To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit www.verizonwireless.com/picture.
Note: To play video messages sent to email, QuickTime® 6.5 or higher is required.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
The Harsh Mom Reality
~
My mother is pissed at her neighbors, pissed at her friends and pissed at me over the police being called.
They can not legally force entry.
She has had the phone off the hook all day (and who knows, maybe all night)
I appreciate all the suggestions of calling different agencies, it's been done.
She is a master manipulator and a bald faced lair.
I found out yesterday from her neighbor that when she had the severe edema (swelling for those not up on medical terminology) it was all the way up to her waist (why her heart didn't stop completely I don't know) She told the doctor that is “just happened a day or so ago” and never let them see how far up it was.
She knew she was diabetic, and she'd go on crazy crash diets to get her blood sugar down just before her appointments so that her blood sugar would test out OK.
She has a mass on her kidney that she refuses to have looked at (she's had cancer twice and doesn't want to go through that kind of treatment again)
She was working in a law office up until she finally went in for surgery.
She is as sharp as a tack, knows that she can not be declared unable to care for or make decisions for herself and that there is no implied consent. (and did I mention that she's a charmer and manipulative?)
Shes' not stupid and has brought every bit of this on herself by refusing to take her medications (I begged and pleaded with her to take her blood pressure medication when I was in my 20s as a paramedic telling her how people who don't have strokes and end up in extended care facilities having their diapers changes and being fed through a tube in their nose)
The only reason she agreed to the surgery earlier this year is because she hoped she'd die on the operating table (she told this to both me and her surgeon)
She won't go to the doctor or let anyone in to her home because she KNOWS that she will not be allowed to live alone in her filthy (she's a hoarder) mobile home. She doesn't want anyone in there and doesn't want to be put in a home.
I've dropped everything and flown/drove out there more times that I can count only to have her return to her self destructive lifestyle. (which is a lot more than should be expected given the abuse I put up with as a child)
I'm not doing it any more.
I can't make her want to live.
I can't make her take care of herself.
I can try to not let it make me physically ill again (trust me, this brings back a lot of my childhood/abuse issues) and not end up like her. (and I'm most certainly not going down there, break into her house and potentially have a criminal record that will lose me my job)
Unless she suddenly decides that she has something to live for (not likely) I expect that she will be dead (either intentionally or unintentionally) by this time next week.
It's what she wants.
~L
Mood: resigned
~
My mother is pissed at her neighbors, pissed at her friends and pissed at me over the police being called.
They can not legally force entry.
She has had the phone off the hook all day (and who knows, maybe all night)
I appreciate all the suggestions of calling different agencies, it's been done.
She is a master manipulator and a bald faced lair.
I found out yesterday from her neighbor that when she had the severe edema (swelling for those not up on medical terminology) it was all the way up to her waist (why her heart didn't stop completely I don't know) She told the doctor that is “just happened a day or so ago” and never let them see how far up it was.
She knew she was diabetic, and she'd go on crazy crash diets to get her blood sugar down just before her appointments so that her blood sugar would test out OK.
She has a mass on her kidney that she refuses to have looked at (she's had cancer twice and doesn't want to go through that kind of treatment again)
She was working in a law office up until she finally went in for surgery.
She is as sharp as a tack, knows that she can not be declared unable to care for or make decisions for herself and that there is no implied consent. (and did I mention that she's a charmer and manipulative?)
Shes' not stupid and has brought every bit of this on herself by refusing to take her medications (I begged and pleaded with her to take her blood pressure medication when I was in my 20s as a paramedic telling her how people who don't have strokes and end up in extended care facilities having their diapers changes and being fed through a tube in their nose)
The only reason she agreed to the surgery earlier this year is because she hoped she'd die on the operating table (she told this to both me and her surgeon)
She won't go to the doctor or let anyone in to her home because she KNOWS that she will not be allowed to live alone in her filthy (she's a hoarder) mobile home. She doesn't want anyone in there and doesn't want to be put in a home.
I've dropped everything and flown/drove out there more times that I can count only to have her return to her self destructive lifestyle. (which is a lot more than should be expected given the abuse I put up with as a child)
I'm not doing it any more.
I can't make her want to live.
I can't make her take care of herself.
I can try to not let it make me physically ill again (trust me, this brings back a lot of my childhood/abuse issues) and not end up like her. (and I'm most certainly not going down there, break into her house and potentially have a criminal record that will lose me my job)
Unless she suddenly decides that she has something to live for (not likely) I expect that she will be dead (either intentionally or unintentionally) by this time next week.
It's what she wants.
~L
Mood: resigned
~
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Life's never drama free
~
I have to get this off my chest or explode. (or worse, make myself sick again)
At the beginning of this year my mother's many years of depression, alcohol abuse, refusal to eat properly, exercise or take her meds, as well as her constant deception/manipulation caught up with her.
She could no longer lie to her doctor (and everyone else) and hide how severe her edema and diabetes was (she almost lost her leg and her life to septic shock) she was admitted to the hospital, went through a risky bypass surgery to try to save her leg and then had to spend some time in a convalescent facility.
The lying, manipulation and frustration during this whole episode brought back a lot of childhood issues. (gross understatement)
I don't believe in playing the victim card. In the end, we are the ones responsible for what kind of person we choose to become in life. But growing up in an abusive, alcoholic household makes it a challenge. To say that it doesn't affect us, that it didn't affect me and my ability to trust and have healthy relationships would be disingenuous; heck, it would be a bald faced lie.
I don't know what it's like to have a parent that I could trust not to hurt me, or to not even lie to me. It's difficult to know that you can not/have never been able to trust your own mother.
I've chosen not to be bitter; I've chosen to be the best daughter I can and not to hurt my mother by being angry towards her about it or to shut her out of my life. There is no reason to hurt her more than she's already been hurt. (she was a victim as well; she didn't intend to cause me harm)
But the being lied to again did bring things back.
I allowed the stress of this situation, as well as the past trauma it brought up to make me stressed, sleep deprived and as a result, very sick (I bonked on the Chilly Hilly bike ride with a heart rate of 215)
During this time, in addition to saving her leg and stopping the infection raging through her body they managed to reverse most of the congestive heart failure and get her diabetes (both of which she denied having) under control.
When she finally got out, she swore that she would do her physical therapy, exercise/walk, take her medications, go to her doctor's appointments and eat properly.
She swore she was a “changed woman” because she “never wants to go through that again.”
She was lying.
She was lying to me, her doctors, her friends and most of all herself.
Am I surprised?
No.
Am I disappointed?
Hell Yes!
People in my family live long productive lives, when they choose to do so.
None of this was about genetics, it was all about her abusing herself.
Heck, I met Sister Madonna at the Moses Lake Olympic Triathlon. She is the same age as my mother (79) and is an Ironman.
I don't expect my mother to do something that extreme, but it is an example that age doesn't matter and that a person can overcome just about anything if they choose to.
I would think that this near death and traumatic experience might convince her to take her medication and take a walk (in her very safe community with other people)
People can do amazing things with their lives if they choose.
Or they can piss them away.
As I type this, my mother is holed up in her mobile home refusing to answer the door, even when the police (who were called by her former boss/long time friend to do a welfare check because they couldn't get a hold of her her two days after she had fallen and was taking a lot of pain medication) banged on it for a good long time.
She's pissed at her neighbor, and pissed at me because she thinks I called her former boss (he was the one who contacted me today) after she forbade me from contacting him after she was released from the hospital months ago.
She's been falling and injuring herself again, adjusting her own medications (not taking what she should, and taking things not currently prescribed), not doing her physical therapy or exercising and hasn't been going to the doctor. She promised to call him on Monday after she told me about her latest fall, but has yet to do so because she "hasn't had time"-she's just been taking lots of pain meds.
Sadly, the police can't force entry unless they see her on the floor, and she's got the place sealed up too tightly for that. I guess they'll have to wait for the day that the neighbors complain about the rotting stench of her corpse. (yes, it's crass, but it's the way it is)
She's pissed at her neighbor and Ed for calling the police and for banging on her doors and window (in the middle of the day when most people who aren't drugged out are awake)
I've been telling her over and over that she's going to fall and die a slow painful death in there and that if she continues this way that social services will become involved and she might get taken away and put in a home. (I was pretty sure that threat would go nowhere because she knows that if she's in her right mind there is no implied consent-never try to bluff someone that has worked in the legal field, especially not one who is a master manipulator)
She also went off on me at the thought that I might call her doctor to tell him what's going on since she hasn't even though she promised to do so. (she'd just lie to him like she always has anyway)
She's made it very clear that she's the "adult" and I'm not to call anyone.
Uh... yeah... right...
I can't make her take care of herself and I can't do anything to change her living arrangements (she should NOT be living alone and knows it) not even legally at this point.
I'm determined not to let this make me sick again or to let anyone guilt me.
No one needs to respond too this, I just needed to get it off my chest.
~L
Mood: Resigned
~
I have to get this off my chest or explode. (or worse, make myself sick again)
At the beginning of this year my mother's many years of depression, alcohol abuse, refusal to eat properly, exercise or take her meds, as well as her constant deception/manipulation caught up with her.
She could no longer lie to her doctor (and everyone else) and hide how severe her edema and diabetes was (she almost lost her leg and her life to septic shock) she was admitted to the hospital, went through a risky bypass surgery to try to save her leg and then had to spend some time in a convalescent facility.
The lying, manipulation and frustration during this whole episode brought back a lot of childhood issues. (gross understatement)
I don't believe in playing the victim card. In the end, we are the ones responsible for what kind of person we choose to become in life. But growing up in an abusive, alcoholic household makes it a challenge. To say that it doesn't affect us, that it didn't affect me and my ability to trust and have healthy relationships would be disingenuous; heck, it would be a bald faced lie.
I don't know what it's like to have a parent that I could trust not to hurt me, or to not even lie to me. It's difficult to know that you can not/have never been able to trust your own mother.
I've chosen not to be bitter; I've chosen to be the best daughter I can and not to hurt my mother by being angry towards her about it or to shut her out of my life. There is no reason to hurt her more than she's already been hurt. (she was a victim as well; she didn't intend to cause me harm)
But the being lied to again did bring things back.
I allowed the stress of this situation, as well as the past trauma it brought up to make me stressed, sleep deprived and as a result, very sick (I bonked on the Chilly Hilly bike ride with a heart rate of 215)
During this time, in addition to saving her leg and stopping the infection raging through her body they managed to reverse most of the congestive heart failure and get her diabetes (both of which she denied having) under control.
When she finally got out, she swore that she would do her physical therapy, exercise/walk, take her medications, go to her doctor's appointments and eat properly.
She swore she was a “changed woman” because she “never wants to go through that again.”
She was lying.
She was lying to me, her doctors, her friends and most of all herself.
Am I surprised?
No.
Am I disappointed?
Hell Yes!
People in my family live long productive lives, when they choose to do so.
None of this was about genetics, it was all about her abusing herself.
Heck, I met Sister Madonna at the Moses Lake Olympic Triathlon. She is the same age as my mother (79) and is an Ironman.
I don't expect my mother to do something that extreme, but it is an example that age doesn't matter and that a person can overcome just about anything if they choose to.
I would think that this near death and traumatic experience might convince her to take her medication and take a walk (in her very safe community with other people)
People can do amazing things with their lives if they choose.
Or they can piss them away.
As I type this, my mother is holed up in her mobile home refusing to answer the door, even when the police (who were called by her former boss/long time friend to do a welfare check because they couldn't get a hold of her her two days after she had fallen and was taking a lot of pain medication) banged on it for a good long time.
She's pissed at her neighbor, and pissed at me because she thinks I called her former boss (he was the one who contacted me today) after she forbade me from contacting him after she was released from the hospital months ago.
She's been falling and injuring herself again, adjusting her own medications (not taking what she should, and taking things not currently prescribed), not doing her physical therapy or exercising and hasn't been going to the doctor. She promised to call him on Monday after she told me about her latest fall, but has yet to do so because she "hasn't had time"-she's just been taking lots of pain meds.
Sadly, the police can't force entry unless they see her on the floor, and she's got the place sealed up too tightly for that. I guess they'll have to wait for the day that the neighbors complain about the rotting stench of her corpse. (yes, it's crass, but it's the way it is)
She's pissed at her neighbor and Ed for calling the police and for banging on her doors and window (in the middle of the day when most people who aren't drugged out are awake)
I've been telling her over and over that she's going to fall and die a slow painful death in there and that if she continues this way that social services will become involved and she might get taken away and put in a home. (I was pretty sure that threat would go nowhere because she knows that if she's in her right mind there is no implied consent-never try to bluff someone that has worked in the legal field, especially not one who is a master manipulator)
She also went off on me at the thought that I might call her doctor to tell him what's going on since she hasn't even though she promised to do so. (she'd just lie to him like she always has anyway)
She's made it very clear that she's the "adult" and I'm not to call anyone.
Uh... yeah... right...
I can't make her take care of herself and I can't do anything to change her living arrangements (she should NOT be living alone and knows it) not even legally at this point.
I'm determined not to let this make me sick again or to let anyone guilt me.
No one needs to respond too this, I just needed to get it off my chest.
~L
Mood: Resigned
~
Squees-They're late but I has dem
~
Welcome to “things that make me go Squee”.
After “cleaning out the pipes” yesterday by venting for WTF Wednesday, I'm ready to "squee with glee".
In honor of Pop Fiend’s attempt at decreasing drama for at least one day a week on LiveJournal by promoting “Drama Free Thursday” (for those who aren’t aware, my blog is crossposted to LiveJournal, my self hosted WordPress blog, Blogspot, and Facebook), I offer up my own “special” (in a rode the short bus kind of way) contribution, “Things that Make Me go Squee!!!
* Things that make me go squee!”may has become a regular Thursday spectacle production because “Squee” rhymes with “Drama Free”, and I’m trying to do my part.
I think that almost everyone occasionally forgets to celebrate and share good things. I know I do.
So in the spirit of putting “good juju” out there, here are the current things that make me go “SQUEE!!!”
I survived another STP. (Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic) a 204 mile ride from Seattle to Portland. This year I volunteered as a medical support rider paired up with a friend who is a ride referree and we had quite the adventure!
I'm recovering well from the ride and will be doing TWO triathlons this weekend-The Ft Lewis Triple Threat on Saturday and the SeaFair tri on Sunday. (it may sound crazy, but it's like doing an Olympic Distance over two days instead of at one time)
I'm certain that part of my recovery was a fabulous carb, protein and potassium loading trip to the HUB for Kobe /Sliders and Sweet Potato Fries.
This picture that I took with my cell phone makes me squee
I'm pretty sure that the yuck I'm dealing with right now is really bad allergies, not a cold or flu.
Relationship issues are settling down and things are working out.
Although things have taken a nasty turn with my mother (as we speak she is holed up in her mobile home refusing to open the door for anyone, including the police who were called by the neighbor because no one say her for two says after she fell and started taking lots of pain meds) and she's back to the lying and her unhealthy lifestyle, I'm not letting it make me sick this time, and I'm not letting anyone guilt me over it.
I can't control other people's actions, but I can control my response to them
And here are little smilies for all the squees left unsqueed
And of course, the greatest squee of all…
I am blessed to have really GREAT friends in my life
And you can see a lot of them here… (if I don’t have a picture of you here, send me one)
Insert “squee” of your choice here
I wish everyone a happy and drama free Thursday, as well as lots of things to go “Squee” over.
SKA-WEEEEEEEEE
Now, I've got to get back to work, break’s over.
~L
Mood: Gotta Squee
~
Welcome to “things that make me go Squee”.
After “cleaning out the pipes” yesterday by venting for WTF Wednesday, I'm ready to "squee with glee".
In honor of Pop Fiend’s attempt at decreasing drama for at least one day a week on LiveJournal by promoting “Drama Free Thursday” (for those who aren’t aware, my blog is crossposted to LiveJournal, my self hosted WordPress blog, Blogspot, and Facebook), I offer up my own “special” (in a rode the short bus kind of way) contribution, “Things that Make Me go Squee!!!
* Things that make me go squee!”
I think that almost everyone occasionally forgets to celebrate and share good things. I know I do.
So in the spirit of putting “good juju” out there, here are the current things that make me go “SQUEE!!!”
I survived another STP. (Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic) a 204 mile ride from Seattle to Portland. This year I volunteered as a medical support rider paired up with a friend who is a ride referree and we had quite the adventure! I'm recovering well from the ride and will be doing TWO triathlons this weekend-The Ft Lewis Triple Threat on Saturday and the SeaFair tri on Sunday. (it may sound crazy, but it's like doing an Olympic Distance over two days instead of at one time) I'm certain that part of my recovery was a fabulous carb, protein and potassium loading trip to the HUB for Kobe /Sliders and Sweet Potato Fries. This picture that I took with my cell phone makes me squee I'm pretty sure that the yuck I'm dealing with right now is really bad allergies, not a cold or flu. Relationship issues are settling down and things are working out. Although things have taken a nasty turn with my mother (as we speak she is holed up in her mobile home refusing to open the door for anyone, including the police who were called by the neighbor because no one say her for two says after she fell and started taking lots of pain meds) and she's back to the lying and her unhealthy lifestyle, I'm not letting it make me sick this time, and I'm not letting anyone guilt me over it.I can't control other people's actions, but I can control my response to them
And here are little smilies for all the squees left unsqueed
And of course, the greatest squee of all…
I am blessed to have really GREAT friends in my lifeAnd you can see a lot of them here… (if I don’t have a picture of you here, send me one)
Insert “squee” of your choice hereI wish everyone a happy and drama free Thursday, as well as lots of things to go “Squee” over.
SKA-WEEEEEEEEE
Now, I've got to get back to work, break’s over.
~L
Mood: Gotta Squee
~
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
WTF? It's Wednesday
~
Shocking as this may seem, I just don't have anything to rant about this week.
Yes, there were inconsiderate cyclists and motorists on the STP this year...
Yeah, I don't feel all that well today...
And I'm sure someone's been a butthead to me this week...
But an insincere rant is just no good at all.
To be quite honest, I feel very blessed right now to have:
good friends
a healthy body (despite previous life threatening injuries and feeling a bit yucky right now)
an Icky Boy who loves me (even if it's not the right time to cohabitate)
a furry, purring BadKitty (who really is sweet most of the time)
a good job (even if it does stress me out sometimes)
So here are some past WTF Wednesday rants... Enjoy
Perhaps someone will really piss me off next week?
~L
Mood: non-dramatic
~
Shocking as this may seem, I just don't have anything to rant about this week.
Yes, there were inconsiderate cyclists and motorists on the STP this year...
Yeah, I don't feel all that well today...
And I'm sure someone's been a butthead to me this week...
But an insincere rant is just no good at all.
To be quite honest, I feel very blessed right now to have:
good friends
a healthy body (despite previous life threatening injuries and feeling a bit yucky right now)
an Icky Boy who loves me (even if it's not the right time to cohabitate)
a furry, purring BadKitty (who really is sweet most of the time)
a good job (even if it does stress me out sometimes)
So here are some past WTF Wednesday rants... Enjoy
Perhaps someone will really piss me off next week?
~L
Mood: non-dramatic
~
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit www.verizonwireless.com/picture.
Note: To play video messages sent to email, QuickTime® 6.5 or higher is required.
Monday, July 13, 2009
STP 2009 - an epic ride
~
What a weekend it was...
I don't even know where to start (and this post will be long and rambling)
When I first moved here 11 years ago, I couldn't imagine riding on the road (hadn't had a road bike since college and had been a mountain biker my entire adult life) more or less riding 204 miles from Seattle to Portland with 10,000 of my new closest friends.
But now, I can't imagine not doing it.
Last year I was nervous and terrified-I didn't know if I could do it.
What a difference a year makes; I fussed over logistics but knew I could do it even with less bike time this year (with all the triathlon training I'm not in as good a bike shape but am in better overall shape), had nothing to prove and would be riding with friends. (last year only 2 of the 11 people I trained with actually rode it and they wanted the latest start possible [on the hottest day of the year no less-I passed] so I rode solo)
Of course, no major undertaking is without things going wrong.
For the life of me, I could not find my bike pump that I took off my bike last time she was in the shop. I finally pulled one off of my other bikes.
My bike computer died so I replaced the battery (the battery wasn't the only problem as it turns out-it told me I was riding 4mph slower than I was making me think I was bonking when I wasn't)
and when I got to the start line, I discovered that when I tripped on my stairs leaving my apartment at 4:00 AM (almost took out my ankle and missed the ride all together), the heart rate monitor strap on my Garmin fell out of my bag and was likely lost forever.
I called Leo (my ride partner and other half of our comedy duo) at 4:30 and he was about 3 minutes behind me on I-5; we arrived at the UW in Seattle at about the same time. (not bad for one of us leaving from Bremerton and the other leaving from Tacoma)
I picked up my medical support jersey from our happy volunteers and got to meet Kimbery, MJ, Andy Williams (we've been reading each other's blogs for some time) and Shawn Darraugh (photos to be uploaded to Facebook)
After picking up my jersey, hitting the port-a-potties and loading my luggage on the truck I was putting the final bit of air in my tire and getting ready to go when I heard,
“Hey!!! It's DARWIN (my slug who has his own blog)
Mary was not only excited to meet Darwin in person
but she had banana slugs all over her helmet (and she gave me one; I also saw another slug on the ride that she gave someone else)
After that, Leo and I headed to the start line at 6:00 AM sharp (right in our projected time frame)
Last year, I was a very new (and nervous) road cyclist having only had a road bike for three and a half months before the STP.
This year, I was much more relaxed and less nervous about the other cyclists (many of whom aren't adept at riding in groups safely or courteously) I also slept better the night before and ate more and often.
We enjoyed the cruise along Lake Washington Boulevard with the water and Tahoma (Mt Rainier's real name) as a spectacular backdrop.
We had a blast singing, joking, insulting each other for the amusement of the other riders and playing duets on our horns (Leo loaned me a horn that honked to offset his “squeaker”.
There was an accident near Renton, but there were already medics and a support vehicle on scene and the EMS system had been activated so we kept going to be available for other incidents.
Claire and David when whipping past us on their tandem (they've been animals this year) Leo took off after them (at about 25 miles per hour) I took off after Leo, realized it was stupid to push that hard so early in the ride and backed off.
We did see them at the REI rest stop.
Where there were lots of REI employees volunteering and working hard at the BEST rest stop on the ride.
I even got to meet “Super Girl”
We saw lots of interesting people along the route and had a “lovely” (read hot on new black asphalt) run up the Puyallup hill and then headed on to Spanaway for the lunch stop.
We discovered early on that Leo was the “invisible” ride ref. He would politely ask people to say “on your left” and they'd completely ignore the poor guy. (he got teased about this for two days)
The lines were very long, but we got food quickly and then unlike last year, sat in the shade and cooled off.
It wasn't easy, but I talked Leo out of waiting in the scorching sun for the port-a-potty lines and made other arrangements down the route (legal indoor plumbing thank you very much)
There was a bike accident outside of Spanaway, but there were more medics than patients and a support vehicle on scene, so we kept going to be available for other incidents. We also started seeing lots of flat tires.
I started getting sick from the heat around Tenino (it wasn't quite as hot as last year, but was more humid) I thought I was bonking earlier when my bike computer said I was only going 9mph (slight uphill) when I was actually going 14 before I realized that it was borked)
Once I get that hot, I can't eat because I get nauseous. Luckily, I was well hydrated, but I did bonk between Tenino and Centrialia. We pulled over and I downed a package of Cliff Shot Blocks and as much water as I could get down without vomiting (and it was close, let me tell you)
I made it into Centralia where I had a room booked at Rocky and Patsy's house (the house with the mister set up practically on campus). No riding across town to a motel and walking back.
It was like staying with friends. The two other guys that were staying there were guys I had met on the Chehalis Western Trail (what are the odds out of 10,000 people) when I was being regaled with linguistic trivia by another rider.
I pulled up on my bike, put it in the back yard and was offered a beer (a good one too)
I had a nice shower, sat in the front yard and then a wonderful sit down dinner of lasagna, salad from the garden and garlic bread.
After that, we all walked over to the camp at the college (less than half a block) to socialize.
I finally got to meet Michael Snyder from the Cascade Bicycle Club.
Here we are with Leo in our obligatory Hawaiian shirts (how we recognize each other in the beer gardens at these events)
The beer garden had run out of beer (16 kegs), so we wandered over to the West Sound Cycling Club tent for a beer before calling it a night.
Yes, I was a naughty girl, I stayed out past 9:00 PM drinking beer with the cycling club from across the bridge (for which Rocky briefly locked me out of the house as joke)
I was awoken just before 5:00 AM (when the alarm was set to go off) to the sound of a torrential downpour (these were not showers-this was a deluge) which didn't bode well for the rest of the ride. Heat exhaustion the first day-hypothermia the next. Good times!
Leo and I met back at the camp and headed out just after 6:00 AM.
I had breakfast at the house (just coffee and cereal, I'm not a big eater in the morning) but Leo didn't. I hopped a paceline between Centralia and Chehalis, turned around and didn't see Leo anywhere. It was his turn for a bonk.
I pulled out of the line and waited for him..
There was thunder and significant lighting strikes (big ones hitting the ground) which added more than a bit of excitement to the ride. We (along with a few hundred of our closest new bestet friends hauled butt into Chehalis where the smart ones took cover while the cells passed.
This was where we had an awesome breakfast at the park. (much like a hobbit, I enjoyed “2nd breakfast”)
Here are Leo's Squid and my Slug enjoying it. (yes, the Ensure is Leo's)
When we got a break in the storm, we headed out for what is my favorite part of the ride; the rolling countryside between Chehalis and Longview.
There was a huge number of flat tires on day two; it seemed like we were coming up on one every 100 yards or so. Michael even stopped for a guy who had broken his seat post.
This year, I had to stop in Winlock to take a cheesy photo with the egg...
We continued on through the wonderful rolling hills when our bliss was broken for a time by a hailstorm that pummeled us not long after we left Winlock.
I got to sing with a fun paceline while on the rollers. We belted out a fabulous rendition of “Take Me Home Country Roads”
I was excited to find that they were not out of turkey warps at the Lexington stop this year and we had a nice break and lunch.
At this stage in the ride (just shy of 150 miles) there was a lot of Chamois Butt'r being used... Here is the scene from inside of one of the port-a-potties
We were leaving that stop at about noon when the announcement came...
They were only going to do the escorts across the Lewis and Clark Bridge (between Longview WA and Rainier OR) until 1:00 PM.
It was only 8 miles away, but we decided to haul butt to make sure we got across with the escort.
The bridge to most people is the scariest part of the ride and it's worse without the escort trying to ride it with logging trucks whizzing by.
Here we are lined up to get over the bridge. (small groups are escorted by the Gold Wing club)
And here we are crossing the bridge (right before the screaming downhill run with the scary expansion joints)
width="500" height="375" alt="STP 2009 031" />
The mad dash to get across the bridge lead to a bit more crowding on Highway 30 than usual but it was workable. (check out the rain on my helmet)
Just before the St Helen's Rest Stop I could tell that my lactic acid threshold (which I've learned a lot about over the last couple years) was being pushed and that whatever they had at the rest stop (they usually run out of turkey wraps that late in the day) was not going to cut it. Michael was very good about staying with me and offering to take pulls when I started slowing down just before St Helens.
So I pulled over at McDonalds (disgusting but a good, cheap quick source of meat, fat and carbs all of which I needed) and got a cheeseburger and fries,which I stuffed in my jersey pockets before heading into the rest stop.
Leo looked at me with revulsion at my disgusting choice of endurance fuel to get the final 25 miles (out of 204) into Portland.
Michael looked at me a bit less harshly...
Soon, they both headed there as well (yes, I laughed my butt off)
Since I was the slow one out of the group, I headed out a bit earlier than they did.
Michael caught up with me well past Scapposse after sprinting a good distance and Leo took a bit longer to catch up.
After that, we took turns taking pulls into Portland (pretty much hauling butt-a 17 mph average that late in a double century ride is hauling butt for me)
That last stretch of Hwy 30 entering Porltand makes me nervous. It's narrow, the traffic is speeding by, and everyone is tired, stressed and ready for the ride to be done. It was especially bad this year because it wasn't just raining, it was pouring and we were soaked to the skin and there was a lot of standing water. Some of the storm drains on the side of the bike lane were only identifiable by the bubbles coming out of the standing water.
People turn into “instant buttheads” passing too close without saying “on your left” (I was tempted to snark, but could not do so while wearing a ride support jersey)
Just before the nasty hill coming into Portland we stopped to help a couple of ladies with a flat tire.
I don't know what was up with me, but I actually passed people on the first half of that nasty hill, I came to my senses and slowed down on the 2nd half. (I'm not a great hill climber)
During the final miles through Portland to the start I was whining, “No ooone toool meeee iiiit might raaaaiiiin in Poooortland.” and “I'm sooooo cooool aand weeeeet I caaaan't feeeeel my buuuuut anymooooore” (not a bad thing actually)
We hit every red light in Portland between the Steel Bridge and the finish line.
My friend Peter (one of my VERY best friends in Jr High School who I recently reconnected with on Facebook) was there at the finish line for me and for a very short visit. We hadn't seen each other since the 70's.
We got in very late (as a support rider Leo, Michael and I had to stop a lot to help people) and barely had enough time to get our bikes on the truck, grab our luggage and get on the bus back to Seattle.
No food, no beer.
I did change into dry clothes (which disgusted Leo that I did it without showering) but he actually got on the bus in his wet disgusting riding clothes.
Someone was kind enough to give us some granola bars as a “thank you” for volunteering and Leo found some cheese crackers in his pocket.
Traffic stunk (which it usually does on Sunday between Portland and Seattle especially on STP and Oregon Country Fair weekend)
We pulled into the UW parking lot some time after 10:00 PM and I was a bit worried when Flash wasn't racked.
I d id not want to drive up to Seattle the next day to get my bike (again, last year the truck my bike was on got a flat tire)
Then I saw the next truck pull up and Flash was one of the first bikes off.
I was happily reunited with my beloved bike and headed home.
Yes, I'll be doing it again next year.
Oh, the rest of the pictures are here...
and here's the route map
~L
Mood: relaxing
~
What a weekend it was...
I don't even know where to start (and this post will be long and rambling)
When I first moved here 11 years ago, I couldn't imagine riding on the road (hadn't had a road bike since college and had been a mountain biker my entire adult life) more or less riding 204 miles from Seattle to Portland with 10,000 of my new closest friends.
But now, I can't imagine not doing it.
Last year I was nervous and terrified-I didn't know if I could do it.
What a difference a year makes; I fussed over logistics but knew I could do it even with less bike time this year (with all the triathlon training I'm not in as good a bike shape but am in better overall shape), had nothing to prove and would be riding with friends. (last year only 2 of the 11 people I trained with actually rode it and they wanted the latest start possible [on the hottest day of the year no less-I passed] so I rode solo)
Of course, no major undertaking is without things going wrong.
For the life of me, I could not find my bike pump that I took off my bike last time she was in the shop. I finally pulled one off of my other bikes.
My bike computer died so I replaced the battery (the battery wasn't the only problem as it turns out-it told me I was riding 4mph slower than I was making me think I was bonking when I wasn't)
and when I got to the start line, I discovered that when I tripped on my stairs leaving my apartment at 4:00 AM (almost took out my ankle and missed the ride all together), the heart rate monitor strap on my Garmin fell out of my bag and was likely lost forever.
I called Leo (my ride partner and other half of our comedy duo) at 4:30 and he was about 3 minutes behind me on I-5; we arrived at the UW in Seattle at about the same time. (not bad for one of us leaving from Bremerton and the other leaving from Tacoma)
I picked up my medical support jersey from our happy volunteers and got to meet Kimbery, MJ, Andy Williams (we've been reading each other's blogs for some time) and Shawn Darraugh (photos to be uploaded to Facebook)
After picking up my jersey, hitting the port-a-potties and loading my luggage on the truck I was putting the final bit of air in my tire and getting ready to go when I heard,
“Hey!!! It's DARWIN (my slug who has his own blog)
Mary was not only excited to meet Darwin in person
but she had banana slugs all over her helmet (and she gave me one; I also saw another slug on the ride that she gave someone else)
After that, Leo and I headed to the start line at 6:00 AM sharp (right in our projected time frame)
Last year, I was a very new (and nervous) road cyclist having only had a road bike for three and a half months before the STP.
This year, I was much more relaxed and less nervous about the other cyclists (many of whom aren't adept at riding in groups safely or courteously) I also slept better the night before and ate more and often.
We enjoyed the cruise along Lake Washington Boulevard with the water and Tahoma (Mt Rainier's real name) as a spectacular backdrop.
We had a blast singing, joking, insulting each other for the amusement of the other riders and playing duets on our horns (Leo loaned me a horn that honked to offset his “squeaker”.
There was an accident near Renton, but there were already medics and a support vehicle on scene and the EMS system had been activated so we kept going to be available for other incidents.
Claire and David when whipping past us on their tandem (they've been animals this year) Leo took off after them (at about 25 miles per hour) I took off after Leo, realized it was stupid to push that hard so early in the ride and backed off.
We did see them at the REI rest stop.
Where there were lots of REI employees volunteering and working hard at the BEST rest stop on the ride.
I even got to meet “Super Girl”
We saw lots of interesting people along the route and had a “lovely” (read hot on new black asphalt) run up the Puyallup hill and then headed on to Spanaway for the lunch stop.
We discovered early on that Leo was the “invisible” ride ref. He would politely ask people to say “on your left” and they'd completely ignore the poor guy. (he got teased about this for two days)
The lines were very long, but we got food quickly and then unlike last year, sat in the shade and cooled off.
It wasn't easy, but I talked Leo out of waiting in the scorching sun for the port-a-potty lines and made other arrangements down the route (legal indoor plumbing thank you very much)
There was a bike accident outside of Spanaway, but there were more medics than patients and a support vehicle on scene, so we kept going to be available for other incidents. We also started seeing lots of flat tires.
I started getting sick from the heat around Tenino (it wasn't quite as hot as last year, but was more humid) I thought I was bonking earlier when my bike computer said I was only going 9mph (slight uphill) when I was actually going 14 before I realized that it was borked)
Once I get that hot, I can't eat because I get nauseous. Luckily, I was well hydrated, but I did bonk between Tenino and Centrialia. We pulled over and I downed a package of Cliff Shot Blocks and as much water as I could get down without vomiting (and it was close, let me tell you)
I made it into Centralia where I had a room booked at Rocky and Patsy's house (the house with the mister set up practically on campus). No riding across town to a motel and walking back.
It was like staying with friends. The two other guys that were staying there were guys I had met on the Chehalis Western Trail (what are the odds out of 10,000 people) when I was being regaled with linguistic trivia by another rider.
I pulled up on my bike, put it in the back yard and was offered a beer (a good one too)
I had a nice shower, sat in the front yard and then a wonderful sit down dinner of lasagna, salad from the garden and garlic bread.
After that, we all walked over to the camp at the college (less than half a block) to socialize.
I finally got to meet Michael Snyder from the Cascade Bicycle Club.
Here we are with Leo in our obligatory Hawaiian shirts (how we recognize each other in the beer gardens at these events)
The beer garden had run out of beer (16 kegs), so we wandered over to the West Sound Cycling Club tent for a beer before calling it a night.
Yes, I was a naughty girl, I stayed out past 9:00 PM drinking beer with the cycling club from across the bridge (for which Rocky briefly locked me out of the house as joke)
I was awoken just before 5:00 AM (when the alarm was set to go off) to the sound of a torrential downpour (these were not showers-this was a deluge) which didn't bode well for the rest of the ride. Heat exhaustion the first day-hypothermia the next. Good times!
Leo and I met back at the camp and headed out just after 6:00 AM.
I had breakfast at the house (just coffee and cereal, I'm not a big eater in the morning) but Leo didn't. I hopped a paceline between Centralia and Chehalis, turned around and didn't see Leo anywhere. It was his turn for a bonk.
I pulled out of the line and waited for him..
There was thunder and significant lighting strikes (big ones hitting the ground) which added more than a bit of excitement to the ride. We (along with a few hundred of our closest new bestet friends hauled butt into Chehalis where the smart ones took cover while the cells passed.
This was where we had an awesome breakfast at the park. (much like a hobbit, I enjoyed “2nd breakfast”)
Here are Leo's Squid and my Slug enjoying it. (yes, the Ensure is Leo's)
When we got a break in the storm, we headed out for what is my favorite part of the ride; the rolling countryside between Chehalis and Longview.
There was a huge number of flat tires on day two; it seemed like we were coming up on one every 100 yards or so. Michael even stopped for a guy who had broken his seat post.
This year, I had to stop in Winlock to take a cheesy photo with the egg...
We continued on through the wonderful rolling hills when our bliss was broken for a time by a hailstorm that pummeled us not long after we left Winlock.
I got to sing with a fun paceline while on the rollers. We belted out a fabulous rendition of “Take Me Home Country Roads”
I was excited to find that they were not out of turkey warps at the Lexington stop this year and we had a nice break and lunch.
At this stage in the ride (just shy of 150 miles) there was a lot of Chamois Butt'r being used... Here is the scene from inside of one of the port-a-potties
We were leaving that stop at about noon when the announcement came...
They were only going to do the escorts across the Lewis and Clark Bridge (between Longview WA and Rainier OR) until 1:00 PM.
It was only 8 miles away, but we decided to haul butt to make sure we got across with the escort.
The bridge to most people is the scariest part of the ride and it's worse without the escort trying to ride it with logging trucks whizzing by.
Here we are lined up to get over the bridge. (small groups are escorted by the Gold Wing club)
And here we are crossing the bridge (right before the screaming downhill run with the scary expansion joints)
width="500" height="375" alt="STP 2009 031" />
The mad dash to get across the bridge lead to a bit more crowding on Highway 30 than usual but it was workable. (check out the rain on my helmet)
Just before the St Helen's Rest Stop I could tell that my lactic acid threshold (which I've learned a lot about over the last couple years) was being pushed and that whatever they had at the rest stop (they usually run out of turkey wraps that late in the day) was not going to cut it. Michael was very good about staying with me and offering to take pulls when I started slowing down just before St Helens.
So I pulled over at McDonalds (disgusting but a good, cheap quick source of meat, fat and carbs all of which I needed) and got a cheeseburger and fries,which I stuffed in my jersey pockets before heading into the rest stop.
Leo looked at me with revulsion at my disgusting choice of endurance fuel to get the final 25 miles (out of 204) into Portland.
Michael looked at me a bit less harshly...
Soon, they both headed there as well (yes, I laughed my butt off)
Since I was the slow one out of the group, I headed out a bit earlier than they did.
Michael caught up with me well past Scapposse after sprinting a good distance and Leo took a bit longer to catch up.
After that, we took turns taking pulls into Portland (pretty much hauling butt-a 17 mph average that late in a double century ride is hauling butt for me)
That last stretch of Hwy 30 entering Porltand makes me nervous. It's narrow, the traffic is speeding by, and everyone is tired, stressed and ready for the ride to be done. It was especially bad this year because it wasn't just raining, it was pouring and we were soaked to the skin and there was a lot of standing water. Some of the storm drains on the side of the bike lane were only identifiable by the bubbles coming out of the standing water.
People turn into “instant buttheads” passing too close without saying “on your left” (I was tempted to snark, but could not do so while wearing a ride support jersey)
Just before the nasty hill coming into Portland we stopped to help a couple of ladies with a flat tire.
I don't know what was up with me, but I actually passed people on the first half of that nasty hill, I came to my senses and slowed down on the 2nd half. (I'm not a great hill climber)
During the final miles through Portland to the start I was whining, “No ooone toool meeee iiiit might raaaaiiiin in Poooortland.” and “I'm sooooo cooool aand weeeeet I caaaan't feeeeel my buuuuut anymooooore” (not a bad thing actually)
We hit every red light in Portland between the Steel Bridge and the finish line.
My friend Peter (one of my VERY best friends in Jr High School who I recently reconnected with on Facebook) was there at the finish line for me and for a very short visit. We hadn't seen each other since the 70's.
We got in very late (as a support rider Leo, Michael and I had to stop a lot to help people) and barely had enough time to get our bikes on the truck, grab our luggage and get on the bus back to Seattle.
No food, no beer.
I did change into dry clothes (which disgusted Leo that I did it without showering) but he actually got on the bus in his wet disgusting riding clothes.
Someone was kind enough to give us some granola bars as a “thank you” for volunteering and Leo found some cheese crackers in his pocket.
Traffic stunk (which it usually does on Sunday between Portland and Seattle especially on STP and Oregon Country Fair weekend)
We pulled into the UW parking lot some time after 10:00 PM and I was a bit worried when Flash wasn't racked.
I d id not want to drive up to Seattle the next day to get my bike (again, last year the truck my bike was on got a flat tire)
Then I saw the next truck pull up and Flash was one of the first bikes off.
I was happily reunited with my beloved bike and headed home.
Yes, I'll be doing it again next year.
Oh, the rest of the pictures are here...
and here's the route map
~L
Mood: relaxing
~
Sunday, July 12, 2009
To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit www.verizonwireless.com/picture.
Note: To play video messages sent to email, QuickTime® 6.5 or higher is required.
To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit www.verizonwireless.com/picture.
Note: To play video messages sent to email, QuickTime® 6.5 or higher is required.
Friday, July 10, 2009
To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit www.verizonwireless.com/picture.
Note: To play video messages sent to email, QuickTime® 6.5 or higher is required.
To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit www.verizonwireless.com/picture.
Note: To play video messages sent to email, QuickTime® 6.5 or higher is required.
The toilets are coming! The toilets are coming!!!
To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit www.verizonwireless.com/picture.
Note: To play video messages sent to email, QuickTime® 6.5 or higher is required.
They're unloading the toilets for the STP tomorrow :)
Thursday, July 09, 2009
To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit www.verizonwireless.com/picture.
Note: To play video messages sent to email, QuickTime® 6.5 or higher is required.
To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit www.verizonwireless.com/picture.
Note: To play video messages sent to email, QuickTime® 6.5 or higher is required.
There's always something to Squee about!
~
Welcome to “things that make me go Squee”.
After “cleaning out the pipes” yesterday by venting for WTF Wednesday, I'm ready to "squee with glee".
In honor of Pop Fiend’s attempt at decreasing drama for at least one day a week on LiveJournal by promoting “Drama Free Thursday” (for those who aren’t aware, my blog is crossposted to LiveJournal, my self hosted WordPress blog, Blogspot, and Facebook), I offer up my own “special” (in a rode the short bus kind of way) contribution, “Things that Make Me go Squee!!!
* Things that make me go squee!”may has become a regular Thursday spectacle production because “Squee” rhymes with “Drama Free”, and I’m trying to do my part.
I think that almost everyone occasionally forgets to celebrate and share good things. I know I do.
So in the spirit of putting “good juju” out there, here are the current things that make me go “SQUEE!!!”
We were able to get out of town and away from the “allegedly” worst days of constant bombardment of illegal fireworks and explosives and go backpacking on the West Side of Tahoma (Mt Rainier’s real name) We didn’t see anyone other than in the parking lot (or on the mountain through binoculars) for three days; it was peaceful and lovely.
the pictures are here
For the first time since late June, I was not jolted out of bed by explosions and illegal fireworks last night. I actually got 7 hours sleep. Perhaps the illegal onslaught has ended for the year?
I picked up my STP packet yesterday. After Leo gave me a hard time about having the number 64 (volunteers & long time riders get the lowest numbers) I discovered that my number was not 10008, but 8. (the “s” is for support because I’m a medical rider.)
While I was up there, I also got to have lunch at Taco Del Mar with my friend Michael who I haven’t seen for a while.
My apartment did not burn down last night, and I discovered that I could get an unhappy freaked out cat and my laptop out quickly in case of emergency.
I am riding the STP (Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic) this weekend. I will be a medical volunteer. It will be a challenge and I’ll get to spend time with friends. (I also won’t be terrified this year because I know I can do it; I did it last year)
I got to spend some time with my friend Sarah from New Mexico while she was in town for a visit.
Relationship issues are calming down and we’re “staring over without pressure or expectations.” I believe that some good things came out of our situation.
There is an interesting article in today’s Seattle Post Intelligencer linking migraines to a decreased risk of breast cancer in women. Yeah, it’s just one study and “science” is constantly changing and evolving, but wouldn’t it be nice if the pain I occasionally go through is a sign that I might not have to deal with something worse down the road? Hey, one can hope.
And here are little smilies for all the squees left unsqueed
And of course, the greatest squee of all…
I am blessed to have really GREAT friends in my life
And you can see a lot of them here… (if I don’t have a picture of you here, send me one)
Insert “squee” of your choice here
I wish everyone a happy and drama free Thursday, as well as lots of things to go “Squee” over.
SKA-WEEEEEEEEE
Now, I've got to get back to work, break’s over.
~L
Mood: Gotta Squee
~
Welcome to “things that make me go Squee”.
After “cleaning out the pipes” yesterday by venting for WTF Wednesday, I'm ready to "squee with glee".
In honor of Pop Fiend’s attempt at decreasing drama for at least one day a week on LiveJournal by promoting “Drama Free Thursday” (for those who aren’t aware, my blog is crossposted to LiveJournal, my self hosted WordPress blog, Blogspot, and Facebook), I offer up my own “special” (in a rode the short bus kind of way) contribution, “Things that Make Me go Squee!!!
* Things that make me go squee!”
I think that almost everyone occasionally forgets to celebrate and share good things. I know I do.
So in the spirit of putting “good juju” out there, here are the current things that make me go “SQUEE!!!”
We were able to get out of town and away from the “allegedly” worst days of constant bombardment of illegal fireworks and explosives and go backpacking on the West Side of Tahoma (Mt Rainier’s real name) We didn’t see anyone other than in the parking lot (or on the mountain through binoculars) for three days; it was peaceful and lovely.the pictures are here
For the first time since late June, I was not jolted out of bed by explosions and illegal fireworks last night. I actually got 7 hours sleep. Perhaps the illegal onslaught has ended for the year? I picked up my STP packet yesterday. After Leo gave me a hard time about having the number 64 (volunteers & long time riders get the lowest numbers) I discovered that my number was not 10008, but 8. (the “s” is for support because I’m a medical rider.) While I was up there, I also got to have lunch at Taco Del Mar with my friend Michael who I haven’t seen for a while. My apartment did not burn down last night, and I discovered that I could get an unhappy freaked out cat and my laptop out quickly in case of emergency. I am riding the STP (Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic) this weekend. I will be a medical volunteer. It will be a challenge and I’ll get to spend time with friends. (I also won’t be terrified this year because I know I can do it; I did it last year) I got to spend some time with my friend Sarah from New Mexico while she was in town for a visit. Relationship issues are calming down and we’re “staring over without pressure or expectations.” I believe that some good things came out of our situation. There is an interesting article in today’s Seattle Post Intelligencer linking migraines to a decreased risk of breast cancer in women. Yeah, it’s just one study and “science” is constantly changing and evolving, but wouldn’t it be nice if the pain I occasionally go through is a sign that I might not have to deal with something worse down the road? Hey, one can hope.And here are little smilies for all the squees left unsqueed
And of course, the greatest squee of all…
I am blessed to have really GREAT friends in my lifeAnd you can see a lot of them here… (if I don’t have a picture of you here, send me one)
Insert “squee” of your choice hereI wish everyone a happy and drama free Thursday, as well as lots of things to go “Squee” over.
SKA-WEEEEEEEEE
Now, I've got to get back to work, break’s over.
~L
Mood: Gotta Squee
~
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