Dear So and So

[OakLeaf]

Feel better soon Snap!

[Catrin]

Snap - hope your feeling much better soon!

Dear Doctor,

Why are you always not working when I actually need to call for advice? I think my dog bite wounds are fine, but it would be nice to have some confirmation of that before the big ride I have planned for this PM and my venture into fire road riding with my Jamis tomorrow...

Oh well, hope you and your family have a nice long weekend!

[indysteel]

Dear Mother Nature, I'm really sorry to be taking down these trees. I really hate to do it, but they're damaging our roof and are just way too close to our house. Please forgive me. And please help the men who are taking them down so that they don't fall on them or my house.

[PamNY]

Dear whoever-decided-this:

Did you have to move Dominique Strauss-Kahn a half block from me? Is it not enough that we have dealt with rebuilding the World Trade Center for ten years?

And if it really is true that residents of the luxury hotel where he was originally supposed to go objected to the media, etc -- why is it supposed to be okay with us?

Looking forward to your prompt reply.

[snapdragen]

Thanks for the well wishes ladies. I can already tell the difference, no heartburny feeling! I'm sore where the little incisions were made, 4 in all. If it gets too bad I pop a vicodin and fall asleep.:p

Drugz are good!

[indysteel]

Snappy! In my years here and on RBR, I'm not sure I've ever seen a picture of your face. Your toes, yes, and Chloe of course, but not you! I'm glad you're smiling! Yay for painkillers! Keep on healing! Brian sends his xxx/ooo, too!

[bmccasland]

Meethinks Snap is enjoying the pain killers. Either that or they're making her silly :p

Hope you get to feeling better! And heal quickly.

[Pax]

Snap - Do NOT go out for pizza for a while, it takes a little time to figure out how your body is going to handle the loss of the gall bladder... and it can be REALLY embarrassing until it does. Trust me on this.

[snapdragen]

Snap - Do NOT go out for pizza for a while, it takes a little time to figure out how your body is going to handle the loss of the gall bladder... and it can be REALLY embarrassing until it does. Trust me on this.

:eek::eek:

Thanks for the warning!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

:eek::eek:


Hope you recover quickly and feel better soon. :)

[jessmarimba]

Dear across-the-street neighbors:

The next time you throw a party with speakers aimed at my house all day, I get to pick the music. Running on 6 hours of the Mexican equivalent of the chicken dance is a bit much.

Did you forget that your front yard is only 20x30 feet? And that your daughter is only, what, 7? Did you NEED to hire an MC and a sound system?

Or better yet, just give me advance notice and I'll go out of town for the weekend. Please. I'm begging you.

Sincerely,
Your passive-aggressive neighbor. One of many, I'm sure.

[Owlie]

Dear self:
Stop feeling sorry for yourself and get into some kind of job-hunting gear. Right now. That way you can have money. Money is good. You can buy bikes with it.
Me.

[crazycanuck]

Dear Rain,

Mmk..let's get this straight..YOu will not make an appearance this sunday as forecasted. YOu will not ruin my 6hr...

Shooooooo

[snapdragen]

Shut up laproscopic stitches.

:rolleyes:

[Blueberry]

Dear Self:

Motivation to train. You need to find it.

Yes, it's hot outside, but it's gonna get hotter (it is the south after all). I know you don't like 90+ - but you also don't like to exercise inside. HTFU and get out there - otherwise, it's gonna be a LONG summer and you will accomplish none of your goals - which would SUCK.

--me

[Veronica]

Dear Blueberry,

See tagline. :D

Get out there and do it girl!

Veronica

[salsabike]

Thanks for the well wishes ladies. I can already tell the difference, no heartburny feeling! I'm sore where the little incisions were made, 4 in all. If it gets too bad I pop a vicodin and fall asleep.:p

Drugz are good!

That photo is a total hoot. Seize the day, Snap.

[WindingRoad]

Mkay Snap that picture was LOL funny! :D:D:D

Dear WR,

The boxes will not pack themselves. You MUST get up and do something besides ride your bike and read TE forums in order to actually PACK! Quit checkin' the weather 20x a day to see if you can squeeze in another ride or play with MapMyRide to find another cool route to try. GET OF YER BUTT AND PACK!!!

Respectfully,
WR

[jessmarimba]

Every time I move I think I pack at least 50% of stuff at the last second. Moving is awful.

Snap, your pic cracked me up! Glad that vicodin is workin for ya!

[Catrin]

Mkay Snap that picture was LOL funny! :D:D:D

Dear WR,

The boxes will not pack themselves. You MUST get up and do something besides ride your bike and read TE forums in order to actually PACK! Quit checkin' the weather 20x a day to see if you can squeeze in another ride or play with MapMyRide to find another cool route to try. GET OF YER BUTT AND PACK!!!

Respectfully,
WR

heheheh, sounds familiar ;) Glad to see I am not the only one who does all of that :)

Are you moving to another part of town or back here?

[Owlie]

Dear face--
I know it takes you a couple weeks to adjust to being home and away from Cleveland's hard-on-skin water, but you feel like an oil slick. It's gross and now I'm ending up with spots.

Dear self--
Stop being a lazy bum and 1) change your razor blade so you don't have to keep nicking your knees, and 2) cook things so you can have lunch tomorrow and don't have to order a pizza. (As much as you miss the pizza from this place.)

[emily_in_nc]

Dear weather gods...

High of 95 the next three days in NC? In May? Heat indices in the upper 90s already? Really?

:eek:

[marni]

hi today around here was 93, 90% humidity and winds in the 20-30 mph range. We haven't had any significant, measureable rain around here since January. Welcome summer.

marni

[jobob]

Thanks for the well wishes ladies. I can already tell the difference, no heartburny feeling! I'm sore where the little incisions were made, 4 in all. If it gets too bad I pop a vicodin and fall asleep.:p

Drugz are good!

Aw crud, I shouldn't have made you laugh when I called you from Solvang!!! Bad Jo. :(

[snapdragen]

Ooh. No stitches, just tape. Tape that I appear to be slightly allergic to. Greaaaat.

[jobob]

Oh now, that is special.

[snapdragen]

Oh now, that is special.

http://www.runemasterstudios.com/graemlins/images/2thumbs.gif

http://www.runemasterstudios.com/graemlins/images/2thumbs.gif

http://www.runemasterstudios.com/graemlins/images/2thumbs.gif

[crazycanuck]

Dear Bureau of Meteorology,

You're forgiven :D & we thank you for not forecasting rain for sunday.

Thank you!
WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHARRR!!!!!!!

happy mtn biker :D

[Crankin]

Dear Neighbor with Dog,
I know you see no need to put your dog on a leash when you are standing in your driveway, talking to the DPW workers cleaning up the debris in the street. And wildly yelling "Warning, dog is on the street," or some inane thing when I am going down the hill at 20 when your dog runs out to chase me doesn't help.
At first I thought your dog wasn't going to chase me, but it did. Right when I was starting a little uphill. No way could I beat your dog. I almost rammed the cr*p out of your little darling, but I feared the damage to my bike.
Please, after 3 incidents with us on our bikes and your dog, can you get the message?

[laura*]

Dear motorists:

When the school bus's lights are flashing red, and the little stop sign unfolds from the side of the bus, you are supposed to STOP!

Dear school bus operators:

Perhaps you'd have better compliance by motorists if you stopped in middle of the traffic lane, got rid of the stupid yellow flashing lights, and instead started your red flashing lights a long way before the stop - like school buses did when I was growing up.

Instead you pull so far off the road that two cars could parallel park between the road and your bus, you run the flashing yellow warning lights so long everyone looses interest in watching them, and you switch to the red lights so briefly that each bulb probably blinks on only three times. I bet that the folding stop arm never even stops moving - that it starts retracting the instant it reaches full extension!


(I happened to be out on my bike at just the right time for a rare for me (about once a year) sighting of school buses in action.)

[Owlie]

Dear self--
As pretty as it is, you do not need another jersey--especially one that is green and therefore is not suitable road wear. You also cannot afford another jersey, especially not one that is relatively limited use.
--Me, who doesn't look good in green anyway.
PS--NO, that doesn't mean you can have the blue one instead.

[emily_in_nc]

Dear Neighbor with Dog,
I know you see no need to put your dog on a leash when you are standing in your driveway, talking to the DPW workers cleaning up the debris in the street. And wildly yelling "Warning, dog is on the street," or some inane thing when I am going down the hill at 20 when your dog runs out to chase me doesn't help.
At first I thought your dog wasn't going to chase me, but it did. Right when I was starting a little uphill. No way could I beat your dog. I almost rammed the cr*p out of your little darling, but I feared the damage to my bike.
Please, after 3 incidents with us on our bikes and your dog, can you get the message?

Is there a leash law in your county or town? If so, I'd call and report them. It's not safe for dogs to be running loose anywhere near the road. As you know, I fractured my pelvis when two loose dogs ran out at me in the road in 2005. There was a leash law, so my out-of-pocket expenses were paid by the dog owners' homeowners' insurance. But that was a drop in the bucket compared to the after-effects of the fracture that limits my cycling ability and causes pain to this day. You could also seriously hurt or kill the dog, which would be no walk in the park either.

[snapdragen]

Dear body -- OK, they puffy bloat stuff can go away now. Gall bladder is gone, incisions are healing, now if I could only button my jeans.......:eek:


snap "destined to live in panda pajamas forever" dragen

[Owlie]

More healing and recovery vibes for you, Snap!

Dear university--
Your website is supremely unhelpful. There are no links to ANYTHING I might find useful, and there is no option to forward your mail to something I can actually easily access without jumping through hoops and waiting for your ridiculously slow system to actually do something. There's a reason why my undergrad institution abandoned this years ago...

Dear mother--
No, I'm not going to sell my bike. I'm not sure you get it. It is my major source of stress relief, and I'm going to need that for grad school. If I sell it, I get about $150 for it, max. Yes, it's a tiny bit of a money pit (new saddle, tubes, tires), but it's less a money pit than the car and house you keep insisting that I need. (I'm not there yet. Nowhere near there yet.) Also a heck of a lot cheaper than therapy, alcohol or a gym membership. And a new saddle is a heck of a lot cheaper than treatment for anything I might end up with because I didn't buy a new saddle.
:rolleyes:

[Crankin]

Emily, there is a leash law, but one with no teeth, as they say.
They have been much better about this, but still.
Oh well, am on vacation now, sitting on the terrace of the B and B, looking at the ocean, in between the bougainvilla.
I forgot what that smelled like.

Oh, and I won't be posting in the what did you eat today thread until I get back.

[Biciclista]

Ah, poor Owlie, you want us to talk to your mother?

[marni]

dear Wind Gods,

Please oh please could you let it drop down to below 15-20 mph for just a couple of days. I can deal with the 95 degree heat, especially since the humidity is , for a rare and bizarre change, in the 20-30% range instead of 80-90%, but I am so sick and tired of the wind blowing in my face, no matter which way I ride.

Dear People at the Hospital Lab, doing my preadmission work,

Would it have killed you to check the fax machine more than once in an hour and a half for the orders from the Dr.s office, especially when after the first half hour, I asked if the fax had come in" and again a half hour later? And was told both times that it hadn't come in yet.

I know the Dr.s office is only two floors up and I happen to know that the fax actually came in after 15 minutes after I called upstairs and requested it?

And as for the blood draw- Come on guys, it's a hospital isn't there anyone there who knows how to do a blood draw. 6 stabs and two black and blue arms don't speak well for your supposed !00% rating for patient care. And as for the wait for the chest ex ray, don't even go there. Why does a routine pre-addmittance procedure have to take three hours, in spite of having an appointment? And why do I once again feel like I feel like I've been handled like a piece of meat? Don't tell me "oh the fax just came in" when I know I have been waiting an hour and a half and don't tell me to " lighten up, it will all happen in good time" or ask me where in my sense of humor and where are my manners"

Lets us have you sitting and fretting about lab tests while worrying about whether or not you will make it home in time to get lunch for your 90 year old diabetic resident FIL.

ARGHHHH.

sincerely

[OakLeaf]

((((((((marni))))))))

Has your husband or anyone checked with your FIL's insurance to see if they will pay for home care while you're going through this? I'm so upset that you have to be taking care of everyone except yourself right now ...

[jessmarimba]

I've read articles by doctors who were treated the same way when they were patients, and it wasn't til they were in that situation did they realize that they talked down to people every day, unconsciously believing that being sick/injured/etc makes people dumb. So frustrating.

I cringed when I read about the blood draw!! I can't stand needles, how awful :(

Big hugs to you!!

[snapdragen]

marni - write to the CEO of the hospital. It's very possible the staffers will be spoken to about their attitudes. A friend of mine has a brother who is an oncologist. He said that there's a big push these days to get hospitals to be accountable for patient satisfaction. Basically teaching doctors how to be kind and attentive to their patients. I would bet this holds true for other hospital staff too.

It helped when my dad was in the hospital, and I was dealing with the King of all A$$holes who called himself a doctor.

[bmccasland]

Dear Bicycle Trainer creators and dude at my LBS,

I just have to vent.... NO! It did not go together easily, square peg in a round hole, yeah right. And getting the bike actually up on the trainer, oh that was soooooOoo much fun. I got a work-out just getting my bike on the trainer. Let's see you people pull a new trainer out of the box, find all the parts, put it together, and mount a bike in 15 minutes.

I need a drink. :mad:

[marni]

dear everyone,

thank you for the sympathetic mama bear growls. After a day of thinking about what happened I have decided that no, I am not exagerating the situation and yes I do need to send a rocket to the CEO of the Hospital, with a copy to my GP (who referred me to this doctor and hospital system) and the surgeon herself. Mind you, I don't think that she had anything at all with the situation, I am sure that the forms were actually there and that they just couldn't be bothered to look for them and it all went downhill from there.

as for the surgery issues:

My husband will be taking a week off once I get home, and will be able to go in late for work for the next week as he has masses of vacation to burn, so unless the project he is bidding on for his company suddenly comes through and they decide to send him immediately to Redmond, Ontario ( 75 miles north of Calgary) he will be able to go in later in the morning most days for a while. Which will help a lot. Also, my oldest son and my daughter will be here for the first week as well so Dad will have lots of company and help and once I can drive, I will be able to step up again. He really is quite capable except that he is blind which means he can't read his blood sugar monitor, nor can he fix a sandwich or something for lunch unless I put things out for him, or can act as his eyes. Which shouldn't be that much of an issue.

As far as in home care- Although medicare (dads' only insurance) would probably chip in, I am hesitant to go that route since before he came to live with us he had been living on his own with a caregiver 4 hours a day and had gotten very depressed and mentally shaky in spite of what a wonderful and caring woman she was.

Anyway, thank you for letting me vent-

marni

[Owlie]

Dear BF--
I miss you. You don't need to be in your silly desert! Come back! :(
Me.

Dear Skype or internet connection--
Please stop sucking. It's getting really annoying.

[Reesha]

Dear legs,

I am sorry that you are tired and sore after such a long ride today. But I love the way those rides make you sexy and strong!

[crazycanuck]

Dear Legs,

Thank you again for the good times at de 6hr today :). Weeehar!

[jessmarimba]

Dear everyone who used to own my house:
Did it ever occur to ANY of you that the carpet might be getting a little worn? A little disgusting? There might be lots and lots of things living in it? I mean, 40 y.o. wall-to-wall carpet is clearly not luxurious anymore.

I am experiencing firsthand why none of you ever wanted to be the guy to get rid of it (SO GROSS) but man is it going to be nice when it's gone. But fyi, anchoring the carpet under the pergo flooring (that you installed over hardwood and possibly over carpet as well) was a really stupid idea. Not to mention the room is now about 3 inches shorter. Don't do that again.

[Reesha]

Dear legs (again),

Thank you for recovering so quickly! I enjoyed our 6 mile walk around Forest Park today :D

[emily_in_nc]

Dear neighbor downstairs with motorcycle and race car in garage below us,

I understand that such vehicles require a certain amount of maintenance and "revving", but you have no idea how annoying it is to those of us who have to listen to it drone on and on. Particularly on temperate days when we want to have our windows open.

I haven't noticed anyone else who has a garage in this complex using it as a car/motorcycle maintenance "shop". What luck we have. :(

P.S. I can't wait to move!

[bmccasland]

Dear Klutz, otherwise known as me,
So I know it felt strange getting on the bike without a helmet, I mean it's the first time she's been mounted on a trainer, but we were inside. Get the need helmet thought out of your pretty little head.....

So we get on the bike, and off, adjust the trainer, on and off again, adjust again. So you were worried about kicking the nick-nack glass shelf thing and breaking the glass, but did you need to fall off the bike the other way and nearly crack your skull? Maybe I do need to ride with a helmet all the time.

Fortunately no cracked skull, just a slightly bruised butt that hit the end table on the way down.

Grace, that's me.

[crazycanuck]

Uh oh...

Dear Self...

It's a good idea to remember the exact due date for an assignment...twas yesterday..not today!! Hopefully the tutor will get back to me about handing the stuff in today....

Uh oh...:mad: :eek: :o :eek: oh dear....

uh oh...

[channlluv]

Dear Klutz, otherwise known as me,
...but did you need to fall off the bike the other way and nearly crack your skull? Maybe I do need to ride with a helmet all the time.

Fortunately no cracked skull, just a slightly bruised butt that hit the end table on the way down.

Grace, that's me.

I had that same experience my first time on a trainer. I tilted and came within about four inches of impaling my temple on a guitar stand. Yikes.

I recommend a rubber mat under the trainer, too, to help avoid slippage during your ride. Sort of like a yoga mat for bikes.

Glad you missed banging your head.

Roxy

[lauraelmore1033]

Dear uterus,
you gung-ho little go-getter you, haven't you noticed that we turned 49 this week? And we've had an ablation? And we've been well past childbearing for at least 20 years now (and weren't you just the little over achiever on that front, getting pregnant the first time ever?). Give it a rest, will ya! I'm tired of this 10 days on 20 days off routine. I hate you...

[Catrin]

Eeek Laural, hope you get to feeling better soon.

Dear Hospital Emergency Room,

Thank you for sending me your bill today and kindly telling me you have billed my insurance. Except....what did you DO that was worth $2,300 :eek: :eek: All you did was to wash the dog bite with peroxide, give me a tetanus shot, put on a massive dressing that fell off as soon as I walked outside. Are you aware I have to pay 20% of that bill? Well, good bye any hope of vacation this summer away from home...

Guess I am not used to this kind of sticker shock, I knew it would be expensive but not THIS much! Oh well, your ministrations probably did keep me from an infection that would have likely been nasty - given how long it took for the wound to respond properly - so I guess I really shouldn't complain. Wish I knew who the dog owner was.... sigh.

[Owlie]

Catrin, I cut myself with a bread knife back in March, not terribly deeply. Who knew that flushing it with saline, a tetanus shot (needed it anyway), and the application of medical-grade super glue (which sloughed off after a day--the NP who treated me said she'd put on enough for a week...) costs $1200? I could have sent DBF to Walmart for a tube of normal super glue and done it myself. (And mixed up physiological saline solution...)

[Catrin]

Yikes, that was an expensive cut! I couldn't have cleaned it out myself though - and animal bites should be cleaned properly but still... The actual charges for the supplies was $300 with an "emergency room fee"'of $2,100. I guess it costs that much to walk into the door...

[Biciclista]

wow, THAT is expensive first aid

[snapdragen]

Yep - ER visits are very expensive. My little 2 1/2 hour visit for my gall bladder was about $2600.

[OakLeaf]

And you haven't even got the doctor's bill yet ...

[bmccasland]

I have selective memory loss of my ER bill from the bike wreck last year - but it included x-rays, knee brace, and crutches. Seemed it took a couple of months for my portion of the bill to come.

Shall we compare tomorrow's surgery bill??? :p:rolleyes:

[snapdragen]

I have selective memory loss of my ER bill from the bike wreck last year - but it included x-rays, knee brace, and crutches. Seemed it took a couple of months for my portion of the bill to come.

Shall we compare tomorrow's surgery bill??? :p:rolleyes:

Oooh!! Oooh! Let's compare! Mine was $28,000. Outpatient surgery. :eek:

[tulip]

Oooh!! Oooh! Let's compare! Mine was $28,000. Outpatient surgery. :eek:

Ha! Mine was $12,000 for six hours, including the helicopter ride and the morphine drip.

[Catrin]

I guess I shouldn't complain over my expensive first aid :)

[Becky]

Those urgent care/medical aid places are awesome. Depending on your insurance, they can be waaaaaaaaay cheaper. (And yes, DH and I are both well acquainted with them :o)

[OakLeaf]

Beware though - if the urgent care is affiliated with a hospital (which in a lot of semi-rural areas, that's all there is), they will bill as the ER. I didn't know that, so it cost me $600 for a minor rash last year... (I shouldn't say that, because I do have insurance. That's what someone with no insurance would've paid. :( )

[Catrin]

Those urgent care/medical aid places are awesome. Depending on your insurance, they can be waaaaaaaaay cheaper. (And yes, DH and I are both well acquainted with them :o)

The problem around here is they are few and far between, and some won't take insurance these days...

[Becky]

Beware though - if the urgent care is affiliated with a hospital (which in a lot of semi-rural areas, that's all there is), they will bill as the ER.


The problem around here is they are few and far between, and some won't take insurance these days...

Man, that's a bummer. We are very fortunate where we are.....plenty of them, and even the hospital-affiliated ones take our insurance.

I guess the moral of the story is that every plan is different, and caveat emptor!

[Owlie]

Luckily I'm still on my parents' health insurance, so we only paid $100 of it. (Getting them to see that I'm unemployed and don't have other insurance, however...)

[Pax]

Dear State of Illinois,

Thanks for finally offering us the opportunity to "get legal" after 21 years together with the new civil union law... we'll be at the courthouse tomorrow morning.

Grateful citizen.

[Biciclista]

Dear State of Illinois,

Thanks for finally offering us the opportunity to "get legal" after 21 years together with the new civil union law... we'll be at the courthouse tomorrow morning.

Grateful citizen.

wow!! congrats Pax!!

[snapdragen]

Dear State of Illinois,

Thanks for finally offering us the opportunity to "get legal" after 21 years together with the new civil union law... we'll be at the courthouse tomorrow morning.

Grateful citizen.

Such a long wait, it's not fair. Congratulations Pax. :)

[Owlie]

Dear State of Illinois,

Thanks for finally offering us the opportunity to "get legal" after 21 years together with the new civil union law... we'll be at the courthouse tomorrow morning.

Grateful citizen.

Congratulations, Pax!

[Pax]

Thank you. It's been a long time coming.

[indysteel]

Jumping on the bandwagon to wish you congrats, Pax! I, sadly, live in a state that has far to go in this department. I wish it were otherwise.

[Crankin]

Congratulations!
Let us know about any celebrating you do.

[tulip]

Best Wishes, Pax!

***
Dear Work,
Please be kind with these deadlines. There's sooooo much to do between now and June 21. I'm beginning to enter panic mode, and that's no fun for anyone!

Kindly,
Tulip

[OakLeaf]

Congrats Pax! Been a long time coming for sure .... part way there.

[PamNY]

Congratulations Pax.

[lph]

Wow, congratulations indeed!

[Pax]

It feels SOOOO weird! All these years and now it's going to be official... I don't even speak the language of marriage, a co-worker asked me if I was getting cold feet and I looked at my sandals and replied "no, I'm fine"

[limewave]

Pax-Woohooo! Sending happy thoughts your way right now!

Dear Universe,

I have all my money just about in a heap. Just expecting one free-lance check any day now and then I should have enough. So please, please, please look the other way. Don't blow a head-gasket in my car, start the dryer on fire, or send a tree crashing down on our home. Just this once, I'd really like to blow that money on a new bike for myself instead of spending it on grown-up-y stuff.

Thank you,
Limewave

[snapdragen]

It feels SOOOO weird! All these years and now it's going to be official... I don't even speak the language of marriage, a co-worker asked me if I was getting cold feet and I looked at my sandals and replied "no, I'm fine"

OK -- this is just too cute. :D

[spokewench]

Wonderful News Pax - it is about time!

[redrhodie]

This thread is making me happy today. Congrats, Pax! Hurry and get that bike, Lime! You deserve it.

[limewave]

Sale pending on my Trek Fuel . . . pick up on Saturday. Just need that to pull through and my check to come in the mail. C'mon!!!!!! Hurry-up before something breaks!

[channlluv]

Yay, Pax! Congratulations!

'bout damn time, too. The law. Not you two.

And Lime, there is nothing un-grown-uppy about treating yourself well when you work as hard as you have the last few years. You've earned that bike.

Roxy

[Bethany1]

Dear Honda Dealer,

I don't get why I got charged about 150 bucks today for everything. I thought it was a basic service. What the heck is a pollen filter anyway? Maybe I should have stayed with my boring Hyundai cars instead of a Honda CR-Z Hybrid.

Oh, and now it's making this terrible rickety sound from the back. I really don't want to go back as you are 80 miles away.

Dear Blue Cross/Blue Shield,

Would you please explain why my insurance went up by at least a hundred dollars a month for the same crappy service?

[Owlie]

Dear bike--
Why is it if I want to ride, something goes wrong? Luckily I was able to fix it myself rather than having to take you to the LBS, thereby avoiding more lost riding time and unnecessary expense. You need to behave.
By the way, slicing my finger with the chainring was totally unnecessary. I could just not clean you, you know.

Dear Park Tool Cyclone thing--
I hate you. I like the idea of you, but you are next to impossible for me to operate without creating a mess or pulling the chain off. Every time I've used you, I've ended up with only a mostly clean chain and a work area covered in grime and degreaser. Shape up.

[crazycanuck]

Pax, way cool!!! :) About $*$*%**% time!!!

[Trek420]

It feels SOOOO weird! All these years and now it's going to be official... I don't even speak the language of marriage, a co-worker asked me if I was getting cold feet and I looked at my sandals and replied "no, I'm fine"

Congratulations Pax and Pax Honey!

[channlluv]

Hey, do we get to see wedding pictures? How was the ceremony? Did you or are you going to have a reception to celebrate?

Roxy

[jelee1311]

Congrats! Pax. Dear rain, my friend called me and told me the news said we haven't had more than two days of sun in a row since late September. Enough already, the flood warnings on my weather channel app every day would be kinda funny if it wasn't June. Dear brother in law,next time we all go on vacation please bring your own chef, maid,and nanny. I am none of those things and am not responsible for you or your childrens hungriness,cleanliness,or happiness,especially when I'm on vacation. I love my nieces and nephews but I'm done. No one else should have to clean up your kids projectile vomiting and thanks again for the stomach flu.I know this is an annual family trip but next year I think we are staying home.

[Pax]

Hey, do we get to see wedding pictures? How was the ceremony? Did you or are you going to have a reception to celebrate?

Roxy
The pics in the courtroom didn't come out too well, it was kinda dark in there. But here we are waiting to go in (I'm the tall one :D )

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb217/Deepliquid/P1000066-1-1-1.jpg

And here we are at our "reception" afterward (aka lunch with our closest friend).

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb217/Deepliquid/P1000087-1.jpg

[limewave]

Yay Pax! I love your reception! If I had to do it all over, that's the reception I would have.

Congratulations again!!!!

[badgercat]

Fantastic, Pax! Congrats!

[spokewench]

Great pictures Pax, my kind of reception - lots of Beer!

[Pax]

Thanks everyone, we're still grinning from ear to ear. :D

[indysteel]

Thanks for sharing the photos, Pax! I'm happy that you're happy!

[DebW]

Adding my congrats, Pax.

[Bethany1]

Congrats!


Dear Stray Cat aka "Bubbles",

Had I known you were a fake and in real life we are enemies, I wouldn't have fed you for three weeks, touched you or let you stay in my lap while tinkering with my bike.

However; I will gladly make a truce that if you don't try to eat me when I am visiting your human, I will allow you back on my property and continue have a pretend relationship. I may even feed you some food occasionally now that I know who you are.


Back story: Bubbles is one of those cats that will turn on you for no reason. She was in my lap several years ago and bit my arm with her teeth and drew blood. She did this a couple of times and she was no longer allowed to be with visitors and I haven't seen her for a long time. I didn't even know she was alive. I had wondered if the cat was Bubbles, but she was too friendly with me so I pushed the thought away.

It wasn't until yesterday that her son was out back, saw the cat and verified that she was Bubbles that I fell over in shock and laughter. Talk about feeling betrayed. She's a fake! I guess the good food I was feeding her was enough to have her "like" me.

[Catrin]

Perhaps there was something going on with her a few years ago that made her behave that way? If she had some health issue at the time it may have contributed to it - either that or your food and lap are much better than what she has become used to!

[snapdragen]

There used to be a kitty next door to me with a horrible attitude. I was terrified of Jerri, she'd scratch and bite at will. As she got older, she mellowed, and became quite a nice cat. Maybe some cats are like people, they mellow with age.....

[snapdragen]

Thanks everyone, we're still grinning from ear to ear. :D

As you should be! congrats! :D:D:D

[snapdragen]

Dear Minion,

You need to learn to handle stress, and the job pressure when I am not there. Just because you can't handle it all, is no reason to blame me or the procedures I wrote. They are quite clear, you have run the process in question many times before. Why did you decide this time to post not only the original payment file, but the corrected file too? You know better.

Now I get to spend my first Monday back at work, reversing your screw up.

[Pax]

Snap - I feel your pain, the young guy who works for me freaks out if he gets even slightly stressed... very annoying having to deal with him during those times.

Trek - your employer is unbelievable.

[Owlie]

Great pictures, and I like your reception--low key, and with beer!


Dear bike computer--
You suck. I look at you the wrong way, and you reset and eat all my numbers. At least you didn't eat the odometer numbers this time...
I'll be replacing you with something less prone to interference and more user-friendly when the budget allows...

[OakLeaf]

Dear husband,

I admire your confidence, really I do. It's one of the things I love about you. But. How many more rotted floors, plastic containers under leaks, hours to days without any water, and emergency service fees is it going to take to convince you that you are not a plumber?

[Trek420]

Trek - your employer is unbelievable.

Yes, they are unbelievably wonderful. I love my job and would never complain about it online :)

[channlluv]

[QUOTE=Pax;578954] But here we are waiting to go in (I'm the tall one :D )...
And here we are at our "reception" afterward (aka lunch with our closest friend)...

Brilliant! Congratulations again!

DH and I eloped and got married at the courthouse and had dinner at a schmancy restaurant, just the two of us, so I can relate.

Yay!

Roxy

[Catrin]

The pics in the courtroom didn't come out too well, it was kinda dark in there. But here we are waiting to go in (I'm the tall one :D )

And here we are at our "reception" afterward (aka lunch with our closest friend).


Congratulations, and it is good to "see" you! I love the reception - beer is good for pretty much everything :D

[indysteel]

[QUOTE=Pax;578954] But here we are waiting to go in (I'm the tall one :D )...
And here we are at our "reception" afterward (aka lunch with our closest friend)...

Brilliant! Congratulations again!

DH and I eloped and got married at the courthouse and had dinner at a schmancy restaurant, just the two of us, so I can relate.

Yay!

Roxy

Similar story here. DH and I were married by my oldest friend in the "parlor" of a bed and breakfast. Then the three of us went to a nice dinner, followed by cake and champagne at the bed and breakfast. I lack the "bridal" gene and DH was fully supportive of something simple. I have ZERO regrets about it. I'm pretty sure we've spent the money we saved on bikes!!!

[Crankin]

We had a similar, but slightly bigger wedding with 20 people, including ourselves. We had the rabbi come to our apartment, set up a portable chuppah and do the ceremony. My parents provided champagne and appetizers right after, and then we took everyone (it was almost all our immediate family/siblings) to dinner at a restaurant on the top of the tall (10 story?) bank building in downtown Mesa, AZ. They had a little cake for us there. Afterwards, we all went into the lounge for dancing.
I sort of lack the bride gene, too. We regretted not including our friends, though. We splurged a little more on our kids' Bar Mitzvahs, but nothing outrageous; luncheon at a nice restaurant, DJ, dancing. We had 50 at the first one and 100 at the second.

[Xrayted]

Yay Pax and Mrs Pax!!! :cool::cool::cool::cool::cool::cool::cool::cool::cool::cool::cool::cool::cool::cool::cool:

Kit and I had the opportunity a few years ago to do the same. I happened to have the Friday off during the week they made it legal here in OR. It was originally supposed to start Jan 1 but it got held back for a bit in order to fulfill the required amount of political posturing that was proper and apparently necessary for something as constitutional as civil rights. So, Feb 8th, 2008, we headed over to the courthouse, got our paperwork, found out we needed a notary and... they don't provide those there. We called a friend who's a notary, she was elated that she could do that for us so we were back on track. We headed back to the courthouse just to find out that they don't take CC or ATM cards, only cash. We found an ATM down the street because, of course, they don't provide one of those either. (oh, we had to empty our pockets over and over for the security xray too.) Headed back to the courthouse and were #52 in our county. :D There were a few waiting behind us as well that day. The lady at the desk was very nice the whole time and wished us well. She asked if there was anything else as we were finishing up and I said "What, no rice?" :p


Good luck and I hope you two work out. Personally, I think you should have waited until you got to know one another a little bit better. 8,000 or so dates may not be enough. Just sayin'. :rolleyes::D;)

Love to you both!

~Kit and X

[limewave]

Dear Freelance Job Paycheck,
You were supposed to get here last week. You better be here today.
Please.
Limewave

[Pax]

...

Good luck and I hope you two work out. Personally, I think you should have waited until you got to know one another a little bit better. 8,000 or so dates may not be enough. Just sayin'. :rolleyes::D;)

Love to you both!

~Kit and X
LOL thanks Kit and X!! The state of IL requires 24 hours between license and ceremony, we sat around in the meantime jokingly asking one another "do you think we're rushing into this?". :D:D:D

[indysteel]

Dear Crazy Driver: Do you not understand the concept of red lights? I watched you speed up to two red lights only to then slam on your brakes and stop halfway through the intersection. I tried to steer clear of you the rest of the way into downtown. When I lost sight of you, I thought "good riddance." Imagine my horror, then, when I saw you in my rearview mirror as I was stopped at a red light; coming up behind me, going way too fast and slamming on your brakes. You barely missed rearending me, didn't you?

What the heck is wrong with you? Learn how to drive before you kill someone.

[limewave]

Dear Coworker,

You keep claiming you aren't "competitive." And yet, I just saw you tear up over a Tae Kwan Do testing because your 7 yo DD got a higher score than you. Every week I listen to your complaints about your DD's wobbly kicks and strikes and stances. It just seems so wrong that you are a 40 yo woman competing with a 7 yo, let alone your own child. It's twisted.

Have you considered that your performance is being graded compared to YOUR peers and DD's to her own peers? It seems logical that there would be different expectations for 7 year olds than for adults. To go home and cry, lock yourself in your room, and complain to the Grand Master about having a lower score than your own daughter is wrong. Just wrong.

I don't really know what else to say.
Limewave.

[indysteel]

Eek, Limewave. That is twisted. I feel sorry for her daughter. I can't imagine that situation is going to get better any time soon.

[jessmarimba]

Dear RunKeeper app -

While I appreciate your reminder to continue entering my daily activity, I don't WANT to be taking a break. Nor do I need to set a goal to get back on track. I just need my leg to quit hurting, so thanks for adding insult to injury...

Sincerely,
Grumpy Edgy Jesse who Can't Run

[Pax]

Dang Limewave, that is messed up! :eek:

[Biciclista]

women who compete with their daughters end up with really messed up relations with them. I was the lucky daughter in that case. I'm still working to improve the terrible relationship and she's 80. :(

[Trek420]

Have you considered that your performance is being graded compared to YOUR peers and DD's to her own peers? It seems logical that there would be different expectations for 7 year olds than for adults. To go home and cry, lock yourself in your room, and complain to the Grand Master about having a lower score than your own daughter is wrong. Just wrong.

I don't really know what else to say.
Limewave.

Any teacher worth their belt would be looking at that behavior too. THAT might be part of why her score is low. Yes, TKD is a competitive sport but it's a martial art and you compete to master yourself too.

[Catrin]

Just heard from my insurance company about how much the dog bites is going to cost me....worse than I feared. Sigh....

Going to go ride some of this stress off on my bike. I could almost purchase another bike for what this will cost me, so am VERY glad I already have the mountain bike :cool:

[channlluv]

Any chance of going back and finding that dog owner?

I'm so sorry the bill is so high.

Roxy

[Catrin]

Any chance of going back and finding that dog owner?

I'm so sorry the bill is so high.

Roxy

I wouldn't recognize the man, and at this point it would probably be impossible to prove. This means no vacation this year, or really any trips at all. I am, however, thankful the damage wasn't worse and that I didn't need rabies - the hospital will simply have to work out arrangements with me. I simply don't have the money. Hopefully no more unexpected surprises until this is taken care of.

Anyone want to buy a very special Long Haul Trucker?

[OakLeaf]

Oh, man, Catrin, I'm so sorry it's turned out that way.

Most hospitals these days will accept payments - since they don't have much choice - although I guess it probably depends on whether the hospital you went to was for profit or not. In fact, I was pretty irritated with the bills from my crash, that the hospital's collection department called me within a day or two of my receiving the bills! Their intent (they claimed) was to work out a payment plan, not to harrass ...

[snapdragen]

Catrin - check with the hospital. They should be able to work something out with you, at least the one I work at does.

[jessmarimba]

In fact, I was pretty irritated with the bills from my crash, that the hospital's collection department called me within a day or two of my receiving the bills! Their intent (they claimed) was to work out a payment plan, not to harrass ...

They came up to find me IN MY ROOM and asked for my debit card, maybe the day after surgery. The lady got rather irritated when I wouldn't get out of bed and find it for her (I couldn't even walk at that point! Though I should've tried to get up just so I could've vomited all over her)

But most hospitals will take whatever you can pay at a time, and will just send you invoices with the remaining balance for usually at least 6 months. It takes forever before they'll try to send to collections agency or anything. Don't stress over it...I think I paid maybe $200/month (after I gave them my entire bike savings chunk about a month after I was released).

[limewave]

Just heard from my insurance company about how much the dog bites is going to cost me....worse than I feared. Sigh....

Going to go ride some of this stress off on my bike. I could almost purchase another bike for what this will cost me, so am VERY glad I already have the mountain bike :cool:

I understand. We are STILL paying for DS's unexpected hospital stay last summer. The nice thing is, when I called the hospital to work out a payment plan, they let ME pick the monthly amount (ANY amount I wanted) and there is no interest. There was only a one time fee of $10 to set it up.

[emily_in_nc]

Just heard from my insurance company about how much the dog bites is going to cost me....worse than I feared. Sigh....

Going to go ride some of this stress off on my bike. I could almost purchase another bike for what this will cost me, so am VERY glad I already have the mountain bike :cool:

I'm so sorry...that really sucks that you are having to pay for something that is clearly someone else's total responsibility. Not to mention the pain and scaring (emotional and physical) you're dealing with. :mad: :( :mad: :(

[Owlie]

Catrin, that sucks!

Dear master's program and financial aid system--
Your whole intent is to leave me broke, isn't it? $12,000 a year, not including books and living expenses. I don't have that kind of money. Unfortunately, my parents were far too conscientious about saving money for my education. So it's not like I have no money...meaning I get no financial aid apart from federal loans, and will graduate with a master's degree, no money, no real job prospects, and in debt. (I wonder what would happen if I blew all my savings on a car...)

For my end goals, this is probably the best thing to do. It's not the smart thing to do.

[withm]

Just heard from my insurance company about how much the dog bites is going to cost me....worse than I feared. Sigh....

Going to go ride some of this stress off on my bike. I could almost purchase another bike for what this will cost me, so am VERY glad I already have the mountain bike :cool:

OMG! Is your health insurance really denying your claim for emergency room treatment???? On what grounds? How much money are you going to have to pay for this? I'd call the insurance company and go to a higher-up person to explain the circumstances of the accident and make them re-evaluate the claim.

Then after they pay, I'd negotiate with the provider for any balance due, but they may be convinced to accept whatever the insurance covers. If your insurance is really bailing on you, you need to find a different insurance plan.

Everything is negotiable. Even if you went "out of plan" for your treatment, you can almost always negotiate the bill somewhat, and then work out a payment plan. I wouldn't be selling any bikes just yet - you'll never get back what you paid, and it will cost even more to replace later. You can probably work out a plan to pay the hospital/doctor/radiology etc at $50/month (or less) if you have to.

[indysteel]

Catrin, don't give up hope--and your LHT just yet. The whole situation really sucks, but as others have said, try to get the providers to work with you on lowering the bill and working out a payment plan. Hang in there!

[OakLeaf]

This is a stretch, I know, but what about applying for crime victim's compensation? I'm just browsing the Indiana code. It's a stretch from my reading of the statutes - it's only available for victims of felonies and class A misdemeanors, and dog at large is a class A misdemeanor only if the bite resulted in "serious bodily injury" to you, which seems to mean "extreme pain" or "serious permanent disfigurement." Still, it might be worth putting an application in, or at least talking to an attorney who knows something about it.

[indysteel]

This is a stretch, I know, but what about applying for crime victim's compensation? I'm just browsing the Indiana code. It's a stretch from my reading of the statutes - it's only available for victims of felonies and class A misdemeanors, and dog at large is a class A misdemeanor only if the bite resulted in "serious bodily injury" to you, which seems to mean "extreme pain" or "serious permanent disfigurement." Still, it might be worth putting an application in, or at least talking to an attorney who knows something about it.

Interesting idea, Oak. The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute manages the compensation fund. Here's a link to their website and some additional information:

http://www.in.gov/cji/2348.htm

I would note that "serious bodily injury" is defined by the Indiana Criminal Code as “bodily injury that creates a substantial risk of death or that causes: (1) serious permanent disfigurement; (2) unconsciousness; (3) extreme pain; (4) permanent or protracted loss or impairment of the function of a bodily member or organ; or (5) loss of a fetus.” I'd have to dig around a bit more in the case law to see if the courts have offered any guidance as to what "extreme pain" means.

It seems to me that there's no harm in filing an application for compensation. It seems to me that you don't have anything to lose. If I remember correctly, you did file a report with the police. Did you happen to take any photos of your bites?

[Catrin]

My insurance didn't deny the coverage, I have to pay 20% of the bill and a $500 deductible... It works out to my owing close to 35%, rather than the 20% that I was expecting. Yeah it su*ks but is better than no insurance at all...

My auto insurance won't cover it since no cars were involved at all. I just spoke with them. My next step will be to call my rental insurance company when I get home from work. I agree that I likely wouldn't get enough out of my bike to make it worthwhile - and I put a LOT of money in my LHT to make it rideable for me.

I DID, finally, think to take a picture of the bites a few days to a week after it happened. It wasn't pretty even then...I will follow up on Oakleaf and Indysteelas well. I did, after all, file a police report.

Thanks for the encouragement! I am less depressed today, last nigh I couldn't even sleep because of this. I wish my hoo-haaa would finish healing from the fall so I could ride tonight for the stress relief but will go to my club and toss weights around instead :cool: Perhaps tomorrow night!

[tulip]

Catrin, that sucks!

Dear master's program and financial aid system--
Your whole intent is to leave me broke, isn't it? $12,000 a year, not including books and living expenses. I don't have that kind of money. Unfortunately, my parents were far too conscientious about saving money for my education. So it's not like I have no money...meaning I get no financial aid apart from federal loans, and will graduate with a master's degree, no money, no real job prospects, and in debt. (I wonder what would happen if I blew all my savings on a car...)

For my end goals, this is probably the best thing to do. It's not the smart thing to do.

Owlie, can you go to an in-state school? It's very much worth it to not end up in debt after graduation. In the end, it doesn't so much matter where you went to school as much as it matters what you can do for your employer.

Also, they cannot count your parent's income since you are an independent student (all grad students are considered independent from parents for financial aid purposes. At least that's how it worked when I was a financial aid counselor at a large university).

[tulip]

Catrin, arguing with insurance companies and hospitals is no fun, but it really is worth it. I find that if I put myself in the position of advocating for someone else (i.e., pretend I'm calling for someone else--like it's my job), I can stand up for my "client" (moi) a whole lot better than if it's just little ole me. Might work for you, too.

At the very least, whatever you owe the hospital, you should be able to work out a payment plan that will work with your finances. $100 a month or whatever--better than losing money on your bike, not to mention losing your bike.

[Owlie]

Tulip, this is a state school, and I count as an in-state student. It's not even a big state school. Ohio has expensive public universities compared to some. I looked at California students' outrage over tuition increases and went "Huh? Even with the increase, that's less than OSU's!" (Granted, Ohio is much cheaper than California to live in...)

I'm filing my FAFSA anyway, but the money in question is in my name, not my parents'. (Well, one is joint, which is where it gets weird.) This was not my first choice of plans (thanks, federal grant situation!), so while it may put me in a better place when it comes to PhD admissions--they like academics--the fact of the matter is that in the long run, it's probably not a good idea. And frankly, I'm not even sure at this point that the PhD is worth it. Not enough jobs.

I should have been an engineer. (ha!)

[indysteel]

Owlie, I know you've probably mentioned this in past thread, but what do you intend to study and what's your intended career path?

[Owlie]

Owlie, I know you've probably mentioned this in past thread, but what do you intend to study and what's your intended career path?

Toxicology or pharmacology and toxicology. As for my intended career path, that's all sort of up in the air at the moment. Academia isn't a great option because academic jobs, especially tenure-track ones, are so scarce. Industry...I could go into the food or consumer products (toothpaste, cosmetics) industry, as much as I don't like the idea. Pharmaceuticals, while probably more suited to my interests, isn't in a good place because there's nothing in the pipeline at the moment. And the only other places I can think of that would hire me are the EPA, FDA or NIH, and that's not an option for the next couple years, at the very least.

[tulip]

I have a friend who got her bachelors in toxicology and works in the state medical examiner's office doing forensic toxicology. Paid very well and she loves it. She's been doing to since waaaay before CSI, Bones, and the like. No graduate school needed in her case (but I have no idea about the particulars and job advancement opportunities).

[Becky]

Don't forget state environmental agencies. I can think of at least one that would kill for a toxicologist or two.

[Owlie]

Dear certain part of Dayton, OH--
Wow, you suck. You seem to have one grocery store, no sidewalks (next to a college campus!), the only things to eat come from Wendy's or Taco Hell, and there's no bike shop. Go more than a mile away from campus and there's convenience stores selling live bait? The Starbucks is a mile away from the campus? What sort of place is this? And you mean I have to live there for two years? *cringes*

[bmccasland]

Dear certain part of Dayton, OH--
Wow, you suck. You seem to have one grocery store, no sidewalks (next to a college campus!), the only things to eat come from Wendy's or Taco Hell, and there's no bike shop. Go more than a mile away from campus and there's convenience stores selling live bait? The Starbucks is a mile away from the campus? What sort of place is this? And you mean I have to live there for two years? *cringes*

Owlie - welcome to the real world. And there are more rural places! Or places where they remember 40 years ago (older than you) when the economy was good. I've lived in some of them. Get yourself a stove top Italian espresso pot and you'll survive. Some of the best espresso I ever had was made in one of those pots at my neighbor's house on a fish hatchery, at the end of 9 miles of dirt road, 17 miles from "town". ;)

[Owlie]

Owlie - welcome to the real world. And there are more rural places! Or places where they remember 40 years ago (older than you) when the economy was good. I've lived in some of them. Get yourself a stove top Italian espresso pot and you'll survive. Some of the best espresso I ever had was made in one of those pots at my neighbor's house on a fish hatchery, at the end of 9 miles of dirt road, 17 miles from "town". ;)

Cleveland has spoiled me. And I never thought I'd say that. Everything I needed on a daily basis (bank, mini post office for stamps, small LBS, two grocery store, 3.5 Starbucks and an independent coffeeshop, restaurants galore) within walking distance (~1.5 miles) and everything else (Target, Wal-mart, Whole Foods, yarn shop, more restaurants) was a short bus trip. I hate driving, so this is...culture shock, to say the least.
You'd think there would be more surrounding a university. Unless it's primarily a commuter campus, I have to wonder what the heck the undergrads at this university do for fun. Drink, probably. :rolleyes:

[Catrin]

+1 on the espresso pot or a good french press, or both :)

Sounds like the area around my UT campus (not the main Knoxville campus), it was like stepping back in time a few decades.

[Pax]

Dear certain part of Dayton, OH--
Wow, you suck. You seem to have one grocery store, no sidewalks (next to a college campus!), the only things to eat come from Wendy's or Taco Hell, and there's no bike shop. Go more than a mile away from campus and there's convenience stores selling live bait? The Starbucks is a mile away from the campus? What sort of place is this? And you mean I have to live there for two years? *cringes*

Bet you'll find all of those things by the Base rather than the campus, I imagine Dayton is more focused on the massive AFB than the smaller commuter school.

[Reesha]

Dear midwestern climate system,

I'm ok with it being 98 degrees at night, but still 95 at 10 pm? Come on! When am I supposed to exercise when I have to work so early?!

[Owlie]

Bet you'll find all of those things by the Base rather than the campus, I imagine Dayton is more focused on the massive AFB than the smaller commuter school.

Funny thing is, this school is literally next to the AFB! My sister goes to the other university in Dayton proper, and there's no shortage of stuff (except the grocery store).

[OakLeaf]

WSU? My first husband went there. Probably before you were born. ;)

[jessmarimba]

AHH Owlie I've been there sooooooo many times - I used to rehearse with a music group up in Centerville & we performed at the Nutter Center a couple times a year. I've been to that wendy's at 1 am more times than I can count. (I counted up once - I've spent more time in Dayton/C'ville than any other city that I haven't officially lived in, and more time than a few cities that I have lived in).

I don't know if you can get there by bike, but there's a good barbecue place & a Graeter's ice cream in historic Centerville - cute little town.

[Pax]

Funny thing is, this school is literally next to the AFB! My sister goes to the other university in Dayton proper, and there's no shortage of stuff (except the grocery store).

Huh, maybe they have all that stuff on Base now... my memories are a bit out of date as I haven't lived there since 1966. :p

[Veronica]

Dear Coworkers,

Stop telling me I always get the "good" kids. Three years in a row I've had the "good" kids? Really?! Maybe my students do well because I set expectations and goals for them and hold them accountable. You never hear me say, 'My students can't do that," about anything academic.

It's true, they can't shut up or walk in a straight line, :rolleyes: and I seem to recall you saying that you didn't want several of my students. So are they the "good" kids or not? And why did you want to place some of your discipline problems in my room, if "We're all the same."

Maybe a little self reflection is in order here.

Veronica

[Owlie]

It is indeed WSU! I'm guessing some of the surrounding stuff moved onto the base, or is on the other side of it. There's some stuff, and there's stuff in the suburbs that are closer to Dayton itself, but it looks like it's a really car-centric campus.:( And Young's Dairy isn't that far away. I'll have a car there, so it's not too bad. (My parents are pretty convinced that if I bike on some of those roads, I'll get squished.) Guess I'll have to get used to driving again...and maybe pick up a commuter bike with a rack to keep gas costs down a bit.

I did discover that Dayton has a couple rail trails. They're not all connected, but the park that connects to the big one is about five miles from campus. (And I can go pester my sister via that trail...it actually stops not far from where she'll be living next year. Bwahaha!)
Jess, that's funny! Small world. And Graeter's...tastes of home!

My parents think (and I think they're right) that even if I decide not to go for a PhD, my only realistic choice is to go with this program, especially because I've been unemployed for a year (not for lack of trying, mind you). We've done the math, and it looks like I have just enough savings to pay the two years' tuition, but not necessarily living expenses. My parents have said they'd be willing to help with those if it weren't for their job situation. Just frustrating that my only option seems to be something that will eat all my money and only might get me anywhere. (And where I'll be living isn't ideal. I don't want to deal with undergrads...I didn't like most of my classmates when I was an undergrad. I need a cane and a lawn so that I can tell kids to get off the lawn and wave the cane at them menacingly.)

Dear wasp outside my window--
While according to the laws of quantum physics, there is a very tiny chance that the glass will disappear and you will be able to fly with gay abandon about my room, odds are that the glass will remain intact. Flying into it repeatedly will not get you anywhere. Instead, it'll just give you a headache.

[Catrin]

My renters insurance company has started a claim for me on the dog bite...I still need to talk to the adjuster but I really hope they will be willing to cover my part of the bill :) Crossing all fingers and toes!

Thanks for the encouragement, I was really getting depressed over all of this :rolleyes:

[Crankin]

Veronica, hang tough. You sound exactly like I did. You are doing the right thing. My motto:
This is important
You can do it
I won't give up on you

Funny, I have found this applies in my new career, too. Sometimes people, including kids, just need someone to push them and believe in them.
The way you are being treated brought tears to my eyes, I guess because I can relate so much.

[Veronica]

Thanks Crankin.

I'm just getting so tired of the excuses - from the adults!

I talked about it a bit with my principal today. Apparently, I'm goal oriented and driven and most of my peers aren't. :rolleyes: I've got his kid in my room and he's just thrilled with how much progress the child's made this year. Nearly two grade levels in reading - nothing changed at home, parents weren't doing anything different... my bar is set high. And I don't lower it. I'll help build stairs and ladders to reach it, but it doesn't get lowered. :D

Veronica

[Owlie]

Veronica, I know I always did best with teachers who did place high expectations on their students. So thank you for being one of those teachers. :)

[OakLeaf]

+1. I don't say it often enough. Thank you, V.

[Crankin]

I had the kids of more than one principal. The year one of my teammates was verbally abusing my class in particular when they went to her for math, it got so bad that finally I said to the daughter of the HS principal, (I can still see us sitting on the rug and me saying this through clenched teeth) "tell your father." I now believe that this woman was bipolar, but after the kids filled up 4 pieces of chart paper with complaints about her and the counselor was having to come in to my class daily, I had had it. Fifth graders didn't need that.
How can you be a teacher today and not be goal oriented?
Fourth graders would occasionally cry when they found out they had me for fifth grade, because they realized they would have to work! It became less of an issue when i when to a 6th/7th loop in middle school. I was on the team that had high expectations, but in a kid friendly way. As opposed to the "kill and drill" b*tches who thought I was evil incarnate when I first arrived at the school. Thankfully, by the time I left, they all were gone and everyone was on board. My school was great and I was very lucky to have been there for 8 years.

[ultraviolet]

Dear self,

You're more than fully booked on projects. Absolutely no more until you've freed up at least 25 hours of billable time a week. I mean it. There will be consequences for non-compliance. Don't make me get rid of some of your toys.

Love,
me

[Owlie]

Dear friend, and boyfriend's mom--
I do not really want to hear anything else about Zumba. I'm glad you enjoy it, but I think you both need to find different things to talk about...

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Dear friend, and boyfriend's mom--
I do not really want to hear anything else about Zumba. I'm glad you enjoy it, but I think you both need to find different things to talk about...

LOL! That sounds like me with my contra dancing and beekeeping...I can't seem to shut up about it! :o

[Owlie]

Dear bike--
If it's not one thing with you, it's another. We're going to the shop tomorrow morning, and you're not getting a sticker or a lollipop on the way out. :mad:

[Trek420]

LOL! That sounds like me with my contra dancing and beekeeping...I can't seem to shut up about it! :o

Yeah, but those are interesting, especially bee keeping. :cool: You get to wear the hats with a mask and run around with the smoke thing, and there's honey. It's a skill, you watch the bee's dance, there's tastings ....

Zumba? :rolleyes:

And thanks, V. If you can read and post to TE, thank a teacher. :cool:

[Owlie]

My boyfriend's mom--as much as I love her--has 2.5 topics of conversation, to my knowledge:
-Zumba/her friends from Zumba
-sometimes cycling
-DBF
:rolleyes:
I know she teaches Zumba (as part of her second job), and DBF and his dad tend to monopolize conversations about cycling, but still.

Beekeeping is at least interesting and isn't something most of us know much about.

[divingbiker]

Dear friend, and boyfriend's mom--
I do not really want to hear anything else about Zumba. I'm glad you enjoy it, but I think you both need to find different things to talk about...

Haha. Zumba people do seem to be rather cult-like, don't they?

[indysteel]

At least your BF's parents are active, Owlie. My in-laws' hobby is monitoring the comings and goings of their neighbors from their kitchen window. I can't tell you how absolutely rivoting our conversations--if you want to call them that--about that subject are. During a recent visit to our house, my FIL made a beeline to OUR kitchen window and starting reporting about our next door neighbor. I wanted to scream.

[Becky]

Haha. Zumba people do seem to be rather cult-like, don't they?

To say the least! I tried it twice and, while the actual class was fun, the catty, obsessed women drove me to the brink! :eek:

[Crankin]

I want to tell all of the Zumba people to get outside!
People probably think I talk too much about cycling, although I try to really limit it with my regular friends, and especially at work.

Owlie, your comment made me think of all the characters I knew at my old gym. They do seem cult like, even though they weren't all doing one thing. When I was going into Trader Joe's Monday I saw the one who I was most amazed at. She spent all morning on the treadmill, running at a very high speed. I mean, she ran for at least 2 hours. She spent some time lifting weights, too, but she ran every day, in full make up and she barely sweat. Always with a friend who was walking on the treadmill. She never did any races or ran outside. I actually heard her say she hated being outside. She was still wearing her gym clothes when I saw her in the early afternoon.
I don't know why this person irked me so much, but she definitely has an issue.

[Trek420]

Haha. Zumba people do seem to be rather cult-like, don't they?

And we're not? 3092 posts about wool? ;)

[spokewench]

And we're not? 3092 posts about wool? ;)

Snort! :D

[Eden]

Dear uninsured driver who hit me 2 years ago....

I'm still (perhaps finally?) feeling the effects of stopping very abruptly against your car. I don't know what happened to you - I know you had a court date that was for some reason, not explained to me, canceled. I hope you got a honking *big* ticket - I hope you still remember and are feeling the effects too....

[Biciclista]

Eden, did you have monetary damages? My ds was involved in a fender bender as an uninsured driver and they took his license away (for 3 years) for non-payment for the repairs of the other guy's car..

[Eden]

Since the damage was pretty much entirely to my body, it was up to my insurance company to pursue it (my PIP covered the ER, x-rays etc). I'm not sure how this will work out now..... I'm having problems with my knee/lower leg that my PT thinks is most likely related to the damage inflicted on my ankle in the accident. My auto insurance considers the case to be closed, but my health insurance may be reluctant to pay for it, if there's any mention of a car accident....

[tulip]

I like Zumba. I love to dance and I adore Latin music. What's not to like?
---
Dear Client,
Thank you for your nice email. The preliminary approval for your grant application for $1m is pretty encouraging! It's nice to be recognized for my hard work from time-to-time, and it doesn't always happen. So thanks.

[Biciclista]

Since the damage was pretty much entirely to my body, it was up to my insurance company to pursue it (my PIP covered the ER, x-rays etc). I'm not sure how this will work out now..... I'm having problems with my knee/lower leg that my PT thinks is most likely related to the damage inflicted on my ankle in the accident. My auto insurance considers the case to be closed, but my health insurance may be reluctant to pay for it, if there's any mention of a car accident....

oh have no fear, they will pursue it. Insurance companies are all about the money. That boy(the one who hit you) does not have a license right now, I am fairly certain.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Well anyone who exercises or does any actual physical activity is way more interesting than someone who sits on their butt watching tv all day, right? I have friends who find my contra dancing or fitness walking incredibly boring, go figure! I in turn find gym/exercise classes and yoga boring. We're all different. I assume all of us here find bicycling to be fun though! :p

P.S. Dear woman who was renting the house next door and spent nearly all day every day yakking endlessly on her cell phone out on her deck so I was forced to listen hour after hour while gardening or eating dinner out on my porch.... THANK YOU FOR MOVING AWAY while we were gone on a trip last weekend!!!!!!!!!

http://bbsimg.ngfiles.com/1/5968000/ngbbs42ed8474865c5.gif

In comparison, Old Granny (the owner of the house), her four grandkids visiting for the summer, and her yippy mini schnauzer 'Pepper' are an absolute Godsend to have back again. :)

[Eden]

That's a lot of dancing bananas....

I sure hope the girl (it was a young woman who hit me...) lost her license for a while at least... I'm sketchy on the details - I had other things to pay attention to at the time.... but there was something about just having got the car or her license *back* for reasons were not discussed openly....

[Blueberry]

Eden-

At least in my state, most of that would be public record. Might be worth at least calling the DA's office....

[uforgot]

Dear Coworkers,

Stop telling me I always get the "good" kids. Three years in a row I've had the "good" kids? Really?! Maybe my students do well because I set expectations and goals for them and hold them accountable. You never hear me say, 'My students can't do that," about anything academic.

It's true, they can't shut up or walk in a straight line, :rolleyes: and I seem to recall you saying that you didn't want several of my students. So are they the "good" kids or not? And why did you want to place some of your discipline problems in my room, if "We're all the same."

Maybe a little self reflection is in order here.

Veronica

Oh, do I hear you! And if I don't have any problems with them, it's because they have "matured" since last year.

[tulip]

Dear Neighbors,
Thank you for being so great (and quiet) and not like Veronica's neighbors. I love that you are professional classical musicians and that you practice alot. It's beautiful to hear!
-tulip

[Eden]

When I was in high school, my parents rented to a guy who was an opera singer. He only sang when he thought no one was home, but I was a pretty quiet kid.... so I heard him fairly often during summer break and after school.

[alexis_the_tiny]

Dear Coworkers,

Stop telling me I always get the "good" kids. Three years in a row I've had the "good" kids? Really?! Maybe my students do well because I set expectations and goals for them and hold them accountable. You never hear me say, 'My students can't do that," about anything academic.

It's true, they can't shut up or walk in a straight line, :rolleyes: and I seem to recall you saying that you didn't want several of my students. So are they the "good" kids or not? And why did you want to place some of your discipline problems in my room, if "We're all the same."

Maybe a little self reflection is in order here.

Veronica

Veronica, you're an awesome kind of teacher. I had one in my final year of high school when I was an angry, maladjusted and underachieving teen. She saved my butt and I passed my graduation exams. You guys are the kind of teachers I hope to be one day for my students...:D

[crazycanuck]

Dear sternum or clavicle bone or whatever you're called...

Please stop bothering me! You're supposed to stay in the place you settled and not cause me annoyances..:mad: AGGHHGGH...4yrs have passed since you became part of my life and obviously you're not going away any time soon.

Because of you, i'm not sure about falling at tomorrow's race...:rolleyes:

Also, I shouldn't be limited in the movements I can do...

Annoyed mtn biker....

Anyone have any suggestions???? I'm getting tired of this....:mad:

[lph]

Dear Self,

for G0d's sake remember to replace your rear derailleur cable before it starts falling apart. You forgot last time too, remember? Trying to push it out of that itty bitty tiny hole with 5 strands still intact while the remains of the ones that broke off are randomly curling around being obnoxious is so not a good way to spend an hour. You do not have to wait until everything else is malfunctioning. New cables are just nice to have, you know?

[Owlie]

Dear universe--
Please lay off my mom's side of the family. Grandmother and great aunt both have aspiration pneumonia and it's not looking good in either case. And please be kind to Great Aunt C. The last year and half haven't been kind--she's lost her husband, two brothers-in-law, and is set to lose two sisters sometime soon. Stop. Please. And in both cases, if it has to happen, make it quick.
:(

[indysteel]

(((Owlie))). Sending healing vibes to your grandma and great aunt. I hope they pull through.

[OakLeaf]

(((((((Owlie)))))))) Peace and healing to all of you.

[Catrin]

((((Owlie)))) I just saw this. Sending warm thoughts and prayers for you and your entire family.

[Owlie]

Thanks, everyone. My mom says my grandmother's looking a little better today, though not a lot. No word on great aunt yet. :( Keep those thoughts coming, please.

Update: Auntie Ivy passed away this morning. Please keep her family and Auntie C in your thoughts and prayers. :(

[jessmarimba]

Oh, I'm so sorry :( Definitely in my thoughts.

[bmccasland]

Dear Knee,
YES, we are going back to work. Please stop swelling up like a balloon, I kept you proped up as best I could most of the day. Cooperate dang it! :mad:

[snapdragen]

I'm sorry for your loss Owlie.

[channlluv]

My condolences, too, Owlie. I'm so sorry to hear this news.

Roxy

[OakLeaf]

Oh Owlie, I'm so sorry. :(

[Catrin]

I am sorry for your loss Owlie.

[Owlie]

Thank you, everyone. It means a lot.

There is some good news--Granny's drinking again, though she's having a hard time swallowing (as much a consequence of the dementia and mini-strokes as much as the coughing). Her bloodwork's in pretty good shape too.

[tulip]

There is some good news--Granny's drinking again....

I'm sorry--this made me laugh out loud. I've had a very hard day with a very sick friend, and I needed a laugh. Thank you, even though it's not what you meant. I am sorry for your Granny and your great aunt.

[indysteel]

Owlie, I so sorry about your great aunt but am happy to hear that your grandma is doing better. Hang I there.

[Owlie]

I'm sorry--this made me laugh out loud. I've had a very hard day with a very sick friend, and I needed a laugh. Thank you, even though it's not what you meant. I am sorry for your Granny and your great aunt.

OOPS. :o She did enjoy her port before the dementia set in, though. (And thank you bringing up that memory!)

[crazycanuck]

Dear Pain,

Owiee :( Please go away.. Owwwiee..

unhappy cyclist :(

Dear Upper Body,

I've no idea what i've done to you but we'll find out tomorrow...Hopefully it's not from that fall last week on the trail :(...

Poooooo....

[Catrin]

OOPS. :o She did enjoy her port before the dementia set in, though. (And thank you bringing up that memory!)

I must admit it made me laugh as well :) Hang in there, still sending warm thoughts and prayers for you and your family.


Dear Pain,

Owiee :( Please go away.. Owwwiee..

unhappy cyclist :(

Dear Upper Body,

I've no idea what i've done to you but we'll find out tomorrow...Hopefully it's not from that fall last week on the trail :(...

Poooooo....

I hope you are feeling better today and I hope it wasn't from your trail fall!!

[Sky King]

Thank you, everyone. It means a lot.

There is some good news--Granny's drinking again, though she's having a hard time swallowing (as much a consequence of the dementia and mini-strokes as much as the coughing). Her bloodwork's in pretty good shape too.

You are in my thoughts, & I have to share. My mom passed away in 2007 from mouth cancer. One of the tough things for her was giving up an evening gin and tonic or a gin martini. As she lost her ability to swallow, any liquid went right into her lungs. One of her final attempts at drinking resulted in a major coughing fit and I was giving her hell but now I can look back and smile at her tenacity and desire to keep on keeping on despite what she was going through. So good for Granny! My goal is to hang on to as many pleasures and vices for as long at I can. I wanna be the 80 year old biking across the southern tier

[PamNY]

Thank you, everyone. It means a lot.

There is some good news--Granny's drinking again, though she's having a hard time swallowing (as much a consequence of the dementia and mini-strokes as much as the coughing). Her bloodwork's in pretty good shape too.

(((Owlie and family)))

[ultraviolet]

Dear self,

I hope you've learned your lesson. Paying attention in the kitchen is not optional. No more ER visits for you. Let your heavily-wrapped, useless right hand serve as a reminder to be more aware in the future. Dummy.

Love,
me

[Catrin]

Dear self,

I hope you've learned your lesson. Paying attention in the kitchen is not optional. No more ER visits for you. Let your heavily-wrapped, useless right hand serve as a reminder to be more aware in the future. Dummy.

Love,
me

Eeeek! I hope your healing is swift and will soon fade to a memory. You type pretty good without two hands!

((((Ultraviolet))))

[snapdragen]

Sky King - you reminded me of something my Dad did when he was in the nursing home. He too enjoyed his evening martini, vodka or gin over ice. He'd hold the glass and swirl it. One day, my sister and niece were with him at the SNF, helping him with his lunch. He picked up his glass of milk, held it for a bit, then swirled it like he used to do to his cocktail. Both sister and niece looked at each other...then started laughing. Dad just sat there with this smile on his face.... :):)

[ultraviolet]

Haha! Thanks, Catrin. My typing is sloooow. Especially because it's not only one-handed, it's wrong-handed.

I've already started assembling the mental list of things I won't be able to do for a while. Sadly, riding my bike is one of them. The doctor told me it would probably be a few weeks before I could use any kind of gripping forces with my hand. That's probably the most annoying part of this...well, that and I totally did it to myself by not paying attention.

I grabbed the handle of a hot pan (that I'd just pulled from the oven moments before) and burned most of the palm, three fingers and the thumb of my right hand. Of course at the time, I had my oven mitt tucked under my left arm, where I'd stuck it so I could grab a plate from the cupboard. :o

[crazycanuck]

Dear SElf,

Yes, it will be hard to stay off the bike til next week but you can do it...Do as the physio says & hopefully all will be well by next week :o. Ye don't want to aggravate whatever it is we've done.. Hard for the physio to figure out without allowing yourself rest...:rolleyes:

There are nice beaches to walk along for km's :cool:

[Blueberry]

I grabbed the handle of a hot pan (that I'd just pulled from the oven moments before) and burned most of the palm, three fingers and the thumb of my right hand. Of course at the time, I had my oven mitt tucked under my left arm, where I'd stuck it so I could grab a plate from the cupboard. :o

Ouch!!! I'm so sorry. Hope they got you some good painkillers - burns are rough (says she who sloshed boiling soup on a thumb). Hang in there. Can someone put your bike in a trainer for you??

[OakLeaf]

Oh man ultraviolet, heal up quick.

[Catrin]

YOUCH Ultravoilet, heal up quickly! The closest I've come to that is to brush my hand against the broiler but that was such a small area...Sending healing vibes your way...

[alexis_the_tiny]

Dear Self, I don't know why you ever imagined that just because the absence of the last bombed relationship means you can put off moving away from your parents' house for another half a year. Actually, I don't know why you'd suddenly imagine that a 'normal' relationship would ever develop between the three of you. Now you're gonna suffer for your stupidity. Hit the rental listings and start saving up, genius.

[ultraviolet]

thanks for the well wishes! :)


Can someone put your bike in a trainer for you??

oh, good idea. i can use this time to hang out on my aero-bars. thanks!

now if i could only figure out how to put on a bra. haha! good thing i work from home. :eek:

(yes, i've given up on capital letters for now.)

[Catrin]

....good thing i work from home. :eek:

(yes, i've given up on capital letters for now.)

Yay for working from home! You've just started a new typing trend, who needs capital letters?

:)

[Owlie]

Haha! Thanks, Catrin. My typing is sloooow. Especially because it's not only one-handed, it's wrong-handed.

I've already started assembling the mental list of things I won't be able to do for a while. Sadly, riding my bike is one of them. The doctor told me it would probably be a few weeks before I could use any kind of gripping forces with my hand. That's probably the most annoying part of this...well, that and I totally did it to myself by not paying attention.

I grabbed the handle of a hot pan (that I'd just pulled from the oven moments before) and burned most of the palm, three fingers and the thumb of my right hand. Of course at the time, I had my oven mitt tucked under my left arm, where I'd stuck it so I could grab a plate from the cupboard. :o

OUCH! Heal quickly!

[bmccasland]

Dear Life's Karma,
A little good stuff would be nice for my nephew. And some warm fuzzy comfort. He's had to learn early that people are irresponsible, and their actions can lead to their death. But to then just have a friend die quietly during the night for no apparent reason really sucks. :(

[Reesha]

Dear CAAD 10,

I love you and I want you... maybe not for my cross country ride, but surely for my forthcoming racing debut. CAAD 10, is it ok to want to buy two bikes in on year? Surely this would not be wise, but I'm torn!

love,

Reesh

[Reesha]

Dear Life's Karma,
A little good stuff would be nice for my nephew. And some warm fuzzy comfort. He's had to learn early that people are irresponsible, and their actions can lead to their death. But to then just have a friend die quietly during the night for no apparent reason really sucks. :(

Radiating happy good vibes for your nephew!!!

[Owlie]

Dear weather--
Please make up your mind. Either rain, or don't, and none of this wishy-washy stuff. (And while you're at it, can you cool off for a while and take those thunderstorms out of the forecast for this weekend? I want to be able to ride...) At this rate, I won't be able to get out until Monday or Tuesday, when it will be 90 degrees. WAH!


Dear weather forecast--
GRUMP. I didn't go out because you've been forecasting t-storms all day today. I could have sneaked in a shortish ride this morning before all these clouds and the wind picked up.:mad:

Dear body/brain--
I know there's a lot going on, but I'd appreciate if you'd let me sleep more than 6 hours a night. It's getting wearing.

[Owlie]

Dear self--
Facebook-stalking people is probably a bad idea. This is especially true when you're wondering if a particular person got into a particular PhD program...especially when it was the particular program that you wanted to go to and you didn't get in. Didn't the idea that they may have gotten in occur to you at the time? And didn't you already conclude that if anyone who wasn't from Arizona was getting in, it was her? Did you really have to put yourself through that again? Just stop doing it and move on.

But don't let it discourage you from applying again. She probably won't have any clue who you are.

Dear UA, federal grant situation, and the entire process of applying to PhD programs--
Just one more time: Screw you.

[redrhodie]

Dear Squirrel,

Did you really have to stop right there, in the middle of the road, at the bottom of the hill? I knew whichever direction I decided to swerve to avoid you, you'd go that way too. So instead of running you over while you sat there, transfixed on my quickly approaching wheel, I hit the brakes and lost all momentum for getting up the next hill.

I think you thought it was funny. I'm sure the people who were walking by thought I was nuts for yelling at you. I'm glad you lived to make it up the next tree, but next time, I may just take my chances at getting by you. You've been warned.

[Crankin]

Red, my DH had a squirrel snap his fork in half in a collision about 10 years ago.
It's probably a good thing you slowed down.

[redrhodie]

Red, my DH had a squirrel snap his fork in half in a collision about 10 years ago.
It's probably a good thing you slowed down.

Really?! From hitting it, or trying to avoid it? I'd actually never not slow down for one. I'm all talk. ;)

[Catrin]

I seem to have figured out a tone of voice that gets their attention - they either freeze in place or run the other direction. So far...

[Owlie]

I was this far away from a chipmunk on my last ride. I usually yell at them ("SQUIRREL!" in the tone of the dogs from Up works well), but this one popped up about ten inches away from my wheel. Luckily it thought better of crossing the trail in front of me.

[Roadtrip]

I was this far away from a chipmunk on my last ride. I usually yell at them ("SQUIRREL!" in the tone of the dogs from Up works well), but this one popped up about ten inches away from my wheel. Luckily it thought better of crossing the trail in front of me.

Lol. This. I can't get this out of my head now. Thank you. Thank you very much :rolleyes:

[jessmarimba]

Dear whoever is blowing stuff up tonight:

After listening to stuff explode for the last hour, I know where you are. And I also know that ALL fireworks (even sparklers) are illegal in Denver. But most importantly - I now have the fireworks tattle-tale number for the police programmed INTO MY SPEED DIAL.

The last straw was the one you set off at 11 last night that made it sound like my house was collapsing.

Be warned,
Your exhausted neighbor

[Crankin]

Red, it was from hitting it, going down a hill at about 40 mph. Luckily, one half of the fork stayed attached and he was able to stop the bike. He was on a lunch time ride and someone, who was a cyclist, stopped and gave him a ride back to the office. When he took the bike to the LBS where the Trek dealer looked at it, they didn't believe him, either, until they saw the squirrel fur and blood on the bike.
However, Trek did not pay for a new fork, but DH did try, since it was a new bike.

[OakLeaf]

Remember that old riding skills video that used to have a little animated picture of a squirrel that popped up, with the "ding" of a bell, when the video depicted squirrelly riding behavior?

[Eden]

A big hurrah to my teammate and PT who figured out and just about fixed my knee problem in *1* visit.... d@mn she's good

[indysteel]

Dear rain gods: Please stop raining long enough for the MTB trails to dry out. I thought the weather forecast was stressful as a roadie. Now that I'm trying to learn how to MTB, too, the forecast has become even more frustrating. Not only does it ideally need to be dry the day of a scheduled ride, it needs to be relatively dry before the ride, too. Stop being such a jerk this year. We've had more than enough rain. Everything in moderation, okay?

[Becky]

Agreed, Indy! I've MTBed only three times so far this year, and one of those times, it really was too wet to ride :o A totally depressing lack of miles....I might have to start being a roadie again just to get some saddle time :eek:;)

Dear former boss: When I said that I'd come put stuff together for you that one day, I really did mean just one day. Stop hounding me to be on some kind of schedule....I'll come in when it's raining or I'm injured ;)

[Blueberry]

Dear Rain Gods: Please send the excess here. we need it - and would love to have the fires put out so we can stop smelling smoke.

[Catrin]

Agreed Indy! I would also like to practice my tight turning drills on grass and not pavement, and it would be best if it were actually grass and not mud :cool: I need to do SOMETHING this weekend, even if I can't make it to Pine Loop, before my body starts forgetting what we learned at the clinic...

[indysteel]

Agreed Indy! I would also like to practice my tight turning drills on grass and not pavement, and it would be best if it were actually grass and not mud :cool: I need to do SOMETHING this weekend, even if I can't make it to Pine Loop, before my body starts forgetting what we learned at the clinic...

My understanding from reading HMBA's trail condition thread is that Pine Loop often takes longer to dry than the other trails. :( I read a post recently that said something about giving it "a few" dry days. Well, we're not going to have a few dry days for a while.

[Catrin]

My understanding from reading HMBA's trail condition thread is that Pine Loop often takes longer to dry than the other trails. :( I read a post recently that said something about giving it "a few" dry days. Well, we're not going to have a few dry days for a while.

Yes, I remember that now - I guess it is because the grade is more gentle than the other trails so it takes longer to dry...

There IS Limekiln, another beginner trail. I've hiked it and there is a bit in the middle that is more challenging, and there is certainly more elevation change on the trail. I don't know if you would feel comfortable with it - it is a good bit longer than Pine and there are no shortcuts out that I am aware of.

Personally I want to be able to ride Pine with a bit more confidence before branching out to Limekiln - especially with the odds of my riding solo. Nothing wrong with walking uncomfortable bits, but I think some tight turning drills will be helpful. I've had several women offer to ride with me but I suspect scheduling is going to be difficult...but hopefully something will work out.

Of course the HMBA site is showing none of their trails in the state rideable at this time :(

[Owlie]

Eden--Your knee is happier now? Yay!

While we're on the subject of weather:
Dear weather--Could you somehow arrange to not rain until after about 12:30 tomorrow so I can get a ride in? Thanks.

[indysteel]

Yes, I remember that now - I guess it is because the grade is more gentle than the other trails so it takes longer to dry...

There IS Limekiln, another beginner trail. I've hiked it and there is a bit in the middle that is more challenging, and there is certainly more elevation change on the trail. I don't know if you would feel comfortable with it - it is a good bit longer than Pine and there are no shortcuts out that I am aware of.

Personally I want to be able to ride Pine with a bit more confidence before branching out to Limekiln - especially with the odds of my riding solo. Nothing wrong with walking uncomfortable bits, but I think some tight turning drills will be helpful. I've had several women offer to ride with me but I suspect scheduling is going to be difficult...but hopefully something will work out.

Of course the HMBA site is showing none of their trails in the state rideable at this time :(

I watched a youtube video of somebody riding Limekiln. I think I can try it if I keep my speed down. With my brakes repositioned, I'm hopeful I'll be able to do that.

I'd offer to ride PL with you, but as I texted you after the clinic, I think we each need to ride with more experienced people for the time being. Someday, though. :) I have great hope for us both.

[Catrin]

I watched a youtube video of somebody riding Limekiln. I think I can try it if I keep my speed down. With my brakes repositioned, I'm hopeful I'll be able to do that.

I'd offer to ride PL with you, but as I texted you after the clinic, I think we each need to ride with more experienced people for the time being. Someday, though. :) I have great hope for us both.

I agree entirely - I don't think the mountain bike trail is the best place for two newbies to ride together without more experienced folks about - one of these days though :)

If Pine doesn't dry out soon then I will try a portion of Limekiln alone, just not the middle bit nor the steep end. No shame in walking portions of it until it I am more comfortable. I hope to get some practice in Friday, tomorrow night I need a GOOD road ride to get some exercise. Have had a couple of bad days and eaten things I shouldn't have :o

[marni]

dear weather gods,

thank you for the lovely 2' of rain we got today, and for the first measureable rain since early January, and for letting it fall before the entire state catches fire. Too bad that all the farmers have lost their crops and it's probably too late for a lot of the trees and it is only 1/10th of what we nedd to bring us anywhere back close to normal soil moisture, but thank you for making it a slow steady rain for most of the storm.

Now if you could just do something about the continual 90% humidity and 20 +mph gusting to 35 mph winds, I would be a happy girl.

[crazycanuck]

Dear bikes & swim stuff,

I'm sorry i'm unable to share in the fun at the moment. It's not pleasant when bones rub against your thorax & am not about to cause more annoyances.

Yes, I know it's annoying and i too am sad. Hopefully my dr will refer me to someone who can help with this.

*sniff* Poo..

Sad cyclist.

Dear Legs,

Thank you for having fun doing the long beach walks in the soft sand whilst we're off the bike.

[Owlie]

Dear Powers that Be:
Why am I not good enough to be able to do the things I want to do? Could you elaborate so that I may improve? The depressed and anxious patch I'm going through right now, thanks to you, is not helping me sleep.

[Catrin]

{{{Owlie}}}

Dear Weather,

I've not been able to head out on my bike since Sunday. Stress is starting to take a toll and I really need to ride. Please hold off on the rain until after I can get at least 20-25 miles tonight. I would appreciate it if I don't have to sprint in front of the storm back to my car 10 minutes after starting like Tuesday night. I know my request is minor considering how many are dealing with fire, floods, and drought but I really need to ride. Can you please give everyone a break and move our rain to parched and fiery places?

Thank you

[bmccasland]

Dear person who contacted the local PD about a pending terrorist plot,

THANK YOU! I really appreciate that my office didn't get blow up / shot up. :eek:
And in a real twist of irony, while the news crews were present to film an interview with our commander about the non-incident, we were having our annual picnic. Go figure. The plot was foiled, life goes on, and let's party. :D

(all suspects are innocent until proven guilty, but it sounds like these guys were given enough rope to hang themselves)

[snapdragen]

Yikes Beth!!

[Catrin]

Dear person who contacted the local PD about a pending terrorist plot,

THANK YOU! I really appreciate that my office didn't get blow up / shot up. :eek:
And in a real twist of irony, while the news crews were present to film an interview with our commander about the non-incident, we were having our annual picnic. Go figure. The plot was foiled, life goes on, and let's party. :D

(all suspects are innocent until proven guilty, but it sounds like these guys were given enough rope to hang themselves)

Oh my! I am glad that nothing bad happened and you were even able to continue with the picnic!

[bmccasland]

Can I have a stiff drink now? It is my birthday... Now that it's over, it's tough to see the story on the local news.

[salsabike]

Jesus, Beth. That was your office. Holy ****. Have ANOTHER drink. And I don't even drink very much.