Jacob's Ladder

Ol' Lightnin' and I just got back from the weekly S.B.A.D.M.V.V.L. Hammerfest...and I think it was our best ride so far.

Mongo figured out that I've been over-training and not giving my old, but still sexy, body enough rest.

By cutting back on my empty miles and focusing on specific riding, I've been able to improve my climbing and reduce my recovery time.

Always fun things to do . . .

The concept:
a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd's mosaic maker.

The Questions:
1. What is your first name? (Dawn)
2. What is your favourite food? (Maryland Blue Crabs)
3. What high school did you go to? (Westminster)
4. What is your favourite colour? (pink)
5. Who is your celebrity crush? (Heath Ledger, may he rest in peace)
6. Favourite drink? (iced tea)
7. Dream vacation? (a private villa in the Maldives, over the water)
8. Favourite dessert? (apple pie)
9. What you want to be when you grow up? (grandmother, but in due time)
10. What do you love most in life? (Harleigh)
11. One Word to describe you. (content)
12. Your flickr name. (gahangirls)

Click on this link for photo credits.

The Fat Lady Has Sung

Was it all worth it?

Goodbye...nice to know you.

Messin' With The Hoff

Though this blog has been going for a little over six months, I only started tracking visitors about three months ago. In that time, Mongo Pusher has been read in twenty three states and fifteen countries around the world. Though not a big deal numbers wise, what surprised me is this...I'm huge in Germany!!

Of all the foreign countries, Deutchland is Mongo's #1 fan. Danke shon!

Tole Cabinet

This tole cabinet, a find at Lakewood, is in my laundry closet and holds small jars of stain remover and dryer sheets. It's also home to a stray German doll I can't part with and a teacup pincushion. It's not in great shape, with some rust spots and a stain or two or three. A true catchall . . . just like the key holder below it!

The Red Vest to the Rescue Once Again

Thanks to her wonderful grandfather, who recently passed away, Harleigh now has a car. It was one of his wishes that she have one. With the help of her grandparents here in Atlanta, she now has a 2002 Nissan Sentra, in great condition. With all of her extra-curricular activities both before and after school, jobs, babysitting commitments, wanting to go the gym, etc. this will help us out considerably. With a full-time job, it's really hard for me to juggle work and getting Harleigh to all the places she needs to be. Melinda, a dear friend and stay-at-home mom, has bent over backwards to help out, but it's just a band-aid to what we really needed which is for Harleigh to be able to get to and from where she needs to be at the times needed.

One snafu with the car is that when we purchased it there was a CD stuck in the CD player. It played OK, but just wouldn't eject. After googling "CD stuck in car CD player," Harleigh and I went to work "operating" on the patient using everything from tweezers to duct tape to a shish kabob skewer. To no avail.

We had to make a trip to Ace Hardware to get an extra key as well as a new battery for the car remote. As readers of my past posts know, Ace Hardware is my hardware heaven here on earth. I extolled their virtues with the story of the key. These men can do anything.

So in we walked, to lots of hellos from all the guys (Harleigh used to work part time there). After addressing the key and remote, I asked my "red vest" if he knew of a way to get the stuck CD out. Within a matter of minutes there were red vests everywhere, pulling together an arsenal of tools. There was no doubt that the challenge was "on" and that we would not leave Ace Hardware without an ejected CD in hand. And we did. (The player still eats CDs, but at least we have a CD in there now that Harleigh doesn't mind listening to over and over again.)

I baked brownies, like I always do when my knights-in-shining-armor get me out of scrapes and do things that they don't have to do. This time I made a stencil (thank gosh for easy-to-cut logos) and the guys will hopefully know how much I appreciate all they do. (That or they'll think I'm that crazy lady who needs to get a life 'cause she took time to cut an Ace Hardware stencil for the powdered-sugar logo emblazoning their gift of brownies. Ah well, one more thing that sets me apart and paves the way for me becoming quite the character in my old age.)

Primal Scream

Like a cockroach after a nuclear blast, The Crue have emerged from the ruins of rock and roll tattered and beaten...but certainly not dead. Raw and raucous as ever, their music is a constant reminder of why I liked strippers and coke in the first place.

Tole Watering Can

Got the inspiration from a post at Songbirdtiff who had inherited some of her mother-in-laws platters, including a tole one. I have a number of tole pieces around the house and I'd like to start using them more, or at the very least start highlighting them beyond their utilitarian purposes. I've posted about my four tole pins that I adore. Well, here is the beginning of sharing with you some delightful pieces I own.

This watering can probably isn't considered tole because I think that the pattern on it might just be a decal, but this ain't no Antiques Roadshow, so let's call it tole and leave it at that. It usually has a place of honor on the shelves in the study, and I put it to use at the baby shower for Georganne as a utensil holder. But using it for a vase works too. I put a glass inside for the water. This bouquet is all from the yard . . . shasta daisies, hydrangea and even a cut vine of clematis. It sets on my mantle. Jane at Posy furthered the inspiration with her post about doilies, so I got into my stash of doilies inherited from my grandmother and found this one to be perfect.

Stanley Park

“Disguised in the eyes of the matter of fact
The message in the understatement lost in a flash of pain
Tears through the years of the spoken not heard
What is the trigger that revolves the chamber?
Lies brought the prize for the latch key kid
Drenched in self-awareness while spitting out venom
Awakened and shaken to the core of reinvention

Pride subdued by wisdom in the end"

Reppin' The Homeland

It seems like every European country held their national TT championships this week. Just a week or so prior to Le Tour, all the winners are getting fitted for a skin suit rocking their country's colors. It's an opportunity for Phil and Bob and Paul to point out on TV that that is in fact Lukasz Bodnar, the Polish TT National Champion, finishing in 87th place.

Up From The Ashes

As I stated very early on in the blog, Mongo is not a big fan of skateboard magazines. As a for-profit business, they have an obligation to highlight the facets of skateboarding that are representing the most interest and generating the most revenue. Unfortunately for Mongo, street-skating and fashion tend to dominate the pages of all the magazines these days.

I love skateboarding in all it's forms, and what these kids can do on the street is amazing...but it's just not my bag. As an old timey skater from the 70's and 80's, vert, park, and tranny skating have always been my thing. Adams, Alva, Mountain, Miller, Grosso, Caballero, Hawk, Hosoi, Way, Burnquist...These are Mongo's influences.

I was pleasantly surprised to read in the August issue (It's June) of Transworld an intelligent and comprehensive look at the state of vert skating through the eyes and words of some of it's most respected practitioners.

Lance Mountain and Danny way particularly, cut through the bullshit of niche skating, and as oracles of the sport they remind us all why we ride.

Keeping Evil at Bay

Dear friend and co-worker Courtney returned from a 10-day trip to Greece with her church's youth group. Visit her lovely blog A Year of Drawing and you'll see some drawings from her trip there. She brought me back an evil-eye bracelet. She chose one in a lovely, warm shade of pink ('cause she knows I'm a sucker for anything pink). With the way things have been going at work lately I sometimes — no, a lot of times — feel evilness. It's not that the people I work with are evil, nor the surroundings or even my daily tasks. What I struggle with most is warding off the evil that manifests in my own being. When people annoy me or intimidate me, I wind up saying nasty things to myself either under my breath or in my head. Granted no one can hear my sarcastic, biting remarks, but I know that what I'm doing is not very Christian-like. And I'm fooling myself if I think that God doesn't cringe when he hears what I'm thinking.

So I don't wear my evil-eye bracelet like a Wonder Woman cuff, taking a stance with my wrists crossed, fending off the forces of evil. Rather I take a glance down at my wrist and am reminded that I really need to take the high road and be a better person.

Last night I was reading a Town & Country magazine and came across an ad for evil-eye jewelry made by Aaron Basha, famed jewelery designer of jeweled baby shoe charms. What are the chances of getting an evil-eye bracelet and spotting an evil-eye jewelry ad in the same day? The picture above is of the ad and you can see my pretty pink bracelet as well.

New Friends

When Jane at Posy listed my blog as one of those that she reads I thought my chest was going to burst with pride. Such a compliment from someone whose life and lifestyle I've come to admire so much. And then today, catching up on my blog reading, I discovered that Liz at Mabel's House had featured my site in a post. Again, almost to tears with feeling so honored.

I don't mean to be dramatic about this, but I really put my heart and soul into my posts. It was a huge effort for me to put myself out there — for the world to see — with my passions, my faults, my thoughts, my family. And when you get recognized by a fellow blogger who bares herself just as much, if not more, than you . . . it feels very intimate, like the miles between just melt away. And there's a friendship there that couldn't have been possible were it not for this wonderful medium of sharing. I am grateful to those I've met and come to cherish.

Freak On A Leash

After taking last Monday off due to a horrendously bad performance the week prior, Mongo re-joined the peleton this week for the Smyrna Bicycles-Alp d'Huez-Mont Ventoux-Vinings Loop-Hammerfest.

I have to say, it was one the most eclectic groups of the season so far. Boonen was there on his tri-cross bike wearing the ugliest shorts ever. Triathlon James was there on his road bike wearing his usual uncomfortably short tri-bib. Young Jimmy was there in his full Blue team kit.(Jimmy rides a Giant) And then there was Gary...

Gary wears normal shorts...but that's where normal ends. Gary rides a carbon fiber Kestrel set up in full TT mode...but with a custom configured drivetrain. It has a single 53T ring up front with a 5 speed, 13-23 cluster in the back. I was sure that there was no way in hell that he was going to be able to haul himself up and over some of the climbs on the loop. I was wrong.

On the steepest hills, everyone is maxed out on their gearing. Either 39/25, 34/25, or 30/23. Gary was riding with a gearing of 53/23. Without going into a Sheldon Brown essay on gear ratios or gear inches, lets break this down a different, simpler way.

If you divide the front chainring number by the cog number you'll get a third number that tells you how many times the rear wheel rotates with every turn of the cranks. Theoretically, the bigger the number the harder it is to pedal. 39/25=1.56...34/25=1.36...30/23=1.30...And finally for Gary...53/23=2.3 Wow! The incremental difference is staggering.

I always knew he was a beast on the flats, but to be able to climb with that setup is amazing.

Shell Mirror

Back on June 7 I posted about a mirror that I have that I wanted to cover in shells. Done. Here it is (the light wasn't great for taking the picture but I really wanted to post about it today). I rather like it. Debated covering the WHOLE frame in shells, but stopped at a point where it seemed just right.

My Word Cloud

This website creates these fun word collages or "clouds" as they call them. Here is my collage of things that make me happy (please don't be offended, family and friends, but I didn't include people).

Prisoners Of Technology

You know by now that among many other vices, Mongo likes to rock while cycling. It shuts me off from the pesky outside world and allows me to get into whatever kind of zone is needed.

My last mp3 player died about three weeks ago...and I didn't hurry to replace it. My thinking was that riding sans tunes would bring me back to the pure essence of cycling.

Man and machine working in harmony, wind in my ears, aware of the elements...yadda, yadda, yadda! Let me just tell you, that shit is overrated.

I heard noises coming from my bikes that I'd never heard before...none of them good.

What followed was three weeks of a meticulously anal search and eliminate mission on all my noises. Though mostly successful, I decided to get a new mp3 player anyway.

I bought this little baby at Best Buy for $59.99. It has 2GB of memory, tons of great functions, a clip on the back, and it's smaller than the picture.

"What's that...I can't hear you."

Where's The Beef?

The Tour de Suisse folded up shop yesterday and added another chapter to what has been a great year, on the road, for pro cycling...so far.

The only guy who could make Michael Rasmussen look fat, Roman Kreuziger, cruised home on the final stage to edge out AK47 by 49 seconds for the overall win.

Swiss homeboy, Fabian Cancellara, executed another perfect solo breakaway to take the stage win.

Did You Miss It?

Yesterday (June 21st) was National Go Skateboarding Day.

I know Mongo and Andy Mac were out there ripping...were you?

And so it ends...

Dear MZone Reader,

The first post ever here on the MZone, way back in on October 5, 2005, was short, brief and (sadly) semi-naked co-ed free:

And so it begins...

What is this blog? Well, it's about Michigan football. Comments, critiques, compliments, criticisms and a little funny thrown in for good measure.

Three of my M alum friends and I have been emailing back and forth, everyday, during each football season for the last couple of years. Sometimes our emails number close to 30 after big wins or tough losses. And while we're all huge Michigan fans, that doesn't mean we don't disagree often (as you'll soon find out). So I figured, if we can procrastinate that much during the week, let's see if others want to join in. Hey, if we're not going to get any work done, why not drag some complete strangers down with us.

So, here it is. This is my first blog so pardon the rookie mistakes I'm bound to make as I get this up and running (hell, I don't even know how to add pictures yet).

Welcome and...

Go Blue!

Little did I know back then just how many "strangers" we'd get to procrastinate with us - almost 4 million as I write these words tonight; a "little funny" morphed into (hopefully) a lot of funny for you, the reader; and thankfully, I did learn to add a picture or two to the posts.

It has been a hell of a fun ride.

But even the best of college football seasons has a final play as all things must come to an end. And like a football coach knowing when it's time to walk away from the game, it is time for me, and thus the MZone, to exit the blogosphere.

By last fall, my team of fellow MZone bloggers has dwindled down to just yours truly, which is no great surprise as running a daily blog can be a grind at times. That's why I have such respect for the many fellow bloggers I've gotten to know during the course of running the MZone who do it and do it so well.

But for me, it's gotten to be too much to continue on my own. Besides, half the fun of it was doing it with friends. And as much as I enjoy and enjoyed blogging, it was never a goal for it to be anything more than a hobby. Except for a brief flirtation with Google AdSense, we turned down each and every advertising offer we received. Because it wasn't about the making money. Hopefully that came through as you read over the last (not quite) three years.

Thus, rather than ever get to a point where people say, "Man, the MZone used to be so good. But now it sucks giant, Michigan-owning Buckeye nuts," I'd rather end it here on a high note and the old vaudevillian credo of "Leave them wanting more...caption contests and Photoshopped gems." And while I won't say never in terms of the MZone returning somewhere down the line - or in some other incarnation - if the passion returns, right now it's time to simply say farewell.

So thanks to all the fellow bloggers out there who have become, dare I say, cyberfriends during our little run. While I won't be posting here, you can bet I'll be lurking around your sites which I've grown to really enjoy over the last (not quite) three years.

Thanks to all our regular contributors who, quite literally, made the site possible with their great ideas, tips and suggestions. Without you, this site would have gone dark long ago.

Finally, thanks to you, the MZone reader for making the last (not quite) three years so much damn fun and rewarding. Your emails and kind words are what kept me doing it. All those, "You start my day with a laugh each morning" put a smile on my face as much as you said the site did for you. That's by far the hardest part to leave behind.

Go Blue!

Yost

Revenge...Bandit Style

Roman Kreuziger wins the penultimate stage of the Tour de Suisse, and carries a 49 second overall lead into the final stage on Sunday.

Unfortunately, the person sitting in second is none other than Mongo's guy, Andreas Kloden.

AK47 has done a strong tour,(Top ten in KOM and Points along with second on GC) but it looks like Kreuziger has enough time on him to win...and redeem his second place finish to Kloden at the Tour de Romandie.

I like Liquigas to be a major player when they get their big guns together and head to France.

I Love This Guy

Perhaps the only man in pro cycling who can make a solo breakaway with under 10K to go...and make it stick.

Fabian Cancellara holds off the sprinters by mere seconds to win yesterdays stage.

Fashion Show at the Manor

My grandmother, MamMom, lives in a very quaint, small town assisted living home. The gal in charge of social activities is a hoot and has the residents busy all the time. The community is also very involved in the care of these cherished elders — coming in to help with bingo games, performing, and even bringing in dogs for the elderly to love up on. It's always heartwarming to visit and see how treasured these people are by the staff and volunteers.

This day's long-awaited big event was their Second Annual Fashion Show. When we arrived, the "models" were all dressed in their finest or funnest outfit. A volunteer had a nail station set up and was making sure all the women had their fingernails freshly painted. Another volunteer had done all the makeup. Cameras were flashing everywhere (the community newspaper had a photographer/reporter there to do a story and the way everyone acted, you'd have thought Oprah was covering the event; it meant so much to them to be recognized) and compliments were showered on the models.

I went ahead down to the cafeteria to get a seat (by start of the show they could fit no more people into the cafeteria; it was standing room only). Mother and daughter flutists played before the show began, which I thought was a nice touch. Harleigh stayed behind to escort in MamMom. Each model was escorted in by a volunteer (boys from a local church, respectively dressed-up for the occasion) or by a family member.

The head administrator gave the opening remarks, a youth pastor from a local church gave the invocation, and an elder care pastor served as the mistress of ceremonies.

Here is MamMom's room, which she's made very homey.
The program.
MamMom looked so pretty; even her walker got a pretty green bow to match her outfit.
Entering the room.
MamMom chatting with the emcee. (She IS one of us so there's no shutting her up, especially if there's an audience!)
And then there's the crowd to talk to!
This lady wore a super cool silver cowboy hat. She didn't smile much, but I'm sure on the inside she was Tyra Banks workin' it!
The show didn't have a shortage of male models. This handsome dude even had props!

We left feeling really good on the inside, and MamMom enjoyed a day of feeling beautiful, important, and special. Not that it takes a fashion show to remind her that she is all these things. I know how much today tired her out, and I'm sure she'll be asleep for the night before the sun even sets. But, a model does need her beauty sleep.

Garage Gallery

Our garage is not just a place to park our car (soon to be carS, once Harleigh gets her license!). It is another room in our home, a space we've personalized. I have rattan blinds and cafe curtains at the windows. The floor is in much need of another painting; this time I think I'll go with a standard garage floor gray. But I really want to salvage the area rug that I painted on the floor; a great way to put to use all those cans of leftover paint you have hanging around. It took me a couple of hours to paint, and when Harleigh was little, we had a table and four chairs on it that she and her friends could sit at and play, do crafts, make as much of a mess as they wanted. When we moved into the house I told Harleigh that she and her newfound neighborhood friends could paint one wall in the gargage with anything they wanted. You can see part of their artwork in the picture below. My favorite (not pictured) is the word "Trash" with a big arrow pointing down, over the place where we park our curbside trashcan.

Ignore all the junk in the below picture; this is just a portion of the stuff I've been collecting for the yard sale that I WILL NOT HAVE. I am over it . . . over all the work it takes to price everything, take it out of the garage and get it staged, deal with strangers driving up on my grass and then dickering over 25 cent items, then finally having to take all the stuff that didn't sell to Salvation Army. Ugh. Not worth it. I have some items that I'm going to consign, but everything else is being hauled off. Will I regret not doing the sale? Yes, but I need to let it go.

Another thing I like about creating another room out of a garage is that I can display items that I love but that don't fit with my home decor. These two wood-inlaid pictures (by Ran Su) were in my grandmother and grandfather's house for as long as I can remember. I used to think that they were odd but so exotic and fun. After my grandfather passed on and my grandmother was moved to an assisted living home, my mom gave these to me. I don't think they're worth much, and are rather worn, but I can't part with them. Take advantage of hanging and displaying things in your garage that you like but that might not fit into your home decor scheme. I think the garage is the one place where you have carte blanche to be eclectic and kitschy.

Mother...If You Wanna Find Hell With Me

Star on the rise and Danzig impersonator, Kim Kirchen, wins Stage 6 of the Tour de Suisse and takes the overall lead.

AK47 puts in a game effort to finish second on the day and move into sixth place on GC.

Quick Updates from the Sidelines

* Big Ten, Comcast reach deal.

* Ball boys saved Michigan's '97 National Title run.

* Indiana's football field ruined in flood.

Our dogs are IMPORTANT!

As a dog owner, I tap into lots of websites that help me with issues and questions I might have pertaining to my little buddy. As an Old English Sheepdog mom, my favorite site is one that is strictly about sheepies. The site is www.oes.org and has a ton of information as well as a community forum, where OES owners can get everything from grooming tips to finding play date groups. Yesterday I logged onto the site and was leafing through the photo gallery. Later that afternoon I had a comment on my blog from the webmaster of oes.org, Ron! Pure coincidence!

He had happened upon my site and read my “unimportant facts” list, commenting about one of the most important of my unimportant facts . . . my love for Old English Sheepdogs! I do think that I should change the list title from “unimportant facts” to perhaps “facts about me that you never knew” or something like that. I certainly don’t want anyone to think that Gideon is anything less than important!

Ron, thanks for all you do to bring the OES community together!

Shelter From Pigs On The Wing

“ Who am I if I come from nowhere?
An anonymous transaction under the veil of shame.
Who am I if I come from nowhere?
A mistake, bad timing, this is my legacy.
Who am I if I come from nowhere?
A solution, a second chance, I fill the aching void.
Who am I if I come from nowhere?
A simple answer, a lifetime of questions.”

Not So Lucky

Mongo does a great deal of his riding surrounded by Nature. It may seem ironic, because my legend is growing locally as one of the premier "Highway" riders in the state, but Mongo loves some peace and quiet.

The down side to riding with Nature is... Nature itself. Animals, specifically.

Squirrels, Rabbits, Deer, Snakes, Hawks, Owls, Raccoons, Bigfoot...All have come into play at one time or another while Mongo was riding.

My point is this... We are intruding on these unsolicited spectators, so it's our responsibility to make sure we do our best not to harm them.(*)

(*) In good conscience, Mongo has to admit that he has, sadly, committed a Chipmunkicide in his past.

Turns Out Robbie McEwen's A Douchebag

After winning yesterday's stage, McEwen kept everyone at the podium waiting because he was on the phone. Nice!

He was giving an interview to a Belgian media outlet(His team is based in Belgium) even though the rules of the race state that he must give his first interview to Swiss TV. After being informed of this and possible ramifications, McEwen passed the F-bomb around like an eight-ball at one of Tom Boonen's parties.

His disparaging remarks and lack of class have got the mild mannered Swiss up in arms. To add insult to injury...he won again today!

Unimportant Facts About Moi

Kate sent me this meme, actually one of the harder ones I've done. It was rather tough to come up with facts about myself that weren't overly boring, very embarrassing, or begged a ton of explanation. But here goes . . .

1. Link back to the person that tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Share 6 unimportant things about yourself.
4. Tag 4 people at the end of your entry.

1. I am a distant relative of the famous newscaster Walter Cronkite. He is 92 years old now, and from what I've read his mother lived to be 101.

2. I was voted Most Artistic by my senior high school class.

3. I have been wearing the same shade of WetnWild lip liner and lipstick for the past 15 years. And none the poorer because of it! It used to cost 99cents and now it's $1.99, and still the best out there.

4. I grew up with an Old English Sheepdog named Shawn. Then after college my boyfriend at the time bought me an OES puppy whom I named Wyeth. And now I have dear, sweet Gideon.

5. I never walk around in my house barefoot. I always have to wear my socks and/or slippers. The idea of bare feet on carpet nauseates me. Harleigh does it, but I'd rather her wear socks or slippers. Weird or what?

6. My favorite music in the whole world is Christmas music. I start playing it November 1 and it pretty much plays all day, 7 days a week, right up through Christmas Day.


Now, I tag Laura, Devon (your list could all be unimportant slight obsessions), Ali, and Cammy.

Cubicle Worker Going Berserk

Still on my sabbatical but had to get these videos up of a Russian cubicle worker going absolutely berserk. Oh...my...God.

Now, I'm not saying what the guy did was right. But for anybody trapped in a cubicle hell job, you can at least understand it.

First is the security camera footage...



And here's another angle of the craziness from a co-worker's camera phone, complete with sound...



Okay, back to...uh...sabbitcalling.

(HT: D via Gizmodo)

Eyeballs Deep In Muddy Waters

Valverde shaves monobrow and save 43 grams...propels him to victory in the Dauphine.

AK47 and the Russian Mafia have got their hands full with a very strong field at the Tour de Suisse. Mongo's looking at CSC, and one of the Schleck boys, to flex their muscles with a Tour ready team.

Since Mongodamus and Mongo The Greek have basically gone oh for '08, I will now be making my final prediction of the year...unless of course, I get it right.

The winner of the 2008 Tour de France will be...wait for it...CADEL EVANS !

Giving it a Home

My found nest now has a home in a pink pedestal candy dish. And two wooden eggs made the vignette come alive.

My sister, commenting on the post about finding the nest, said her favorite part of the find is the string. We agreed that mama bird probably had it in her beak, and the daddy bird said "What are you going to do with that old thing?" to which she replied "You know me, I can take anything and turn it into something homey and cute." And the string woven loosely through the twigs is something that I'm sure she stepped back from and said "it works."

Then Beth added the cutest outlook on the birds who built this really quaint nest . . . they are the same birds who in cartoon movies are tying the strings of an apron into a bow around some fairy tale princess.

My Shasta Daisies . . . first of the Summer!

Father's Day Seafood Feast

My stepdad, wonderful Fred aka Poppy, chose today's menu. My mom always entertains with such attention to detail and with such love; it's a joy to eat one of her meals! We feasted on lots and lots of steamed King Crab legs with little pots of warmed drawn butter, cold steamed shrimp with cocktail sauce, fresh calamari in tomato sauce, pasta and potato salads, champagne and mimosas, fresh bread, and a cappuccino cake for dessert. Lots of laughing (and crying — not a bad kind of crying, but the kind usually coming about as a result of a story told, a memory retold . . . we're a very emotionally raw family, not afraid to be ourselves and embrace each others' sufferings and happiness with equal empathy). Ate 'til we were happily full and then Fred opened gifts. Happy Father's Day, Poppy!

The Nest

. . . and then I came home from the car dealership, four hours later than I had planned, and with yard work out the whowho to accomplish. One year for my birthday my dad got me one of those limb cutters. It is, without a doubt, one of the most fun yard implements out there. I go crazy twice a year, cutting down branches. The thing extends to like 30 feet, and the satisfaction I get from clearing large patches of my yard for the sun to kiss is cleansing and empowering. In the 90 degree heat I was sweating like crazy and cutting like a mad woman! Got it done before the skies opened and we had a thunder- and lightening-filled rain storm afternoon.

Here is a nest I found, one of four actually. But this one was in a branch that had to come down. I love that the mama or papa bird built this nest using a bit of found string. Did it come from my yard or did he/she carry it for a ways before coming back to Chateau Gahan to birth the babies?

Those Pesky Necessities . . . Cars

Today I spent waaaaaaaay too much time at the car dealership. After waiting the 2 hours, from 8:15-10:15, which was the estimated time they gave me to complete the work, I got the "quiet approach." In a sea full of waiting people, all sitting semi-uncomfortably in waiting room chairs, watching CNN, always a handful of people talking a little too loudly on cell phones, there I sat — reading my book, balancing my checkbook, taking glances at CNN, listening to people's cell phone conversations, and drinking complimentary coffee with bad powdered creamer. I could handle all that.

But then my serviceman did the "quiet approach." It's when they come at you, smiling, piece of paper in hand (with lots of dollar signs on it and words like "differential" and "transmission" that make me feel vulnerable and stupid) and they say your name quietly, always politely and with a Ms. in front, and they tell you very softly, almost as if talking to a sleeping baby, what "needs" to be done in addition to what you came in for. And when the conversation is done, the serviceman walks away and everyone in the waiting room gives you that sorta sympathetic look. And you were so close, so close to getting out with a simple "Your car is ready Ms. Gahan."

Luckily the dealership is across from a mall, so I took the shuttle over and walked around, grabbed an iced tea and pretended to shop. Remember, I'm poor now that I have to get my "differential" fixed. So the iced tea was all I left with . . . oh, and I have a new differential, or maybe it's just new fluids in the differential, or perhaps they just replaced the loose screws in the differential, was there a hose involved? . . .

I think I want to marry a mechanic.

They're No Jamaican Posse

AK47, with his Russian and Kazakh B-Team goon squad, start the Tour de Suisse today. Let's hope Kloden has recovered from his Giro ailment and makes a run at the podium for G.C.

Back at the Dauphine...Looks like Valverde is probably going to win. Evans and Leiphemer couldn't gain any ground on the second to last stage. The final stage is no cruise, with several steep climbs early, so it 'aint over quite yet.

Getting Old

Yesterday was not a good day. Well it was in the sense that Harleigh and I went to dinner together and walked around the Forum, where I bought a darling Madras plaid patchwork pocketbook and a crisp, white linen blouse. I very rarely buy anything for me, so that was a treat.

Not good — Part I: Got in the shower this morning and slipped on soap. Well, more than slipped. I fell. Big time. Naked body parts going everywhere. Both hands grasping for something to keep me on two feet. As I was falling, I wound up semi-sitting on the shower curtain in a maneuver that could have easily pulled the whole rod and curtain down on me, but instead just sort of cradled me in a wet hammock of plastic. While trying to right myself from this awkward lean, my left hand was grabbing for the over-the-shower-head caddy, which, from my sheer weight, bent forward, spilling shampoo and conditioner bottles everywhere creating quite a racket. (Thank God I didn’t pull the whole shower head out of the wall.) I finally got myself into a standing position with no broken bones or bruises. And because I was OK, could laugh at what I must have looked like. The noise woke Harleigh up and she came running in to find me standing there like a wet dog, still naked, attempting to twist the shower caddy back into its original shape.

Not good — Part II: As Gideon and I were heading back into the house after his last potty trip of the evening, he accidentally ran into me. I was on the patio ready to open the door and he came running, hitting me in the back of the knees. The force of the hit literally lifted me off of the ground, almost into a horizontal position (very cartoon-like I might add), and crashed me down onto the concrete. My one hand (I believe it was the shower caddy hand from earlier that day) broke some of the fall. But the real hero was my rather cushiony posterior. I swear I think I bounced at least two times before coming to a still position (albeit clothed this time). Again, no broken bones or bruises. Came into the house, yelled for Harleigh, and broke into tears, sobbing like a big baby. Gideon then jumped on the sofa, licking my face in apology, and the sofa inched back enough to hit a table and knock one of my favorite pictures off, shattering glass everywhere. Harleigh cleaned it all up, got me calmed down, and played mother for the next half hour (which, I must say, she is really good at). My tears had nothing to do with being hurt. It had everything to do with being scared instead of annoyed or embarrassed. And that felt very elderly to me.

So there you have it. I have officially reached the age where I am afraid to fall. Afraid of breaking a hip. I am OK with the fact that I will never roller skate again (and I haven't since I was in my teens, but whatever). Will never walk across an ice patch without my life flashing before my eyes. I am contemplating showering with a bathing suit on so that I am not the funny rescue story they tell at the fire station about the big, naked lady they saved that one time from the tub fall. I will be grateful for my big butt; she took the bullet for me big time. I will purchase those gross no-slip stickers for the bottom of my bathtub. I will forgive my dog. I will thank God that in both instances I was not hurt. And now that I think about it, I’m grateful that both times I didn’t lose bladder control. That’s me . . . always finding the positive.

[Photo courtesy of Lance A. Rothstein]

Is That A Bracelet, Frenchy?

Cyril "The spunky six-cylinder" Dessel does his best Jens Voigt and executes a perfect solo breakaway from the lead group to win today's stage.

The Dauphine Libere, or in English, The Free Dolphin Movement, is really good this year. With only a few stages to go, there are three big contenders in play.

1. Alejandro Valverde...Injury prone, Spanish, Monobrow.

2. Cadel Evans...Wheel sucker, Australian, High-pitched voice.

3. Levi Leipheimer...Short, American, Bald.

Mongo is going to go out on a limb and predict that L.L. will turn it up to a hoe nuvah leval and somehow win this be'atch.

I Will Always Love Lucy

I am a HUGE fan of Lucille Ball. The I Love Lucy show is my favorite show in the whole world. So when I saw this ad for Armstrong flooring . . . it made me both happy and sad. What a genius she was and what a missed and beloved comedian she will always be. I've torn the ad out and hung it on my fridge.

Meme for today

I've been tagged by my dear friend and co-worker, Laura, to tackle this little ditty:

The Rules:
Rules are posted at the beginning. At the end of the post, the player tags 6 people and posts their names. Then the player goes to each of the “named” people’s blogs and leaves a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog. If you’ve been tagged, you do the same, letting the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer. Your answer, of course, is the answer to the following questions. Here we go!

1. What was I doing 10 years ago?
I was beginning to house-hunt here in the Atlanta area, intent on finding an affordable home in a good school district, and getting a little down that I'd never find anything (which of course I did, the following year, on Mother's Day . . . a sign that our sweet Chateau Gahan was a gift from God). I was two years into my work here at Unboundary (then EAI) and feeling overwhelmed by the sheer number of hours I was logging in every day (thank God for parents who helped out with my little one!). Oh, and I was a size 6.

2. What are 5 things on my to-do list today?
• Schedule Harleigh's next voice lesson
• Pull together paperwork that we will need when 16-year-old daughter goes to get her driver's license at the end of this month (AAAAAHHHHHH!)
• Pick up Gideon from vet where he had his teeth cleaned and his annual shots administered.
• Balance checkbook (I am obsessive about making sure I balance to the penny every 10 days or so)
• Order fan stix for a fan craft I've been pondering

3. Snacks I enjoy: potato chips, red grapes, Yoplait Whips yogurt in key lime pie and orange creme, pistachios

4. Places I’ve lived:
• Towson, Reisterstown, New Windsor, Westminster, and Baltimore in Maryland
• New Brunswick, New Jersey
• Delaware, Ohio where I went to college
• Huntington Beach, California
• and finally here in Georgia!

5. Things I would do if I were a billionaire:
• First of all, my sister and her family would be financially set and my sister could buy that little house out in farm country and maybe even a ranch so she can be the cowgirl that she truly is.
• Definitely not work, but instead devote my time to traveling, crafting, and creating beautiful environments.
• I would have a house in Palm Desert California with a pool, a brownstone in NYC, a horse farm in Chadds Ford Pennsylvania, and a beach house on Sanibel Island Florida.
• Treat myself to a facial and a massage every week
• Figure out what "cause" is truest to my heart and give a buttload of money.

I have to tag six people for this, so I tag Courtney (and you may have to draw a picture to go with it in order to stay true to the intent of your blog), Erin, Ali, Darly, Freckled Hen (and only if and when you get a chance; you're juggling a lot right now!), and Elizabeth. If any of you have done this meme and I've overlooked it on your blog, my apologies!

Have Some Coke And A Smile

After already being thrown under the bus by countryman and cyclocross racer Tom Vannoppen for providing him with cocaine,(and getting away with it, I might add) Tom Boonen tests positive himself for the flake.

Sprinting "on a rail" has a whole different meaning.

It's About Time

George Hincapie wins Stage 2 of the Dauphine.

U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.!

Dang Nab It

Back on June 3 I posted about my big plans for the slipcover for my living room chair and ottoman. Wanted gathers at the base of both chair and ottoman. Lots of girlie ruffles! Found out today, after my parents dropped the fabric off at the upholsterer (thanks for doing that!!!!), that the fabric is too heavy to do gathers. So I guess it's back to matching the old slipcover pattern. Well, looks like I'll have to gather something else. Here is the picture I took as inspiration, which I'm posting just to torture myself (photo courtesy of Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic: Treasure Hunting & Decorating Guide).FYI, the mirror that I'm adding shells to is coming along beautifully! Can't wait for the reveal! Harleigh liked the mirror before, but I think it looks great . . . but then again anything is fair game for me to encrust with shells.