AHHH Vacation!

Last week was a long awaited, and well deserved vacation. My husband and two of our friends took off to Fort Mountain State Park for 6 days of camping and biking goodness.

Fort Mountain State Park is in the North Georgia Mountains, near Dalton and Chatsworth.
At it's summit, the mountain is a little over 2800 feet above sea level. The park is probably about 2700ish feet above sea level. But we didn't know that until we got there.

Our adventure started on Saturday, June 28th, when we met Shane and Diana at 6:00am and headed out on the road. We arrived mid-morning, and had camp set up by lunch time. We snaked bay down the mountain to go shopping. First, we went into Tennessee to fetch some of our favorite beer that sadly we cannot get in our own state. A couple of stops later, and we are stock up ad ready to go. On to the grocery, and snake back up to the mountain.

I do mean snake up and down the mountain! I haven't seen such switchbacks in quite a while. It took me two days to get used to it. I didn't have to take anything for motion sickness, but I was very thankful when the truck stopped.

The next day I learned that I don't do so well with riding in higher altitudes. We were eating breakfast and Shane said that he wanted to get to the top of the mountain before the mist rose. So, we literally finished eating, suited up, and got on the mountain bikes.

The trail was right by the campsite and at the time we thought that was very handy until we saw it. What we saw was a trail carved in to the mountain and was rocky, switchback, and seemed like it was almost straight up. I did not give my system any time at all to digest the bagel that I ate, and I almost lost it a few times.

But I made it to the out look. I walked a lot of it, but I made it. I have to say that the views at the overlooks more than made up for the suffering! The next day, Shane took mercy on me and we decided to hike instead of bike. We hiked all over, and have a great time.

Tuesday Diana got to cross something off of her bucket list - She and Dave and Shane climbed Hogpen! This is a mountain, in fact it is the third highest mountain in the state, and they climbed it on their road bikes!!! I however, wussed out and drove the truck and played SAG for them.

After they conquered the mountain, we took the short drive to Dahlonaga, ate at the Smith House and rambled the downtown area. We were also planning on going to a couple of Shane and Diana's favorite local wineries for wine tasting and buying, so Shane decided to call to make sure they were open. It's a goods thing he did, because they were not open, but since they were there working, and he mentioned that he wanted to buy a case, they were gracious enough to let us come and buy some wine. Then we went back to Dahlonaga and finished hitting the shops.

The next day was sleeping in and checking out a easier mountain bike trail called that Lake Loop, because..well...it went around the lake. It was wonderful, except for the whole altitude making my heart feel like it's going to fly out of my chest like it had been shot out of a cannon thing. I did a lap and a half and decided that I just couldn't do it, much to my severe disappointment. So I headed back to the camper, while I encouraged the others to go on and have fun. And fun they had! They discovered that there was actually some screaming downhills and fun stuff after the hellaicous uphill we found the other day.

We also had fun hanging out, and in the evenings, Shane set up his projection screen and we watched movies. Luckily, they had a pretty secluded campsite, so we didn't bother a soul.

We came home on Thursday, just before the traffic got bad for the 4th.


As said in the movie "Hook" - "That was a great game."

Coming out of the fog

I have to apologize to everyone for not updating in a while, but I promise you, my life has not been that exciting lately. I have yet again fallen into the monotonous rhythm of work, study, class, sleep, repeat. I have been able to sneak in a few rides here and there, but with only two more weeks of school left I am really feeling mentally worn down from it all.

On Memorial Day, the hubby and I went to good ol' Thomson, and rode. I had a pretty good ride, considering I haven't touched the mountain bike in two months. The Sparkley Bike was apparently very upset with me, because it bucked me like a pissed off Bronc at a rodeo! I hit a little spot of sand, and that was all it took. I feel hard onto my left side, and have quite an impressive collection of bruises! I look like I'm polka-dotted! I have bruises up both legs, both knees, up the outside of my left thigh, and the back of my left forearm! My mama always told me if I was going to do something, do it right!!
As a side note, I also made Dan's Illegitimate Child for the first time, too!!!!! YIPPEEE!!

I have gotten to ride road the past two Thursdays. My "coaches" have had mercy on me and have done the C route with me. I have been surprised at how well I have done, considering I really have not been on the bike much at all this quarter. This past Thursday, we did about 21 miles, and averaged 13.7! And that was after falling on the mountain bike Memorial Day!

Flipper stayed with us the last part of the week so that he would have a chance to see the Bills, and be here for the first Wed. night social. I haven't gotten to see him in a while, so it was great to see him and catch up.

We also had part of the crew over for the most amazing dinner Friday night. My compliments to Chef Dave! He grilled chicken, asparagus, and yellow squash. We also had salad, Italian bread with olive oil for dipping, fresh fruit, and the best espresso chocolate truffles! If you went away hungry, it was certainly your own fault!

TO MY PEEPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have been extremely consumed with school these past few weeks and I have not been able to ride at all. Much less spend time with my husband and my friends, which by the way ARE THE BEST FRIENDS IN TH ENTIRE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MY FRIENDS stood my me when I was fired..(which reduced me to rubble)...

MY FRIENDS have supported me in every way that friends should have, through new everything...thick and thin...good and bad...

And yes...YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE. and YES I LOVE every one of you... and thank you PWK!!!!

SUCESS!!!!!

I did it! Today was the first day of driving the Mini with no stalls! That's right, I think that I might have the starting from a complete stop down. I can't tell you how much fun that car is to drive, and I know that I haven't even scratched the surface yet!

Well, I have to go and study for my accounting test. Sorry to keep it short and sweet!

Later days!!!!

Tell her what she's won, Johnny...

A NEW CAR!!!!! That's right, my birthday came a few weeks early in the form of a new (to me) car! I have been wanting a Mini Cooper since I saw the one my friends in Atlanta bought one brand new in 2005. I have said since then that I wanted my next car to be a Mini Cooper. They are just so damn cute!!!!

We have been looking at getting me one at the end of the summer this year, but fate intervened. With the birth of their first child last year, those same friends in Atlanta finally made the very painful decision to sell the Mini. It's very hard to get the car seat in and out of it, and if you have ever seen the "backseat", you would understand. Let's just say the the "Friend price" was to good to resist.

We crunched some numbers, and realized that hey, this just might be possible. A call to the bank, and one thing led to another, and last Saturday we went up to Atlanta for the child's first birthday party, and to pick up my new car.

Now for the details. It is a 2005 Mini Cooper S, and yes, the S stands for Supercharged. No slow cars allowed in Big Dave's Hot Rod Speed Shop! The name of the color from the factory is Purple Haze Metallic, and the roof and the mirrors are black. 43,000 miles, one owner, garage kept, and more options than any other car I have ever seen. The only thing it doesn't have that the dealer offered that year is a Navigation system. Other than that it has it all. AND, it's a 6 speed manual transmission!

Now here's a very important part to the story. Before Sunday, I didn't know how to drive a stick shift. That's right kids, I bought a car that I couldn't drive home.

But, Sunday was my first lesson and I got the "Intensive Training/Boot Camp" with Drill Sgt. Sexton. I started in a parking lot doing stop and gos and by the end of the day I was driving down country roads. I even did hill training.

Monday night was lesson 2, and that was traffic training. By the end of the session, Drill Sgt. Sexton and I both agreed that I was okay to drive to work the next day.

Tuesday I drove the Mini all the way in to work, with D riding co-pilot. He decided not to ride, so we carpooled.

Today was my first completely solo driving day. I drove all the way in to work, and then to school, and then to dinner, and back home again all by myself!!!

Now, granted, I'm still getting used to everything. It will take a little while before I'm a pro, but in general, I'm doing pretty damn good!!!

And just in case you couldn't tell, I LOVE IT!!!!!

Moving at the speed of life

Not much has been going on lately, other than time passing so quickly that all I can do is hold on and go with it. It does not seem possible that it I have only one week left before the next quarter starts! Sadly, the class I am taking this time is on Mondays and Wednesday, so who knows when I will be able to mountain bike. I'm hoping that I can sneak in some rides on the weekends, and there is always the road bike.

Yesterday was Good Friday, and the wonderful company I work for sees fit to give us the day off. So, I decided to make the most of it. I started off going to my former employer to see about 401K rollover forms. I was a little nervous, since I haven't set foot in the place since I left. But, it was good. I got to see a lot of people I haven't seen in a while. I also got to have lunch with a few of old friends.

From there, it was on to shopping!!! Yes I know, I don't do it often, but since I literally have nothing to wear for Easter to church, it was necessary. I went to two stores, and found a dress as well as some work clothes for myself and Hubby. AND I got some good deals! The shopping gods are pleased.

I wrapped up the day having dinner with the bike gang. There was steak, and wine, and beer, and the best cookies you will ever eat in your life. There was even quality British television. Good food and good friends, who could ask for more?! Well, a dip in the friends' hot tub is a pretty good start. I haven't slept that well in a while!

Spring is a-comin'...

...and with it my desire to ride, ride, ride!!! Sunday was BEAUTIFUL!!! It was sunny, clear, and perfect for a road ride. Dave, Diana, and I started at The Bike Store, and Diana took us out into the back roads of Houston County. We did 30 miles, my longest so far! My average speed was only 11, because I'm having a hard time shifting on the road bike on climbs. There is nothing wrong with the bike, it's all in my head. The shifters on the road bike are completely opposite than the mountain bike. By the time I get into the gear I need to be in, I'm half-way up the climb, and I'm spent. I think that I actually pulled something in my right leg Sunday, and it still hasn't worked itself out yet.

But, all if that "newbie" stuff aside, I think that my 50 mile goal for the Relay for Life in May is doable. "Coach" Dave says that with some training, I will be fine.