Thread Drift

[Lise]

Fish! Good to hear from you! Sorry the inlaws are being strange. Or, perhaps, normal for themselves. Put it out of your mind. You are a professional. I know you didn't get that doctorate without being able to concentrate. We're all rooting for you and will be eagerly awaiting your interview report! :D L.

[KnottedYet]

Cran-Razz Clif Bloks!

that's my tri food/long ride food: Clif Lemonade and Clif Cran-Razz Bloks.

(also very good for when the tummy is upset)

[Lise]

I'm still working on the 21 bottles of Gatorade Endurance I got for free back in June. I like the orange pretty well. I even made a tray of orange Gatorade ice cubes so I can keep it cold in the bottle without watering it down. Sometimes I add a little salt to it. Tasty. I'll try the Clif stuff when I run out of Gatorade.

[DrBee]

Thanks Lise! I did treat myself to a room service dinner. It was really good! Shrimp and corn bisque. Chocolate mouse (2 layer) pie thing. Steak. Yummm! I'm ironing now.

Ya know - I can concentrate. And hey - no pressure on me now. If I screw up tomorrow and somehow blow the chance of getting this job, Mr. Fish won't be bummed. He's so mad at his parents right now, he said he'd have left and brought the himself and the kids to BR to stay with me. I have the car, so that wasn't possible. And yes - wierd is normal.Ugh! Okay - concentrate, right? Ironing - I can do that. ... I might be doing a late visit to the 24 hour gym in the hotel.

[SadieKate]

SK, . . . I was wondering about your MS. Is the exercise something that holds it at bay, or minimizes symptoms?As with everyone, exercise is just critical to good health and better health helps you when you do have a flare. Who knows, it may keep some symptoms at bay simply because I'm in good health. MS medical advice really pushes getting exercise. I have known for a long, long time that exercise has greatly improved my allergy symptoms (which were almost disabling in college) and reduces the number of colds and sinus infections. Since MS doesn't do well with even small amounts of stress, keeping these things under control is important. My one and only flare was probably caused by an overload of lots of little stressors (including a minor case of the flu) that most of us wouldn't even notice too much. I certainly didn't until I got a wake up call last winter.

[snapdragen]

I gave up Gatorade for Clif Shot electrolyte Lemonade.

Mmmmm, Clif!

I was going to ask if anyone had tried the Lemonade! So it's good? Does it taste like real lemonade?

[snapdragen]

Going through my snail mail. I got a catalog from Chico's. They have nice clothes, but....they are aiming for the 40+ group, correct? Now, a huge number of us 40+ women are either perimenopausal or menopausal. So.....why are most of the clothes in Chico's long sleeved, layered, or turtle necked?:eek: Makes me warm looking at them.:D :o

[winddance]

My mother hates Chico's with the passion of a thousand firey suns. However, I still don't think this is quite as much as my friend's mother, who has stated that she'd rather run around naked than wear anything that Chico's thinks is appropriate for her age. Now that you've pointed out that everything is long sleeved and turtlenecked, that makes much more sense!

[Lise]

Also, they seem to put decorations in the oddest places. I generally like my clothing pretty free of embroidery, gee-gaws, etc.

[KnottedYet]

Snap-

The lemonade was too strong for me if I followed the directions. With it a bit watered down, it's a mild lemon. Just slightly salty. Very thirst quenching, but I drink more of it than I do of plain water. (I'm not good at drinking enough, so Clif really helps)

REI has single-serving packets of the various flavors.

I tried the red flavor (razz? Cranberry?), and didn't like it much. The lemon tasted good to me, so I never tried anything else after that. I've heard the apple cider flavor is yummy. (I'm content with the lemon)

And love those Cran-Razz Bloks!

[salsabike]

So many vultures here - they will apparently throw up in self defense. They also pee on their feet to clean them.

Huh. May have to try to cultivate these as new adaptive skills.

Nanci, come visit us in WA sometime and we'll take you on the wineries tours. And postponing an enema, either mine or someone else's, would certainly cheer me up a little. How IS Maizey?

CC, try a look at the panda cam: http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/GiantPandas/default.cfm?cam=LP2

Fish, your spouse sounds like a good guy. Re the interview--I try to actually have fun/enjoy job interviews by remembering why I love what I do and trying to tell them about that. It seems to make the interviews go better. You love your field, so you'll do well.

How funny--I've never liked Chico's but have never quite been able to figure out why not. I have friends who are forever going there, but I've never seen one thing I wanted there.

I AM going to try a Vitesse when I get back home. Flew back to Albany tonight after spending the weekend at home in Seattle--back to mom hospital duty tomorrow (she's doing OK, long way to go before out of danger, but a little better). I had a hell of a time remembering which way I was going on the flights today--flying cross-country on Friday and again on Monday is challenging my orientation threshold. Sheesh. (nice tandem ride on Sunday, though. And at the Sat. AM meeting, we got the contractor to agree that we would dock his profit margin if he missed deadlines, so we are continuing the project, since we know he does good work. They got busy right early this morning).

I am getting a kick out of hearing Lise and KN basking in their tri-ness.

[Kitsune06]

Okay. Because I can't get any of my 'real' errands done (call places re: my resume/applications, arrange **** with my car insurance company, and (god forbid) actual work) at work given the hours I'm here, I'm taking it upon myself to read all 200+ pages of Thread Drift.

Day 1: Got thru page 86, granted all distractions.
Day 2. at 22:00, I've managed p. 118, but I'm going to keep going, hopefully to the 130s at least.

What I've learned thus far:
I've learned enough about the forum and its participants that it's really no joke that to have the ability to post in TD you should probably read it all first, lest you wander into something and make an *** of yourself. Further, enough can be learned about the participants' personalities in general that what may seem an inside joke is just a... uh... quirk in someone's personality.
Things I can ACTUALLY itemize from these pages of weird:
1. Wine, Herpetology, Lise's dates and Eagles somehow make up about 75% of the first 80ish pages.
2. From page 96, "All we ask is that you don't poop on the floor." Dooly noted.
3. Lise's dates ARE all-important, and don't anyone tell me how things are with "Mr. Potential". I keep looking for those posts to follow the story.
4. DPITA is more a more well-deserved name from some than others (from the early part of TD, maybe not as relevant now...)
5. "Coke alert!" = Don iSkinz before reading!
6. Port goes with chocolate, but Chocolate goes with everything
7. Knotted's (in)famous ab/butt pic is on pg 135, and yes, she does have nice abs, but I'm willing to go on a limb and say that I think those jeans make her butt look great, too. :D

[Trek420]

we need TE TD TOC :p

[Kitsune06]

You know, Trek, you've got something there... 'ang on... lemme finish and I'll see if I can assemble something, if it was a serious consideration... Not like I have much but time on my hands whilst I'm at work. :rolleyes:

*grumbles* Organization. It's what I do. I don't know why. I'm an artsy fartsy neohippy, not a **** librarian/secretary/administrative type! :eek:
(no offense to artsy fartsy neohippies or **** librarian/secretary/administrative types!)

[Trek420]

no offense taken ;) :p

[Bruno28]

*grumbles* Organization. It's what I do. I don't know why. I'm an artsy fartsy neohippy, not a **** librarian/secretary/administrative type! :eek:
(no offense to artsy fartsy neohippies or **** librarian/secretary/administrative types!)

I know what you mean kitsun. I somehow ended up being an accountant :eek: - but, as I tell people, 'I'm not an accountant in my soul'.:D (Then they look at me strangely and wander off muttering....)

[Kitsune06]

OK- I've finally gotten up thru the 160's which is where I started last week to attempt to 'catch up' on the 'recent' stuff.
Reflections:
Levi 501's are very nice jeans. I'm still looking for a pair to replace the ones I thoroughly destroyed working in the garage.
Nopale salad sounds FANTASTIC (And I'm droooling)
The Downing St. pic is equally fantastic (still drooling)
the minimalist donorcyclist helmets are what I've heard called "brain buckets" and lots of folks around here have them. ...Aaand I think that sums it up.
...oh... aaaand humming birds are awesome, AND I love oriels but haven't seen one in years.
BTW, I do all the logically-minded stuff for work b/c I do it well, and can 'turn off' while I do it. Writing, drawing, and painting are too intense for me and need to be done while I'm inspired. forcing 'em doesn't work, so they'll never be a decent profession. That said, thank God for the Oregon Country Fair, where all us 'eccentric' people can be free once a year.

[DebW]

Just in case anyone has been loosing sleep over this issue, it's a mast year in New England after (I believe) two years without. The wildlife should be very happy this fall. Of course, I will need a hard hat to walk out in my yard due to the rain of acorns.

[salsabike]

I still remember getting bonked damn hard on the head when I was little--not by acorns but by horsechestnuts in the shell. Like getting your scalp whacked by a needled meat tenderizer tool. But as you say, the wildlife will be thrilled. Do you actually see them more during a mast year because they're out there scarfing the acorns?

[Veronica]

I nabbed her this morning. She's one that I can touch if she is hungry enough. She had two kittens in April, who have already been neutered. I grabbed her by the scruff of her neck and Thom readied the trap - so she will go to the vet this morning.

V.

[DebW]

I still remember getting bonked damn hard on the head when I was little--not by acorns but by horsechestnuts in the shell. Like getting your scalp whacked by a needled meat tenderizer tool. But as you say, the wildlife will be thrilled. Do you actually see them more during a mast year because they're out there scarfing the acorns?

You see wildlife less during a mast year because they have plenty of food to eat in the forest and aren't scrounging around near homes/farm fields/bird feeders.

[Lise]

I nabbed her this morning. She's one that I can touch if she is hungry enough. She had two kittens in April, who have already been neutered. I grabbed her by the scruff of her neck and Thom readied the trap - so she will go to the vet this morning.

V.
YAY! Good for you, V and Thom. I love hearing that. I wish someone would go to Jamaica and neuter the feral cats and dogs there. It's pitiful.

Cracks me up that Kitsune's actually reading the whole thing. Yep, you will get to know the regular poster pretty well. And you can learn a lot about wine, if you're so inclined! Maybe we need an Index to TD Events.

I slept in today, after getting up at 5 am and taking some Tylenol. Not vit. I, because I didn't want to be up long enough to eat enough to tolerate the Motrin. Then I slept really well. Nothing like taking away the pain of sore muscles. I'm going to eat some eggs and tortillas, and head out for a ride on the new saddle. I've promised myself ice cream, so we'll see what good shop I discover! :D

[mimitabby]

I nabbed her this morning. She's one that I can touch if she is hungry enough. She had two kittens in April, who have already been neutered. I grabbed her by the scruff of her neck and Thom readied the trap - so she will go to the vet this morning.

V.

Hey, Veronica, i'm a crazy cat lady too!
http://www.stupid.com/stat/CCLF.html

We are so pro active here, we take free kittens from people and have them neutered and put them up for adoption..

I have 2 former ferals myself and foster kittens on and off all year. and my mother just adopted a former feral kitten herself after i took her to the
shelter and had her "try out" every kitten they had ! :)

[maillotpois]

Lise, Nanci and all who have tried the Terry Zero X - I USE THE Y!! The men's version of the zero. Narrower. Seems to be what some of your issues are with the saddle.

Worth a shot.

Lise - glad about the echo. I go for a follow up echo in a couple weeks. They're doing it as a stress echo. I do not see HOW I am going to be running on a treadmill while they rub that goo-ed up ultrasound thingy on my boob...?

[chickwhorips]

fish good luck with the interview. i know you'll do great.

lise have you tried the terry damselfly? i just got it and so far i love it. it seems pretty small to me, but i don't have much else to go on. all my other saddles were much bigger than this one. just a thought.

everyone else: have a great day! :D

[Nanci]

MP- the width of the seat of the Y is too narrow- it's similar to the Blackwell Flow that was too narrow for me. I like the nose of the saddle to be long and narrow, and the seat to be about 152-154 mm. The Blackwell was only a couple mm less- but it made a huge difference. My issues with the Zero is firmness- it's just a titch more firm than the Vitesse- but I'm putting some miles on it to see what happens.

V- you're lucky you didn't get clawed. Congratulations!

Lise, some friends of mine adopted a homeless dog from Akumal, Mexico. There are some people in third world countries working to help- but they can't even make a dent in the problem.

Salsa and Snap- Maizey gets another try Sunday night. I seriously don't know what I'm going to do this time...She appears to be behaving normally otherwise- cruising around her viv(arium), coming out from her hide when I call her. I don't know if I should try a different kind of live food, or a different presentation- like in her viv? But she isn't supposed to eat in there because she's on aspen shavings, and if she were to eat the aspen shavings (like the snake that just ate the electric blanket by accident a few weeks ago) that would be harmful to her...But what if she has some aversion to her feeding container, though I don't know why she would after eating happily in it for a year...She only gets offerred food every week or two weeks, or she could develop a refusal habit. Oh wait, isn't that what she already seems to have???

I think instead of riding next Saturday, I may watch the A riders do a time trial. Or I might ride my bike up to where that is going on.

Lise, I think we used up all our free Endurance Gatorade coupons, finally. I am into lemonade regular Gatorade if I can't find the yellow Endurance when I'm out riding.

Lise, I have this, without the bottle, so it's up against my handlebars

http://tinyurl.com/pst8p

but they also make one you can put a bottle in

http://tinyurl.com/r3x7e

since I can't mount a bottle in there really well because of how my aerobars are- they are wide right there. I use the smaller one for my key, phone and camera- stuff I don't want to jostle in the Bento Box, that can, if rain is expected, go in a ziplock and just sit there. I have my Sport Beans and Sharkies and a bar and my tin of electrolytes in the Bento.

[Lise]

Nanci, that little box for the aerobars is brilliant. I've bookmarked it, and will be getting it with the next paycheck! Thanks so much.

I rode 23 miles, ate a pbj and soft serve ice cream (mixed v/c) and am so tired I can barely stay awake! Going to nap. xo, L.

[SadieKate]

How many people think Lise is actually going to go nap? :p

[chickwhorips]

nanci how long has it been now since maizey has had her last meal? you've done nothing different since she last ate (relocated her)? is she shedding ok?

[mimitabby]

hey chickwhorips, my cats are shedding just fine! and they are eating a lot too!

:D

[Lise]

How many people think Lise is actually going to go nap? :p
I did though! I slept like a rock for two hours. I'll admit, anyone from TD has reason to be skeptical when I say I'm going to sleep. But I didn't nap after the tri, I didn't nap yesterday, and after riding 23 miles today, I was nearly nodding off in the saddle. Slept fine last night, and slept just fine now! :D Feel like I could sleep another 8 hours, but that's what tonight is for. Got some stuff to do between now and then. See y'all later!

Thinking of Dr. Fishinator who is, no doubt, blowing them away in Beelandia, LA. :D Eagerly awaiting that report.

[chickwhorips]

hey chickwhorips, my cats are shedding just fine! and they are eating a lot too!

:D

thanks for the update! glad they are. any hairballs lately? oh speaking of those. don't know if you cat owners know this trick but a friend thats a vet tech told me that if you put some vaseline on their nose, hold them till they lick it off, it will prevent hairballs. who knew?!

my dogs are gobbling away just fine. i have to take food away from them so they don't gorge themselves. thankfully they have stopped shedding so much. give it another couple of weeks and they'll be getting their winter coat in. i never knew one dog could shead so much!

[SadieKate]

I did though! I slept like a rock for two hours. So that's why this thread wasn't 2 pages longer when I got back from the dentist.:D

Hairballs - only one of the reasons I don't have cats. Ewwwwwwwww.:eek:

[mimitabby]

So that's why this thread wasn't 2 pages longer when I got back from the dentist.:D

Hairballs - only one of the reasons I don't have cats. Ewwwwwwwww.:eek:

Sadie Kate, would you believe me if i told you my cats NEVER EVER had hairballs?
:D :D

(the tooth fairy leaves them!) :eek:

[maillotpois]

We shouldn't have a cat because his level of contempt for us is really appalling.

[chickwhorips]

mimi i think you need a new tooth fairy.

[mimitabby]

the original one gave me dimes; hairballs aren't worth much less.
(but the dimes WERE made out of silver!)
(now I am dating myself) I was just pretending to brag like they do in other forums so i chose my cats as the most innocuous and idiotic way to do it.
I should refrain from humor because i am usually so far out that most people just think i am too far out.

lol :D

[chickwhorips]

WHOA! far out man.... :cool:

[Nanci]

My Tooth Fairy gave me dimes, too.

Maizey last ate right after she last shed- but, if memory serves me right, she only ate one of her normal two. Five weeks? Nothing has changed. Loser snake! She's crawling all over right now...

[Nanci]

A hummingbird (plain green) just flew up, hovered two feet away from my face, said "cheep cheep cheep" and flew away over the roof!!!

I'm like, "Dillbird, did you see that?" but he was all snuggled down in his sleeping bag, having been in trouble for escaping earlier...

[mimitabby]

is Dillbird a snake too?

my cats are a bit alarmed because i just pulled a buddliea with a 5" diameter trunk out of my front yard.
I will put a fig tree there instead. I can eat figs.

[Kitsune06]

My cats didn't really have hairballs per se, but Jack would insist on bathing Tsuki to great excess... i.e. until there were little clumps of black and yellow fur here, there, and everywhere on the white carpet.
What sweeties. :rolleyes:
oh, and they had worms once.

The rats are "interesting" though I'm not sure I understand the whole "my litterbox works great as a litterbox, but also doubles as a bed and TRIPLES as a safe place to hide my food!" mentality. At least I can turn 'em loose in my garden to hunt down the beetles/grubs/etc etc... They haven't bothered the little garden snakes that live on either end of the garden in my tomato bushes yet, and I suspect there's little risk of them doing so, since the thumb-sized neon green tree frog from this morning terrified Gebo to the point of hiding under my nasturtiums.

[winddance]

One of my cats gets hairballs. The other only gets hairballs when she's been grooming the other cat. :P

When orange kitty has trouble, my vet suggested that I give him some olive oil to get things moving. Apparently, they are supposed to like it, but this particular cat doesn't like anything that doesn't come in kibble form (which he then picks up with his paw, knocks it out of the dish, and tries to bring it up to his mouth with his paw, gets frustrated, and then finally eats it like a normal cat. Repeat. And they wonder why he's skinny...)

[Veronica]

My cat gets a daily dose of whipped cream. Actually she probably gets three or four. :D She's 17. It doesn't make her puke and she eats more real food after the whipped cream. It's almost like it's an appetizer for her.

V.

[betagirl]

Not to change the subject because I'm really enjoying this hairball discussion :D

But my marvelous health insurance, Aetna, just denied me coverage of a medication I've been on for oh, 2 years. They covered it last month. I guess they want to take August off? The stuff is uber expensive so I can't just go buy it.

WTF? I cannot know WTF unfortunately until they get their arses into the office tomorrow at 6am Pacific time.

I can't wait to hear the reason.....and their timing is impeccable as always.

[SadieKate]

Betagirl, have you looked on their website to see if they publish a formulary or some kind of approved list?

[maillotpois]

Do they perhaps want you to get it from a different source? When I had to have the lovenox shots, my HMO covered one series and then put its foot down and said I had to go to some mail order place to get it instead of my Safeway pharmacy. The shots ran over $1000 per week (which actually isn't much compared to some of my friends' cancer drugs, but more than I feel okay about paying per week - though if you're looking at "Hmmm $1000 or my health?" you start doing a lot of growling.). Anyway, maybe there's a different way of getting the stuff?

[betagirl]

It's in their formulary, though I'm using it for off label use. It's still in trials for crohn's.

I'm guessing they may want me to go mail order. I'm hoping that's it. But Walgreens said something about a letter/forms that my doc needs to fill out. I went through all this crap 2 years ago to get coverage. It was such a fight then. I'm under a new policy now, so some bean counter must have figured this out and can't cross reference my old company policy. God forbid the computer system is that sophisticated :D I have their PPO. I'm just frustrated because I've had so many fights with insurance over the past 4 years. I thought it was all hashed out. Apparently not.

[mimitabby]

My cat gets a daily dose of whipped cream. Actually she probably gets three or four. :D She's 17. It doesn't make her puke and she eats more real food after the whipped cream. It's almost like it's an appetizer for her.

V.
oh seriously!! I never thought of whipped cream for my geriatric cat.

Kitsune, do rats eat slugs and snails too? Because if they do, i'll get one!
I like useful pets. I had chickens until just recently (that bird flu thing scared me)

Prescription drugs.... getting dangerously close to one of my biggest rants;
how the government the drug companies and the f#$@#$ AARP ganged up on us and made it impossible for americans to get good prices on their medications.
I hate that!! it infuriates me; just one more symptom of how seriously disturbed our society is...

[winddance]

I just can't believe how much perscription drugs cost. Did they at least give you notice, betagirl, or did you find out when you went to the pharmacy?

[Kitsune06]

They can be picky... I've seen them play with snails, but not sure if they care to put that much work into it. Slugs are a 'no' but if you need to get rid of either of those, I'd actually suggest a duck.

multi-purpose pets are great. (like the duck who ate slugs and snails, and the cats who would hunt around the house if they weren't so busy getting cuddled) Depending on your space, you could always keep chickens for garden de-lousing and fertilizer, eggs and... um... chicken. =) Goats are pretty awesome for milk, lawn-mowing and fertilizer, too. =D

[mimitabby]

They never gave ME notice when they changed their rules on us.
one day you go to the drugstore and everything is different. and as you respond with dismay; everyone looks like you like YOU'RE stupid... and you find out that whatever it is now costs 3x as much... or worse.

[mimitabby]

They can be picky... I've seen them play with snails, but not sure if they care to put that much work into it. Slugs are a 'no' but if you need to get rid of either of those, I'd actually suggest a duck.

multi-purpose pets are great. (like the duck who ate slugs and snails, and the cats who would hunt around the house if they weren't so busy getting cuddled) Depending on your space, you could always keep chickens for garden de-lousing and fertilizer, eggs and... um... chicken. =) Goats are pretty awesome for milk, lawn-mowing and fertilizer, too. =D

we dont really have facilities for ducks and duck poop. It doesn't seem fair to have a duck without water for it to play in and that's something I reallydon't want to clean up. We actually live in the Seattle city limits, so I don't think goats would work either; but I love goats.

I don't think we have lice in our garden!!! ick ick ick!

Tell your rats those snails are escargot! I bet they will eat them then!
So, how do you keep your rats from running away; burrowing down a mole hole, what?

[betagirl]

Nope, just tried to fill it. How nice :D

[Lise]

Oh, man, beta, that SUCKS. I hope it's speedily resolved tomorrow.

Nanci, how did Dillbird "escape"? Isn't he the one-legged-and-that-leg-doesn't-work-so-well lame pigeon? Rascal!

Hairballs. Fact of life. The first time Ariel had one, I thought she was seizing. Imagine my surprise. :rolleyes: I used to give them some vaseline like flavored stuff, but it didn't seem to make any difference. They just get them sometimes. I'm going to try the whipped cream. If they like it, that would be a nice treat for them.

Could somebody please send me a money order for $3,000, so I can get everything I want out of the Title 9 catelog?!? I think what I really want is the (fictional?) lives of their models. Well, yes, and the clothes, and shoes, and purses...:p

[betagirl]

Daily Show and Colbert Report are especially hilarious tonight. The Comedy Central Gods must have known I needed some laughs. :D

[Lise]

The cats loved the whipped cream! I think Isaac gobbled most of it, pushing Ariel out of the way. Tomorrow I'll give them each their own little plate. Thanks for the tip. I wouldn't have thought of it. Who knows why I have a can of whipped cream in the fridge. Last Christmas? Best not to ask. It seemed OK. Of course I had some too! :D

[Kitsune06]

Mimi- *I'm* always the one who hunts out the mouse holes in the garden... well, me and the 3+ feral cats who prowl about at night, invisible to all, but their pawprints are all over my filthy car...:rolleyes: The rats are watched pretty carefully (not too hard, they're black and white and darned-near squirrel-sized in a pretty small raised-bed garden) and actually come running back to 'momma' to show whatever nifty crawly thing they've found. They're like kids. Filthy, sorta smelly, naked-tailed kids. ...ok, not like kids.;)
'delousing' is just a generic term we've come up with for 'bug eating'- I'd freak if we *did* have actual lice in the garden!

Beta- that's so lame. I hope it's just a matter of screwy paperwork "Another form to sign" and nothing more. The medical system is so screwed up. I couldn't believe the time we went to the pharmacist (at the last minute, like usual) for insulin only to be told that the 'experimental' form of Humalog wasn't covered. WTF?!:eek:
Best of luck, let us know how it works out

[crazycanuck]

happy happy joy joy...happy happy joy joy

:D :) :D :)

Not one but TWO packages arrived for me today...:)

Lise's package arrived I have enough cliff blocks & lara bars to last me until christmas or january at least...I could even have a cocoa mole tasting party & make everyone fat!! *evil laugh*

My 1st SS from NJ sent me a whole bunch of cool stuff!!! Luna bars(oh dear...choc peppermint stick,cookies n cream delight, toasted nuts n cranberry, PEANUT BUTTER COOKIE!!! and Chai tea) funky socks (match my Canadian jersey but no shorts do), 4 mini crystal light on the go sachets and a yummmy recipie...

Now I shall await my AV jersey...Hope it comes before the 6hr..?

Came home tonight & ready to go for a ride...ian has my fancy light on his ride with the gang...I wanted to use the old light but we have no tape to put it on my helmet...arghtghgh...I do have another light but the rechargeable batter has just about bit the dust and have no idea how long it will last..

Speaking of the 6hr..our team name is Thunderbunnies on wheels-we plan on sticking wererabbits to our helmets..Yep we're nuts...

Our friends have name thier team-thunderbunny killers...:eek:

Pet ducks...i don't understand duck...Quaaaaack or quack
WHat does a sad duck look like?

Off to think about becoming a cycle courier...anyone know much about it?

c

[Nanci]

I thought there were all kinds of rules about what foods you could and could not send to Australia...Like fruit and flowers and nuts??

Dill escaped by popping out of his Swiss Army Pigeon Carrier Bag

http://home.alltel.net/nlevake/Dillbird/dill7.htm (See Dill in his army bed)

and floundering across the patio and out into the grass while I was taking the torts in for the night.

I got my July SS package two days ago. It was really cool, and had lots of stuff!! I'm still working on August-

[Nanci]

Mimi, my box turtle Fagalo eats slugs- 20-30 at a time. I have to catch them for him, though. I'm sure he would eat snails. Well, baby snails. He also loves those giant flying roaches, and anything else like that. Nightcrawlers. Pillbugs.

[margo49]

[QUOTE=Nanci]I thought there were all kinds of rules about what foods you could and could not send to Australia...Like fruit and flowers and nuts??



No that is New Zealand.
Very picky kiwi's you know - don't take any chances.
I had a lavender sachet that I sent to Mum *returned* to me in Israel at their expense. Mum was offered the options of having it irradiated or returned. Imagine *that* in your pillow and the dreams you would get!

[crazycanuck]

Nanci, I love your website!! Way cool.

All i know is Lara bars must be ok for Australian quarantine and Inspections service because they weren't removed.

I think perhaps i should tell people on the board if they're sending food items to anyone in Aust/NZ- to put a full detailed description of the bar contents in the box provided on the customs declaration. I believe Quarantine will open most food packages anyways?

If the package were a threat I would have received a nice letter stating the items have been confiscated & a warning?
I might just email quarantine and ask the nice folks for more info...:D

One more thing-As margo said, NZ customs is ruthless & if you ever are unsure about the item you want to send..email the dept...

Let's just say that nz customs has been known to radiate porches because of unkown bugs etc....Not a dept you want to be on the bad side of...

c

[Nanci]

My website is _so_ out-dated, though...And there isn't enough room for anything!!

So, if I sent a Cane Toad to NZ, I'd probably be in trouble?

[crazycanuck]

Ummm if you sent a cane toad to NZ :eek: :eek: ...I can imagine the panic!!!

The person you sent it to would probably receive a nice message from MAF (NZ ministry of agriculture & fisheries...ruthless folks!!!!)...perhaps a $60k fine or jail term-if they knowingly imported the thing...Let's just say i don;t even want to go down that garden path...

I don't have a clue about making a website..what do you have to do to change it?

c

[DirtDiva]

Just a tad. :eek:

Confectionary and other processed, pre-packaged stuff tends to be alright, but raw foods are a big no-no. If you fly into NZ and forget you have an apple or whatever in your backpack it's an instant fine of the order of NZ$200 for a first time offender (so to speak). They're not the least bit interested that it was just an innocent mistake. (They do at least provide special bins to toss that kind of stuff in before you get to customs.)

[crazycanuck]

Dirtdiva,

Are you back in the UK or in NZ visiting? How is/was your trip? I missed you dear...so nice to see you again.

MAF is pretty ******** serious about the fine...some famous model was fined the $200 and couldn't get out of it...haha freak!

This reminds me of the show on tv here "Border Security"...interesting what folks try to do at customs....

:)

c

[DrBee]

is Dillbird a snake too?

my cats are a bit alarmed because i just pulled a buddliea with a 5" diameter trunk out of my front yard.
I will put a fig tree there instead. I can eat figs.

Just don't cut the fig tree once you plant it - especially with a chainsaw! :eek:

[DrBee]

Okay - here's the interview report. Da da da daaaaaaa...... It went great!!!!!!!

Long breakfast with 3 of the scientists (search committee members) and a french bakery. Ah, real food. Then came the seminar. I kicked butt on my seminar - got a great response! Then lunch (with 4 comm. members now) at a Thai restaurant - yummmmm. Again - ah, real food. Then a tour of the facilities. Then the formal interview (with a panel of 5) felt a bit like my orals when qualifying for Ph.D. candidacy, but I nailed the questions - for 1 1/2 hours. They told me I answered some of them exactly how they would have. Then I met with the rest of the scientists in the Unit and then home. They told me they are bringing in 2 other candidates this week to make sure everything is equitable.My feeling is that I should get it, based on comments that were made. And, to top it all off - I liked the facilities and the people were great! They think of their technicians as colleagues, not employees - which is very different from where I am now and is a much better way to work! They indicated they would like to have me there as soon as possible - like October! I should hear something official next week! So ... uh... it looks good!

Now - I go to work. This should be an interesting day.

[Nanci]

So that means you got the job????????????????

Were the questions specifically about bees??

[Brina]

Goats are pretty awesome for milk, lawn-mowing and fertilizer, too. =D


considering what Whole Foods charges for goat milk ($6.99 per half gallon) it is sounding very tempting to just invest in one.

[betagirl]

So I hopefully got my stupid insurance hashed out. I have to do the med mail order. I sent in the script, so we'll see. I'm skeptically optimistic.

[betagirl]

considering what Whole Foods charges for goat milk ($6.99 per half gallon) it is sounding very tempting to just invest in one.

Is anything cheap at whole foods? Whenever I go there I walk out with 1 bag and $50 poorer :D

[Brina]

good luck, beta

fish, sounds like an awesome interview.

[mimitabby]

Mimi, my box turtle Fagalo eats slugs- 20-30 at a time. I have to catch them for him, though. I'm sure he would eat snails. Well, baby snails. He also loves those giant flying roaches, and anything else like that. Nightcrawlers. Pillbugs.
omigod! Why don't we have boxturtles? we have a plethora of snails,sllugs
and pillbugs!! you would not believe the pillbugs we have here!!
(i have no idea what they are eating)


Nanci, thanks for the link to your website. Your pigeon stories are great!

[mimitabby]

Mimi- *I'm* always the one who hunts out the mouse holes in the garden... well, me and the 3+ feral cats who prowl about at night, invisible to all, but their pawprints are all over my filthy car...:rolleyes: The rats are watched pretty carefully (not too hard, they're black and white and darned-near squirrel-sized in a pretty small raised-bed garden) and actually come running back to 'momma' to show whatever nifty crawly thing they've found. They're like kids. Filthy, sorta smelly, naked-tailed kids. ...ok, not like kids.;)

My kids are sorta smelly and they both have front tails... uh.. :o
Sounds like they are like MY kids... mine are slobs too, are rats slobs?

actually, it sounds like i might enjoy having a rat for a pet.. I think my husband would blow a gasket. when we got married, he told me he didn't like animals (non human) in the house.
my response was, love me, love my cats... and he came around. but i don't think i could
sneak in a rat..

[KnottedYet]

My mom goes to another city (eh-hem) to get her meds. The pharmasist usually apologizes to her that they are so expensive since she isn't a citizen (eh-hem, I mean resident) of that "city". But even paying full price for what the residents of that city get for free, it's still cheaper than her copay for them in her home city. And it's the exact same stuff, made in the same place.

[mimitabby]

My mom goes to that same city; KnottedYet! what a co-in-kidink!

[snapdragen]

Is anything cheap at whole foods? Whenever I go there I walk out with 1 bag and $50 poorer :D

That's why it's called Whole Paycheck......

I stopped shopping there after ending up with rotten fruit 3 different times.

[betagirl]

Heh, unfortunately those cities are too far for me to get to easily :)

I thought the whole premise of mail order was to get 3 month supplies so you can get a discount. Because this stuff is $1500 a box, they can only do 1 month's supply at a time. So there's no volume discount. I think they're just trying to increase the PITA factor to try to discourage its use personally.

[SadieKate]

Beta, have you called and asked for the speciality pharma department? Those of us with chronic diseases that need high dollar meds are frequently put into a special pharma program where you even get a single person point of contact. I get 3 mos of my MS injection via mail order for the same copay as the others but get handled through a different unit.

Is the total cost to you less even if you get only one mos at a time thrugh mail order? Usually, it is.

Another idea is to call the drug manufacturer itself. They frequently will have a website and a program specific to the disease and can help you find your way through the insurance programs.

Just some ideas.

[Trek420]

mimitabby "omigod! Why don't we have boxturtles? we have a plethora of snails,sllugs and pillbugs!! you would not believe the pillbugs we have here!!
(i have no idea what they are eating)"

maybe we can send the slugs to nanci?

[mimitabby]

mimitabby "omigod! Why don't we have boxturtles? we have a plethora of snails,sllugs and pillbugs!! you would not believe the pillbugs we have here!!
(i have no idea what they are eating)"

maybe we can send the slugs to nanci?
every now and then i go on a binge, go collecting snails and slugs. then..
the bad part. what do i do with them? It is too revolting to even think about what i have to do. Sometimes i just put them in the trash can... but they can get out!! eyeuck!!

[chickwhorips]

mimi don't worry about the bird flu, we're on top of that one out here. finished testing swans last month, this month we start steller's eiders (endangered sea ducks) and pintails next month. we have your safety in mind here.

nanci i love the army bed. very cute.

i get my Rx through the mail (no choice there, its how insurance covers it and no pharmacys here) much cheaper for me. i like it. have no problems.

fish great job on kicking some a$$ in the interview! go you!

[mimitabby]

mimi don't worry about the bird flu, we're on top of that one out here. finished testing swans last month, this month we start steller's eiders (endangered sea ducks) and pintails next month. we have your safety in mind here.

nanci i love the army bed. very cute.

i get my Rx through the mail (no choice there, its how insurance covers it and no pharmacys here) much cheaper for me. i like it. have no problems.

fish great job on kicking some a$$ in the interview! go you!
well, if the eiderducks and pintails are safe, maybe I will get some more hens.
Chickens are great pets.

[DebW]

Anyone know how to keep a pet slug, what to feed it, etc? I've been thinking seriously about giving my friend a pet slug. When we were backpacking 2 years ago, every time we would stop, she would start a conversation with the slugs. I accidentally almost stepped on one she'd had a long convo with, and she wouldn't let me forget it. She's not usually that wacky, but it was her first time away from her son for 4 days. When her wife heard about the slugs, she knew how much her partner missed their child.

[chickwhorips]

here's a websight for you deb about slugs as pets (http://velvetdragon.com/cyberslugs/realslugs.html).

[maillotpois]

Yay on the interview Fish!! Hope you hear good news soon....

[Nanci]

I've had snails as pets- they ate plain old iceberg lettuce. I'll never forget the first time I saw them doing it, and then laying eggs in the soil of a plant that was in their tank. I was so excited waiting for the babies to hatch!! They came fom my sister who lived in Berkely at the time. I started out with nine, but ended up with a million...

I bet slugs are similar...

[mimitabby]

Nanci
send me your address. I will mail you snails AND slugs. as many as you want.
You can compare the species, have races, think of the fun!!

they like lettuce, tomatoes, bacon, roses, zucchini, why, they love EVERYTHING
in my garden!

[chickwhorips]

oh oh slug and snail races. can we place bets?

[betagirl]

You know what are tasty? Grape tomatoes. I grew some this year. mmmmmmm.

[Nanci]

I used to work at a place where we did x-rays on a lot of medical examiner (dead) patients. We'd have maggot races- you put them in the center of a floor tile, and whoever gets out first wins!

[DrBee]

Ewwwwwwww Nanci. That's gross! I'm eating lunch. I should know better by now, shouldn't I?

I do not officially have the job yet. However, I was told I would get a call next week requesting an equipment list of what the person who gets the job would need. Uhh - that's pretty positive, don't ya tink?

Nanci - most of the science questions were about molecular biology and my transitioning from catfish to bees and work I would do once I was there. There were some questions about interacting with bee keepers and such and talking to them about mol. biol. Those were tough!

Thanks for the congrats ladies! Now - I wait until next week to get the official call. Hopefully things do not get slowed down too much.

OK - now to catch up on TD and the rest of TE. Yikes!

[DebW]

Nanci - most of the science questions were about molecular biology and my transitioning from catfish to bees and work I would do once I was there. There were some questions about interacting with bee keepers and such and talking to them about mol. biol. Those were tough!


FishDr, congrats on the good interview. Is this a state or fed job? Is the funding long term, or on a proposal/contract basis? It's the proposal writing, waiting 1 year for an answer, waiting another 1/2 year for money that's really discouraging in my field. I work for a private firm under NASA contracts and the future is always uncertain.

[snapdragen]

Anyone know how to keep a pet slug, what to feed it, etc?

How about a slug you don't have to feed? SLUGS! (http://slugstore.ucsc.edu/ePOS/this_category=31&store=721&item_number=i251&form=shared3/gm/detail.html&design=721)

[DrBee]

DebW - it's a Federal job. I'm already a fed, so it's a lateral move to a much better location. All of our funds are appropriated by Congress. We have no grant pressure. One of the benefits of working for the gov't.

Snap - did you hear anything yet about your job?

[chickwhorips]

i thought it was cool you could adopt a cyber slug (http://velvetdragon.com/cyberslugs/).

i think your slug is cute too snap.

[snapdragen]

Nothing yet fishdr. I'm getting frustrated, I called in "sick" today.

[KnottedYet]

Whoa! Cosmic flat tire!

I was just fondling my bike and telling her what a good job she did on the Danskin, and I saw that she has a FLAT TIRE (front). I've not gotten a flat tire on this bike yet, and the last time I rode it was in the tri! So, that's when I must've punctured! EEEEP! But she held together until safely home, what a babe of a commutermobile. (I gave her a hug and a kiss)

Now I'll get to practice changing tubes, and see if I can find the slow leak and patch this tube.

I feel butch already...:D

Narcissistic moment du jour: got a pic of me exiting the swim (mom took it). I look HOT in a wetsuit! (we won't talk about swimsuits.... just wetsuits. neoprene is my friend.)

[DebW]

Whoa! Cosmic flat tire!

I was just fondling my bike and telling her what a good job she did on the Danskin, and I saw that she has a FLAT TIRE (front). I've not gotten a flat tire on this bike yet, and the last time I rode it was in the tri! So, that's when I must've punctured! EEEEP! But she held together until safely home, what a babe of a commutermobile. (I gave her a hug and a kiss)

Now I'll get to practice changing tubes, and see if I can find the slow leak and patch this tube.


Should we ask what parts of the bike you hugged and kissed?

Take a careful look for something (glass, sharp rock) still in the tire. Often slow leaks happen because the thing that punctured the tube is still there blocking the hole.

[Veronica]

Hmmm... homemade, right out of the oven chocolate chip cookies...

Life is good.

V.

[chickwhorips]

Hmmm... homemade, right out of the oven chocolate chip cookies...

Life is good.

V.

aren't you evil. http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/tsmileys2/16.gif

[betagirl]

Maybe it's the fever, but I'm watching Animal House for the 108th time and am laughing my arse off.

Some of those cookies would be good right about now.....

[chickwhorips]

beta i hope you feel better soon.

[betagirl]

Thanks CWR. I used it as an excuse to sit around all day, read TE, and watch movies. Meds are on their way from the mail-order med fairies.

I didn't, however, think to bake cookies. Mmmmm. goo.

[chickwhorips]

i still have some chocolate chip cookie dough in my freezer from when i made cookies a while back and didn't make all of them.... maybe i should stick them in the oven. hmmm.....

[DebW]

Why is it that I can't eat peanutbutter without rubbing some into my clothes? I had apple and pb for afternoon snack. The best idea ever was to drop off a 28 oz jar of pb at work 4 weeks ago, but now it is almost gone. I haven't driven to work since last Tuesday, so my work clothes aren't real fresh any more. But when I bike, the choice is between carrying fresh clothes or carrying fresh FOOD, and I pick FOOD every time.

[chickwhorips]

maybe you can mail yourself clean clothes and peanut butter. that way you don't have to worry about carrying them :)

[Brina]

beta, how could you not laugh at Animal House???

I treated myself to something yesterday, and since it wasn't bike or tri related dh didn't even give me a hard time about it. In fact, since it kind of helps him, he was downright encouraging. No, no, not lingerie (although he is pretty encouraging when I buy that as well). I bought a corkscrew. I have been using the same corkscrew that some liquor company rep gave me when I was a waitress for like 20 years. It broke recently. Personally, I think dh did it, since he has never been great with a waiters corkscrew, but he denies it. I have been lusting after a languiole corkscrew forever, but since I had a perfectly good one it just seemed a waste. Yeah, it is a waste, but beautiful and functional too.

http://www.franmara.com/index.cfm?Fuseaction=Detail&ID=105

[mimitabby]

maybe you can mail yourself clean clothes and peanut butter. that way you don't have to worry about carrying them :)
make sure the clothes are in a separate package from the PB or you will have a worse mess!

[maillotpois]

Wow Brina, that's beautiful!

[Lise]

Well, cr*p. That loud noise I heard just as I went downstairs to check my mail? It was my CD tower falling over. Bad news, friends. And furthermore, my Amici Veloche jersey hasn't arrived yet! :( I've got a case of the post-race blues. Going to shove my CDs into some sort of pile and try to nap before the call shift tonight. L.

[DrBee]

Hmmm... homemade, right out of the oven chocolate chip cookies...

Life is good.

V.

I'm making some tonight, too! You're making me hungry. We have no food in the house! The joy of coming home from a trip. We're having take-out gourmet pizza and then I'm going to make those cookies. Thanks for the idea V!

[DrBee]

That stinks Lise! I hope you get some good solid rest!

Brina - very nice corkscrew!

[maillotpois]

Hey Nanci did you see Emily O'Brien's BMB report just came out on the rando list?? I can't wait to read that - she's a very entertaining rider and the thought of her doing all these crazy rides on a fixed gear is amazing to me.

[SadieKate]

Hey, now, MP. Don't you be getting all snooty on the us here like Zman. You'd think he could have used the whole name instead of BMB when he started his thread on bikejournal. Makes me feel like an iggerant outsider. What is it?

[maillotpois]

Sorry - Boston-Montreal-Boston. 1200k.

[SadieKate]

Ah, now I don't feel like such an ignoramus and might actually want to read the ride stories.

Thanks.

[DebW]

Well, cr*p. That loud noise I heard just as I went downstairs to check my mail? It was my CD tower falling over.

If it was a loud noise and it wasn't an exploding tire, you should be happy. Not only that, but the CD tower didn't fall over WHILE you were napping. There's a bright side to everything. Cheer up, Lise.


maybe you can mail yourself clean clothes and peanut butter. that way you don't have to worry about carrying them

That's a great idea. But as soon as I put them in the mail it would probably rain and I'd have to drive to work anyway and would have wasted the postage. It's tough being a cheap hungry gram weenie.

[Lise]

If it was a loud noise and it wasn't an exploding tire, you should be happy. Not only that, but the CD tower didn't fall over WHILE you were napping. There's a bright side to everything. Cheer up, Lise.

Excellent points.

[winddance]

Berkeley is certainly shaking this week. The earth must be trembling in terror due to the return of the college students (dorms have opened...)

[snapdragen]

So six weeks ago, I b!tched and moaned to jobob, tprevost, lee bob and nancie about my short short short short short hair. So....what did I do today?

Got a haircut.:o :D

[kelownagirl]

Too many pages to catch up with today. I'm still in my cycling vacation in Victoria. Having a wonderful time, wish you were here... Bought two jerseys - yay! - I had none so I am happy. One is LG and one is Shebeest. Both cute. I tried on some pedal pusher capris too but they are too long for me. 48cm inseam. I have pretty short legs and they go down to mid-calf. Is that normal? They felt much better when I rolled them up one notch just below the knee and they felt much better. Will have to look around and see if there are more styles out there. I know nothing about anything longer than shorts...

Hope everyone is healthy and the family members are doing well...

barb

[betagirl]

So I was on Walgreen's website today and noticed they have a "sexual wellness" tab now. Grant it they may have had this tab for a while, but I just noticed it. For some reason it's highlighted with a yellow border. I checked out what they have in there and noticed that the Today Sponge is being sold. Maybe because I've been on BCP's since I was 18 I'm not up to speed on this, but I thought they took that off the market? Hence the whole Seinfeld episode with Elaine interviewing boyfriends to see if they were "sponge worthy" as she hoarded them. When'd they come back? Oh happy day, the sponge is here to stay :D

[Lise]

They came back just recently. They've been for sale in Canada for a few years now. I'm on some e-mailing list which has kept me posted on a regular basis about the availabilty of the sponge. Yep, they're back! :D

[KnottedYet]

My morning ritual: wake up before alarm. Read until alarm goes off. Get up, start coffee and computer. Read TE and drink coffee until last possible moment. Rush like crazy to get ready for work.

today's early morning revelation: geez, I'm glad I don't have to mess with birth control! :D

[mimitabby]

today's early morning revelation: geez, I'm glad I don't have to mess with birth control! :D

Yeah, me too! that vasectomy in 1981 sure made my life easier!

[Lise]

Not only the Sponge, but I see that the FDA has approved OTC sales of Plan B (the morning after pill). I am delighted. I have *no* desire for any political discussion of this, just will say that, as a midwife, I've been hoping for this decision.

Delivered an adorable baby boy at 3AM, then got to sleep for nearly 3 hours. Best of both worlds! Plus, it's raining here, so I have to go home and sleep some more! ;)

SK, Salsa, CWR, I'm thinking you you and your families in these tough times for you.

[mimitabby]

Not only the Sponge, but I see that the FDA has approved OTC sales of Plan B (the morning after pill). I am delighted. I have *no* desire for any political discussion of this, just will say that, as a midwife, I've been hoping for this decision.

Delivered an adorable baby boy at 3AM, then got to sleep for nearly 3 hours. Best of both worlds! Plus, it's raining here, so I have to go home and sleep some more! ;)

SK, Salsa, CWR, I'm thinking you you and your families in these tough times for you.

that's really good news about plan B since the state of washington Pharmaceutical board (boy, i think i spelled that wrong) just passed a ruling saying that pharmacists don't need to fill prescriptions that they don't approve of!!

[KnottedYet]

oh, man, Mimi, that sooooooo s*cks.

Has anyone seen "V for Vendetta"? How much of this seems familiar?

"Strength through Unity. Unity through Faith."

Eeeeeek.

[Lise]

that's really good news about plan B since the state of washington Pharmaceutical board (boy, i think i spelled that wrong) just passed a ruling saying that pharmacists don't need to fill prescriptions that they don't approve of!!
OMG. This is horrifying. THEY DO NOT PRESCRIBE! THEY DISPENSE! As a prescribing health care provider, it infuriates me that my patient might be denied medication that I consider appropriate and necessary, because of the (im)moral judgement of the dispenser. You want to prescribe or not prescribe? Great. Go get the education, sit for the exams, get the licenses. Until you do, it's not up to you to decide whether the patient gets the medication prescribed or not. grrrrrr.

Plan B will still be sold behind the pharmacy counter, so that the RPH can check her age. Must be over 18. What about guys? Can a guy go buy Plan B for his girlfriend? Does he have to prove how old she is? BS.

[mimitabby]

OMG. This is horrifying. THEY DO NOT PRESCRIBE! THEY DISPENSE! As a prescribing health care provider, it infuriates me that my patient might be denied medication that I consider appropriate and necessary, because of the (im)moral judgement of the dispenser. You want to prescribe or not prescribe? Great. Go get the education, sit for the exams, get the licenses. Until you do, it's not up to you to decide whether the patient gets the medication prescribed or not. grrrrrr.

Plan B will still be sold behind the pharmacy counter, so that the RPH can check her age. Must be over 18. What about guys? Can a guy go buy Plan B for his girlfriend? Does he have to prove how old she is? BS.

Maybe us old gals need to go underground and buy some of this and have it available for those that need it?
(how long does that drug last before it's expiration date?)

[KnottedYet]

I was thinking the same thing. (and remembering how the underground d*kes and crones took care of the unfortunate unready in the past)

[mimitabby]

I might just go buy some just on principle

[chickwhorips]

That's a great idea. But as soon as I put them in the mail it would probably rain and I'd have to drive to work anyway and would have wasted the postage. It's tough being a cheap hungry gram weenie.

but the posties need to eat too.


So six weeks ago, I b!tched and moaned to jobob, tprevost, lee bob and nancie about my short short short short short hair. So....what did I do today?

Got a haircut. :o :D

i like the new hair cut. ;)

[SadieKate]

Back on pharmaceutical dispensing laws - isn't amazing how some folks feel the need for laws so they can impose their own version of morality on others?

[snapdragen]

Keep this up we may get TD locked....but....

I saw an interview with some guy, discusssing the new procedure for creating stem cells. If I understand it correctly, they take an individual embryo cell, not the whole embryo, and use that to create the stem cells.

This man's problem was, no one asked permission of the embryo to take something from it.

It's a freakin' zygote!

/done with my rant

[Lise]

I'll drift us away ... having done my part to drift us into this discussion!

I just watched Cinderella Man. What a wonderful story. I'm so glad Ron Howard makes movies! I love that exchange:

Reporter: "Jim, what's different now?"

Braddock: "I know why I'm fighting."

Reporter: "Why're you fighting, Jim?"

Braddock: "I'm fighting for milk."

What many don't know is that that world championship fight he won on June 13, 1935, took place three days after a very important day in my life.

Three days before, on June 10, 1935, Dr. Bob S. of Akron, Ohio, got sober for the final time, with the help of Bill W., from NYC. Together, they started Alcoholics Anonymous.

[snapdragen]

Cool lise. What is Cinderella Man about? I've never seen it.

[Nanci]

THat thing is gorgeous!!! How did you ever pick one??? Giraffe bone?? Mammoth ivory?? Thanks a lot for showing me that, now I have to have one. I kind of like the red/white commemorative one, or some of the fancy woods. Horn disturbs me for some reason.

Stem cells: (Just read this in NYT today...) The embryo is two days old, eight cells (known as blastomeres) not implanted. One blastomere can be (and routinely is) removed for diagnostic testing, such as for Down Syndrome. If the embryo has no defect, the remaining seven cells can be implanted in the woman. This has been done for ten years and many apparently healthy babies have resulted. The blastomere which has been removed for preimplantation genetic diagnosis can be later used to derive human stem cells from, without destroying the embryo.

To qualify for federal funds, the stem cells (if not from the lines that were established before 08/09/2001) must come from embryos which are not destroyed in the process or exposed to undue risk. The embryo which has one blastomere removed is, however, subjected to _some_ risk, but the resulting babies seem to be as healthy as other babies born by in vitro fertilization.

[mimitabby]

THat thing is gorgeous!!! How did you ever pick one??? Giraffe bone?? Mammoth ivory?? Thanks a lot for showing me that, now I have to have one. I kind of like the red/white commemorative one, or some of the fancy woods. Horn disturbs me for some reason.
.

what thing??? inquiring mind wants to know!

[chickwhorips]

mimi, brina bought this: http://www.franmara.com/index.cfm?Fuseaction=Detail&ID=105

[mimitabby]

oh, the corkscrew!!! lol
I was imagining all sorts of glorious and exotic THINGS.

work is SO BORING!

[chickwhorips]

it could be that is one of those glorious and exotic THINGS, considering i could be completely wrong. wouldn't be the first time.

[Lise]

Cool lise. What is Cinderella Man about? I've never seen it.
James J. Braddock was a rising young fighter who won over 80 professional bouts and was never knocked out. In 1929, he lost a fight that derailed his career. A series of injuries ultimately cost him his fighting license. He had invested most of his winnings in stocks, all of which became worthless in the Depression. The Depression reduced him (and hundreds of thousands of Americans) to living off breadlines, government assistance, and shift work when he could get it. He had a wife and three children, and vowed that he would always provide and they would never be separated. He got a chance to fight one more time, almost a fluke, and surprised everyone by winning the fight. He went on the win the heavy weight championship in 1935. He ultimately lost it to Joe Louis two years later. Joe Louis called Braddock "the most courageous boxer I've ever fought."

Braddock said that breaking his right hand and doing dock work with his hand in a disguised cast made his left punch much stronger. He also came back knowing what he was fighting for: So his children would never be cold or hungry again.

When he got "back in the black", he returned to the Public Assistance office and gave back the money he'd received from the government. Can you imagine that happening today?

He was dubbed the "Cinderella Man" by Damon Runyon, and became a hero to the American men and women who felt that if he could fight back, so could they.

Russell Crowe and Renee Zellweger play Braddock and his wife, Mae. Paul Giamatti does a great job as his manager, Joe.

[DrBee]

THat thing is gorgeous!!! How did you ever pick one??? Giraffe bone?? Mammoth ivory?? Thanks a lot for showing me that, now I have to have one. I kind of like the red/white commemorative one, or some of the fancy woods. Horn disturbs me for some reason.



Mr. Fish can make these from wood as well as wine stoppers. Purty!

[chickwhorips]

Mr. Fish can make these from wood as well as wine stoppers. Purty!

is he in the buisness of selling them?

[chickwhorips]

took all the dogs running again and peanut rolled in something so dead i think it was mush! it was so bad i was gagging while she was running next to me. got home and hosed her off (not a happy camper, the water was ice cold and its 47F here.) still didn't help. great now im off to give her a bath without puking! :(

[Nanci]

I'm watching Gray's Anatomy reruns and drinking Pear Infusion from some winery in MI that I got for babysitting my torts' three brothers and sisters...

[snapdragen]

Now I want to see Cinderella Man. Maybe I can get Dad to add it to his Netflix, since I'm too lazy to open my own account...:D

[dachshund]

"Inside Man" is pretty good. A somewhat clever bank robbery flick with Denzel, Clive Owen, and Jodie Foster. Eye candy all around, and not a bad plot.

"V for Vendetta" took itself too seriously, so I couldn't get past the first 10 minutes.

Our CA Senator, Dianne Feinstein, gave a speech on global warming tonight. Go DiFi! It sounds like many corporations and govt. officials are finally giving in to the facts. Finally.

I'm having Personal Warming, in the form of hot flashes, which started 2 weeks ago. Too bad you can't harness this stuff and fight evil or something. Wait! Maybe I can!

[margo49]

". I'm having Personal Warming, in the form of hot flashes, which started 2 weeks ago. Too bad you can't harness this stuff and fight evil or something. Wait! Maybe I can!

Oh, Daxie, are you in for the Ride of your Life!

[betagirl]

Why does it seem like most people around here who are "serious" about biking, tri's, etc. train at the crack of dawn? My club rides at 6 am. And now I'm supposed to go do some swim training with a couple of the guys from the bike club and he was like "oh I'll be there at 5:30". I didn't set an alarm but decided if I woke up I'd go. When I woke up at 5:30 it was dark. What the heck, is he swimming in the dark? I made the more rational decision to get there at 6.

And women are the irrational beings. Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.

[DrBee]

Beta - it's easier to make excuses to not go out and exercise later in the day, say, afterwork. At least for me that's the case. If I go out early (usually 5:30), I feel more awake during the day and feel like no matter what happens during the day that I've already accomplished something. My kids are also still sleeping so I don't feel so guilty for coming home and then running right back out the door.

CWR - yes, he sells his works. He's on a co-op website, but - most of his business comes from custom orders by word-of-mouth. Some of the work he does is here (http://flyingcurls.com/Bourgeois.html). We're still building the website, but that is a decent representation of his work.

[Brina]

beta,

i run with a group that meets at 6 am on tuesdays. I hate the getting up. For me to be semi coherent I have to get up at 5:15 and drink coffee slowly. But, I really love being done for the day at 7am. I get home and the kids and dh are just getting up. and the day begins. All my other workouts I have to juggle around soccer and swimming lessons and hockey.

Oh that last sentence sounds so sad. I am a suburban soccer mom. sigh

[betagirl]

LOL brina, it's ok. :)

I agree that the morning is best to work out. I just have problems with 5:30 in the morning. If I had to do it after work, it'd never get done. Which is why I commute on my bike. Good excuse to exercise.

[DrBee]

Beta - I leave for work early (6:30 am), so I have to run at 5:30. I'm in a mode where I wake up early even on the weekends, so it's relatively easy to get up and go ride early on the weekends, too.

[Trek420]

dachshund "Our CA Senator, Dianne Feinstein, gave a speech on global warming tonight. Go DiFi! It sounds like many corporations and govt. officials are finally giving in to the facts. Finally."

doing a little research and while Difi's not perfect in my book but she's been speaking out on this for over 6 years.

The optimist in me says "yeah :D someone is listening" the pessimist says "yeah right :mad: they see there is money in it, in green energy, industry etc" But then who cares as long as they do something :cool:

And with CA being .... what are we the 5th or the 8th biggest economy on the planet? When there is movement here it helps all over the world.

We're still behind many countries, I hear that solar power is all over Germany, and of course our public transportation pales compared to almost anywhere in Europe and we all know how hard it is to bike here:rolleyes:

Fishdoc, Mr Fishs work is beautiful

[AuntieK]

Good morning, everyone!
I know I keep popping in here at random moments. It's just that TD moves along soooo fast, I have a hard time being a regular poster. :o
Anyway, my .02 on the early morning workout is that, yes it would be harder to convince myself to go later in the day, but it's also really easy to talk myself out of going in the wee hours of the morning, such as at 5:30. Especially if it's still dark outside. I think that's why people plan to go together at this hour. I know if someone is expecting me, I can't just stay in bed and sleep through the workout.
Now, on to my plea for Nanci's help. I figured that TD was the best place to find her.
Nanci, yesterday, I looked out the window and there was a pigoen walking down the sidewalk. Actually looks a lot like Dill. He's not missing is he? :p DS was outside and was able to pick it up, so I guess it can't fly. He held it for a while and petted it, then let it go. Well, this morning I stepped out to get the newspaper, and the pigeon is sitting right on the porch waiting for DS to come out. Now, I remember from raising pigeons as a child that they eat some sort of pellet, but is there anything else I can feed it for now? Also, it has a band around its leg. Can I find its owner based on the band?
Thanks for your help.

[dachshund]

doing a little research and while Difi's not perfect in my book but she's been speaking out on this for over 6 years.

The optimist in me says "yeah :D someone is listening" the pessimist says "yeah right :mad: they see there is money in it, in green energy, industry etc" But then who cares as long as they do something :cool:


Yeah, whenever I "write to my representatives", I always get a response from DiFi's office, and it's a detailed statement about what she's already doing about the problem. Economic incentives are a good thing, in my opinion. As people jump on the bandwagon, it should give companies more reason to produce Green products. I wonder when US automakers will get a clue. They're doing so poorly, it might help if they built electric cars.

[chickwhorips]

fish, mr. fish's work is beautiful. i'm gonna have to place an order with him.

[Nanci]

HI Auntie K,

Tell me what the band says. He could have changed homes many times, though.

He can eat wild bird seed for now. Offer some water, too, from a shallow dish he can't tip over.

Is one or the other of his wings dragging or hanging down?

Does he feel emaciated? His breast bone should feel lightly padded, not sharp.

Nanci

[AuntieK]

Going to check....

[AuntieK]

Hmmm...can't seem to find the bird now. I wonder if he followed DS to school. :D

[maillotpois]

Just like Lassie.

[DrBee]

I'll pass on the compliments to Mr. Fish! Thanks!

[DrBee]

Now that my AC is fixed in my office - it's in the 60's in here. I just looked down and my fingernails were blue. Seriously. I'm thinking that's not good, so I opened my window. The construction crew is jackhammering outside. Hmmmm.. So now I'm listening to Green Day and Marc Broussard (that's quite a dichotomy) to drown out the jackhammer. Sound like fun?

I'm finding it hard to work today. I'd rather be checking out houses and schools and such in BR. I wish they would call with the official news today. I know it's not supposed to come until next week, but geez! I'm absolutely no good at waiting!

Back to writing.

[Brina]

CWR - yes, he sells his works. He's on a co-op website, but - most of his business comes from custom orders by word-of-mouth. Some of the work he does is here (http://flyingcurls.com/Bourgeois.html). We're still building the website, but that is a decent representation of his work.

Mr. Fish's stuff is beautiful!!!

[Kitsune06]

I leave you ladies alone for 2 days and there are, what, 7 pages when I come back?! Geez!

1. Mr. Fish's work IS beautiful! =)
2. KN, I'm glad you got that practice in changing out tubes etc. but that comment... Now I feel way butch for taking a beer out onto the back porch and disassembling/cleaning and re-packing SWMBO's bearings, (unsealed bearings! ARGH!) swapping her big, cheap, heavy tires out for some light, fast rolling ones and re-greasing my bike. Grr. *flex* Oh, this is after I hit the gym for a couple hours :rolleyes: What was that word? Oh, nevermind.
3. CWR- Great. All I need is to keep rats and slugs. Oh how the mighty have fallen. I go from respectable kitties and a dog to small, dirty, foody things. :eek:

[Lise]

Heading out of town, ladies! Have a great weekend, and post a lot, so I'll have plenty to read when I get back!

Go Brina, Go DivingBiker, Go LynneK!!! :D :D :D

[chickwhorips]

have fun lise!

[Brina]

enjoy your weekend, Lise

[KnottedYet]

One of the patients at the clinic brought in smoked salmon for everyone. (he caught the salmon). MMMMMmmmmmmmMMMMMM!!!!!

[Trek420]

and bagels? and cream cheese?

re-sprained my toe Tuesday in the dojo (I'm such a clutz) did spin class on it Wednesday, ran (lumbered more like) with Mae-dog Thursday now it hurts and I'm compensating on the other side.

Will tape it and see how if feels in the morn. I'd wanted to either ride with the Velogirls or Different Spokes (I know how you'd vote Lorri).

[SadieKate]

Ooh, TE has the new season of stripy Smart Wool socks in. Might need those orange Hot Lava though I do wish they were shorter. Wonder if any other colors of the short ones will magically appear.

http://www.teamestrogen.com/whatsNew.asp

[chickwhorips]

One of the patients at the clinic brought in smoked salmon for everyone. (he caught the salmon). MMMMMmmmmmmmMMMMMM!!!!!

if you want some more, smoked or unsmoked, let me know :)

[Trek420]

SadieKate "I do wish they were shorter. Wonder if any other colors of the short ones will magically appear."

shorter than this? It's a look allright :rolleyes:

[DebW]

I'm leaving for 5 days. If there are any more cross-chaining questions in that time, IT'S SOMEONE ELSE'S PROBLEM. Bye-bye. Y'all have fun.

[KnottedYet]

You have fun, too! Are you doing something fun?

(can I answer the cross-chaining questions? How 'bout I just answer ALL questions! Today's narcissistic moment: my stunning intelligence! My eloquence! My erudite manipulation of the english language! I am English Major! Hear me roar!)

[Pax]

Well, we gave it a shot and wishing and hoping it would work out just wasn't enough. We're heading home to Illinois next month.

As much as we like it here in Tucson, the cost of living is way too high in relation to the wages so when my old boss from IL called and said "we'd love it if you'd consider coming home to take over your old team", we decided to head home. I thought I'd be sad or angry since all I ever thought I wanted was OUT of Illinois; the reality is my SO had another offer in another state and we're choosing to go home. Guess I'm really a Midwestern kinda gal.

[Trek420]

shhh, let's move TD while she's gone :rolleyes:

[mimitabby]

SadieKate "I do wish they were shorter. Wonder if any other colors of the short ones will magically appear."

shorter than this? It's a look allright :rolleyes:

OH! you guys exposed my worse weakness!! COLORED SOCKS!!
gasp!!!
I have to buy them... I don't like the super shorties either.. I already have some smartwool striped sox that i bought last season. i bought two pair identical.
you can see them on most photos of me on my bike because i love them so much..
I already have some in my "shopping cart"
but i lost my free postage coupon for TE... argh..

[SadieKate]

mimi, my sock drawers floweth over. The joints have become unjointed. Notice I said drawer in the the plural. Oh, this is embarassing.:o

[mimitabby]

well, we have something in common. I only have 1 sock drawer, but it is deep and large and i have OTHER places for some of my socks too.

I am seriously into socks. I even DARN some of them! (note to the under 30 crowd, darning socks means I am repairing them with a needle and thread)

[SadieKate]

And do you use a darning egg?

[dachshund]

Hey, me too! (Into socks, not darning.) When my family asks me what I want for Christmas, I say "socks", and they think I'm kidding. I guess it's not as much fun for them.

[mimitabby]

And do you use a darning egg?
no. i'm not THAT good.
i guess it would help, maybe i will try that next time.

[dachshund]

Well, we gave it a shot and wishing and hoping it would work out just wasn't enough. We're heading home to Illinois next month.


My SO is from Chicago, and a couple of times a year she announces that we're moving to Chicago. Her grandkids live 10 minutes from us, so we never get close to actually moving. But she loved it there. Makes me want to go for a visit to see the area. I've been in CA and the South my whole life.

[mimitabby]

Hey, me too! (Into socks, not darning.) When my family asks me what I want for Christmas, I say "socks", and they think I'm kidding. I guess it's not as much fun for them.
here too. they give me a look.. "we gave you socks last year"
well, DUH, i NEED more!!!!!

[snapdragen]

D@mn sock ladies......just ordered four pairs.......mumble, mumble....

Yes SK - I have a darning egg.:p

[mimitabby]

you bought 4? I only bought two. (what was I thinking? I wanted 4 pair!)

now I'm jealous!
:rolleyes:

[SadieKate]

Yeah, you notice the age of those of us talking about darning? We're just a fine vintage.

[Trek420]

SadieKate "Yeah, you notice the age of those of us talking about darning? We're just a fine vintage."

Yep, we're aged like fine wine...or old socks. Not like those darn kids these days who don't know what a darning egg is. ;)

[snapdragen]

Two stripeys, one shorty pair, and a pair of non-smartwool cow sox.:cool:

[KnottedYet]

I also have a darning egg.

(am I counting correctly? Is that three of us?)

[Kitsune06]

um... I'm not sure what this says about me, but I have one, too. Mom made sure we knew how to repair our stuff because we were "artsy and craftsy enough to do it, and broke enough to have to". Thanks mum.:rolleyes: I hardly ever use it, though... it's just too easy to buy new socks!

[chickwhorips]

i have a friend that knitted me a pair of really cool green striped socks. just the right hight and oh so cute! :cool:

[DrBee]

I like socks, but don't have near as many as y'all do. I did get a pair of Smartwool socks from my SS and I love those! For daily wear I've been wearing some socks by Danskin - they are wicking and have an arch support band. Cheap and comfy!

TD...

I just came back from a 4yr old's birthday party (from FishJr's class). They were all playing great and running around like maniacs as 4 yr olds are so good at doing. Then I see two girls dragging my daughter across the room (they were in a gym). They toss her onto a mat and then proceed to stomp on her arm and put all their weight on her chest. If they were any bigger than her, I'm pretty sure they would have broken her arm. Good thing she drinks lots of milk! Her arm is red and sore - mainly at the elbow. Poor thing. She yelled and tried to get them off of her. I intervened (loudly). One of the girls got in trouble. Yikes! That was interesting. My heart is still racing. FishJr is taking it easy watching Tom & Jerry. I need to go ride to get the adrenaline out of my system.

[KnottedYet]

GRRRRRRRR!
I can't find my student loan bill, and it's gotta be mailed TODAY!!!!!

I did a bunch of shredding y'day, and I'm afraid it went through the shredder!

[betagirl]

Well, we gave it a shot and wishing and hoping it would work out just wasn't enough. We're heading home to Illinois next month.


Aww, bummer. I remember how happy you were to get out of dodge. But welcome back. I'm definitely biased, even within Illinois. You've got Chicago....and the rest of the state. :) I've lived in the Chicago area my whole life, and love it. I'd never leave. But if I *had* to pick somewhere to go in the US, I'd go to Seattle.

[Pax]

Aww, bummer. I remember how happy you were to get out of dodge. But welcome back. I'm definitely biased, even within Illinois. You've got Chicago....and the rest of the state. :) I've lived in the Chicago area my whole life, and love it. I'd never leave. But if I *had* to pick somewhere to go in the US, I'd go to Seattle.
Thanks for the welcome back, I've missed home quite a bit (NEVER thought I think or feel that). :D

I'm looking forward to getting back and seeing friends & family and hitting my old haunts.

[Trek420]

well, come out here and visit sometime soon :)

[Pax]

well, come out here and visit sometime soon :)
Your place is on the "must visit" list. ;)

[mimitabby]

GRRRRRRRR!
I can't find my student loan bill, and it's gotta be mailed TODAY!!!!!

I did a bunch of shredding y'day, and I'm afraid it went through the shredder!

pay it on line?

:confused:

[Trek420]

Queen "Your place is on the "must visit" list. ;)"

TOP of the must visit list? :confused: :D After this year I want to try some touring. Your area is NOT on the top of the list for touring but starting to make a list and do research.

[chickwhorips]

well, come out here and visit sometime soon :)

where is here?

[Trek420]

Norhtern California, the Bay Area. We tried to get Queen and her honey to move out here (although the same high cost of living thang would have applied) but noooooooo, she wanted the southwest.

[DrBee]

Queen - I have almost the opposite situation. I can't move back to my home (MD) because the COL is outrageous! Houses are going for $250 sqft in some areas. That's insane! That's more than double what they are here and where we are hopefully heading.

Trek - what are housing costs in the Bay area these days? I was in Santa Barbara a number of years ago and couldn't believe what people had to pay for housing!:eek:

[Trek420]

it's outrageous. really rediculous, insane yet still I love it here.

I mean I see all this new housing being built (mostly in places I loved to ride), yuge monster homes and I think how are people affording this? I don't know how I do it, oh, right I'm broke now I remember :cool:

Try this, this guy was my realtor, real nice guy if you're in the area and looking anyway pick a city, number of B & b you have and compare with where you are:

www.agentrobert.com

Yes, I wimped out today, I suck at training, didn't go to the dojo as planned. Doing laundry (which I love because I don't have to do a thing yet feel I am accomplishing something), puttering around the house.

I got my wheels back from the shop (you know, the ones my LBS (that's local bike shop) told me "chicks dig these wheels"? I think I have to take them for a ride with the local LGBT bike club tomorrow.

I've got deep blue toenail polish...not for my toes, I'm touching up some scratches on my mountain bike. Maybe I will paint my toes to match....nah, probably not. But I've put light layers letting it dry between each application on all the owies on the left side of the bike. Now the right side is saying "hey, me next!". I still think I'll powder coat the GT in the winter but it's much more better.

[Nanci]

I was looking for a box to put some stuff in, that lives in the back of the truck. There weren't any spares, and I finally thought I'd see what was in a big plastic bird seed container in the laundry room. Just my favorite Polartec mittens, my elbow-length SWteiger Mukluk dog mushing mittens, my home-made ear warmer and neck warners, a really nice hood/neck warmer thing, and my favorite winter hat, all of which I had lost track of for two or three years, and searched frantically for multiple times!!

I went to photograph a time trial. It is painfully obvious I need a tripod.

Our riding mower has not been working all summer. It won't start. Last I heard, BF said after he jump started it, he couldn't mow anyway since the blades kept cutting in and out. I kept saying, "buy a new battery!" He was agonizing for weeks about how to trailer it to a repair place. I finally stopped and bought a new battery today, and installed it, and guess what, it's fine!! So I mowed for three hours today, and was looking forward to enjoying a bottle of my favorite Pinot Gris out on the patio, but of course while I was taking a bath, it started raining, hard. I finally got to go out with the pets about 6:30.

I only rode 15 miles or so today, but on the way back in on the time trial course, I passed the A riders going the other way, and I was going 30 mph!!! Instead of my usual 12 mph whenever I meet up with riders I want to impress, unexpectedly.

[Pax]

Queen - I have almost the opposite situation. I can't move back to my home (MD) because the COL is outrageous! Houses are going for $250 sqft in some areas. That's insane! That's more than double what they are here and where we are hopefully heading.

Trek - what are housing costs in the Bay area these days? I was in Santa Barbara a number of years ago and couldn't believe what people had to pay for housing!:eek:
I can still buy a brand new 1300sf, 3 bed, 2 bath, with a 2 car garage at home for $140,000. Here in Tucson that would cost between $200k and $250k...and the wages are much less here. :eek:

[Trek420]

Queen "I can still buy a brand new 1300sf, 3 bed, 2 bath, with a 2 car garage at home for $140,000. Here in Tucson that would cost between $200k and $250k...and the wages are much less here. :eek:"

so by know means scientific but I typed in 2B 2 b 1300 sf on my friends site and Bay Area prices for that started, started I said at $815k.

There are bargains if you want to live in West Oakland or Tracy or best of all can fix the fixer upper. Wages tend to be higher. Yes for what I paid for my small-needs-lots-work-condo I could live in something palatial elsewhere but I love my two mile bike to BART.

Some of my coworkers commute from Sacramento and further out because
"I could buy a bigger house there"
"but you spend your life in the car!"

The right side of my GT looks so puhrty

[KnottedYet]

I need to touch up my Commutermobile. Don't have blue nail polish, but I do have blue touch-up paint for the Subie. Since they are "kin" (as it were) it'd be kinda nice to let them share paint. (The chips I wanna take care of are in the black part, but blue will work.)

Tried to get SKnot riding his bike today. After 6 minutes there was much whining. After 10 minutes there was dramatic limping and pushing of the bike. This is on a school playground, mind you.

Sigh.

Do they make a Trail-A-Bike sized for teenagers?

[mimitabby]

I need to touch up my Commutermobile. Don't have blue nail polish, but I do have blue touch-up paint for the Subie. Since they are "kin" (as it were) it'd be kinda nice to let them share paint. (The chips I wanna take care of are in the black part, but blue will work.)

Tried to get SKnot riding his bike today. After 6 minutes there was much whining. After 10 minutes there was dramatic limping and pushing of the bike. This is on a school playground, mind you.

Sigh.

Do they make a Trail-A-Bike sized for teenagers?

oh, gee, I thought he was riding! he's still "learning?" bummer!

[Kitsune06]

I think it's called an 'xtracycle'. With seat, footies, and stoker bar. If you ever find a Trail-a-Bike for teens, let me know, maybe I can stick DGF on it. How much can one hear "I'm tired. My butt hurts. How can you stand that hard-a$$ saddle?! It's really annoying when you go that fast, that far ahead of me. SPEED UP, we're gonna WRECK! My bike sucks. I'm tired, My butt hurts..." without your ears starting to bleed? But I'm patient, and she has fun once she 'gets out there' so who knows? Maybe someday. :rolleyes:

[crazycanuck]

Sitting here rather knackered....we did the 6hr today & thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. I think there were about 100 riders. Before you say"gee that's not alot"..it's because
1-the city to surf (biggest fun run in WA) was on
2-the Western Derby-AFL game btwn the two Western Australian teams-the dockers vs the eagles
3-there aren't normally alot of participants at mtb events in WA. There were 181 i think at the 12hr last year...this is compared to say 2000 at the 12 & 24hr events in NSW....

I ended up doing the three 3 laps I had agreed to do & Ian did 5. (The internal engine needs a bit of work but riding the road bike during the week has helped immensely with my off road riding.) I think my first lap took me 50min....wayyyyyyy behind the top guy of 29min..:eek: When i heard about his time at the end i thought "WTF..holy *** i have a lot of work to do...:( "


I'm not 100% sure about times but shall post them along with pics when they come available.

You know you're a true mtn biker when you talk to a triathlete at the 6hr and the conversation goes like this:

Me-"so are you going to do the 12hr"
Him "no way..it's in the dark"
Me "there are some awesome lights though to use at night"
Him :confused: :eek:

Oh well, more for us then!!! I love riding in the dark...i seemed to do enough of it this winter!!! I now have nice lights too......:D

So the training for the 12hr begins...

c

[DrBee]

CC - that sounds like fun! Good luck on the next one!

Ooh I felt like I was riding on a closed course this morning. In 1 1/2 hour ride I only saw 1/2 dozen cars. It was nice! Too bad I totally bonked at 10 miles. It was so wierd. I wasn't sure I could get myself home. I took a break, drank a ton of the Clif lemonade my SS sent me (yumm) and then I was okay. I am coughing a bit today, but geez. It could be that my schedule has been so crazy this month that I have only ridden 4 times. :eek: Oh well - at least I felt okay for the remainder of the ride.

I hope everyone has a glorious day today! We're supposed to get rain here. That is a good thing! I weeded 3 flower beds yesterday and have 4 more to go. Rain would help loosen the dirt considerably!

[betagirl]

Man I hate fatigue. I slept til 8:45 today, which for me is late. I fell asleep around 10 or so. I feel like I got about 3 hours of sleep right now. I need to get a ride in today, hopefully around 40 miles. I did get my meds via mail order and took a double dose per doc's orders yesterday. So the gloves are off in kicking my disease's arse.

Kinda overcast today, wonder if it's going to rain.

I went to REI's garage sale yesterday with Fuji Girl and picked up way too much stuff. They were also having their labor day sale, so anything ending in .83 was an additional 50% off. Retail therapy is always helpful!

School starts on Monday. 16 weeks of pure unadulterated bliss. I start my dissertation process also. All the more reason to have to shake this stupid fatigue. Or invest in Starbucks :D

[DrBee]

Beta - is this your last semester? Do you have candidacy yet?

[betagirl]

Hey fish. I'm a candidate but it's not my last semester. I'm going into my 3rd year. This is the heaviest year of classes really with 5 each semester (though 2 are Pass/Fail). You take some electives your 4th year for your specialization. The dissertation process is pretty strict at my school, as to ward off that notorious ABD status that can go on for years. This year we design and collect data. 4th year you write and defend it. I'm already doing work related to my topic, so I'm ahead of the game. But in the same vein, that adds another layer of work/pressure because I have to submit for a new grant in the spring. :eek:

I'm sure you understand the fun of academic research :D

[KnottedYet]

Knot-the-traitor. Knotted-ict Arnold. Knot Fawkes. (Knot quite)

Through a tri board I found a biking PT who does a lot of work with bikes, posture, atheletes, and feet. (my favorites) Went to his website and found he is moving to a new larger facility in the fall.

I emailed and asked if he was hiring...

Not that I don't like where I work. Well, ok, the co-worker who is sleeping with a supervisor and makes my job life hell and complains about me obsessively and calls me at home to tell me how much I suck and bad-mouths the owners and left a "Hanky Panky" thong underwear wrapper in a patient's chart as a cutesy joke for someone else but I found it instead... yeah, I could do without that.

I ask you, is it too much to expect to be able to WORK at your job? I just want to be able to do what I'm good at. I want to be able to use what I know. So much of my advanced training is slipping away because I don't get to use it here. And so much of my energy is squandered just trying to keep an even keel in the face of this barrage of unprofessionalism.

I go to work to WORK. Not to make friends, not to coddle someone else's emotional insecurities, not to compromise my standards.

I'm not actively looking for another job yet, but think a few positive thoughts for me. (I've got my fingers crossed, and commutermobile is crossing her spokes for me.)

[Kitsune06]

Fingers and spokes crossed, Knot.

[betagirl]

Not that I don't like where I work. Well, ok, the co-worker who is sleeping with a supervisor and makes my job life hell and complains about me obsessively and calls me at home to tell me how much I suck and bad-mouths the owners and left a "Hanky Panky" thong underwear wrapper in a patient's chart as a cutesy joke for someone else but I found it instead... yeah, I could do without that.

I don't see what the problem is...... :D

Fingers crossed for you on the potential new gig.

[Trek420]

fingers, toes, legs and eyes crossed. :D

[KnottedYet]

Thanks, y'all! :D

Might wanna hold off on the legs and eyes crossed, Trek. That's not gonna help you find the next DPITA...;) Or, it could, but that'd be the wrong kind of DPITA.

I need more coffee.

Gonna make fried Portobella mushroom and scrambled eggs with cheese for b'fast. The Portobella has been marinating in soy sause and sesame oil overnight. mmmmm Served with steamed green beans, broccoli, and zucchini. (of which SKnot will probably take one bite) Maybe I'll do up a potato, too.

What are you guys having for b'fast today?

[Trek420]

sounds wonderful, I'll be right over.

Nothin' fancy, sourdough toast with pb & cream cheese, coffee with soymilk. I'm off to an EZ bike ride with Different Spokes, byeeeeeee.

[KnottedYet]

coffee with soymilk

What soy milk do you use? I can't seem to find one that won't curdle in my coffee. Rice milk works ok, but it doesn't taste so nice.

I need to find a good soymilk, cuz I gotta have something in my coffee.

[dachshund]

Gonna make fried Portobella mushroom and scrambled eggs with cheese for b'fast. The Portobella has been marinating in soy sause and sesame oil overnight. mmmmm Served with steamed green beans, broccoli, and zucchini. (of which SKnot will probably take one bite) Maybe I'll do up a potato, too.
What are you guys having for b'fast today?

god that sounds great! I'll be right over! :D
I had my usual toast and a bucket of coffee. I was out real late last night, my band had a gig, and I'm soooo tired. The Cook has her nose in the NY Times, so I'll have to wait until later for Good Food. Maybe lunch...

KnottedYet, you seem to have a corner on high drama at work. That's really bad! Are you gonna document all this and hand to the Personnel folks on the way out? Might be satisfying. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. "Actively looking" would be OK. :)

I have my bike fitting appointment later today, I'm looking forward to it. We're going to try wider handlebars, and maybe raise them again. I really want to banish this lower neck pain.

I just previewed my post, and it looks like Trek420 & I will be there shortly... So make more, OK?

[KnottedYet]

You got it! Breakfast at Knot's!

I'll start heating up the BIG frying pan!

(and then we can all go for a little ride down to the beach and watch the ferry toodling over to the Olympic penninsula, check out the islands and the other 2 ferry routes you can see from the beach, and order some coffee at the harbor building. For lunch we'll ride down the coast to a little seafood place and eat outside, and then ride inland to a great chocolate shop for dessert.)

[mimitabby]

god that sounds great! I'll be right over! :D
I had my usual toast and a bucket of coffee.

:D :D :D I guess you like coffee!!




I have my bike fitting appointment later today, I'm looking forward to it. We're going to try wider handlebars, and maybe raise them again. I really want to banish this lower neck pain.



I hope your fit works for you. persistence DOES pay off!

I am having a great day (mostly to myself)
tackling things i don't generally do..
ahhhhhhhhh

and Knotted, you shouldn't have to put up with that kind of BS in the office. You're not a traitor, THEY are inappropriate!

[KnottedYet]

AAAAAAAAAH!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!! AAAAAAAA!!!! EEEEEEEK!!

<Knot running in circles waving arms in air>

AAAAAAH!!!!! EEEEK!!!!! AAAAAAAAH!!!!! EEEEEEEK!!!! AAAAAAAAH!!!!

<alternating expressions of elation and terror>

Pant! ** Pant! ** Pant! ** Pant!

<breathing into a paper bag>

The PT wrote back already, and he wants my resume and CV!!! Holeeeee Toleeeeeedo!

Of course, that means nothing really, but at least my quick little email was interesting enough that he wants to hang on to my resume for when he opens his own practice at the end of the year.

Now I gotta start polishing up the ol' Boast Sheet. (or other phrase that starts with B and S)

B'fast was yummy. Wouldn't it be great if I could just put out the call to all the TE'ers: BBQ at my place! Bring your bike! I'll supply the Portabellas the beer, the iced tea, and the pop; bring something to share. And we'll go for a ride, too. We could overflow from my apartment onto the patio and grass. The kids could run around. The spouses could get together and talk about how nuts we are. And as it started to get dark and dusky everyone could pack up and head home, ready to face the week.

Sigh.

It's gonna be a beautiful day today. We've got the widows open and are listening to blues on KEXP. Dog is sleeping by the screen door. SKnot is playing Gameboy. Bikes are glowing in the diffused sunlight. Sigh.

[Kitsune06]

breakfast today... um... probably my cashew ginger granola w/ protein powder in it, coffee w/ sugar and rice milk (I just use lots of rice milk... doesn't curdle, and I sorta like the taste...) and maybe a tomato sliced nice and thick with a little sugar sprinkled on it.

...but I like Knot's idea.


AAAAAAAAAH!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!! AAAAAAAA!!!! EEEEEEEK!!

<Knot running in circles waving arms in air>

AAAAAAH!!!!! EEEEK!!!!! AAAAAAAAH!!!!! EEEEEEEK!!!! AAAAAAAAH!!!!

<alternating expressions of elation and terror>

Pant! ** Pant! ** Pant! ** Pant!

<breathing into a paper bag>


...thought at first "Geez, those musta been GOOD eggs! :D I guess all our crossin' stuff did something for ya, Knot. :D

[mimitabby]

AAAAAAAAAH!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!! AAAAAAAA!!!! EEEEEEEK!!

<Knot running in circles waving arms in air>

AAAAAAH!!!!! EEEEK!!!!! AAAAAAAAH!!!!! EEEEEEEK!!!! AAAAAAAAH!!!!

<alternating expressions of elation and terror>

Pant! ** Pant! ** Pant! ** Pant!

<breathing into a paper bag>

The PT wrote back already, and he wants my resume and CV!!! Holeeeee Toleeeeeedo!
B'fast was yummy. Wouldn't it be great if I could just put out the call to all the TE'ers: BBQ at my place! Bring your bike! I'll supply the Portabellas the beer, the iced tea, and the pop; bring something to share. And we'll go for a ride, too. We could overflow from my apartment onto the patio and grass. The kids could run around. The spouses could get together and talk about how nuts we are. And as it started to get dark and dusky everyone could pack up and head home, ready to face the week.

Sigh.

good luck on the resume!
My spouse is more nuts than most of us.
he's doing a morning ride because he is meeting with some guys who only want to ride for 1 hour and he wants to do a metric century today.
so he's doing a pre ride ride.

I get to do stuff around the house! without him being underfoot!!
YAY YAY!

[chickwhorips]

good luck knotted. i take it now that i'm up and moving (which that is questionable) your done with breakfast.

i need to get my but going for a ride. specially after last night i kept telling everyone i had to go for a ride today and now... well now i have to. good but bad. had way to much to drink last night and way to little water. feeling kinda bad today. think i might actually resort to water.

you know it was a good night though when your doing gymnatics and yoga poses in the bar competing with one of the guys. hey he started it, he did the splits and asked if i could. it snowballed from there. good times good times. i can't let a guy out do me, come on!

now to try and eat something and get me you know what on my bike.

[DrBee]

I'm sure you understand the fun of academic research :D

And that, my dear, is why I am a scientist with the government! No grant proposals to write!

My grad program worked a bit differently in that we crammed in most of our coursework into the first 2 years along with starting the dissertation research and then focused just on research until the defense (approx 2 years later). Your 3rd year sounds rough! Good luck!


Knotted - way to go to take the initiative to send that email! Polish up the resume and wahooooo!

Okay - so far, it's me, Snap, Knotted, Kit, and who else that wants to change jobs? Team Transition might be a good name. ;)

[snapdragen]

Yep. Job change better happen soon. I've already let the Director know I've put early retirement back on the front burner. They have 7 months - it had better not take that long.

Knot! So cool! Polish up the boast sheet and get it sent.

So, I'm feeling absolutely sociable these days, I've even signed up for the Sept. secret sister. Good god what's next? Puppies, kittens and rainbows; with bluebirds flitting about......

[maillotpois]

So, I'm feeling absolutely sociable these days, I've even signed up for the Sept. secret sister. Good god what's next? Puppies, kittens and rainbows; with bluebirds flitting about......


You're creepin' me out....

Lots of drift while I was out yesterday...

FWIW - I use SILK soymilk - steams up really nicely and tastes great. Oh yeah, and Bay Area housing is insane. A friend who lives here (renting) in Mill Valley just bought a house in Minneapolis - for about $1M less than said same house would cost if she were to buy it where she lives now. InSANE. I'll miss her, but I totally get why she wants to actually OWN a house.

[snapdragen]

the new snap.................

[betagirl]

I really hate crabgrass.......

[betagirl]

Sing along with Snap:

Sunshine, lollipops and rainbows,
Everything that's wonderful is what I feel when we're together,
Brighter than a lucky penny,
When you're near the rain cloud disappears, dear,
And I feel so fine just to know that you are mine.

My life is sunshine, lollipops and rainbows,
That's how this refrain goes, so come on, join in everybody!

[Kitsune06]

Ummm... right. Miz Cakes and I are going to hide in a dark, shadowy place until all is right with the world... and Snap. I mean, no disrespect, but I thought I felt some kind of disturbence in the force today...

:D

It gets worse, though, this morning, I cleaned both rat cages, did my laundry (two whole loads!) cleaned the kitchen and started precleaning stained stuff. :eek: I'm never this productive. The new-agey side of me wants to run off to Astro.com to see what phase the planets are coming into (or going out of) to make this all happen...:rolleyes:

I'm such a geek. Maybe next I'll run off to find a shrubbery. A nice one. Ni!

[maillotpois]

Then, when you have found the shrubbery, you must cut down the mightiest tree in the forest...

[DrBee]

the new snap.................

I just came back from Wallyworld - FishJr picked out princess shampoo and bubble bath. Everything is pink! She has declared herself as "princess of the bathtub" :rolleyes: Snap - you could borrow her Aurora crown for your next ride ;)

[chickwhorips]

i'm having a knotted moment. my ego is so big right now....

i had my first experience with dropping someone on a hill! :eek:
went out for my usual 20 mtb ride with the newbie at work. he's a mtber and wanted to go with me. starting out i was trying to keep up with him. i was starting to think. uh oh. what was i thinking. but on the way back, on the hill i usually have a hard time with i dropped him right off the bat. after that i just couldn't stop. dropped him on the next two hills too. wow it felt so good! specially to drop a boy! woo hoo!!!!!!!!

(doing my happy dance right now)

[Nanci]

So this is what his Swiss Army pigeon carrier looks like, put together. He is very comfortable in it. The other end is the same, for another pigeon. I bought it on eBay...

CWR- Excellent!!

Snap-, what is the world coming to.

[Kitsune06]

Then, when you have found the shrubbery, you must cut down the mightiest tree in the forest...

...With a herring?!

Hey, Snap, you still friends with the seals? Yeah, I know they smell of herring, but I've actually gotta ask them to borrow one...

Just watch. Next off, I'm going to crash off my bike, lose (most) limbs, and tell my biking buddy it's "just a flesh wound". :eek:

[chickwhorips]

what is this world coming to? i dropped a boy on a ride and snap is well... not being snap. next thing we know she's gonna start using all the cute smiles. :D

[Nanci]

I found out at lunch after the ride today that a guy who has been missing (but not really missed by me, from group rides, because he is so BOSSY) woke up in the ER a few weeks ago, after riding by himself, and has no idea what happened. A lady came out of her driveway, saw him on the road unconscious, and parked her car, blocking him from being run over. His helmet is broken, but no other permanent injuries...Today was his first ride post-crash.

[Kitsune06]

Geez. Well, I take it that since this is his first ride post-crash, he's in physically decent condition, but that is weird. I hope he recovers fully physically and can make a swift psychological recovery, too. That'd be pretty traumatic. :eek: