About me ~ quiz

I stole this from Samantha ~ 

 I decided to throw in a random survey. Please feel free to do also! 

1. What is your occupation right now ?
Real Estate Salesperson

2.What color are your socks right now? 
I don't wear socks when I get home. Ever.

3. What are you listening to right now? 
Golf on TV

4. What was the last thing that you ate? 
Chocolate PB protein Shake

5. Can you drive a stick shift? 
Hell Yes! Just bought a new subaru impreza sport ~ manual ~ I think I am the Stig..

6. Last person you spoke to on the phone? 
My friend Jeanine

7. Do you like the person who sent this to you? 
Technically, I stole it but ya she is awesome!

8. How old are you today? 
 35

9. What is your favorite sport to watch on TV? 
The Tour de France or any Mountain Biking

10. What is your favorite drink? 
Water ~ I'm lame

11. Have you ever dyed your hair? 
Yes, was faux blond in College ~ until I realized I looked super odd.

12. Favourite food? 
Guacamole
13. What is the last movie you watched?

Bridesmaids and I plan on watching many more times!

14. Favourite day of the year? 
My Birthday!

15. How do you vent anger? 
Rant and shout

16. What was your favourite toy as a child? 
Breyer horses

17. What is your favorite season? 
Fall

18. Cherries or Blueberries? 
blueberries definitely.

19. Do you want your friends to e-mail you back? 
You can blog this too if you want

20. Where is you favorite place to escape?

The trails

21. Favorite Tv Show?
Flipping out on Bravo ~ I'm addicted to Jeffrey Lewis!

22. Living arrangements? 
House w/husband

23. When was the last time you cried? 
I can't remember

24. What is on the floor of your closet? 
old shoes

25. Who is the friend you have had the longest?
My Friend Mary

26. What did you do last night? 
Went Mountain Biking and then to an Art Show
27. What are you most afraid of?

Failure

28. Plain, cheese, or spicy hamburgers? 
I don't eat meat...Veggie burgers - spicy

29. Favourite dog breed? 
Any Rescue!

30. Favourite day of the week? 
Sunday

31. How many states have you lived in? 
1 New York!

32. Diamonds or pearls? 
Diamonds. Flawless.

33. What is your favourite flower? 
Hydrangea

Balance and Wishes

Ok - crack that whip! Rant and confessions

Getting back on track today.  Yesterday I took the day off from exercise and that really messes with my head.  I am convinced that within 24 hours I will gain all my weight back and then some.  This is a real head trip and I'm hoping I can get it under control soon.  Yesterday was a free for all food day.  I thought it would be a good idea to eat two left over focaccia sandwiches after I had a large lunch and pasta salad. oy - I did not feel well all evening ~ will be doing liquids all day today to repent for my sins.

I am having a hard time balancing life ~ A big shout out to all you working moms who are also on the weight loss journey and doing it.  I have no kids ~ well, I do count my dogs ~ my job is flexible and my husband is super helpful and awesome, and I still have a hard time.  It seems I can only do one thing well at a time. Right now that's ME.  I am having a hard time getting it together with work and keeping up with the house work.  My focus had been 100% on me and my lap band journey.  I am now trying to put at least 50% toward my work and I just don't have it.

All I want is to be able to train full time for the VT50 and other races  ~ Hey anyone at Allergan want to sponsor this lap bander?  Just askin'...

Ok - time to put on the big girl panties and get to work today ~

The New (Post Op)Birthday

So a quick Birthday comparison...

Before Lap Band Surgery ~ for my big day I would spend many days dreaming about which restaurant we would go to.. I would have a huge breakfast (that was my favorite meal) ~ waffles and muffins and scrambled tofu...yummmm
Then  I would lay around most of the day - go to lunch and then start partying late afternoon ~ lots of wine/champagne and huge dinner and of course cake! All of this sugar would then trigger a binge that would last through Halloween! And I would feel like this:

Post Lap Band Surgery ~ After taking a few days to detox from my cake I will be staying away from sugar.
First event of the day~ 24 mile Mountain Bike Ride with my most awesome husband and friends at a dirt park ~ 8am
Have a work meeting (I never work on my b-day ~ this is an exception) 2:30
Boot Camp @ 5:30 ~ can't wait because we will be doing TRX too
Swim and Paddle after boot camp at the beach and pot luck picnic @ sunset!
Woo hoo!
I love my band and my new life!!
I'll be posting new pictures tomorrow
oh and ~ NSV - went shopping last night ~ new bras and underwear - 36C from  42D - (I refused to go to DD but probably should have at the time)

Oh Hell YES! and weigh in..

Best Cake Ever (vegan too)

Went to my pre b-day party @ my Parents house last night.  I'm so glad I did that epic ride before because I had an express train of guacamole to my mouth!  Such a great evening!  My mom made veggie lasagna in my honor and there was no meat to be seen!  Ok, some crab cakes for the rest of the gang but over all I was impressed. 

I adore spending time with my Grandmother.  She is such a class act and lover of life (and bridge).  I lived with her for a time when I was between houses in my 20s and I really got to know her.  It was similar to living with Lucille Ball.  She shouldda been in the movies!  She is always up for a good time and the running joke is that she has leave early to get to the local bar to dance for money.... where that came from I don't know but she really gets going with the whole thing! Too funny.

Today is weigh in ~ we'll see how much damage the cake and guac did ~ my band only got tight when eating salad ~ the guac and cake went down just fine ~ of course....

The results are ~ 182.8 that's a 1.2# loss.

I also learned a lesson this morning ~ Thou shalt not bring home leftover cake and then eat a slice for breakfast ~ feel guilty and try to go running with it sitting the stomach....gross. 

Cake is in the bin now ~ no mas!

Epic Ride

First ~ Thanks for all of the love on my new blog design ~ gotta give Jen @ just foolinblog design a huge thank you!  If you need some design help go see her  ~ she ROCKS!


I also want to thank Ronnie  and Samantha  for reminding me how important the WHOLE Journey is.  I will never forget where I came from and will try and be compassionate toward the old me ~ its a process...


Today!  I havea long mtb ride with my biker budd, Jflatts ~ a nice 25 miler out and back.  J and I had done the VT50 last year and were often out on these long training rides.  Its been a while since we both had the time to commit to an epic endeavor.  The thing I love most about these Epic rides is the emotional roller coaster and the pure bliss I feel at the end of it.  I am addicted to that spent feeling after pushing it balls to the wall.   The long ride is usually made up of three parts: 1 - the psyched empowered beginning - sense of adventure embarking on a 4 hour journey. 2- we get really quiet and try to just grind it out and push through exhaustion.  3~ the home stretch, we are sloppy tired and giddy, lusting after the post ride Beer  lemon water.


Oh and the best part of this day .... Going to get my VEGAN cake and EAT it too!  I'll post pictures soon.

New Blog Design ~ And deep thoughts

Here she is!  Athena in all her awesomeness.  She is the voice inside me that says keep running, keep biking, you can go another mile, don't give up.  She keeps watch over me near a buffet table.  She taps me on the shoulder when I am browsing the refrigerator.  She will fight the Hostess Snowball that calls to me in the store (eeww gross - did I really eat that once upon a time).  Nothing phases her ~ she never cries into a bag of chips or feels sorry for herself.  I am slowly becoming her.  

At the other end of the spectrum is the old me - the out of control fat girl who couldn't get from point A to point B without something sweet, the girl who didn't believe she was good enough ~ and had no self confidence.  I am leaving that person behind and the farther away I get, the more I hate her.  

Today as I was cleaning out my closet and putting all my way too big clothes in box to make way for Athena's wardrobe I was grossed out.  I want no memories of who I was. I'm not saving my fat jeans, I am not keeping any of my old clothes I don't even want pictures around.  That other person was weak, sloppy and depressed.  I'm not going back.  

Athena was asking what took you so long?  Why did you not care before?  How could you let it get so bad?  Then I remind myself that ~ HEY! I had to have surgery to get here.  It wasn't easy.  Now, with the combined efforts of Athena and the Lap Band I can conquer this once and for all and move that fat girl out of my house to make room for Athena. 

This is the part where Beyonce comes out and sings some type of girl power anthem....just sayin'.

BYOC ~ a day late

and BYOC brought to you by Drazil

It’s BYOC day! Bring Your Own Crazy! We answer a few questions to get to know each other better and to give our blog brains a break! Copy and paste to your own blog and enjoy!!

1. Alright – forgive me – we’re gonna get a little personal here. I was flipping through my organizer and saw in big bright letters “ANNUAL PHYSICAL DUE” coming up soon. Then I remembered that last year my lady bits doc said that since I haven’t had a bad pap in so many years – that I don’t have to come back for another 3 years if I don’t want to. What the what? Did you guys know that? 

No speculum in the vaginulum? 

Anywhoozle – it sounds all good but really – do any of you follow this medical rule? Do you go every three years if you’ve never had a bad pap?

I go yearly ~ last year the dr said I didn't need a pap ~ so I was trying to skip this year but need to get a new IUD (greatest device ever!!)
2. If you read, what are you reading right now? Or how about what is your fave music right now?

I love love love to read.  I was reading Unbroken- but it was so depressing that I just downloaded a Janet Evanovich book - funny and light reading.  My favorite music right now is some old school hip hop - been blasting some Tribe Called Quest and Beastie Boys lately.

3. Name some of your favorite smells.

I love the smell of diesel.  I'm such a hick.  I also love the smell of  horses after a bath, salt air, fresh cut grass and the smell of a fire on a cool fall day. 



4. Showers or baths? Shampoo only or shampoo & conditioner? Shave daily or just when you start feeling and looking like an ape?

Showers ~ been taking at least two a day lately - so much heat here.  Shave daily - I hate the feel of stubble.

5. Repeat question: Summarize your week in real life and in blogland. 

Real life: I had a pretty good week ~ did my first track workout - yay! Went to boot camp and did a bit of biking.  Got a new helmet and new bike shoes.  Food has been great ~ not hungry with this heat.

In blog-land - I'm really excited - Jen @ Just Foolin Blog Designs has designed a really cool new look for my blog - This should be up soon! 

The GREAT Vegan Cake Quest!

My mom is doing my b-day dinner on Sunday night.  I love seeing my family and celebrating the greatest day of the year!  They have been exposed to all kinds of wacky food requests and diets for me over the years but the Vegan thing is really throwing them for a loop.  I generally make a dish to bring over ~ god bless them but it ain't pretty when they try to cook outside their comfort zone.  I don't mind cooking - I always try to make something super yummy that any carnivore would love ~ I feel as if I am an ambassador for vegan-ism and that by making yummy food, people will want to give up meat ~ no pressure on me!

My father has the hardest time with it ~ generally our conversations go like this:

Dad: Hey, Ness would you like some sword fish?
Me: Dad I don't eat animals
Dad: Its fish
Me: No thanks
Dad: Can I get you some lobster salad on a cracker?
Me: Dad, I don't eat meat
Dad: Its not meat its lobster.
Me: I don't eat anything that was living or came from something living.
Dad: Its not living any more
Me: Can I have some hummus?
Dad: There is cheese there for you too
Me: Thanks, but I'll have the hummus

AN HOUR LATER
Dad: You should come and see these steaks ~ they are done perfectly
Me: No thanks ~ have you tried the Tofu Thai Satay I made?
Dad:  I just had some bacon wrapped scallops ~ you should have some they are real good
Me: I'm sure they are.

So for my birthday instead of cooking a cake that is so/so I want to order one from the best vegan bakery on the Planet ~ Babycakes in NYC!  To help prove my point - food doesn't have to contain animals to be awesome! Their baked goods are the holy grail of vegan goodies -- I would crawl on my hands and knees to eat their cupcakes.  So I told my parents I would take care of the cake ~ one problem ~ I forgot to order my own Birthday cake! Who does that.  I missed the deadline for shipping overnight and now have posted on Facebook to see if anyone I know is driving this way from NYC on Saturday or Sunday.  OY!  Fingers crossed that this happens! I have a Hail Mary call into a friend who is a baker locally to see if she can make me one hell of a cake - made with agave and gluten free.

Ok - now I'm starving for some cake - DAMMIT! -

Track Workout 1

So did I mention that a bunch of my friends are tri geeks and uber marathoners and ironmen?  I did...
As I was bitching about my super slow running skills (damn 12 minute miles) one of those insane ironwomen suggested we go to the track to do some speed work.  I have no idea what this means...they speak in a language all their own: negative splits? 8 x1 repeat? recovery mile? what tha?
I showed up and my friend had a big grin on her face ~ she announced that she had a workout just for me.  OY!
We started with a half mile jog warm up then did 5 x 200 meters "efforts" - not a total sprint but a lot faster than my usual.  It was pretty hard but about the time I was about to puke it was over.  Good times. I still don't quite understand what Perceived Exertion is but hope to soon. I am so lucky to have the best support system on the planet!  Just about everyone around me is pulling for me and ready to help in anyway possible with my goal of becoming an athlete!
Looking forward to testing the speed out on my next run.
On another note... My new Blog design is almost done!!  Jen @ just foolin Blog Design has done a great job!   So Excited to show everyone!
Oh and its Boot Camp Thursday (90 degrees + and high humidity) not sure about it today - this east coaster is not so used to such extreme heat~

RECIPE ALERT!

Peaceful Israeli Cous Cous
This is my go to comfort food:


1 good size carrot - sliced up thin
2 stalks celery - sliced up thin
.5 of a yellow onion (or white) - sliced up thin
1 cup shitaki mushroom sliced
1 tbs olive oil
salt n peppa
.5 tsp cumin
1 tsp fenugreek
1 tsp oregano
1.5 tsp parsley (more is good too)
1 cup Israeli  cous cous
2 cups veggie broth (i use better than bullion)
1 can pinto beans rinsed
1 cup frozen peas (or edamame)
1 tsp or more to taste of truffle oil - yummmm


First heat oil over medium heat and then saute celery, carrots, onion and mushroom
about 8 minutes or so until the onion is clear and the carrots are getting soft.
Add spices (I never measure - just toss in as much as you want) and let cook with veggies about 2 minutes until fragrant.
Add the couscous and toast with mixture about 5-7 minutes - cous cous
Add veggie broth and bring to boil.
Add beans and peas cover and simmer for about 12 minutes
remove from heat and dress with truffle oil - leave cover on and let sit for about 5 more minutes
For non-vegans - some fresh shaved Pecorino cheese is tha bomb over the top.


This rocks as a meal or you can add roasted tempeh/tofu to it.

Quien Es Tu Papi

YO SOY TU PAPI!
Weigh in Monday!  
184! Down 3.4 #s!  Sweet! 
I read a great post this morning from Cassie The Lap Bandit.  Ok, its actually a link to another post which is a link to another blog~ but I got to it through her blog - its about Aesthetic Goals .  This really got my attention because I keep saying over and over again to people that  my journey has nothing to do with how I look but more about how I feel.  Getting to goal has to be fun.  Every time I have ever tried (and failed) to loose weight it was about punishing my body to look a certain way and restricting all foods and living a tortured life.  Now that I have adopted a vegan lifestyle and am doing sports that I love ~ mountain biking ~ it is no longer hard ( yes, some days are tough but the overall sum is easy).  I feel great and am having fun, I could do this for the rest of my life.  That is the point right!  Yes, having the band is a big help but we all know it is only about 40%.  By living the life I want I can get the other 60%. 
So check out this post  

Sunday is my fun day!

As I stumbled out of bed this morning I noticed that the dogs looked a little sheepish. Barely awake, this only registered as I slid across the kitchen floor when my bare feet squished through something aweful. Oy, good morning. My poopr pups are both sick - (they must have eaten something) and have made a disaster of the house last night. Damn air Conditioner. I couldn't hear them. Well at least I have no appetite this morning. Gotta look on the bright side.

Eddie ~ Wonder dog!

On another note...happy Sunday! The sun is shining and I'm looking forward to a great day..going for an easy run then have to work and will wrap it up with a bike ride with my husband. Summer rules - we watched fireworks last night over the harbor with our good friends. And, it's the greatest month of the year! July! ( yes it happens to be my birthday month).
Have a great Sunday and get out and enjoy the day - even if it started off crappy ....pun intended!

Great Minds think alike -

I was just reading what Drazil has been up to and I swear she is in my head!  I was just going to do a post about my husband's inability to just hug!  I have been having a hard time adjusting to this new flood of affection but I will survive.  As for the Wax ~ I have it my head as a reward (not sure for who) when I hit 185 ~ that I will be going to get a brazillian wax ~ which would in no way help the hugging (or lack there of)!  Having never done anything like that I am nervous and am appear to be self sabotaging with peanut butter.  I just need to get on with it!
Today is Boot Camp ~ the best day of the whole week ~ a chance to socialize and push my body to its limit.  Finally the weather here has cooled, so I'll be off for a long run this morning ~ addicted much ~ you bet!
Today's Goal~ accept my fate of reaching 185 and lay off the peanut butter ~ Eat some damn fresh veggies today and plan some Damn meals!

Ramblings of a 90 degree afternoon............

Weigh in today ~ official # is......187.4 - a gain from the other day but down 3.6 since last week ~ woo2hoo!   I'm sure that was the glass of wine I had last night after my bi-annual Golf outing. 

Speaking of Golf...my husband is a golfer ~ I am not.  Once every two years I'll go out with him and see if I like it yet ~ Not yet.  Frankly, I like my hobbies dangerous or deadly like Mountain Biking, Horseback Riding, Running or Cliff Diving.  Golf, I'll try again in 2013.

The Trophy Wives ~ golfing

So on to today's event ~ I went for a Fill a week earlier than scheduled.  Not all the time, but some of the time I can get down a lot of food ~ usually when I am sitting home alone and bored or when there is guacamole in front of me ~ it just jumps into my mouth.  I am hoping this fill (1cc) will reign me in a bit.  So I am up to 5cc total.  Twelve pounds lost since my last visit My Dr is happy and I am happy ~ what more could a girl ask for.  

I know everyone's journey is different ~ I am lucky that exercise has never been an issue ~ for me it is eating.  I have used and abused food since I was a kid.  It is just now with the help of the Band that I can slow down just enough to recognize the triggers and the split second when things go wrong.  I am 1 for 10 so far in stopping in that moment.  Like right now I am working from home...and that is a trigger for me ...and there is a box of cookies on the counter in front of me....I wont eat them because I am on liquids after my fill and because I am off sugar...but they are talking to me and waiving....I can imagine eating them ...then I immediately know that they won't taste as good as I think they will and then I will feel bad.  So I say NO! to you Mr Cookie ~ I am going to go for a bike ride ~ I say Good Day!

~ Pictures ~

So here are some more photos - I am about 13 weeks post op down from 241 to 186.4 (yesterday ~ not an official weigh in).  I had my husband take some pictures of me this morning as we were heading out for a ride.  The ride was great 14 miles and 2 hours with some great friends out in the woods and along the shore.  Thought I'd add some trail pictures too ~ because I am a bike nerd!
Oh and yes those are the cute Shebeest knickers that I bought two years ago and just fit into this week ~ booyah!

BYOC!

~ First BYOC post ~

1. If you were asked to symbolize yourself as an animal 

– which animal would you be?

Lion because I am a Leo!

2. Did you ever play an organized sport 

– with coaches, rules and scoring? Tell us about it.

I played softball in High School and hated it ~ I rode the bench 

and hated running. 

I rode horses and competed in Hunters/Jumpers ~ not really

a team sport but it has rules/coaches and scoring

3. When did you start shaving your legs?

I think I was 11 or 12 ~ turned into a blood bath and 

made a huge mess of myself

4. When you’re in a crabby – pissy 

– want to stab everyone you see kind of mood 

– what do you do to get out of it or do you revel in it?
I go Mountain Biking or Running or go sit on the beach ~ but 

have been known toblast some Rage Against the Machine, Limp Bizkit or 

Social Distortion and jump around the house screaming!

5. Repeat question: Summarize your week in blogland and in real life.

Real Life: Best Week EVER!  Ran my first race ever ~ 8k ~ Booyah!  

Went mountain biking and kicked my husbands ass all over 

the woods ~ Sweet!

Went shopping size 14 now ~ was a 22/20. 

Ran this week ~ speed work.  

Did boot camp last night (80 degrees and 75% humidity 

outside in the dirt) and almost threw up ~ yeah!

Having a good week at work. 

Food has been OK ~ trying to work on portion control. 

Oh an the Tour de France is on ~ what's better than that!

Blogland: As a new blogger been trying to follow as many 

of you as I can and learn what this is all about. 

 I'd like to pimp out my blog a bit more 

and add more photos....

I am over you Lane Bryant

Its over.  I just don't need you anymore.  I know, I know, I used to love you.  I would get so excited to visit you, and you always made me feel so pretty and smart (with your great sales).  I am glad we got to know each other ~ you even saved me from some awkward situations and helped me to develop a style of my own.  But I must bid you adieu ~ we are no longer the right fit.  I have erased all evidence of you ~ my closets are now empty and I refuse to keep your things lurking in the back ~ just in case my new life doesn't work out and I need you once again.  Nope ~ say farewell ~ you can stop sending me flyers in the mail, emails saying you want me back and don't beg me back with your Real Women Dollars ~ it won't work this time. I've moved on.  I am falling for Ralph, Michael, Calvin, Coco and Tory.  Only time will tell who will be my next love ~ I am sampling whats out there, so many choices so little money.  It already is so worth it.

Fare well ~ I have no regrets

Easy Vegan Life....

Being vegan is not hard for me.  I never liked eating flesh and would force it down because I thought I had to.  Now, most days I forget that I am vegan because my food choices are what I enjoy and I never feel like I am missing out.  I start every day with a shake - blueberry or chocolate and peanut butter.  Lunch is pretty easy for me too - I work near a chutney place and have Indian style veggies over rice with chutney ~ very easy .. or i'll grab some roasted tofu or have half of an avocado tomato sandwich with sprouts or left overs from dinner - like coco rice with cilantro and black beans (mmmmm).  Even when I go out with friends there is generally something on the menu that is vegan and I will have that - most of my friends are veggie too so there are no funny looks.

But every once in a while .... I get a hankering... for fresh mozzarella ~ oh my I'm already drooling just talking about it.
I try and stop myself.....
I try and remember all I learned from the China Study and from what I have seen on Food inc  and read in Skinny Bitch.
Cow's milk  is for cows!
The protein casein that is in dairy is a trigger for cancer....  was the cow factory farmed? Was it's calf kept in a tight stall for veal? Are there hormones in the cheese? Am I contributing to global warming?  And by the time my brain has started to explode I will look down and see the cheese has a huge bite out of it....urgh ~ mindful eating ~ Not!

I think life is about averages...I am vegan 99.9999% of the time.  A bite ( thank god for the lap band or it would be the whole ball)  of farm fresh mozzarella will not kill me and does not mean I have compromised my values.  Next time I should just skip the head drama and kick back and enjoy me some cheese.....

Here's to averages and not beating ourselves up over the little slip ups!

Weigh in Day

191.0 - loss of 1.8 pounds this week ~ I'll take it!

Today is a rest day for me ~ I am wiped from the race yesterday.  I'm spending the 4th on the beach and then watching the Tour de France ~ love those boys in spandex!

Ah summer!
Happy 4th to all

First Race (8K) is on the Books!

Can I kick it?  (Yes you can!)
First running race ever!  I am flying high now basking in the after glow of 5+ mile run!
Last week I ran the course so I knew it was possible but this morning with all the people, high humidity and sun I was a bit worried.  I told myself it would be fine to walk parts if I needed to.  Getting down my breakfast shake was not happening this morning with the nerves, so I had a gu 15 minutes before the race started and that did the trick! The course was flat which is a bonus b/c I usually am running on rolling hills during the week.  I looked around and saw elite athletes but I also saw people like me.  This was a big relief and took off a lot pressure.  My goal was to beat 1 person.  I did it!  In fact, I think I beat a whole bunch of people~!!  I'll ck out the race results online later.  The best part of the race was after mile 3 I passed a girl who looked very fit but I guess she blew herself out in the beginning of the race.  Slow and Steady...Slow and Steady...So the official time for my 5.05 miles was 1:01 = 12 minute miles no walking.  Exactly what the plan was!
Post race food - 1c soy yogurt and a peach
Lunch - 1/2 cup re fried beans and quinoa with tempeh
Dinner - at my parents house - I'm thinking it will be veggie rice...
Next race - July 16th - 5K - I would like to be doing 11 min miles....

Damn it feels good to be a Gangsta!

NSVs make feel like I can do anything!  They are so much better than standing on the scale with my fingers crossed begging the numbers to drop.  I went out for a mountain bike ride yesterday with a good friend - someone who is like a mentor to me - much faster and more experienced than I am.  I was actually able to catch him and even stay within 30 seconds of him! wooohoooo!  Talk about a natural high!! Oh and it didn't hurt that he mentioned that my butt is much smaller! Yeah!

I do love me some gansta rap - thus the title of this blog (ghetto boys) - I also love the Grateful Dead and have been known to blast some Miley Cyrus from time to time. - so you could say I am a well rounded music lover.  I am feeling even more "Gansta" today because I bought a new car yesterday!  Hell to the yeah!  Whats even better?  Its a small car - that I would not have been able to fit in 4 months ago!  A Subaru Impreza Sport Wagon - in my mind it is a rally car and I have been driving it like I am in a rally (thus the car sick husband last night).
Off to get a killer playlist ready for today - Whats your favorite driving music?  Would love any suggestions....

This is not me - but I wish it were...

Roller Derby Queen

I'm not sure if its my love of fishnets and stage names or just the need to set a goal that has nothing to do with mileage, time or the scale.  The Long Island Roller Rebels hold try outs in November.  This is perfect - just about the time MTB season is winding down and I should be a lot smaller ~ I mean stronger ~ by then.  My only knowledge of the roller derby is the Jim Croce song Roller Derby Queen.  I think I could be really good it for a variety of reasons...the most important that I love to skate ~ er.... used to when I was 10 ~ and that I think dressing up with a stage name and not having to shimmy up and down a pole is super cool.
If there are any Derby Ladies out there than can give me some advice please comment!
I'll keep you all posted on my progress - Step 1 - buy skates....