Thus concludes the fast.
here's a wrap-up:
On the eve of Day 8, Paul and I agree to start making the transition off the fast. We's already stocked up on our oranges for juice. We'd each had a few troublesome symptoms arise that made us think there would be no additional benefit of going two more days. No Smooth Move tea for me tonight, though P enjoyed his.
Day 9:
Down a half pound. Officially below my move-in-with-Paul weight. Let's try to stay there now.
We each did one last salt water consumption in the morning. Paul juiced a bunch of oranges for me to have throughout the day. He's so sweet and good to me. Juice was electrifyingly good. Explosively flavorful. Pulpy, the way I like it. I felt some rumblings in my gut after drinking. Some quick trips to the loo were necessary. Didn't spin, thought I would go to yoga but didn't even do that. Very uneventful day. I did figure out the great mystery of my moutain bike's front shock not taking air, so all was not lost.
Paul made vegetable soup stock that evening. What can I say? It was unbelievable. So good. Rich, complex, almost creamy on the tongue even though it was a clear broth. He'd cooked lentils in the broth too. After the broth had cooled, there sat a pile of the softened stock vegetables and lentils as a mass lump. Some might toss it, but we picked and savored. These veggies would go back into the stock for our veggie soup tomorrow.
Day 10:
Go figure, I gain half a pound when I step on the scale this morning. Who knew you could gain weight on orange juice?
No Smooth Move tea + no salt water = you guessed it: nothing!
Paul juiced a bunch of blood oranges for me. So pretty! I'm liking this fresh squeezed juice. It tastes like spring in a glass. After taking Luna to the vet, I had a small cup of the soup before heading off to yoga class. The soup was so good. Simple, but quite flavorful. Soup is always a good thing in my book. But I've gotta tell you, I felt pretty decadent sitting there with my glass of blood orange juice and a cup of soup. I felt like I was living the high life!
After yoga, had some more soup. This time with a rye cracker. Chewing! I was back to chewing. I felt pretty full immediately, and slightly bloated. Fiber! With some nutrients in me, I felt the fog that had inhabited my brain for the past week or so begin to left. Seriously. I felt more capable of quick thinking, less hippified and s l o w. I also felt like I had some real energy for teaching tonight.
Spin class was great. No issues. Legs worked. Paul and I made what was an absolutely delicious salad. Avocado, fancy cut celery, shredded carrot, black beans, walnuts, chopped Italian parsley, dried cranberries and mixed greens tossed with Goddess dressing. (Bad name, good stuff. And vegan.) Chewing slowly and savoring. We kept commenting how good the food tasted and noticed individual flavors. And in true Paul fashion: dessert. Sliced bannanas dipped in melted dark chocolate.
Oh. My. God. Even dark chocolate tasted remarkably sweet. So lucious and smooth and perfect.
We're back on food. Yay!
Today, Day 11: Fully eating.
For breakfast I had almonds soaked in water overnight. (I can't describe how this changes the almonds, but it's wonderful. I learned to love soaked almonds on a Spirit Rock meditation retreat.) Had a rye cracker spread with soy yogurt, and a sliced apple.
Oh, and green tea. I am going to try the green tea thing for a while instead of coffee. I so love my coffee with chocolate soy milk every morning, but it seems almost wrong to go straight back into that habit. I feel like eating lighter, and the way I make my coffee is mud-like. Thick and almost pour-able.
I feel well-equipped to teach a two hour class tonight, thankfully. So much so, that I'm recycling a super-hard class filled with long accelerations for tonight.
My wise friend Marty asked me what I got out of the fast. Here's what I told him: "I got to re-experience the simple pleasure of what food tastes like and how enjoyable it is! I got a break from sugar and caffeine and a chance to restart/rebreak some habits. I don't know about feeling "cleansed" or anything, but it was an interesting break. I have SO much more energy, but it's subtle."
March 30, 2007
March 27, 2007
Day 8: Slip and Fizzle
So I went to a noon spin class. I walked out the front door, forgetting my water bottles.
Didn't realize this detail until a second before class was to start. What to do? Nathan, my fellow spin instructor, offered me a "water". Turns out to be one of those Glaceau Vitamin Water things. A tiny bit of sugar and froot flavor. What could I do? Dehydrate and say no? So I thanked him and took the bottle, after all, it had some electrolytes and vitamins and those could do me some good.
First sip: WHOA! Tasting something other than lemonade was a trip. It was way sweet. Not sugary, but sweet, almost electrifyingly so. I am guessing the first foods and flavors I taste post-fast will be the same way. I drank it, feeling slightly guilty. Hello, Jen! It's water! Not like you pounded a whole cake or anything!
The other thing of note: my muscles have absolutely NO ability to recover right now. I went to spin yesterday, keeping it pretty moderate in the 80-85% HR zone. Nothing crazy, my average for the hour ride was under 80%. Today, though, my HR wouldn't stay up, my legs felt incredibly heavy, especially my inner thighs. I went through the motions of the class without really digging in a doing the super hard work; my legs just weren't there. I mean it. They were fighting me.
Makes sense. Eight days into a fast, with back-to-back spinning. No protein. No "real" nutrients for my muscles to recover.
Tomorrow will be a yoga only day. I'm a little concerned about Thursday and Friday, but I can modify my way through it.
Talked to one of my fellow spinners who is a MD psychiatrist and he said what I was doing was bad for my body, and that I was likely in ketosis (wasn't it cool to be in ketosis during the Zone craze?) and that my body is in startvation mode, so as soon as I start eating again it will take those calories and store them immediately as fat. Hmmm, wonder if that is true?
Didn't realize this detail until a second before class was to start. What to do? Nathan, my fellow spin instructor, offered me a "water". Turns out to be one of those Glaceau Vitamin Water things. A tiny bit of sugar and froot flavor. What could I do? Dehydrate and say no? So I thanked him and took the bottle, after all, it had some electrolytes and vitamins and those could do me some good.
First sip: WHOA! Tasting something other than lemonade was a trip. It was way sweet. Not sugary, but sweet, almost electrifyingly so. I am guessing the first foods and flavors I taste post-fast will be the same way. I drank it, feeling slightly guilty. Hello, Jen! It's water! Not like you pounded a whole cake or anything!
The other thing of note: my muscles have absolutely NO ability to recover right now. I went to spin yesterday, keeping it pretty moderate in the 80-85% HR zone. Nothing crazy, my average for the hour ride was under 80%. Today, though, my HR wouldn't stay up, my legs felt incredibly heavy, especially my inner thighs. I went through the motions of the class without really digging in a doing the super hard work; my legs just weren't there. I mean it. They were fighting me.
Makes sense. Eight days into a fast, with back-to-back spinning. No protein. No "real" nutrients for my muscles to recover.
Tomorrow will be a yoga only day. I'm a little concerned about Thursday and Friday, but I can modify my way through it.
Talked to one of my fellow spinners who is a MD psychiatrist and he said what I was doing was bad for my body, and that I was likely in ketosis (wasn't it cool to be in ketosis during the Zone craze?) and that my body is in startvation mode, so as soon as I start eating again it will take those calories and store them immediately as fat. Hmmm, wonder if that is true?
Day 7 was yesterday
I said I'd make it 7 days, and I did. It changes from moment to moment, but at this moment I'm going for the full 10. My only concern in cutting it short or modifying the fast with some protein consumption is my exercise. Thursday night I teach spin as normal, and Friday night I teach a two hour spin class. This would be the day I get orange juice.
Yesterday was fine. The rain killed our plans for a hike, so I went to spin instead. My spinfriends as all puzzled and question-y as to why I am doing this. I am thinking of food. Looking at pictures, and reading restaurant menus on the web. We looked at a vegan cookbook and chose Paul's first post-fast baking treat. I am eyeing the jar of pickles in the fridge, wanting to slice them up thin and savor their salty goodness.
Paul cleaned out the fridge so when we do start eating, it's clean and has plenty of space for the healthy goodness that will take up residency. I am hoping he will stay interested in eating vegan and/or healthy, for selfish reasons; I stand a better chance of cleaning up my diet if he's on the same page. When Ben + Jerry walk through the front door with him, it's usually all over for me.
I feel a little colder. A little more reclusive. A bit more inwardly focused. And definitely less congested. I haven't breathed this well through my right nostril in a long while. Dairy really isn't our friend, is it? Without meal prep, it leaves us time for a little more fun.
Plus, it's been nice to see the scale moving downward. Eight pounds as of this morning (day 8). Almost down to cycling weight, and just under the weight I was when I moved in with Paul. I have this delusional idea that I want to lose another 10 pounds or so before I leave for Nepal.
But I live with a guy who cooks and bakes. Right.
Yesterday was fine. The rain killed our plans for a hike, so I went to spin instead. My spinfriends as all puzzled and question-y as to why I am doing this. I am thinking of food. Looking at pictures, and reading restaurant menus on the web. We looked at a vegan cookbook and chose Paul's first post-fast baking treat. I am eyeing the jar of pickles in the fridge, wanting to slice them up thin and savor their salty goodness.
Paul cleaned out the fridge so when we do start eating, it's clean and has plenty of space for the healthy goodness that will take up residency. I am hoping he will stay interested in eating vegan and/or healthy, for selfish reasons; I stand a better chance of cleaning up my diet if he's on the same page. When Ben + Jerry walk through the front door with him, it's usually all over for me.
I feel a little colder. A little more reclusive. A bit more inwardly focused. And definitely less congested. I haven't breathed this well through my right nostril in a long while. Dairy really isn't our friend, is it? Without meal prep, it leaves us time for a little more fun.
Plus, it's been nice to see the scale moving downward. Eight pounds as of this morning (day 8). Almost down to cycling weight, and just under the weight I was when I moved in with Paul. I have this delusional idea that I want to lose another 10 pounds or so before I leave for Nepal.
But I live with a guy who cooks and bakes. Right.
March 25, 2007
Days 5 and 6 of the Clean-o-Rama
Yesterday was a particularly active day, after my fucktard neighbor had a loud, late party; needless to say I didn't sleep great. Seems that no matter what time I go to bed, I'm up with the sun, or with Splat's help before sunrise. Anyway, yesterday Paul and I went to a yoga class which was 1.5 hours. Then we went for a small hike in a park I've never been into. It was so much less crowded than Redwood, yet still on Skyline. It had gorgeous redwoods, and is mountain bike friendly! The closest thing to good single-track in the East Bay. The fog spilled in during our hike making it chilly. We chugged down a nalgene of lemonade between the two of us. That was a lot of activity for a fasting person, and while it felt fine, I am conscious of energy spent against a caloric deficit. I bailed on going to see some live music, figuring I didn't have the energy to be that social with friends.
Speaking of caloric deficit, I didn't do this to lose weight. (That's an added bonus.) But I've lost six pounds thus fast. Nothing yesterday (!?) and only a half pound today. Maybe spinning is the magic combination for those 2.5 lb days?
I have noticed that I am more belchy. Since I can no longer burp the alphabet, this doesn't do much for me. I also notice that I am expelling mucus. After the salt water yumminess every morning, I seem to cough up mucus, and my sinuses loosen a bit. Since I do a saline wash up my nose everyday anyway, this is a lotta salt flushing. The departure method of said mucus makes sense. My respiratory system has always been my weak link. So those are the noticable side effects.
As for today, it's been a very low energy day. Three flights of stairs to the laundry room left my legs feeling heavy. I feel a little sore from yoga yesterday. Not overly talkative (which may come as a relief to Paul). Don't feel like the sharpest tack. A little dull. I haven't had the blissout that Paul has. It hasn't been challenging, but I haven't noticed improved sleep or life on the puffy cloud. My sense of smell is definitely more acute.
If tomorrow continues to be this low energy, I may try to add in some powdered greens to boost the likely nutritional deficiency. I may also consider ending the fast on Tuesday. I've been taking it day-by-day, but with the goal of making it at least seven days.
I teach a two hour spin class Friday evening in addition to my usual Thursday night class. With that in mind, I have to look at this upcoming week and approach it wisely, which may not mean fasting until the end of Thursday. We shall see.
Speaking of caloric deficit, I didn't do this to lose weight. (That's an added bonus.) But I've lost six pounds thus fast. Nothing yesterday (!?) and only a half pound today. Maybe spinning is the magic combination for those 2.5 lb days?
I have noticed that I am more belchy. Since I can no longer burp the alphabet, this doesn't do much for me. I also notice that I am expelling mucus. After the salt water yumminess every morning, I seem to cough up mucus, and my sinuses loosen a bit. Since I do a saline wash up my nose everyday anyway, this is a lotta salt flushing. The departure method of said mucus makes sense. My respiratory system has always been my weak link. So those are the noticable side effects.
As for today, it's been a very low energy day. Three flights of stairs to the laundry room left my legs feeling heavy. I feel a little sore from yoga yesterday. Not overly talkative (which may come as a relief to Paul). Don't feel like the sharpest tack. A little dull. I haven't had the blissout that Paul has. It hasn't been challenging, but I haven't noticed improved sleep or life on the puffy cloud. My sense of smell is definitely more acute.
If tomorrow continues to be this low energy, I may try to add in some powdered greens to boost the likely nutritional deficiency. I may also consider ending the fast on Tuesday. I've been taking it day-by-day, but with the goal of making it at least seven days.
I teach a two hour spin class Friday evening in addition to my usual Thursday night class. With that in mind, I have to look at this upcoming week and approach it wisely, which may not mean fasting until the end of Thursday. We shall see.
March 23, 2007
Day 3-4 of zesty fasting
Thankfully, the awfulness of Day 2 stayed there. Once the stomach ache from vomiting the previous night dissipated, Day 3 was fine. Had to remind myself to drink the lemonade, didn't feel much hunger. Very heightened sense of smell, almost annoyingly so. All this time spent not eating leaves us to pursue other fun stuff. Teaching spin last night was fine. I kept my heart rate below 85%. Luckily it wasn't a killer class, just plain ole' medium endurance riding. While spinning I did notice that my sweat was unusually salty, much like the salt water I drink each morning.
Today's been a-okay, too. Paul had the day off, and so it was a lazy morning after we consumed our salt water. It was funny to see food habits being broken; usually we'd go out for a meal or need to do some grocery shopping or the like. There was none of that, just noticing the letting go of habitry. My friend Becky was right- I was more productive due to not having to think/deal with food. Also noticed we've run the dishwasher far less than normal since we're not cooking.
I'm being intelligent, as hard as it is, and not doing long rides outside during the fast. A spin class is one thing, a ride outside is a whole different story, especially since around Berkeley-Oakland you can't escape the hills and that's where my energy would get eaten up. I will miss riding with my friends for a few days, but better to be sensible than to get myself into a bad sitch.
In other news: Starting to do a bunch of reading and research about my upcoming trip to Nepal. The Annapurna Circuit isn't a cakewalk. There's one pass, Thorung La, which is 17,770 feet we have to make it over, then descend over scree. This shit's serious. Thankfully, I will be taking a three day course to recertify my Wilderness First Responder next month, which will give me the refresher I need to deal with altitude illness and other things we may encounter on the trail. It is becoming apparent that I will need to be in phenomenal shape for this three week trek.
Today's been a-okay, too. Paul had the day off, and so it was a lazy morning after we consumed our salt water. It was funny to see food habits being broken; usually we'd go out for a meal or need to do some grocery shopping or the like. There was none of that, just noticing the letting go of habitry. My friend Becky was right- I was more productive due to not having to think/deal with food. Also noticed we've run the dishwasher far less than normal since we're not cooking.
I'm being intelligent, as hard as it is, and not doing long rides outside during the fast. A spin class is one thing, a ride outside is a whole different story, especially since around Berkeley-Oakland you can't escape the hills and that's where my energy would get eaten up. I will miss riding with my friends for a few days, but better to be sensible than to get myself into a bad sitch.
In other news: Starting to do a bunch of reading and research about my upcoming trip to Nepal. The Annapurna Circuit isn't a cakewalk. There's one pass, Thorung La, which is 17,770 feet we have to make it over, then descend over scree. This shit's serious. Thankfully, I will be taking a three day course to recertify my Wilderness First Responder next month, which will give me the refresher I need to deal with altitude illness and other things we may encounter on the trail. It is becoming apparent that I will need to be in phenomenal shape for this three week trek.
March 22, 2007
Day 2: Not Fun
Yesterday mid-day I developed a headache. Bad enough that I blew off yoga class, which is so unlike me. I felt ill at the smell of the lemonade. My sense of smell seemed heightened, and any strong smell left me queasy. The headache progressed.
While vacuuming, I started to feel nauseated. Acid reflux upchuck happened. I stopped vacuuming and took a prone position, feeling progressively more awful. Shortly after P came home, I began vomiting. I didn't have much to yak. It hurt to heave nothing. P was sweet and held my hair back. This happened on and off for a couple hours.
I managed to get to sleep. Staying asleep was another matter. I woke up at 2:30am. We took the dog out at 3am. (dammit, she still leaked!) Was awake from 2:30am to 6am. Headache dull, throbbing. Finally at 4:44am (the chinese believe the number 4 signifies death. for many years, I woke up exactly at 4:44 every morning.) I took some Ibuprofin. I had tried to be a trooper and withstand the headache, but it was going on almost 18 hours. I found some nice ways to appreciate being awake. Finally crashed out, only to be woken by Splat declaring his hunger. At least you get food, dude.
I feel better this morning. Weak. Hungryish. Headache gone. Stomach feels worked as it does after a pukefest. Was that a detox evening? Who knows.
I'll go for day 3, what the hell. I teach spin tonight. Wish me luck.
While vacuuming, I started to feel nauseated. Acid reflux upchuck happened. I stopped vacuuming and took a prone position, feeling progressively more awful. Shortly after P came home, I began vomiting. I didn't have much to yak. It hurt to heave nothing. P was sweet and held my hair back. This happened on and off for a couple hours.
I managed to get to sleep. Staying asleep was another matter. I woke up at 2:30am. We took the dog out at 3am. (dammit, she still leaked!) Was awake from 2:30am to 6am. Headache dull, throbbing. Finally at 4:44am (the chinese believe the number 4 signifies death. for many years, I woke up exactly at 4:44 every morning.) I took some Ibuprofin. I had tried to be a trooper and withstand the headache, but it was going on almost 18 hours. I found some nice ways to appreciate being awake. Finally crashed out, only to be woken by Splat declaring his hunger. At least you get food, dude.
I feel better this morning. Weak. Hungryish. Headache gone. Stomach feels worked as it does after a pukefest. Was that a detox evening? Who knows.
I'll go for day 3, what the hell. I teach spin tonight. Wish me luck.
March 21, 2007
Silly Fasting Business, Day #2
It was my idea. A spring cleaning, so to speak. It sounded like a good idea. Originally I had wanted to do a juice fast, but my friend with the juicer is out of town, hence, the juicer unavailable. Then one of my cycling friends was on a modified version of The Master Cleanse, aka The Lemonade Diet. She's not a kook, so it got me thinking maybe that would work, too. Although Becky supplemented with powdered greens, and gave me her leftovers. Haven't gone there yet and dunno if I will.
I'm doing it with Paul. Bless his hungry soul. Makes it more fun when you gulp Smooth Move tea with someone you love, then you can talk about the lovely details of it all. Or when 3:45am wakes me with stomach cramps, I have a warm understanding person to spoon away the pain. Helps, too, that he's all jazzy about it!
Besides being hungry and crave-y, it's not so bad. I am backing off on the cycling some, with Sunday's bonk still fresh in my mind. I'm teaching spin tomorrow evening, but skipping the four hour ride with Mark. I have a low-grade headache today. I haven't had caffeine in two days, could that be it? Or is it truly the detox action?
How long can I do this? It's supposed to be 10 days, but I was reading that after 7 days your body uses your own muscle for protein. I am needing all the muscle I have, so it may be limited to 7 days. I saw my chirpractor today and she thought for one's first fast 3-5 days might be more appropriate. Surprisingly, she was totally on board with the whole fasting concept. At the very least, I'd like to make it through the weekend. I've got some bike riding needing to happen while I'm not working.
Paul's suggesting a raw vegan diet after this is all done. Does that mean he won't bake? Because that truly is my downfall.
I'm doing it with Paul. Bless his hungry soul. Makes it more fun when you gulp Smooth Move tea with someone you love, then you can talk about the lovely details of it all. Or when 3:45am wakes me with stomach cramps, I have a warm understanding person to spoon away the pain. Helps, too, that he's all jazzy about it!
Besides being hungry and crave-y, it's not so bad. I am backing off on the cycling some, with Sunday's bonk still fresh in my mind. I'm teaching spin tomorrow evening, but skipping the four hour ride with Mark. I have a low-grade headache today. I haven't had caffeine in two days, could that be it? Or is it truly the detox action?
How long can I do this? It's supposed to be 10 days, but I was reading that after 7 days your body uses your own muscle for protein. I am needing all the muscle I have, so it may be limited to 7 days. I saw my chirpractor today and she thought for one's first fast 3-5 days might be more appropriate. Surprisingly, she was totally on board with the whole fasting concept. At the very least, I'd like to make it through the weekend. I've got some bike riding needing to happen while I'm not working.
Paul's suggesting a raw vegan diet after this is all done. Does that mean he won't bake? Because that truly is my downfall.
March 18, 2007
Asia Travel
I booked my ticket. I'm meeting Michelle in Bangkok. We're going to Nepal, Tibet, and who knows where else our adventures will take us. The plan, thus far, is to do the Annapurna Trail. We'll be over there for seven weeks.
Ever been over there?
Tell me about it, please. I've never done anything like this before. Been to Germany and Italy. That's it. All the more reason I should be doing this, eh?
Ever been over there?
Tell me about it, please. I've never done anything like this before. Been to Germany and Italy. That's it. All the more reason I should be doing this, eh?
February 15, 2007
Ups and Downs
Unsurprisingly, Allstate completely low-balled me in the settlement offer. They won't budge. They tell me my options are arbitration or filing suit against them.
I was super pissed yesterday when they called. Now, I simply don't care. Fine, you can screw me, Allstate. I only care about putting this behind me. I can't fully heal and move on until this is done . Allstate counts on people like me to cave. It would take weeks or months of dragging it out via arbitration or going through an attorney with the hopes of getting more money. At this point, it's no longer about money.
There's a special place in hell for you, Ms. Insurance Adjustor.
Right up there with meter maids.
(This would be a fine time to rant about the parking ticket I received from the snakes at Oakland Parking Division. (Fuckers!) They fined me $50 for parking in a red zone, when I hadn't. Part of my front bumper bled into the red zone, ever-so-slightly. However, there's been a car parked in the same spot that has been WAY bleeding into the red zone....and yet, NO TICKET!!!)
Uh, I'm feeling ranteriffic right now.
Anyway, Allstate is fucking me, but they are giving me enough money to get a new bike. I put down a deposit on a custom frame from Steve Rex of Rex Cycles . A frame that will fit me exclusively, to resolve the fit issues of long femurs and short torso and arms. I'm getting the Carbon and Steel frame. I'm going to put my REI pro-deal abilities to their fullest use and deck this bike out in the top of the line components. Hell, yeah , I will no longer have to deal with the squirrely chatter of an aluminum frame. Or of having a triple. Nor will I be riding a bike who's top tube is 5cm too long! Aside from the cost of this beauty, the only downside is this frame takes four months to get. Steve makes each frame himself, by hand. Soooooooo worth it.
Oh, and the other joy of parking in my hood? I often drive around a lot, never to find parking. So, occasionally I park in the Church lot near my place. No issues, I move the car first thing in the morning when I wake up. This moring I forgot to move it, and ran outside at 10:30am. Shouldn't be a big issue on a Thursday morning, right? WRONG! I ran out to find my 4Runner being loaded onto a tow truck. Yup. Yes, it was my own damn fault. The tow truck guys were not going to release my car! After conducting a huddle up by my front bumper, they decided to release it for eighty dollars . EXTORTION MONEY!
Oh, and guys, you can join the insurance adjustor and the meter maid in hell, okay?
I'm a firm believer in karma , folks, and you'll get yours.
I was super pissed yesterday when they called. Now, I simply don't care. Fine, you can screw me, Allstate. I only care about putting this behind me. I can't fully heal and move on until this is done . Allstate counts on people like me to cave. It would take weeks or months of dragging it out via arbitration or going through an attorney with the hopes of getting more money. At this point, it's no longer about money.
There's a special place in hell for you, Ms. Insurance Adjustor.
Right up there with meter maids.
(This would be a fine time to rant about the parking ticket I received from the snakes at Oakland Parking Division. (Fuckers!) They fined me $50 for parking in a red zone, when I hadn't. Part of my front bumper bled into the red zone, ever-so-slightly. However, there's been a car parked in the same spot that has been WAY bleeding into the red zone....and yet, NO TICKET!!!)
Uh, I'm feeling ranteriffic right now.
Anyway, Allstate is fucking me, but they are giving me enough money to get a new bike. I put down a deposit on a custom frame from Steve Rex of Rex Cycles . A frame that will fit me exclusively, to resolve the fit issues of long femurs and short torso and arms. I'm getting the Carbon and Steel frame. I'm going to put my REI pro-deal abilities to their fullest use and deck this bike out in the top of the line components. Hell, yeah , I will no longer have to deal with the squirrely chatter of an aluminum frame. Or of having a triple. Nor will I be riding a bike who's top tube is 5cm too long! Aside from the cost of this beauty, the only downside is this frame takes four months to get. Steve makes each frame himself, by hand. Soooooooo worth it.
Oh, and the other joy of parking in my hood? I often drive around a lot, never to find parking. So, occasionally I park in the Church lot near my place. No issues, I move the car first thing in the morning when I wake up. This moring I forgot to move it, and ran outside at 10:30am. Shouldn't be a big issue on a Thursday morning, right? WRONG! I ran out to find my 4Runner being loaded onto a tow truck. Yup. Yes, it was my own damn fault. The tow truck guys were not going to release my car! After conducting a huddle up by my front bumper, they decided to release it for eighty dollars . EXTORTION MONEY!
Oh, and guys, you can join the insurance adjustor and the meter maid in hell, okay?
I'm a firm believer in karma , folks, and you'll get yours.
February 1, 2007
Really?
Has it really been 20 years?
I received an email today about my 20th High School Reunion. Oy.
The internet must be a powerful tool, I don't know how else they found me. I was MIA for the 10th reunion, and then, I was still on the East Coast. I come from a place where people don't leave. Or if they do, it's a couple towns over.
More alarming, I am actually considering going to the reunion. Only vaguely considering, but still. I was one of those total outcasts. You know the type. Arty. Sullen. One of two punk kids in a sea of upturn collars and feathered hair. I grew up on Cape Cod. Politically liberal, socially stifling. Land of the cookie cutter people. So I find it surprising that I'm not rejecting the idea immediately.
Why would I pay to torture myself by seeing these people again?
Partially because I've knocked that Outsider chip off my shoulder. Partially out of morbid curiousity. There are a couple people I'd like to see. I haven't been abck to the Cape for years and years. I seek no closure from my high school years, so there's none of that.
But damn, has it really been 20 years?
I received an email today about my 20th High School Reunion. Oy.
The internet must be a powerful tool, I don't know how else they found me. I was MIA for the 10th reunion, and then, I was still on the East Coast. I come from a place where people don't leave. Or if they do, it's a couple towns over.
More alarming, I am actually considering going to the reunion. Only vaguely considering, but still. I was one of those total outcasts. You know the type. Arty. Sullen. One of two punk kids in a sea of upturn collars and feathered hair. I grew up on Cape Cod. Politically liberal, socially stifling. Land of the cookie cutter people. So I find it surprising that I'm not rejecting the idea immediately.
Why would I pay to torture myself by seeing these people again?
Partially because I've knocked that Outsider chip off my shoulder. Partially out of morbid curiousity. There are a couple people I'd like to see. I haven't been abck to the Cape for years and years. I seek no closure from my high school years, so there's none of that.
But damn, has it really been 20 years?
January 31, 2007
A Letter to Allstate
Hello XXXXX,
As you move towards the review of my claim before making your settlement offer, I'd like to tell you a few details in the hope that you will be taking this into consideration.
While we determined earlier this month that I was returned to pre injury status, I have to say, that while I am ready to settle, that is in no way true. My pre-injury status was that of a strong, fast cyclist. A cyclist for whom a 60 mile ride was an easy afternoon spin. A cyclist whose 2005 event completion included two double centuries (200 miles in a day) and ten centuries (100 miles in a day). In addition, I went on a four day, five hundred mile cycling vacation in 2005. I had planned to race in the 2006 cycling season.
All of that changed on April 5, 2006 when XXXXX XXXXXX struck my car during rush hour traffic on the 580 freeway. When Mr. XXXXX slammed into me from the side, it impacted both my neck and low back. My head snapped to the side. My pelvis was also thrown to one side. I experienced shooting pains up my spine and went to the Emergency Room at Kaiser after the accident.
While Allstate might claim I suffered "only soft tissue injuries", it was to the extent that I spent several months in pain, requiring medications such as muscle relaxants to cope with the spasms and prescription strength ibuprofin and vicodin to manage the pain. As late as November, I was still requiring muscle relaxants. I am not someone who like to ingest medications of any kind.
I lost my entire 2006 cycling year from that point on. What was my biggest passion and brought me so much joy now brought me to tears, from both pain and frustration. I could no longer ride with my friends, so my social life suffered. I could no longer get the exercise I was used to, so my overall health and mental health suffered. Ask any athlete who cannot exercise at their level and they will tell you it takes quite a toll on you mentally. I couldn't race. I could barely ride. The seven day 600 mile cycling vacation I had hope to go on with my friends, instead I spent trying to recover from these injuries. I missed the 2006 Death Ride, for which I'd already paid $89 and made the lottery cut to get in.
A few weeks after the accident, I had to buy a new bed. I had been borrowing a bed from a friend, and suddenly even sleeping caused me pain. For months, sleeping in a bed that wasn't mine caused me pain and stiffness. This wasn't how I've ever lived. I continued to have disruptions in my sleep due to pain well into early December.
I've begun riding again, starting small and trying to rebuild my cycling endurance level. Yesterday I was in tears on a ride. I was riding alone, because all my elite athlete friends have pronounced me too slow to ride with. I was going up a hill and I was feeling sore in my low back, specifically the quadratus lumborum. Before the accident, I was a very strong hill climber, nicknamed the "Ponytail Express". Here I was going up a hill at 3.5 mph. This was a hill I had easily taken at 12 mph before the accident. While I was grateful to be alive and on my bike, this was not my pre-injury status.
It occurred to me then that the 2007 cycling season will essentially be lost, too. It will not be about riding with my friends, it will be about rehabbing alone and gradually working to build my strength to get back to where I was before Mr. XXXXXX was reckless enough to hit me while uninsured.
I was invited to be a cycling mentor for the 2007 Team in Training group for this year's Death Ride. As much as I would have loved to support a team raising funds for leukemia (as I did in 2005), I knew I was not strong enough to be a cycling mentor. It was with great sadness that I declined. There's no way I'll be able to ride the Death Ride in 2007.
In addition to the loss of my greatest joy in life, there have been other repercussions from the accident. I experience stress and anxiety now when driving on the freeway. I am particularly stressed and anxious when I am a passenger in a car. My boyfriend has had to endure my panicky outbursts when he's safely driving for months now. This still continues.
While I am not claiming a loss due to work pay, I did suffer a loss. All these medical appointments caused me to miss work. As an freelance photo producer, I work on-site in ad agencies on an hourly pay basis. I am not contracted for a specific amount of money, but rather to produce a job. I did lose hours of work. But I know this is hard to track given the uniqueness of my employment, which is why I am not seeking lost wages. I was very fortunate enough to be working at a company who my boss was a work friend and she understood what I was going through and was gracious about my missing hours in the office.
I have spent over $7000 in medical treatments and expenses. I was reimbursed for the first two thousand. I am sure you can understand the loss of five thousand dollars from one's bank account being a hardship. Even though I am considered returned to pre-injury status, I am truly not there yet, if you take into account that I was an elite athlete. This year will involve added expenses of working with a coach and a trainer to try to regain my athletic abilities to where they were before the accident. While I understand Allstate won't be paying for this, I would like it if this were considered just for a moment in the claim. It's not going to be an easy year to truly return to pre-injury status.
Can you imagine how you would feel if the activity outside of work that brought you the most joy was suddenly taken away from you and only caused pain? I understand it is your job to bring a claim to closure quickly and for the lowest amount possible. So while you do your job, please consider the human element of what the past eight months have held for me.
I may be able to live life like a normal sedentary person, but I am not anywhere near the level of my pre-injury fitness, mobility, and capacity as an athlete.
For years I have had Allstate Insurance, all the while believing the marketing slogan, "Allstate. You're in good hands." Am I in good hands? I would like to believe that Allstate will settle in good faith and offer a fair and reasonable settlement.
I look forward to hearing from you next week.
Jen
As you move towards the review of my claim before making your settlement offer, I'd like to tell you a few details in the hope that you will be taking this into consideration.
While we determined earlier this month that I was returned to pre injury status, I have to say, that while I am ready to settle, that is in no way true. My pre-injury status was that of a strong, fast cyclist. A cyclist for whom a 60 mile ride was an easy afternoon spin. A cyclist whose 2005 event completion included two double centuries (200 miles in a day) and ten centuries (100 miles in a day). In addition, I went on a four day, five hundred mile cycling vacation in 2005. I had planned to race in the 2006 cycling season.
All of that changed on April 5, 2006 when XXXXX XXXXXX struck my car during rush hour traffic on the 580 freeway. When Mr. XXXXX slammed into me from the side, it impacted both my neck and low back. My head snapped to the side. My pelvis was also thrown to one side. I experienced shooting pains up my spine and went to the Emergency Room at Kaiser after the accident.
While Allstate might claim I suffered "only soft tissue injuries", it was to the extent that I spent several months in pain, requiring medications such as muscle relaxants to cope with the spasms and prescription strength ibuprofin and vicodin to manage the pain. As late as November, I was still requiring muscle relaxants. I am not someone who like to ingest medications of any kind.
I lost my entire 2006 cycling year from that point on. What was my biggest passion and brought me so much joy now brought me to tears, from both pain and frustration. I could no longer ride with my friends, so my social life suffered. I could no longer get the exercise I was used to, so my overall health and mental health suffered. Ask any athlete who cannot exercise at their level and they will tell you it takes quite a toll on you mentally. I couldn't race. I could barely ride. The seven day 600 mile cycling vacation I had hope to go on with my friends, instead I spent trying to recover from these injuries. I missed the 2006 Death Ride, for which I'd already paid $89 and made the lottery cut to get in.
A few weeks after the accident, I had to buy a new bed. I had been borrowing a bed from a friend, and suddenly even sleeping caused me pain. For months, sleeping in a bed that wasn't mine caused me pain and stiffness. This wasn't how I've ever lived. I continued to have disruptions in my sleep due to pain well into early December.
I've begun riding again, starting small and trying to rebuild my cycling endurance level. Yesterday I was in tears on a ride. I was riding alone, because all my elite athlete friends have pronounced me too slow to ride with. I was going up a hill and I was feeling sore in my low back, specifically the quadratus lumborum. Before the accident, I was a very strong hill climber, nicknamed the "Ponytail Express". Here I was going up a hill at 3.5 mph. This was a hill I had easily taken at 12 mph before the accident. While I was grateful to be alive and on my bike, this was not my pre-injury status.
It occurred to me then that the 2007 cycling season will essentially be lost, too. It will not be about riding with my friends, it will be about rehabbing alone and gradually working to build my strength to get back to where I was before Mr. XXXXXX was reckless enough to hit me while uninsured.
I was invited to be a cycling mentor for the 2007 Team in Training group for this year's Death Ride. As much as I would have loved to support a team raising funds for leukemia (as I did in 2005), I knew I was not strong enough to be a cycling mentor. It was with great sadness that I declined. There's no way I'll be able to ride the Death Ride in 2007.
In addition to the loss of my greatest joy in life, there have been other repercussions from the accident. I experience stress and anxiety now when driving on the freeway. I am particularly stressed and anxious when I am a passenger in a car. My boyfriend has had to endure my panicky outbursts when he's safely driving for months now. This still continues.
While I am not claiming a loss due to work pay, I did suffer a loss. All these medical appointments caused me to miss work. As an freelance photo producer, I work on-site in ad agencies on an hourly pay basis. I am not contracted for a specific amount of money, but rather to produce a job. I did lose hours of work. But I know this is hard to track given the uniqueness of my employment, which is why I am not seeking lost wages. I was very fortunate enough to be working at a company who my boss was a work friend and she understood what I was going through and was gracious about my missing hours in the office.
I have spent over $7000 in medical treatments and expenses. I was reimbursed for the first two thousand. I am sure you can understand the loss of five thousand dollars from one's bank account being a hardship. Even though I am considered returned to pre-injury status, I am truly not there yet, if you take into account that I was an elite athlete. This year will involve added expenses of working with a coach and a trainer to try to regain my athletic abilities to where they were before the accident. While I understand Allstate won't be paying for this, I would like it if this were considered just for a moment in the claim. It's not going to be an easy year to truly return to pre-injury status.
Can you imagine how you would feel if the activity outside of work that brought you the most joy was suddenly taken away from you and only caused pain? I understand it is your job to bring a claim to closure quickly and for the lowest amount possible. So while you do your job, please consider the human element of what the past eight months have held for me.
I may be able to live life like a normal sedentary person, but I am not anywhere near the level of my pre-injury fitness, mobility, and capacity as an athlete.
For years I have had Allstate Insurance, all the while believing the marketing slogan, "Allstate. You're in good hands." Am I in good hands? I would like to believe that Allstate will settle in good faith and offer a fair and reasonable settlement.
I look forward to hearing from you next week.
Jen
January 23, 2007
Happy Crasher
Happy Crasher
Originally uploaded by jenworth.
I love snowboarding!
Just spent the weekend up at Kirkwood. No new snow, but it was still fun. Saturday I had a really good day. No falls. Didn't even wipe out getting off the lift. It felt really good.
Sunday morning we woke up to howling winds. We suspected the mountain might be closed, and we weren't wrong. Three lifts were open, mostly really easy stuff. So after dawdling, we went out for a couple hours. I don't know what changed from the day before, but I was a mess. Thankfully it was a brief day! I lacked confidence, which kept me from catching my heel edge easily. I don't know what was up. It got a tiny bit better, but riding wasn't fluid like it was on Saturday. We rode until the end of the day, and then made a really yummy dinner of roasted stuffed squash.
We were lucky to have stayed right on the mountain (luck costs bucks, in this case) and we rode again on Monday. Once again, it felt great. I really enjoyed the bluebird day. Not crowded or cold. Just a really fun day, even if I did crash more than Saturday.
Snowboarding is F U N ! ! !
January 16, 2007
Back in the Saddle
I'm back!
Two weeks ago, my chiropractor and I proclaimed me restored to "pre-injury status". This means I am finally done treating from the car accident I was in back in April 2006. I walked away from that accident, but the accident changed the rest of 2006. I could no longer do what I loved and with the people I call my friends.
Cycling sends me over the moon. I can't express how it scrubs clear the cobwebs in my brain.
But all of December I'd been hemming and hawing about getting back on the bike, even though I wasn't working. I was telling myself, "It's no fun to ride alone".
Bullshit!
Yesterday, one of my favorite people gave me back cycling. Marty said, "wanna ride soon?" in an email. We were out there yesterday afternoon, in the freezing cold at 4pm for a quick spin. I've certainly lost some power and strength, but not the joy of being on the bike. That is, so long as I lose the ego, and not think of what level of riding I was at during the 2005 season.
It wasn't an earth shattering ride; it was only an hour long. But it showed me that my legs were still strong, just not what they were. Thanks to the performance indoor cycling program (we can't call ourselves Spin, because we don't license from Johnny G) at Berkeley Ironworks, I've been able to maintain cardio and some strength.
So today, I went riding again. Alone. Riding alone is fun, because cycling is fun. It was freezing out, and I had to go to REI to get a skull cap and a proper cycling windbreaker. (Thankful once again, I am an employee of the REI Outdoor School and entitled to that employee discount!)
Another "quick ride". See, for me, anything less than 30 miles was not worth breaking out the bike. I have to lose that thinking, and appreciate the sheer joy of being in the saddle. Climbing hills on a bike has always been a favorite part of cycling, and I still love it.
So, while I get back into cycling shape and my 2007 cycling season evolves, I'll try to keep cycling related blather over here . It could get tedious, I'll warn you. I may use that blog to document my training progress in only a way I care to follow. Who knows. Who knows what this season will bring. But it's nice to be back.
Two weeks ago, my chiropractor and I proclaimed me restored to "pre-injury status". This means I am finally done treating from the car accident I was in back in April 2006. I walked away from that accident, but the accident changed the rest of 2006. I could no longer do what I loved and with the people I call my friends.
Cycling sends me over the moon. I can't express how it scrubs clear the cobwebs in my brain.
But all of December I'd been hemming and hawing about getting back on the bike, even though I wasn't working. I was telling myself, "It's no fun to ride alone".
Bullshit!
Yesterday, one of my favorite people gave me back cycling. Marty said, "wanna ride soon?" in an email. We were out there yesterday afternoon, in the freezing cold at 4pm for a quick spin. I've certainly lost some power and strength, but not the joy of being on the bike. That is, so long as I lose the ego, and not think of what level of riding I was at during the 2005 season.
It wasn't an earth shattering ride; it was only an hour long. But it showed me that my legs were still strong, just not what they were. Thanks to the performance indoor cycling program (we can't call ourselves Spin, because we don't license from Johnny G) at Berkeley Ironworks, I've been able to maintain cardio and some strength.
So today, I went riding again. Alone. Riding alone is fun, because cycling is fun. It was freezing out, and I had to go to REI to get a skull cap and a proper cycling windbreaker. (Thankful once again, I am an employee of the REI Outdoor School and entitled to that employee discount!)
Another "quick ride". See, for me, anything less than 30 miles was not worth breaking out the bike. I have to lose that thinking, and appreciate the sheer joy of being in the saddle. Climbing hills on a bike has always been a favorite part of cycling, and I still love it.
So, while I get back into cycling shape and my 2007 cycling season evolves, I'll try to keep cycling related blather over here . It could get tedious, I'll warn you. I may use that blog to document my training progress in only a way I care to follow. Who knows. Who knows what this season will bring. But it's nice to be back.
January 12, 2007
La di da.
Total Cuteness
Originally uploaded by jenworth.
I have not worked since Thanksgiving.
Clearly, I need to get out more, because I am talking to the cats.
That is all.
January 7, 2007
Another cat. What the hell?
Another cat. What the hell?
Originally uploaded by jenworth.
I'm starting to scare even myself. Am I destined to be a crazy cat lady? I swear I won't get one of those funky smelling apartments where it's obvious that there are cats due to catstench.
suggested names for this little guy are welcomed!
his foster mom named him picasso. no way.
he looks like ink was thrown on him; you have to see his crazy markings.
named bandied about:
splat: looks like he was splattered with ink
jack: he looks like a jackson pollock painting
he's so contrasty compared to the creamy orange Hippo.
January 4, 2007
Shallow Me
Apparently, I am shallow. And I like it.
I am a magazine junkie. I'll read nearly any magazine, and usually even have a subscription to a handful of different magazines. If P didn't mock Oprah as hard as he does, I'll probably even have a sub to "O", even though she's such an egomanic that she's on the cover every month.
Anyway.
Have you ever given magazines' purpose any thought? I mean, besides to sell ads, although this fits in nicely with my theory. Magazines exist to tell you about your imperfections. How to camoflage those 10 pounds. How to be more thoughtful. Stronger. Better looking, through make-up and fashion, of course. How to get rid of the gut, have a nicer house, get a better car, trick out your motorcycle, and overall, how to overhaul your sad-sack of a life. And if you want to avoid recognizing your pathetic life, you can drown yourself in celebrity tabloids. Now, those people are fucked. Even if they are rich!
Oh, and those ads? They're there to help you understand which products you'll need for your self-improvement project.
So magazines are essentially there to point out our flaws (and improve them) and to sell products.
Why do I love magazines so? A lot of them are ALL ads (hello, Vogue!). A lot have bad photography. But they're like little snippets into a culture. They're aspirational (hello, marketing buzzword!). They are a timesuck. Okay, there's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.
Plus they are a waste of paper. Few use eco-friendly inks. I gotta get over this magazine thing.
Also, I heard on the radio yesterday an interview with some gal who wrote a book about current trends. Can't recall the title, only that she works at J Walter Thompson. She was speaking about how we're all feeling an emotional void which is why we try to fill it up with products.
But it was her comments about the superficiality of our relationships that stuck with me. She said we'd rather have 14 "lite" friends of a superficial nature with whom we can have small talk. Those people make us feel good and we can interact with them in brief spurts. She claims we, as a society, prefer that to having a small group of truly deep friendships, the kind of friends we can spend two hours talking to. She asserts it's because we don't have or make time, so we squeeze our friendships in wherever we have a moment in the cracks of our lives.
She may be right. I notice this myself. I have many "friends". How many of these "friends" do I get together with on a regular basis and gift them with my time and attention. Very few, but they're also not seeking it out because we all have busy lives and they, too, seemingly prefer the kind of quick interactions that friendship seems to be about these days. I have few friends that I get together with or have long, meaningful conversations. I cherish each of these people and times we get together. But there are people with whom I'd like to spend more time....I just don't "have" the time. That's bullshit, though.
One revelation I had years ago was this: for those who don't have enough time, they need to remember it's about choices. We all have the same 24 hours in a day. No one gets any more or any less. We all choose how we spend those 24 hours. So when you don't "have" time to spend with friends, or to go to the gym or whatever, it's because it's not a priority enough to make time for it.
Which leads me back to feeling shallow and selfish because there are people I truly want to connect with and somehow haven't made the time to do so.
I am a magazine junkie. I'll read nearly any magazine, and usually even have a subscription to a handful of different magazines. If P didn't mock Oprah as hard as he does, I'll probably even have a sub to "O", even though she's such an egomanic that she's on the cover every month.
Anyway.
Have you ever given magazines' purpose any thought? I mean, besides to sell ads, although this fits in nicely with my theory. Magazines exist to tell you about your imperfections. How to camoflage those 10 pounds. How to be more thoughtful. Stronger. Better looking, through make-up and fashion, of course. How to get rid of the gut, have a nicer house, get a better car, trick out your motorcycle, and overall, how to overhaul your sad-sack of a life. And if you want to avoid recognizing your pathetic life, you can drown yourself in celebrity tabloids. Now, those people are fucked. Even if they are rich!
Oh, and those ads? They're there to help you understand which products you'll need for your self-improvement project.
So magazines are essentially there to point out our flaws (and improve them) and to sell products.
Why do I love magazines so? A lot of them are ALL ads (hello, Vogue!). A lot have bad photography. But they're like little snippets into a culture. They're aspirational (hello, marketing buzzword!). They are a timesuck. Okay, there's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.
Plus they are a waste of paper. Few use eco-friendly inks. I gotta get over this magazine thing.
Also, I heard on the radio yesterday an interview with some gal who wrote a book about current trends. Can't recall the title, only that she works at J Walter Thompson. She was speaking about how we're all feeling an emotional void which is why we try to fill it up with products.
But it was her comments about the superficiality of our relationships that stuck with me. She said we'd rather have 14 "lite" friends of a superficial nature with whom we can have small talk. Those people make us feel good and we can interact with them in brief spurts. She claims we, as a society, prefer that to having a small group of truly deep friendships, the kind of friends we can spend two hours talking to. She asserts it's because we don't have or make time, so we squeeze our friendships in wherever we have a moment in the cracks of our lives.
She may be right. I notice this myself. I have many "friends". How many of these "friends" do I get together with on a regular basis and gift them with my time and attention. Very few, but they're also not seeking it out because we all have busy lives and they, too, seemingly prefer the kind of quick interactions that friendship seems to be about these days. I have few friends that I get together with or have long, meaningful conversations. I cherish each of these people and times we get together. But there are people with whom I'd like to spend more time....I just don't "have" the time. That's bullshit, though.
One revelation I had years ago was this: for those who don't have enough time, they need to remember it's about choices. We all have the same 24 hours in a day. No one gets any more or any less. We all choose how we spend those 24 hours. So when you don't "have" time to spend with friends, or to go to the gym or whatever, it's because it's not a priority enough to make time for it.
Which leads me back to feeling shallow and selfish because there are people I truly want to connect with and somehow haven't made the time to do so.
December 30, 2006
the waves of 2006
last year I called the year end recap "cheesy". mmmm.....cheese. i'll eat those words, cause apparently i am doing it again. it's a fun thing to look back on a year later, thus, I bring you the thumbs-up and the boos of 2006.
The Crap:
Had to put Milo down. Hands down, this was the saddest, shittiest thing of 2006. I miss him still.
The Car Accident on April 5, 2006 and the resulting loss of my cycling year. Learned how much Allstate sucks, too.
Worked a hell of a lot and didn't have much downtime during the good weather.
Basically shut down the dog biz due to being so busy in advertising.
Didn't make it to Yosemite even once.
No backpacking trips.
Parking in my 'hood.
The Good:
Sold the house right before the market skidded and did well on the sale.
Purging and simplifying during the move. It's nice to have less stuff!
A couple good car camping trips.
Having a solid friendship with my ex-spouse.
Luna staying in good health and getting to see the joy of her having two homes.
The freedom of renting versus owning. Owning isn't all it's cracked up to be.
Being in a really healthy, wonderful relationship with someone I adore.
Hippo the Cat, a fun addition to the fam.
The Crap:
Had to put Milo down. Hands down, this was the saddest, shittiest thing of 2006. I miss him still.
The Car Accident on April 5, 2006 and the resulting loss of my cycling year. Learned how much Allstate sucks, too.
Worked a hell of a lot and didn't have much downtime during the good weather.
Basically shut down the dog biz due to being so busy in advertising.
Didn't make it to Yosemite even once.
No backpacking trips.
Parking in my 'hood.
The Good:
Sold the house right before the market skidded and did well on the sale.
Purging and simplifying during the move. It's nice to have less stuff!
A couple good car camping trips.
Having a solid friendship with my ex-spouse.
Luna staying in good health and getting to see the joy of her having two homes.
The freedom of renting versus owning. Owning isn't all it's cracked up to be.
Being in a really healthy, wonderful relationship with someone I adore.
Hippo the Cat, a fun addition to the fam.
December 21, 2006
The Longest Night
It is the Winter Solstice. The shortest day. The longest night of the year.
A time of darkness. And the promise of lightness. New life. New beginnings to move forth from the darkness. A time for quiet. Introspection.
Light a candle tonight and sit for a moment in silence. Appreciate what has come to pass and all that there is to come.
December 18, 2006
Holiday Madness
People are insane right now.
For real. The frenzy of the holidays brings out the worst in people right now. The expectations of the holidays, the shopping in particular, results in people being crazed right now. Hurried. Rude. Inconsiderate. Absent-minded. Must shop. Gotta get everything on the list. People seem quick to cut each other off driving.
What about good cheer? Goodwill towards others? It's gone the wayside due to consuming, and the commercialism of this grouping of holidays.
It sucks. Reason # 613 I ignore the holidays. Perhaps this year, with taking the month off, I am more acutely aware of the madness because I am not moving anywhere near that pace of life.
In other news: I sat for a few more hours of tattoo work on my belt piece. It's nearly done; just have another couple hours of the fine details work, the shading and refining. Marcus layers his colors in like a watercolor, so he likes to see the colors from session to session so he can really work in the details. This sitting was more painful than the last one. I was complain-y and getting electrical current-like radiating sensations far from the actual needlin'.
Advice for the day: If you get tattooed along the beltline the day before, it's a really bad idea to put on spandex shorts and go to a spin class less than 24 hours after a tattoo appointment.
For real. The frenzy of the holidays brings out the worst in people right now. The expectations of the holidays, the shopping in particular, results in people being crazed right now. Hurried. Rude. Inconsiderate. Absent-minded. Must shop. Gotta get everything on the list. People seem quick to cut each other off driving.
What about good cheer? Goodwill towards others? It's gone the wayside due to consuming, and the commercialism of this grouping of holidays.
It sucks. Reason # 613 I ignore the holidays. Perhaps this year, with taking the month off, I am more acutely aware of the madness because I am not moving anywhere near that pace of life.
In other news: I sat for a few more hours of tattoo work on my belt piece. It's nearly done; just have another couple hours of the fine details work, the shading and refining. Marcus layers his colors in like a watercolor, so he likes to see the colors from session to session so he can really work in the details. This sitting was more painful than the last one. I was complain-y and getting electrical current-like radiating sensations far from the actual needlin'.
Advice for the day: If you get tattooed along the beltline the day before, it's a really bad idea to put on spandex shorts and go to a spin class less than 24 hours after a tattoo appointment.
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