So I was at the auto parts store on Saturday, because, you know, it's the best place in town to pick up guys. Like this guy working on his muscle car.

No wait, false alarm, it's just Brad.

Went to Daniel's the other night.

There was a lot of food, a lot of friends, and, of course, a lot of booze.

There was even some manerexia as Mike vowed to "get rid of" those extra calories he ate from Steph's cookies so he can keep his svelte climber's physique.

Sorry I haven't blogged much this week, but I've been busy. Here's some of the things I've done this week but not blogged about:

1. Enjoyed the 70 degree days nearly every day this week.
2. Set a new fast time up the Incline this year.
3. Rode my bike in shorts and short sleeves.
4. Lifted some weights.
5. Lost enough weight to fit in to jeans I haven't fit in to in over a year.
6. Shopped for houses.
7. Stayed organized with my weekly task list.
8. Got my hair cut by The Rick.

the end

Please help this plant. I've tried less light, more light, less water, more water and I'm still killing it. Help this plant survive.

Another night, another party. Wow, this is the most I've gone out in one weekend since camp. Tonight was the Colorado Velodrome Association year end awards and banquet.

Tonight also came with prizes. Not only did I win the Rider of the Year points series for the women, but also won for the master's women too (I knew being old would come in handy). I got a few shekles to boot for all the effort.

Kate won a well deserved Best Improved Rider. Good job Kate.

Later in the evening, business for the CVA was conducted. We were electing new board members for the CVA when I heard from the crowd "I nominate Renee Eastman", followed soon by someone else saying "I second the nomination" and presto, I am now on the board of the CVA. Looks like a new member of the board will be voting for 40 lap points races for the women every night of racing in 2008.

Later, Karl celebrates his win as male Rider of the Year and last call triple fisted. Way to go Karl.

Went to Lisa and Derek's wedding yesterday. It was great.

The VC women's team poses for a picture and are nearly unrecognizable because we are all so well groomed for the big day.
Outside we had to fix a envelope malfunction for SyRae. SyRae was having a rough day with a serious case of the drops. Luckily, the phone she asked me to hold for her was not the one she had dropped in the toilet.

SyRae and I sat with Jane and the other Dirt Girls and the JR engineering girls. We were the past and present teammate table.

But as you can see the teammate table did not have great viewing for the festivities.

We did, however, try to sneak a little taste of the cake early.

House hunting. Today was my first real excursion in to house hunting. That's right, I'm thinking about buying a house. So far this one is the front runner. Very small but charming, just like me ;-)

Here's a tip: Don't go to the mall on Halloween. It was busier than any weekend before Christmas, but all the people were very tiny and dressed as pirates, princesses, and superheroes. When did kids start trick or treating at the mall? No wonder no one ever comes by my house on Halloween. I guess I'll have to eat all that candy myself now.

Happy Halloween

I have driven to California, to New Hampshire, to Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, to Kentucky and back twice. I've even driven across Kansas 9 times and to Boulder hundreds of times all without one speeding ticket.... Then last week, about 500 meters from leaving Beth's house, I get busted for going 36 in a 25 mph zone. Trick is, I didn't even know it until I got this lovely note from the city of Boulder the other day. Booo, photo radar program!

So Veloswap was yesterday. Every year thousands of bike goobers come from all over to find the bargains. No one, however wanted the extreme bargain of my 42 cm Eddy Merckx as I was unable to sell. So, if you know anybody....

Beth was able to steel some bargains though. Here she is right after I hooked her up at the CTS tent.

Ok, so my favorite TV show is What not to Wear. Yes, that's what I said. I'm not sure what that says about me, but every Friday night I find myself watching it. p.s. Please nominate me, because I could really use $5 k worth of new clothes.

The most interesting thing I saw on my ride today... no, wait, you gotta step back and see it in context.

There's a whole village in that yard. You know, it's one thing to be crazy, it's another to advertise it on your lawn. We're all a little crazy, but when you do this to the outside of your house it just screams "Hey, look over here, crazy people live in this house."

In other news it was an incredible 75 degrees today. Very nice and very sunny. Maybe it will stay like this for the next 5 months instead of having winter....

This cup of coffee may literally be the highlight of my day. Not that it's so good, it's just that this cup of coffee is what drives me to get out of bed in the morning. Sad, but true.

There's only one team I'll be rooting for this week.

Yesterday we had our first official team ride with our new '08 roster. Youngster's Carol 'the Hurricane' Hutton and Jenna 'formerly known as Boyd' Allen have joined the old ladies on the team.

Apparently I have old lady fitness which is something like I've been racing bikes since these girls were in 1st grade, so that makes me more fit in October than someone in their 20s (as explained by the 22 year olds).

We had a bit of off-roading in the team ride. It was kind of like one of those ropes courses with team building exercises.

The day, of course, ended with coffee. At least today we mustered up a whole hour and a half before we stopped for coffee. Then me and my old lady fitness went out for another couple of hours alone. You know, gotta get fit and peak for December.

Blogger is giving me the fits tonight... but all I got to say is GO SOX!

Hanging in Boulder today with Beth and Amy. We were supposed to do a 2 hour ride, instead we rode for about 45 minutes and spent about an hour of chamois time at coffee. I'm milking the "it's only October" excuse for as long as I can to procrastinate really training. I guess I've only got a week left on that one.

Happy Birthday sis, I'm proud of you.

Since the Broncos are sitting at a lowly 2-3 and it doesn't look good for the next 2 weeks, I will now be jumping on the bandwagon that is Rocktober. The question is, if the Red Sox play the Rockies in the World Series, who will I root for?

Welcome to winter. Today was the first day of really cold weather this fall, so I opted to do the Incline (which didn't burn down the other week). I'm just not ready to embrace booties, thermal jackets, and lobster gloves yet.... it's only October!

I also opted not to participate in the Front Rangers cross clinic because, frankly, it was just too damn cold, but Steph and Mike came out to show the juniors how it's done.

I discovered yet another reason not to run, coyotes. Of which, I ran in to one (not this one) on my run today in Bear Creek park. I'm pretty sure I have no chance to out run one of these guys, but maybe I could out ride one of them, I mean if he was on a bike too.

What a nice day to be out riding in Colorado. 70 degrees, sunny, very little wind, you can't ask for much better.

Although I have not had a desk at the CTS main office in almost 3 years, you can see I am still listed on the phone's directory.

So I spent the weekend "working" which really means training with one of my athletes who is in town. We did 3 hours yesterday on the hardest group ride I've done since spring, then another 3 today. I'm worked. It's amazing how out of shape you can get in just a few weeks off the bike. I feel as if someone has punched me in the stomach and then surgically implanted bricks in to my legs. I need to get in shape, the 2008 season is only 5 months away!

Marion Jones fesses up. Maybe there are a few other pro athletes that should follow suit.

Hoorah! The Bijou street bridge is finally open. What a pain in my @$$ it's been for the past year having to go a few miles out of the way just to get on the west side or to the highway. The new bridge even has a bike lane.

Things that are great about Portland....

The view from the top of Mount Tabor.

Beer taps standard in every fridge.

Lunch at Pok Pok. Yum!

Shopping at Goodwill. There are a lot of small people with good fashion sense in Portland.

Hanging out with Kurtie Squirtie.

Flexcars. http://www.flexcar.com/

Shopping for wholesome, organic groceries.
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Steeling grapes on the Mt. Tabor trail.

Fall foliage in the pacific northwest.