Wednesday, 17 June 2009
Monday, 15 June 2009
get your lazy A$$ in gear, summer is here!
At 5:30 the alarm went off this morning as does every weekday morning and I'm lying in bed contemplating getting up and getting out for my ride on Ruby really EARLY.
I use to get up at the butt crack of dawn and ride my mountain bike around the bay, which is a nice 10K loop, with a few rolling hills and great scenery of the Ottawa River. It really is very nice, but for some reason over the past few years I stopped doing it. In fact, since the beginning of 2009 I've stopped doing a lot of things. There is absolutely no reason why I can't get back into this little habit, it in fact would be really good for me if I did. Note to self, get your lazy A$$ in gear. Am I suffering from *Agoraphobia?
*From the Greek words Αγορά (Agora, public place, often a marketplace), and Φοβία (Phobia, an intense often irrational fear). It is actually a fear of all open, public places, especially crowded places. Victims could even find leaving their secured environment (house), physically impossible. As they may experience drowsiness and often loose consciousness.
Well, I haven't consciously lost consciousness, nor am I any more dopey or drowsier than normal. Who knows, but it something to contemplate. LOL.
This weekend was our first full weekend of nice weather. Unbelievable, we actually hit "average" temperatures, two days in a row! How freeking great is that?? Geezzzz, someone please tell the weather gods that I need my sunshine and warmth, paaaallleeezzzzzzzzzz!
On the running front, well, I need to find my reason to run again. I'm missing it and need to shake it up a little. It is hard when you have no real goal. I've never really been one to set goals, but I need to set one now.
So, here goes....whether I walk it or run / walk it, I'm going to register for the Canadian Army Run
Half Marathon in September.
I'll do a few little 5K and 10K over the summer and work towards the half. Nothing like setting the bar really high, but what the heck, you got to set a goal don't you!
Life's fun if you don't weaken,
Lily
I use to get up at the butt crack of dawn and ride my mountain bike around the bay, which is a nice 10K loop, with a few rolling hills and great scenery of the Ottawa River. It really is very nice, but for some reason over the past few years I stopped doing it. In fact, since the beginning of 2009 I've stopped doing a lot of things. There is absolutely no reason why I can't get back into this little habit, it in fact would be really good for me if I did. Note to self, get your lazy A$$ in gear. Am I suffering from *Agoraphobia?
*From the Greek words Αγορά (Agora, public place, often a marketplace), and Φοβία (Phobia, an intense often irrational fear). It is actually a fear of all open, public places, especially crowded places. Victims could even find leaving their secured environment (house), physically impossible. As they may experience drowsiness and often loose consciousness.
Well, I haven't consciously lost consciousness, nor am I any more dopey or drowsier than normal. Who knows, but it something to contemplate. LOL.
This weekend was our first full weekend of nice weather. Unbelievable, we actually hit "average" temperatures, two days in a row! How freeking great is that?? Geezzzz, someone please tell the weather gods that I need my sunshine and warmth, paaaallleeezzzzzzzzzz!
On the running front, well, I need to find my reason to run again. I'm missing it and need to shake it up a little. It is hard when you have no real goal. I've never really been one to set goals, but I need to set one now.So, here goes....whether I walk it or run / walk it, I'm going to register for the Canadian Army Run
Half Marathon in September.
I'll do a few little 5K and 10K over the summer and work towards the half. Nothing like setting the bar really high, but what the heck, you got to set a goal don't you!
Life's fun if you don't weaken,
Lily
Thursday, 11 June 2009
Wise!
So, when I left off my previous post about the Rideau Lakes Bike Tour, I had caught up with the girls at a rest / water stop along the way.
The photo's I took along the route do not do the hills, the turns nor the dog leg's in the road justice.
It is a winding road for sure with some pretty nasty hills, not Lake Placid hills, but hills none the less. The scenery in some spots was gorgeous as you cycled past lakes and rivers. There were an awful lot of fishing boats being unloaded at the various boat launches along the way.
Other spots along the way were farmer's fields, crops and cows.
As mentioned, the girls cycled to the water / rest stop where I had parked my car to wait for them. It was a station being manned by two CB volunteers who were sitting at a card table with huge water tanks beside it. You could hear the chatting between the other CB volunteers from the other locations, when it came across the airwaves that an ambulance had been deployed, there was a *cyclist down. Luckily the girls were coming down the hill towards me when I heard that announcement. Otherwise I would have really been worried.
After a very short stop, water bottles refilled and a quick shoulder rub, off they went, straight up a huge winding hill.
I continued along in the car and met them at the last stop before they made their way into Kingston. That is where the U R HERE sign was situated, pointing the way into the park entrance where the RLCT crew had set up tables of sandwiches and drinks and there were even discretely located porta-potties too!
After a short stop they were on their way of the final 35k leg of the trip that would bring them into a heavy, fast moving traffic and construction, then into the old part of town and finally Queens University
This peloton passed me on several occasions throughout the journey and to say the sound from the whirling tires was incredible and the noise from them clipping in and out at streetlights was magical, is an understatement. I can truly understand the allure of cycling from experiencing this weekend.
After heading down this street for sometime, we entered into the common area of the University. I have to say, I've never been through the grounds of Queens, it is very impressive with the old limestone buildings, cobblestone roads and pathways to Lake Ontario.
And they were on their own to try to locate their own luggage!!
More riders rolling in.
The photo's I took along the route do not do the hills, the turns nor the dog leg's in the road justice.It is a winding road for sure with some pretty nasty hills, not Lake Placid hills, but hills none the less. The scenery in some spots was gorgeous as you cycled past lakes and rivers. There were an awful lot of fishing boats being unloaded at the various boat launches along the way.
Other spots along the way were farmer's fields, crops and cows.
As mentioned, the girls cycled to the water / rest stop where I had parked my car to wait for them. It was a station being manned by two CB volunteers who were sitting at a card table with huge water tanks beside it. You could hear the chatting between the other CB volunteers from the other locations, when it came across the airwaves that an ambulance had been deployed, there was a *cyclist down. Luckily the girls were coming down the hill towards me when I heard that announcement. Otherwise I would have really been worried.
After a very short stop, water bottles refilled and a quick shoulder rub, off they went, straight up a huge winding hill.I continued along in the car and met them at the last stop before they made their way into Kingston. That is where the U R HERE sign was situated, pointing the way into the park entrance where the RLCT crew had set up tables of sandwiches and drinks and there were even discretely located porta-potties too!
After a short stop they were on their way of the final 35k leg of the trip that would bring them into a heavy, fast moving traffic and construction, then into the old part of town and finally Queens University
This peloton passed me on several occasions throughout the journey and to say the sound from the whirling tires was incredible and the noise from them clipping in and out at streetlights was magical, is an understatement. I can truly understand the allure of cycling from experiencing this weekend.After heading down this street for sometime, we entered into the common area of the University. I have to say, I've never been through the grounds of Queens, it is very impressive with the old limestone buildings, cobblestone roads and pathways to Lake Ontario.
I waited for Nancy and Karen to arrive so I could get a shot of their happy little exhausted faces!!
And they were on their own to try to locate their own luggage!! 
More riders rolling in.Before the girls arrived, I got the dorm room key and found my way to Victoria Hall, at least that way Karen wouldn't have to wander around tired and lost while walking her bike. We shared a room over looking the track and soccer pitch. This area is used night and day, the sports facilities are spectacular.
We wandered off to the bar tent and waited for Nancy's husband to arrive. They were going to spend a romantic weekend in Kingston and drive back home on Sunday. We finally meet up with our friends Anne and her husband Dean, they had cycled the 177K distance from Carleton University with their friends from the town they live in.
Karen and I ended up meeting some of the guys she had cycled with during spring training and we sat with them in the huge cafeteria to have our meal. The food selection was out of this world! I won't even begin to describe it, well, okay, a little. There was of course pasta with a choice of vegetarian sauce or meat sauce. Various meat (hot and cold) selections, along with frittata's, this was in the "hot" food area, we then passed through the beverage area, sorry no adult BEvERages served here. From there we entered into the grand hall, and that is exactly what it was.
Down the centre of the hall was the salad bar. Again, an incredible selection of salads and fruits. On either end of the hall were the dessert tables and under the expanse of windows was tea, coffee, hot water and their accoutrement's. This was not the place to hold back and stay on your diet!
Afterwards, we rolled our full tummy's back to the dorm room and again we ran into Anne and Dean just as we were waiting for the elevator. We headed to our room and poured some wine and heard about their trip, shared some more laughs.
The night was still young so we decided to go for a walk along the boardwalk beside Lake Ontario. It was a beautiful evening and there were so many people out and about, after a few kilometers, we called it a night and headed off to bed, Sunday morning would come soon enough.
Karen set up her bike for the next day's ride and then it was lights out.
In all honesty, I can say there is no way I could have cycled this event. My knee is just not ready for it and there would have been further damage done to it if I had tried. Even though I had contemplated trying it, it was a WISE decision I made not to do it.
Next year girls, I'll be with you next year, God willing!
Life's fun if you don't weaken,
Lily
* Karen spoke with the cyclist that went down, they had been changing spots in their peloton when one of the riders lost control. He had been taken to the Perth Hospital where they stitched up his face. His sunglasses had torn a flap of skin from the bridge of his nose, under the eye over to the cheek bone. A sprained wrist and injured collar bone was also included in the injury list as the result of the fall.
In true bravado he told Karen he'd be cycling home on Sunday....maybe he did, but we didn't see him.
Wednesday, 10 June 2009
Monday, 8 June 2009
Wise or a Whoosie, now I know...
...Wise!
This weekend was the Rideau Lakes Bike Tour and truth be told I was still sort of wallowing in my pity party.
Some of the Wooo's Hooo's bowed out of the event and sold off their spots quiet easily and in no time flat. I on the other hand tried to sell mine, but for some reason no one was interested. I took it as a sign that I really was suppose to go and enjoy the time being Sherpa extraordinaire to Karen and Nancy, which I happily did.
If you recall, Nancy started Chemo on March 31st of this year in her ongoing battle with Lupus. Even though she is struggling with the effects of the chemo, it certainly is NOT keeping her down. Two weeks before the cycle tour Nancy ran the Half Marathon in 2:30, right along with Karen during the Ottawa Race Weekend. You girls ROCK!!
We all go through life struggles and Karen is certainly going through her fair share this year too. 2009 has been a life altering year for many of the Wooo Hooo's but we all support one another in what ever fashion we can. We are all like sister's, we laugh, cry, get along, have differences of opinions and sometimes get ticked off with one another, but we always support one another when the going gets tough.
Although en route support includes sag vehicles, communications, police escorts and mechanical support, riders must be self sufficient as only the disabled riders can be accommodated in the rescue vehicles.
Participants under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult who will assume full responsibility for them. "
This weekend was the Rideau Lakes Bike Tour and truth be told I was still sort of wallowing in my pity party.
Some of the Wooo's Hooo's bowed out of the event and sold off their spots quiet easily and in no time flat. I on the other hand tried to sell mine, but for some reason no one was interested. I took it as a sign that I really was suppose to go and enjoy the time being Sherpa extraordinaire to Karen and Nancy, which I happily did.
If you recall, Nancy started Chemo on March 31st of this year in her ongoing battle with Lupus. Even though she is struggling with the effects of the chemo, it certainly is NOT keeping her down. Two weeks before the cycle tour Nancy ran the Half Marathon in 2:30, right along with Karen during the Ottawa Race Weekend. You girls ROCK!!
We all go through life struggles and Karen is certainly going through her fair share this year too. 2009 has been a life altering year for many of the Wooo Hooo's but we all support one another in what ever fashion we can. We are all like sister's, we laugh, cry, get along, have differences of opinions and sometimes get ticked off with one another, but we always support one another when the going gets tough.What an amazing group of women. I'm so very proud to have ALL of you as friends.
Saturday morning dawned bright, sunny and a little cool, but the kind of day you knew would warm up. The girls left early to meet at the Perth Curling Club and get on their way. A 100K ride would take awhile....
I left later in the morning after packing up the cooler with fruit, drinks, chocolate milk and a couple of bottles of adult BEvERages and and made my way to the Curling Club to collect my bib number and the tour route.
WOW!!! I honestly can say I've NEVER seen so many cyclists! All shapes, all sizes, all ages. Spandex and Lycra for days!!! Every type of bicycle imaginable....WOW! Pretty good eye candy too! After ogling, I headed off to find the girls...
The tour is meticulously monitored with designated rest stops, pit stops, food, drinks and shade! There is a roving bicycle maintenance truck that covers the entire route, back and forth depending upon where they are needed. There are water stops with CB operators talking to one another giving updates as to how the masses are moving. There were bike clubs from all over Ontario, Quebec and the USA, there were families, recumbent's and bicycles built for two...
Since there are various distances involved and various levels of capabilities, the tour is touted as this.
Saturday morning dawned bright, sunny and a little cool, but the kind of day you knew would warm up. The girls left early to meet at the Perth Curling Club and get on their way. A 100K ride would take awhile....
I left later in the morning after packing up the cooler with fruit, drinks, chocolate milk and a couple of bottles of adult BEvERages and and made my way to the Curling Club to collect my bib number and the tour route.
WOW!!! I honestly can say I've NEVER seen so many cyclists! All shapes, all sizes, all ages. Spandex and Lycra for days!!! Every type of bicycle imaginable....WOW! Pretty good eye candy too! After ogling, I headed off to find the girls...
The tour is meticulously monitored with designated rest stops, pit stops, food, drinks and shade! There is a roving bicycle maintenance truck that covers the entire route, back and forth depending upon where they are needed. There are water stops with CB operators talking to one another giving updates as to how the masses are moving. There were bike clubs from all over Ontario, Quebec and the USA, there were families, recumbent's and bicycles built for two...
Since there are various distances involved and various levels of capabilities, the tour is touted as this.
"This tour is intended for experienced and mature riders who are able to ride both days. There is no return transportation provided on Sunday.
Although en route support includes sag vehicles, communications, police escorts and mechanical support, riders must be self sufficient as only the disabled riders can be accommodated in the rescue vehicles.
Participants under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult who will assume full responsibility for them. "
Our other friends Anne and her husband Dean were cycle the 177K distance with a bike club they often ride with, so I didn't even see them until we reached our destination.
Since I am at work and without the rest of my photo's and because there is just soooo much to write about, I will continue this story at another time...
It is where the Wise comes in.....
Life's fun if you don't weaken,
Lily
Thursday, 4 June 2009
All things Trashtastic must come to an end.
Well today is the day, a very sad day indeed, yes, the QUEEN OF ALL THINGS TRASHTASTIC is hanging up her blog and moving on, without US!!
*p.s., Marcy, if you see a shadow in the garden of your new place in Maine, it's just me setting up my lawn chair!!! LOL....
*sniff*
my salute to you Marcy!
Marcy was one of the very first blogs I started reading when I started blogging a year and a half ago. I mean how could you NOT read "I signed up for THIS?!?". It was like watching / reading about a train wreck, you just had to read what ever stuff was being spewed.
She taught me things I never really wanted to know and she introduced me to all things trashtastic. Gah, I'd never even heard of the Kardashian's before Marcy!!
Who knew we would all fall in love with the homie from Albany.
So to my friend who hangs on the wall of my house, I will miss you, truly I will.
I wish you much health, great happiness and we will catch you on the dark side (Facebook).
Oh ya,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARCY!!
Have a GREAT DAY!!!
Life's fun if you don't weaken,
Lily
*p.s., Marcy, if you see a shadow in the garden of your new place in Maine, it's just me setting up my lawn chair!!! LOL....
Wednesday, 3 June 2009
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