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.

PRESENTING, the Ford-Basis's MEN's team

OOOOHH, Mike is brave...and Very secure w/ his manhood apparently!










So this is how we have 'fun' on our Sunday rides...a little switcharoo......

Balla's (think Hip hop voice)

Yea, so weight training at out house involves a ball, a foam roll, two yoga mats, the MP3 player w/ speakers.....and oh yea our garage.

I will illistrate for you how to do a bridge on the ball:





Now Mike will demo a Lunge (and ripped up calves...yea, I'm bios)





Now for the gran-final...I will balance on the ball, on my knees..




Damn we are just so hard core!! Maybe somedays we'll actually add weights!!

Offseason Training, OH YEA!

Ok, so I've compiled a few photos to help share my off season activities.

Mr.Serious and OTHER

Here's one from the El Salvador race. It was great to hang out with Alisha in a far away place, at such an epic race!

A little cyclocross

A little Bachlorette partying

Been riding with these guys. It's great fun to go fast, or not with 'the boys'! These are a great group of strong riders, I'm lucky to have them to keep my butt in shape!

UBER??

So, this weekend I was in my favorite local coffee shop (Perts) and this guy yells over to Mike and I, Hey, its the Uber couple.

My first thought was, Did this guy just call us goobers??..but I was quickly educated that Uber in German means Over...as if we were the over-achiever, over-trainers..not quite clear what he really ment..but it was a funny exchange, non the less.!
So next time you want to get a double take from someone..call them a Uber.

The dictionary says Uber means The ultimate, above all, the best, top, something that nothing is better than. Also Über..I guess that was quite the complement!

Well, Uber and out
Enjoy that off season training!

OFF-SEASON finally

It's funny how all season, I think about how nice it will be to have some time off. And now all I can think is how BORED I am! Jeez, I'm just never happy. I'm working on getting off the couch, for some other form of cross training...I'll let you know what I come up w/!

I heard recently that Martha Walsh from WOW team in El Salvador had a random group ride accident fracturing her jaw in 3 places! Martha is such a wonderful, calm, knowledgeable cyclist....I am so privileged to ride w/ her, I wish her the speediest of recoveries! We need her, more than she knows!

Examples of El Salvadorian Chaos!!

El Salvadorian Chaos, what do I mean???:
 I think the times of the junior races have changed at least 3-4x DAILY….Amara is so gracious, just rolls w/ it. The first day of her racing she had just complied her first stage, was headed home….when she was informed that she had a SECOND race in 40 min!! So, she put on her smile….and pulled off a 2nd place finish!!
 The traffic, well driving is INSANE….honestly we come w/in a inch of death at least 2x per ride…and we have 10 ppl stuffed into this eurovan type bus…sitting on coolers, doubled up in the front seat, all w/o seat belts of course.
 We had COWS on the course 3 times, then dogs, and on coming traffic w/ NO centerline rule….
*Lynn wearing a pink trash bag as a rain coat

 Cars just jump into the caravan, and then pass the pelaton at will….in addition to the oncoming traffic, makes for some tense moments….
 The volcano erupting where the race was to finish on the first RR…which forced the organizers to create a completely new course….and it went off w/o a hitch
 Mudslides on road
 Shrimp delivery guys on motor cycles, w/ these huge plastic shrimps on the back of the moto for advertisement
 The shits
 The race times change multiple time per stage…NEVER have a stage that started as published in the race bible.
 Roundabouts….there’s no organization so it’s life threatening
 Germans w/ NO Shame….
 Pedestrians cross the TT course at will…they see us, but no reguard..Niki almost took out a fancy dancy lady in pink
 Road side 30lbs fish peddler on road side
 Beggar whom we gave a WOW keychain to


 A basket woven Barbie chair…that Kele aspires to fit into for next season
 The prices of local restaurant dinner only $1.35 and w/ dinner you get the runs.
 A/c that doesn’t’ work
 No hot water
 Clothes that cant dry due to the 110% humidity…
 The team posted schedule that changes 15x per day


 Kele always being LATE for every meeting, bus ride to/from race
 Rain for EVERY stage
 KB was almost impaled by a Bull on the first road race
 Flooding streets, due to a tree falling across a river…diverting water down our street….causing massive flooding in our area, canceling our race for the day.
 Losing electricity in the hotel because of the storm, so we they cannot COOK food
 The hotel has ran out of phone cards when we are trapped here in the hotel, and I cannot call to let my family know I’m safe….and I cannot get to the internet café due to the huge rushing, rock filled river in the street.


 Having to scale a fence to get back to the hotel during the flood


 Pasta for every single meal
 Amara getting a trophy, then having it taken back because it was the ‘wrong’ one, only for them to realize several hours later it wasn’t, and returned it!
 4 wheeling in a 2 wheel drive “Jilapie” truck w/ $30,000 worth of bikes on top!
 Nobili having to ride their bikes home from the circuit race as punishment for poor racing (in the pouring rain!!)
 Giving up all our spare food/clothing to aide those affected by this massive flood
 Our team van smelling worse than a men’s hockey locker room!

 Having ONE kit…and NO laundry for rainy, humid, muddy double stage days!!
 Missing my husband’s phone call
 Not able to get cash, because there are NO ATMs, and we cannot drive to a bank! And NO ONE take cards of any kind!!

What it took to cancel the last stage

Day 6: (Tuesday)new stage, uphill TT somewhere between 12-7.5k

So today’s stage has been changed, because of all the mudslides, the roads are not safe or clear..but one area is…where we had the prologue….so we’re doing it again. Perfecto for Nobili, not so perfecto for me!

The realities of El Salvador
Today our race IS cancelled….but for a sad reason….many people have died over night due to mudslides and flooding. There is a massive state of emergency here in this country…and it’s not safe for us to be outside…and further more there are more important things for the government to focus on today.

On Martha’s suggestion our riders have all given any extra food/clothing to donate to the red cross for people affected by this storm. It’s a small offering, but genuine!

As I watch the news, and see these homes of stick and mud dissolving into the ground and wash away…I realize that was someone’s home…the place that gives them that same feeling I get when I am “home”…my heart goes out to these people. It seems like Mother Nature has been very active this year w/ hurricanes and tropical storms…again we are reminded we are all powerless, and equally vulnerable to her destruction weather in Louisiana, or San Salvador!

We are now off to shop, do laundry, and pack to return home.

Come Hell or High Water, or BOTH...we race!!

Day 4 (Monday): originally 112k rolling RR, but subject to change…as always

Rockin and Rollin in San Salvador
You WONT believe what we woke up to this morning…..a HUGE flood! I’m not kidding….this trip has been such an adventure. We are currently STUCK in the hotel because the street leading out is a RIVER….not a little one, one w/ rocks bouncing down the road…there is rushing water 3 feet deep…the Olyimpic training center tennis corts are now completely flooded, there is a huge waterfall in the sports complex.

On the street, the people are building retaining walls w/ the rocks rolling down the street…to keep the water out of their homes. Men, women, and children are all helping clear rocks, build walls…and watching this display of natures force unfold.

So, I think our race is cancelled today….but you never know. The weather says that it will continue raining thru Friday.

WE RACE: 65k on a speedway, 20 laps is the course
At 11am, we get word that the race organizers have found a back road that is NOT a river….in which we will take one bus…to get out of the flooded area…then we are going to a Car race track (like Nascar race track). Most riders of all teams are opposed to the idea…it just seems quite dangerous, and hube lengths that the organizers are going to continue w/ racing. Here at the hotel we have very limited access to information…like how safe are we?? What is to continued forcast? Is it safe to be on the roads? There have been several mudslides in the area, is that a concern??

So we load up on the bus, and take this CRAZY drive down this horrible dirt/boulder/sand road….with a caravan of 6-8 vans/trucks w/ all the bikes and staff following….but after 30 min of terror/excitement on the dirt we arrive to a highway…then to the race track.

The race turned out to be quite fun, no crazy hills, nice power climbs. Niki was in a break that when she attacked going into lap 3….soon after Miho Oki (Nobili), and Era Lutz (Ger Nat) joined her…and they stayed away for 10 laps! On the last lap, about 1.5k to the finish Sarah T over shot a slick corner, and went down…causing some disruption in the pack….but Niki held on to a 6th, I came in 7th, Kathleen B 9th, Lynn 12, Starr 13th, Lisa, Jenn were close behind…and luckily Sarah (and Alisha) got same time because the crash happened in the last 3k.


Good ride! Today has been one of the most chaotic days of my life…that flood was UNREAL….then to hear we were taking some dirt road out the back side of the hill, and 45min drive to a car race track…was crazy…and then we had 2 diff buses to take…but we made it, and raced well!!

Teamwork

Day 3 (Sunday): 11k TT rolling

W.O.W . Sarah ROCKED, 3rd!!
Today was a TT, 12k (later shortened to 11k, due to pot hole issues)…an out and back….out—downhill/tailwind, and thus back, uphill/headwind. Sarah Tolitson got 3rd today…smoking great finish!!
I followed w/ a 5th place finish, then Lisa M, Martha W, Starr, KB, Niki, and Jen (Niki and Jen rode easy saving themselves for later!!

I was pleased w/ my race for 95% of it, I missed a turn and had to turn around to get back on course…and my gears jammed shifting from big to small ring….so I know I could have shaved a little time off there…it stung a little extra because I was only 2 sec from 3rd….ain’t that a bitch!

“Individual commitment to a team goal is what makes a team work”: second stage:60k, 12laps 5k rolling circuit
The second stage of the day was a circuit race of 12 laps of 5k ea (yet shortened to 10 due to …not sure, don’t care). Of course, it was pouring rain the entire time. The course was like a big oval..we had a round-about at one end and a guy in the middle of thr road w/ a red flag at the other. The profile had said Dead Flat….well, NO….rolling.

Most embarrassing moment of the entire race:
So there are sprint laps on lap 2, 4, 6…but the are on the opposite side of the road (divided by a median) from the S/F…and as was explained to us, it was in the second lap….well, what happened was we totally lead out Niki and she won BUT it wasn’t a sprint lap..the give away was the bell ringing as she crossed the line….no wonder no one challenged us! I’m sure Nobili was VERY impressed w/ our lead out!

So, as planned I countered a teammates move….and got a small gap on the field. Like so many times before, I just kept going, as Nicole taught me. I knew the field did not want to race hard, the conditions were horrible, the road was full of holes, turtles, cross walks. So after a lonely 1.5 laps, and taking the ACTUAL sprint I was joined by Miho Oki (Nobili), and Larrissa something (Germ nat team)….Miho wouldn’t work due to having the yellow jersey on her team, and being a sprinter…so Larrissa and I worked HARD together…we had 6 laps to go. Because the course was an oval, we could see the pack on several parts of the course….we had between 22sec-1min gap on the field. Then a chase group formed of 3 Nobili, 1 Germ Nat team, and 2 of my teammates (our two highest GC riders). They caught us w/ 1.5 laps to go. We kept the pace high, and tried to sprint at the finish…ending w/ Sarah 5th , me 7th, and Lisa 10th. But the good news was Sarah and Lisa moved up in GC because we had 1min on the field which contained other top GC riders (Alisha, unfortunately lost out).

In the end, we have Sarah in 3rd GC, and I was given the Combativa jersey (most aggressive)….which was cool! I’d also like to acknowledge my team who blocked, and were completely committed to the team goal….today’s success was a combination of all efforts….

the Running of the Bulls

Day 2 (Saturday): originally 108k very hilly….then it became a 60k flat, then last 12-15mi climbing

“Volcano-nada, we race!!”…
Ok, so did I mention CHAOS?? Today we wake up to reports that the Volcano in Santa Anna (which happens to be the finish of today’s course) has Erupcionado (2 people died!)….and the news is all in Spanish. Being the most comfortable w/ Spanish (which isn’t saying much)….the team has me try to translate the breaking news reports. So, I don’t know if any of you have ever paused on Univision during their news reports…but they are a mite SPEEDY, and w/ all the tenchinical words about Volcanos, Government security, scientists monitoring, I was a LITTLE at a loss….the ultimate result was the race was moved to instead of going north, to heading south! It was amazing to see how they were able to create a new route w/in hours, and w/ NO delay in start time! ONLY IN EL SALVADOR!

Running of the bulls
The race was basically ~40mi..the first 25 flat w/ 2 sprints. Our team used the first sprint to figure out the lead out for Niki, our designated sprinter. On the second sprint, we had the biggest, and longest lead out…and she ended up 2nd…which was awesome…everyone helped, it was a great show of teamwork, ESPECIALLY for a composite team on their first mass start race…WOW it was awesome (joke, Wines Of Wash..spells WOW!)

The last 20 mi was all up hill (ok maybe more like 12mi). And it was everyone for themselves! Sarah T ended up 5th, Lisa 15th, Martha 18th, Lynn 20th. Star 21st. me 26th, followed by Niki, Kathleen, and Jen! Overall good day, I was very impressed w/ the teams commitment to the sprints, and cohesiveness!

After the race, it was yet another eventful drive home in out minibus…with the usual 3-4 near death experiences. But we made it home.

At the podium presentation, we found out Niki had won the most aggressive jersey (Combativa, I think they call it)…so that was awesome!! It’s funny she’s probably the most mellow of the entire group…and she’s got the most aggressive award….only in El Salvador!!!

Alisha, is now in 4th…I’m sure she’ll do well in GC, she’s riding so well…she’s a great TT ist, and I hope she makes the podium….I sure know she has what it takes!!

Embrace the Chaos

Day 1: (Friday) Uphill 4k Prologue
Embrace the Chaos:

I arrive about 11am to the Olympic training center of El Salvador…everyone is in the dorms, which look more like a hotel. I meet up w/ the Director and get settled. I am getting my first taste of the level of chaos here. The schedules keep changing (and there are LOTS of them on this team) . Our director says he has only a few things he is picky and one of them is being on time to meetings…yea, I learned this one the hard way….In the first day I managed to be late for a massage, the team meeting, and strategy meeting…..ooops!

The Wines of Washington team I am riding for here is composed of 9 riders, 2 soungiers, 2 mechanics, and 1 director…most of which have NEVER done this kind of thing before, especially in a foreign country….there’s bound to be a little confusion….then factor in trying to keep a tight schedule….hmmmmm this will be interesting!!

Racing begins
The TT was ok….I feel it wasn’t my best performance…but it’s been super crazy in so many ways, I’m not surprised. I hope my fitness will continue to improve throughout this race. Alisha Lion, my Ford-Basis teammate got 3rd (SAAAAWWWEEETTT!), not a bad first podium…UCI race in El Salvador, but I’m sure it won’t be the last! Our WOW team did well….all in the top 25….I was 11th, Sara Tilotson 9th, Lisa Magnus 12th (serious shifting problems, and still rocked), Jennifer Ruither 21st, Niki Waynsguard was so fast I cannot remember her time, Martha Walsh 23rd, Kathleen Billington ( I think) was so small I didn’t see her finish but was listed as 24th, and Starr F was 25th I believe. So we are optimistic about the remaining days!

Meetings begin
First we had a team meeting…after everyone voted for captains (which I have NEVER done before)…but there were 2 captains….it’s funny I was a chosen ( not sure why, I’ve ever been captain of anything except Captain Dipshit)… but even funnier there was a 3 way tie for the other captain…two declined….so our second captain is Jenn Ruither! Which makes a nice duo, she’s very organized w/ details and I’m NOT….

So after the TEAM meeting, we had a STRATEGY meeting, that lasted until 10:30pm…we chose who would go for the 5 different jerseys, and the runner ups for those same spots, then who would chase in the flats, and in the climbs…..damn, we are SO are ready man…..(or so we think)

The begining of my adventure of a lifetime in El Salvador!!

Thursday, day before the race

Travel HELL!!!

After the excitement of buying my non-existent ticket…and barely making my flight to El Salvador (although I had a 5hr layover)….we stopped in Manaua (I’m guessing on how to spell, no surprise) Nicaragua, but there is now a torrential rain storm and we sit for ~1hr15min to wait out the storm. What this means is the person picking me up, leaves to return to the presentations scheduled that evening…so when I finally arrive in San Salvador…I am mobbed by about 20 taxi drivers desperate to ‘help’ me get a ride…thank Jevohova I knew enough Spanish, and have learned to trust my gut to get rid of most of these taxi drivers…. So I called the number I had on my sticky note of the house I was told we were staying. The person who answers tells me no one is there (but the housekeeper and her family)… she tells gets all the info about this taxi company, calls the director, and tells them if anything happens to me…well I don’t really know what she said, but I was a safe she said.

And what do ya know, that torrential down pour in Nicaragua had arrived….it was raining SOOOO hard we could barely drive….and the house I was staying in was at the end of this DIRT road (not in the best shape). It took about 2 hours, three attempts, 7 phone calls….I thought several times that I would have to get out and swim/push the van…but the driver and I laughed a lot, I had great fun w/ my rusty Spanish, ….except driving down the river to the house…finally a 60some year old man comes riding a old Mtn bike down the road to help us navigate….and we arrive at the house.

As we enter the driveway I am overwhelmed at the beauty, and grandiosity of this house. The front yard has this huge bird cage w/ Parrots (like the one on the Fruit Loops box), it’s a huge house. Inside is perfect…every bedroom has 2-3 bunk beds (2 downstairs), a master suite upstairs (w/ hot tub), and upstairs another bedroom. But the back yard was the kicker…a gorgeous blue tile pool, two smaller pools made of tile, a huge porch w/ table, outside bar, stone barbecue…and a little building at the back of the yard all open