Play not with paradoxes

What is a champion?

2011-12-10T16:04:00.000-08:00

By definition:cham·pi·on/ˈCHampēən/Noun:A person who has defeated or surpassed all rivals in a competition, esp. in sports.As cyclocross season unwinds, the "champions" are crowned. There is the MABRA and MAC (in this area, which is all care about). I wondered if anyone ever won both in the same year? I can't seem to tell from the web since the MABRA website doesn't have any historical data (

Hero is not too strong of a word here

2011-11-11T09:16:00.000-08:00

I have objectifying male cyclists since the year 2000 when I learned of their existence. I thought I was a freak, I didn’t know of any other girls like me who cared about cyclists without actually being a competitive cyclist. I am having my moment in the No Rain video when the little girl comes across all the other little bumble bees dancing in the field (in case you missed the 90’s click here)

This is real

2011-10-29T05:28:00.001-07:00

I saw this on TV and thought it was a joke.

Caught in a bad bromance

2011-10-26T07:38:00.000-07:00

Wes + Jaredby: rkb119

weird run

2011-10-22T06:27:00.000-07:00

I went our for my long run this morning, minding my own business and enjoying the cool, crisp air. I was in the sketchier part of town and I came upon a protest. They had posters of fetuses at different stages and the closer I got to the clinic the more graphic the posters got. In front of the clinic were 2 armed guards escorting a scared girl.The protesters were all old white affluent looking

cross talk

2011-10-10T04:56:00.001-07:00

In general, I don't mind spending weekends at races or alone because I think CX is pretty cool, and I have always admired the dedication that people put in to their sport. So Columbus Day is one of the few holidays that does not involve riding bikes in any way.... it is always after a hard CX weekend so I get Toney to myself and it is my day to do what I want (coffee, sex, nap, sex, coffee, nap

Being a mom

2011-09-28T04:35:00.000-07:00

In the older days it was stuff like thisAnd now a days it is funny stuff like this......

Charm City CX

2011-09-19T12:32:00.000-07:00

So the first day of cross season is usually like the first day of school, you see all your friends you haven't seen all summer, etc. This year I would describe the first race as flat. No one seemed too excited**. Maybe it was the weather - blame it on the rain. Well we were pretty pumped up, we made t-shirts that said Team TONey - TON as in the ton of bricks, not Tony as in Who is the Boss....

More boob stuff (not x-rated fun boob stuff)

2011-09-14T02:00:00.000-07:00

Monday was W's first official day at home with the baby. I came home from work a little early to check on things. At 4pm he was drinking wine and watching women's volleyball. It was that kind of day.Having two kids is much different than having one teenager. Most of my time is spent packing bags and planning things like my work outfit that I can wear to a tennis match and yet nurse the baby in at

Fat and not with a Ph

2011-08-29T17:10:00.000-07:00

I am fat, there is no two ways about it. It is weird. I don't feel like myself, but it is also sort of funny. People treat you different, thats for sure. I treated pregnancy like an all you can eat situation, I even drank ginger ale... I never drink non-alcoholic calories EVER. I can't really diet too much since I am feeding Benzo so I have been exercising when I can. Plus my idea of a diet is

lots o funny shit (literally)

2011-07-20T19:16:00.001-07:00

has been happening to me lately and I often think, "this would be good for the blog" (realizing 4 people read this of course).#1) I got a new phone. I was playing with fire for over a year with more than 2 verbal warnings to stop using my work phone as a personal phone. After the kid popped I figured I better play by the rules at least for a little. No - that was not the funny part Hoovis so stop

Doula Dilemma

2011-06-01T17:57:00.000-07:00

could that be a doulemma? we retained a doula after a brief meeting at a panera. she was cute, young, ambitious, and seemed to genuinely want to do good. she mentioned to me in email that she only meets clients in public places. i guess that makes sense with all the weirdos out there in the world that you would want your first meeting to be in a secure location.we have a 2nd meeting with her

cinco de mayo

2011-04-29T12:23:00.001-07:00

Is one of those transition days for me, in 2006 it was the attack of stinky south paw ass tiger.That my friends is a long and complicated story and best not to be published any where - ask me about it some time.And, in 2007, it was the first time that I met Mr. Toney. We didn't end up in a relationship until the fall of that year but I knew I liked him as a person immediately. I think the most

Life is good

2011-04-27T04:42:00.001-07:00

Have a look at Henry's first trip to the beach and I forget all the negative stuff in the world. Henry living the dream....

Pretty interesting

2011-04-19T06:41:00.000-07:00

Story if you think about itI stay in touch with the ex's that are worth staying in touch with, the others are just mistakes I'd rather not think about.

It's Spring Break Bitches!

2011-04-18T07:33:00.000-07:00

That means back to back blogging or something....So Toney and I keep making Spring Break Girls Gone Wild references to this week, I mean our life isn't really that much different save a little driving around and S's activities. I was reflecting on my last "real" Spring Break in grad school, in which I spent 11 nights in a row out on the town.Antomy of a Bender

teens and technology

2011-04-17T08:15:00.000-07:00

So S is on Spring Break now, but before she left we had this conversation - perhaps a one-way conversation on my part.... and I always hesitate to start conversations with "when I was your age"... but, alas, sometimes they are necessary. I think social media has had a large impact on development and socializing in her age group. Here we go, when I was her age, i actually hung out with my friends.

Customer Service is Dead

2011-03-31T08:08:00.001-07:00

And human decency is too - at least in my world. I see it all the time and it is frustrating. The customer is always right, except now the customer can’t even get an opinion without going through a long series of telephone prompts and computer voices. We moved last weekend in to our first house. I have had a long standing hate-hate relationship with Comcast, as have others – see here.

Random Thoughts

2011-02-25T06:29:00.003-08:00

Does anyone else think that Ben Stiller's Dad looks like a certain bad man in the media recently?Please discuss.Today we close on our very first house! All kinds of nervous and excited. Here are some photos if you are interested. We found some one to take over out apartment and they are very nice and trustworthy. My mom always says that I fall in shit and come up with diamonds. I like to think of

Adorable!

2011-02-21T11:12:00.000-08:00

Cara welcomed baby #2, Raiden, in to the world today. Adiana is now a big sister! I am so happy for them, Cara and Jim and amazing parents (and people). Cara had a VBAC and reports she and baby are doing great!

Happy VD

2011-02-14T11:22:00.000-08:00

Got me some tulips at work, I think they are wonderful phallic and festive for this holiday.Life is complicated and busy and exciting and stressful this early spring. But saving grace, the calm and tranquility of the ashram. It is pretty neat. I can totally do this. I am totally drinking the Kool-Aid"When you change the way you view birth, the way you birth will change." -Marie

Om Shanti, Om

2011-02-08T18:39:00.000-08:00

When I was in the process of delivering S, the nurses said "Remember your lamaze and do the breathing". The thing was that I never took lamaze and I never took a child birth class and I was basically a kid myself so I didn't think about things as seriously as I do know. I got a crash course and successfully (and ironically) completed a natural child birth.This pregnancy I am all nesting and

Prenatal Yoga

2011-01-28T14:06:00.000-08:00

My big news lately is that I have been taking a prenatal yoga class, whooaaa hold the phone - I know, I realize how boring I am now that I don't start most stories with, "I was so drunk that I...."It is a nice class but it is very crunchy and I wish I could be more crunchy and gushy and love to connect with everyone. Basically I really enjoy it, but I can't seem to take the competitive edge out

AWOL

2011-01-12T14:26:00.000-08:00

So I haven't been bloggy lately. I am in a rather boring state of chaos. I am growing a human so I feel enormous which overall sucks but my boobs are huge so that is sweet. We bought a house and I realize most people my age have done this before but it is extraordinarily stressful. Both my parents and Toney's parents have been so great in helping us out. I will now be a commuter. I hate the

Welfare Rich

2010-12-18T05:38:00.000-08:00

Some of my favorite stories start with, "When I lived in the projects...". It was the projects, but it wasn't like the projects that you are thinking (or at least I am thinking from my expansive second hand exposure to The Wire). It was the white trash projects in Clymer, a small town near IUP. My rent was $7 and it was one of the most spacious places that I have ever lived, all and all it wasn't

look at the quads on that elf.....

2010-12-13T11:04:00.000-08:00

i wonder if he used to be a good sprinter or something. it is good to see that he is still rocking the Merills though.

santa likes nikes

2010-12-02T13:57:00.000-08:00

must be a lot of sun at the north pole

Santa Baby

2010-12-01T11:44:00.000-08:00

So this evening Mr. Toney has to dress up as Santa for a work tree lighting ceremony. So many things are wrong with him being Santa that I don't even want to start deconstructing it. I just found it very amusing.

ketchup

2010-11-30T06:59:00.001-08:00

Sorry I haven't been bloggy lately. I have been growing a human so that kinda takes a lot of energy. Cross season is winding down, Wes had a fantastic race this weekend at Toneytown. 2 more weekends of cross and I will have my husband back, at least until base miles are needed. If you forgot how important base miles are then see last year's video on them. I will try not to be obnoxious with this

storm troopers

2010-11-08T17:27:00.001-08:00

you cross racers complain BUT.....

2010-10-28T17:09:00.001-07:00

i didn't make this one

FORGOTTEN MOMENT: DCCX

2010-10-26T11:23:00.000-07:00

Mr. Toney attempted to hand a beer off to McGill during the single-speed race and they totally botched it and ended up spilling it on that blonde girl from Alan. She totally got pissed, looked at Wes and said, "I can not beleive that you got beer on my arm." We all just started laughing so hard. I mean not to be a bitch or anything but she is a hipster chick. Hipster chicks go out of their way to

Highlights from DCCX

2010-10-26T05:37:00.000-07:00

Conversation with teenagers Nolan: Is your Dad racing today? Savannah: yeah Nolan: What time? Savannah: 2:45 Nolan: Like your Dad is an elite rider? Savannah: I already told you he was really good.Julie’s First impression of cross: “O my God, they have to get those things off the course or someone could get hurt” – on seeing the barriers for the first time4 different

White Girl Can Not Hip Hop

2010-10-25T07:34:00.000-07:00

The password is Tippr10All the other people are random strangers, I am in the green shirt

I never said I was a victim of circumstance

2010-10-18T12:41:00.000-07:00

Granouge Saturday Evening

Check this out!

2010-10-18T09:27:00.000-07:00

Visit cyclingdirt.org for more Videos I get the brush off from Steevo, "not now man, I am with the press". Pretty cool pic of Mr. Toney. Perhaps it needs so funky graphical shiz applied to it I am sort of burnt out on cross today

Meetings

2010-10-14T12:33:00.000-07:00

I should not even be allowed in public when I am tired, I barely have a filter when wide awake.Picture this: meeting with military and govt health officials, microphones in front of everyone. A serious question is posed about how to market chocolate iron-fortified bars only to reproductive age females while guaranteeing that males and post-menopausal women won't consume them.My response: have you

what are the odds that I get something?

2010-10-13T07:22:00.001-07:00

This morning's g-chatme: what is your status? can you be at a computer at noon today? Weston: @ work. you need me to get that script me: no there is a boot sale on gilt dont laugh i have like 75 bucks credit i need both flat and heel brown boots, and flat black boots preference is in that order can you be my go to guy? Weston: yes i'll try and make it happen size?

2010-10-12T11:43:00.000-07:00

Samskara is a yoga (or more likely Hindu) concept about your learned impressions or habitual reaction formed by one's past experience. Samskara can be positive or negative, protective or maladaptive. I liken negative samskara to being in a rut. What is your default mode? Think about it when you are reacting to something. Thoughtful introspection is the key to change and improvement in

Pass the Tissues: We all got issues

2010-10-06T11:41:00.000-07:00

Last night was high school orientation. S was mortified that she had to go with us. The outfit she put on looked an awful lot like mine, she asked me to change. As if.She went on this rant about how hard her life is, and it was quite amusing but I did feel bad for her. When you are in it (whatever that it may be) it is tough to see beyond yourself toward rationality.The things she was listing as

Sporting News!

2010-10-05T07:38:00.001-07:00

I refrain from a beet pun here, but preliminary case data on the effect of beet juice and endurance fitness.LA Times, MARIA CHENGAP - Medical WriterRest is bestAnnals of Internal Medicine tip sheet for Oct. 5, 2010, issue1. When Dieting to Lose Weight, How Much You Sleep May be as Important as How Much You EatNew Study Shows Lack of Sleep Undermines Dietary Efforts to Lose Body FatAccording to a

Brokeback Mountain, Winchester, VA

2010-10-04T09:09:00.000-07:00

This one probably is not funny unless you were there to witness the love fest.

i love when work and play come together

2010-10-01T09:22:00.000-07:00

Science Camp Report

2010-09-29T13:34:00.001-07:00

Day #3 report - I thought we were going to have a Lord of Flies situation when the cookies got low in the lunch room. Luckily, they were quickly replaced and all scientists remained unscathed.Some music I am digging on these days.....Broken Bells The Black Keys

praying to different crosses

2010-09-27T23:01:00.000-07:00

So this is the original interview on crosshairs.com

The Burden

2010-09-22T08:28:00.000-07:00

I have this theory about burden – if it is caused by something that you don’t love, then don’t even deal with the burden that it brings. If your relationship doesn’t bring you more joy than burden then perhaps it is time to re-evaluate it. The bridesmaids at our wedding walked down the aisle to Beast of Burden, although I doubt half the people even picked it up. That was our promise to each other

head full of zombie

2010-09-21T12:18:00.000-07:00

i think today is the first day of fall, i thought i would update the appearance of the blog but most of you likely didn't notice a thing?**I made my first xtra-normal video today and they asked for payment. i was like, this is fun but money? for making fun of my husband? i am not sure if that is worth it on not. the economy is hitting us all, in fact it is a trickle down effect**my husband was

A pinch of salt, then stir the pot

2010-09-20T08:48:00.000-07:00

It was a great weekend of racing – it felt a lot like a reunion of sorts. The CX community by in large is pretty cool. Like any group you have your basic DBs but much fewer on this scene than say road racing. Someone was making fun of my cheering (slash spastic super fan ways) - there are like 15 people not in the pit at the elite races, you'd think those guys would be happy to have someone

Life in a Small Town

2010-09-16T08:35:00.000-07:00

I was blessed and cursed with growing up in a very small rural town. One wonderful thing about growing up in my hometown was the YMCA. For girls on Tuesday and Thursday and for boys on Monday and Wednesday you could go to the YMCA after school free of charge and play in many organized ball games – dodge ball, four corners, etc. It was an absolute blast – each day prizes were awarded that

Cross pollination

2010-09-03T06:57:00.001-07:00

OK today is my birthday - I am officially getting out of my funk and off my pain meds. I hope it all starts with this little gem. At our house - we have to 2 guilty pleasures, in this video they are combined - pretty sure this is a sign that 34 is going to be good to me.

hilarious

2010-08-31T14:56:00.001-07:00

I am so tired that i was watching HBO in Spanish. Wes just came home and asked me why I was doing that, my reply "I didn't even notice". I also forgot my blackberry somewhere and lost my cast today. I am starting to think I need to get back to exercising.Throughout this difficult time in my life (both the accident and losing Mary Frances) - I have grown a deeper appreciation for my friendships

updates

2010-08-30T13:40:00.000-07:00

So I have an 8th grader - let us not think about how i looked on the first day of school in the 8th grade. Awkward does not even begin to describe me at 13.I am cleared to exercise - toying with trying to do a race this fall, I think I will wait until i actually try to exercise before I make that decision.My boss lost her battle with lung cancer yesterday, the world lost an amazing woman and

screwed

2010-08-16T10:27:00.001-07:00

check it out - loads of screws but in about 4-5 weeks i will be all healed up. now i have to consider should i pursue the iron man goal? i am not sure. hebe is doing one in Cozumel - that sounds more fun than Wisconsin!thanks for all the love and support over this week, really means a lot to me.

32 days

2010-08-11T11:27:00.000-07:00

in 32 days i was supposed to compete in my first iron man (Wisconsin)2.4 m swim112 m bike26.2 m runin addition to paying 550 bucks to enter, buying 2 plane tickets, and securing lodging for a week, I have been training non-stop since January. i just got 16 stitches pulled out of my face. i'm popping pain pills like rush limbaugh. i have a left hand made of titanium. all because someone was

first wreck

2010-08-09T06:37:00.000-07:00

hoping i can still do IM. Bike is ok, if i wasn't messing around with broken computer on bike i would likely be ok too. i only used left brake so went over handlebars and i think my left hand got tangled up, two broken meta-carpals.

wild wild west

2010-08-04T21:53:00.001-07:00

this is my casita, it is so poshseriously it is... wild javelina encounters, tarantulas, leaping lizards - it is a trip. this conference is organized so that mornings are open and group activities are planned. i haven't been on any of them since i am trying to do my training in the mornings and overindulging at the spait is kind of ridiculous how amazing it is herei am staying off site too,

flying solo

2010-08-02T05:16:00.000-07:00

Mercifully I have not done a long solo ride in my life. I am about 99% of the time reliant on Little Julie to be both navigator and companion. Saturday I woke up and started out on my first solo ride . It was cold – honest to goodness Pennsylvania chilly cold morning – it was nice but who freaking packs arm warmers in July? I decided to do an out and back loop to RB Winter, simple basically

Dog Eat Dog World - the actual post

2010-08-02T05:01:00.000-07:00

Friday I attempted to write a blog from my blackberry, it did not work. I was at rock bottom. First, the phrase “it’s a dog eat dog world, and I am wearing milkbone underwear”, originated from whom ? Anyone know without googling?Here fine be lazy I was in Happy Valley, I got my hair did and I was walking around enjoying the downtown and reminiscing. I went in to some of my favorite old hangouts:

its a dog eat dog world...

2010-07-30T15:48:00.001-07:00

What a difference a day makes

2010-07-29T14:00:00.000-07:00

By lunchtime I was informed that I would be spending the next 7 days in Carefree, Arizona.Immediate thought = stressSecondary Thought = hardest IM training weekThird thought = pos is moving in with us and i won't be there to welcome herI guess in terms of places to be stuck for a week, a Waldorf isn't the worst of them. However, it is 44$ to rent a road bike per day. It will be interesting coming

Road Blocks

2010-07-27T06:59:00.000-07:00

Christian, Little Julie, and I left for a race on Saturday around lunchtime (destination, Bath, PA). We hit every traffic jam known on the East Coast - beltway traffic, 95 traffic, Philly traffic....It was a fun day though, and great dinner once we got there. Race went OK - freaked a bit on the swim and had kind of a sucky time of it. Mr. Toney told me that I had better average 20 mph on

it's getting hot in here

2010-07-24T08:03:00.000-07:00

It is like a sauna out there - so naturally, as in all inclement weather, I have a race tomorrow. I went this morning to get a new tri suit (read: thanks, burt). I saw it earlier and should have picked it up then because when i went back to get it today they were sold out of the one I wanted. i looked around and got pissed because the tri suits are 100 bucks. Tri suits are basically bathing

Bock Rottem....

2010-07-19T07:47:00.000-07:00

I am sofa king tired. It is a rest week and I get that, but I am serously considering leaving work to lay back down in the nest*.I finally broke down and bought this song, I fought it for months. It is against God's plan for me to have done this, but damn it I am too weak to fight it....I am loving my new bike. It does not have these wheels, but if anyone wants to get them for me then please by

money

2010-07-13T12:43:00.001-07:00

I am not one to haggle over shared meals at restaurants; I am always happy to put in an extra doll hair or two to smooth it out. I, at the lowest paid salary of the senior staff, bring in food for meetings and bake for birthdays. I offer these two examples to support the notion that I am not a cheapskate.However, two things happened today that chapped my ass.(1) Mr. Toney is sick. I stop by the

i guess it was chilly

2010-07-13T08:37:00.000-07:00

and i guess i need a new tri suit

Race Report

2010-07-12T10:48:00.000-07:00

It poured rain, like crazy rain skin hurts rain. They decided to cancel the swim. The entire reason I was doing this race was to get time in the water. I had never done a duathlon before so I was a little nervous about it.I forgot my race belt. Luckily my husband was nice enough to craft one out of a bungee cord he had in his car.In T2 I totally forgot where my station was. I mean I was so lost,

where my wasps at

2010-07-05T12:15:00.000-07:00

Clearly I am having fun at WASP central, I think the margaritas helped.not amused, but rocking the poloi just had to snap one of these pumpsimagine the horror - "we both wore the same green and pastel pink shorts and white docksiders"just in case you haven't seen my favorite

donde esta

2010-06-28T07:28:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I woke up in Maryland, drove to Virginia, took a flight to Kentucky, went for a run and ended up in Indiana... fun "state" day. I talked to Ed last night and was telling him S got excited with 4 states in one day, and asked if it was just kids that got excited for stuff like that. He responded, "kids and Steevo"... Louisville is a weird city, sort of uninhabited it seems. However, the

stress

2010-06-04T06:35:00.000-07:00

sir its a killer (does anyone remember Bartok??)2 weeks away was a lot to come back to at the orfice... things are piled up, i am having mini=panic attacks where my vision looks like bright lights flashing. it is pretty annoying.one thing i love to do when stressed is read someecards.com. now you have to register, and you can't even copy and them... Since they now suck because of that I guess you

elite cyclocross racers

2010-06-02T12:17:00.001-07:00

while most saints walk on water, elite cyclocross racers ride on water.....

Coppenhagen

2010-05-18T05:31:00.001-07:00

is even more beautiful than I could have imagined. I have not been to bed yet, but explored the city most of the day. The cafes all have blankets on the chairs, as if antificpating any need that you may have. There are way more bikes than cars, bike rentals are free and people transport everything including babies, children, and old people or food or dogs. it is so cool, i am for once

Forming a Community

2010-05-04T07:43:00.001-07:00