Play to Win

It is a popular lottery campaign: you have to play to win. You have to buy a ticket and pick numbers, in order to win. You may even get lucky with a few numbers that match, but statistically, the odds are against you. It is disappointing, almost traumatic when you get all the numbers except one.

Love is like playing the lottery. I want to take my heart out of the game because I do not want any more devastation. But, I have to play to win. In order to win at the game of love, I have to keep putting myself out there. All the while, wondering what the odds are of finding one person to match all my lottery numbers.

This is where I thought about inserting the characteristics of what my winning numbers would be when I meet Mr. Right. (I even typed them up.) However, I think that is past my comfort zone for this forum.

For now, I will stick to playing the RAGBRI* registration lottery and hope that my number is pulled for the team: Two Wheels Over Texas. May 1st seems like a long time away, but I will patiently wait the results of weather I win the lottery.

*RAGBRAI is “Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa”. A 471 miles ride, over seven days, across the state of Iowa. Barbieandherbike have a new adventure to look forward to.

Break-up Blues

It happened again and Barbie is single. I could wallow in my self pity or keep my eye on the prize and move on. Admittedly, it is hard to not sulk and I am not going to let myself go there. I remind myself that each time I meet someone; he is closer to Mister Right. I can not guard my heart and I must continue to put myself out there.

Seeking advice from friends and professionals, I came up with some tips on how to recover from a break-up. By no means is this the one-all-be-all but it is what I am going to try, for today.

1. Don’t run to alcohol, men, or drugs. They will not fix your problems. They may fix them temporary or mask the hurt temporarily. But, in the morning, you still have your problems.

2. Be honorable. Do not do something you will regret. Do not do something that you will be ashamed of or have to explain later.

3. Learn from mistakes and do not repeat them.

4. Start new. Rearrange your house. Do some spring cleaning. Throw away old memories. Maybe get a new hair style to help create a new image.

5. Keep busy with friends and family. Do not shut yourself out from the world.

6. Work-out to help with nervous energy. Be healthy. For me that is: pedal, pedal, pedal. Yoga, run and swim. Skinny jeans here I come!

7. Don’t let him bombard your brain. Deleted his contact information and delete him as a Facebook friend so you will not be tempted to call or message him.

Barbie and her bike are riddin’ on.

V-Day

Valentine’s Day is one of those holidays where if you are in a relationship it is the happiest day ever and when you are not in a relationship, you are miserable. It is “Valentine’s Day” when you are in love and “V-Day” when you are heartbroken.



My eloquence has left something to be desired but it totally stinks to go through a break-up, a week before Valentine’s Day! It feels like the divorce diet of anxiety, loss of appetite, immersing myself into working-out, and drinking my calories. If there is a good point to all this, it is the thought of fitting in my skinny jeans again.

Oh, but do not fret my dear friends. BarbieandherBike will pick herself up and hope that he changes his mind or another valiant solider will ride with me off into the sunset. Until then, I do what I do and keep pedaling.

Bang

Call it writers block. Call it what you will but there is a void in the blog post department. It could be the lack of bike riding because, obviously, all my good ideas come to me when I am on my bike.

Let me get you up to speed with a quick post.

We made it through another holiday season with a new family.

Dad is getting married to Lydia this week. Yes, the same lady he met on-line. There is something so wrong about my dad meeting someone on-line and getting married- before me. Seriously, they are a perfect match and I couldn’t be happier for the young couple.

And me… well… Ya know…

I have a new beau with two little chaps. My Saturday morning bike rides have turned into early morning tickle fights and dinner has been more pizza than I have ever eaten in my whole life. Never did I think I could find more joy than discovering Scooby-Doo pajamas mixed with my cycling jerseys.

Here to wishing your New Year started with a bang.

Believe

I was too devastated at the loss of Mom to decorate for Christmas last year. If I were to have one wish, it would be to have peace and love in my life. I could never have imagined things would be oaky without having Mom around to share the holidays. It is true. Wishes do come true.

Christmas is a time of believing. Believing in hope. Believing that the impossible is possible. Christmas time is when you ask for something that you really want. Not what you need, but something your heart desires. It is a spirit of giving and helping others get their Red Ryder BB gun that gets me excited about Christmas time.

This year, I have hope and decorated two Christmas trees. Even more exciting is having the help of children to decorate. They believe for every tree that they decorate, there will be gifts under that tree. Their imagination and pure optimism is contagious. I am convinced Santa will slip something under the tree for me too and maybe, just maybe, I will get that Tiffany engagement ring that is on my wish list.

November 30: Music Month

This month started with an idea to bring music to my blog. The first three days went smooth and then it became harder to gather the thoughts in my head and relate those thoughts to songs. Time slipped away from me and it was hard to force creativity in a sliver so small.

All the while, Barbieandherbike had emotional times in the love department. My independence and self identity have been placed on a balance beam and my spirit continues to search a new adventure to conquer.

Barry sings about his first, his last, and his everything. I reflect on who that would be for me and for now, my who is me.

You’re the First, the Last, My Everything
By: Barry White

My first, my last, my everything,
And the answer to all my dreams.
You're my sun, my moon, my guiding star.
My kind of wonderful, that's what you are.

I know there's only, only one like you
There's no way they could have made two.
You're, you're all I'm living for
Your love I'll keep for evermore.
You're the first, my last, my everything.

In you I've found so many things,
A love so new, only you could bring.
Can't you see if you,
You'll make me feel this way,
You're like a first morning dew on a brand new day.

I see so many ways that I can love you,
'Till the day I die....
You're my reality, yet I'm lost in a dream.
You're my first, my last, my everything.

[instrumental]

I know there's only one, only one like you
There's no way they could have made two.
Girl, you're my reality.
But I'm lost in a dream,
You're the first, you're the last, my everything.

November 29: Music Month

Sunday Morning
By: Maroon 5

Sunday morning, rain is falling
Steal some covers, share some skin
Clouds are shrouding us in moments unforgettable
You twist to fit the mold that I am in
But things just get so crazy, living life gets hard to do
And I would gladly hit the road, get up and go if I knew
That someday it would lead me back to you
That someday it would lead me back to you

[Chorus]
That may be all I need
In darkness, she is all I see
Come and rest your bones with me
Driving slow on Sunday morning
And I never want to leave

Fingers trace your every outline
Paint a picture with my hands
Back and forth we sway like branches in a storm
Change the weather, still together when it ends

[Chorus]

But things just get so crazy, living life gets hard to do
Sunday morning, rain is falling and I'm calling out to you
Singing, "Someday it'll bring me back to you."
Find a way to bring myself back home to you

[Chorus]