Saturday, January 30, 2010

Oh crap, what did I do?

I've been hinting on Facebook this week that I signed up for a century ride.
What is that?
It is a 100 mile bike ride, one-hundred-miles people!
Ummm, yeah.
This IS something that I've always wanted to do, especially since 2006 when I did my first Team In Training event (a pretty short Triathlon). I liked the charity, LLS raises money for blood cancer research, and I like a challenge!
I excitedly turned in my paperwork on Tuesday evening. Yesterday I was driving back from a meeting in Merrillville, IN. Merrillville is northwest of Indy almost to Chicago. Not a bad jaunt, a little boring. How many miles away? 143.
Hmm.
Last week, I drove to Cincinnati for a meeting. Again, not a bad drive, more interesting than going to Merrillville. How many miles from Indy to Cincy? 114.
Oh crap, what have I done?
Why do I feel the need to be able to ride a bicycle from Indy to Cincinnati, I really don't know...
LUCKILY, I won't be riding from Indy to Cincy. I'll be participating in "America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride" around...wait for it...Lake Tahoe!

http://hotrod.vox.com/library/post/americas-most-beautiful-bike-ride.html

(Notice the road in this picture, we aren't going to discuss the elevation or incline at this time...)
It is a great cause and a great challenge and the only reason I could think not to do is fear of not being able to meet the challenge. I decided last October that I wasn't going to make any more fear-based decisions so that reason doesn't count.
Here's to the team that I'll doing this challenge with and us all making it over the finish line! We had our kick off meeting last night and about half the Tahoe team was there. I'm looking forward to getting to know them better!
I'll be chronicling my "road to The Ride" here on my blog so check in often! (And leave comments if you feel inclined, getting a comment is like getting a birthday card in the mail!)
Also, my other portion of his challenge is to raise funds for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I've posted a badge to the right to keep track of how close to my goal I am. More about that later too!

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

New Look, New Vibe

I loved the look of my blog (serene green, you remember) but decided it was time for a change. I was looking at all the different options out there and fell in love with one, but not this one. I downloaded it and couldn't get it to look right. This one was a close second though. I like the darkness with the pinks and purples. I'm still trying to get some little quirks worked out but it's getting there. What do you think? Like?

Thursday, January 14, 2010

2010 Color of the Year


I love color and I'm always curious to see what the trendwatchers are forecasting. Last year's color was marigold. This year it is breezy turquoise. When you go on their website there is a beautiful picture of the seashore. This color and imagery has been a source of inspiration for me. When I redecorated my living room a year and a half ago I went with a beach-inspired theme. I was looking for calm, serene colors. Wood floors, dark wood furniture and three colors of blue/turquoise filled the bill. After a crazy day it is great to come home and relax. Plus I can close my eyes and pretend I'm somewhere warm and sunny!
So, how about you? Do you like this color? Do you have a 2010 color of your own? Please share!

Monday, January 11, 2010

'The Moment'

So it's the 11th day of 2010 and, like most everyone else, I'm reevaluating where I am. I got a new clock/iphone charger for Christmas and now I wake up to my "favorite" songs, there are hundreds on the list. (BTW-it's much better to wake up to an 'oh I love this song' song instead of a blaring alarm!) Anyway, what woke me up this morning? U2's "Stuck In a Moment You Can't Get Out Of". The song stuck in my head all day, mostly the chorus:

You've got to get yourself together
You've got stuck in a moment
And now you can't get out of it

Hmmm, message from the universe? I think so! I think I've been in 'the moment' for about 4 years now. How about you, have you been stuck in the moment? How did you get out of it? Please share!

I Googled to find a picture and found this great one here, beautiful art!

Here are the rest of the lyrics in case you're interested...

I'm not afraid
Of anything in this world
There's nothing you can throw at me
That I haven't already heard
I'm just trying to find
A decent melody
A song that I can sing
In my own company

I never thought you were a fool
But darling look at you
You gotta stand up straight
Carry your own weight
These tears are going nowhere baby

You've got to get yourself together
You've got stuck in a moment
And now you can't get out of it

Don't say that later will be better
Now you're stuck in a moment
And you can't get out of it

I will not forsake
The colors that you bring
The nights you filled with fireworks
They left you with nothing

I am still enchanted
By the light you brought to me
I listen through your ears
Through your eyes I can see

And you are such a fool
To worry like you do
I know it's tough
And you can never get enough
Of what you don't really need now
My, oh my

You've got to get yourself together
You've got stuck in a moment
And you can't get out of it

Oh love, look at you now
You've got yourself stuck in a moment
And you can't get out of it

I was unconscious, half asleep
The water is warm 'til you discover how deep

I wasn't jumping, for me it was a fall
It's a long way down to nothing at all

You've got to get yourself together
You've got stuck in a moment
And you can't get out of it

Don't say that later will be better
Now you're stuck in a moment
And you can't get out of it

And if the night runs over
And if the day won't last
And if our way should falter
Along the stony pass

And if the night runs over
And if the day won't last
And if your way should falter
Along this stony pass

It's just a moment
This time will pass
Lyrics from Sing365.com

Sunday, January 10, 2010

The Past Ten Years

I found this on The New York Times website today-double click to open so it's readable. It's interesting to see what the "highlights" of the past ten years have been (I put "highlights" in parenthesis because not much of it was that great). What do you think? Any other "highlights" come to mind?