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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lise
Sorry it took so much pain for you to learn that life lesson, Lise!! But you are so right, we're free now!
I'll tell you, it never ceases to amaze me the past stories of the women I meet. You sure can't judge a book by its cover. Lotsa women who have been to hell and back but carry themselves as if their life has been as charmed as Paris Hilton's. I don't know who ever said woman was the weaker sex. Not true at all.
Dear white sedan, DFX 645:
For I believe the second time, this morning you passed me on Green Street honking aggressively and pointing emphatically at the bike path to our right.
I understand that you would like me to be on that bikepath instead of on Green STreet, where you are forced to use the (clear) left lane to pass me. (Perhaps you would simply like me to cease to exist. Thankfully, others disagree.)
Do you understand that I am proceeding further west, and that the path ends (less than 100 yards from here) where you turn right on Wright Street?
If I were to use the bicycle path, I would be getting in a right-most lane... to the *right* of a right-turn-only lane... and then proceeding straight. Any guide towards road use directs drivers (and I am a driver of a vehicle, both legally and practically) not to do this, for what I hope are obvious reasons. (When I am turning right at that intersection, I often do use the bike path - though not when it is torn up by construction or has vehicles parked on it, as is often the case.)
Places where paths and roads meet are by far the most common accident sites between bicycles and cars. "I just didn't see you!" is the common - and usually accurate - plea as we are "appearing from nowhere" as you turn right, proceeding faster than pedestrians. The "right hook" where a car turning right strikes a vehicle going straight is the m ost common of these accidents.
Thank you for passing me with ample room. While I appreciate your right to express your opinion about my whereabouts, kindly consider that while you're honking and gesticulating, you might miss something else happening on the road.
Well-designed bicycle routes can be a benefit to everyone. Sadly, the paths in CHampaign do not fit this category.
I received your message...here's mine.
Dear Husband,
Please be understanding when you get home from work today and find that I ate all of the tapioca pudding you bought and were hiding from me. It was so tasty I couldn't help myself.:(
Thanks, Lise. That sums it up so nicely. Tailwinds to us all :) .Quote:
Originally Posted by Lise
Dear attorney for my XH,
I hope that you can see through his manic fixations and control freak tendencies and guide him to choices which are actually in the best interest of our son. I know, it's a gargantuan task, but you are a professional and, unlike him, you actually know how the laws read.
While you're at it, could you please explain to him that just because his mommy pays all his bills doesn't mean that she is a party in our custody suit? Are you shaking your head in wonderment every time she attends one of his meetings with you? I sure am.
Yours,
The Person Who Has Actually Been Actively Parenting My Son His Entire Life
While we're at it...
Dear Judge of the 53rd Circuit,
Please see through my XH's BS and render a fair judgement tomorrow. I really hope I get to hear you tell him that he doesn't get to choose how I parent my son or what I do in my own home.
Thanks,
Nervous Court First-Timer
Good luck in court tomorrow, FGG. Let us know how it goes. L.
Dear Fixedgear girl,
I hope you have recruited a support person for you to go to court with you tomorrow.
Know that I will be sitting beside you in spirit, telling you that you are doing just fine. Don't be afraid to speak up for what's right, "even if your voice shakes." You can do it.
Karen
Dear Universe,
I’m impressed by your sense of humor, and your impeccable timing. And that touch of irony, which is so special.
You presented me with the wonderful option of cycling again, something that I loved twenty years ago. I now live in the midst of some of the best cycling routes in the Bay Area. This time I have: The Internet. I researched, I found this great forum, I rode some bikes, and I bought a shiny, lovely new bike. I have gazillions of flat “creek trails” right near my house, for getting started. Thank you, thank you!
Three days later you gave me the flu. I’ve had this now for a solid week.
I really appreciate good sarcasm, but:
Are ya done now?? Had yer fun? Can we please move on???
Your admiring fan,
Amy
Dear Whoever Cares,
I am so glad I don't live with Bikeless in Wisconsin and have to eat my choice of lutefisk or liver...
My frozen Michael Angelo's Chicken Picatta and Uncle Bens Garlic Herb Rice was so excellent, enjoyed on the patio with Dillbird and the tortoise babies.
Nanci
Dear Jon Stewart & Stephen Colbert,
Thanks for making me laugh til I about pee every time I watch your shows. And while your shows are "fake news" your biting commentary is some of the best around and incredibly refreshing.
A fan
Dear Wind,
Thank you for blowing the same direction all day! I know you generally like to mix it up a bit more, blowing against my route, no matter what direction that might be. I could handle the headwind going to work. I was less psyched about the same headwind when I left work to go farther north. But when I turned around to come home, and you were at my back! Oh! The delight! Thank you so very much! :D L.
Dear lump in my armpit, thank you for being a bug bite, and nothing more:o
That'll teach me to sleep with my arms over my head.....
It's ok Nanci. I don't share my liver with others; I know most people don't appreciate it. And dh only makes lutefisk for a circle of afficionados. If you're ever here, or anywhere else I happen to be cooking, it'll be something else -- like leg of lamb with garlic and rosemary; or whole baked salmon stuffed with garlic butter, peas and carrots; or turkey with lemon and rosemary under the skin; or a mixed seafood chowder starting with mussels steamed in white wine. Oh, and apple pie. As Trek420 can confirm, our mom has a very special and locally famous recipe for apple pie ... and has shared her secret with us.Quote:
Originally Posted by Nanci
Dear Bikeless in WI,Quote:
Originally Posted by bikeless in WI
Can I come for dinner, too? That sounds very yummy! It definitely sounds better than the lutefisk
Fishdr
If you or Nanci or any other TE pals are ever in my vicinity, just give a holler. Dinner here in Madison would be pretty simple, since the kitchen is pretty rudimentary. And in California I'd have to ask permission to borrow my mom's kitchen. But in Norway I can whip up a good meal any day I'm home, given a couple days' notice to shop and make time. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by fishdr
betagirl
I too like Jon Stewart (sorry to go OT)
Poor former Reagan Secretary of Education Bill Bennett was on the Daily Show the other night and Jon just beat him unmercifully. All Bennett could do was sputter and look like a fool.
TE,
Bikeless and UK got the cooking gene from my Mom. They are incredible cooks.... Actualy even my Dad baked. Pictured here are some lovely challah dinner rolls that UK baked.
I cooked professionaly for years but rarely do any of that now.
But I love to prep, it's odd I know but if you want anything sliced, diced, grated, slivered....and unlike a Cuisinart you don't have to clean me :)
Fixgeargirl,
You are in all of our thoughts.
Fixgeargirls ex,
Your Momma can't help you now. Grow up or get out.
Dear wind:
How come you were nice a few miles north and switched on us tonight? Trying to make me think twice about riding Big Red on GITAP, huh? 37 miles is a long way to go on the strength of two handfuls of peanuts in the afternoon and that fig bar en route... even Richard on the 195? Schwinn CORVETTE dropped me! (Okay, he's strong ;-))
And thank you, minute maid fruit punch, for going down so easy :-)
Hearts with ya, fixedgear...
Bring on the liver... no, I thnk not, not on an empty stomach...
Dear court scheduler,
Please make sure that the judge Fixgeargirl meets is one of those with a healthy dose of common sense. I know there are enough of them to choose from.
Yours,
Judicial optimist
Dear fixie,
Have courage, and good luck! You and your son both deserve it!
Yours,
Another vitual biker friend
Dear Fixie-
I'm rooting for you, too. XH and his momma sound like real winners...not.
Dear Austin Judge,
Please continue the Texas tradition of ruling in favor of the mother (meaning FGG, not her X-MIL) and have some common sense!
-A native Texan putting blind faith in our courts
FGG- I hope it all works out tomorrow!
Dear throat,
You started hurting last night and this morning isn't any better. If it is something like strep or the like, make sure you get it over with rather quickly.
Legs
Dear judge,
YOu'd better be fair to our Fixedgeargirl or you'll have a hundred woman jumping up and down wanting to run over you with thier bikes..It hurts to be clomped on with spiky shoes & a mtn bike...
Dear feet,
Can you move just a tiny bit faster??? I don't want to be the sloooowwwest runner out there forever..
Dear rocks
be nice to me & renee on the eagle trail this weekend...
c
Bikeless,
I'll be in the Baraboo area this weekend - what time is supper???? I haven't had a home cooked meal since my crash. Still can't get in until Monday - ughh!
Dear old beater pickup driver
thanks for reminding me never to make generalizations about rude drivers always being in Pickup trucks. I was riding to work
today and had to get into the left lane to make a left turn. Huge SUV's and trucks kept blasting by me and it looked like i was going to miss my turn.
You stopped and let me pass into your lane so I could turn left. I was so surprised. (the fact is that 100 feet further ahead (the next intersection) there was a red light
and no one was going anywhere anyway!)
Thank you for your courtesy.
Dear Ann Coulter,
I THOUGHT that was you fingering dresses at Hookers-R-US!
Anyway...HEY,
I know you don't have any class, but do you think you could pick up a shred of human decency? No? Thought not, but figured I'd ask.
Sincerely,
A big fan (not)
Dear Rain,
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
K.
Agreed, she's scary.Quote:
Originally Posted by mtkitchn
Sometimes I wonder, "who are these people, and why would anyone want to get into politics?"
I wonder, what is this person(coulter) and why would anyone pay her money to open her mouth!Quote:
Originally Posted by dachshund
They're endorphin deprived. They need to ride more, with no winners and losers (not so much epinephrine). It's all in the hormones!
Dear Michael Berg,
Thanks for not letting your loss ruin your beliefs.
Yeah, I just read that on CNN - I thought the interview was amazing.Quote:
Originally Posted by redrhodie
Dear Arnold:
Since I'd rather look at your mug for the next 4 years than Phil Angelides', could you please get a political clue?
A Constituent who actually voted on Tuesday :rolleyes:
Dear Children
Please take care of your elderly parents' toenails/feet, or arrange for someone else to do it. How would you like to have your feet in that condition? Plus, it's dangerous to health care workers, who might get scraped/stabbed by toenails, like I just did.
Thank you.
Nanci
'Fraid I don't know where Baraboo is, though I gather it's nearby. Are you serious about supper? I could do Saturday or Sunday evening. Just say the word and I'll PM you the address. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by mtbdarby
Dear Bicycling Goddess,
Can I please have fun on my bike again really soon? Surely you've noticed by now that I'm willing to get out there and try to work past my fears. I miss the old feeling of strength and happiness on my bike so much. It doesn't seem fair that I should work so hard to get that feeling - only to lose it. I'm doing my best down here, I really am, but it's such slow going - can you sprinkle a little pixie dust or something?
the meekly-riding (but un-surrendering) LLB
Nanci,Quote:
Originally Posted by Nanci
You are so right! My father in law (Alzheimer's) has toenails that grow like weeds. I got tired don't like clipping them so we take him for pedicures now! It's awesome (got his first pedicure at age 83).
Quote:
Originally Posted by mtkitchn
AGREED!!
Did you read Al Franken's great stuff on her in "Lies"? He makes me laugh til I pee a little.
Dear roads paved in black,
Why couldn't you have been paved in a nice tan color? On my lunchtime ride today (90F actual temp/99F real feel temp) I could feel the waves of heat that you were belching at me...over and over again.
Sincerely,
I'm hot!!!!!
Dear doctor's office staff,
While I appreciate your "sweet voice" on the phone this morning when I called, it doesn't help me if you won't give me an appointment. All I need is a strep test...any lab tec could do it...then a little shot of penicillin if I do indeed have strep. Since my oldest daughter had strep last week, and since my youngest daughter played with our tooth brushes and switched them (I'm sorry momma, I didn't mean too), I'm willing to bet that I do have strep. And seeing how I am a 41 year old mother of 3 children, I do know what strep feels like and looks like.
Referring me to the urgent care clinic in the next town does not help me. It will take several hours and most likely at least $200.00 to take care of this down there. And since I just drove by your office and there are 3 cars in the entire lot, I'm willing to bet you did have time to see me, you just don't want to hang around on a Friday to do it. And thanks in many ways to you, my vacation is getting off to a lousy start.
Regards,
Beth-who hates getting the brush off-Ro :mad:
Dear XH's attorney,
You turned out to be more reasonable than I expected, given that the original waiver of service you sent me (with a 7 day deadline to be signed, notarized and returned to your office) had me waiving my right to enter testimony :eek: . (And that whited-out part at the top of the suit that read "And Original Petition for Fraud." What was that all about?) You seem quite aware of the extraordinary nature of MIL's involvement in her 46 year old son's life. I can only assume you talked some sense into him. Or you were at least were able to overcome the false assumptions of the Texas Family Code he had been fed by *someone* :cool: .
Thanks to the efforts of you and my attorney, we were able to avoid having an actual hearing. We reached compromise, which is probably one of the first times for X, not having had a family model of same. Of course, this was only a Temporary Orders hearing, and we have a long way to go yet, but I am grateful that getting to this point was not as contentious as it could have been. I am looking forward to the peace of living without him breathing down my neck, trying to dictate how I parent my child. He has sought help. I only hope he will do the work it takes to make the help actually work.
Yours Until Final Orders Time,
fixedgeargirl