Being Photographed

We had a silly little contest at work -- about 13 of us. One of my colleagues ordered a new car but didn't know what color to expect. He did tell the dealer that there were certain colors he didn't want. I guessed blue because I've always liked blue. As one of the winners, I would get to be one of the first riders.

Went to check out the car and, out of the corner of my eye, could see another coworker snapping a picture and I was a bit terrified -- especially since it was a side view snapshot. 

Thought about how people at work witnessed my weight loss but... I was relieved when I saw the picture and super relieved that it didn't go to all staff. Also surprised by how good camera phones are. The picture taker was not that close.

Sparkling Sea Metallic and Me (About 20 Pounds Heavier)

Rode my bike from the mechanic's to work. Worst day of the week because the humidity has stepped up its game. Just finished reading a Consumer Reports that had a decision tree regarding getting a new car. If you are spending a significant time with your mechanic then it might be time to get a new car...* 

Will bicycle to the coffee.

Just finished reading Incognito -- another colleague loaned it to me after going to a diversity workshop conducted by Michael Fosberg. It started off slow but picked up around chapter two. Found this Unclutterer article about when people give up on books interesting.

An article that I never thought about giving up on -- Eve Ensler's Let The Mythical Daddy Die.

*Mechanic forgot to tighten a bolt when he replaced air intake hose. So relieved. The one with the new car gave me a ride to the auto place. Could not face the afternoon humidity on a bicycle. Total bicycle mileage for 7\24: 5.5 miles.

Mercy or Month-End Review, March

I continue to enjoy Kenpo X.............yoga, swimming... As I left work, my coworker asked what would be my activity of choice. She said that I should be grateful about the whole walking thing. Having been to the chiropractor four or five times in the last week, my coworker wishes that she could walk with ease.

Listened to Krista Tippett's interview, A Second Wind in Life: Inhabiting the Body After Cancer, with Eve Ensler while walking. Liked Ensler's realization: I didn't treat my body with mercy.

About her family, Ensler says Everyone was so untransparent and unavailable. I longed to know what people were thinking...I knew someplace my survival was there.

How I moved during this third month:

10 Minute Solution: 5 Day Get Fit Mix
*Cardio Kickboxing, 3 x's

10 Minute Solution: Butt lift*
*Cardio Booty Camp
*HITT Butt Lift

10 Minute Solution: HITT
*Rock Bottom HIIT, 2 x's

10 Minute Solution: KnockOut Body!
*Knockout Body Blast, 1 x

Barre Conditioning*

Bicycling, 1 x

Just Walk: 5 Mega Miles
*Mile 2: Walk and Tone, 1 x
*Mile 5: Ab Walk, 4 x's

Just Walk: Walk to the Hits, Party Songs
*Mile 1, 5 x's

Kettlebell, 4 x's

P90X
*Kenpo X, 5 x's

Personal Training with Jackie: Power Circuit Training
*15-Minute Upper Body Circuit, 1 x
*40-Minute Total Body Circuit, 1 x

Swimming, 3 x's

Treadmill, 2 x's

Walking, 12 x's

Yoga, 16 x's

**Disclosure: I received this video without charge.

The Ear to Ear Standard

After test driving a few bikes, it was the Globe Vienna 1 that made me smile from ear to ear. I probably should have looked around more but I was itching to get back on the road and not with the ancient clunker that I’ve been riding.

Still, I made a few more calls and did more research even though the guy told me that it was spring and the bike might not be there when I got back. Finally, this guy in Illinois told me that Specialized had a 2009 Globe Vienna 2 in stock for the same price that I was going to pay for the 2010 Globe Vienna 1. I called the shop where I had taken the Globe for a test ride to ask them to order the bike for me.

Said salesman told me he checked and verified that the 2009 model was still in stock. Then, the question: May I ask why you want the 2009 model?

Hmm, let’s see. It’s an upgrade and it costs the same as the 2010 model???

Said salesman then told me that he had the 2009 in stock and that he would give it to me at the same price that Specialized had it discounted for.

I was disappointed when the fellow asked me why I wanted the 2009 model. Am I naive to expect people to play fair? When I told him about the 2009, he should have just said: The 2009 is a better deal.

I went to pick up my bike on Saturday and I was so nervous. I wondered if I should have looked around more. Maybe I should get my down payment back. Was I being extravagant?

Before I went to pick up my bike, I had to tighten the bolts on my bike rack which someone tried to relieve me of last year. Once I had the bike on the rack, I was praying that no one took that moment to run into me. Phew, no one did.

I took my Vienna 2 for a spin on Grant's Trail this afternoon and I saw a Clydesdale and a Cardinal along the trail... :)




All this bike talk reminds of the January 2010 Aha! Moment in The Oprah Magazine. Glenn Close said that she had a hard time saying vagina until she participated in Eve Ensler's The Vagina Monologues.

Who could say "vagina" out loud before that play? After being in it, I actually walked into a bike shop and asked for the "vagina-friendly" bike seat. I thought the guy behind the counter was going to pop a gasket. But it was the best way to describe what I was looking for.

Close said that she also had to learn to say schizophrenia, depression and bipolar. I really like what the actress had to say after talking about her sister who has bipolar disorder:

We are all connected, and none of us should ever feel marginalized, stigmatized, and alone.

Here's a better picture of my newbie...