothing real to offer.

Anyway, they are building my bike now and it should be ready for final fitting on Monday. I can't wait.

The bf and I threw the softball around today, and it was ugly. I have lost it. Or it is severely crusted over with rust. I can't throw, I can't gauge a long popup, and I can't snag an odd hop. I struggled through just the throwing bit until it got a little better. I hope this talent I used to have comes back at least in some limited form. This could be really embarassing. We are going to continue practicing every eve until I feel better about this.

I painted half of the living room today. Green. Will do the rest next weekend. I'm tired. I sail tomorrow, so can't do it then.

The bf had a big feast planned for today. He bought all the stuff and was going to cook all day long. He came home after bike shopping, laid down, and napped all day. He's cooking now. I imagine we'll eat around midnight. Pffft.

This is an interesting read: http://ofb.diaryland.com/032304.html And actually on-topic for this site, too. Wow.

Interesting article kilogo.
What **** for a woman who is only a size 16!
By the way, I wouldn't waste my time or money on Playboy "articles" regardless of my gender! :laugh:

Congrats on the new bike!...I bet you can't wait to get your hands...and feet on it!

Good read...I have a friend here...single...29...size 16...has a low self-esteem because she can't meet a guy...she blames it all on her weight...HELLO...we always have to remind her that not all men are interested in...and...if it is...she doesn't want him anyways...What happens when she is a size 6 and gains ???...Will he leave her then...???

mc

Yay for finding a bike you like! :party: I will be very interested in hearing what you think when you get it. My bike is heavy but I want to prove to myself that I will ride before I can justify replacing it. I hope the re-fit that I did late last summer will make the difference... that and my (hopefully) strengthened leg muscles.

Thought-provoking article. Thanks for sharing.

Did you have any fun throwing the ball around? Did you find yourself sore afterward? I'll bet that your skills will improve by leaps and bounds over the first few days getting back at it. And through your softball season you will certainly find your old stuff again. Enjoy yourself!

Lisrey :spring:

Actually, Kilo, SHawn and I were just talking about you today (specifically, Short Womens' Bike Issues.)

I think it depends on the shop, whether you get the eye-rolling, show you something on the floor experience. Some "volume, volume, VOLUME!!!" shops just wanna get you out the door on a bike, who cares whether it fits or not. Some are interested in getting you to get in the saddle and have an enjoyable experience. I like to think Shawn's shop is one of the latter.

What was really funny, to me, was when my girlfriend got a bike in Seattle shop, a big, reputable dealer; A chick fitted her, she was happy with her bike. Until she sat on mine. SHe saw how much less effort mine took to get up the hills, how much more comfortable mine was in terms of body position. I sat on hers and thought I was gonna die, I was hunched and scrunched, I felt like a gorilla on a tricycle. She did get a great bike, a great deal. Infact, she got the bike I originally thought I would get. But Shawn and his coworkers went above and beyond on fit.... Really, nothing to do with your experience, but everything to do with service, and the benefits of having someone take the time to really look at you on the bike.

:) Congrats on your new baby!! :)

Oh how I wish someone would take the time to fit me properly for a bike. Next time I have 1.5K burning a hole in my pocket, can I fly up and ask Shawn and his co-workers find and fit just the right bike for me? Or is that reserved for significant others?

I don't know that my REI boy was great, but he was patient. I had done enough homework by this point that I pretty much knew what I wanted.

Shoot -- sorry all. I must write to you individually next time. Dinner has arrived. But thanks for visiting.

Sailing today was awesome, btw. I liked the little bitty boat.

Indonesian feast leftovers. Mmmmm.

Hi Kilo,

I'm waiting to see how the new bike goes for you too. To be honest, reading your journal has been a real eye opener for me. I never knew "fitting" for a bike was such an in-depth type of thing or that it really made such a significant difference either. Whe I bought my bike, I just looked for one that didn't split me up the middle and with pedals I could reach. I am not as short as you are, but I have a very small inseem. About 28" I believe. I know when I can I always buy my slacks in a petite for the shorter length. Otherwise they drag the ground.

After reading all this about being fitted to a bike, I'm wondering if I could be more comfortable and sure of myself on one that was a proper fit. The last time I rode my bike (it's a mountain bike) I weighed about 40 lbs less than I do now. So I am terrified to even get on it and try being as heavy as I am, for fear of injuring myself. Going downhill, I always feel as though I'm about to go right over the handlebars. And I can only ride it sitting in the seat. Standing and pedaling is just no possible. But that could be because I hadn't ridden for such a long time too. I'm almost afraid to even try it.........haha

Anyway, I was roaming the neighborhood and wanted to say hello. I hope you have a great week. It was just super here today.

Luv ya sista!
Sandie

:c(

The bike "fitting" didn't go well.

The bike is too big for me. 14" frame and still too big. For starters, despite the stated standover height, I had zero clearance on the top bar.

The guys in the shop are clueless, too. Fitting means adjusting the seat height to them.

Maybe fitting is only important in road bikes. I don't know. They told me this hybrid is fitted based on comfort alone. Well, hello, comfort comes from proper fit. Dorks.

I pointed out to the boy that this bike was clearly too big for me, and only after showing him why did he agree. He certainly didn't notice on his own. They sell this model in a 12.5" frame. We are going to try that. It should be ready for me tomorrow or the next day. I don't have high hopes for getting anyone who really knows what they are doing there, though. Sadly.

If this bike doesn't just blow me away I am going to get a refund and go with the Terry bike. $100 more and the small tires, but Terry seems to be the only ones who even address my size issues.

Sigh. I am tired of bike shopping. I'm sure reading about this is just all kinds of fascinating to you, too. Though yes, Sandielynne, you'd feel a lot more comfortable on a bike that's properly fitted to you. More stable, more comfortable, less effort to ride it so less fatigue. Better all around.

Hi Jessica. You and Shawn talked about me! That's kinda funny. It's great that you got a bike that's perfect for you. You must love to ride it.

Hi Lisrey. Yes, the arm is a bit sore, but not as much as I'd expected. We start spring training tomorrow. Yikes. I can only but hope for the best and that I don't suck completely out in front of my new teammates for the first time.

Hi Mc & Aria. Glad you liked that page. Turns out someone from Playb0y read her site and then sent her an email asking her to put that reply into a letter to them so they can publish it.

I am short also, 28 inch inseam, and although I don't aspire to a really good bike finding one that isn't too big is a problem. I don't ride for miles and miles so don't need much but I do need one that I can get on and off of.

Carol.

Sorry about the bike...hope it all works out...

mc

Actually, I am finding it all hugely interesting. I find bicycling very uncomfortable. My knees hurt, my ass hurts, my hips hurt. I am not as short as you guys, but I just went and bought a bike. When I went to the bike store last summer to get it "fitted" (per CJ's instructions), they adjusted the seat. And everything still hurts. I have no idea whether I would like biking otherwise. DLIP would certainly be delighted if I would like it. Can't afford a new bike now though. I'm anxiously awaiting the latest developments. This is better than "Dallas."

I LOVE the gorilla on a tricycle description.

Hi Chum, Mc, Carol, et al. This is a pretty good site if this topic really interests you: http://www.coloradocyclist.com/bikefit/

The bike is built but I had softball practice tonight so I will pick it up tomorrow, perhaps at lunch. Or after work. These half-hour lunches are often an inconvenience.

Softball practice went better than expected. I was throwing much better. I fielded well enough, all things considered. There is hope. Not many womens showed up. Many sent emails promising to show up next week, though. The jury is still out on whether we'll make a team or not. Those who did show are competent players. If only we had a power hitter or two, I think we might be able to pull out a win or two during the season. Or at least give the mens a run for their money.

We took third in the little bitty boat regatta, btw. The owner of the boat, Bob (Bitty Boat Bob?), was giddy about that. "Our first time sailing together and we took third!" He has grand plans of dominating the fleet soon. We shall see. It was a lot of fun. I intend to sail with him further.

The bf made tilapia with an onion/tomatillo sauce for dinner. Avocado stuffed with corn & red bell peppers as a side. Mmmm.

ahhhh, Chum. Knees, ass and hips are, regrettably, a "time in saddle thing." Truly, that *does* improve. You may want to find a more comfy saddle, though(and actually, the knee thing sort of concerns me, though it could be a strength issue, joints not accustomed to so much fussin'.) And, no, Kilo, that sort of service isn't reserved for spousal types, although most of the bikes sold as a result of custom fitting tend to be higher end. Unless you're the bog-standard basic human. So, yeah, bring your 1.5 K, not 350. :) Your foods sound amazing. ANd congrats on the fantastic boating experience!! very cool, that(as well as another pound, gone!)

MMMMM...sounds good all right!

mc

Yeah, I didn't buy a high-end ultra-cool ultra-expensive impress-your-friends rule-the-triathlon bike. I bought a bike that'll get me my 4 miles to work and back comfortably. $400. How many hungry children will $400 feed, Chum? $400 is actually a fair amount of change. Unless you're talking about bikes, of course. Then it's sneer-city.

Of course, I think that any bike should fit properly. Even this crappy little cheap-ass $400 one has myriad adjustment possibilities. Someone ought to possess the knowledge and the willingness to move these adjustments appropriately for me.

I still don't think that's asking too much. Though I gave up on expecting it from the REI bozos and just took the bike home with no fitting whatsoever. Why bother if they don't know what they're doing anyway? Or aren't willing to do anything for my lowly bike. Or a combination of both.

So took the bike home and messed with it myself, getting it adjusted to suit me. That will be a work in progress, since this is not my profession and I've only read about it, never practiced it. I rode the new bike and then my old one and I definitely like the new one better.

This morning I packed up, jumped on the bike, and headed off to work. All was well. Those shock-absorbers on the stem and forks are interesting. A whole different feel to the ride. I made it about a mile down the road when I realized that I forgot my badge. Fork. I turned around and went home. It was too late, so I drove to work. Pffft. I got two miles on the bike, at least. It felt good. Can't wait to ride it to work on Monday.

The bf and I are also planning to ride the bikes to the beach and then up to the tourista area of town to have breakfast. That'll break the bike in nicely.

Jessica is right, of course, Chum. Time in the saddle soon gives you bike butt and then it doesn't hurt any more. Your knees shouldn't hurt. Ride short distances to build up the strength in the legs/knees/lungs before doing long distances. You'll be a much happier rider for it.

Hi Mc!
No work tomorrow. Going to finish painting the living room.

Hi Kilo,

I'm afraid when looking at my purse, what you paid for that bike makes it very high-end compared to what I use, when I use it. Mine barely soaked me $100 + change. Of course, for what I know about bikes, I still felt that was quite a bit of change. But it suits me fine when I get the guts to ride it. About 3 years back, Lew and I did a lot of riding, and it seemed to do just fine for these back country dirt roads. Lew was even able to ride his right up the hill. I never had the strength to do that myself, but as time wore on, I was getting closer to achieving that goal. Then I put the bike away for the winter, gained humungous weight that winter, and never tried to ride it since. I know I should, but I'm afraid the added weight will throw me off balance. So I prefer to wait until I get below 200 lbs. at least. Then I'll give it a go again. I would like nothing better than for that to happen this year. I think I need a miracle??

I'm glad you were able to at least "test ride" your new bike, and found it comfortable good for your requirements. It should be great fun riding with the bf too.

Just wanted to stop in and say hello. Hope you are taking good care of yourself. It sounds like you are. I miss ya kiddo.

Hugs,
Sandie

Wow, your bicycle shopping and fitting experience sounds pretty daunting! Also, I obviously have very little idea what bicycles cost. I would be extremely reluctant to spend more than a few hundred dollars...if that...unless I felt certain that it was something I would really stick with. I know that you don't have my problem of trying and discarding exercise modes, but still you have already invested much time and energy in addition to money. I hope that this bike gives you lots of fun.

You definitely deserve a little consumer indulgence after your time of unemployed austerity.

You mentioned that you painted half of your living room green the other day. I finally have finished the first coat of green in my living room (did the roller portions yesterday while stuck at home with my eye infection), and I'm very happy with it so far. Of course considering how long it has taken me to get to this point, it might be another two weekends before I am done.

Actually, I didn't mean to imply that $400 was a sneerable amount of money; *that's* the $5.00 garage sale huffy with rusted out pedals. I'm sorry the fine folks at REI didn't do their jobs better. Shame on them. In my world, $400 is alot of money. :)

I didn't think you were sneering at my bike, Jess. You've been very helpful in my bike quest here. I was talking about my ongoing problem with the attitude at the bike shops. $400 is a lot in my world, too.

Lutha! Hope you're feeling better. What shade of green are you doing? Mine is, um, between an olive green and a forest green. "Broadleaf" is the name but of course that's meaningless. This is a very easy room to paint so I have high hopes of finishing today. Turns out this room only needs one coat. I bought enough of the paint for two coats, so I may have to do another room in this color.

I just went back and re-read a few pages of this journal and it does look like my $400 sneer rampage was based on your post, Jess. Sorry about that. I really didn't mean it that way. Maybe your mention of $350 reminded me of how the bike people are reacting to my request to fit my bike, but that's all. Sorry I came across that way towards you.

Painting is done! Whoo. Mid-project the FedEx guy knocked on my door and delivered a very-late 1099 statement from my forking former employers. The forking b@stards. I knew that they had failed to submit it on time, of course. It's just irritating that they finally get around to performing their legal obligations with a 'we apologize for the inconvenience.' Grrrrrrrr. I hate that company.

But interestingly enough, I made more last year mostly unemployed than I will this year working at this soul-sucking job. I can't repeat that, though, because most of it was either the booted-out-the-door "bonus" payoff or Unemployment monies.

Sigh. Money. Property Taxes. Car registration (with smog certificate). I recently had to re-register my dog, even, which also meant a rabies shot at the vet. All this responsibility in my life is wearying, sometimes. My Enneagram, Lisrey, says that I can be an austere person who finds possessions to be confining obligations. That is certainly true at times in my life.

I mentioned to possibility of removing ourselves from this rat race to the bf by selling some our properties, buying a boat, and cruising around the world for the rest of our days. Or until we get tired of it. Me being heavily involved in boating world, this is a dream that most of us share. Not being involved in boating, this has been a very alien concept to the bf. But this time, he embraced the idea. He's been spending his spare hours online researching boats and all aspects of the cruising life. He keeps asking me questions like, "does a cell phone work out at sea?" and "how do you power your tv or stereo on an ocean crossing?" Good questions. I'm glad he's thinking logistically about this. We're talking about buying a boat now, a small one, to get involved in the boating life as a couple and do the cruise to Catalina thing on the weekends and such now. Learning what we'll need to know for when/if we do the big plunge and leave this all behind. Say 10 yrs from now?

It is a lovely dream, anyway. If we want it enough, we can certainly make it happen.

It is amazing the number of people that drop out of the rat race. David and I are big RV people. He works for a RV service place in the winter when we have so many people with rv's down here. There are so many that are "full timers". The work at minimal jobs as they drift across the country, North in summer and South in winter. We love to travel in our motorhome but I don't think I would like for it to be my home. Sailing would be quite another matter. You could go out of the country to exotic places.

What kind of boat are you interested in. We leave a travel trailer on South Padre Island all summer and see lots of large sail boats.

Carol

Wow, Kilo, that is an awesome dream, and even more wonderful that you are getting a positive reaction from your bf. Has he not done any sailing before? Certainly he's been out with you? Did you say he was a 7? I'll bet the newness of the idea really attracts him... 7s like change and novelty!

I admire your desire for more simplicity. My Sweetie is a rather materialisitc sort -- big TV, big truck, would love to have a power boat. I have been looking at a lot of simplicity movement things, but it would be hard to make any moves in that direction without his agreement. :sigh: I like my possessions & don't feel weighed down, but I feel compelled to try to do better insofaras having less impact on the natural world... Not sure where I'm going here, sorry -- your post got me thinking on many tangents!

Yay for the painting being done! How does it look? Hey, does Misty like being on the water? How old is she? Would you be able to take her sailing around the world with you?

Lisrey :*

Hi Kilogo,

For us a dream like that would be considered a "pipe dream" because it would all go up in smoke.........haha Not only not likely, but I would say impossible. I doubt you could have too many draft ponies on an ocean going vessel in any practical sense. Don't you agree?? Ha ha ha

So what are you up to this coming weekend? Nothing here, but I'm thinking about getting a no bark collar that shoots citronella for the dogs. I'm getting a bit worn out with Lizette barking out the window at every leaf that moves, and because Miss Rose decided she was too good for Dudley, she now has him totally paranoid, and the moment he sees her he goes on a rant like he's trying to tell us there is a cat over there. Wow, like we couldn't see it or hear him.....haha It's really Rosies's fault. During the night she sneaks up on him and then she spits in his face, smacks him and takes off. I know this is true because I caught her doing it.......and that's playing dirty pool.

Oh well, hope you have a good time whatever you do.
Hugs,
Sandie

Have a nice weekend ... mc

Thanks, Mc. You have a nice weekend, too.

The bf made a wonderful african dish tonight. A beef stew with such exotic flavors. Served with plantains and sweet potato. That boy comes up with the most intriguing dishes sometimes.

Hi Sandielynne. The cruising life is not for everyone, 'tis true. Ponies probably wouldn't enjoy it even if they could fit on the boat. You have quite the menagerie at home there. That's funny about Miss Rose. Spitting at him when no one is looking! Cats are evil but they do that 'who me? I'm so cute and innocent (purrr)' act so well. Let me know how the citronella collar works if you go with that. I don't think it'd bother Misty at all to be sprayed in the face like that, but your smaller dogs may resent it more. Hope so.

Hi Lisrey. No, the bf doesn't sail with me. The only sailing I do these days is competitive racing. I tried to get him into it when we first started dating. He did a few races but decided it was too much work and he just didn't enjoy it. So now he comes down to meet me at the yacht club after my races and we do dinner and have fun afterwards. In fact, I heard him proudly telling some guy at the club after last weekend's race, "I'm land support." That made me laugh, because I am often telling him that he's my land support and it's a very important and responsible job. Apparently he's taken that to heart.

His 7-ness means he loves the idea of the romance and excitement that cruising offers, indeed. It also means he'll probably be bored silly actually doing it. Misty is 7 yrs old now. If we get a boat in the near future she can come down to the harbor and be a boat dog on the weekends and such. If we ever get to the point of long-term cruising, it'll be about 10 years from now. Misty will likely be running in eternally green pastures by then.

Hi Carol. RV life certainly has a lot of similarities to boat life. Similar mindset, too. Nomadic life. For the present, we're thinking along the lines of a 30' catamaran. I've never even sailed a catamaran before, but I think that's the ideal cruising boat. The performance racing type boat that I normally sail is definitely not good for cruising. So I have a lot to learn.

Ooo. Nifty new version. I guess I shall have to start using the titles now.

Good morning. We went to a baseball game last night. Exhibition game, but it was fun to see our friends and all the changes they've made to the stadium and to the team.

I am seriously struggling to get back into a weight loss mode. Maybe Chum has transferred her former ways onto me. I dunno. But I'm not getting anywhere. Intentions but no action. Food consumption is pretty good (maintenance good) but bad things and simply too much quantity are sneaking in there far too often.

I am not going to get to 119 this way.

So, starting tomorrow (yes, tomorrow), the new program. SBD Phase I. Which means no wine :cry: . No chocolate. No rice/potatoes/bread/pasta. Nothing but wholesome orgranic vegetables and fresh lean meats for me.

I shall ride the bike to work at least 3 days/week. No reason not to (except for this frickin' time change). Though I just looked and it says sunrise is at 5:33 and I don't leave the house until 6:30, so I should be just fine there.

I shall continue to walk Misty every day after work.

I shall lift weights after the Misty walk.

I will get to 119 in the near future.

Kilogo, those sound like good goals! Way to get back on track! Hope you enjoy this week!

Hahaha, Kilo, I am absolutely rejoycing at the time change! I walked tonight after work and when I got done at 7:00, I wasn't in the dark! It was great! Sorry if it's not so pleasant where you are, but we NEED it here! :D

Your plans do sound great. Wishing you all success for sticking with them. The biking to work thing still makes me jealous, and your dog will love your commitment to walking. Go for it!

Lisrey :coach:

Hi MelsaEstel. Welcome to the journal. What does MelsaEstel mean?

Lisrey - Pffft. I think we in So. Cal should join Arizona in non-participation in this DST thing. We surely don't need it here.

The daily dog walking is not new. She gets walked every day after work as it is. I was just saying that the bike riding won't interfere with the dog-walking schedule. She is a much happier (and less destructive) dog when she gets her daily walk and it's always good for me, too.

Actually, none of this is new. It's just a matter of degree. I hover around a mostly healthy lifestyle most of the time, sometimes very healthy and sometimes slacking on the exercise and the foods. It's time to swing towards the very healthy range of the continuum. That seems to be the only way I lose weight. Once the weight is off, swinging back to the middle allows me to maintain wherever I am.

And I've been maintaining this 125 (ish) for long enough now. Time to move on.

Home improvement continues: We got the waterfall installed in the atrium. Finally. This has only been a year or so in progress. But now it's in and it looks good. The grape vines in there have teeny tiny little grape clusters forming, so I'm excited about that. Edible Perlite grapes, not wine grapes. If all goes well we'll be eating our own orgranically grown grapes this summer.

What else? Nah, nothing interesting. Had great intentions of riding the new bike this weekend but it didn't happen. Its maiden voyage will be to work tomorrow. Speaking of which, I'm going to go put my badge in my backpack right now so I don't forget it.

How will you secure the bike at work? I actually bought my bike twice -- the first one was stolen out of a storage locker at the apartment we lived in at the time. Maddening. Wishing you better luck... Have fun riding!

Lisrey :up:

I'm most interested in hearing how the ride goes!

Hey girl!

This new look at DT is scaring me...I guess it will take a few days for me to get used to it...I could not log on at first...I tried to return a PM to Lisrey and got all confused...oh well!

Enjoy that bike ride tomorrow...I am so happy about the Daylight Savings Time...it was light out until nearly 8 today!...WOW!

mc

You are so inspiring, Kilogo! Walking your dog (Misty, right?) and riding your bike, too!! I want to be able to do that some day......

Your waterfall sounds really nice.... I love the sound of flowing water! We're going to try grapes this year, too, but I understand it takes a couple/few years to actually get grapes to eat. We have our place all marked out... now all we have to do is get some warm weather and get rid of the SNOW!!! YIKES am I ever ready for warm weather!

But it is nice that it's lighter late out. I didn't realize that California participated in the DST thing. But coming home from my rehearsal last night it was still light when we got home and that's a nice change for Ohio where it seems like it was dark all darn winter! lol And now my hubby can help me walk both of our dogs after dinner. I can't seem to manage them both together. I can walk them one at a time and they walk just fine like that, but when you put them both together, it's like a race to see who can be out in front and who can pull the hardest! I swear..... one of these days they are going to pull my arms right out of their sockets! lol

Take care and have a great week. Your goals sound very doable and you'll be at 119 before you know it!

Hi Dj, welcome to the journal! Misty is a great puller all by herself. Try though I have, she's only gotten a bit better about that. Far from good. We have to spend the first 10 minutes of every walk re-learning that we won't pull Kilo's arms out. :laugh: I planted those grapes late last summer and they are already bearing. I am very happy about that.

Hi Mc. Are you used to it yet? I'm not, but I'll get there. Looks like it has some nifty new features. Haven't tired the pm thing yet.

Hi Jessica. Well, the bike ride: :up: Despite waking up at 5:45 to PITCH BLACKNESS (the website that said 5:30 sunrise was wrong), I rode anyway. The sky was pink by the time I got on the road at 6:30. This bike shaved 5 minutes off my elapsed time! And I definitely felt like I had put less effort into the ride. So I call the whole thing a success. I suspect I will shave off a few more minutes the more I do this, too. More time in the saddle.

Hi Lisrey. The bike gets put away in a storage building that only my group has access to. It should be fine there. That's terrible that your bike got stolen.

So the mad rush to 119 is on its way. Food was great today. Exercise on track. We're having salmon and spinach/tomato/avocado salad for dinner. No wine.

Softball practice tomorrow. Great things are afloat at work on Weds, but I will tell you about them later. Gotta go now.

:) I'm sure it was sunrise at 5:30, somewhere...

Glad it was a goood experience, I actually thought of you with some consternation as I was riding and my butt was hurting, then again as I was in the bike shop (new riding gloves were muy necessito) and the manager was selling a bike to a height impaired gal, guaranteeing the fit or she can bring the bike back... and it wasn't a high-end bike...

happy days, good luck snagging those goals!!

Oh, Kilogo.... that's exciting. Maybe we won't have to wait so long for grapes! We garden, too, but the grapes are my favorites. Those and the tomatoes! yum.....

I don't know what it is about pulling dogs, but we've tried everything - even dog school. Emme was afraid of the instructor! LOL We even tried the microwaved hot dog pieces that you feed them to get them to walk sort of behind you. All we got for that was greasy hands! So I call her "my husbands dog" and let him deal with her most walks. We walk a mile, she walks 2 with all her pulling and weaving around. We did have to get a harness type leash for her because she choked herself with a conventional collar type lead. We tried that head harness lead, too, and she bit it in half in about 3 seconds flat! lol

How awesome to be out riding a bike early enough to see the sky lighten and the sun come up! Wow.... I would love to be able to do that. Maybe someday.....

Have fun with your softball. One of my daughters joined 2 different leagues this year and she's coaching sand volley ball, too. Someone's going to be really busy.... lol

Oooooh...adding some suspense to your journal!

Not fair!...Why must I wait?

Well tomorrow I am going to go see another super...cheesy...girlie flick (hey...its girls night...why not?)...BUT...we are walking first...then going in to watch the movie...

You were on the job search recently...so you send out a cover letter/resume...then how long is it customary to wait if they have not called you...I know the business world is a little different but any info will help me out!...NOW I am on the job search!

Talk soon!

mcmarto

Hi Mc! You're so funny. You must wait! Have fun at the cheesey chick flick.

My exerperience has been that if if they're not interested, they don't contact you at all. No acknowledgement of receiving your resume, no nothing. They say that's a factor of the job market -- when an HR dept receives 600 resumes for the one job, they just don't bother responding to all of them. I hope your profession is different.

Hi DJ. Here's hoping for grapes for you this season. I've tried the head halter (worked pretty well but she can pull out of it too easily) and the body harness. Plain ol' choke chain seems to work best. Let the dumb dog choke herself if she insists. Sigh. Wow- sand volleyball! That's a tough sport.

Hi Jessica. Did you give that manager a big ol' kiss for me? Nice to know that kind of bike guy does exist. I probably should have kept looking. But I wanted a bike now, darnit.

Day 2 of the push to 119. I am HUNGRY!! Man. I'm not starving myself, just planning poorly. Not enough of the right foods on hand, and I've chosen not to eat the wrong foods no matter what.

Tonight was softball practice. Most of the team showed up. I think we shall seriously