Bikes, Books, Bats, Bourbon, and a buddy....




Bikes....

I missed my weekly Weight Watchers Meeting because, I went to Kentucky for a bike ride.  If Kentucky ranked 50 out of 50 on my state list before I went there, doing a bike ride in the Bike Capital of Kentucky didn't do the state any favors.  If I hate Kentucky it is because of a girl, it always is, isn't it?  That though is a different story.  The truth is when I am honest, I don't hate Kentucky, I just like to act like I hate Kentucky. Hating on Kentucky is what Hoosiers do. Three days post ride, I can honestly say it was not as terrible as I thought, but a few bad experiences leave scars, like the pitbull that chased me and ran me off the road.  Thank goodness I was not hurt and the dog wasn't hurt.  Kentucky is hilly.  More hilly that I would have ever thought.  I mean the ups and downs of that bike ride were a lot.  I broke after the dog incident and got a tow from the bottom to the top of biggest climb, I am not proud of that, but my legs were dead at that point, I was frazzled, my confidence was gone.  So,I did the right thing for me at the right time.  I didn't quit though.  I got back on the bike ride and finished the game.  For that reason alone I am proud.  Next is more climbing in Pennsylvania, we will be ready to dance with that devil, it is about getting the mind right, the body right, and finishing the game.  I need to write more on my fears on climbing and I will but not today.    





More Bikes...

Meet the newest member of my family, Phantom.  Phantom is a 2016 Specialized Roubaix that is my reward for the success I have had in my health and weight journey over the last 12 months.  She is fitted with Shimano Ultegra/Dura Ace di2. Along with that she has hydraulic disc brakes that stop its Carbon Tubeless ready Roval Cl 40 wheels. She is incredibly comfortable while also being super quick. She is my new toy and I am so happy to have her in the fold.  I am very close to a major milestone thanks to WW and my cycling.  So, for my journey, I decided it was time to reward myself and my reward came in the form of Phantom.  The minute I saw her on the Facebook, I knew she had to be mine.  She goes out on her first official ride with me on Sunday.  I wanted to try Carbon Fiber Bike.  If I bought the same bike knew she would have cost 5 or 6K, so I got her used and she has been ridden, and got me a carbon fiber bike to try.  




Books...

I went to a new book club last night.  It might lead me to finding more members of my tribe.  They are going to put in touch with the Blue Zone folks in Bloomington.  I am excited for that.  I am also going to go back to the next book club.  It was me and 5 women who are all at least 15 years older than I am, but I don't care they were so easy to talk too.  When they asked me if I was someone who though you broke down with aging, or grew as you aged, i said grow and then I just started talking and gave them an impromptu history of me and my anxiety issues and how I have become a person obsessed with Joy and expanding my joy.  The book was called Joy Span, it is awesome and I recommend it.  It is about how to live better in the second half of your life.  It was good people and good talking.  So, i look forward to going back.  

Bats...

When David mentioned that we would/could stop at the Louisville slugger museum on the way to the ride, I was like whatever.  However, it was awesome.  I loved the tour. I got to hold Kyle Schwaber's bat.  IU guy, former World Series Champion with the Cubbies!  How cool is that.  However, more importantly I got to hold one of the Kid's bats.  The Kid Griffey (Ken Griffey Jr) will always be my favorite baseball player.  I don't even watch baseball anymore but I still love the Kid.  My god, he played the game with a reckless abandon.  He gave his body and soul to the game.  The 1996 Griffey for President Nike Commercials are some of the greatest of all time.  Also got to spend the afternoon with my nephew Garrett, it was very nice to see G in his element in Louisville.  He seemed to be doing really well and we had a great time at the Factory.









Bourbon....

I'm tryin' to walk a straight line, on sour mash and cheap wine... or so said the great AC/DC in have a drink on me.  I have not had a drink in over 10 years.  Maybe sip or a taste but when I did drink and I mean really drink 1998 here in the B, and my first few years in California, it was on Bourbon. It is the sweet nectar of the gods and it is missed at times.  Well maybe the hanging with friends in the local dive bar like Yancy's is missed, but not the hangovers, never the hangovers.  We did a really cool tour of the Maker Mark Distillery.  Very cool tour, and we got to dip our own bottle in the wax.  There was a tasting but I smelled it and the smell was enough to remind me of to many mornings waking up in San Francisco asking myself just how in the hell did I get home last night.  However, it was really an amazing tour.




Buddy...

Thanks David for coming in.  No thanks to you for leaving me alone in the backwoods of Kentucky.  I have seen Deliverance and unlike people from the Blue Grass state I don't think it is a love story.  I know you wanted the Hill Billies to get me.  No for realy thanks for coming, thanks for riding and thanks for putting up with an awful friend like me.  Overall it was a great weekend!

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