BASE

Rode out to Waukesha and back this afternoon with Captain. Ran into Erin on his new fixie bike he got on E-Bay. The ride was fun because we were able to keep a steady pace for long periods of time without stopping. This is the first time we took the New Berlin Rec Trail out to downtown Waukesha. The road leads into Waukesha on Lincoln road past some industrial area and then into a ghettoish area and next thing you know your downtown. We headed back and the winds were coming from the north east so it was a bit more work heading back. I thought it was interesting to see this guy riding his bike and his dog along side and they too were going at a good pace. The dogs leash was hooked onto this thing a ma jig and it was pretty cool. That dog certainly is getting his exercise. Along the way there is this pretty pond that had hundreds of ducks perched on the water, it was very peaceful looking. By 22 miles my hands were getting chilled. 27 miles into the ride I had to pee and of course there was no where to go but hold it till we get home.

STATS:
32 Mtb MILES
Ride Time 02:35:00
AVG HR 131
MAX HR 173
CALORIES 1473
TEMP 42 DEGREES
HUMIDITY 98%
WINDS NE 9MPH

WT 128
RESTING HR 42
SLEPT GREAT

PRE RIDE: 2 CUPS OF PASTA WITH VODKA SAUCE

ANALYSIS: pace was good for 22 miles or so then pace dropped off, perhaps due to wind heading back. Right hamstring a bit sore too. Having to hold your pee for 5 miles does not help either.

later

This is the life

Beaming with excitement!






Last night Captain Candy got out for his first ride since surgery on his shoulder. I am excited to see his progress and he should be back 100% soon! He has physical therapy twice a week and he is now performing strength building exercises, which means he's back to doing the dishes:) Since it has been a while that he has ridden, his bike stuff was scattered everywhere and it took us forever to get the hell out the door. We headed towards the New Berlin Rec Trails since it is paved and we don't want Captain to fall down and hurt himself. I was told that he needs to keep his heart rate between 120'-130's, what ever that means... So I lead up Center street and we were off, keeping a good pace for a chilly night. Of course the first and only real little hill climb in Hansen Park, Captain has to hammer it up and piss me off. I thought, what happened to controlled heart rate? He said it was my fault for hammering it from the start and... You know how it goes when you ride with your spouse. Anyhow, we put in a good ride and he is happy to be back on the bike.

In the meantime, I am sore from lifting at the gym Wednesday night. I am done with high reps and into strength building for now. I hate to give up powerflex class so I did that after my weight session, UGH!

Stats:
Morning weight 126
Resting Heart Rate 42
Outside Temp 33 degrees
Humidity 89%
Ride Time 01:25:00
Avg HR 137
Max HR 173
Distance 17.68 MTB miles
Calories 806

pre-ride snack:one slice of left over Christmas ham on 100% whole wheat bread with roasted red pepper and garlic spread. A hand full of Gardetto's (Oops!)

Analysis: still need to work on hill sprints, UGH!

This is the life!

later

Post Holiday Excitement

After several parties, one acute stomach illness and family gatherings, I have to say I am glad Christmas is over with. I love this time of year but I think things have got out of hand and not many people truly know the meaning of the season. I have to say at this age the most cherished gifts for me is spending quality time with friends and family and getting drunk. I thought I would share a few entertaining moments of the Holiday Parties.

I got my gift in a box!

Saturday morning ride

I got in a MTB ride early this morning because we have a lot going on today. So I loaded up the gear and headed out the door by 9:30 AM to ride the paved trails. The trails are to mushy right now so I opted for the pavement on my mountain bike. I received two e-mails about other road rides but unfortunately I have obligations today and could not join in on the longer group ride. So anyway...I headed out the door and headed down Center street and it was windy and a bit nippy on my ears. I was clipping away at a good pace but my ears were still cold and I did not wear a baklava or head band, so I called captain candy to bring me something for my ears before he heads down to Ben's. Ten minutes later he met me at Hansen Park with ear warmer/head band to wear and I was off again thanks to captain. I was waiting to warm up and I was keeping up a good pace, but it was windy so it made it a bit more chilly to ride today. I headed out to Greenfield Park and the onto the New Berlin Rec trail and headed west. About a quarter mile down the path, WE Energies had a truck in the middle of the path and they were working with some cable wires and there was no where for me to go through or around them, so I headed back and off towards Whitnall Park and then turned around at Cleveland road and headed back home. Nothing too exciting, It was a good ride on the MTB rather than road today given that dam wind. It certainly did not feel like 50 degrees out there this morning.

Ride Time: 01:45:00
Average HR 145
Miles 22
Calories 1096

Pre-ride breakfast: two slices of 100% whole wheat toast (with butter) and jelly and banana and strawberry yogurt smoothie. I usually don't use butter but it tastes sooo good.

Time to pick up around the house and get ready for my nieces 9 the birthday party and then off to another party tonight at Mike Fro's house.

my feet are still a bit numb.

later

Why I like to stink

For those of you who don't know me well, I love garlic. When I order a dish at a good Italian restaurant, I usually ask them to add more garlic. Just about anything that has garlic in it, I want double. I love the stuff for some odd reason. Unfortunately it is a bit annoying to those people who are around me:) This stuff works great if you eat it before a race. If someone is trying to catch you, just fart a few times. Anyway...I thought you would all like the skinny on garlic.

Garlic
This super food can be prepared many different ways and even compliments nearly every dish. One clove provides manganese, Vitamin B6 and selenium. Each of these nutrients plays a role in supporting amino acid, lipid and carbohydrate metabolism by either contributing as a cofactor or assisting in enzymatic reactions. What does that mean? Garlic helps your metabolism work at peak efficiency and speed energy to your muscles.
Serving Size: 1 Garlic Clove
4.5 calories, < 1g fat, 1 g carbohydrate, < 1g protein

STIR CRAZY...ALREADY

Date: 12-14-2006
Ride Start Time: 6:30 PM
Meeting Place: Tosa Bridge
Bike Type: Mountain Bike
Distance: 20-30 miles
Pace: moderate
Message: CHARGE UP THEM LIGHTS ! the weather states 50 degrees for tomorrow and I need to get outside for a ride. Come join me at the Tosa Bridge and we will hook onto the oak leaf trail and then head on to the New Berlin Rec trails. These are paved trails, so it should be dry!

Last minute cocktail party

Greg giving me directions on how to balance tree.
Enjoying the free booze
Nothing like a little Rudolph to get the party started
Forget the pot roast, get take out and join the party!
I'm a sucker for cute men
Closet boozers
Clean shaven boys
Sleeping beauty, hmmm... maybe too much Grey Goose

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Check this out it is pretty cool, just click on HAPPY HOLIDAYS above.

BLIZZARD NIGHTMARE ON 72ND STREET

Friday morning we awakened to the beautiful white wonderland, this is the stuff they write songs about, Winter Wonder Land. Well we tried to get an early start to work on Friday morning so we could avoid traffic congestion due to the "Blizzard Warning" I love the news report, 24 hours of non stop, minute to minute details of the Wisconsin weather that has been around since the ice age. I think most people who report the news here are from out of town. So later that day I received a call from Captain Candy that they are letting him out early due to the storm. Just as I was looking forward to staying a bit late on Friday afternoon to catch up on some of my patient charting. Well, I thought we could at least get a head start on shovelling tonight, given I am the one who will be doing the work. Captain Candy can't use his right shoulder to shovel so guess what, Oh yeah, that's right, I am the women to do the job. Well I thought....Looking at our driveway as I pull in, I thought to myself I can do this, I am physically fit. So I went to the garage to take my pick of tools to get the job done. The nice straight edge shovel. I proceeded to start at the end of the drive way after clearing the back stairs and a little pathway to the car. I scooped up a hunk of snow and tossed it over my shoulder only to find half of the dam snow still stuck to my shovel, UGH! So I tap the shovel on the ground to get the extra snow off and proceed again. Only to find that I am doing double the work and not accomplishing anything. I looked up at the driveway and down our front sidewalk and said the hell with this shit, were getting a snow blower!

So off we go to Home Depot to get us a brand new smokin blower. SOLD OUT! Lowes here we come. SOLD OUT! DAM! Now we are on our way back home, dejected and trying to figure out how we are going to remove the snow. Sitting at home pondering up plan B, the phone rings out relief, it's Tony G, saying what about SEARS? Click and before you knew it we were speaking with a lawn and garden rep at Sears. One left, but with no manual. We'll take it! We got the last clearance model of a Craftsman 8.5 HP snow thrower. Rushing home with big smiles cause our snow dilemma is coming to an end. By now it was getting a little bit late on a Friday night and it appeared we were the only house to have not cleared the side walk. So I help Captain Candy unload the huge box out of the Element on to the street. Just as we were tearing the box apart our neighbor was outside walking the dog says, " your not going to do the driveway now are you? blah, blah, blah has to get up in the morning. Ty continued to work on putting it together as I went into the house and looked at the clock and then opened the front door to tell him it was almost 11:00PM and we need to call it quits.

Awakening eagerly with excitement, Captain Candy Ass jumped out of bed, slammed a few cups of Alterra Joe (best shit in town), and booked out the door. My mind is at rest knowing that in a couple of minutes our Nightmare is going to be resolved. 15 minutes later... hmmm, no sound out there. Ty comes into the house stating we have no key for the snow thrower. I said "What the #%*!" So now Captain Candy is on the phone with SEARS trying to get a key. They say, we'll call ya back. 15 minutes later, no phone call. So Captain called them back and they said, we found the manual and key come get it. Off we go to SEARS in Brookfield, to get our key to finish the DAM job.

Before I could park the car, Captain Candys foot was out the door heading towards the garage with key in hand. As I stand in the middle of the driveway watching him rev the engine of his new Craftsmans 8.5 HP snow thrower, I couldn't stop and think....What a little boy I have. So I could see the look on his face of pure excitement and as he took the Bull by the horns and proceeded to clear the driveway. POOOF!!! All I see now is a cloud of snow. The snow settles and there stands a snow covered Captain Candy, looking bewildered. His new Crappman 8.5 HP snow cannon blew a hole right threw the snow chute. Frustrated and dejected, not to mention pissed off, Captain Candy turned into inspector gadget. Flattening an empty soda can and using duct tape to patch the hole. There it is! New and improved!

POWER FLEX

Monday night I got Trail girl out of the house to join me for power flex class. This is a full body weight lifting class to music. High reps and no breaks for a full sixty minutes of pain. Designed to strengthen, tone and improve your endurance.

Trail girl has new responsibilities of a young one and she does not have time to screw around at the gym. I told her about the power flex class, that you can get your work out done in an hour and she was sold! The first time you take the class is a bit challenging to choose your weights appropriately, especially if your an experienced weight lifter. You go in with a big head thinking...I can push a few more pounds until you realize your going to do 60 reps or so, UGH! Then the instructor tells us that the minimum number of push-ups in her class is 100, UGH! UGH! Trail girl and I looked at each other and said, Oh Yeah! I wonder how she is feeling today?

Nice long weekend

This is just what I needed, a nice long weekend to catch up with family and friends and even get in some long, overdue, touch up painting done in the house. Usually, Captain Candy and I spend the day after Thanksgiving in Chicago for Black Friday. We have kept that tradition since we met, but this year we decided to stay home and save. Last year when we spent the weekend, in Chicago after Thanksgiving, oh how I remember... It was a perfect night, the snow started to fall and the streets were lit with beautiful lights and it was so festive. We found this great little Bar at Ralph Lauren on Michigan street and we spent the rest of the evening there drinking martini's.

Thanksgiving this year was at Tulla's and there was no way I was going to make it to the famous Turkey Ride that started at Beno's. Yeah Im a looser and a boozer and I just could not make it. Besides, we had too much fun playing with our new nephew Frankie and time slipped by so quickly.

Friday I decided to finish painting the downstairs bathroom and the dining room molding and living room molding. We had the hardwood floors refinished about 3 years ago, and had to take off the quarter rounds on the base boards prior to the sanding. Well three years later... I got started with the bathroom and finished just before noon and made my way to the dining room, finished that too. Headed downstairs to change paint for the living room. Started to paint the base boards in the living room and realized the paint does not match. I was to use antique white and I think we screwed up the label on the can of paint I was using, because it was stark white, YIKES. Thank god I caught this early. Well by then I was a bit frustrated and decided to call it quits. I started to get stir crazy after this, it was 50 some degrees outside and I had no one to ride with at night. I was driving Captain Candy crazy cause he can't do squat with that busted shoulder. Maybe I should rub some dirt on his shoulder like Rusty said. I can't wait till I get my buddy back.

Well she is back! We got Trail Girl out on the bike on Saturday after almost two years in hibernation. Tony and Ulla planned on riding on Saturday morning and I decide to join in. We met at the Tosa bridge by 11:00 AM. Sanjay came along for the ride too and it was another perfect day for trail riding. We did the Tosa trail, Rusty Bubba trail, Harley trail and some others that I am not familiar with. We stopped for pee breaks along the way and a breather too. I have to say Trail girl still has it in her, all she had to do was shake off a little dust off that bike and they were both as good as new!

Saturday afternoon off to Steins for outdoor decorations and a pit stop to REI. Friends stopped by and I derailed from my painting tasks and had some fun. Our plan was to have a wreath decorating party tomorrow, but that foiled so we decided to get the stuff we needed to decorate the outside of our homes. Of course, shopping with Mari is never to one destination, we had to check out the down filled coats that REI had on sale. In the mean time, her girls Lauren and Emily wanted to show me there ability to climb the walls. I guess they take rock climbing classes with there dad at REI and had to show off there talent. After shopping we headed down to Cathedral Square to check out the nice christmas tree decorations and have dinner at Louise's Trattoria. I even got Emily to eat some calamari for a buck. Next time I'll bet her 20 if she can down a raw oyster. Oh what fun to play!

Tosa Night Ride with the Boys

Tuesday's night ride was a blast and you could not have asked for better weather. I found it quite entertaining to ride behind Duckette for the entire ride. All I heard riding behind Greg, were sounds of Tickle Me Elmo. A video cam would be even more entertaining.

Alterra Nite Ride Nov, 21 6:30 PM Tosa Trails

Date: 11-21-2006
Ride Start Time: 6:30
Meeting Place: bridge in Tosa village
Bike Type: Mountain Bike
Distance: 20-30 miles
Pace: moderate
Message: Okay the Tuesday night riding continues! Normal route through Tosa & the new"Bubba trails". Charge those lights & see you tuesday night.

message posted by Greg Duckette

ALTERRA YEAR END PARTY 2006

CHIPS N SALSA

BEANGINA

PARTY ANIMALS

WHAT???????????

THE END

SEDONA VISTA 2007

The decision is final, our 3rd annual trip to Sedona is set for April 2007 and I cant wait!


Here is a recap of the festivities from last year.

The Food Network

One of my favorite pass times is cooking, I really enjoy exploring new tasty dishes like the one I made the night before captain candies surgery, Tyler Florence Ultimate Beef Stew. The recipe called for an entire bottle of good red wine and the gravy was out of this world. I made enough for a dinner party, so next time I'll have to invite everyone over to join us. Tonight I am making butternut squash soup, I can't wait to see how this turns out, it looks so yummy in the picture.

JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED

Last night was almost a call to 911. Captain Candy needed desperately to take a shower and get that dam bandage off his shoulder. The doctor told him not to remove the bandage for three days nor shower, YEW! So I thought we would let him shower last night and it would make him feel a bit better. Never mix beer, percocets and a nice hot shower, this is a perfect combination to vasodilate those arteries and look out! I helped Captain Candy out of the shower to dry off and a few seconds later he was feeling a bit nauseas and the next thing you know, he turned white as a ghost and a bit ashen to the lips. We quickly got him to lie on the floor and I put some cold compress on his neck and chest to cool him off. I thought he was a goner there for a second. Slowly, he started to regain blood flow and he said to me, "felt like I was passing through the Gates of Hell." No more Lakefront for the boy, I think he should stick to Hersheys.

THAT WAS EASY

Ty's rotator cuff surgery was a success, and the Dr said he will start therapy on the 17th. So far, Ty is feeling pretty good since he got a nerve block to his right shoulder before they put him out. This block should last 12 to 24 hours before the "real" pain begins. The Dr gave him some good drugs to kill the pain and I can't believe this stuff only cost $5, it's cheaper than alcohol. We have to put ice packs on his shoulder every hour for 20 minutes for now and keep a schedule with the pain meds. So far Ty is pretty much comfortable but the block is starting to wear off so we are in for a ride.

RUSTY BUBBA TRAILS

Captain candy and I set out for a moon light ride on the Tosa Trails last night, including the new added section of the Bubba Trail. For those of you who want to know how to get to the new section, just after you turn around and go over the bridge on HYW 100 heading south, you turn left into the single track down that little hill off the bridge. Instead of going straight, take a HARD RIGHT just after the little down hill dip, immediately off the bridge. This new section is tight and twisty and quite the challenge. I can't believe for once I was able to make some of this off camber stuff better in the dark, I think if I did not have a brain I could really rock the course. It is amazing how much your head can play with your psyche while riding. While we were blazing down the trails we ran into a few friends, Butt Crack and a little varmint. There is even a nice little bridge to test your technical ability to balance which is placed strategically off a corner. If you have not tried the Tosa trails, you are missing a really fun time.