LBJ metric 100 was another great ride this year. Warmer weather and less wind made the ride very enjoyable. Nolan does an excellent job of running the ride and making sure we riders have everything we need. Lots of rests stops and delicious BBQ at the end of the ride gives you something to look forward to at the end. Did I mention the beer?



Another 100 mile weekend and I am on target for my training miles. The lesson that I learned this weekend was to give myself two days of recovery after donating blood. Other than that, all is good as long as I keep my mouth shut to prevent bugs from flying in. I keep asking myself when I will learn that lesson.

Princess Barbie's Fairytale

Once up a time, in a far away land there was a Princess. Princess Barbie so longed to have a Prince in her castle. The Princess rode her two wheeled chariot across the country to find a suitable prince to ride beside her. She would not be fooled by shiny chariots, galiant stallions, or cunning personalities. There would have to be a special Prince Charming that would steal Princess Barbie’s heart.

Many days would pass but only a frog would befriend Princess Barbie. The frog would spend countless hours at the steps of the castle with hopes that he could hop in at the first sight of dawn. During those long hours at night, the frog would send the Princess messages in hopes that his croaks would let the Princess know how much he loved her.

In the morning, the frog made his way into the castle and sat outside Princess Barbie’s room. When she opened her door, the frog asked if he could join her on her jaunt across the land. Feeling a bit lonely, Princess Barbie agreed to the frogs’ company.

Not knowing the secrets of the frog, Princess Barbie was being tested. Only the finest of Princesses would suite as a companion for the frog.

The frog would give the Princess choice grapes to snack on, only to test her pallet. During the night, the frog would place a pillow before Princess Barbie along with a single pea amongst the pillow feathers. This was to test Princess Barbie to see if she would identify the bump while she was sleeping. When Princess Barbie would have a restless night because of the pea, then and only then would the frog know that Princess Barbie was a suitable Princess.

Moons passed and the frog began to fall in with Princess Barbie. The frog would sit at the pond croaking his love for the Princess only wishing he could tell Princess Barbie that a kiss would make him into her Prince Charming.

The frog sent the Princess finest garments made of silk linens and precious medals to be worn as a token of love. But, Princess Barbie could not see spending her life with a frog in her castle. The days rotated and the more time Princess Barbie and the frog spent on the country side the more Princess Barbie started to love the frog.

The frog only had until midnight for his spell to be broken. While eating dinner, Princess Barbie sat close to the frog. They leaned in toward each other for a kiss. Acting on love and luck, at the touch of their lips, the frog turned into Prince Charming. It was at that moment that Princess Barbie found her Prince and they lived happily ever after.

Crossroads Reunion

Sunday was quite a treat to ride with some friends from Crossroads. I love that I met these folks when I was wondering across America and a year or two later we can meet as if no time passed between our last visit.

They came into Fredericksburg, an hour drive from San Antonio. They were too close for me to NOT go ride and have lunch with. Jim Olsen is also here but was unable to snap a picture of him.

No TV

It has been one week with no television. So far, I have not missed it one bit. Sure I wonder who Brad proposed to and I wonder what funny shenanigans “Modern Family” is up to but, it can wait. I really want to know what is going on with Jersey Shore. I can probably look back at my life when I was twenty-one and get a sense of their drama.

The news focuses on the negative in the world and I am missing all the video clips and updates of the tsunami in Japan. Well, I guess I am not really missing it because I never saw it in the first place.

Without television, I have been keeping myself busy. More bike training and more recovery time. More sitting outside watching Roxy chase birds. More talking on the phone and dinner with friends. And all those things that I needed to do, well, they are almost all done. I have more time on my hands to do productive things with my time. I am liking this.

Ash Wednesday

Today is the beginning of the Lent. In years past, I had not put much thought into the purpose but would still go through a self-denial period. It was easy to say a rosary a day or even read a devotional meditation. Then I started challenging myself and gave up French fries, donuts, and then sweets.

It wasn’t until two years ago, after giving up alcohol, did I receive great benefit from giving up a personal vice. Never believing I could give up drinking alcohol for forty days, I realized that it was possible and I did it.

This year, I am giving up television for forty days. I will be saying good-bye to “The Bachelor”, “CSI”, “ The Office”, “Modern Family”, “Brothers and Sisters”, "SNL”, and “Jersey Shore”. I still cannot believe I am actually going to do this. During this time I will see how full TIVO can get and maybe even realize that I will not want to go back through each episode to catch up.

Maybe I won’t really miss who Brad will choose and I will not really miss the drama between Sammi and Ronnie on The Shore. This will be a true test of faith. In the absence of television, I plan to work on my relationships by picking up the phone or visiting more often. I will read the pile of books I have wanted to read. Who knows, I may even pick up something or someone new.

Below is some additional information about Lent. I gathered it from Wikipedia.

Ash Wednesday is a day of repentance and it marks the beginning of Lent. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer — through prayer, repentance, almsgiving and self-denial. There are traditionally forty days in Lent which are marked by fasting, both from foods and festivities, and by other acts of penance. Today, some people give up a vice of theirs, add something that will bring them closer to God, and often give the time or money spent doing that to charitable purposes or organizations.

Wicked

The Broadway show, “Wicked” is showing in San Antonio. My favorite line is at the start of production when Glenda appears in her bubble and says, “Aren’t you glad to see me? That’s rhetorical. You don’t have to answer that.”

Like Glenda, I will begin with, aren’t you glad to read my blog?

I pick my brain to write something creative and witty but there is little to choose from. Only bike riding and yoga consume my time. Taking up yoga was my way of forcing me to stretch. After all, I never stretch after a ride even though I know I should.

Spin, spin, and pedal, pedal along with no stretching or yoga made my left knee irritated. This week was a light week for recovery time but still putting one foot in front of the other. Everything is lined up for the big show on June 8th.

Flight scheduled.
Check.
Registration complete.
Check.
Miles on my bike.
Check.
New bike shorts.
Check.
Barbie happy in her bike bubble.
Check.