Been too long...

I'm still wanting to blog regularly...but I'm also thinking I want to make my blog more all purpose...bring all of my interests into one blogging location. I'm working on it, I shall get it done! In fact, I hope to send my few readers over to an all-in-one location by the end of the week. Seriously, one final change, then real blogging...on all the things I love, baking, biking, yarn and fibers, paint and paper...yadda yadda.

I've got several irons in fires, and I'm not sure where flames need to be fanned and I'm not sure which fires are going to fizzle, earning me nothing for my efforts. But that's the beauty of all this starting over. I can try new things, attempt to gain new friends, try for new jobs...you name it. We did say I wanted more adventure. I can't think of anything else I'd call it right now!

I'm thrilled about the ever looming presence of Christmas day. I've got purchased gifts to be wrapped with care, I've got lots of (hopefully) unique and lovingly crafted gifts to give to those who I think will appreciate a gift of that type. I'm branching back out beyond just my yarn crafts and really enjoying it. That's not to say that a lot of scarves and cowls weren't created this year.

Off to get a little dinner with a handsome guy (shhhhh...don't tell Derek...OH, I meant Derek), then back to the Christmas crafting.

Talk again soon, I promise!

Unstructured, But Satisfying...

So, this week I've just been kind of going with the flow as it comes to exercise. No real schedule or structure. And it's been nice. Especially for an anal-retentive person like me, it's refreshing every once in a while to really let you and just kinda let things happen how they happen.

There was a good bit of riding, a run, lots of weights, some core...and I enjoyed all of them (my sore pardukey be damned).

I'll start adding in real structure, will track hours and miles starting Sunday. But for right now, I'm enjoying the fruits of a lot of tracking and planning (12 pounds+ lost, skinny pants fitting again, etc.) with a little time just enjoying riding my bike, putting my feet to pavement and swinging (not really...proper form i used) the weights.

Side girly note: You know how sometimes you use your shadow, your silhouette, as a sort of gauge of your overall svelteness? No? Well, I do. And for the first time in way too long, my arms look freaking slender in my shadow when riding. Girls, if you know what I mean, you know why I'm smiling.

Have a great weekend. Back to anal, over-planned and probably over-trained (as I don't have any races in mind) Mallie next week...

Mallie 1; Wind: 0

I'm sure the wind will win another day. But today, despite dry eyes and parched mouth (I was drinking, I promise...it's just hard to battle wind like that without getting a dry mouth) and knees that weren't quite sure why I was asking them to pedal into the wind quite so much, I got in a good two hour ride, no matter what the wind threw at me.

And it threw some pretty strong head and cross winds my way...without ever benefiting me with a tail wind (typical, of course).

The still wet roads, coupled with the wind caused me to leave my tunes at home, yet I still didn't find a reason to limp home early. I settled myself in the saddle and kept spinning, sometimes mashing against the wind on a climb.

And I smiled at everyone I passed, waved at every driver that lifted a hand to me.

A good day of early base training should always make you smile!

Adventuring Alone

This has been a hard week, for reasons I'm not 100% ready to share with even my small blog reading public. It's not any one thing, it's a mish-mash of let-downs, misunderstandings and failures, many engineered with my own mind and my own two hands. It doesn't make it any easier to deal with, however.

Luckily I can always count on that solo ride, run or long walk to help clear my mind and gain some focus when I'm feeling particularly unsure about the future. I think there will be quite a bit of riding and running taking place over the next several weeks as I try to sift through all that has happened, figure out if I can make the proper adjustments, and decide if, indeed, it is in my best interest to make those adjustments.

I do know that all that has happened prompted me to think about the adventures before me. Some fully formed, some in the very beginning planning stages. And it's made me see that some of the adventures I thought I'd be embarking in with others might, in fact, have to be solo endeavors.

I've never particularly minded being alone. I even greatly enjoy the long solo training rides and runs that pair me with headphones and iPod, taking on each step, each pedal stroke with only a bass line or drum beat acting as conversation. But, I'd set my sights on some shared adventuring, which I'm no longer sure will come to pass. And I admit that realization, that sense that some of it might not come to fruition is saddening, maddening and even heartbreaking.

But, in almost 40 years of living, I have dealt with much worse. This is a mere blip on a screen that encompasses all I am and all I will be. And I'm too stubborn, even pigheaded, to think that I can't adventure on my own. Because I can. And I will. And I'll be better for it.

Thanks for reading this rather cryptic post. I certainly helped me to write it, even though I'm still unsure what has all come to pass and I'm still more unsure about what lies ahead. Perhaps someone out there, reading this, is feeling the same, and this might help. Who knows.

Stuff about bikes, vegetable fears and maybe even crochet and craft paint coming in future posts, I promise.

Have a lovely weekend...

Battling Boring...

So, I'm thinking something's gotta give. I'm feeling like I'm quite possibly the most boring person on the planet. Let me tell you, it's not a nice feeling...not remotely comforting. It's making me rethink the way I structure my weeks, my work, my play, my exercise, etc.

Something needs to shake up, before being a bit boring morphs into being a cliche and I've alienated those around me with my lack of interest and low level of intrigue.

It's going to involve some thought...and maybe some questions asked of those who haven't already run away screaming. Never fear, I'll ask, once I've thought it through.

It may mean some trips to places unknown, it may mean some more shake-ups in an already well-shaken and still shaky personal and professional life. It may mean shaking my need for order and planning and actually embracing the unknown, looking to fly by the seat of the pants that I've long kept on a seat of structure.

It's just got to give.

Legume Love?

No, Hell hasn't quite froze over and, no, I did not see any pics flying by during two hours of chilly, windy saddle time today.

I know that many of you are about to pass out from the shock. What, what, what? Mallie mentioning the evil legumes with the "L" word? I might not be to the actual love stage quite yet, but I'm willing to admit that I'm managing to add, and like that addition, beans to my vegetarian diet.

How? I'm roasting 'em before doing anything else with them. For me food issues are about two things. Flavor and texture. The bean issue had nothing to do with taste. Basically beans only taste like the spices used during their cooking. Nope, beans failed the texture side of the equation.

So far, I've roasted cannelini beans and chickpeas (garbanzo beans). Liking the chickpeas a bit more, as they are sturdier so you can toss them while roasting to get an overall crunch. The cannelinis were a little soft, but still totally edible.

I just roasted some chickpeas for tonight's meal. We're having a veggie Italian/Mex style quesadilla tonight. I'm actually looking forward to a meal that's 50% beans!

Cold Ride Pangs

Yeah, yeah, yeah...I know that to most of my blogosphere friends, 50 degree temps aren't cold. But, when you've had an unusually long and warm summer, this is the first real chill I've had to deal with. I wasn't a complete puss. Shorts, and a long sleeved jersey over a tank, full-finger gloves...but I was chilly pretty much the entire ride.

And there were the usual cold weather pangs. My left knee, the one that required rehab in the past, didn't much like my eschewing of a knee warmer. But I want to hold out on the tights and cold weather gear for 20-30 degree rides. My teeth and eyes dealt with pangs of their own, since it was really windy and I forgot glasses, and it certainly wasn't "cold" enough to cover my face. ***Derek laughs at the idea of riding in a balaclava, but I'm thinking it's something good to request from Santa***

And then there were the forgotten hunger pangs. I'd completely forgotten how ravenous I get after cold(er) weather exercise. Almost as hungry as I get after swimming. Thank goodness tonight is our big splurge after weeks of intense eating modification. One big refeed, then back to it, but less extreme. I feel like I could eat the restaurant out of all their supplies!

More on food, and modifications in a future blog...

Training...For Nothing...At All...But Still Training

So, I'm about at the end of a pretty intensive diet and eating lifestyle change that I tackled with the boyfriend. Intense, in that between the two of us I think we've lost close well over 30 pounds, and neither of us were really big, maybe I'd use the word flubby. Intense in that we did a staggered intake, but still way low calorie intake coupled with hard excercies, often two a days on said extremely low caloric intake.

So, what's the next step while we maintain the weight loss and shed those last few pounds before we hit our optimal weights? Adding in even a few more calories means I can begin actual trail running and riding training again. But training for what? Absolutely nothing at all.

While I like the discipline of a training plan and the ability to eat more (note good food, as we made a lifestyle change...not just a crash diet...more on this in future posts) because I'll be burning more calories with longer and more intense runs and rides...I don't have any desire to race. I haven't managed to grasp and maintain a competitive bug since I quit playing soccer and volleyball in my twenties. I made several stabs, hoping I'd get bit by that bug, but it never happened and I didn't really have fun or enjoy the racing, except on a few occasions.

What do I love? The training itself. I love fitting it in around my already busy life, and I feel more energized and attentive to other parts of my life when I'm working out hard. And I love the idea of some new adventures that can only happen if I build back to the stamina level I've maintained with hard training in the past. I enjoy charity events and fun rides that are epic in nature, but on the scale of the participant, not dependent on a win.

I'm looking into some long day hikes, and maybe even some 2-3 day hikes, as I love to camp. I'm looking at day trips and extended trips to mountain bike trails I've never visited before. Yes, I'll be hitting up many of you for couch space. I'm looking forward to introducing Derek to trails I love that he hasn't had the opportunity to ride, yet. I'd like to try some epic trail runs, as well as rides, even though I have no desire to run in any races.

So, starting Friday, I'll be taking on a training program that I hope will allow me to build back the stamina and strength I've lost in all the changes that took place over the last two years. I'm looking forward to the adventures this kind of training will allow me to tackle, and I plan to share them here.

Short hiatus for Halloween...(pics post)

Karen (sister) & I in our Halloween costumes

Derek & Mallie in Derek's costume

Aunt Mallie with Makenna Grace

Uncle Cookie with Trace

Paring Down...

As I look forward, after plenty of time looking back as I sorted out the many changes that occurred and decided that, in the long-run, all the changes had an overall positive overall outlook, I realize that if I want to take off on some future adventures, I'll need to pare down some of my ways of life.

I love books, and I don't think I'll ever go the route of the kindle or other eReader, as I like the stiff feel of the pages beneath my fingers. However, books are expensive, and even folks who re-read books numerous times (I'm one) eventually reach the end of a book's readability. I have books, on top of books, on top of books. I've sold a few on Amazon and it works on in demand titles. I need to diminish my book stacks, and I'm going to make that a priority in the next months. I'll get a library card and enjoy the free borrow and timely return of books, while I work on selling, giving away and otherwise donating my collection.

I have a lot of other stuff, too. Clothes. Shoes. Electronics. Gadgets. I don't really need it all. So, I'm thinking that a cleaning of house yard sale will be happening in the near future, before it gets too darned cold.

There will be certain things I keep on hand, of course. I'm not going to get rid of, or quit adding to< my record collection or my MP3 collection (storage of that is quite easy...of course). And I still love craft and art projects, and luckily am cohabiting with an incredible artist, who understands and appreciates the need for supplies in bulk and quantity. There will also soon be a change in the way these works of art and craft are distributed, to be detailed in a future post.

If I think there's anything that anyone might want, I'll happily post here and on Facebook and offer up first dibs!

Here's to paring down, which will allow me to save up for some future adventures!