Finally got my Camaro out for the summer!

Usually by this time of the summer I have had my Camaro out for at least a few months. This year for a few reasons I am just now getting it out and on the road. I had it out in late May early June when the CDA police were so nice to inform me that my tabs were expired, WHOOPS! See I put it in storage for the winter every year around September, well the plates expired last September. So much to the disappointment of my father (he taught me better then this) I didn't even think about looking at the tabs when I took it out of the unit. I was so excited to be driving my car again that I just took off with no worries. Well, I got away with it for a bit, but then my luck ran out. Since then I have moved to Washington, so I had to save up some money to not only pay the ticket, but to also switch everything over to Washington. Anyway, now all of that is taken care of and I am once again on the road with my summer car! Only one problem....I can't put my bike on this car:)

24 hours of adrenalin

So this weekend marks yet another race weekend, not for me but for my friend Mike. This one is unlike any other race, 24 hours of riding a mountain bike on a 12.25 mile course with 2100 feet of elevation change per lap! The race started today in Canmore, Alberta, at noon and will continue until noon tomorrow. So far he is in the lead for his age group, YIPPIEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If anyone is interested, here is the blog that continues to update everyone as the race progresses. Check out the video 'weather or not', Mike is on this one, as well as another friend Rich. Just heard from Jenni and she and Tommy were just interviewed so that video may be up soon as well! www.24adrenalinlive.blogspot.com GO MIKE GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Weekend

Just a few pictures from the weekend.

Maggie watching over things as I do a little decorating in my dad's garage. (See two pictures down)

For years, my dad has been collecting these license plates. He has always just thrown them up somewhere in his garage. SO, with a day off I did a little decorating.
Carly once again put on a 'girls nite out' this time in CDA, finally one over here! We were supposed to go on a cruise, however the departing times had changed from when Carly looked them up online, therefore we missed the last cruise! We went out to dinner instead and took in yet another great sunset on the shores of Lake Coeur d' Alene.

Feeling like all the hard work I've put in is paying off!

Tonight like every other Wednesday nite I went out on our Wednesday Nite Group ride, leaving from Vertical Earth and lead out by my coach Jenni Gaertner.

Last year this was a ride that I didn't always go to due to my own feeling of not being able to 'hang on to the group'. For the most part though I was there each and every week slowly showing improvement. This year I have been as much as my schedule will allow and I have been having much more success hanging with the group and even staying with the lead pack every once in awhile. The group that comes out to these rides is for the most part a pretty fast group of riders and is always a great workout and chance for me to improve by riding with strong cyclists.

Tonight was one of those nights that made me feel really good about my abilities on the bike. It started out like any other ride, easy at first then once we hit the hills, we split up into our usual two groups. I found myself happily in the middle, not in the lead group but not in the back group. It is a spot I have been in this summer on these rides. I am pretty happy with that though, even though it means that I spend most of the ride alone, it also means I am showing improvement. Last year I was the one bringing up the rear for sure! I felt good on the hills, great on the flats and overall very good.

On the way back was where I had the best time though. As we rolled up to a stop sign I found myself closer to the back pack then the front. I made up my mind right there I was going to go out and try to bridge up to the lead pack. I stood up on the pedals and gave it everything I had to catch the group ahead of me. I knew I had the energy and the legs to get up to them so I put my head down and battled the headwind that was trying its best to keep me from my goal. With my efforts I was getting closer and closer to them, once I got to within 20-30 yards from them they started pulling away, CRAP!!!! What the heck! I knew right away it was either Jenni or Isaac pulling the train into a sprint, I stood up on my shaky and somewhat toasty legs and gave it one more push. No luck though, they just kept getting further and further away, so I settled into a hard pace but one I knew I could maintain. I rode the remainder of the ride alone but happy with my efforts. Last year I would have never been able to do that. Would have wanted to but the legs would have said NO WAY.

So now I sit her on the couch, legs a bit tired and shaky but overall VERY happy with my efforts. Tonight I feel like I am reaching those goals I have set for myself and am improving. I have put in a lot of work but know I wouldn't be here without the help of my coach, support from my friends and great group rides like this one.

My dog

11 years ago when I first saw Maggie as a 14 week old puppy, I knew she would be the one I would take home. I bought her from a breeder who was going to keep her for himself but his wife quickly put an end to that due to the fact they already had 3 Dalmatians. She has been a great dog, minus the countless dollars I (and my parents) have put into her due to surgery, sickness, and even being stolen from the front yard. All of that aside though, I couldn't have asked for a better dog.

It was dinner time and Maggie was putting on her PLEASE FEED ME face

Maggie in the background, my mom's dog on my lap

The only way to keep her from licking at her stiches was to either put these PJ's on her, or the stupid cone, this seemed a bit better choice. She seemed to like these better anyway, it was winter and I think she liked the warmth of the flannel.