Yesterday, Ben and I went for a 20 mile ride. I have been so completely overwhelmed with nursing school that we haven't rode in two months. It felt so good to get out there and ride I can't believe I had let other things get in the way. I really needed to get out and let loose some steam. One of the students in the class below me committed suicide yesterday. I don't even know what to think about that, I am so stunned. Finals are next week, and some of the students can't pass and will have to start all over. I guess this guy just couldn't think of any way out.

I love this forum and lurking here. All it takes is the inspiration of everyone else out riding and I get the urge to ride. When I started road biking last May, I couldn't believe how much I enjoyed it. And I also can't believe how much I let everything else get in the way of biking.

I spent years riding horses and I never, ever thought I'd find anything I'd like better than that. But my husband, who was such sport and tried horses, just didn't much care for it. Now you couldn't give me a horse. It is so much simplier to ride the bike. Plus, for what we spent on horses we can buy a new bike about every four months.

I have one more semester left of this nursing school. Then I plan on working med/surge and simultaneously work on getting my RN online. Ben and I have this big goal of riding our first century next year. Can't wait.

Oh, guess what? Our nest is going to empty in January. Our sixteen year old son is going to go to New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell to finish out high school. He wants to go on to Westpoint and NMMI is an excellent prep school. So, I'll probably be needing to ride a lot to keep from crying all the time. He and I are very close. But I cannot deny him his dream.

I know I'm rambling. It has been a hard week. The weather has been nice here in west Texas. Ben has been a darling and took off the afternoon to ride with me yesterday to help me deal with everything. He will come home early today, too, and we plan to hit the road again. I am so happy that he has embraced cycling as much as I have. I fall in love with Ben over and over again lately. Plus, I really, really get turned on watching his cute rear end and nice calves when he is ahead of me....only he tries to stay behind me to watch my butt!

Carry on ladies and ride forward! You are all a wonderful inspiration. Although I've simply not had time to post here lately I do keep up with the forum.