Shere: welcome back home! and welcome to the board. Have you wandered over to BikeJournal.com yet?? it's a free site to log your rides on and we've got a team over there tracking our miles. It's surprising how motivating it can be- I mean - if you're looking for an excuse to Not have the "I'll ride this one every day" be your biggest lie anymore!
SandyGirl: my friend here rode her first every 1/2 century on a MTB with road slicks on it. well....or she started to anyway, then flatted, then had the Specialized guy loan her His custom road bike..........anyway - it's the perfect compromise until you can afford another bike! Or...it's the perfect commuter bike!!
Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, champagne in one hand, strawberries in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming: "Yeah Baby! What a Ride!"