The Good News is Everybody Does It...

The bad news is it will take you a few times before it becomes second nature to you. That's what Denny W. told me last week when I called to findout what I was doing wrong trying to remove my cleated bike shoe from the pedal.

I had an America's Funniest Video moment for which I am grateful no one had a video of. I pedalled up to my driveway. Came to a complete stop thinking how hard can this be to get my shoe released from my egg beater pedals. Tried once, tried a second time and simultaneously fell over sideways. Later in the week when I got home from work I slipped on my bike shoes, got on my bike and leaned against the back of my truck practicing removing my cleats from the pedals. I also discovered my floating cleat is on "my" right foot instead of my left foot so it is kinda awkward but, I do have the hang of it now.

I went down to Spring Street Sports in Chippewa Falls to buy a different saddle. According to one of the techs the Damselfly is too narrow. The shop owner said to hang onto the receipt and in a week if the seat didn't fit right bring it back and try another one. I needed a 155. I bought a Specialized saddle..... since according to Terry bike company sales lady they were none available in different sizes other than length and width at the back which were in inches. I'm loving the new 27 speed set up that Anybody's Bike Shop in Eau Claire put on. I no longer have problems with the chain dropping off the front chain ring(I'd taken the bike setup with the 24 speed in to be readjusted several times but, within 10miles of pedalling it would go back to dropping the chain).

I have to say the Spiriva is working well. I also think the Cefprozil the Urgent care dr put me on Friday is helping but, it's going to be a slow recovery from this Upper Respiratory infection.

I saw Silent Sports July issue is out. On the front cover the caption reads something like "Dairyland Dare a draw for on gutsy woman". That lady would be me. The article appears on page 19 & 20. I passed on the baseball game today in an attempt to get rested up and lick this UR infection.

I went in Noreens chatroom last night & discovered that next years Alpha1 National Convention is tentatively plan for San Francisco. It would be nice to be sponsored to attend. On the other hand I might just have to save up my schillings to attend. San Francisco is sorta near Monterey, Santa Cruz & Carmel.

Someone Let My Evil Twin Loose In The Bike Shop,,,

...at least that's what I'm trying to convince everybody. I went in to get my 24 speed upgraded to a 27 speed. I saw these bike shorts, then I asked about Cat eyes and water bottle holders. This was followed by a discussion about bike seats, pedals and bike shoes(so much for foulies). I set aside a pair of mountain bike bicycle shoes(as they were more comfy and stable than racing bicycle shoes). Well, of course you can't have shoes w/o cleats and pedals, Right??? So, now I have added cleats, shoes and pedals to my things needed. Not to mention 2 more pair of bike shorts. That is followed by an additional water bottle holder. I deplore my new cat eye so that is replaced by the new Cannondale computer w/ easy to use buttons on it(but, we didn't go all out and spend another $20 for a wireless unit). Seeing as I will be participating in a longer more grueling trek this summer I need a helmet that is lighter and has more vents, too!

Oh, yeah! I almost forgot....the verdict is still out on the Spiriva. Other than it's real easy to use. I am on my last see food diet day. Tomorrow is the beginning of the new whole foods diet. Needless to say I splurged and bought Ruffles potato chips to go w/ my sour cream & french onion soup mix dip.

I bought bread w/ flax seed, Asparagus, apples, pears, cauliflower, rutabaga, baby red potatoes, lettuce salad mix, Alaskan salmon and whole milk to go with my Kasha Cinnamon harvest cereal. Tomorrow Crystal light is banned from my diet. Just straight water. I figured being off this week it would help me stay committed to my new eating regimin.

What do I hope achieve by this change??? I hope to better fuel my body 24/7 so I no longer burn muscle mass when I want to burn fat. Also, to help myself not "bonk" during a trek.

All n' all I guess I got off cheaper than if it had been a Harley!!

Long time no talk...Lots to tell!

Hi folks!

I have been very tired lately. To the point I was falling asleep at the wheel going to work. I told my Pulmonologist at Mayo about that as well as the fact my rib cage is expanding I guess because of bulla in the bottom of one of my lungs. My pulmonologist has switched me from Combivent to Spireva(sp?). Finally turned in the scrip @ the local Wal-Mart but, they couldn't get it filled & processed before I went to work today. Told the Pharmacist I would have to pick it up tomorrow as I had to get to work. He paused as he was walking behind the counter w/ a deer in the headlights look(which if you know him means he feels really bad they weren't able to get my script filled before I left).

I am feeling more rested. I am still cancer free as of Wednesday. I had to laugh though....when I was called in for the mammogram they asked who I was and assigned me changing room # 7. I'm sure there are ladies out there very afraid of a quick comeback of the Big C but, not me!!

I got a week of voluntary layoff next week. I am supposed to have a two part article that is to appear in Silent Sports magazine over the next 2 or 3 months. Burdy gave me grief uptown tonight for not seeing me training like he saw me last year. I also decided to let that piece of land go because the person who had it for sale wanted too much for it. I decided to make an offer on(I cringe as I say this) a double wide on a basement with 11 acres. It is in a township that the roads are better cared for during the winter and during the summer gets far more traffic. I reasoned that I could sell pick your own fruit and be very sick or rent out recreational equipment and be very sick. I then could save up money to buy a far superior piece of land at a later date to build a dream home on. Nobody started at the top of the heap and in the event my lungs deteoriated much faster than expected I would not have as large a debt load.

I am still mowing lawns but, picked up my commercial mower from my girlfriend in Janesville. I now wear a 2 strap disposable respirator mask when I am mowing lawns as well as when I'm raking. I am looking forward to my garden I was unable to have last year. I feel bad for the GM workers in Janesville that will soon be w/o a job(I grew up in J-ville and I still have friends who work at "the plant").

Tommorow I go take my bike up to a bike shop in Eau Claire to see about getting it changed over from a 24 speed to a 27 speed. In addition to that I get to see how many water bottle holders I can install on my bike. This morning I am hoping to figureout how to load songs on my Ilo I bought a month ago. Burdy's BIL("bad Brad") is going to loan me his CD collection . I am hoping loading 160 songs on it will be enough to get me through the Dairyland Dare 100k. Also, I did attend the on the water seminar at Wayzata Yacht club. I got persuaded to attend a baseball game in the Twin Cities(Minneapolis/St. Paul). It is the Twins vs. Brewers game June 29th and it will be the first baseball game I have attended since I was 11 or 12 w/ my church youth group(my Father wasn't fond of sports as a rule).