Just Keep Pedalling

I've been super depressed. I don't know why. Too much idle time, I guess. Once school starts back up and I am back to work, I'll be too occupied to worry about the crushing isolation and lonliness.

Today was an unseasonable (not complaining!) 60F. Gusty winds initially, but they were to my back on the way home. Original goal was to go to Madonnaville, but then I saw Chaflin Bridge on the map, and I decided to go there instead.

Came home and Google MyMaps mapped the mileage. Roughly 61.1 miles. I was gone for approx 3 1/2 hours. Dad was worried about me and came out in the car looking for me. I passed him on the last five miles.













I felt great. This was a new route for me; I went farther south than I have pedaled before, and my mood has picked up.




Near Harrisonville, I saw a total of 11 bald eagles. Three were perched in a tree ~100 yds away, six more were perched in another tree a little farther away, and 2 were soaring. Did not see any nests near them, though.







I liked this route, will definitely go again, next time perhaps when there will be more daylight.

The Holidays 2011: consider it survived

On Friday, mom wanted to drive to KCMO to visit her parents. The original plan was to leave STL at around 3pm, but she had to work late, and we didn't get out of town til nearly 530pm. So by the time we got to KCMO, everyone was asleep and we were told to not come over to the house. So we checked into our hotel. I had not eaten all day and was a huge low blood sugar monster, but was keeping my mouth shut about it. So we went on a wild goose chase to get food. I wanted to go to a place that had some vegan options, but there was a band playing that night and it was $7 each to get in. I talked to the doorman, and he just let me in to order food at the bar.

Mom, Dad, and Scott decided to go somewhere else, so they left and would come pick me up in about an hour. So I had a delicious pizza with spinach, red pepper, roasted garlic, and hummus, two beers, and enjoyed the bands.

Allegedly, the others never found any food and had a clusterfuck of a time. So we went to a diner on the way back to the hotel for everyone to get food. The time was nearly 1am when we got back to the hotel. I slept very unsoundly; my back hurt, and Scott stayed up watching movies until like 6am and he kept turning the volume up after I kept waking up and asking him to turn it down.

Christmas Eve.

We got a super late start and got to the Halftery Residence at about 1130am. We hung out at the house for maybe 30 minutes then went to get brunch at Firstwatch. They had an excellent veg wrap and we all seemed to have a nice time together. After lunch, we drove back to STL. It was just a lot of hassle for like, two hours of visiting with family. I knew it would be, but I also new that I should keep my mouth shut, and I did.

Christmas.

Today turned out pretty alright. Very low key, which is what I want. In my fantasy world in my head, I would have a boyfriend or husband and we would go on a vacation together and get away and spend time together in an awesome, warm location.

I slept in til about 9am, which was super nice. Banged myself out twice while mom and dad were at church, then went out on Ex-Girlfriend for about 80 minutes.

Today was actually nice temps. High of about 53F. I wore my new racing tights (they are incredible warm and comfortable in the saddle), new Twin Six jersey (also incredibly comfortable and it wicked the sweat right off my back), Chrome riding hoodie (warm), and Zumi windbreaker ( have had this jacket since 2007 and it is so reliable). I daresay I got hot under all those layers. The sun was out, the cloudless sky was a magnificent blue. I encountered one other rider on Ramsey Road.

Came home, showered, and Scottbot and I drove to granny-panties' house to meet up with mom and dad for a late lunch. The food was delicious. We worked a puzzle as we do every year. Grandma gave me $100. I'll try not to blow it at the casino.

Going to see a movie tonight with Karen and some other people.

My mood has really picked up, and I am staying positive even though I am having a difficult time of it. Holidays are almost over. I am keeping my eyes on the prize and staying on the path I need to be on in order to be in the place I want.

I have tix to NYE in Cincy. On the fence about going. Its just a lot of driving. And I will be alone, which is no big deal; I do almost everything alone anyway. But its really hard sometimes, seeing everyone else paired up, especially at midnight. And I admit that I have been a little bit more frustrated/depressed than usual as of late. Plus, same show is happening in Bloomington the night before and STL the day after. Will see how I feel later this week and decide then.

All I want for Xmas is to floss your teeth

Cutest patient (top 3! But its all apples and oranges) was in today for a quick follow up. I was in an exam with some one else and didn't get to say hi. I'm such a creep!

I was first assistant on his surgery, then I removed his sutures when he in for the post op check a week later. Oh my, I was sweating! And of course dr had placed uninterrupted polyproplyene and it was a bear to get out. It was wrapped around the back of the upper anterior, and I had positioned myself so I could hold the mirror in my left hand to see, and reach around his head with the scissors in my right. This put his face right next to my heaving chest! God, I'm such a perv! Haha!

I also thought I had cut one of the loops so I pulled on it with the forceps but it was still looped, and he kind of winced slightly. I said, "oh! I'm sorry that you felt that!" Jeez, this is just KILLING me!! Hahahahaha!

Totally inappropriate!

Here's to red-blooded office girls!

All I want for xmas is to floss your teeth!

Hell on Wheels, indeed!

I have been looking for a new jersey to replace satanic bumble bee after my clothes were cut off of me at the hospital following the accident. I have not been pleased with what I have seen offered: lots of logo/sponsors, or floral/too girly prints.

I was even considering having the shop special order a solid black one for me, then I was going to sew/screen yellow bee stripes on the back myself.

Then I saw this gem at the bike shop on Friday:













I had not heard of Twin Six, but I was curious, so I went to their website, and I read their Manifesto and checked out their other designs. I am waaaay into it.







I also found out that this was the inspiration for the design:

Namesake

730 days. But Who's Counting Anyway? A lot of things could be said; nothing that hasn't been said before. I assure you that I am smiling right now. Here's a video from Fest. If you know where to look, I am dancing with a penguin.

finals week finally over

I didn't realize how stressed I was until that final was over. Have subsequently overdosed on popcorn.

Trip to Cahokia Mounds

I went to Cahokia Mounds today. This was the first time I had been here in...twenty years at least. It was pretty sweet. I recommend it.













The interpretation building had a lot of cool exhibits and information about the culture and artifacts that have been discovered at the site. There are three trails of varying lengths around the grounds. I took the shortest one around the Great Plaza, then drove to Monk's Mound, then drove to Woodhenge. It was a nice day. Brisk, crisp, cold fall air, not too windy. Sunny. Blue sky.







This is the western of the Twin Mounds:














Near Monk's Mound is a portion of the first stockade and the second stockade. This photo is of the first:














This is the view of the Great Plaza, facing south, from atop Monk's Mound.

Wild Turkey: fowl not bourbon

34F. No wind, no problem! 18.6 miles. Levee Road to Fountain, then home via bluff. I saw 14 wild turkeys! I saw a lone one this past summer on DD Road, sautering along the shoulder. Prior to that, I saw three on Thanksgiving Day in 2004 foraging on the west side of the levee, so seeing 14 today was very exciting!

Creep Alert!

Facebook keeps recommending me that I be friends with my ex's new GF. HA! My bitterness is not directed at her, but it does make me feel good to see pictures of her because she is NOT cute. At all.

So I typed in her handle in a Google search and got all kinds of hits to blogs, photostreams, other sites, and it seems like she doesn't really finish anything that she starts. I'm not knocking; A LOT of people are guilty of that. I'm knocking his taste in the woman he chose after me!

I actually have been feeling really great lately, with only 28 days left in 2011, I am thinking that this will be my best year yet! Granted, I am busy with school, but I have my finances in order, I have a real job that I love, I have gone on a lot of awesome trips, I have been released by my orthopod and I am lifting, pedaling, and running a lot. Going to go swimming this afternoon once the football game starts so the gym will be empty.

Hopefully trip to Costa Rica comes to fruition in Feb, also a possible birthday weekend in Wisconsin Dells in the works.

Last night Karen and I went on an everquest to find vegan pizza, ended up at the vine for delicious Mediterranean veg food, then went to the Heavy Anchor and got a pumpkin beer.

Feeling good.