2017 Travels and Adventures: A Year in Review - Part 2

WHEW!   We've made three days into the new year.    I hope your goals and resolutions are still on track.   I've made it to the gym twice, so I'm on track for my regular goal of fifteen days of fitness a month.    Most of the rest of the month will be spent walking around Southeast Asia, so whatever gym time I'm seeking, and it's not much, needs to get knocked out in the next week.

Before we get into double digits of 2018, here are some highlights of the second half of 2017.  

July 2017

Summer was in full force.   It was time cupcakes, fireworks and America.   And also the Sun & Sea Festival in Imperial Beach.  One last minute spontaneous two day visit to San Francisco amidst the craziness that is Comic-Con week at work.   

Sand Castle Fun! 

This is the scene of an incident in my younger years 

that involved a shot of Patron. 

Hi SF - good to see you!

August 2017

In 2017, our family celebrated our first ever Bratsgiving.   It needs to be an annual thing.   Getting together in northern Wisconsin in the summer and spending time together.    

The Brats in Question

September 2017

My sister and I have actually created a tradition.   2017 made five years in a row going to the Jazz Aspen Snowmass Experience over Labor Day.   In San Diego news, it was time for the 7 Bridges Hike and hanging out on the pier in Oceanside.  

Larimer Square - Denver

Twin Lakes - Colorado

Bridges of San Diego 

Why Hello There...

  

October 2017

Disclosure:  I had never been to Phoenix/Scottsdale before other than passing through the airport.  I had a great weekend visit with friends and can't wait to go back!   October is also Bike MS Bay to Bay time where we hop on our bikes and ride 100 miles to help find a cure for MS.  

Desert Botanical Garden

(cactus everywhere!!!)

Go team go!

November 2017

The month started off with an amazing sunset, followed shortly afterwards with a trip to Texas.   This was my second time trying to mess with Texas this year and I consider it a success.    My family came to visit for Thanksgiving both in California and a holiday extension into Cabo.   

November 1 is looking good

Howdy to you too!

Just a longhorn going on a walk

Nothing to see here

Fiesta de Reyes

Thanksgiving Eve - Encinitas

Traditional Thanksgiving poolside poke bowl

Cabo views

December 2017

So much eating and socializing.    The best month of the year for that.    Holiday shenanigans included the OB Holiday parade, the San Diego Santa Run, Global Winter Wonderland, and the Holiday Bowl Parade.   I got my white Christmas Denver style.  

Shave ice!  The best I've found on the mainland so far.

Global Winter Wonderland

Sunny Santas on the run

White Christmas views

Hudson Gardens Christmas

Parade Balloons

Bye 2017!   Loved you a lot.  

Can't wait to see what 2018 has in store.   Travels and Adventures will continue.   I don't even need to make that a resolution.  

Balloons and Bikes - Colorado Style

This past weekend was my fifth time participating in the Colorado Bike MS.   It's a big party on bikes...with a few hills thrown in for good measure.    As we were riding somewhere between mile 10 and mile 30 I told my Mom that last year I had seen hot air balloons.

And then we turned a corner and BOOM!  The early morning Saturday sky was full of them.    What a gorgeous backdrop for our ride.

And there they were!

When we hit rest stop #2 we were in the heart of the balloon action.   Everyone had their phones out to take a quick shot while fueling up on water and bananas.

Have I mentioned how much I love Colorado?

I think that Bike MS is a great event to get into, no matter where you live.   You can prove to yourself that you can do more than a casual ride to the farmer's market or ice cream shop.

If you get a view like this, that's just icing on the cake.

Have you done a long distance fundraising bicycle event before?   Which one?   

***
It's true.   Google Reader is gone.   Yesterday I could read it on my phone and today?  Nada.   Good thing I've migrated all my favorite reads to Bloglovin'.


Follow my blog with Bloglovin
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Bike Ridin', Possible Foster Doggin' and the end of Google Readin'

It's hard to believe that July 4th is next week!

What happens on the 4th of July....

Winter lasted so long and then we finally had the Memorial Day weekend (and road trip) that announced the official arrival of summer and now it's time to put on the red, white and blue.  

Dear Summer,  

There is no need to rush so fast.    Slow down.   Sip some sangria.   Laze by the pool.

Love, 

Me

In traveling news, I now have a trip for the fall.  YAY!  Heading to the Caribbean again in November for a little sunshine.     And now on to other things happening this week:

Bike Ridin'

In the mean time, this weekend is the Colorado Bike MS.   3000 cyclists hitting the road to raise a few million for the Colorado-Wyoming chapter.   The highlight of day 1 is seeing the awesomeness that is our team tent in Ft. Collins.    The highlight of day 2 is crossing the finish line and getting a cold drink.    Last year was insanely hot.   I think this year it's only going to be moderately hot.  

Possible Foster Doggin'

I've been dog-less for almost 9 months.   I'm not sure if I'm ready to adopt another dog, but I have gone to the orientation training to foster service dogs on the weekends.   More to come, but it seems like a good opportunity.    

The End of Google Readin'

Google Reader is shutting down July 1.    I've been using it to follow blogs for the past few years, especially catching up while on the train to work in the morning.   I'm going to start by trying out Bloglovin'.   It's been recommended by other bloggers that I follow, so I think that's a good place to start.   

A few quick questions for the comments...
1.  How hot is it where you are?
2.  Have you ever been a dog foster parent?
3.  What site do you use to catch up on your blog reading?
4.  What are you doing for the 4th of July?

No Body Snark Saturday

Wearing bike shorts immediately humbles you.

Spandex.   

Padding.   

Every spring I put these sexy things on to prepare for Bike MS.   And every year there are pictures.  

You're hot.   You're sweaty.  You're sore and just want a beer snow cone.  

Pictures.   After biking.   It's all there.  Out there.   

And then I realize that in spite of the spandex it's pretty damn amazing to ride that far.   

2 days and 150 miles later...

On Thursday, Sally over at Unbrave Girl had a great post: "The No Body-Snark Diet and Full-Length Photo Challenge."   She's hilarious and you should definitely hop over and read a few (like this one about Buzz Ballz...among other things).     To join in the fun, I present a few full-length photos to celebrate being awesomely myself, and being able to things like:

Snowshoeing 

Traveling

Or, when it gets real wild...

Rattlesnaking

There you have it.    Find a full length photo of yourself and get to sharing.  

Have a body snark free weekend!

It's MS Awareness Week!

 

 

March 11 - 17, 2013 is MS Awareness Week.

 

On the MS Connections page, you can see all the reasons people connect to/with MS, including the ability to post a picture or a connection statement on their page. 

 

This one is mine.

 

-----

 

To help create a world free of MS, click here. 

 



Bike MS: Get Off Your Couch and on Your Bike

It's a new week.   Back to work.  You chit chat with your co-workers about the weekend.  People went camping.  People went to the pool.  Out for brunch.  A local festival.  But you?  You raised a minimum of $400 (probably more, because you're an over-achiever like that) and rode 150 miles. 

In 99 degree heat.

Are you sore?  Yes
Are you sorry? No

This past weekend was my 4th time riding the Colorado Bike MS.  A few years ago I decided that riding, rather than volunteering, would be my goal.  I had never done a major athletic event before.   I'm more of a "walk quickly for the cure" type.  5k and I'm done.  No real sweat.  No real training. 

This was different.  First, there is gear.  A road ride is different than hopping on your coffee-cruiser in your flip flops.  Helmet.  Gloves.  Jersey.  Shoes.  Padded shorts.  Clips.  Tubes. 

Clips?  What the hell are clips?
Tubes?   Why do I need them?

And that's before you even get on the bike.   You've ridden a local bike path.  You've toodled around your neighborhood.  How do you prepare to ride 75 miles?  Twice.

Practice.  Find group rides with friends or a local bike shop. 

Unlike real life, on a fully supported ride like Bike MS, there are rest stops with snacks, water, first aid and bike support.  You don't have to ride non-stop.  You don't have to carry gallons of water and 10 pounds of Clif Bars.  Just ride 10-15 miles.  Stop.  Rest.  Repeat.  You can do this.

Take it as your personal challenge.   If I can do it, you can do it.
It can be 30 miles or a Century (100 miles in bike speak). 
One day or multi-day. 

Find an organized bike event near you.
Even better if it's the Bike MS.

It's a ride, not a race.
And finishing is something to celebrate.

My Bake MS Campaign 2012

In 2005, I moved to Colorado.   In 2006 I was introduced to the Colorado Bike MS because we had a company team.    In 2006 I volunteered with the National MS Society and in 2007 I volunteered with our team at our award-winning team tent.   In 2008, I decided to get my own bike and challenge myself to raise the money and ride the 150 miles.   Yes.  150 miles.   On a bike.  Westminster to Ft. Collins and back.   I rode for three years and then last summer opted to go on vacation to Israel instead.    

Late last summer, MS became personal.   No longer was it just a good cause where our team raised a lot of money ($158,000 in 2011).   No longer was it just the silent auction, the carb party, and a two days of sore legs.    Last summer my sister was diagnosed with MS.   

This year, as a part of my fundraising campaign for the ride, I'm putting my culinary skills to good use as well.   You make a donation.   I bake you a treat.   And I bike 150 miles closer to a cure for MS.  

Denver Friends
If you make a donation of at least $25 on my participant page for the Colorado Bike MS, I will bake you a treat of your choice.   You can use it to bribe or thank your child's teacher.   You can lie and say you made it.   You can put it in your freezer and break it out after you finish your diet. 

Friends Everywhere Else
If you make a donation of at least $30, pick a treat that will ship well and I will send it to you.  

What Can I Have?
Feel free to pick a recipe off my Traveler in the Kitchen page.   Or if you find another recipe, I'm willing to try it and see what happens.   If it turns out well, I'll give you a shout out when I post the pictures here. 

Click here for my participant page for the 2012 Colorado Bike MS.

My sister and I at the finish line at the 2010 Bike MS
Every mile, Every dollar working towards a cure!

Daybook (daylight edition)

(from the simple woman's daybook)

Outside my window...losing the extra hour of sleep on Saturday night was worth it for DAYLIGHT!

I am thinking...that three months from today we will be in Salama, Guatemala on our Habitat build. 

I am thankful for...beautiful spring days skiing in the mountains with friends.

I am going...to "Friday on Saturday" this week.

I am currently reading...a Newsweek article about the state of education in America. 

I am hoping...to start riding my bike in the coming week.  Bike MS will sneak up on me in just a few months.

On my mind...my friend who has been accepted into seminary.  He will rock the word everywhere he goes!

Noticing that...I have much more time to get things done at work.  A marked improvement over the insanity of the last 8 months. 

Pondering these words..."I struggle most days to find ways to do as I please..."

From the kitchen...I'm eating 1-2 "cuties" a day in an effort to get through the whole bag. 

Around the house...the guest room is still a disaster.  At least I have April 2 as a deadline. 

One of my favorite things...organizing games for the youth.  On Sunday they used cell phones to take pictures of scenes they acted out from the 23rd psalm and the Lord's prayer. 

From my picture journal... "Live Aloha" (Hawaii 2005)
 

Road Tripping (Bike MS Style)

Last weekend was the 2009 Bike MS. It's not a first, but rather a second for me. Last year, after being involved as a volunteer in 06/07, I "manned" up, got a road bike and started to train for the insanity of voluntarily riding 150 miles in 2 days. I felt my training for this summer was not up to par, based on 1) the crazy Denver weather and 2) being out of town a lot. However, it was a success, I made good time on Saturday, crossing the finish line in Ft. Collins around 12:30 and then got to enjoy our fantastic team tent: the Hotel MS 150. Sunday morning, the attitude changes..."let's get on the road, because there's no other way back to Westminster except to hop back in the saddle..."and it was hot. I have some funky tan lines. But at least now my legs and knees feel back to normal and I'm ready for a holiday weekend of fun.

So, since the ride and the route weren't different, it's not new, but....

#42 Tried Lamar's donuts for the first time (nothing like wine, a donut and a grand bed after riding 75 miles...Rebecca told me I deserved it, and she's right!)

#43 (more in the ewww category) Stayed in a nasty old dorm at CSU. This is my fault for slacking in making my reservations, but I guess living in LAR at U of I (which is over 50 years old) gave me higher expectations....really who gives college students tiny desks with rocking chairs?

#44 Eating grilled cassava root with spicy Peruvian sauce (rocoto?).

Looking forward to this weekend, where I will actually get to experience, for the first time, one of the listed events in Party Across America, by going to Summerfest in Milwaukee with my sister!

15 Seconds of Fame

Maybe I can add it to my something new list, because I don't know that I personally have been featured on You Tube. But it's for a good cause, so no complaints.



You can donate to the cause by clicking here and scrolling down to my name on the team list.