Being a mom means you are the 'jack of all trades'. But now that my kids are getting older, it seems to possess very different challenges, some I was never prepared for!
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Funny
Being a mom means you are the 'jack of all trades'. But now that my kids are getting older, it seems to possess very different challenges, some I was never prepared for!
Monday, February 6, 2012
Ordinary People
who do extraordinary things.... truly amaze me. I think in today's age and times, it takes a lot for most of us to not fall in the pits of mediocrity and 'that's what everyone else does'. I don't know how many times I have heard, "But that's just what you are supposed to do!", or "Well, it is good enough for the so-n-so's"...
So, like every Sunday I am out on my long ride... head into the Industrial Park to 'top up' the last of the mileage. I see the teachers crowd and met this woman named Terry. She's out for a year of volunteering!
WHOA...
Talked with her only briefly, clearly much younger then me, a breast cancer survivor and headed around the world on a volunteering trip. She's been in the very rural areas of Da Nang and headed to India to work in one of Mother Theresa's homes.
here's her story:
http://www.afreshchapter.com/
So, like every Sunday I am out on my long ride... head into the Industrial Park to 'top up' the last of the mileage. I see the teachers crowd and met this woman named Terry. She's out for a year of volunteering!
WHOA...
Talked with her only briefly, clearly much younger then me, a breast cancer survivor and headed around the world on a volunteering trip. She's been in the very rural areas of Da Nang and headed to India to work in one of Mother Theresa's homes.
here's her story:
http://www.afreshchapter.com/
Friday, February 3, 2012
The Final Sprint
Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings are may just be normal riding days for some, but for the good boys (or bad boys) of the Nguyen Van Linh, its a suffer fest that this bikermom continues to expose herself to!
Why?
I have no idea!
This particular Thursday morning I missed the start. I rode hard to catch the back of the pack.. I was successful, but got dropped prior to the turn around, so I turned early and thought, "with my new handy dandy iPhone.... I want to film what I never get to experience"
So.... here it is.... for those of you that think cycling in Vietnam is dangerous... this is NOTHING to how dangerous it could be....
Why?
I have no idea!
This particular Thursday morning I missed the start. I rode hard to catch the back of the pack.. I was successful, but got dropped prior to the turn around, so I turned early and thought, "with my new handy dandy iPhone.... I want to film what I never get to experience"
So.... here it is.... for those of you that think cycling in Vietnam is dangerous... this is NOTHING to how dangerous it could be....
My hand shakes a bit..... one of these days... I'll be in the sprint.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Quieter ride...
Feeling a little distraught (I am half junkie here....) about not getting to ride, Gjermund suggested, "hey, lower the seat on my bike!"....
HEY?!?
WHY NOT?!?
It is about 7:30am in the above photo. There are several kilometers of riding with the beach on one side, the sand dunes on the other. It is easily understandable why a person could be so upset if not able to ride. It is so calm, peaceful, and recharging. I rode to the 'turn around' and back, about 60km. Completely soaked up the conditions, scenery, and enjoyed the ride.
There was no traffic on this day. It was the 2nd day of Tet and most locals are celebrating with their families... It was a beautiful sight to see everyone basking in their traditions! I think as Americans we often feel we should show the world how to live, but what I have learned living over seas... especially in developing countries, us Americans should step back and take a lesson!
There was a mine on this stretch of the road. Most of the big machinery is gone now, but this sign remains a reminder....
Pity my camera didn't take a better shot, the mine is on the right directly across the street from the ocean.
Close up of one of the mine shacks.
Sometimes riding a bike should just be for the fun of it. If you don't step on the pedals and feel like you are 12 years old again.... you are truly missing out!
HEY?!?
WHY NOT?!?
Sometimes riding a bike should just be for the fun of it. If you don't step on the pedals and feel like you are 12 years old again.... you are truly missing out!
Monday, January 30, 2012
Riding should be quiet....
We took our bikes to Mui Ne for a 6 day vacation. Gjermund was quite sick with food poisoning...it took him 3 days to recover and I am not completely convinced he's even recovered now!
Sunday I typically ride long. So, arriving on a Saturday kept me on schedule! I planned out a great ride, riding north along the coast turning around then a few laps of the upper road.
My bottom bracket was a bit noisy a few weeks ago. I INTENDED to get it pulled apart, cleaned, greased, and ready to go.... but I didn't. I had a LOT of work, house work, kids, blah, blah, blah... Also, the noise seems to have disappeared. Or....maybe because where I ride I simply can't hear it?
I head out.... and within the first hill, click, click.... not good. I take it easy on the hills knowing I need to get this fixed... but there goes 5 good days of riding....
I was on my way back from the turn around point and the noise in my bottom bracket was horrible.... to a cyclist who knows her vehicle... it was heart breaking! My bike was sick... I was really upset, only 40km logged and thought, it is a week of rest.
I was wearing my full ANZA kit... then someone going in the opposite direction passed, we did the obligatory, "hey, I am a cyclist, you are to so we shoudl say hi" wave... I saw he turned around. I was NOT in the mood for company.... or gettin my ass kicked. (actually, I thought it was a girl)... then HE said, "I never thought I'd see an ANZA rider out here".. Oh, hey... dude was really nice. He's a South African guy living in Hong Kong on vacation with his family here. As it turned out, he'd done the Tour AND Bintan. WE had a nice chat. He was recovering from a hamstring injury so kept him to my pace.
I manage to get in nearly 110km with 1000m of climbing.
Recovering with a coconut, fresh vegetable rolls and a swim in the ocean.... They are just base miles, right?
Sunday I typically ride long. So, arriving on a Saturday kept me on schedule! I planned out a great ride, riding north along the coast turning around then a few laps of the upper road.
My bottom bracket was a bit noisy a few weeks ago. I INTENDED to get it pulled apart, cleaned, greased, and ready to go.... but I didn't. I had a LOT of work, house work, kids, blah, blah, blah... Also, the noise seems to have disappeared. Or....maybe because where I ride I simply can't hear it?
I head out.... and within the first hill, click, click.... not good. I take it easy on the hills knowing I need to get this fixed... but there goes 5 good days of riding....
I was on my way back from the turn around point and the noise in my bottom bracket was horrible.... to a cyclist who knows her vehicle... it was heart breaking! My bike was sick... I was really upset, only 40km logged and thought, it is a week of rest.
I was wearing my full ANZA kit... then someone going in the opposite direction passed, we did the obligatory, "hey, I am a cyclist, you are to so we shoudl say hi" wave... I saw he turned around. I was NOT in the mood for company.... or gettin my ass kicked. (actually, I thought it was a girl)... then HE said, "I never thought I'd see an ANZA rider out here".. Oh, hey... dude was really nice. He's a South African guy living in Hong Kong on vacation with his family here. As it turned out, he'd done the Tour AND Bintan. WE had a nice chat. He was recovering from a hamstring injury so kept him to my pace.
I manage to get in nearly 110km with 1000m of climbing.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Chúc Mừng Năm Mới
Its always a party before and during Tet. My first party I was invited to (aside from the obligatroy company party... not that I am complaining, just saying)....
Thought I wouldn't get do participate in a 'Cycling Boyz Tet' party. Most of the big club house gatherings happened while we were out over break.
But...Alex orgainzed this one at the last minute...wanting to do something nice for the guys.
Some place behind FV hospital, near the market.....Trong Tri III. I pedalled my market bike and hoped to find it....
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Its a new year!
On so many fronts:
A new age: 43
New calendar year: 2012
New lunar year: ??? Year of the??? CYCLIST, how 'bout CYCLIST?!?
I have come to realize as I enter my mid 40's so many things.
* I no longer worry so much about what I look like....but, I will never admit to the grey!
* Scars, wrinkles, stretch marks are evidence that I have LIVED, not that I am weak
* The thrill of riding my bike is still a thrill, a luxury, and on so many levels, my salvation!
* Somethings just are NOT worth being upset over anymore.
* Life simply happens, how you react defines you....
I am looking forward to a better year. The troubles and situations that arose in 2011 won't go away, but I hope I can deal with it all a bit better and let more just roll over my back.
That said, having a blast riding with the boys for the first time in over 2 years. It was so much fun riding with them when I first got here. Back then, the average speed was 40 to 42. That was HIGH to me then.
I don't know what happened, but over the past two years, these boys are getting increasingly faster. Bar none, it is still the best ride in town. I have yet to venture out on many more rides. As I know the traffic here.... and I am not in a long ride for a LONG DAY... just bike, please! A little water please...lets be on our way. I'll do lunch at home.
Lately, I have been hanging with them the entire stretch. I have a 2/3 success rate. The speed has increased, quite a bit to be honest. My PR for thursday's ride was 40kph for the 27km I measure. This includes a few stop lights.
My pack skills have improved tremendously. Also, I am riding more on the front longer then ever before. I am not staying there the entire ride, but I AM on the front....
So, here's to 43, 2012, and year of the 'cyclist'!
A new age: 43
New calendar year: 2012
New lunar year: ??? Year of the??? CYCLIST, how 'bout CYCLIST?!?
I have come to realize as I enter my mid 40's so many things.
* I no longer worry so much about what I look like....but, I will never admit to the grey!
* Scars, wrinkles, stretch marks are evidence that I have LIVED, not that I am weak
* The thrill of riding my bike is still a thrill, a luxury, and on so many levels, my salvation!
* Somethings just are NOT worth being upset over anymore.
* Life simply happens, how you react defines you....
I am looking forward to a better year. The troubles and situations that arose in 2011 won't go away, but I hope I can deal with it all a bit better and let more just roll over my back.
That said, having a blast riding with the boys for the first time in over 2 years. It was so much fun riding with them when I first got here. Back then, the average speed was 40 to 42. That was HIGH to me then.
I don't know what happened, but over the past two years, these boys are getting increasingly faster. Bar none, it is still the best ride in town. I have yet to venture out on many more rides. As I know the traffic here.... and I am not in a long ride for a LONG DAY... just bike, please! A little water please...lets be on our way. I'll do lunch at home.
Lately, I have been hanging with them the entire stretch. I have a 2/3 success rate. The speed has increased, quite a bit to be honest. My PR for thursday's ride was 40kph for the 27km I measure. This includes a few stop lights.
My pack skills have improved tremendously. Also, I am riding more on the front longer then ever before. I am not staying there the entire ride, but I AM on the front....
So, here's to 43, 2012, and year of the 'cyclist'!
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