Thread Drift

[winddance]

I'm working at home, at the dining room table. I started hearing a really creepy wheezy whistling noise and couldn't figure out WHAT it was. Scared the bejeezus out of me.

It is my cat. Snoring.

My skinny cat snores. He actually woke me up one night with his little kitty snorts. It took me forever to figure out where it was coming from.

On a completely separate topic, what's up with this heat? I live in the Bay Area precisely because it doesn't get hot. I'm all for public transit being free every so often, but BART has really got to stop breaking down on free transit days...

[snapdragen]

It is too hot! 6:30 and it's 92 degrees on my porch. This is wrong. This is the N. Cali Bay Area - land of mild climates. The air conditioner may be on all night.....

[winddance]

I don't have air conditioning. I usually have a breeze off the bay.

It's 80 in my apartment. :(

(whine...) ;)

[kelownagirl]

Hot, hot, hot way up north too. It was 102 when I was downtown this afternoon.... Thank goodness for A/C is all I can say. Supposed to get up to 110 tomorrow. Won't be biking that's for sure...

barb

[Lise]

It's finally cooled off here. Low 70s. I came home this afternoon, turned off the AC, and opened the windows. This morning it was 100% humidity. How can that be when it's not raining? Anyhoo, then it rained. Kind of a chilly rain, too! If you don't like the weather here, wait 5 minutes...

I just came from a wonderful reunion of the midwives I worked with for 9 years. It felt like going home. We've been apart now for 3 years, and the ending of our practice was pretty traumatic. Fortunately, none of the midwives were at fault. Everybody's doing really well. :D I miss them.

[kelownagirl]

Can I vent / whine here? I am getting really frustrated with the whole road bike thing. I love the bike, I love how much faster I can go, I love how it is becoming a part of me, like my MTBike was. But.... I started cycling about 4 months ago. I put about 1200 km over 3 months on my MTbike and made huge strides in ability and stamina. For the most part, I could keep up with Erik, although he'd always beat me on the hills. He was seldom more than a few hundred feet ahead of me and we'd usually be able to ride together on the flats and downhills. I couldn't wait to get a road bike so I could go faster etc... But now that I have one, it's a completely different story. Although I am so much faster than I was on the mtb, so is Erik, and he's way ahead of me all the time. He's very patient and he stops and waits for me frequently and sometimes I lead or he rides alongside me but I know it gets boring for him. On the hills, he's waaay faster and is usually out of my sight entirely. I find I need the encouragement of having someone close enough to talk with once in awhile rather than having to watch him slowly edge away from me on every hill until he's out of sight. Honestly I don't want him to have to ride slowly just for me - it's supposed to be a workout for both of us. I actually think we'd do better if he rode his MTBike but he's been dying for me to get a road bike so he could ride his.

Biking is a big part of our lives now. We both love it and it's something we love to do together. But for the past 2 weeks, I have been increasingly disillusioned at how it is turning out. I know I will get better and stronger if I keep riding, but so will he. So he's likely to always be way faster than me. I just don't know what to do short of riding on my own and encouraging him to go on hammerfests alone or with other guys and do his recovery rides with me. I think it just sucks - we were looking forward to riding 4-5 times a week with each other and I'm just getting more and more upset each time we go out. I guess there's no advice to give here - I just needed to unload...

[Lise]

TD is where we come to vent, to celebrate, to goof around, et al. You've come to the right place. Dunno what your solution will be, but no doubt you'll find one that works for you both. Glad you're enjoying going fast on your new bike. Isn't it cool? :D

[salsabike]

Hey, kelownagirl, rent a tandem for a day with him and see how you like it. Chris is 2-3 mph faster than I am, so our single bike rides are like yours. We tried a tandem two years ago and loved it. Now we each ride our singles alone during the week, and do big tandem rides on the weekends. We just did our second Seattle to Portland ride on the tandem. It is a ton of fun--wait till you see how fast you can go together--and it smooths out those speed differences that happen on the single bikes.

[DirtDiva]

I'm having one of those weeks where it really sucks to be a grownup... :mad:

[crazycanuck]

Hey kids,

Just a myriad of thoughts-i may just post twice to keep your eyes from straining!

I caught up with Kiwi in oz tonight at the pub to watch the Ab's vs Springbok game...At least the springbok showed up this week and scored two tries!!!
(gee percy montgomery's kinda cute) She;s a lovely lady!

KG-I understand where you're coming from. Even on a road bike i'm still slower than ian & our bike friends. (I have to lead when we're riding as i still suck at drafting.) I have figured out that no matter how fast i go, i'll still be slower so I go as fast as I can & work from there. If i keep working at it, who knows i might actually be able to keep up with them! (Ian says i'm improving speed wise& i can see the difference off road too. Now if left hand turns would just be a bit easier at night!!!)

I was babbling there sorry-What i'm trying to say is, don't panic if you're not as fast as Erik. Perhaps you need to ride on your own & join him on one bike ride a week. On the days you ride alone, work on the hills, speed & distance & who knows one day you'll pass dear Erik!!!

About the weather-i need to find the conversion chart on my computer for F to Celcius...I keep on thinking abuot the days i used to watch Willard Scott on NBC today & got used to the conversion...


c

[crazycanuck]

A few more things dears

We've just begun house hunting & found a place that we think is worthwhile & within our budget but are unsure on how long we should keep looking for. The perth real estate market is getting a bit tight & good places are snapped up quite quickly. There were no gardens(yayyyyy), very little maintenance to be done, great distance for biking to & from work, right on the bike path and safe- (We want to be about 10-15km from the CBD.)

So my question to you folks is-how long did it take you to find a house???
We may answer some of these questions when we meet with a mortgage broker a workmate recommended.

In a large city in the us/canada would you be able to find a 3 brm house for $350k(that's australian)? I'm just curious...

DirtDiva-why has your week been horrible???

c

[kelownagirl]

Morning everyone,

I'm feeling a bit less sorry for myself this morning. Thanks for your words of encouragement/suggestions. And Salsa, we've talked about renting a tandem - maybe we should try that some time.

Dirtdiva - what's up? Hope today is a better day...

CC - you can get a decent house in Kelowna for $350,000 although the prices are climbing. I only paid $299 for mine last year and it's a brand new 3 bedroom basement entry with a partially finished basement, a big lot, and in a beautiful area. Of course, it's not easy to find a job here depending on what you do... You wouldn't be able to get much for your money in Vancouver though... (Maybe Edmonton is cheaper? :) Good luck on the house hunting.

I am enjoying the TDF but I'll be so glad when it's over. I don't think my summer really starts until then. Erik gets up between 5-6:30 and watches it almost every morning so I never get to sleep in until August (I'm over 40 and have a hard time going back to sleep once I wake up, even when I'm tired.) Then I'm tired all day and don't have much energy. Of course we stay up too late every night because it's summer! What a vicious circle...

Hope Floyd wins today. Crossing my fingers.

[Lise]

kg--glad to hear you have a new perspective. Amazing how that can change, right?

CC--good luck with the house hunting.

DD--what's up?

I miss the fishdr. Anybody know when she gets home?

L.

[margo49]

I'm having one of those weeks where it really sucks to be a grownup... :mad:

Know the one....
Yeah I feel like that this past 14Night - broke the beak, got fired, politicians started a war where I live...

Tell you another thing - it's genetic. My son (19) is going thru it now too. I have been planning a Lecture to him on the subject ( understanding and motivating not critical) so if it gets a good reception I will PM you

[Trek420]

crazycanuck "my question to you folks is-how long did it take you to find a house???"

It took about 2 weeks. This was almost 4 years ago, my partner of 11 years came home one day and said we couldn't live together anymore. End of discussion.

You know the saying "you can always tell a Marine, you just can't tell her much" :o

I'm not one to stay where I'm not wanted so once i could speak and breath again (not going to say it was easy) I found a place, financed it, bought it, packed, moved in. ::brushes hands~moves on::

My priorities were: close to BART and I am bikeable to that, a small yard or at least patio for the mutt so 2nd floor was out, somewhere I can walk her, I did not want to be waaaay out in Tracy, Stockton, Union City and spend my life in a car to find an affordable place (woah doggies am I glad for that now), basicly at least half-way decent neighborhood and at my buget that was tough.

I feel I did ok. I found a 2B 1 1/2b condo for $250, the same units then were going at $350+ ish now going for $400+ ish. The reason it was selling that low is both that sellers were very motivated but also poorly served and advised by their realtor. If I had had other options I would have told them "look, let's pretend I'm withdrawing this offer and you do this".

They were a large blended family, one ofter the other they'd lost jobs and could not make it.

I felt sorry for them but they'd put the house on the market, didn't sell, took it off lowered the price repeat indefinately.

All they had to do was *everyone move out, take your c&*^ with you including the crushed velvet paintings of Jesus-at-the-last-supper-with-poker-playing-dogs (I kid you not). If they'd have cleared out and painted they would have at least 100K more.

I walked in and thought "needs new paint and less c&^% on the walls but it's ok". sold.

It needs work, a lotta work. I've re-done the bathroom though still not happy with that, hate the carpet, kitchen is :eek:

I'm planning to re-fi in October'ish and throw money at the kitchen, maybe Pergo if I can swing that too. Then we'll see. I may want to turn the place or stay and enjoy a workable kitchen for a while, we'll see. Stay tuned as MWBR.

[crazycanuck]

Margo, it's nice to see you here! We haven't forgotten about you, don't worry!

I must ask you, how long have you lived in Israel? When you travel overseas do you ever get the stunned silence from people you meet when you tell then where you live? I met some folks from israel a few years ago & had no idea what to talk to them about. This was only because i'm sure the last thing they wanted to discuss was life in Israel & the problems they encounter....

I thought fish was going to be back home around sunday? I sure hope she's enjoying nfld!

Trek-thanks for the info! I hope you are enjoying your house & are making it as comfy comfy as possible.

We have an appt with the mortgage broker on monday...

Watching snippets of the TDF...not that interested i must say.....Bring on the Crocodile trophy I say....nuts but interesting!!!

I would like to know, how do the riders get chosen by the sponsored TDF teams? How does it work??

c

[DirtDiva]

Y'all are too sweet. :o My dad was diagnosed with cancer last August. He's been doing okay, but I've just realised that there will come a day when I have to chuck in my independence and move home because it's the only way my mum will be able to cope. Something I will do without thought or question, but will never be ready for. :(

[Lise]

Y'all are too sweet. :o My dad was diagnosed with cancer last August. He's been doing okay, but I've just realised that there will come a day when I have to chuck in my independence and move home because it's the only way my mum will be able to cope. Something I will do without thought or question, but will never be ready for. :(
Yup. Grown-up sux sometimes. :( And on the other hand, a privilege to get to love people that way. I know that day is coming with my mom. Not here yet. Are your folks in the UK? (((DirtDiva/tlk))) L.

[Lise]

Margo! Glad to hear from you. We here at TE do worry about you.

[KnottedYet]

Allow me to interject with a little levity! This morning I realized I have NO saddlebags anymore!

Yes, indeedy, I was in my bathroom utterly thrilled and taking pics of my own butt!

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m21/KnottedYet/DSCN0018.jpg

[KnottedYet]

Oh, jeez, I'm sorry guys. I didn't know the pic would come out that BIG. (ok, so it's a BIG butt with no saddlebags)

This is only the second picture I've posted. How do I make it smaller? (SKnot isn't here to help me this time)

Knotted The Computer Illiterate

[KnottedYet]

DD - I chucked it all in and moved home when my dad was at the end of his fight with cancer. It was actually a good couple months, weird as that may sound.

I moved out again afterwards.

[Trek420]

nice abs :) I'm not posting mine ;-)

[KnottedYet]

My abs were nicer last summer when I was kayaking 3 or 4 times a week. Should've taken a pic of them back then. I just can't get over the fact that there are no little blobby-wobblers between my waistband and my back pocket!

Bring on the gorgeous hotties!

[Trek420]

KnottedYet "Bring on the gorgeous hotties!"

excuse me? You have a DP. So you just lure them in with the abs...but send them down here? ;)

[Lise]

Lookin' good, kn! Yep, can't complain about your butt anymore! We've seen the evidence!!! And those excess gorgeous hotties? Send at least half of them midwest-way, 'K? Thanks. :cool: :D

[Trek420]

is this what they call in marketing "bait and switch" :confused: we could get sued. "I thought I was getting....."

[KnottedYet]

Yup, got the DPITA. but fer once in my life I'd like to have gorgeous hotties yearning after me. Never had that. Always had to chase and charm.

Sigh, poor Knot, never the popular one...

<wipes away a tear>

DPITA is 15 years older than me, and has younger and older gorgeous hotties popping out of the woodwork ALL THE TIME. It's amazing! We counted one day, and she had 4 serious flirts and 1 "silently and obviously checking out her butt" in one afternoon. Chickies follow her around in the grocery store and chat her up in the checkout line!

I wanna get me some of that...


Edit: I should send DPITA a copy of that pic. "hurry home, honey!"

[kelownagirl]

Allow me to interject with a little levity! This morning I realized I have NO saddlebags anymore!

Yes, indeedy, I was in my bathroom utterly thrilled and taking pics of my own butt!


Lucky you KN! You give me hope! So what is your secret?!?! I am slooooowwwwwlllllllyyy losing weight - maybe this time next year I can post a similar picture. Right now I am happy that I can't see my rolls if I am stretching my arms up in the air. Now if only I didn't look so stupid walking around with my arms up in the air, it would be ok...:rolleyes:

[KnottedYet]

The secret is: ride your bike! Eat whatever you want! Rent a kayak and paddle!

I'm serious! That's all I did.

After a couple weeks of guilt-free eating whatever I wanted (no matter what it was) I was heartily tired of chocolate and goodies, and was craving all those healthy foods.

I still eat what I want and when i want, and often it's good stuff as well as the fun stuff. somehow it just works. If I don't feel guilty or try to squash cravings, it all works out just fine.

[Trek420]

KnottedYet "I should send DPITA a copy of that pic. "hurry home, honey!""

Good idea. Tell her that hundreds of hottie women want your abs. Don't tell her as far as we know we just want abs like yours....just anything to get her home.

[DrBee]

I miss the fishdr. Anybody know when she gets home?

L.

Awwwww that's sweet! :D

I'm not home yet, but finally had a chance to check TE for just a minute. Of course -the first place I came was TD. I fly out tomorrow morning early. Sounds like I have a bunch to catch up on. Newfoundland is fantastic! And CC - I made it to Tim Hortons - I didn't realize Timbits were donut holes. Cute! Yummy, too! I love that when your order a sandwich meal that you get a donut - how cool is that.

There are two jobs that just opened up here - it's tempting. I'm not sure Mr. Fish would go for icebergs though.

I finally gave my talk today - got great feedback and lots of complements :)

Nice lack of saddlebags Knotted. Someday mine will disappear.

Well ladies - I've gotta go to bed. I just had to check in and say "hey". I'll catch up with you on Monday! Night night!

[kelownagirl]

OK, what does DPITA stand for and who is she? (Dear Pain In The ***?).

Fishdr - glad you are enjoying NFLD. Have you ever been to BC?

[Trek420]

Domestic Partner Pain In The Asp I think :D

[crazycanuck]

I am sitting here reading a rather intersting Editorial from The Australian & thought it would be interesting to share.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,19866119-7583,00.html

Fish-Good to hear Nfld has been good to you. If you do find a job up in our (barb's back yard, not mine at the moment) back yard so to speak in NFLD the housing prices are great, it's small, awesome hiking, wildlife that won't eat you but will ruin your car(moose) and it's uber friendly. The only downside is it's F***ing expensive to travel from NFLD to anywhere!!! (at least with Air Canada...)
Gros Morne National park would be on your doorstep, L'anse aux meadows (oldest settlement in north america i think), whales, ice bergs & the funky names!! Oh & better yet-the traditions of The Rock (as we know nfld)

Ah yes, Tim Hortons-wonderful if you're backpacking & need a cheap lunch!!! mmmmm...

I wanted to share some photos from a gent who just survived a bear attack in wawa (ontario)but they're a bit gory...If you'd like the link let me know. (It appears the gent is a friend of someone who posts on a brat site....)

c

[crazycanuck]

I love this and have to agree!!!


26 reasons why men should have dogs and not wives...

1. The later you are, the more exited your dog is to see you.
2. Dogs will forgive you for playing with other dogs.
3. If a dog is gorgeous, other dogs don't hate it.
4. Dogs don't notice if you call them by another dog's name.
5. Dogs like it if you leave a lot of things on the floor.
6. A dog's parents never visit.
7. Dogs do not hate their bodies.
8. Dogs agree that you have to raise your voice to get your point across.
9. Dogs like to do their snooping outside rather than in your wallet or desk.
10. Dogs seldom outlive you.
11. Dogs can't talk.
12. You never have to wait for a dog; they're ready to go 24 hours a day.
13. Dogs find you amusing when your drunk.
14. Dogs like to go hunting and fishing.
15. Another man will seldom steal your dog.
16. A dog will not wake you up at night to ask " If I died, would you get another dog?".
17. If a dog has babies, you can put an ad in the paper and give them away.
18. A dog will let you put a studded collar on it without calling you a pervert.
19. A dog won't hold out on you to get a new car.
20. If a dog smells another dog on you, they don't get mad. They just think it's interesting.
21. On a car trip, your dog never insists on running the heater!
22. Dogs don't let magazine articles guide their lives.
23. When your dog get old, you can have it put to sleep.
24. Dogs like to ride in the back of a pick-up truck.
25. Dogs are not allowed in Bloomingdales or Neiman-Marcus.
26. If a dog leaves, it won't take half your stuff.

[Nanci]

I saw a license plate Friday that said ICH THY. Made me think of you!

I am at work. Can't get live video of IMLP...Of course.

Rode the HD yesterday instead of my bike. I now have a helmet and BF has changed my name to Marvin the Martian. Nice. It's really fun.

[KnottedYet]

Gave stinky-dog a haircut.

that was pretty funny! It's so hot here, and he has such long hair. I figured he was suffering. He did suffer through the buzz-cut pretty well, but didn't let me cut his hair as short as I wanted.

Once 2 or 3 inches of hair was gone, he was bouncing around and energetic. Like lambs after they've been sheared.

Now to give him a bath.... :eek:

[chickwhorips]

Rode the HD yesterday instead of my bike. I now have a helmet and BF has changed my name to Marvin the Martian. Nice. It's really fun.

what kind of HD?

[Nanci]

http://www.rmh-d.com/models/FLHTCUI.php

In Vivid Black. We had to get the 2006 because you can't customize the exhaust according to 2007 EPA changes.

http://tinyurl.com/gt4pb The Marvin Head. (Couldn't afford a Shoei- but like the understated flames of this, anyway, and got to talk to someone who had one before buying it).

Isn't it gorgeous???

I'd tell Queen about it, too, but she's off playing with the Gray Whatles or the Mantas or something...

[chickwhorips]

very nice! i like the flames on the helmet.

my friend had a Dyna low rider (http://www.rmh-d.com/models/FXDLI.php) in a really cool yellow. was going to buy it from her, but my car died and i had to get a new one of those first.

i've always like this helmet (http://www.harley-davidson.com/mcm/mcm_product.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442050615&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302285727&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302285727&bmUID=1153689962332&bmLocale=en_US). reminds me of WWII. looks bad @$$.

[Nanci]

Yeah, I like that same helmet- was admiring it on line today. But since I work with pts who have been in helmet-less accidents every day, I am inclined to not want facial fractures or smashed teeth...(It's a very big step for me to even get on a donorcycle- a sign of how much I respect BF's driving).

[dachshund]

Holy Nekkid Butt, batman!
http://www.wallbike.com/Brookssaddles.html#

Y'all have to tell me what you think of this ad. What's goin' on over there at Wallingford?

[salsabike]

Wow. Didn't know they sold S&M stuff there.

[KnottedYet]

Personally, I'm quite fond of that picture.....;)

That was done by Brooks, not Wallingford.

Now if only I could get a copy of the poster. Eh-hem.

[DrBee]

Nanci - I love that license plate! Clever!

Newfoundland was good to me, but this morning I didn't think it was going to let me go! We had a 4.5 hour flight delay. Bad weather in Newark...flight crew arrived at 4am...had to stay in hotel for 8 hours or something...desk crew at airport got signals crossed and booked us all thinking we were leaving at 11am. We left at 1:30pm. Just about everyone on the plane missed their connections. Newark was a nightmare. We waited in line for 2 hrs to get booked on a new flight. I'm actually still in Newark - in a hotel. I'm not getting home tomorrow until 8:00pm. I MISS MY KIDS AND HUBBY!

And nope - never been to BC. I will likely be going to Halifax in the next couple of months.

At least I get to check in on TE :)

[dachshund]

Personally, I'm quite fond of that picture.....;)

That was done by Brooks, not Wallingford.

Now if only I could get a copy of the poster. Eh-hem.

You're right. I was just surprised, since I was searching for some info and clicked on the wallbike "main" page, and this was what they had.

My second thought was, "I wish my hips were that thin."

Otherwise, yeah, kind of a nice picture. :)

[bikerz]

One or two of you may have read that I lost my driver's license (and $24 in a Jimi wallet) today on my morning ride - somewhere along a 12 mile stretch of well-travelled bike trail. I spent 2 hours in the heat and traffic driving and walking around looking for it and finally got too hot and irritated to continue.

My DL has my old address on it, and since I know the folks who live there now and I had called to say that I had lost it, and there was an infintismal chance that some kind soul might find it and mail it to that address.

Well, they called this evening to tell me that someone returned the license (and $22 of the $24, but no Jimi wallet :confused:)! Yay! My faith in humanity and karma is sustained, with the added bonus of not having to waste half a day at the DMV! :)

[salsabike]

Yes!!!! Bikerz, SO glad you don't have to go through the DMV and other stuff.

[Lise]

So glad to hear it, BZ. I can almost see keeping $2 to cover postage. But to keep the wallet and give back the cash? Odd! As you say, though, the main thing is no trip to the DMV! :D

[Trek420]

chickwhorips "i've always like this.....reminds me of WWII. looks bad @$$."

I've never liked those helmets, as a Jew it's not an aspect of WWII I care to be reminded of thank you very much. I remember being on a drive with my Mom and she was shocked that folks would wear that.

And I can't imagine they protect you, ears, face, it's all exposed. :eek:

I think at minimum for some these helmets are a statement "I don't want to wear a helmet so I'll wear the least I can" also (and here I hope we all will take this in the helpfull kind loving spirit supportive spirit that is TE and sing Kumbaya) it says "I don't read history books or care to".

On the other hand, a friend runs this womens bike tour co. It looks fun

www.hugthecurve.com/

[Nanci]

I also think of them as "token" helmets-I don't know how much protection you get, or even if it's enough to save you from a head injury, not to mention facial fractures. In Florida it's legal to ride without a helmet. I support that- let the rider decide. They have to carry extra insurance (in FL) to do it. My feelings are- there aren't enough organ donors to go around- if you ride without a helmet- I hope you're an organ donor. Same thing if you don't wear a seat belt, or go on an ATV at all. (Man are those things killers!!!)

The woman who headed up getting legislation passed to make it legal in FL to ride without a helmet is dead, two years later, from a head injury.

Now I have heard people who choose that kind of helmet over my Marvin the Martian helmet say that they want the peripheral vision, and don't want to decrease what they can hear. I'm not driving- I don't have to worry about that.

I am _proud_ of the US involvement in WWII. I guess I don't get the helmet/Nazi connection, though. I just think it's cool looking.

[Trek420]

Nanci "I am _proud_ of the US involvement in WWII."

I am too :o not expected from the peace-nic eh?

Both parents worked in the Richmond Shipyards. Dad volounteered to serve but was 4F due to his eyesight. Later the military came back to get 4F inductees so they could push paper while others moved to the front. Kaiser shipyards said "oh no you don't, he's doing you more good here" and he did, building liberty ships.

"I guess I don't get the helmet/Nazi connection, though."

It's very reminiscent of a Nazi helmet, about as close as you can get without being one. Maybe since my background's in art I get the form/design thing right away. Suggested improvement to the design is put the organ donor card ON the helmet :D

www.german-helmets.com

[Nanci]

Ok, but _all_ army helmets look like that, including the US. And the motorcycle helmets aren't flared out!

Nanci

[kelownagirl]

Have a good week everyone. I'm heading off to go camping in the hottest spot in Canada (110 yesterday). I plan to try ride up a 10 km long hill. I can manage half of it I'll be happy. See you in a week.

barb

[DirtDiva]

Have a nice trip kelownagirl. :)

Dammit. I finally got around to buying some lock-on grips for the mtb - the slipping has been driving me mad, especially in the warm weather of late. One problem: I can't get 'em on the bike. They're longer than the old ones, so I need to move the shifters inboard. I CAN'T GET THE SCREWS UNDONE!!! :mad: In my next life I'm going to be six feet tall and built like a brick sh*thouse! :rolleyes:

[chickwhorips]

my comment about WWII was not to offend anyone. it was just that i watched a thing on the history channel about WWII a couple of days ago and that was my first thought. it looks like any war helmet (and it doesn't matter which war, think they are still using similar hemets now but more high tech) it actually reminds me more of jesse james, though i can't stand him anymore. was nice to look at for a while though....

i really like the helmet because of the studs on the side. as far as practicality though... agree. no face coverage. i've seen some greusome things with no face protection or helmet.

not that i'm one to talk about helmets. i've finially purchaced one for my mtb after having it for a year and a half (its in the mail somewhere) and i ride a quad (atv) to work without a helmet.

[chickwhorips]

Holy Nekkid Butt, batman!
http://www.wallbike.com/Brookssaddles.html#

Y'all have to tell me what you think of this ad. What's goin' on over there at Wallingford?

my first thought was what's that on her hip?

otherwise i like the picture. very creative, though doesn't bring the eye right to the saddle at first.

[Nanci]

KG, how can it be so hot up there??? It never gets that hot in sunny Florida!

You probably know this, but when you're riding the hill, if you get out of breath or your legs get tired, if you stop and stand still till your heart rate drops a bit, like 2-5 minutes, you can then continue on riding and make it a lot further.

Also, it helps me to just look at the road, if the hill is bad, not how much further I have to go.

Nanci

[Trek420]

chickwhorips "my comment about WWII was not to offend anyone."

not offended, there are sometimes a segment of the biker community who take the look and run with it, memorablia and all. When it's deliberate, that looks offensive to me.

when it's not, it's just :eek: looks unsafe.

"it was just that i watched a thing on the history channel about WWII a couple of days ago and that was my first thought. it looks like any war helmet (and it doesn't matter which war, think they are still using similar hemets now but more high tech)"

they are now, more armor, covering more.

"it actually reminds me more of jesse james, though i can't stand him anymore. was nice to look at for a while though...."

Huh? The western outlaw? I never met him, I'm not THAT old :cool:

"i really like the helmet because of the studs on the side. as far as practicality though... agree. no face coverage. i've seen some greusome things with no face protection or helmet."

I bet. I don't want to know :eek:

I saw a guy wiped out on a bike right in front of me on the fwy. Flipped it 3 times. He walked away with a broken wrist.

He had a full face helmet, I guess you call it balistic fabric everywhere, boots, gloves. whew.

If anyone got me on a bike I would want not just leather, I want the whole dang cow on me :cool:

"not that i'm one to talk about helmets. i've finially purchaced one for my mtb after having it for a year and a half (its in the mail somewhere) and i ride a quad (atv) to work without a helmet."

I'm not one to talk either, I need a new one, I never ride without one, and change it each year but I'm about 9 months over due. Next bike swap meet.

[Tater]

"it actually reminds me more of jesse james, though i can't stand him anymore. was nice to look at for a while though...."

Huh? The western outlaw? I never met him, I'm not THAT old :cool:



Uh, could it be Sandra Bullock's hubby? He's a motorcycle designer/builder.

[dachshund]

Then there's the guy in the background.... And what's she holding - a cardboard sign? It was hot yesterday, obviously this provided me several minutes of entertainment... :rolleyes:

bikerz: Sorry to hear about losing your wallet, but I'm glad it worked out.

[Nanci]

http://tinyurl.com/l82sq

I was thinking western Jesse James, too, until Tater said Sandra Bullock's husband. That's for sure the right Jesse.

He's kind of hot.

[chickwhorips]

yup its that other jesse james. with the bad boy look. :cool:

i've always figured for safer motorcycles they need a suit that you hook up to your bike (kinda like an outboard motor) and when you get in an accident it kills the motor and the suit that you have on blows up like a bubble so you don't get hurt, just bounce a bit.

[chickwhorips]

not offended, there are sometimes a segment of the biker community who take the look and run with it, memorablia and all. When it's deliberate, that looks offensive to me.


i can't belive people would run with it like that. its so sad. there is just some things in life i don't understand and hating someone because of how they look/act/are just doesn't make sense to me.

[Lise]

I thought the western outlaw train robber Jesse James, too!

Did any of you ever watch Young Guns? It's ooooold now, but it's a fun movie, and it never hurt anybody to stare at the adorable Keifer Sutherland, Emilio Estevez, and Lou Diamond Phillips for two hours!

Funny helmet story: Yesterday I was getting out of my car on my sister's quiet suburban street, when I saw two teens, a boy and a girl, riding up the street on bikes. First I noticed the great panier set up on the boy's bike. It looked like he was ready to go touring. As they approached, I heard he was explaining, "...I always wear a helmet on my other bike, or when it's raining, or..." and then they were out of my earshot. Good grief! I could've finished it with "...or when I'm not trying to impress a cute girl and don't care how dorky I look..." :rolleyes: Cuz we all know that he'd never get hit by a car unless it was raining or he was riding the other bike...

Got my new orthotics. Going to take a nap, then go to the New Balance store and get new running shoes.

[chickwhorips]

Got my new orthotics. Going to take a nap, then go to the New Balance store and get new running shoes.

good luck with the orthotics. trying to break mine in. i think they are breaking me. just keep reminding myself.... slow and steady....

[DirtDiva]

i've always figured for safer motorcycles they need a suit that you hook up to your bike (kinda like an outboard motor) and when you get in an accident it kills the motor and the suit that you have on blows up like a bubble so you don't get hurt, just bounce a bit.
Ha! I love it. Great visions of motorcyclists bouncing down the road. Boing boing boing... :D

[Selkie]

I'm sick of the whole naked chick thing. Why not have a naked GUY for a change?

[Veronica]

I'm sick of the whole naked chick thing. Why not have a naked GUY for a change?


'Cause guys have hairy butts. :D

V.

[Nanci]

Not all of 'em!!

(Hairy butts)

The naked Lance photo is always nice. But kind of grim.

[chickwhorips]

'Cause guys have hairy butts. :D

V.

i've known guys that wax! former bf of mine was very particular about waxing. (thankfully!)

[Nanci]

Ok, so I've been agonizing over the HD taking over the 8x20 shed and displacing the lawn mower. It's a nice lawn mower, from Sears, with a 52" deck- it's big! It's one of my first grown up by myself purchases post-DH. It's been raining every day since we got the HD. The mower has been out in the rain. We need to buy another shed for the HD so it can live in luxury away from the dangerous bikes and dive gear and all that. But money doesn't grow on trees, and even rent to own, you still need the first and last months' payments.

So this afternoon, I get home, and it's starting to rain, (and Lise, the DVDs have returned safely! Guess what I'm doing tonight!) and I thought, hey, what if I put up the old tent that's too sh*tty to use any more, but too beloved to just throw away? It would make a good lawn mower house! So I did!! BF is going to be surprised when he gets home...

Mmm, lasagna in the oven, freshly-done nails (nothing is better!!), my choice of either Lindemans Shiraz or Merlot, both are cold (have to put in fridge, room temp here is 78F, too warm for wine drinking- and it warms up fast in the glass), no more lawn mower anxiety, probably there will be slugs out after the rain for Fagalo, or else I managed to find a box of nightcrawlers at Petsmart which he also enjoys when it's not the right time of day for slugs. If it would just stop sprinkling, I could take the torts out to graze. I have _four_ new books to read- three about cycling, and also "Party of One, the Loner's Manifesto" which was recommended on the ultrarunning list. (See, it's a sign that I will enjoy that book because I'd rather sit on the patio with Dill and the torts than go out).

Last night we watched "The Green Mile." I read it when it was first published as a serial novel- that was so cool! The movie is true to the book. Even though I've seen it a few times, and have it memorized, I still bawled my eyes out at the end.

But tonight it's IM 2005!!

[Trek420]

DirtDiva "Ha! I love it. Great visions of motorcyclists bouncing down the road. Boing boing boing... :D"

I'm so NOT a big Woody Allen fan but also visions from Everything You Always Wanted to Know About...where he escapes using the big blow up suits...boing boing boing

bork bork bork

[Jones]

I don't know what the naked girls sign says butt( pun intended) she is standing in front of the English Prime Ministers House, 10 Downing St.

[maillotpois]

I don't know what the naked girls sign says butt( pun intended) she is standing in front of the English Prime Ministers House, 10 Downing St.


Well, that Tony Blair is a hotty....

[dachshund]

Well, that Tony Blair is a hotty....
See? You just never know where these topics will lead. :p

[Jones]

I've always had a thing for English men, thanks for the laugh. Jones

[maillotpois]

I've always had a thing for English men, thanks for the laugh. Jones


Me, too. Colin Firth.....

[margo49]

Me too

They are better from a distance tho'

Brideshead, anyone?

[Lise]

Gotta love Thread Drift...:D

[Veronica]

I like English Toffee flavored coffee.

V.

[snapdragen]

I like Monty Python and Dr. Who...

[KnottedYet]

Yup, she's a protester (hence the cardboard sign and the peace tattoo).

Do ya think they airbrushed her tushie? If I looked that good nekkid, I'd pull a Godiva, too. And on a bike as well! (since I ride a bike, not a horse)


"Lady Godiva, B18's her seat
Hanging out where all the politicians meet"
(apologies to John Paul George and Ringo)

[DrBee]

I don't have time to catch up right now, that'll be tomorrow.

I have finally made it home! My kids immediately attached themselves to me...so did Mr. Fish! It's great to be home!

I can't wait to catch up!

[Nanci]

I x-rayed a woman once who broke her back doing a Lady Godiva with a horse, then there she was, nekkid, when the paramedics came and on the trip to the hospital. Can you imagine how many times she had to tell people _why_ she wasn't wearing clothes?

[Lise]

And all through the Bayou, they're singing:
the fish is home
and we're gonna be ha-ppy
hey-la, hey-la,
the fish is home!

:D :p :D

Welcome home, fish.

Re: nekkid butt lady--I cringed at the thought of nekkid-ness on a bike saddle, but that's me. The gal in the picture certainly has some fine lines! In the case of the paramedics/x-ray/Lady Godiva case...I think I'd pretend I had traumatic amnesia, were I the, uh, patient. :rolleyes:

[KnottedYet]

Many years ago I saw a pic of Missy Giove riding a nekkid race. It was the night-time entertainment at some mtb race weekend.

so it was dark, and only from the back. And there were a couple other nekkid butts in the picture.

(sigh. Back when Missy and I were young... Does anyone even know who she is anymore? I never hear about her.)

[chickwhorips]

I x-rayed a woman once who broke her back doing a Lady Godiva with a horse, then there she was, nekkid, when the paramedics came and on the trip to the hospital. Can you imagine how many times she had to tell people _why_ she wasn't wearing clothes?

at least they didn't have to cut any close off of her to examin her.

[DrBee]

And all through the Bayou, they're singing:
the fish is home
and we're gonna be ha-ppy
hey-la, hey-la,
the fish is home!

:D :p :D

Welcome home, fish.



Thanks Lise! It's great to be home! I still haven't had a chance to catch up on TE TD yet, let alone the other topics. I did get a much needed haircut and finished shopping for my SS. Wahoo!

I'll check in later and see about this naked lady thing.

One sad, but pertinent thing that happened at the meeting was that a woman from Russia had cramps in her calf and ended up going to the hospital and having surgery to remove clots in her legs. Yup - DVT. We had some interesting conversations about DVT and I told some people about what had happened to MP and they were amazed she was alive! Well - this woman from Russia didn't have any insurance and her hospital bills were $2100 CDN per day. She's going to have to stay in St. John's until she is allowed to fly again. We took donations to help her out. With 500 participants at the meeting, I'm sure they raised a bunch of money. We all moved our legs around on the flights after that!

Gotta run to the post office. I'll be back later!

[Nanci]

(I don't have your e-mail at my work...)

(This is an update on my friend who is running the Badwater Ultramarathon, 135 miles in Death Valley, as the first stage of the Death Valley Cup, the second stage of which is the Furnace Creek 508 cycling race, also in Death Valley, which MP had hoped to do this year in October until the PE happened...)

(The winner, Scott Jurek, finished in 25:41 hours. He also won last year. The time limit is 60 hours. Yesterday, when the race started, the high was 126 and the low was 100!)

Hello to Everyone,

I haven't received and more phone call updates, but from his last splits the third time station at mile 72 shows that David gained 7 hours on his run time over last year. He had been ill during this part of the race last year but nothing like that this year !! Keep it up Crew!! Check out www.badwater.com if you are able. Thank You ALL for the e-mails and I have printed them and have them ready to inspire the tired runner that will be checking in with me. Thanks Again! GO TEAM HARPER!!!

Tamara

[Nanci]

I still love watching Brokebike Mountain http://www.wefightms.com/index.html

[snapdragen]

I got my Banana Bag today! I'm so excited, I can't wait to get Bleu all dressed up with her new bag.

*It only got to 98 degrees today*:rolleyes:

[maillotpois]

(I don't have your e-mail at my work...)

(This is an update on my friend who is running the Badwater Ultramarathon, 135 miles in Death Valley, as the first stage of the Death Valley Cup, the second stage of which is the Furnace Creek 508 cycling race, also in Death Valley, which MP had hoped to do this year in October until the PE happened...)

(The winner, Scott Jurek, finished in 25:41 hours. He also won last year. The time limit is 60 hours. Yesterday, when the race started, the high was 126 and the low was 100!)

Hello to Everyone,

I haven't received and more phone call updates, but from his last splits the third time station at mile 72 shows that David gained 7 hours on his run time over last year. He had been ill during this part of the race last year but nothing like that this year !! Keep it up Crew!! Check out www.badwater.com if you are able. Thank You ALL for the e-mails and I have printed them and have them ready to inspire the tired runner that will be checking in with me. Thanks Again! GO TEAM HARPER!!!

Tamara


Thanks for those updates, Nanci! Your friend is doing so well!

Where do I know the name Scott Jurek? I wonder if he did the 508? I shall have to research.

[Trek420]

snapdragen "I can't wait to get Bleu all dressed up with her new bag."

shoes and gloves to match?

[maillotpois]

So I forgot to mention - yesterday I met with my new pulmonologist. I call him Dr. Lung. He was able to pull up my CT scans at his desk and show me (I hadn't seen them before). Wow - how cool is that to be able to see inside your body?!?!? My ribs are SO COOL!! And you could see super bright white stuff from where the iodine "dye" went into my veins.

And the scans proved it - I am totally flat chested... :rolleyes:

And the pulmonary emboli (lots of the suckers, some kinda big, but none in major vessels) look like donuts: bright white working blood vessels (from the iodine dye stuff) surrounding the darker non-conductive clot material donut hole!

All in all, super fun. Of course I wanted to be able to watch my own ganglion cyst hand surgery 10 years ago, too. I love that stuff. (My sister's an ortho surgery nurse, and my mom (biological) is also a nurse. Maybe it's genetic?)

Sort of good news/bad news/bad news: Good news: I am not dead (yet). Bad news: no riding for 6 months, period. He was VERY adamant about that. Bad news again (but maybe we can turn this around): I have over 25% lung impairment - NOT related to the clots. Asthma or ??? More investigative work to be done. At least I am starting to understand why I am such a HEAVY breather while climbing on my bike! :cool:

[SadieKate]

Bad news about the lungs, but good news you know now and can start the work. How's the running?

I watched my first knee arthroscopy. Pretty cool. I was prepped for general anesthesia (just in case) so I was kind of fuzzy about the details. It was like it was somebody else's knee on the TV monitor.

[chickwhorips]

sorry to hear you can't bike for a while. hopefully you still can stay active somehow. hope the lungs start to feel better.

i had a scar revision done on my tummy (that they had to do a tummy tuck for also, thank you dr) and i was awake for that whole thing. was kinda cool. though strange when they were working on me we were listing to the rock station and chatting about the tv show average joe. just seemed bizzar to me. i've always been interested in medical stuff like that. watching some of the stuff on discovery health channel grosses bf out but i love it.

[maillotpois]

Bad news about the lungs, but good news you know now and can start the work. How's the running?

I watched my first knee arthroscopy. Pretty cool. I was prepped for general anesthesia (just in case) so I was kind of fuzzy about the details. It was like it was somebody else's knee on the TV monitor.

Man I would love to see the arthroscopy! They even put up a curtain for my c-section. I wish I'd seen more of that. Maybe they switched the PP on me while I couldn't look. Nah - stubborn, crazy weird, annoying, talkative, blonde. She's mine.

The running.... well, I have been doing a lot of spin and plan to run this weekend. Stacy and I are doing part of the Dipsea which will be good. I just have not had the time to go outside - what with the Tour and the global warming and all! But all in all I am feeling good.

I think the lung impairment will be able to be improved. I have to believe that. It is probably actual asthma or something. Whatever. Mike has a friend who's 70 and has like 1/4 of his lung left (he was a firefighter and has smoke/burn issues) and he kicks our butt on every hill we climb, so I figure it can't be that bad!

Funny, I have a friend who spins with me - she's a psychologist - and she was telling me this morning how amazed she was about my attitude. Well, what am I going to do? Hole up on the sofa and eat mint milanos? As tempting as that sounds, bottom line is - I could EASILY have died and I didn't. Sure there are some hurdles. But it could have been SO much worse, and I am not throwing it away. So there! :cool:

And one of these days, I will be able to beat the Grand Pois up a hill again.

[Lise]

MP--some people take "I could have easily died" and ride their couch for the rest of their miserable lives. You are just as alive as you ever were (and that's pretty darned alive), and finding a way to stay in it. I find it something to admire and emulate. You and Floyd Landis are examples to me.

("Well, Lise, Floyd won the TdF with a dead hip. MP rode incredibly hard, long rides with PEs throughout her lungs. Aaaand, your excuse would be....? Don't have one after all? I thought not!" :rolleyes: )

Nanci, I continue to love Brokebike Mtn, too! You posted that link the week I went on my one and only date with the guy who did the MS 150 in TX. I sent him the link after we went out to dinner. Wasn't that sweet of me? Thoughtful? Fun? His emailed reply? "I'm really busy at work right now." And I was surprised when he blew me off for our second date? :cool: :p

Got my new running shoes with my orthotics today. Wore them for 2 hours, as instructed. Walked the 6 blocks to the grocery store and 6 blocks back. Can I count that as run training? :o I *did* swim 1/2 mile in Lake Michigan today (plenty of stopping and panting), and rode 15 miles today. Tomorrow I run in the new shoes. Not far, breaking them in.

[KnottedYet]

MP - maybe you should change yer name to "KnottedYet", too. :D

(not dead yet)

[margo49]

Yeah, looking at the inside of your body is fun
Pregnancy ultrasounds are the best of course. They could hook me up to one of those things for 9 months
Nearly fainted when I saw A Nex Ray of all the structural engineering they did on my arm after I got nearly squashed to deff by a stoopid jerk in charge of a tractor tho'.

[dachshund]

Nearly fainted when I saw A Nex Ray of all the structural engineering they did on my arm after I got nearly squashed to deff by a stoopid jerk in charge of a tractor tho'.

Ooh, yeah, that would be intense.

MP, I'm amazed at how well you're doing with all this. I hope the 6 months pass quickly. I'm sure everyone here is happy to help with the entertainment portion of the program. :)

I'm fascinated by all that med-science stuff, too. I watched my ultrascopic knee surgery... I peeked at the monitor during gum surgery recently. Pretty gross, though. The strangest of all - I've seen my colon live and in action. Don't ask me any more about that one, I don't want to think about it. (test was negative) But while it was going on it was like, wow, look at that...

[crazycanuck]

Hey lise,

Sitting here wondering if your package arrived or if some lovely person at the post office has lost it.

If it sits in a warehouse for a few days the tim tams will be a gooey mess...:mad:

c

[Lise]

Hey lise,

Sitting here wondering if your package arrived or if some lovely person at the post office has lost it.

If it sits in a warehouse for a few days the tim tams will be a gooey mess...:mad:

c
Nope, not yet. I'll post the moment I get it!

..........................................

Having nothing to do with CC's package....
The air conditioner in the bedroom turned itself off overnight. WHY? I woke up hot and sweaty, to a silent room. No whirr of the ac. Bad sign. I turned it back on, it works, just...not when it doesn't feel like it? argh. The one in the dining room is working fine, but my bed room was hot, and not for any good reasons! ;)

[DirtDiva]

Would it be so bad, though, if they solidified into one giant Tim Tam? :D

And, in the spirit of giant snacks and thread drift... Pimp that Snack! (http://www.pimpthatsnack.com/gallery.php) :p

[margo49]

My remedy for non-pristine-condition TimTams is to crush them up roughly and use as the base for a cheesecake (the gelatine unbaked kind)

[Nanci]

I want the maple cookie, the devil's chocolate orange, the Hostess cupcake, giant California roll, custard tart, I guess that's it.

[DrBee]

MP - You are so resilient! I hope they find a quick remedy for your reduced lung capacity. At least you can keep spinning and running. :)

And about watching medical procedures. No, thank you. I was perfectly happy to be knocked out during both of my knee surgeries. Ick! However, I was sitting a the right angle to pretty much see my son being born and that was amazing. Birth is one thing, but watching sugery - nah, not for me.

[Lise]

"pimp" seems to mean "make ridiculously large version of" :rolleyes: Although the Eeek-clair looks about right sized to me!

I'll let y'all know the condition of the Tim-Tams when they arrive!

Do you ever find yourself wanting to eat what you're reading about? I'm reading The Hummingbird's Daughter, about country people in Mexico in the 1800s. It's a remarkable, wonderful book, and made me crave corn tortillas and nopales. Made nopal salad yesterday (nopales are cactus; you can buy them sliced up and pickled, no prickers, of course). Nopales, onion, cilantro, feta cheese, mild chiles, some red pepper for bite. This morning I heated up a couple of corn tortillas, sliced some left over steak and heated that, threw in a bit of avocado and some nopales. YUM! Some mornings I just can't take another bowl of cereal! :p

[Nanci]

The team just checked in around 5:50 AM Death Valley Time or 8:50 Eastern Standard Time. David has gone through the fifth time station and onward through Lone Pine Campground and is at the MT.. Whitney Portal with 7 miles until the finish. He is disappointed I know because he will finish about 4 to 5 hours short of a Buckle Award, which is what he really would have like to had accomplished. They will come into the finish about the same time as last year, at 52 hours or so.

A a spectator, I am in awe of the crew and Dave and their combined efforts to complete such a endeavor. They have worked together and could not have produced this result one without the other. Thanks to everyone for their support through e-mail. SEE YOU AT THE FINISH TEAM HARPER!!!

[chickwhorips]

And, in the spirit of giant snacks and thread drift... Pimp that Snack! (http://www.pimpthatsnack.com/gallery.php) :p

those make me hungry and sick to my tummy at the same time.

[DrBee]

Do you ever find yourself wanting to eat what you're reading about? I'm reading The Hummingbird's Daughter,

I thought you were going to say you wanted to eat hummingbirds. :p I spit my cantaloupe out on that one!




Nanci - Sorry to hear your friend is going to be disappointed. I'm in awe of anyone that would take on such an adventure.

[Nanci]

My friend Dave has finished the Badwater Ultramarathon- 135 miles of Death Valley. Time of 51:48- 56 minutes faster than last year! (The other Florida Death Valley Cup hopeful finished in 47:08- so now we have two people to root for at Furnace Creek 508!!)

[maillotpois]

Fantastic!!! And better than last year has to make him feel good, even if he might have been slower than he'd hoped. Amazing he could do that with his blisters and all.

[Nanci]

I hope he took pics of his feet...

[snapdragen]

Ratz

Went to the dentist today to get a filling replaced. She couldn't use the fancy water laser, they don't work well removing old silver fillings. :(

But, I have to say - a brand new shiny dentist office is way cool. She had some kind of electronic gizmo for the anesthesia (no needle!). And the drill didn't bother me at all. I wonder if the electronic gizmo is able to locate the numbing stuff (scientific term there...) better. Anyway, appointment was at 8:40, by 10:30 the numbness was gone. And I have a lovely shiny white tooth now.

[Lise]

WOW. That Badwater race is incredible. A friend loaned me a book about it--not particularly well written, or just not my style for reading, but amazing facts. What the human body and spirit can do.

Snap--sorry to hear about the filling. Glad the anesthesia didn't require a needle. I hate that moment of injection.

I am freakishly bored at the clinic. Where are my patients? I should look at Friday; I'm probably double-booked all day. :rolleyes: I don't mind quiet at all. Just seems like a waste of time (mine) and money (theirs). But I'm on call tonight, so I'm just as glad not to work my butt off all day.

Yeah, no hummingbird eating around here! One, they're supposed to be messenger from the Holy. Two, who could catch one? Three, not much meat! :p Great book, though.

[chickwhorips]

snap - glad the tooth adventure wasn't to bad.

here is a pic of my friend's cake. figured it went well with the pimp my food link

[Lise]

As my 7 year old nephew would say:


WHOA!

Quite a cake! What was the occasion?

[chickwhorips]

it was for a birthday.

[snapdragen]

Lise, I actually did catch a hummingbird once! He had flown into the garage, and was trying to get through the window. I managed to cup my hands over him then hold him until I got out of the garage. The most wonderful, bizzare, magical feeling!:D I could feel his little heart going a zillion beats per minute.:cool:

[salsabike]

I had SUCH an incredible encounter with an Anna's hummingbird in my yard a few years ago. I was standing in the garden and it was feeding on the crocosmia a yard or two away. All of a sudden, it flew over to me and hovered about six inches in front of my face, right at eye level, looking me dead in the eyes. I think I said, very quietly, something idiotic like "Hello, little bird..." It stayed for 30-40 seconds---a LONG time. Went back to feeding. And then came back once more and did it again. I was just blown away. I love them.

[Lise]

Lise, I actually did catch a hummingbird once! He had flown into the garage, and was trying to get through the window. I managed to cup my hands over him then hold him until I got out of the garage. The most wonderful, bizzare, magical feeling!:D I could feel his little heart going a zillion beats per minute.:cool:
What a wonderful memory. :D

I trust...that you didn't eat him. :eek: Don't look at me like that! fishdr started it! :p

[Lise]

I had SUCH an incredible encounter with an Anna's hummingbird in my yard a few years ago. I was standing in the garden and it was feeding on the crosomia a yard or two away. All of a sudden, it flew over to me and hovered about six inches in front of my face, right at eye level, looking me dead in the eyes. I think I said, very quietly, something idiotic like "Hello, little bird..." It stayed for 30-40 seconds---a LONG time. Went back to feeding. And then came back once more and did it again. I was just blown away. I love them.
They are considered by many to bring messages of great joy. What a blessing to be greeted that way. My grandparents had a hummingbird feeder outside their dining room window. They were visited sometimes -- I wish I had clearer memories of it.

[Lise]

I was so excited by CC's box from Oz, that I totally forgot the box that arrived from TE today, too! I got a green Polar bottle to go with the Green Hornet, a new pair of Terry "relaxed" shorts, and a new pair of tri shorts from "Oomph".

The tri shorts are "compression" shorts, and believe me, they compress. http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=20928
I got this style because there are three pockets--one on each leg, and a little tiny one in the back. I like to carry chapstick, Gu, and ... whatever on a race. Heck, I'd carry a purse if I could get away with it! :p But seriously...they felt way too tight when I first put them on, but I guess that's the point. Reduce drag in the water (although I'll be wearing my shorty wetsuit over them), and support the muscles in the bike and run.

The Terry shorts are nice. http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=14007
The fabric is not shiny, which I like. Looks less like "hey, look at me, these are my thighs in biking shorts!" The chamois doesn't look like much to write home about. Who knows how it will feel. That you can only tell about while riding. They call it "comfort chamois". It's obviously not for long rides, but I hope it's good for riding about town, to work, etc.

The Polar bottle is even more beautiful than in the pictures! http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=20854
I have an "old" white Polar bottle from last year...it looks pretty drab next to the new one. I wanted two for tris and longer rides in the heat. This way I can use one for water, one for electrolyte drink, and remember which is which. Of course I want to get a blue one now...wouldn't that look lovely with the the Bianchi...one green bottle, one blue...ahhh....:p

[SadieKate]

When I was in 2nd grade the school nurse called me to her office :eek: where it turned out she wanted me to take home a baby "sparrow" she had found (my mom was known for taking in rescue wildlife and our menagerie of aminals). Precocious little snot that I was, I told the nurse that sparrows did not have long bills and that this was a baby hummingbird. You ever tried to raise a baby hummingbird. The metabolism! OMG! We squished out the insides of mealworms and mixed it with something (water?) and somehow my mom got this stuff down it's throat.

It was an Anna's and it would sing along with my father when he practiced recorder (Handel, Telemann, etc., not folk songs) - except the bird only sang in rusty Q-flat.:p

[snapdragen]

No, I did not munch on Mr. Hummingbird, I set him free. :cool:

WATERBOTTLES!!! I almost forgot, I bought a new Camelbak bottle this weekend to use at work. Way cool, it has a bite valve like a camelbak, and a plastic bottle - kinda like the nalgene (sp?) bottles. But the best part is, they say the lid (with straw and bite valve) will fit any standard bottle. I'm thinking this lid, on a Polar bottle = way, way, cool.

[SadieKate]

I bought one of those bottles for my last business trip. Long flights and lots of sitting around. Took some Crystal Lite singles and had some nice lemonade while everyone else was stuck with whatever leftover soda was on hand (why can't they ever supply enough diet soda?).

It worked really well in my carry-on. No leakage at all.

[maillotpois]

No, I did not munch on Mr. Hummingbird, I set him free. :cool:

WATERBOTTLES!!! I almost forgot, I bought a new Camelbak bottle this weekend to use at work. Way cool, it has a bite valve like a camelbak, and a plastic bottle - kinda like the nalgene (sp?) bottles. But the best part is, they say the lid (with straw and bite valve) will fit any standard bottle. I'm thinking this lid, on a Polar bottle = way, way, cool.


That's a great bottle! One of my riding friends ("the Butcher", my dermatologist), kept having problems with cracks in her teeth, and traced it back to pulling open the nozzle-squirty-thingy (what IS the term?) on standard cycling bottle. Just a thought if anyone has any dental fragility issues. This bottle would definitely solve that problem!

[snapdragen]

I'm really happy with the bottle, it helps me stay hydrated at work. Our tap water is skunky in my building, so I've been hauling gallon jugs in....:eek:

[salsabike]

SK, what a great story. Good music, too (your dad's, that is. As you say, they just kind of croak tunelessly--chk, chk, chk).

After my face-to-face with that Anna's, I did everything I could to keep them in the yard through the winter--got a bunch of winter-blooming hummingbird flowers, put up a feeder when the regular flowers start to fade and keep it up till spring. And I've had them winter over here for the last four years or so. Here's a picture of one from the living room window in the January Seattle bleah rain season. She sure brightened up THAT day.

1117

[snapdragen]

Kewel! I love hummingbirds. We have a feeder in the back and one on the front porch. They hang out all year round here. Sometimes one will come and hover in front of my bedroom window, as if to say "HEY! The feeder is empty! Hop to it!"

[maillotpois]

Salsa- I have to say that is one of the most amazing stories ever. Call you St. Francis...

[dachshund]

Kewel! I love hummingbirds. We have a feeder in the back and one on the front porch. They hang out all year round here. Sometimes one will come and hover in front of my bedroom window, as if to say "HEY! The feeder is empty! Hop to it!"

Oh yeah! Ours have actually tapped on the window. I'm not making this up. We look out, and sure enough, the feeder's low. They're too funny.

We have orioles here during the summer, and they like the same sweet nectar. They'll follow the hummingbirds around to find their feeders. Imagine seeing this on your hummingbird feeder - they're as big as blue jays.

1118

[dachshund]

salsabike - what a sweet picture!

[Veronica]

I had a hummingbird crash into our window once. It actually revived and flew away. I stood guard over to make sure no predators bothered it.

V.

[snapdragen]

dachshund, how cool! We get Orioles too, but they're always too skittish for me to get a picture. They always pull the little yellow thing off the feeders.

[dachshund]

Thanks - I got lucky this one time, only because I took it from inside the house. :)

There was a female oriole around here for a while that would hang on the cord of the feeder, peer into the window, and sing. I figured she was looking at her reflection. This was so cool that we went out and got a "real" oriole feeder. Then she stopped coming. You go out of your way for your guests, and see what happens.

We've revived a few birds after they hit a window. If the sun's out, they will respond to the warmth.

[winddance]

I had a hummingbird crash into our window once. It actually revived and flew away. I stood guard over to make sure no predators bothered it.

V.

This happened at my house, too! They're tough little critters.

[salsabike]

At the very end of several paragraphs' worth of information on hummingbirds in the Peterson guide, the last sentence is just one word: "Pugnacious." I always find that so delightfully funny. Here are these gorgeous, fairy-like creatures, and at the same time they are really fierce. Aside from the way they chase each other off, I've seen them chase chickadees out of the bird bath when they decided they wanted to drink, and you better believe those chickadees got right the hell out of there. I hear they've been seen to go after owls and hawks.

[salsabike]

Thanks for those updates, Nanci! Your friend is doing so well!

Where do I know the name Scott Jurek? I wonder if he did the 508? I shall have to research.


Who would believe people could even DO this? See this Washington Post article for some amazing descriptive detail. Makes me feel faint in my office chair! Pretty awesome, I'd say--

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/26/AR2006072602001_pf.html

[Nanci]

I got a short note from Dave- his feet were so bad he had to run the last 55 MILES in sandals...

When hummingbirds hover in your face, they are saying "Get out of my territory!"

First aid for a bird that flies into a window is place in a paper bag in a quiet dark place until revived.

I found a bird in the grocery store parking lot- some little black bird. It was stunned, and big black birds were closing in. I picked her up and rolled her into my sweatshirt in my lap. When I got home, my BF came over to the car to get the groceries. I said "Hey, look who I rescued" and unrolled the bird, who promptly flew out the window and away!

There are two cool books by Arnette Heidcamp- "A Hummingbird in My House" and "Rosie: My Rufous Hummingbird."

I have the first one, and had loaned it to someone at work, and someone else saw it, and loaned me the Rosie book.

[crazycanuck]

The house is oh so quiet...

Ian's flight to Auckland leaves soon & i'm sitting here thinking hmmmm..I have the responsibility of househunting, keeping myself in line and do my long bike rides and getting myself to the perth mtb xc race on sunday....

He's off to visit his parents-his dad's not 500%(and will never will be really after his stroke he had almost 3yrs ago-tough bugger though)thought now would be a good time!The dude decided at the last minute to go so i'm here keeping the fort.

There's a dinner with our gang back in auckalnd fri night...not fair...Also not fair is his hometown (rotorua) is home to some of the best mtn biking in nz & he couldn't bring his bike but will rent one...

The hummingbird pics are cool, thanks for posting them. When we buy a house i'll put a bird feeder up.

c

[Trek420]

Birds, there's just no keeping them happy.

I thought Mae would scare them off of the cheap tubular style feeder in the patio but they taunt her, entertain me and ignore the fancy schmancy wood bird feeder with ledges for their little feet in front.

Go figure.

I installed a bird house. Where do they nest? A vent on the wall. I'm not sure what it's for. I was skeered to use the dryer for fear of finding little lint covered birds blown out. :cool:

Then running out of socks I attempted it, birds don't mind.

Still not sure what the vent is for.

I made my own toad house and got a Toad House for my brother and SIL. They are doing the organic garneing thing. We have no toads and they have a batless bat house too.

animals, sheesh kabob.

[Nanci]

Fagalo is sleeping in the house I made for him, rather than the squashed flat by rain cardboard "box" he had been living in. I cut out a door in a plastic flower pot, filled it with hay, put a plastic bag over the top to cover the holes, and put his moldy grass over the top of that for cover. At least he knows how to cooperate!

The pesky truck-nesting house wrens despise the $25 house I bought for them.

[KnottedYet]

Oh, Floyd.... oh dear, dear Floyd.....

(think I'm gonna be sick)

[maillotpois]

Totally sick about Floyd. Just crazy.

We needed some good news in cycling.

[Nanci]

Maybe it's not true...

[Veronica]

I still don't believe it about Tyler either. He spent so much money trying to clear his name...

It does kind of make me wonder if pro cyclists are kind of stupid. Hello guys - you are going to get caught if you use any performance enhancing drugs. So just knock it off.

Hmmm... testosterone... performance enhancing...;)

V.

[Lise]

Oh, man, how I hope it's not doping.

Thanks for all the hummingbird pictures and stories. I am finishing up a work shift. Through the morning I've smiled thinking about hummingbirds being described as "pugnacious", and the fact that their hovering in your face is to say, "Get out of my territory".

I picture a hummingbird hovering there, saying, "C'mon! Bring it! This is my territory! You want a piece of me?!" etc. :p

Now I like them even more than before! Make me think of those little tiny warriors in the Golden Compass series. Gallvespians? Something like that. Home to beddy-bye.

[Nanci]

When I lived in California (worst year of my life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) we had a greenhouse, actually several, and grew cactus, and other things, and there were hummingbirds there. They did a lot of threatening. Cute little guys!

[chickwhorips]

nanci - so something tells me you didn't like california.

[Nanci]

So, really, what is a good excuse for not signing up to be a marrow donor? When you might possibly be that person's ONLY match? And without you, they would DIE??

[DrBee]

So, really, what is a good excuse for not signing up to be a marrow donor? When you might possibly be that person's ONLY match? And without you, they would DIE??

If you've ever talked with someone that benefited from donation - it would be tough to come up with a good excuse.

[DrBee]

I still don't believe it about Tyler either. He spent so much money trying to clear his name...

It does kind of make me wonder if pro cyclists are kind of stupid. Hello guys - you are going to get caught if you use any performance enhancing drugs. So just knock it off.

Hmmm... testosterone... performance enhancing...;)

V.

Seriously - what are they thinking???? I really hope this isn't true about Floyd. We DO need some positive cycling news. It seems like positive cycling news gets tainted with some quip about doping - even if it is totally unrelated to the story.

[maillotpois]

So, really, what is a good excuse for not signing up to be a marrow donor? When you might possibly be that person's ONLY match? And without you, they would DIE??


I've been on the registry for 7 years now. I know several people who have benefitted from donation - and some whose health deteriorated significantly while waiting for a match.

I would do it in a second if asked.

[SadieKate]

Nanci, do you have a public link to reasons why people would be ineligible? Health? Medications? Anything else?

I was told that my MS keeps me off blood donor lists now. Not that I can't give blood but that "they" don't want to use it.

You know that list of questions they used to ask? Can that be found on the 'net for blood and bone donors?

[Nanci]

It just infuriates me- geez, all you have to do now to sign up to donate bone marrow is get cheek-swabbed!!!

I noticed, in a patient's chart the other day, all the slips from blood transfusions. There must have been 50. And that's just one person, in one hospitalization. Everyone thinks someone else is doing it- so they don't have to. Well, no one _has to_, but if no one donated anything, then what?

Something you can just grow more of- why keep it all for yourself?

[Nanci]

SK, I don't know the answer to that. It's like those people who have "too much iron" in their blood, and have to get their blood removed periodically, but then that blood can't be used for anything.

Obviously, if you have a disease that can be transmitted, that rules you out.

If the reason you were unable to donate blood was low blood count, low weight, low iron or low blood pressure, you may still be able to join the NMDP.

Wait- I found the list:

http://tinyurl.com/oydye

[Trek420]

I'm registered as a donor. :D EZ to do.

[SadieKate]

Crudola. Sometimes I can't get PDFs on the net to open when I'm at work. I'll have to try to home confuser.

Thanks, Nanci. I was told the disease itself is the problem though last I checked MS is not contagious.

[chickwhorips]

i would love to be a donor. out here i can't. though i am a full organ donor if something should happen to me. when i was 12 my grandma had a heart transplant. she was small enough that she got the heart of an 8 year old. i played nurse to her and made sure she had her meds at the right times and helped he with everything. she still says its because of me that she recoverd so well. i was just having fun playing nurse.

i tried to donate plasma one time. though i apparently (this is what they said) had a reaction to the mix that they give back to you when they take the plasma out of your blood. i passed out briefly and when i came too i infiltrated my vein and had a brise that covered the whole top part of my arm. conclusion: i can give, but can't take.

[Nanci]

There must be some risk to you, then. There are a lot of neuro/neuromuscular diseases on there. I'd copy and paste it here, but you can't do that with a PDF...Also lots of heart/lung conditions, and endocrine diseases. Also, you can't be an albino.

[DirtDiva]

Albinism, for one, is caused by wonky enzymes/protiens, as are many other conditions. I guess they don't want to go sticking something a bit wonky into someone who is already a bit screwed ('cause face it, you don't get a blood/marrow transfusion because you're in fabulous good health).

Not the most scientific description of what I'm trying to speculate on, but if anyone can translate my ramblings, the TD crew can. :p

[Lise]

Can't explain about albinism or MS or marrow donation...

I donate blood regularly in honor of my dad. He did when I was 5, of complications of surgery for a brain tumor. I remember being told that his friends had donated blood for him, and being amazed that people could take blood out of their bodies and put it into someone else's.

As I think about it now, brain surgery is not one in which you're likely to lose much blood, so it was mostly a symbolic act on his friends' part. I can imagine the anxiety, sorrow, and frustration of young healthy men, seeing one of their friends laid so low, and wanting to do something.

So in honor of my dad, and of his friends, I donate blood. I've been turned down twice in 25 years. Once when I had taken anti-malerial drugs before going to Peru as an exchange student. The other was last year when I was training for the marathon, and my iron count was too low. Funny--turns out all the heel strikes from all the running breaks down red blood cells. So, this summer, as I ramp up the training, I'm also eating more meat.

The platelet donation thing--I've done that, too. The anticoagulant does give me a wierd, yucky feeling as the blood is returned to my body. I've never passed out, but have felt like I was drifting off, with a yuk taste in my mouth. They give me TUMS (calcium) and a blanket, and slow the whole thing down.

I need to sign up for the bone marrow registry. Thanks, Nanci. I love TD.

[SadieKate]

Actually, on the brain surgery thing . . . when my mother had a meningioma removed a few years ago they had her donate blood ahead of time. They said family members could donate also but they really just wantd her blood.

[maillotpois]

Fascinating list. I would "require futher evaluation" to be a BMT donor - not because of my PEs or clotting issues (I don't have the Factor V Leiden clotting disorder at least) - but because of my Hashimoto's.

I would hope they'd take me anyway.

Sorry you're off the list SK. I'd take your bone marrow.

[maillotpois]

Crudola. Sometimes I can't get PDFs on the net to open when I'm at work. I'll have to try to home confuser.

Thanks, Nanci. I was told the disease itself is the problem though last I checked MS is not contagious.

Thought - is there some reason that donating might be more dangerous to YOU because of the MS? I am sure they consider that factor as well.

[SadieKate]

I got the impression that it was a danger to someone else. Who knows. Another thing on the list for research.

[Lise]

I have gallstones--interesting to see that gallstones is a condition requiring further eval. Wonder what that's about?

[SadieKate]

Just found this on the NMSS website:


Donating blood
I have a friend who has MS and is taking Avonex. He would like to donate blood at our quarterly blood drive. Can he do this? Are there any reasons why he couldn’t?
XXXXXXX, Rhode Island

Dr. Stephen Reingold, vice president for Research at the Society: Blood banks will often refuse to accept donations from people with MS because of a concern that there may be a transmissible agent—for instance, a virus—present in the blood stream of people with the disease. While there is no solid evidence for such an agent in the blood, this is a reasonable cautionary policy. People with MS who are interested in donating blood should contact their local blood donor programs to determine their eligibility.

I also saw mention of theories about white blood cells moving out into the organs, etc., etc. etc.. Way over my head. Esentially, we don't know what causes auto-immune disorders so you're suspect until proven otherwise.

[maillotpois]

I got the impression that it was a danger to someone else. Who knows. Another thing on the list for research.


You may well be a danger to others. But I don't believe it is because of the MS...

[maillotpois]

Esentially, we don't know now what causes auto-immune disorders so you're suspect until proven otherwise.


Ah. Which is why Graves and my Hashi's are require "further evaluation" or whatever, because those are both auto-immune diseases.



So maybe I am also a danger to others....

[SadieKate]

Perhaps we should change our sig lines to "Team Danger"

[SadieKate]

You may well be a danger to others. But I don't believe it is because of the MS...Hmm, I missed this earlier. You want to provide further explanation, missy????

[maillotpois]

Hey, we're Team Danger - what further explanation do you need....? :cool:

[Nanci]

I just bought my first thing on WOOT. http://www.woot.com/default.aspx

We have one of those phone sets where there's a base station and then two handsets that only need electricity. Well, I've lost one of the handsets, and when I page it- nothing. Either it's completely dead, or abducted by aliens. At any rate, I waited a month for it to turn up, and it hasn't. It's a pain to keep switching the phone from computer room to living room. (The old phone is in the bedroom, and the third no-phone line handset is out in the shed). Grrr. I can't believe we can't find the stupid thing.

But the new phones get good reviews. I'll have two more phones- lose one, buy three, net two.

Bedroom on my side of the bed and computer room on my side of the room??? Our house is too small for six phones!! Maybe the very old one could retire.

I tell you what, it pays to have a phone around that isn't cordless, though, for when the electricity goes out, AND be able to locate it :-)

[Lise]

Hey, we're Team Danger - what further explanation do you need....? :cool:
Oooh, oooh, can I get in on the Team Danger action? (Even though I'm a danger only to myself...:p )

[chickwhorips]

danger is my middle name... bwah ha ha ha.

oh wait no its not. its klutz.

[Nanci]

Lise, you'd better look on the list! You, too, could be on Team Danger!!

Nanci

[SadieKate]

Oooh, oooh, can I get in on the Team Danger action? (Even though I'm a danger only to myself...:p )Sure, we have to be nice to you.:p MP and I may need you to wield needles for us someday. So as long as you're only a danger to yourself . . .

Next week, Bubba advances to IM shots in my arm.:eek:

[Nanci]

Wait- Lise _is too_ dangerous! She has GALLSTONES!! Watch out! I have "thyroid disorder" but it is stable. They let me sign up.

[SadieKate]

I'm on the home computer and can see the list now. Hmm, I suspect that list is much the same for blood donation but would the list for blood donation be less restrictive (this is just guessing from a non-medical person)?

[Lise]

Gallstones. Sheesh. That's like being a superhero with a very boring power. MP and SK, I'm happy to inject you with drugs anytime. (Wait, that doesn't sound quite right...) Anyhoo, giving shots doesn't bother me, even when they're to myself. (Infertility drugs, literally a pain in the butt!) Snapdragen could probably come up with a great Team Danger logo!

[maillotpois]

Next week, Bubba advances to IM shots in my arm.:eek:


WHY?? Yuck!!

[SadieKate]

You really need to rotate injection sites. Since there are only 6 spots on my body eligible for an IM (which must be taken for the rest of my life) and Bubba can only use two, we must progress to spots other than my posterior (whether the contrasting stitching is flattering or not :p ). While we were in Oregon, Jenny did it in my arm and gave him a little training. I think it made him a little less worried to see how easy it is to find my deltoid (muscle-ly thing that I am).

We have an ER nurse across the street who is going to come over and give him coaching on the actual thing. Next up -- my hip (or more acurately the gigantic "muscle" on the upper side corner).

It was good to have him watch Jenny who is really fast with the needle. Sometimes he futzes too much in preparation and in trying to be careful. Meanwhile, my anxiety level goes up. The shot doesn't hurt. It's the waiting. Stab and go. That's my motto.

[maillotpois]

Yeah, I was quick with the stab, but slow with the pushing of the plunger. I found if that part was a little slower it didn't hurt as much (it is 80 cc's - well, I don't know if cc is right, but it was a big amount of liquid to go it). That and your great hand warming trick! Of course it was in fat ("No! You don't have any of that!!") so I don't imaging it hurt as much as IM.

I had a lovely little pallette of different colored bruises on my stomach, though.

Good that you have so many resources for instruction. That's a lot of pressure for someone who'd probably rater be rebuilding his derailleur, though.

Lately I have been getting my blood tests done by this big huge gorilla-y guy who uses pediatric gauge needles to draw the blood and ALWAYS asks me to tell him my date of birth so I am responding to him right as he is putting the needle in. Wow - I am not even aware that he's doing anything. I love this guy. And even though I am on the anti-coags, these tiny guage needles make no bruise at all!

[Veronica]

I had to have an IV while in NS. The nurse tried to put it in my hand. GOD! That hurt so BAD! I finally suggested that she try the big, honking vein in my left arm - you now the one you give blood from.

That worked much better.

V.

[SadieKate]

If you're ever in Bend, OR, at St. Mark's Hosp and need your blood drawn, ask for Alex. Ex-pro mtn bike racer, about 6'4 (at least), does an incredible Pee Wee Herman imitation among others, will have you on floor rolling. Don't ask him to show you how to ride some tricky piece of trail because he'll do something that will make you crack up so hard you'll fall off your bike.

I bet he pulls the same tricks when drawing blood. I've seen him do it with his children just to get them to behave. So far, Dad is still smarter than his children -- and your tech is smarter than you.:p

And, my shot is only 30 mcg.

[SadieKate]

I had to have an IV while in NS. The nurse tried to put it in my hand. Why the IV in the hand? I've seen that a lot. They did that to me when I had one of my many knee surgeries (fortunately, under anesthesia) and, of course, put it in the wrong spot to also use crutches. I can't remember where they moved it to but I refused to get out of bed until they moved it.

[Veronica]

It was part of the migraine therapy the doc suggested.

V.

[chickwhorips]

i had an iv attempted to be put in the back of my hand when i was very dehydrated. i think they hit a nerve because for a while the back of my hand would go numb randomly, and then later when i touched it. now i seem to be ok.

[SadieKate]

I mean, why the location in the hand? Is it because they can see the veins? I, too, have easily accessible veins. Sometimes, it is done in the feet when you need to rotate locations for longer term use. Yeow!

[Veronica]

I don't know why she picked the hand. To me the veins there look to be good size. But she couldn't hit one. She kept wiggling the needle around - trying to make it stay. And it was all I could to not scream or pull away from her.

V.

[Nanci]

Mystery Men. Lise.

[maillotpois]

If you're ever in Bend, OR, at St. Mark's Hosp and need your blood drawn, ask for Alex. Ex-pro mtn bike racer, about 6'4 (at least), does an incredible Pee Wee Herman imitation among others, will have you on floor rolling. Don't ask him to show you how to ride some tricky piece of trail because he'll do something that will make you crack up so hard you'll fall off your bike.

I bet he pulls the same tricks when drawing blood. I've seen him do it with his children just to get them to behave. So far, Dad is still smarter than his children -- and your tech is smarter than you.:p

And, my shot is only 30 mcg.


He sounds great!

I guess mcg is the unit. Mine's 80 - but hey, I'm bigger! I think my marg should be proportionately bigger next week, as well.... :p

Still, none of it is great - but there are folks who endure a lot more then we do, and we can still ride our bikes (well, I can't, but I'm healthy enough to exercise vigorously - you get my point). My happy news of the day is one of my TNT leukemia patient honorees is now able to come out of his isolation, is feeling better (after MONTHS of not being able to do anything he can now walk outside) and we're having dinner with him next week!! I really was afraid we were going to lose him.

[SadieKate]

MP, that is so wonderful to hear. Same one you emailed me about from the hospital during our chat?

You guys should consider Bend for a vacation. Incredible road biking, trail running, superb food, better alcohol, family friendly, dog friendly, no sales tax . . . I'd say mtbiking but it might make you cry. Someday, I'll convert you. This winter -- Mt. Tam or Bolinas Ridge. Just needs to be dry.

[maillotpois]

I don't know why she picked the hand. To me the veins there look to be good size. But she couldn't hit one. She kept wiggling the needle around - trying to make it stay. And it was all I could to not scream or pull away from her.

V.


One reason they may have done the hand was because when it is in the crook of the arm, it is really difficult to bend your arm which sucks long term. The best one I had in the hospital was in the top of my lower forearm - totally out of the way.

[SadieKate]

Lower forearm -- why don't they do it there all the time? Dogs get it there. Why can't we get the same treatment as dogs?

Excuse me a sec . . . . I'm back, Izaak the Wonder Poodle just told me it is because dogs are superior.

[maillotpois]

MP, that is so wonderful to hear. Same one you emailed me about from the hospital during our chat?

You guys should consider Bend for a vacation. Incredible road biking, trail running, superb food, better alcohol, family friendly, dog friendly, no sales tax . . . I'd say mtbiking but it might make you cry. Someday, I'll convert you. This winter -- Mt. Tam or Bolinas Ridge. Just needs to be dry.


Yeah, probably the same guy. There are two guys we've really become friends with and Mike and I have between us coached them in probably 5 - 6 centuries. This one lives in Sausalito on a houseboat and is just such a great guy - very into cycling and all things French and I lent him my French copy of Lance's book during one of his low periods. (Always fun to read a book you've read already in English - much easier than reading a book for the first time in French - like when I struggled through LA Confidentiel.) Anyway, we're going out for Chinese food at my new favorite place - they serve this lamb dish called Cumin Lamb (or, if you are my smart aleck father in law "Coumadin Lamb" - renamed in my honor.) It is HEAVENLY.

I like Oregon. They have good wine.... We should all go to the Steamboat Inn. I know they have fishing there, and I am sure there are good cycling places nearby.

[SadieKate]

Steamboat is on the Umqua River. However, I don't mtbike the Umqua River trail. Is has scary drop-offs to the side. I believe Thom calls it "death on the [right or left]" Give me smooth easy trail with a cliff to the side and I freeze.

[Veronica]

Steamboat Inn - maybe that's where Thom and I will go for a long weekend. Thanks for the idea. The mountain biking is awesome there. And not all of it involves death drops. :)

V.

[maillotpois]

Well, if you go to Steamboat, tell the Van Loans you know the Burkes and the Burkes say hi (the younger ones, anyway).

I'm not big on death drops even when hiking...

[SadieKate]

Death drops - I'm getting better. I rode the appropriately named Farewell Trail on Monday. The downhill portion drops 1,700 ft in a series of switchbacks over 3 miles. The 8" wide trail (labeled advanced on the maps) was either overgrown with manzanita so it was hard to see where you were going or had no undergrowth at all so you could see where you would land (waaaaay down there). I rode by far the great majority of it -- at least until one of the manzanita reached out and tried to shove me over the edge. At the point the mental "death drop" blinders I had on failed. I was able to get back on my bike after a little walk and finish off. From all the descriptions I'd been given by people who know me and my phobias, I rode a huge amount more than anyone predicted.

So, I'm doing better with my mental blinders but sometimes I wonder if a sports pyschologist would help. I've gotten to the point sometimes where I'm shaking with adrenaline over easy stuff others with less skill are zooming over. It's really frustrating.

What is it in our brains that wires us this way? I blame it on my parents mostly but there also must be something hardwired wrong.

[maillotpois]

What is it in our brains that wires us this way? I blame it on my parents mostly but there also must be something hardwired wrong.


I think it is called survival instinct.

[Veronica]

Hey... I'm afraid of the dark and cows.

At least yours is rational.

V.

[snapdragen]

Hey... I'm afraid of the dark and cows.

At least yours is rational.

V.

Cows??????

[Trek420]

now snap, stop frightening V with dark cows :p

[Veronica]

My grandparents raised cattle. It was my job as a little kid to move the watering hose from one trough to another. Cows are HUGE when you are 5 years old. I was terrified that they would step on me, bite me or kick me. I still try to avoid getting too close to them when I mountain bike. Why do they let cows graze in the best places to mountain bike?

V.

[SadieKate]

You ever walked through a field of farm cows that are no longer used to pedestrians? They think everything should be in a metal 4-wheeled contraption? They don't take kindly to walkers and will chase you. V, I completely understand your cow fear.

Though cows that are used to pedestrians such as Briones? I do the chasing, usually shouting something about getting off the fricken' path, you diarrheic morons!

Did I get "diarrhiec" spelled right?

[SadieKate]

My grandparents also! Though they were gentlemen farmers and hiked from their house to the pond regularly (well, my grandfather did). Once they were gone, the cows only saw the tenant farmer in his truck. So, it was highschool when I learned the truck vs walker thing. Wow, did I learn evasive tactics fast.

[maillotpois]

Hey... I'm afraid of the dark and cows.

At least yours is rational.

V.


Cows???? Like where we get our milk?

[Lise]

Mystery Men. Lise.
ummmm.....what? :confused:
.....................................
re: IVs in the hand: One word: Laziness. Yeah, the veins are more prominent there, therefore easier to insert an IV. There are also a lot of nerves, and the veins tend to roll more. So it hurts more to have an IV there, and it hurts for awhile after. But the person putting it in can usually hit a vein. The best place to put an IV is the back of the forearm, as Izaak the Wonder Poodle confirmed. Hurts a lot less. Can be harder to get in. I have veins like ropes, and if anybody ever goes for my hand, I know it's pure sloth.
.....................................
MP, surely you weren't injecting 80 cc (ml). That's almost 3 oz. Must be mcg. I've done sub-cutaneous injections (in the fat), and intramuscular, to myself. Theoretically, I could start an IV on myself, but I've never had to. I have a rep at work for being a very good shot giver. I keep talking, as if nothing were happening, and then zing! done. :D

If we have a TE/Team Danger (note that TD stands for Thread Drift and Team Danger...hmmm....) get-together, I can be the designated shot giver. :rolleyes:

[Lise]

Just reading about that edge/drop off thing makes me queasy. I think fear of cows is not unreasonable. They are big, not bright animals. I'm afraid of tidal waves. Since I grew up in Illinois, upstate NY, and Minneapolis, and now live in Illinois, this doesn't make any sense at all. I also loathe fungus. But then, who doesn't?

[SadieKate]

I have a rep at work for being a very good shot giver. I keep talking, as if nothing were happening, and then zing! done.Yeah! That's the way Jenny does it. Jabber and jab. Trying to get Bubba there but since he only has do it once a week it's hard to get the speed going without being afraid he'll do something to me.

[snapdragen]

Needles and injections

I dated a paramedic for a while, he told me when he was in school, they would practice on themselves and each other. :eek:

[Lise]

Oh, yeah, we practiced on oranges, and then on each other. The orange practice is not a bad idea. You can use the same needle over and over. The trick is in the wrist flick. Zip! Zing! These are words you want to keep in mind. :rolleyes: Seriously, though, V, perhaps it would help Thom to practice on an orange a few times, after the nurse across the way shows him the technique.

Quick injections are a mercy. One of the infertility meds I injected was in an oil base. It required a big needle, and was slow to push in. Hated that.

[SadieKate]

Ooh, V, you going to take my injections for me? Thanks so much. What a pal. Thom, too. :D

[Lise]

Ooh, V, you going to take my injections for me? Thanks so much. What a pal. Thom, too. :D
GOOD LORD! I knew it would happen some day! :eek: SK & Bubba, V & Thom, I will mix them up! I can't keep them straight! I picture you guys living next door to each other, anyways....you're sisters, right?...argh! (sorry) L.
(at least I got the right pairing...whew, that could've gotten complicated...;) )

[maillotpois]

MP, surely you weren't injecting 80 cc (ml). That's almost 3 oz. Must be mcg. I've done sub-cutaneous injections (in the fat), and intramuscular, to myself. Theoretically, I could start an IV on myself, but I've never had to. I have a rep at work for being a very good shot giver. I keep talking, as if nothing were happening, and then zing! done. :D



Yeah, SK corrected me - it was mcg's. What do I know?

[SadieKate]

So, what is a mcg? A microgram? A milli-something-er-other? Inquiring minds want to know.

I just copied it off the box. I think it also said 0.5ml next to the 30 mcg.

[Nanci]

Plot Summary for
Mystery Men (1999)

In order to generate more endorsement revenue, Champion City's resident superhero Captain Amazing arranges for the release of supervillian Casanova Frankenstein, only to be captured by him. The city's fate rests in the hands of seven loser superhero wannabes: the fork-flinging Blue Rajah, the shovel-wielding Shoveler, the posessed bowling ball-hurling Bowler, the flatulent Spleen, the only-when-nobody's-looking Invisible Boy, the mysterious Sphinx, and the perpetually-angry Mr. Furious.

[DirtDiva]

Yeah, it's micrograms. Should really be written with a mu instead of mc, but I guess the drug companies have no more idea how to coax the greek alphabet out of their keyboards than I do.

[Nanci]

Man, yesterday WOOT http://www.woot.com/ got me with those phones, and now this morning Steep and Cheap had these cool Smith sunglasses http://www.steepandcheap.com/ for $18- got a pair for BF who is the sunglass killer. No, they are not polorized, but $70 glasses for $18?? They are very nerdy. So far I've managed to resist WOOT Wine...

[Veronica]

Well Streamboat Inn it is.

Now which bikes do we take?

Mountain Bikes - the Umpqua Trail is pretty cool.

Road Bikes - Crater Lake is nearby.

V.

[KnottedYet]

Bugger, I can't register as a bone marrow donor cuz of the cancer clause.

Anybody do Where's George? i just got a wild from Hawaii! www.wheresgeorge.com

Work soap opera update: just found out the aide who's been causing me so much strife is "seeing" one of the upper level staff. I'd heard a brief remark about her a while ago, but thought it referred to something in the past.

And the beat goes on...

[songlady]

Nanci,
Can I hold you responsible for the $20 charge to my credit card from steepandcheap.com this morning? :rolleyes: Totally forgot to look at the website until I saw your post. Those glasses are cool!

[crazycanuck]

dum de dum....sitting here thinking about tomorrow & sunday-so much to do & in too many areas of the city...

I want to go mtn biking in the morning then go to some open homes on my way back...Opposite ends of the city..I have to get some off road time this weekend as i'm doing the perth mtb race on sunday (my second race...)

It's so quiet in my house...this is the time i wish i had an animal to keep me company...

My new lights are well worth the $$...Comparable to the ones ian made but just that tad bit brighter & narrower in light circumfrence...(does that make sense??)

I ran into my friend tonight-twice! I saw a rider walking their bike on the path & stopped to see if i could help (i had just started my ride)-It turned out to be Ellie (my new biking partner/friend) who had a flat but lived just accross the field...Then ran into her again just as i was going around the corner at the end of my ride-She & her other half were headed to the cafe area near us....

c

[DrBee]

Good Lord you all have been posting a lot! I'm never going to catch up!

I've had too many IV's in my hands - both knee surgeries and both babies. The knee surgeries were the worst - they couldn't get it in (veins kept rolling). I broke out in a cold sweat and almost passed out. I am not good with needles.

[Nanci]

I did a bunch of Where's Georges, and they promptly dropped off the face ot the earth. Haven't seen one in a long time. I even sent mine off far away from where I got them, like gave to my kid to take back up to MN, etc.

[SadieKate]

Plot Summary for
Mystery Men (1999)Is this the movie? I'd never heard of it but it was on SciFi Wed night and I asked Bubba and "Junior" (the young man living with us for the month) about it. Junior said it had Ben Stiller in it which nixed it for all of us. I liked the rest of the cast though. Should I try it? William H. Macy can usually sell just about any movie to me.

I really like the new SciFi series "Eureka." Very quirky and makes you do a little thinking. Of course, it's a little funny that the entire cast is gorgeous (well, except for the one computer geek who built the smart house but he fits the role so well).

[Nanci]

Yes, that's the movie.

I love William H. Macy, Jeanine Garafalo _and_ Ben Stiller.

Because of the superhero thing yesterday afternoon.

My fav WHM movie is Fargo.

[chickwhorips]

I did a bunch of Where's Georges, and they promptly dropped off the face ot the earth. Haven't seen one in a long time. I even sent mine off far away from where I got them, like gave to my kid to take back up to MN, etc.

that happened to mine too. i just figured i was the only one that used that websight. glad to know i'm not.

question: what's woot.com? is it like steepandcheap.com?

[Nanci]

What is Woot and who's behind it?

Woot.com is an online store and community that focuses on selling cool stuff cheap. It started as an employee-store slash market-testing type of place for an electronics distributor, but it's taken on a life of its own. We anticipate profitability by 2043 – by then we should be retired; someone smarter might take over and jack up the prices. Until then, we're still the lovable scamps we've always been. But don't take our word for it: see what the online community has to say at this Wikipedia article.


I see only one item, do you sell anything else?

No. We sell one item per day until it is sold out or until 11:59pm central time when it is replaced (see next entry for details). However, each item we sell is in stock and typically ships within 2-3 business days.


What is the schedule for new items?

The short answer: we offer a new item every single day. The details: a new product is released every morning at 12am central time, seven days a week. (If you're not a morning person, this can be described as every night at midnight. Better?) If a product sells out during its run, a new item will not appear until the next release time. You will know if a product is sold out, because the main page says "SOLD OUT" instead of "I want one". (Clever, eh?)


I missed yesterday's item, can I still get one?

No. Each woot.com product is discontinued at 11:59pm central time. That's that. Period. We may get more at a later date if we're lucky, but we offer no guarantees, we allow no backorders, and we have no waiting/notification lists. Too bad.


I want to talk to a live person there, can I call you?

No. We are busy sourcing new products and shipping orders. You can post a comment to our community board, but we don't guarantee we'll respond. You should Google for the manufacturer contact to get product answers – we suggest a dating service, magic 8 ball, or ouija board for general life solutions.

[chickwhorips]

living in alaska has its downside. woot and cheapandsteep are great, except by the time i get up, its already sold. though if i was smart i would check it at 9 at night, but by that time i'm sick of computers.

[SadieKate]

I'm howling! They're not opinionated at all, are they?

http://www.woot.com/WhatIsWoot.aspx

[SadieKate]

chick, woot doesn't ship to Alaska anyway.

[chickwhorips]

chick, woot doesn't ship to Alaska anyway.

d@mn the luck. well at least steapandcheap does. though i was excited about the woot wine thing. i can never get good wine here. :(

[Nanci]

You probably should just move to Florida. It's legal to ship here, _and_ we have our own wineries too! Which make wines like Category 5 Sangria!

[chickwhorips]

a bit to warm for me in fl right now.

possibly going to be down there in feb with bf for his yearly family reunion shindig. i think its somewhere in the keys though... not sure.

[DrBee]

I FINALLY got the call from the bee lab! I have an interview the week of Aug 20th! Wahoo! I was starting to get really bummed about not hearing anything. They were very enthusiastic about my coming for an interview. Whew! Now - to prepare the seminar. We've been having major morale issues here lately - this definitely help improve my mood. :)

[Nanci]

Congratulations! That sure took a long time! Now you have plenty of time to get nervous. Did grad student hear from them?

[snapdragen]

So, I've been feeling extremely sorry for myself this week. I'm not sure what the problem is, but I'm really tired of being in the dumps.

Today I decided to take myself to lunch, and ended up at "the mall" (Don't even get me started on Westfield Shoppingtowns - talk about Stepford wives...) Anyway, first I went to Nordy's Bistro, but the line was long, and none of the specials appealed. I ended up at California Pizza Kitchen, with a Chicken Waldorf Salad and a glass of wine. Life is looking up.

Then I decided to go to Mervyns and check out the bras. Gawd. Big mistake, looking at myself half naked in a full length mirror. Should have taken a picture, that's enough incentive to keep me on the Weight Watchers straight and narrow. I resisted all temptations to grab one of the ginormous bras and wear the cup like a hat. :rolleyes:

Tomorrow I'm going to try and get my butt out the door and go for a ride. Then I will spend a huge chunk of time, getting Blue all cleaned up, so she can wear her new Banana Bag.

[chickwhorips]

snap you poor thing! hope your not so down soon.

mmmm..... california pizza kitchen. miss that place. so good.

i think you should've put that bra on your head and danced around. would've made you feel a bit better.

[DrBee]

Congratulations! That sure took a long time! Now you have plenty of time to get nervous. Did grad student hear from them?

Anticipation always gets the best of me, too. Postdoc didn't hear anything, as far as I know.


Snap - I've been in a blah mood all week, too. I think mine was a combo of coming back from gorgeous St. John's, not hearing about the interview (that ended today at least), and the crap going on at work. Everyone is constantly complaining about a few major events. Constantly. It wears on you after a while. I have been saying for 3 days that I was going to get out and run. Never did. Tomorrow morning - I ride! A good long ride!

FishJr is sitting on the floor next to me (protesting cleaning her room) and is making grumbling noises. That's her stomach growling because she "starving". The drama!

[Nanci]

I'm having a good week at work. Almost halfway through my 13 day stretch. I forgot what my bike looks like...I renamed my student Napoleon Dynamite and constantly make him say things like "Yessssssss" and "Do the chickens have large talons?" I even make him perform for others. I think he is sort of insulted- he thinks ND is dumb. I don't think of ND as dumb- just odd and laid back. Definitely not dumb. Oh- this is because he talks EXACTLY like ND.

New radiologists starting again Monday- who will know nothing. I will miss the outgoing two- the one who is like the new chick on Reno 911, Mary Birdsong, and the guy that I faked blood poisoning on. Hopefully the two new ones will be as much fun. I also get a new student.

Sounding like rain out there- we were going to try to get the OTHER bike out for a ride- haven't had it out since Saturday. I want to try out my helmet!

I had a rare sighting of Russell Jr. tonight. Like half an inch of his head. (Glass lizard- lives underground- I see him once every few months, but continue to feed crickets on the hopes that he's in there somewhere...)

I think Cracker Chicken, our young Gopher Tortoise, has moved away. We are extremely sad about this. He never even said godbye. (He moved outside full time this spring, and dug a burrow, and lived in it happily for several months before moving on to greener pastures. We haven't seen him since around July 4th, and his burrow appears to be abandonned.)

Definitely raining.

[Lise]

Nothing much to say, but that never stopped me. While the heat here is nothing like CA (I think of you guys out there every day, hoping it will ease..), it is hot, and it makes people stupid, I think. The ride home from work was perilous. Lucky I'm a member of Team Danger! People wandering into the bike lane on foot, cars abruptly lurching to the right to get out of traffice jams, etc. Some good news: I'm seeing a lot of bikes on the street these days. Chicago is a pretty good city in which to ride. When the traffic's backed way up, though, you have to watch for the alleys and side streets. A driver will decide s/he can't take sitting there anymore, burning $3 of gas per minute in the SUV, and jerk the wheel to the right to get into an alley or side street.

fish, so glad to hear there's movement on the bee lab! I know you'll keep us posted.

Snap, sorry to hear about the down week. Those dressing room mirrors lie, man! Don't believe it! Get out and ride that beautiful bike. You'll feel better.

Nanci, I believe you are but a waystation for some of these beasts, and a good one at that. How are the torts doing? Funny that the birds abhor their lovingly hung bird homes. It's absolutely your perogative to make your student do ND imitations. Part of the price of professional training. Entertaining the teachers. We have a nurse at work who does incredible imitations of Kip and Napoleon. Spot on.

OK, off to ride to the lake and swim a bit. L.

[maillotpois]

CONGRATS FISH!! Yay!

Snap, sorry you are down in the dumps. I hope the weekend picks you up a bit!!

[DrBee]

Thanks for the congrats ladies! My mood is definitely improved! And, of course, I'll keep you posted on my progress.

Lise - tonight FishJr said she wants to be a "person that helps get babies out of the woman's tummy". I kid you not, that's what she said. I thought you'd like that! She also wants to be an astronaut. So - she'll deliver babies in space!