I've got the best Best Friend

Oh, I love the Christmas holidays....especially when you get gifts AFTER it's supposably all over...Look what my Best Friend gave me...again remember I LOVE anything w/ bikes on it....










It's a piggy bank...it's so cute!! It has the saying Mike is always drilling into my head...how did she know I needed help saving money, now it will be a sinch!! Thanks so much Nat it's awesome!





Here's me and Nat at my wedding. We've been best friends since sophomore year of high school. She now is married with three beautiful children. He husband and she met their Junior year of high school...it's a cool story, high school sweethearts and all...only in the midwest!


Anyway, she's been a great friend over the many, many years....thanks so much for the special piggy bank...I'll start saving for my next bike with it!

Dinner with friends

Merry Christmas and Hanukkah or just Dec 25th to All!!






Here we are (well, I'm taking the picture) at Sharon Ceaser's house for Christmas dinner. It was great to meet new people, connect with a family....seeing as Mike and I don't have family in the area.

Rollin' with it....

Ok, so I've been doing some track related workouts...and today was my first attempt at the rollers, on my TT bike, in my bars....and I was supposed to do 3x 10 min high spin...yet there was never a 10min segment that I didn't fall off the rollers.



Mike thought he would document this monumental day.

Small beginings.....

To get our gift exchange started, Mike told me he wanted to start small...and he had me intrigued....until I realized it was a paper clip..

Happy Holidays to all!!

God Jul!

On Christmas Eve in Sweden you do all the celebrating...the big dinner, open all the gifts, etc..so lucky for me...we opened our gifts one day early.

The big dinner was pretty simple. Turkey roast, cranberry sauce, Quinoa, Veggies, Pumpkin Pie (under loads of Whipped Cream, Egg Nog Flavored whipped cream, and for Mike Ice Cream too)...coffee, more egg nog, chocolates.....all in all a great Christmas dinner!
As seen below (you may recognize this pose from our Thanksgiving photo...very similar)

Fancy Feast

When I came home from work on Wed....Mike had dinner ready...from the left it was steak, steamed veggie, and Quinoa...WOW...too bad I'd already eaten...

So this was the picture he emailed me w/ his phone saying.."All this work, and you're not gonna eat"....ooops...at least it was a well balanced/healthy meal!! That he got to enjoy, and enjoy.

(so this is what I blog about when not much is happening in my life)

More early Christmas presents!!

After my very touching morning last week, I was bound and determined to show Mike my appreciation for him...in the only way I know how...BIG PRESENTS...so what if I have to buy his love...it's love none the less!!

So, I braved the mall and got him a Treo 650 PDA/phone , that has more bells and whistles, I couldn't even turn it on. This is on Sunday afternoon....and I just couldn't keep my awesome secret...so whilst writing Christmas cards (that have NO chance of making it to our loved ones BEFORE the holiday) at Starbucks...I ran out to my car, grabbed the phone from the trunk...and gave it to Mike (under protest, by him)...I was so excited, because I knew how much he wanted it, and would have NEVER bought it for himself...that's what Christmas is all about right?? Or was it something about some baby, and some wise guys....oh well, back to us...So here is the first photo from his new phone...




Although we look Jaudice here, it's just the lack of a flash that makes us look yellow, not pickeled livers (yet):o)

Then, on Monday we get a LARGE box from my Mom (and I had recieved a voicemail from her earlier that day w/ instructions to open the box when I recieved it)...and inside was this SWEET wreath made from a bike wheel...and SHE MADE IT!! I absolutely love it...wanna see??






Mom's always know right? She knows I'm koo-koo for anything w/ a bike on it, or silver....and this one is both..and I love that she made it. She got the wheel from a donation to the local shop in Wichita, Kansas where I was a bike mechanic for a summer back in the day...Thanks MOM, we'll use it every year!! What a perfect gift, and EARLY just the way I like it!

Early Christmas present!!

This morning, Mike gave me a gift that is timeless and priceless!

We were eating breakfast, watching the news...and Mike reached out for my hand and said, "Do you ever feel like you're so happy, you're gonna burst?!!"....I am such a lucky girl. What a great Christmas present!! Man oh man, whew...never thought I could have such a great guy!!!

So let's lighten this up...with some Funny pictures of my bugger...




Mike's (age 25) "Blue Steel"....and if you can see the temporary tatoo his roomate at the time drew, says 'Kele'

Let the Holiday parties begin.....

Tonight was our annual Christmas party for Lake Vue Gardens. We have over 200 employees and the ones that actually COME to the Christmas party are the ones who've been there a long time (or just like free food, and a slim chance to win stuff you would never buy).

Here Tara, Kari, Dada, and I are getting 'caught' up on any new juice...














Next we try to look more civilized.....











Kari, soakin up the spotlight as she does a solo dance....














Mike and I all cleaned up.....














It was fun to see everyone 'out of uniform', and gettin loose! But I bought these shoes for this dress...and man oh man, I don't know how women do it....they hurt so bad...I made Mike take this picture as soon as we got home....so everyone can empithze w/ me about HIGH they were. I made Mike walk around the garage in them...and almost split my dress laughing so hard...but he needs to understand what we go through (and luckily, we have similar sized feet).

Stitch and Bitch

Oh yea, I've gone and 'done it' now!! I'm throwin' in the towel on my 20s....I had a knitting party (well, does 5 people qualify as a 'Party')!! I know, it's strange for me...but I'm cross training right???









I just don't know what's gotten into me lately. But, knitting w/ friends sounded fun. A great excuse to have 'the girls' over and shoot the breeze. And possibly learn that family skill that all the elder females in my family have mastered...KNITTING!









Well, let me tell you....it's harder than it looks when Grandmother does it!! Jeez Liouse....there were more holes in my 'scarf' than Mike's socks!! And after 3 hrs of training, whining, unraveling.....and the first person had to leave....my yarn was still on the needel....because I kept pulling it off cause it was so ugly!! But, never fear...I'm gonna master this stupid skill!! If it KILLS me!!!

Oh, Mike did it too! and before I let his look better than my 15 attempts I stole my needles back.....I just wanted him to be cute and try, not SHOW ME UP!!

Back to my roots

Mike and I went to PCC (a local co-op, 'natural market' today.....we're turning into hippies....we bought Quinoa, steel cut oats, wild rice, ORGANIC hummus, PLAIN ORGANIC yogurt, seasime sticks, cage free eggs, couscous, sprouted grain bread....you get my drift....a new experience for me.
I've been avoiding this my entire adult life...I always thought new-age hippies were 'snobby' w/ thier 'organic' this and that, smelling of BO and pa-chew-ly...and here I am rubbin elbows w/ them at the grocery store.

My parents were 'stinky hippies' as seen below


Yea, that me...the bald one!







Most our food was from the farm, Mom had a huge garden, we had fresh meat, and milk. Mom wouldn't let us eat processed foods, I remember having to put wheat germ on my no sugar cereal...w/ Ovalteen on the holidays. Mom used to make her own bread, yougurt, and cloth...yea that's right...she had one of those HUGE looms that took up an entire room...

Enough walkin down memory lane...but I am joining my sister's good habits of low/no sugars, minimal processing, but LOTS of flavor type foods!!! We'll see how it works!

Not too trivial...

Ok, so Sat night we invited a few friends over for some more Trivial Pursuit 90s edition. Unfortunately, Mark and I did not fair so well...but here are some photos of the historic event...








the couple on the couch SMOKED everyone (not letting them be on the same team again...)..but in the end it was the NON CHEATING Europeans Neal and Mike that took the prize...







Thanks to all for coming over...it's always a great excuse to clean up!!

Organization station

I'm so domestic it's killing me! Mike and I went to the container store, so we could FINALLY organize the pantry. We ended up spending WAY too much money...but look how much better the pantry looks!













Before















After...





Ok, I have to go get the finish polishing the pots and pans now...in my apron...poodle skirt, and pumps...w/ my hair in rollers...right before I do all Mikes ironing...

Flag day

So, in honor of the Swedish flag day festival....I decided to celebrate on my Sat ride w/ a flag of my own...












I went to a bike shop a few weeks ago, and saw the flag for sale...and couldn't pass up the opportunity to yet again show off my 'So Pro' style! The ride ended up to be an epic 8 to 3:30 event (only 5hr 20min ride time though...we had one chain break, 3 flats, my rear shifter cable snapped w/ 3+ hrs to ride)...but all the while the flag was sailing high!!

It's even funnier, because I was stuck in my 12/39....and so on all the hills I was standing at about 45rpm trying not to fall over..and the flag would whip side to side so bad no one could ride next to me...at one point I almost hit a pedestrian walking on the trail...ooopps!

Turkey Day

So Mike and I got to have our own Turkey day. And we realized at about 1:30 we needed:
1) turkey
2) stuffing
3) cranberry sauce
4) bread
5) pumpkin pie

So off we went to the store. I don't know about you...but I grew up making all of the above from scratch. From the wild rice/cornbread stuffing, to homemade cranberry sauce, to the rolls...but that was NOT the case today. Oh no, we had no time for that...so we bought the bag of 'just add water' stuffing, canned cranberry sauce, already cooked turkey brest, rolls, but decide to make the pie (and hand whip the cream...for old time sake).

Wanna see how it turned out???

Here's the cooking part













Then there's the eating part










Then there is the Maxin and Relaxin part


Hope you also had a great day! Gobble, Gobble!

i fart

That's what the elevator button was labeled in Copenhagen. Apparently it means 'in motion' (in Danish)...like in use. But I got a great laugh out of it, and thought I'd share.

Speaking of Copenhagen....here are a few shots. Mike and I spent one afternoon shopping, then the morning before our flight left we went to Christinia



....a hippie city in the middle of Copenhagen...where hash is legal. It was interesting, no one in the 'city' owns their house, it's all communal...a good system. I don't know about the hash part, but hey it takes all kinds to make the world go round.

Ok, back to the photos:
Here's one of me biking (a major form of transportation there)











And here's me in my new sheeps coat by a foutain









Here is Mike and I's international greeting:











What a silly sign (or I'm just silly)











What a Pisser!











We had a great final meal in Denmark with Mike's sister Kristina:


Goodbye Demnark and Sweden....I had an awesome visit. I'm so grateful for my new extended family, and such a beautiful home away from home!
Now it's time to get back home for some TURKEY!

Saying 'Goodbye' to Bertil, in Almhult

I'm writing from Almhult, Sweden (my husbands hometown). Unfortunately, we are here to attend his Grandfather Bertil Johansson's funeral.

On the bright side, we get to come to Sweden. This is my fourth time here to Almhult. Every other time we have come over Christmas vacation, so it's fun to see grass for once.

Of course, I've taken a few shots to document our traveling...so let's get to it.

First we have a photo of Mike looking extra handsome in the Copenhagen airport, as he decided which train to catch to get us to Almhult fast!



The houses here are pretty small (this area of sweden is Small-Land)

Just kidding, this is the play house for the children his grandfather built!


So, today we went running...better said, would be JOGGING...but it was nice to see the country side. Then we went to the house Mike's grandfather built from scratch...I got lessons on where things came from, how the house had changed over the years....it's fun being a part of a new family with it's own history...it's all new to me...and they are such great people, I'm so glad we came.

Then, the highlight of the day, we went into town to shop. And, as Chrissy will be sad to hear she missed, I got to spend hours in 2 kitchen stores...one of my favorite passtimes. (Once I dragged Chrissy into a kitchen store, but after about 20min she chose to wait outside for me...and funny has NEVER gone w/ me again...she just doesn't get the EXCITEMENT of kitchen utensils...especially UNIQUE ones!!). I returned home after 3hrs of shopping w/ this super cool bottle opener (for SODA, of course), hooks to hang utensils on, orange coasters, rock sea salt (for my salt grinder...yea Kat, I'm SOO Euro), and some stainless scoops for the sugar/salt that look like mini shovels...

Ok, so I'm pissed about the pictures...and will do my best to rectify the situation!!!

Hej Da (Swedish for goodbye)

Riding the track at Burnaby eh??

Hells Yea...as Adrian Hedge-a-berry said! So off we went. Jennifer Tripplet (Greggs), Dan Harmsall, Nick Idontknowhislastname, Jimmy and girlfriend.

The trip began w/ a phone call at 6am, everyone wondering where I was...well, in bed of course...the alarm at 4am didn't go off (MIKE'S fault)...so I rushed to meet them...and we were off.




Once there, it was a great 2 days of racing....tons of learning...Mechanical errors (aka Emurdincies), tactical errors, embarrassing slips, lots of questions, the roughest rickety track I've ever seen (my first lap I thought I may need my mtn bike), g-forced propelled Corner....and a stiff neck.





Racing went well. It was fun. A sharp learning curve. The first race was a flying 200 (so you get 3 laps...then time the last one)...I sucked..I hadn't had a chance to get on the track AT ALL before the race...so it was uncomfortable...and I couldn't really go balls out....but it was learning.



The next race was a scratch race (regular, first across the line wins) 30laps....I really struggled to keep position...still not comfortable w/ my ability to adjust my speed, and be comfortable w/ riders close to me etc...and this cost me valuable positions, and ended my race early.....oh well, I'm learning!




The last race was the points race (4deep points every 10 laps) 80laps. This time, I'd watched Gina Grain in her race and saw how aggressive she was w/ her positioning, and savvy about pulling, and Jen talked me through the A race...so I was able to keep my position a little better, and hang on to a group.
Then we went to dinner...and got hooked up w/ an awesome Host housing.

Sunday's racing began w/ a Chariot (standing start, then 2 laps)...not my best race. Then Elimination plus points (basically miss and out, then a points race....which means LOTS of hard laps)...I hung on longer than expected...and am learning more about how to keep position.

Next was Elimination (miss and out) this time I was the 2nd last pulled, a good improvement...I was pleased..but I almost crashed into Dan and Nick diving to miss being pulled...oopps 'learning'.

Then was the Win and out....yea, not so good. Jen got 3rd..that was awesome....I was in some back group..just hanging on, I struggle w/ the constant accelerations at such high speeds..but hey learning.

Lastly we did Olympic sprints (basically 3 person TT, each person does a lap them peels off...lucky for me I was first to peel off). It was a fun way to finish the weekend.



So, great fun, great new track, great people....good weekend. And here are some random shots.