Pictures

http://www.duck-off.com/mdc2008.html

Thank you to fearless leader Diane Brown and her camera skills here are some more pictures.
YOU ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Even More PIctures....

Brent and Cindi

My other fearless ride leader Diane checking the chain ring size with Francessca

More Pictures.

Carl and his broken derailer
Dr. Mike
Greg Jones

One of my fearless ride leaders

A flat tire

I have found my other pictures that I have taken on the ride so far....

Pictures From Sundays Ride

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

Bob and Julie taking in the view.

What an amazing view

The Past Week....

The past week was a busy one.
From Sundays recovery ride. Monday working and then driving up to Port Hueneme for a Design Meeting to be held on Tuesday. Tuesday having the meeting and then driving home. I Ended up missing figure skating. I was bummed. And this week the rink is closed... boo. The ice is being resurfaced. A much needed thing at the skating rinks. I went to spin class on Wednesday. I had used clipins on the spin bike and did I feel uncoordinted. I probably looked like I never used clipins before. The ones I use on my bike are PINK (of course) speed plays. And I using shimanos for the spin bike. I can move my ankles one way on speed plays, and not the same in the shimanos. SO my feet kept coming out. I hope this wednesday I will be a little better.
Thursday i was able to make it to the training ride. Mari, our wonderful coach decided on time trials on Torrey Pine Hill. Hills, not too much my favorite, but I am getting used to them. My first ride up it was 9 minutes 9 seconds. The second trip up I rode with Sandy and it was 12 something. Sandy is so amazing. I look forward to talking with her every week. She has a little tattoo of the ironman. I am wanting to do an ironman. But will my health allow me to do it. I have no clue. I have no clue how each hour will be. One minute I can be feeling great, with a pain level that is tolerable. And then 5 minutes later I want to cry becuase I am so much pain, I can't even stand up. Its great for the dating life. I will add some more insight on it later.
Sandy has some fundraisers lined up for september. One on September 7th at The Barrel Room in Rancho Bernardo. With the flyer she has put together, you can go eat and 20% will go to the CAF. I have never ate there but September 7th will be my first time, which I am sure it will be amazing. An amazing meal to help out an amazing orginzation. If you want a flyer, post a comment to me with your email address and I will send it to you. Once I get the details of her second fundrasier which will be a fashion show, I will tell everyone about it.
My Friday was a girls night with dinner and a movie. House Bunny, very funny. Guys you probably wont like it. But Sunday I saw Step Brothers, very funny too.
Sundays Training Ride... Now I am getting caught up with my week.
The immunity pump challenge... We had 7 radio contestants present. Scott was there to return the pump and not ride. After voting on allowing him to do the challenge even though he was not riding Jim (last years radio contestant winner) explained the challenge. He had 7 cards. Ah my favorite number. And one card said immunity. What we were hoping was we get that card we get the pump. Nope we were wrong! Whoever gets the immunity card has to give it to someone. So we control the fate of one rider this week. I quickly decided one who I would pick if by chance I get the immunity card. Jim handed out the cards to us and we all got to look. And to my surprise I had the immunity card. Right away I gave it to MOMO. The only other female in the contest. Gotta try to keep the girls in. I know that she was happy to get it. The pump is really needing a womans touch to it too. After some annoucements we headed on the ride
I have been not looking at the ride sheets. I find if I do, I can end up psyching myself out. We ended up adding some distance to a ride we did in the first month of training. Riding up Scripps Poway Parkway. My first time up it... SUCKED. I WAS MISERABLE. and in alot of pain... wanted to cry it was so bad. Huge Thank you to BOB and Julie, who waited for me and rode the last part of the hill. This Sunday was a lot better. I was able to go up Scripps Poway Parkway alto easier then the first time. There was some pain, but alot better. I met up with this guy who was riding and we talked about halfway up the hill. Which was good to keep my mind of the ride and the heat. Once getting to the top of the hill and the SAG, it felt awesome to have completed that hill.
A good number of people turned and headed back from here, some radio contestants did too, it was sad to see everyone all go. But for various reasons they had to go. You all were missed. We then turned right out of the sag stop and came up on iron mountain. A place my roomie Jeanna likes to hike up. I have yet to go. We went through some breath taking views and our group was split up. I was riding with Bob and Julie. We stopped at one point to take in the view for a moment. I will attach the picture soon. And we went through some crazy, fun, but scary downhills. I was running low on water, it was hot, mentally tiring, and physically. Finally our SAG-A-LICIOUS TINA was there again for us. we refueled and headed home. Brent and I rode together and Diane caught up with us after Sandy met up with her husband. I had a little spill, but recovered. I caught a part of the bike lane that had some really uneven road. I some how skinned my left elbow a little and a few little bruises. How no clue. I think I startled Brent a little... SORRY BRENT I DIDNT MEAN TO. I had no intentions of playing in traffic. Finally we made it back to Fletcher Cove... I put my bike in the rack and headed home. I was done, so I thought. I went home showered and met up with friends to see Step Brother. Going shopping and then to dinner. Passing out cold for about 30 minutes on my friends couch. I then went home and went to bed.
Which brings me to monday. After workign 10 hours today, I am sitting here at the computer passing the time for tomorrow someone else is going to have to be kicked out of the radio contest. Its rounding 10pm and I am getting up early tomorrow. I have to get ready for work and listen to the radio. I am also meeting up with my friend Jeff who I have known since "A" school. We were at the same school house. He is a Builder aka carpenter, and I a SW aka Steelworker. We went to different battalions, but we both ended up with orders to San Diego. Not the same command but ended up running into each other and we quickly became friends again. It helps to have someone going through the same things as you. We have had plenty of talks about getting out of the Navy. And this Friday we are going to this bar in O'side to see Hillside Strangler, a punk band. My first one. It will go well with the crazy hair and nose piercing. My roots have already starting to show so I got some more dye and was getting high off hair dye tonight too. But its still the same crazy vibrant red. We are also meeting up for dinner tomorrow at one of my favorite resturants Applebee's. LOVE IT.
Okay I am off to bed now. I will write more soon

No more green doors in the morning...

Please click on the link below for the full article...
Thank you to Mr. Hooter for emailing out the link to this article. And in the picture is one of the G4 riders!!!!!!!!!!!! YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The bathrooms on Sunday mornings have really been a problem for the QMDC riders, and everyone else who needs to go before 7am on the weekends.
Thank you to Just Fix It (Union Tribune), Steve Kerr (Solana Beach) for taking care of this for all who enjoy Fletcher Cove on before 7am on the weekends

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/justfixit/20080818-9999-lz1m18fixit.html

Mondays Waiting...

So tomorrow is Terrible Tuesday. Some one will get the boot which will drop the count down to 10. I hate having to hear the name of the person who is getting the boot. I would probably cry if it was my name called for the boot. But my plan is not to. My plan is to be the radio contestant winner and join the QMDC on the epic ride down the coast. I WANT TO BE NUMBER 1!!!!!!!!!! What an awesome birthday present would that be. My birthday is October 28th. Just four days after the end of the ride.... SO ALL I WANT FOR MY BIRTHDAY IS TO WIN THE RADIO CONTEST!!!!!!!!!!! What better way to celebrate then doing something you love with awesome people for such an amazing cause, who makes life changing opportunites for challenged athletes. The ride alone for everyone who particitpates is going to be life changing. I feel the training has been life changing for me so far.
Today is only Monday and is already dragging by. I hate that tomorrow I am not going to be able to listen to xx1090 AM. I have to go up to Port Hueneme tonight for a meeting being held tomorrow. I am going to try to download the video player I need. I have a MacBook. I am still working on trying to download our route maps onto my Garmin Edge 305. So this tells you how computer savvy I am.
I am also going to be missing my figure skating class. Besides my bike rides I hate missing my figure skating class. Luckly I can make up my figure skating classes on Saturdays. If you ever want some cool fun for you or the family go check out San Diego Ice Arena in Mira Mesa. Or Ice Town in UTC Mall.
When I was listening to the radio today, I was able to find out why Scott Kaplan was not there. He was back in Flordia for his 20 year High School Reunion. August 15, 2009 is going to be my 10 year. It should be interesting.

August 17th, Recovery Ride...

Today was hard to get up. 5:30am came fast, after going to bed at 2am. Please read my previous post. I am happy today was a 35 mile recovery ride. This morning I had a new addition to my usual attire of spandex, jersey, and skirt... I had a short red lace tutu underneath my skirt. Thanks to Diane, and an idea on the San Clemente ride.  I stopped and talked to Jeffery for a brief moment and delivered him his message from Valerie. Scott Kaplan was not there. Everyone was loving the tutu.  I have to admit that I love wearing it... I LOVE MY TUTUS.

Today's immunity challenge was a quiz, on the Olympics. I really need to start watching TV. We only had 5 radio contestants today. Brent, Carl, Kris, Matt, Kevin and Todd. You will all missed today. Hope that you are back next Sunday. Scott won the pump again. You are the immunity pump master!

After a few announcements, the group leaders handed out some awards to a deserving member of their group. Group 4 had the husband and wife tandem team, but who don't ride tandem Bob and Julie receive the award today. YEAH BOB AND JULIE, you two are awesome. I love riding along side and talking to you both. Then we all sang Happy Birthday to the ever amazing Kristine. She sends out all the emails, sets up the training rides... I really don't think there is nothing she can't do. She is a super hero in disguise. 

Then the ride started. At our SAG stop, I was further encouraged by my wonderful group. THE FABULOUS GROUP FOUR. to loose the black skirt and just bare the tutu...

So the Wonderful SAG lady TINA, she let me put my skirt in the SUV. And I finished the ride without it. We were cruising along at a really good pace... I didn't have my GPS, so I couldn't tell you what we were at. I love talking to everyone on Sunday.  Sunday rides are something I love and look forward to all week long. When we got back to the Flower Hill Promenade, Julie was telling me that my tutu caused us to have a tag along. And when everyone from group four came back Mr. Hooter had a girls only surprise. It was a pink tire lever... OMG, I don't have one yet! Thank you Mr. Hooter, I will love you forever now. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KRISTINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Dammit, that is the third time we have been passed by the ballerina girls!"

Awe Midnight Madness, and tutus. Jeanna and I decided we wanted to take part in the 35th Midnight Madness. Which is a 20 mile bike ride through downtown San Diego. At 8pm on Saturday August 16, we went and signed up. By 9pm we were home with tutus in hand from The Crypt getting dressed to join in the fun. By 9:30pm we were back out the door and headed downtown. We took part in the costume contest. The winners were on a tandem and it was set up as a bed, that said just married, bottles tied to the back and the riders dressed as a bride and groom.

I was doing some people watching, and I saw a bike jersey with the QMDC logo. I just had to go up to this lady wearing the jersey. I asked her if she was taking part in the ride this year. She said she was unsure and that she did part of the ride the first year. She was on the massage team. Her name is Valerie. Then asking about Jeffery, the CAF Director and Scott Kaplan. Valerie says hi to you both. Also asking me how I was involved with the QMDC. I told her about the radio contest. 

Finally midnight came... The riders were sent off in waves. But it did not help. To many people on the bikes did what they wanted and ignored the rules of the road. Jeanna got behind me and We worked our way through the mess and as soon as we would get a good pace, we would meet up with the next group. But as zooming along, many people noticed the tutus flying by. Some guys were not to happy and others cheered was on. We both got hit on by a couple of guys, we had a few near misses. And one biker down...ME I was stopped at a light and there was a biker to my left about 3 feet away and 5 bikers flew between us and I ended up falling over . My chain fell off and my seat post turned. Someone at the light helped with my chain. I got my pretty new bike shoes dirty :(  No bumps, bruises, or blood though. We came into the finish about 1:30am. And then it was off to home for I needed to go to bed and get up at 5:30am for my 35 mile recovery ride with QMDC.

My First Spin Class...

Today I was able to take part in my first spin class. The QMDC has private spin classes with The Sporting Club. A very luxurious gym and spa. I got there and went to the front desk to sign in. The pointed me to the locker room, and how to use the locks. This place is so nice. It does not feel like a gym what so ever. The locks are digital and you can put your own code in it. It was confusing me... The 10% smarter rule, I know. So I went back out and got instruction on it again. Then I was off to the spin room. I had been the first one there and had all the bikes to choose from. So I picked my lucky number 7. Also it is right up front. So I head off to the Annex, where the spin room is. I walk into the building and its a gym looking like under renovations. Then I see this blue lighting in a room, I think oh go check it out. And to my surprise its the spin room. But no one else was there, so I go back to the front desk and wait. Finally I make my way back to the cool blue room and find lucky number 7. Today class was lead by Kris. He was inspired by the Olympics, so our work out reflected it. It had some flats, climbs, and sprints. It was really good. I loved it. I am ready to go back next Wednesday. There was about 8 people there total. And we worked up a sweat. It got hot in there real quick. I don't think I have sweated that much in a Navy PT in a long time.  

And for Thursday we are having a nutrition class from Mr. Pat Jack

For My Mommy

You know you’re a Navy Mom when…

1. Your last good night’s sleep was 6 months before she left for bootcamp. September 2000
2. You have finally resigned yourself to the fact that Navy mail is delivered seasonally rather than daily. I still have mail I never received

3. Your Sailor gives you ironing tips. Starch works wonders.
4. Your Sailor's version of pneumonia is “It’s just a cold, I’m fine.” We try to avoid the cure all (see number 5)
5. You realize the Navy's cure-all is Motrin. Vitamin M
6. The mere word “deployment” has you on the phone refilling your Xanax. Too many countries to count.
7. You can’t quite figure out what non-Navy mothers worry about.
8. You finally realize that Drill Instructors are not the anti-Christ and are more like heroes. This one goes for Simon.
9. You’ve mailed at least a few packages that have been on around-the-world tours. Sometimes whats inside is beyond recgonization
10. You forgot there were TV stations other than Fox News. OIF
11. You find yourself bragging to friends about your Sailor's accuracy with an M-16. And many more
12. You will get in a high speed chase just to catch up with someone’s Navy bumper sticker.
13. When everything in your closet has Navy Mom on it and if it doesn’t, you put pins and yellow ribbons on it. And blue star pins
14. When you recognize the haircut and ask if you can have a hug because your daughter is deployed. That is what Patsy was for
15. When you don’t mind watching military movies even though you hated them growing up.

16. You tell your nephews they need a “high and tight”.
17. You and your husband buy a “good” flagpole for the front yard for Christmas and fly the American flag and the Seabee flag 24/7, lighted, and money is no object. It used to be a street lamp
18. You buy cadence CDs and listen to them when you power walk.
19. You make sure to get up early to watch the Rose Bowl Parade so you can see the Navy Band.
20. You tear up every time you see someone in uniform.
21. When the post office personnel know you by your first name.
22. When your daughter is in The Sand Box and you dial her cell phone so you can hear her voice on her outgoing message. Or they just buy a cell phone over there
23. When you always know what time it is in Iraq or Okinawa or San Diego. Now its San Diego
24. Your daughter has the ability to iron her own clothes…while she is wearing it! Flat irons work too.
25. You don’t mind the long lines at the post office because you are NOT leaving until you get that care package mailed to your Sailor.
26. When the phone rings you don’t answer it unless the caller ID shows it is your Sailor and then you run over husband, cats, dogs, small children and little old ladies to answer the phone, no matter what injuries any of them might sustain in the process.
27. You purchase Navy shirts for grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

28. You have a bad day at work and your co-workers serenade you with the Seabee Song and give you a red rose and the whole office is crying.
29. Your daughter, who had such a messy room growing up that was a health hazard, informs you on a visit home that you flunked inspection because of a little dust. It still a little messy.
30. When your Sailor calls YOU for information because she knows you’ll get it from the other moms online.
31. You are mopping the kitchen floor and your daughter walks in and says “You call that cleaning?”
32. You have a blue star banner proudly displayed in your picture window. And on the car
33. You search military websites for any news of where your daughter might be/has been.

34. When you try to read aloud to others the “You know you are a Navy mom when…” list you can’t because of the lump in your throat and the tears in your eyes.

I love you Mommy. Thank you for all your love and support for the past 8 years. Just hearing your voice at times helped me to get though some of my most challenging times in the Navy. I don't know if I would have been able to do this with out you.

Terrible Tuesdays...

Its almost 6 am.... I just got up to go listen to xx1090 The Scott and BR Show. Tuesdays are the elimination days. What a dreaded morning for all on the radio contest. We started with 30. The first cut knocked the group down to 15 and now its been one person a week. The first person to go was Raymond. Then we had to say farewell to Mike. And last week we said farewell to Greg. 

The thing is we really don't know what to do to win this. From what we were told back in the beginning, make the Sunday rides your priority, give your all when riding, have fun, talk with people. Listen to the radio, help others out... And the judges, we don't know who they are. (I just tried to listen to the radio station live on the computer, but I have a Mac...and it doesn't play it. I going to have to do some research to try to make it work. Thankfully the roomie has a desktop with windows. So I don't have to go sit in my car and listen to the radio.)

Today is the 6th Annual All American Golf Classic at Camp Pendleton. Which Benefits the Semper Fi Foundation and the Challenged Athletes Foundation. Both are amazing Foundations that do amazing things for people. 

Its 6:37am and Scott just announced that the cyclist elimination is coming up. It hard to listen to the radio and not feel the butterflies in your stomach. I wonder if all the other radio contestants feel the same way on Tuesday Mornings. Monday nights start to drag and Tuesday mornings the time can't pass fast enough. You get upset when someone wants to something from you while you are listening because you don't want to miss a word that is said.  We have no clue who is going to be cut until Tuesday. As I am sitting here listening, I am like hurry up already Scott just get to it. All the riders are amazing people with amazing stories. Each one of us has a different stories and different lives. And talking to everyone, learning about them. You grow friendships with them that are going to last a lifetime. 

A former Marine is being cut.... Its now 11, Kevin Davenport is being cut. Scott Bailey is on the radio... Kevin, its sad to see you go. You have given me alot of good information about things I can do during my transition from the Navy into civilian life. Thank you for your honorable service in the Marine Corps. You are looked up to by many people. Good luck to you. We will miss you. 

More to come 

Last Day...

Today marked my last day at CBMU 303, having to wear camo, steel toe boots, gold shirts, and blue shorts, brown t-shirts. Wearing my last name on my pants and blouse. 

Its not a cover, its a hat

Its not pt, its working out

Its not the gedunk, its a vending machine

Its not a blouse, its a shirt

Its not a bulkhead, its a wall

Its not a ink stick, its a pen

Its not leave, its vacation

Its not going to medical, its going to the doctor

Its not a scuttlebut, its a water fountain

Its not a head, its a bathroom

Its not a rack, its a bed

Its now 45 days of fun and relaxation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sundays Ride

Sunday was the first ride I had missed. I was not feeling good and needed the rest. I missed seeing everyone. Talking to everyone about their week and upcoming plans. I called the radio station on Friday morning and to my surprise I got through. Every other time I have called I just got a busy signal. 

This coming Wednesday I get to attend my first spin class with the QMDC. I am very excited to get out there and join in the buzz that some of the riders keep talking about. 

Looking forward to getting back in the saddle on Sunday. 

You might be a cyclist if....

 1. You tell a family of 5 in a crowded mall to "hold their line."
 2. Your spouse says "If you buy another bike I'm going to leave you" and you think "I guess I'm                       going to miss him/her."
 3. You have more water bottles than you have drinking glasses.
 4. You have more cycling jerseys than work shirts.
 5. Your cycling jersey IS your work shirt.
 6. Your legs are smoother than your wifes.
 7. The nicest pair of shoes you own have cleats in the soles.
 8. You have defined the 8 stages of roadkill decomposition through daily observation.
 9. You are walking along a street and you signal left.
 10.You go to your local store on a bike.
 11.You sulk when in cars, on hot days.
 12.You sulk when in cars, on cold, windy, snowy days.
 13.You get withdrawal symptoms if off the bike for more than a day.
 14.When anybody mentions distance you immediately think of how long it would take to cycle it.
 15.You point at pot holes, but you are driving in your car alone.
 16.While driving your car you yell at your passenger "Car back" as a vehicle approaches from                     behind.
 17. Your bike is worth more than your car.
 18. You put more miles on your bike than your car.
 19. Your hands have a strange tan that looks remarkably similar to the pattern on your cycling gloves.
 20. Weather forecasts can be broken down into 2 categories: good biking weather, bad biking weather.
 21. You put your bicycle in your car, and the value of the total package increases by a factor of 4 (or better).
 22. You find out you are going to have a child and the first thing you think about is how you will schedule your rides to avoid divorce and still be a parent.
 23. You spend 2X the money on cycling wear that you do work clothes.
 24. You can tell your wife with a straight face that it's too hot to mow the lawn, then bike off for a century.
 25. You dream of winning the lottery and the first thing you think of is how many/which bikes can I buy?
 26. You buy a car based on whether or not a bike will fit in the trunk/back, with the rear seat folded down.
 27. You open your car window and yell out "On your left" when passing cars on the freeway.
 28. You have not one, not two, but three permanent chain ring scars on your right calf.
 29. Your bike sleeps with you in the living or bedroom.
 30. You wear a heart rate monitor during sex.
 31. You check out all other guys/girls legs to see if they are better than yours.
 32. Your spouse can't take it anymore and takes up cycling.
 33. You wonder why a $500 bike has 24 gear ratios, while a $20,000 car or truck only has 4.
 34. You crash...and insist on getting to the bike shop to have your bike checked out BEFORE going to the hospital.
 35. You can't seem to get to work before 8:30am, but you don't have a problem meeting your buddies at 5:30 am for a ride.