My Life in Print

Farewell my dear friend...

2009-08-08T15:01:00.000-07:00

I am a slave to Face Book. I admit it. FB is so quick and easy, that I can no longer have any interest in posting on my blog page any longer. Do not get me wrong, I have enjoyed creating my entries immensely, but the time has come to completley say good-bye to this ol' pal.

Face Book allows me to post pics and updates much easier than a blog, plus I can see everyone at the same time. No more typing in names or trying to remember their blog page.....FB has saved me the hassle.

I'll see you on Face Book, my dear blogging pals.

Here Kitty, Kitty, Kitty.....

2009-05-27T10:23:00.000-07:00

Fat Kat knew it was time for his medicine, so he ran upstairs and hid. I found him hiding under our bed. The tell-tail sign was clear......

Kern kernals

2009-05-18T10:07:00.000-07:00

I'm going to start backwards, just because I need to get the bad crap out of the way.

Day #3 Race #4

Road race: is a hill climb, as far as I am concerned. Right from the gun, we climbed for almost 20-minutes, until we flattened out for any length of distance. Those short, steep descents, hardly justified all of that dam climbing.

I was told it was 109 degrees in the shade. Good times for me. Not good times, is when I lost all of my GU packets on the first lap. I was getting progressively weaker and did not want to ask for a gel from one of the others, otherwise they would have picked up the pace and then I would have been really S.O.L. I ate 1 pack and planned on 5!

Crossing the finish line, I was beyond depleted of calories, drinking only water on the final lap. The 4-mile ride back to the start seemed impossible, so I had to sit on the side of the road. Suddenly out of nowhere, Bellas surrounded me. Monica rode back to the start and brought back ice water for me (after ROCKING her race!), Liz, literally force fed me several GU packets, Stella watched over me like a mother would, Marian gave me her food, Sue was there pouring water on me and Andrea was on the way to retrieve a car to get me, when Robert showed up in his Velo Promo van, which felt like a Cadillac on the ride back. I barely recall much else, so I apologize if I am missing anyone. Angels? Teammates? Fricking impossible to tell the difference!

Day 2 race #3

11-mile hillclimb: from the start, we were climbing. We had a couple of mountain goats in our group, who set a blistering pace for this 145-lb. girl. The sun felt great on my skin and I slowly started passing other riders on the ascent. I have never passed anything on a climb except for rocks, so rolling by 6 girls was a great motivator.

Day 2 race #2

Circuit race: I really like this course, it suits me well. We had a crash on the first sprint and then three girls tangled handle-bars at the sprint finish......right in front on me. Were they going to topple over left or right? After a moments' hesitation, I bolted around them for a safe finish.

Day 1 race #1

Time trial: my forte'. I felt like a million bucks and love the internal challenge of a TT. The idea of catching the rider ahead of me, is all the motivation I need to keep me focused and powering through. We were let off at 1 minute intervals and I passed one rider and nearly caught up with the next.

I was 10th in my highest stage and finished 15th overall.....crappy final race, fudged it all up for me.

Our team was clearly the best supported, most cohesive, was the largest in numbers (bodies and winnings) and we had the most fun. Thanks to everyone for a spectacular weekend. Without our guys (Tyler, Michael, & Rick) and Erica, our weekend would have been much harder. THANKS!!!

Copperopolis

2009-04-13T11:54:00.000-07:00

A.K.A. Crap-All-Over-Us

I thought this race was nick-named as such, because all of the poorly patched potholes. Newer layers plopped on top of older layers, mile after mile of rough, bone-jarring road. There was some relief with a nice smooth section, but the road pitches up to a seemingly 35% gradient, so smooth road is of little consolation.

Back to Crap-All-Over-Us. Driving into the starting area, I eye-balled the closest Port-o-Potty, and parked. I had to pee for over an hour, so I ran up the green door, knocked quickly, and flung the door open. There, at the threshold of the entry, was the largest, most disgusting pile of human crap I have ever seen, with my own eyes. I think the person, must have had his ass still out of the door, since it was nowhere near the toilet.

I stepped over the crap and went pee. I kept my eyes forward, but my peripheral vision kept focusing downward to the pile. In those few moments I came up with these assumptions about the assailant...

*It had to be a man
*There was no toilet paper for me, so there was probable no paper for him. He is walking around here, smelling of fresh poo. And if he did have t.p. why didn't he scoop his mess up?!
*He must have not been a cyclist. The sheer volume, told me there was alot of alcohol consumption the night before, along with a helping of chili verde.

As I stepped over the crap and opened the door, there was a guy waiting. As if I had to explain, I told him that I did not make that mess and hurried off...........looking and sniffing every man I passed, wondering who was the mystery pooper was.

2009-03-27T09:44:00.000-07:00

These berries are almost as big as Barry Bonds head.......I assume that neither, have used organic and natural substances to maximize their potential.

The ride from a snowy hell.....

2009-02-11T16:17:00.000-08:00

Every Wednesday, Coach Felicia prescribes a 40-minute hillclimb at a designated heart rate. This is best done on the "four-lane." For the non-Fresans, this road is an awesome seven-mile climb at about a 10% gradient.

Mistake #1--teaching two spin classes back-to-back
So, off I go up the gradient. My legs were heavy and my enthusiasm was low to moderate. Dark clouds were looming over me, and I was destined to get pelted with hail on my ride. Twenty minutes into the climb and my legs were still heavy and I could not get my HR (heart rate) anywhere near my target.

Mistake #2--self-punishment
I kept hearing, "Loser" over and over in my head. I resigned to the fact that my legs were not going to get any better, so I deserved to be punished for my inadequacies. "I'll go all the way to the top and get a Snickers bar at Cressman's." (Cressman's is a market at the 6,000' mark). This hour climb should be the perfect penalty for not being able to adhere to Coach's directions.

Mistake #3--piles of snow
At the 3,000' level, there was almost one foot of snow along the road. The views were amazing! Drivers would roll down their window, cheering me on. Several, blasted friendly honks. A Cal-Trans snowplow did a double take in his rear view mirror, as he passed me. All of these responses further encouraged my poor decision making.

Mistake #4--crap loads of snow
The ground was crackling under my tires and I believed this to be ice. I kept plugging along, knowing that the Holy Grail was around the corner (the Snickers bar). Once inside Cressman's, the store owner remarked how dangerous it may be going back down the four-lane. I bought the King-Size Snickers and cracked off a corner of the frozen reward. I grabbed the Penny Saver newspaper and shoved it into my jacket. Thirty-two degrees mandated several issues.

Mistake #5--f**king freezing decent
Since there was so much slush on the roadside, I kept the brakes on, going no faster than 15 mph. (usually, I can fly down at 45+ mph) The cold was biting. Miserably friggin' cold!! My patooties were frozen and my fingers were the coldest I have ever experienced. This was the worst punishment I could have inflicted on myself, since I thrive in the 100+ degree weather.

Back into my warm truck, I blasted Kid Rock on the way home, thinking, "Denise you are not a loser.....you're one tough chick!"

Facebook vs. Blogging

2009-01-26T13:04:00.000-08:00

Denise is eating Fruit Loops.
Denise is thinking of changing her profile pic.
Denise is riding on a sunny, Fresno day.
Denise is relaxing after teaching spin class.

Do you see a pattern? This is Facebook. Quick. Easy. One liners. No brains. No thought. Most of the thinking involved, is when replying to someones Facebook posting. Still, it can be accomplished in a nano-second.

Blogging is much more complex--and time consuming. First, I create an entire entry around a photo.

#1 get photo

Then, I need to do the writing for the photo. I love to write, do it well, and can create ideas quickly (when required). The time consuming aspect is in the creation of the dialog.

#2 creating an entry using proper English

I need an "Introduction" in my writing; something that will capture the audience.

Secondly, creating the "Body" of my blog entry is a timely process. This is the meat and potatoes of my story. We know the basic sentence structure must have a noun and a verb, but there are adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, participles, and active vs. passive writing, and the list goes on.

Finally, the "Closing" of my blog entry must be constructed in such a manner that my readers will be satisfied when the story is over. Have you ever sat in a 3-hour movie and the ending did not meet your expectations?

SIGH......this is why I have not been blogging as frequently, as I have in the past. If you want to see what is going on in my life, written in fragment sentences, here is my link:

http://www.facebook.com/friends/?all#/home.php?ref=home

BlackJack is at it again.....

2009-01-12T12:04:00.001-08:00

BlackJack has quite the reputation around our 'hood. He has a posse of females that he protects and allows onto his block, he smacks around other Toms who try to cut into his action, and he loiters around the fence tops ready to hand out ass-whoopins'.

This cat met his match.....a dog. The vet says the dog bit into his rear quarter, as BlackJack was running away, causing a large tear. He is stitched up and has an ugly drain hanging out of his side for a few days.

His #1 chick is waiting for him outside our door--day in and day out--waiting for the day he is sprung from this joint.

Another year recap....

2008-12-31T11:22:00.000-08:00

Every year, I make a New Years' Resolutions.....tone my abs, tone my triceps, tone my rear, tone down my eating, tone up my hair color, eat less processed foods, stop at all 'stop' signs, paint my living room, race smart and get on the podium, and the list goes on. I have kept some of these Resolutions:

toned my abs
toned my triceps
genetics did not allow me to tone my rear
toned up my hair color--it's darker now
I eat about the same amount of processed foods
I come to a 100% stop at all stop signs
Jimmy will not allow any color except eggshell white on the walls
I raced several smart races and got on the podium several times

With this being said, I do not know what my Resolution is going to be this year. There are so many things I want to do, accomplish, and experience this year; I do not know if I should "Just Do It" (sorry Nike, I just stole your 1989 motto) or should it be a Resolution?

Either way, I have my health, a great family and a wonderful job. Do I really need to paint my walls or have a firm rear to make it a successful year?

Our idea of a great flick.....

2008-12-30T08:31:00.000-08:00

After the 30-second info commercial, there is a trailer of the BEST movie in the theaters, now. If you are looking for human mutilations, graphic violence or gratuitous sex......you do not know me very well (except for the last one!).

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2121072665/

And not a moment too soon.....

2008-12-24T07:45:00.001-08:00

Holiday schmaliday.....

2008-12-14T10:18:00.000-08:00

Our decorations have been sitting in the living room, for several days now. Our tree is in 2 peices (lights and decorations are attached) and I have not had the time to do any of the holiday stuff that I would like to do. No cards have been sent, not one decoration has been put up, and even Bo has not worn his Christmas cardigan yet.

Four more days and counting......

Oh my gosh.....

2008-12-09T18:33:00.000-08:00

If I can hang on for 8 more days, my life will resume to normalcy as I know it..............8 more short days.

Sensory overload.....

2008-11-05T16:47:00.000-08:00

I was up to my eyeballs in homework, when I decided to take a much-needed break. Usually, my idea of a break would be checking e-mail, tossing the ball with the pooch, or walking around the backyard for a few laps.

A much better idea came to me. Heck, it's is almost dinner time, so why not have a banana split?! I will gladly forgo chicken and green salad for an ice cream dinner.

It looked so awesome, so perfect, so delectable, that I wanted to take a photo of my culinary creation and post it. Mid-way though the creation process, I got the camera ready. Poured on some more caramel and turned the camera on. A big whirl of whipped creme, with some chopped peanuts on top finished my masterpeice.

After that, it was a blur. I forgot about the camera. I sat down, moving my books out of the way and dug in, wiping the edges clean with the banana slices. What an awesome dinner.

Zabriskie fans......

2008-10-19T09:28:00.000-07:00

If you know who he is, you'll enjoy this:

http://www.youtube.com/rumorvids

What the heck is goin' on....?

2008-10-12T17:37:00.000-07:00

With me? Everything and nothing. My life in a nutshell:
teach spin 3x a week
school 5x a week
work 3-5x a week
wife 10x a week
train (back down to a measly 3x per week)

Once again, my plate is too darn full.......why my brains are not oozing out from my eyeballs, is beyond me.

Oh yah, I had to break out the sweatshirt for the first time, this year. Gloomy ol' winter is around the corner and that is going to reallllllly mess with my brain. I want off of this train.

Approved and funded by the Ramirez household.....

2008-09-10T15:33:00.000-07:00

This photo evidences a disturbing trend that is beginning to affect wildlife in the U.S.

Animals that were formerly self-sufficient are now showing signs of belonging to the Democratic Party- as they have apparently learned to simply sit and wait for the government to provide for their care and sustenance.

Welcome to my world.....

2008-09-09T17:34:00.000-07:00

Bo, our one-eyed dog is happy as a clam these days. All the girls think he is flirting with him. Wink! Missy (the calico) is mentally challenged, due to a bang on her head as a kitten and Lil' Kitty has 1/2 an ear.

Meet our 3-legged kitty, named Kitty. Do not feel sorry for this fat guy; he rules the roost. Interestingly, the other cats always wack him on the left side of his head, like they know he is missing something. His right hand is lightening fast.

Perfect pets are a dime a dozen. Let Paris and Brittany keep their well-coiffed pooches and send us the rejects.............

Blah of a month....

2008-09-06T14:04:00.000-07:00

I have not posted in exactly one month and that is pretty unusual for me. I love blogging and writing about the mundane aspects of my mundane life on my mundane neighborhood.

This month was filled with lots of real crappy stuff:
~My dear friend of 25-years died of cancer.
~Lil' Sis Johnna, finished radiation treatments for Stage 2 breast cancer.
~Bo, had to have his eye removed, due to advanced stages of glaucoma.
~And other shit I cannot even blog about..........

This month was filled was some slightly crappy stuff:
~I did not race San Ardo; my fav race of the season.
~School started back and I have 3 more semesters to go, before graduation
~In a few weeks, I'll be 46 years old
~Jimmy continues to loose weight without exercise and diet pills, while I maintain my weight with calorie restriction and 10-hours a week of exercise.

This month was filled with some not crappy stuff:
~The cat did not pee on my homework

Canine rehab....

2008-08-04T14:02:00.000-07:00

Not to be confused with the reality show, Celebrity Rehab, Bo is not some washed-up, has-been who is addicted to drugs, alcohol, or sex (though he does like to hump the kitties; I would classify that as a fetish, but not an addiction). His therapy was prescribed so that he could increase his physical activity with little impact on his arthritic joints.

After his strenuous 5-minute walk, the doc said he should rest and stretch tonight. This is how he looked on the way home.....

Take me out to the ballgame....

2008-07-28T12:29:00.000-07:00

We drove for 7 hours, spent $125 in gas, and missed the final stage of the Tour de France, to watch the Giants loose. The good news is that we got 2 free Bobble Heads...which I am going to post on E-Bay today.

We love the game, but it's just not the same if your team does not win. SF Giants 1--Arizona Diamondback 7

Oh, la, la.....

2008-07-17T22:18:00.000-07:00

This years legs.....I mean peloton.

This blows.....

2008-07-09T12:49:00.000-07:00

Road Rage vs. Cyclists...guess who lost?

Here is the story from the L.A. newspaper:
http://laist.com/2008/07/07/road_rage_motorist_vs_cyclists_on_m.php

This link is the follow-up on the offender:
http://laist.com/2008/07/07/update_on_bicycle_accident.php

Thanks to the Foggy Blogger for the heads-up about this tragedy.

Boring......

2008-07-07T13:11:00.000-07:00

I have done nothing exciting or even remotely interesting, lately. After the vacation and wedding stuff, everything else seems boring and mundane.

Being out of school for the summer is awesome and I have quickly filled up all of my time, that would be usually dedicated to studying, homework or being in class.

I have been riding my bike an awful lot, spinning, yoga and Pilates; I think am getting tired of having fun......

Vacation Recap.......

2008-06-24T07:42:00.000-07:00

Since there is no way that I could possibly write about everything we did/saw/experienced into a single blog entry, I've decided to just post the highlights. Here is a smidgen of what we did on a Aspencade............

-almost 4,000 miles

-11 states

-about 400 photos were taken

-$460.00 in gas, prices ranging from $3.76 to $5.85 a gallon

-rode 300-500 miles a day

-2 'rest days'

-temps from 25-109 degrees

-hotels from $39.00-$400.00 a night

-crossed the Continental Divide 3 times

-Hoover Dam
-Zion Park
-Bryce Canyon Park
-Devil's Tower
-Crazy Horse
-Mt. Rushmore
-Grand Tetons

-Yellowstone Park

-Yosemite Park

-Lake Tahoe

It is so good to be home, back on a routine; riding my bike,

eating normally, sleeping with the dog, watering the plants.

Normalcy is a good thing.

Just Married.....again

2008-06-21T15:30:00.000-07:00

We renewed our wedding vows in Lake Tahoe, Nevada this afternoon and we went to the same chapel that we were married in 27 years ago. This was the last stop on our 4,000 mile motorcyle journey over the past few weeks.

I'll blog more about that later, afterall, this is my honeymoon..............

A normal person, please......

2008-06-03T12:00:00.001-07:00

I manage the bar at a country club and we placed an ad in the paper, soliciting for a bartender--I interviewed almost 40 people. I hired one. TRUE recants of the day:

1) Almost half of the applicants did not bring a writing utencil.

2) The first male applicant had 'WHITE BOYZZ' tattooed across his knuckles. He asked me if his ink was a problem for the company. "This is a friggin country club, buddy!!!"

3) One gal had so much collagen injected into her lips, she could hardly talk. Or maybe, it was due to her gigantic tongue ring; I am not sure which caused her verbal imparement.

4) A bartender who bragged about all of his female-beer-guzzling-admirers, then casually mentioned he was fired from his last bar, due to accusations of stealing.

5) I cannot forget the middle-aged lady, who looked like Lady Marmalade. Her overprocessed platinum colored hair, shiny pink corset with a dark pink bra peeking out, lycra peddle-pushers and sky-high platform heels that only strippers wear and of course, she reeked of cigarettes.

One looser after another. I endured six solid hours of interviews for practically nothing. Where are the normal people, I ask?

Got gas???

2008-06-01T08:06:00.001-07:00

I am not speaking of the flatulence type of gas....I am referring to gasoline.

It costs me $80.00 to fill my tank, which is a major deterrent to my traveling plans. I wanted to race this weekend, but the cost of gas would have exceeded any winnings that I may have earned. Multiply this by my usual weekly gasoline usage and I would have $160.00 spent.

These prices are really cramping into my race plans and that makes me angry.

Memorial Day excursion.....

2008-05-27T20:27:00.000-07:00

It is not as morbid as it sounds, but we love to visit old cemeteries. We have visited grounds all around California, Nevada, Maui, France, England, and Italy.

Our visits are quite historical. Today, we encountered a family who had 5 children; all died in the early 1800's and each were under the age of 1 year old. What rough and disease filled lives they must have led. Recently, we stumbled across a descendant of mine, in an obscure little cemetery that was nestled in the mountain-side. Our visit to an ancient Indian burial ground proved to be a bit eerie, when all of the photos turned out with a yellow hue. Spooky.

Jimmy cracked up when he found this name:

My idea of bliss.....

2008-05-19T18:36:00.000-07:00

What do these photos mean to me? They reflect my idea of a great day of riding....heat, sweat, and sun. On days like these I tend to ride solo, as it is exceedingly difficult to find anyone else who loves the heat as much as I do.

My legs always spin well, I get in better workouts, stay more focused and overall--feel like a million bucks. I wish that race season did not start until April, since I do not come out of hibernation until then. I am soooo ready to roll up to

the start line now, because I am feeling pretty darn spry.

School's out for the summer.....

2008-05-13T07:10:00.000-07:00

A famous (and stoned) man uttered those words in the 70's and now, so am I.

Things I am going to do while on break:

*make some terrific dinners from Cooking Light

*take Bo for more walks

*go to a S.F. Giants game

*take a week-long, bike-riding excursion

*renew wedding vows

*go on a motorcycle trip across the U.S., with Jimmy

*ride my bike to the lake and tan all afternoon

*visit my family

*read a book while swinging on the hammock

Today is Day #1 of vacation and I am kicking off the festivities by washing my truck......ahhhh....simple pleasures.

Wha-iiinnndddyyy!

2008-04-29T14:47:00.000-07:00

Our ride today was brutally windy. We pedaled downhill just to maintain 13 mph!! A ride I can do solo takes me 2:20 to complete, and doing the same ride, with the two of us bustin' our butts, took us 3:05 to finish.

I guess I should not complain....atleast I was out playing.

What the.....?!

2008-04-26T13:40:00.000-07:00

I just finished an awesome ride and was driving home, when I stopped at a red light. This guy rolls up on his yellow LeMond across from me. He immediately caught my eye.....and not in a good way.

He was about 30-years old, no socks, no jersey, no helmet, no water bottle, no fanny pack for supplies, BUT he did have yellow spandex/lycra riding shorts on, apparently to match his LeMond, because there is no other reason in this entire world why someone would purchase yellow shorts.

The light changed and he hunched over into his aerobars, with buckets of sweat running down onto the asphalt--it is almost 90 degrees today. As he rolled past me, I witnesses his mini-man boobs in the inverted tee-pee position and his shorts pulled up to the middle of his back. Gag me with a spoon.

As we know, I am not Style Man, but this was a cycling atrocity that no citizen should have to witness.

My new ride....

2008-04-18T07:51:00.000-07:00

I was so bummed when bike-shop-guy said my race bike had a crack in the frame. The day I was riding it, it was extremely difficult to handle and I thought I had broken a few spokes. I was doing a very hilly ride and had to walk my bike down one of the descents, because I could not control it.

I test rode this frame and was really surprised with the results. I wanted something snappy and responsive (like my other bike) but it needed to have a smooth ride. The Cervelo R3 was the winner.

You can't tell I had 3 years of photography classses, huh?!

Boots'n Balls.....

2008-04-05T13:41:00.000-07:00

Meet Joe Construction Worker. He pulled out from his construction site, right in front of me, as I was descending at 40 m.p.h. It scared the absoulte bejezzus out of me!!!

I wish I were wearing these:

Instead of these:

So, I could have kicked him in these:

Hikin' Table Mtn.

2008-04-02T19:22:00.000-07:00

Fresno is actually the basin of volcanic and glacial action that occurred some 10 million+ years ago. The flat, table-like lava formations are still easily visible from most of the city. Jimmy and I took a guided hike with a knowledgeable naturist.

Just leaving the parking area. No sweat. The plateau behind us, is our destination.

As we approach the flat top, we must scale this steep trail, first.
Wildflowers abound!

Several hours later, we reach the top and and this is what we found: flora and fauna that survives only on CA lava beds.

We had lunch on the edge of the earth...freakin' awesome!

1 Bike, 2 Bras and 3 Bees.....

2008-03-24T17:55:00.001-07:00

1 Bike

I grabbed my Cadillac of a bike to head out for a 80 degree workout consisting of some sprints and high cadence work;
which leads me to the next topic--the right bra for this job.

2 Bras

Bra #1, though quite industrious looking with it's 4 clasps,
1 1/2" wide shoulder straps and drab gray cotton, it holds the
girls in securely during the high cadence workout. When I stand up to sprint, everything stays in it's place...no bouncing here.

Bra #2, is three years old and was (at one time) a compression
bra. The color is still vibrant and matches the Velo Bella kit so
perfectly, that I can unzip the jersey a bit lower than usual.
Since the fabric is stretched out, it allows my DD's to swing
to and fro in the hunched-over cyclist position.

3 Bees
Off I went on my Caddy and in Bra #2, into the agricultural
abyss, known as Fresno. Where there are fruit trees, there
are blossoms, and where there are blossoms there are bees.
LOTS! Wearing baggy Bra #2, created a gap between my
clavicle and bosom area. A bee flew in and stung me on the
left one. A few moments later a bee got wedged into my helmet
vent and stung my cranium when I tried to remove him.

As I rolled into my driveway, with an itchy boob and lumpy
scalp, a bee had the audacity to land on my handlebars. With
a quick flick, I knocked him into next week.

1 Bike, 2 Bras, 3 Bees and a Partridge in a Pear Tree......

How we roll in Avila Beach.....

2008-03-20T08:57:00.001-07:00

We loaded the beach cruisers and Bo into the R.V., and headed to Avila Beach for a few days. Since it was Spring Break for most, we were packed in like sardines and did not have the elbow space we usually enjoy, but we were fortunate to get our usual spot on the beach.

There is a terrific bike trail in the city and we rode for about 10-miles....which is alot on those balloon tires, with no gears. Bo, being almost 14-years old has arthritis and cannot walk further than a few blocks, so he rides in the kiddie stroller and takes in the scenery. We ate gelato, had espresso and people watched, for 3 glorious days at the beach.

High "Awwwww" Factor...

2008-03-15T16:57:00.000-07:00

This is a pic of what Wilddingo posted on her site:
http://www.wilddingo.com/

This is the pic Marscat posted on her site, in response to Dingo: http://marscat.blogspot.com/

Here is my pic in reply to Dingo and Marscat. Though not a real animal, he still has alot of "Awwwwww" qualities.

Dang, I crack myself up.

Spring Riding...

2008-03-13T07:41:00.001-07:00

I went on a 2.5 hour endurance ride with a friend today. The great thing about doing endurance mileage, is that you get to stop and smell the flowers, without any fear of your HR dropping. When my HR is at 150 I can enjoy the scenery, sounds, and scents that a cyclist has the opportunity to enjoy.

There are ACRES of these wild flowers on the hillsides. The entire valley is in bloom right now and is amazing.

This lovely gal was happy to pose for me. I think she wanted to be petted, but I was too nervous to approach her. Her compadre, in the corner, was being distracted by my friend.

I am so fortunate to experience these kinds of simple things. Some people never get to see beyond their cubicle.......and that is sad.

Day Four....

2008-03-06T09:57:00.000-08:00

Apparently, Jimmy added the wrong cleaning solution to our fountain. Good thing there are no koi in there.....

Italian Teddy Bear....

2008-03-01T07:57:00.000-08:00

I am Italian so I can post this.......if you are offended by racial stereotypes, SORRRRY...

http://www.bordergatewayprotocol.net/jon/humor/web_animations/1.swf

Mother Nature needs to make up her mind.....

2008-02-26T18:16:00.000-08:00

It rained, I mean POURED, last week and this week we are expecting 65-78 degrees. Today I rode out to do a hill fit-test for coach and it was amazingly beautiful. The snow capped mountains were easily visible, hundreds of calves were frolicking on green hills, and blossoms on fruit trees abound.

When I got home, I washed the ol' bike for the first time in ages. It has been so cold, that if my bike needed a cleaning, I would squirt the hose on it for a few mili-moments and then run back in the house. Today, was the exception. I cleaned the gears, washed the tires, and de-gunked the chain so it is clean for tomorrow's ride. It is supposed to be 70. Gotta love living in Cali.

Blah.....

2008-02-23T16:12:00.000-08:00

Roses are truly red,

Violets are nearly blue,

Seven straight days of rain,

Makes Denise feel like freakin' poo.

Didn't know I was such a poet, huh??

Valentine's Day recap....

2008-02-16T13:44:00.001-08:00

Jimmy gave me some wonderful 'unmentionables' from Victoria's Secret, in a special gift basket; this was the first time he ever bought anything from that store and I was flabbergasted. Also, he brought me a dozen of the most beautiful, peach-colored roses, I have ever seen.

I bought him a new wedding band and asked him to remarry me. Honestly, I was a bit nervous about the entire thing, as he thinks that renewing wedding vows are hookey. What if he were to laugh at the idea or worse yet, what if he turned down my proposal?

Fortunately, he said "yes" (and quite happily). June will be our 28th anniversary and I know most couple renew their vows on their 25th or 50th anniversary, but I cannot wait until then. I am hopelessly, madly in love with my husband and I cannot wait a few more years. We'll do this by ourselves on the beach..........

Jackass Driver

2008-02-05T16:54:00.000-08:00

This is a brand-new, 4' wide, bike lane. I'm rolling along today and I feel the presence of a vehicle coming up on my rear.......uncomfortablely close. He is pulling a small trailer and as he passes by me on this curve, his trailer serves into my lane. He pushes me over the curb (fortunately, it is nicely sloped) and into the dirt.

I flipped him off (something I have done only one other time) and then shouted "C*#K SUCKER!" (that word I have used only once, as well). I was really hoping he would have pulled over. I was so angry. The entire way home, I was looking for that black trailer with snow on the bumper. I envisioned flattening all of his tires.

Bast*/!d. (that word I use alot)

Lookin' for land....

2008-02-05T16:44:00.000-08:00

Jimmy and I want to buy this piece of property. It has all of the features we are looking for: seasonal streams, rolling hills, electricity, a well, and still within 30 minutes of Fresno. All we want is 10-acres and we're ready to sign the papers. The problem? $125,000 per acre. My math is not so hot, but I was quick to realize that this is off of our list. We'll keep looking......

Ode to a Bianchi.....

2008-01-22T21:20:00.001-08:00

I am in mourning. I sold my 2001 Bianchi today. It had not been used, since I rode the Climb to Kaiser for the second time in 2002. After that ride, I knew that I would not going to be using those types of climbing gears ever again. With a triple on the front and a 27 rear cog, there was not a hill I could not climb.

It was always kept indoors and I have been looking at it leaning against the wall for almost 5 years. I would air the tires and dust it off occassionally. The narrow bars, alloy frame, and seat feel unfamiliar, now.

I put an ad on our local, girls triathalon team, website. It was sold in 2 days. A wonderfully vivacious gal who was just getting into riding, was so pleased and excited to see my bike in person. My first bike was going to another girl--as her first bike. Her smile says it all.

As she carefully loaded my Bianchi into her truck, I had a tear in my eye. I could not believe it, as I had never thought--in a million years--that I would become attached to an inanimate object. But I was.

Now THAT'S entertainment....

2008-01-16T19:31:00.001-08:00

Jimmy and I went to see the Blue Man Group last night. WOW! We were amazed!

The opening act was Mike Relm; a Frisco native, that was nerdy-cool. We're not into the ablum scratching-kind of music, but this was quite entertaining. He controlled all of the audio and visuals at once, making for some some creative movie clips. (hope this link works)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkzYMFY8ZZU

We did not quite know what to expect from the evening, so everything they did was an incredible surprise. Funny, engaging, visually captivating, and muscially--freaking awesome! They were the complete entertainment package. Initally, we were taken back by the cost of the tickets, but it was worth every dollar. (hope this link works, too)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=So5eEjwjLLM

Juicin' with Jack......

2008-01-10T08:25:00.000-08:00

Mom gave me the Jack LaLanne Power Juicer awhile back and I have used it intermittently this past year; it takes alot of product, you must prepare the fruit or veggie of choice, and cleaning of the machine is quite a process. Besides all of that, the BEST tasting juice is created. Now that I have Jimmy captivated with my unique creations, we are juicin' fools.

I bought a 25-lb. bag of carrots, so we will be having the bunny-delight, in some form, every day. Carrot, cucumber and apple juice is awesome. Carrot, pineapple and celery is tasty, too. Carrot and banana juice is delicious. You get the point.

He said he is pooping orange. I guess I should cut back on his portion of the carrots.

A lazy day...

2008-01-09T18:21:00.000-08:00

Instead of riding up Wildcat, Jimmy suggested we drive the RV. The 16% grade was hardly noticable and the road is much narrower than I realized-this road is part of the Pine-not-so-Flat race course. We parked at the very top, watched a couple of movies, sipped on sodas and ate popcorn. The clouds were coming in, as the sun was going down. Wonderfully cozy afternoon....

Resolutions....

2008-01-02T17:48:00.000-08:00

New Years' Resolution 2004: tone triceps
resolution kept? No

New Years' Resolution 2005: tone triceps
resolution kept? No

New Years' Resolution 2006: tone triceps
resolution kept? No

New Years' Resolution 2007: when driving, come to a complete stop at all stop signs
resolution kept? Yes, annnnnnnd I toned my triceps!

Every year, all I needed to do was to work on my darn triceps. A single, little muscle. I did not need to spend any time on my biceps, merely my triceps.....so why in the heck could I not fulfill that meager challenge? Hmph! No answer.

For 2008, I did not make any resolutions. Why not? Hmph! No answer.

Pampered Pooch....

2007-12-30T08:49:00.000-08:00

The life of a 13-year old Cocker........

X-mas....Cali style

2007-12-26T19:45:00.000-08:00

Disclaimer: I am not so egotistical that I would only post pics of myself on "our" vacation. The fact is, Jimmy holds onto the camera like nobody's business......

Jimmy, Bo and I packed up the RV and headed to the beach for Christmas. We traded the foggy valley for the clear blue, sunny skies of Avila Beach:

This is our home-away-from-home (view from the pier):

We always make sure to stop at our favorite restaurant. Great atmosphere, if you like cats:

We went to visit some mission, just wish I could remember the name. You know California has a million of them and we have been to so many, that the name escapes me. Since this is a mission, I should confess, that behind that statue I was holding a bag of dog poo that was going to be dumped after this photo:

This is how Jimmy looks everytime he gets into the RV and sees me in the passenger seat and not behind the drivers wheel:

What else is there to do on a blustry day?

2007-12-18T16:33:00.001-08:00

I am making chicken noodle soup.......from scratch. This is blog worthy, material, believe me.

Cool new camera...

2007-12-18T16:22:00.000-08:00

Jimmy just bought this terrific camera, so I took it out on a Saturday ride. Amongst all of its' bells'n whistles, it has a self-portrait feature on it. As you can see, I should have read the directions.

What does this button do?Almost got it right.....
One more time....
Alright, what is going on?
Got the shot! Becky is up front, Tracy Loper fresh off of crutches (broken pelvis) and 7-months pregnant Heidi.

PET$$$$

2007-12-11T11:55:00.000-08:00

Now it is Bo's turn. Here he is at the vet's office, awaiting his exam. It seems he has injured his ACL, and may need surgery if our alternative choice of medicine does not work. Poor guy limps all day, cannot jump onto the couch, and can hardly chase a cat. Christmas has been cancelled in the Ramirez home.

BlackJack update

2007-12-09T07:29:00.000-08:00

BlackJack had his stitches removed on Wednesday and he has been a happy camper ever since. His feral girlfriend, an orange kitty who was waiting for him in our garage, rejoiced as he was allowed to return to the outside world. They spend hours snuggling together, eat their meals together, cross the street together and bask in the sun together. All is well in Kitty Land.

What does a $2,000 kitty look like?

2007-11-25T19:45:00.000-08:00

Without going into gory details, BlackJack was admitted to the Emergency Vet Hospital on Thanksgiving Eve. Since he is an outdoor kitty, we know little about his injury, but we do know that within 24 hours of his accident, a serious infection set in all over his lil' furry body.

His eyes are swollen, almost shut.

We brought him home today and he is feeling better. Anyone who knows us, is well aware of the devotation we have for our pets. Money comes and goes, but BlackJack's love for us is forever......

Saturday stuff

2007-11-11T09:20:00.001-08:00

Not alot of anything interesting to blog about lately, so I'm posting this for all of you Denise-Blog-Following-Junkies:

Bella Lisa and I, headed out for our usual Saturday ride. This Snowman is a landmark for the local cyclists, since this wooden statue is at the top of a fairly steep 1.2 mile climb. Nobody knows the story behind it, but it is always a welcome sight:

We passed atleast 15 of these bad boys. They are so cool. I did not want to scare it, so I took the pic from afar. Awesome:

I stopped to pee behind a couple of nice sized rocks. While I was doing my thing, I peered through the rocks to find a plastic container that was wrapped in electrical tape. I grabbed the heavy container with one hand and pulled up my shorts with the other. I was so exctied to show Lisa. Was it drugs? Money? Body parts? Our minds were frenzied with excitment.

We were puzzled with it's contents. There was a slip of paper inside explaining what it was--it is a Geo Cache! You need to use a GPS to find the hidden treasure...which I accidently found. Written on the paper, the finder writes his/her name. This box had traveled from Hawaii and Florida. Too cool.....though I was hoping for money.

Cross-training up the ying-yang...

2007-11-03T10:31:00.000-07:00

Since race season ended (San Ardo) I have implemented a cross-training program, into my regimen. For the past 6 years, I've been riding 5 days a week, year round......so this new program is awesome for my brain; it's a mental and physcial break.

I do this twice a week and LOVE it. I feel great and the clothes are uber-cute:

Doing this twice a week, I can finally see my
tricep muscles and am developing flat abs.
I am a believer of this type of training:

Running twice a week really sucks, but it's a required course, as a part of my undergraduate work. I run 2-4 miles and hate every step of the way. I don't know how I ever managed to do a marathon!

Of course, I do this twice a week.....everything else is done to to enhance my favorite form of exercise:

GOT BLING???

2007-10-27T15:01:00.000-07:00

Jimmy bought this for my birthday and I just got it back from the jewelers'. Sapphire and diamonds....exactly what she wanted.

Pity Party is officially over...

2007-10-20T15:22:00.000-07:00

After I aired my pathetic birthday woes to the public, I received an e-card from a dear friend and this is what she wrote:

" Hope you had a wonderful day and wishing you a joyous year! Don't fret turning 45 as I've recently learned just being around for another year is exciting by itself :)"

Why this is so pertinent, is that she has cancer and was given 3-6 months to live....last year. What the f*#k was I belly-aching about?! Her single sentence put it all in perspective for me.

Blows big ones......

2007-10-17T11:29:00.001-07:00

Today, I am freakin' 45 years old and it does not sit well with me, at all.

At this point in my life, I thought I would be doing something spectacular, or would have made some prolific dent in society, or would be getting ready to retire and travel with hubby.

Instead, I am a college-student who bartends at a country club. Man, this blows.

Pity party over.....

Livin' the city life.....

2007-10-14T08:56:00.000-07:00

We were going to take our first nekked Jacuzzi last night, when I noticed that the neighbor's 2nd story window, faces right down on to our bubbly good times. To top it off, we could see a bunk bed, so we knew it was not mom and dad's bedroom--they'd be smart enough not to peer down into our retreat area. Knowing that it is a 12-year old boy, we have to devise a way to ensure our private abode, stays that way.

So now, we are going to turn our large covered patio into a cabana, by enclosing it with retractable canvas drapery. Until then, we have to wear skin covers......

I'm missing out....again

2007-10-06T09:47:00.000-07:00

All of these pics are from past Grizzly rides.....

My Bella teammates are riding the Grizzly Century, in North Fork today. Even though I already paid my $40.00 entry fee, I had to bail at the last minute because I have too much homework to do! I've only been able to ride twice this week, compared to my usual five workouts.

There had better be some huge friggin' rainbow at the end of this semester.................

I love vowels and consonants...

2007-09-30T09:52:00.000-07:00

I am procrastinating on my homework, by blogging. Anyone who knows me, knows I have this absoult deep hatred towards numbers, math, or any type of computation. We are working on torque, force, levers, fulcrums, speed amplification, etc. All I want to do is to teach P.E. to Deaf students.....why do I need to know how to solve:

Tf = Tr so, F /f * Lf = F /r * Lr

this will solve the force which must be applied to lift said object

Give me a 50-page research paper anyday. I can knock out a quality, "A" paper in a week, but ask me to think with the mathematical side of my brain and I want to throw up with anxiety.

You're not invited....

2007-09-26T07:06:00.001-07:00

Jimmy bought this last night..........just in time for the chilly nights. More photos to come.......

Yawn....

2007-09-18T18:13:00.000-07:00

Apparently, I am not the only one tired of doing homework.......

Ahhh, the life of a middle-aged, college student.....

And now, back to my thoughts...

2007-09-08T20:21:00.001-07:00

Today, I woke up to this smokey sunrise:

So, I decided to ride above the soot:

To the Kings Canyon National Park:

This was my first ride in about 10 days, so I was doing my own ride. No goals, no expectations, no schedule, no riding partner. Entering the park, entailed a 15-mile ascent; which I had not done since riding in the French Alps. I was thrilled to be out again on my bike so with each turn, I was glad to see the road continuing to rise into the pines.

I'm no racer chick...

2007-08-28T12:39:00.000-07:00

I have been racing for over 4 years and I really have enjoyed every stinkin' mile, training ride, and race. It was only in these last few months that I really decided to put my head down and try to get one more top ten placing or a few more upgrade points.

In 3 consecutive weeks, I was involved in crashes; either I went down or it created such a gap, that I was never able to get back on to the front. San Ardo, being the last road race of the season and a good course for me, I knew I could nail this one. Last year, I got 5th place and there was no reason I should not have been able to grab 2nd this year. It did not happen. I did not get those points and I came in 11th.

I have to wonder if this sport is for me. I train properly, following my coaches plan, eat well, do not drink alcohol and recover properly. Loose a few more pounds? Rest more? Add sprint work? Quit my bartending job?

Maybe, I'll go back into the gym and hang up my bike for awhile..........

Animal Agents

2007-08-20T13:26:00.000-07:00

http://www.animalagents.com/index2.php?id=2

A.A. is a local pet rescue haven that currently houses 85 dogs, 5 bunnies, 10 goats and 1 sheep. Soon they will be adding a cattery to their collection. Located in the middle of the grapevineyards, is where you will find their 5-acre parcel. The pooches are housed according to size. Each pen has lots of shade, a pool, a barn and plenty of room to run.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

The senior and special needs dogs are our favorite. These teen volunteers are holding an abandon 4-month old Chihuahua and a 6-month, blind pup. Both are adorable and lovable....the teens were pretty nice, too!

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

In order to raise funds, they organized a terrific event on Saturday, which Jimmy and I attended. We support the pet rescue program so much, that I passed on racing and he didn't go to work, in order to support the event.

They raised alot of money, everyone had a terrific time. It was soooo hard to leave, without one bringing home one of those lil' buggers.......

Younger feline vs older canine

2007-08-13T15:40:00.000-07:00

I was walking around the living room with my camera in hand and asked, "who wants their picture taken?" Arridia, the camera hog, stikes a pose, first:

pondering life pose

Bo was sick of watching the cat go through her entire set of poses and decided to take a nap....this is what he does most often these days.

I know, I'm a goober...........

Timpani update

2007-08-10T07:44:00.000-07:00

I debated whether I should post my Timpani race report, but since both of my teammates were badly injured, I felt that I should pass on posting this time.

In a nutshell, Katie, Tracy and I were lining up for the final few laps, in a break. Racer Girl X was in front and either, slowed her speed dramatically or made an erratic move, but Katie's wheel got clipped and she went down. Tracy got nipped and went down. Somehow, I managed to escape any injuries.

Katie had alot of road rash and sustained injuries to her knee and hip area. She was able to limp away and went to see a doctor.

Tracy was not so lucky. I have been getting alot of questions about her recovery, so I am posting Tim's blog address, where he talks about her injuries. Also, he added their mailing address, so we can send her a card.

http://tloper.blogspot.com/

Road trip!

2007-08-08T13:20:00.000-07:00

Bridgit and I, (youngest sis) drove to the Timpani criterium together and then headed straight out for an unplanned excursion down Highway 1. We had 3-4 days, to do and go wherever we wanted....no kids and no husbands. We roughed it everyday at campsites, by the beach.

I brought along variety of bikes for us: road, mountain and a beach cruiser. I chose the cruiser and Bridget hopped onto the mountain bike, which she promptly fell off-providing many hours of laughter for me.

We checked out the multi-million dollar condos that were perched on the beach cliffs. I was trying to peer into the open windows (nobody closes their curtains, when living on the beach) hoping to catch a glimpse of what a millionaire lifestyle entails. I saw a hairy-backed man in a Speedo watering his plants and that was about it.....

We headed off to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk for our next adventure. http://www.beachboardwalk.com/ No rides for us, instead we shopped, ate, and people-watched. Being the older sibling, I still have this uncanny ability to make the younger siblings do what I want.....like wearing a corny hat in public. Again, this provided many more hours of laughter for me.

We watched the sunning seals, while chomping on salt water taffy.

For our next outing, we went to the Winchester Mystery House, which was really cool. Bridgit invested $7.00 in an all-you-can-drink soda cup, which she promptly slurped up her money's worth of Dr. Pepper...again, providing me with hours of laughter. http://www.winchestermysteryhouse.com/

Oddly (or eerie-ly) my camera would not work inside the mansion, so I have no pics to show you. The tour took us about 3-hours and it was worth every penny. The craftsmanship is simply amazing.

We headed back to Fresno, where I was happily greeted by Jimmy and doggie, Bo. Though we missed our families, Bridgit and I had a great time and we cannot wait to do this again.

Twins!

2007-07-28T11:51:00.000-07:00

(L) CVC racer chick, Vee Easterling looks incredibly adorable at 17 weeks pregnant (it's going to be a boy). I've been trying to convert this gal to race for us, for years now. As soon as this baby is born, I'll get her into a Bella jersey! We can't let her CVC hubby Eric, know..... :-)

(R) Bella Lisa, is the spittin' image of Vee. She's going to make San Ardo her first road race, so we've been putting some good miles on the road; getting her comfortable in the pack, some accelerations and tossing in some hillwork.

Another awesome ride in the valley.

What makes for a good ride?

2007-07-25T16:47:00.000-07:00

*Great terrain

*90 degrees at 10:am

*Terrific friends....what else do you need???

Albany Criterium-my recollection

2007-07-23T12:01:00.000-07:00

A 15-minute warm-up proves insufficient for any crit, moreso with this course. I opted to chit chat with Laura, instead of spinning.....more fun than sitting on the trainer, but it doesn't do much for my cardio or quads.

We had 6 Bellas at the start line, in a full field of fifty. I was told that there was even a waitlist for this race and several girls didn't get to race. Fortunatley, all of the Bellas were in.

The simple 4 corner street was well paved and clean. It started on a wide decline and then funneled into a tight 1 lane turn. Unfortunatley, a couple of gals went down in this corner and needed medical attention.

Another turn and we head up an incline. This part didn't seem so imposing on the warm-up lap, so it didn't worry me so much. The clincher is having to do it 25 times or so. We broke off into a chase group, where Laura and I made a strong attempt to close the gap.

Turning into the last corner, we're approaching the decline/start/finish. Whenever you see a hay bale, you know there is pending doom for someone that day......

Post-race, we regroup and talk about the 45-minute slobber and drool fest. Erica won a case of Gu drink mix, which she promptly shared with each of us.....Crisp Apple. Delish!

Tracy's hubby, Tim

Angela's hunny, Doug

Angela

Laura

Erica

I really liked this course and will do it again; with a better warm-up. Though my goal was not achieved, I REALLY, REALLY had a great time racing with my teammates.

My friend, Mary, made the 3.5 hour trek with me and she took all of these race pics. On the way home, we stopped at Fuzio's in Livermore and had one of these. It looked better yesterday.....trust me. Chicken, tofu and sprouts.

This is another reason why I race--to eat.

No pity for this pussy-cat...

2007-07-13T08:46:00.000-07:00

This is our cat, appropriately named Fat Cat. He came to our front porch, about 9 years ago, after being hit by a car; his leg and scapula had been shattered into a million pieces. Being a stray, we felt really bad for the guy, so we opted to pay for his vet bills and called him "ours."

He plays with our other kitties, jumps up and down the tables,climbs on top of the desk and fights with the others, so has completely adapted. He may look pitiful, but this is one tough kittie.

Third time must be a charm....

2007-07-07T15:24:00.000-07:00

DARN IT! DARN IT! DARN IT!

This was my second race in the past three days, and for the second time things did not go as planned. These past two races, were supposed to give me the last few points I needed to upgrade...... I was so friggin bummed!

Coyote Creek Circuit Race, grouped all of the women into a single field, making for a large start with a range of skilled and unskilled pack riders. Midway on the only hill, I hear squelching a few shoulders over--which means someone is going down. I tried to accelerate out of the area of pending carnage, but EMC gal Kim, fell directly in front of me, which pushed me into the curb of the sidewalk. It was not her fault, as it was the result of the "domino effect" of racing and crashing.

EMC and I untangle our bikes and we checked to make sure all was well with our equipment. We look up and the field has crested the hill.....sigh. She felt really bad for taking me out and she pulled my butt to the end of the finish line!! EMC even offered to let me cross the finish line first, but that would not be kosher, in my book.

Even though my race plan fell through, I had an awesome training ride and made an new alliance, which is really cool. Our team went for a spin afterwards to chat about our race and that was a great way to end my day in San Jose.

Lafayette criterium, here I come.........

4th of July, Davis criterium

2007-07-05T07:28:00.000-07:00

Legs spinning well? Check

Hydrated and fed? Check

Managable heart rate? Check

Course that suits my strengths? Check

Sunny, warm weather? Check

Awesome teammates? Check

Everything was in perfect alignment for me this morning. Soni, Angela, Julie and I rolled out, with a large field of familiar faces. We had a few SUPER-SQUIRELLY gals, who proved to make this course a bit more challenging than it should have been.

Bellas were riding safe'n smart and I was relishing in the moments ahead, when I would cross the finish line in the Top 10, so I can finally unpgrade. My rear wheel blew out on the corner and I was thrilled to keep upright. After a quick pit stop, I was pushed out, to catch the field. My HR went from 150 to about 190 in lickity split. Tried as I might, I could not catch on to the group.....I limped off the course and expressed my woes to Bunny's hubby.

The 3.5 hour drive, proved to be gravely disappointing. Coyote Creek, here I come.

Follow me on my ride...

2007-07-03T19:02:00.001-07:00

I rode right after work; this is the country club where I bartend. $$$$

I traveled across the street, where there is a working ranch. I believe these are called Long-Horned Bulls and they are huge! See the baby?

The scenery changes again, just a few miles down the road. This is a man-made lake where the all of the fancy-schmany homes are built, on a 2.5 mile loop. Each home has its' own boat dock. It really is a pretty neighborhood, but in the summer this lake reeks like nobody's business. This is where I did my sprints.

Spinning out my legs after the intervals, I ride around a bit more, towards the park. There are a gizillion friendly ducks and geese to greet every human that approaches them. I tried to get pics of the babies, but mom would not let me get any closer than this.

I loaded my bike back into my truck and head home, after an 1.5 hour ride. Today was about 100 degrees, with light winds....it's kind've like sitting under a hair dryer at the salon. Awesome day. I am so lucky to have this life.

The original Wonder Woman

2007-06-27T16:33:00.000-07:00

This is a dear friend of mine and a client of four years. Roma is a cycling wonder woman.

At the age of 68, we met for the first time and she rode almost an hour, for a total of 5 miles. Slowly her strength, confidence, and balance increased. Her goal--to do the A.I.D.S. Ride! Riding her bike everyday from San Francisco to Los Angeles; over the hills, through traffic and the daily distance was more than she ever imagined.

Roma accomplished her goal and then moved on to century rides. Since we started training, she has lost weight, her energy level is through the roof, and her determination is amazing. She said that she has to keep riding, because she does not own a rocking chair and has no interest in learning how to knit! That's attitude!

Her license plate says it all.....

My podium shot.....

2007-06-23T15:28:00.000-07:00

So, I decided to make the 2.5 hour drive to do this criterium in Stockton and had a kick-ass time.....I got 2nd place. The course was great, it was nice'n warm, and there were plenty of Port o'Johns, which is a plus in my race book. An EMC gal and I agreed to work together on the last 2 laps, so we could place--which we did.

I quickly realized that if you race in the front of the group, the announcers will call out your name on most every lap, which makes you feel like a rock star. Since, I had no other teammates in this race, I was able to move about pretty easily, with no other worries, except keeping myself safe and riding smart.

Here's a recap of how dang famous, for 40-minutes, I really was:

"Denise Ramirez of Velo Bella is out of the saddle chasing down
Webcor."

"Velo Bella is charging around this corner."

"Velo Bella was nipped at the line for this preem."

"Here comes EMC and Velo Bella for the sprint finish! Velo Bella is
coming along side and is she going to get it?! EMC takes the win, with
Velo Bella second, and Team X taking the third spot!"

So with that, EMC gal and I gladly scooped up our prize envelope and we looked around for the podium. What?! No podium photo?! If I bust my female balls, for any race and I place, I want to relish in the limelight a bit longer and have my picture taken, like the rock star I am!

I decide to take my own picture with my prize envelope. Cheesy I know, but this is my race and my blog, so here you have it--taken in my backyard. I pulled out my 4-hour old, wrinkly, sweaty jersey from my backpack and put the dang thing on, just for this podium shot.

I just opened my prize envelope and not only was it chock full of $$, it contained a hand-made card and lots of glitter'n stuff. Someone took their time to make this and I think it's lovely.....it makes up for the lack of an official podium shot.

Early Morning Girls Ride

2007-06-20T10:54:00.000-07:00

This is a landmark for the local cyclists, called Butt-Rock. Some moron painted a red thong on it and now it's been painted over, making it look worse. Idiots.

We approach the first part of Wildcat. It's part of the Pine Flat Road Race and Climb to Kaiser. This road is 10%-16% for a 1.5 miles. Good times.

Once at the top, we can see over the valley. It looks barren and yukky, but it's quite serene.

Bella Liz, Becky and Bella Lisa are relishing their break at the top of the climb. It was the first time for Bec and Lisa. Woo-Hoo!

Like cows to the barn, we're headed home. We got in 2.5 hours and we were done before lunch time. That is the best part about our summer mornings; we can roll out at 7:am and it's already warm'n sunny.

Simply simplistic......

2007-06-13T19:16:00.000-07:00

I love my fixed gear, but some rides are better than others.....and today was one of those rides. My Specialized Langster was a birthday gift 2 years ago and coach has had me using it 1-2 times a week. Today was to be an easy day, so I opted for the fixed gear. Geez, I love this sport.

Adult video humor

2007-06-11T14:13:00.000-07:00

Turn the volume up and toss the kids out of the room....
http://toilette-humor.com/ketchup-effect.html

Taking the Oldwing for a Ride....

2007-06-09T19:38:00.000-07:00

These are our friends, Bill and Alicia. We rode with them to the Dinuba carshow. It was a great turnout, with several hundred cars and motorcycles. Afterwards, Jimmy and I met my mom, sis and brother-in-law for lunch. Drats! I forgot to take pics of them!!! Drats oh drats!

Hours later, I remembered I had my camera. On our way home we opted to take the scenic route, which proved to be spectacular.

Miles and miles of agriculture......

The river from Pine Flat Dam looked so inviting on this 100 degree afternoon.....

Another year older.....

2007-06-08T07:54:00.000-07:00

This is the most recent pic I have, since they live in Oregon. It's a bit racy, but I don't think there are any close-minded people who view my blog. Sheree' is the blonde and the other is Brandy-her mate.

Sheree' is 28 years old today! I cannot believe that my kids are full-fledged adults.....Happy Birthday, Sheree'!!!!! Moochies!!!!

Woo-Hoo to us!

2007-06-04T13:19:00.000-07:00

Today is our 26th wedding anniversary. We are so fortunate to have found one another at such an early age. We are truly, soulmates.

I could write an long, drawn out, and mushy post,

but words cannot really convey the love I feel for

this guy.

Tonight, we are going to do our favorite things, which may not seem romantic to most. We are going to a great (but casual) restaurant, followed by a baseball game. An evening of fun with my hubby.......

My idea of poetry

2007-05-31T10:44:00.000-07:00

Roses are red,

Violets are blue,

I like peanut butter,

I can't swim.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

That poem made me laugh for days in junior high school. True story. I remember the kid who wrote it and I can even tell you what he was wearing when he read it aloud in class. I know we all have weird things that have stuck in our brains for some unknown reason. Things that make you go hmmmmm...

I'm bummed.....

2007-05-29T07:17:00.000-07:00

One of my best friends, Kathie, is moving to Colorado tomorrow. We have rode together for 5 years now and have logged probable 10,000 miles together. Her quick wit just made those miles just fly by. It's going to be hard to find a replacement.

Cat, my cycling inspiration, is moving to Washington in a few weeks. She is a perfect example of what a female athlete is: her strong will and balanced training program enables her to consistantly achieve her goals. I frequenlty look to her for advice.

One of my longest and dearest friends, Marion, has been battling cancer for about a year now. We thought she had it licked, but it became increasingly aggressive over this past month. Yesterday, she told me that the doctors are giving her 2 months to live. If she continues with the strong chemo treatments, she will live up to 6 months.

I am so saddened by this string of events. Kathie, Cat and I will be able to e-mail and talk, but with Marion it is different.....this is difficult to swallow.

The Grand Canyon on a motorcycle

2007-05-25T17:16:00.000-07:00

This is our self-portrait, riding across the Mojave Desert. It was only about 95 degrees, so the ride was nice. Lots and LOTS of
interesting rock formations in this region.

Look closely.... we paid $4.49 per gallon in the middle of the desert.

I got a Gatorade and Luna Bar for $7.50, too.

We were at almost 7,500' on the South Rim of the GC. We did not expect rain and were not prepared, so we bought these cheapie raincoats at the gas station.

This is the only way I could look over the edge-I really thought I was next to the edge, but apparently not. Being a mile above ground is so spooky. It's really windy and the ground can be loose.

This is a Havasupi drawing on the inside of a hidden cave. Our tour guide drove us in a Jeep for several miles into the back country and then we hiked up the limestone to get into this secluded cave. There were several painting/drawings there. All have been radiocarbon tested for authenticity and date back 1200-700 years.

A photo op, that needs no explanation.

On the way home, we diverted to the old mining town of Oatman....talk about secluded; it is located on the original Route 66 and tucked away in the barren hills. This town has one street of their original 1800's buildings, that are hardly up to building code....which makes it more exciting. There are 12 burros that roam/own the streets. The shops sell carrots that we can feed to these friendly beggers.

*1,500 miles in 5 days, $140 in gas, 3 Power Bars, 2 sunburns, 1 root beer float and a partridge in a pear tree...........

Kern Stage Race rehash.....

2007-05-21T05:51:00.001-07:00

Four races in three days......I have never raced so much, eaten so much and never had so much fun. This team is incredible! Velo Bella was the largest in numbers of all the teams, in all categories and it was a Bella podium sweep, too!

Miss Mary and Tyler setting up Bella camp at Stage #1, the 10-mile time trial. Tons o'fun!

Michael, Jeff, Tyler and Miss Mary took great care of us.....no detail was left out. We are so fortunate to have this type of suppport. I know the other teams were green with envy.

The team dinner-not only did we have a terrific pasta meal and great conversation, we had some fun strategy talk going on.

This was the view down towards Lake Isabella.

We just finished Stage #4, the hilly road race. All of these races were pretty high up and driving the RV, proved to be a challenge in some spots....low trees, banked pavement and cows in the road.

After each race, we would gather to talk about what happened....eating and drinking the entire time, of course! This was taken at Stage #4, the hilly road race.

Sabine and Michael's kitty had free reign of the RV. Here she is peering out of the screen door. Cute!

Kathie's outta' here!

2007-05-14T22:18:00.000-07:00

Our "Biker Chicks" group has been meeting at CA Pizza Kitchen, on birthdays and holidays for several years now. This is the first time we assembled for a Farewell Dinner. Kathie, a Fresno Bella, is moving to Boulder in a few weeks.

Group pic L towards the back:

Lori Dawnette Jonna Kathie Lourie

From the R towards the back:

Tracie Me Heidi

Vee left moments earlier, darn it! If you click on the photo, you can see each of our cheery faces better!

As customary, our dinner is followed with a visit to Cold Stone Creamery. Dinner was great, but we're going to miss

Ms. Reid for sure.........

L to R:

Jonna Dawnette Kathie

Just a photo...

2007-05-14T13:29:00.000-07:00

James, Jimmy and me

The only thing missing here is Sheree'....since she lives in Oregon, she wasn't able to make it into this shot. Drats!

Lots on my plate, right now....

2007-05-07T08:33:00.000-07:00

Boy, am I pooped and I haven't even rolled up to the start line:

To best prepare for the upcoming Kern Stage Race (4 races in 3 days) coach has me doing some kick-ass hill intervals, along with long rides on Saturday. I am getting stronger, but boy am I pooped.

I had to work 4 straight days (GASP) and some of the days were 13 hours. I made a ton of $$, but boy am I pooped.

This is finals week. Wholy moly! I am so dang smart now, but boy am I pooped.

By popular demand....

2007-05-01T14:48:00.000-07:00

This is James and his Harley---that I wish he would sell. Fortunately, he does not ride it too often. He's 25 years old.

Sheree' is carrying her cousin, Max. This is her cat, Ariddia, whom we have joint custody of. Until she gets a place that will allow cats, this beauty stays with us. Sheree' is 28.

I have had several people ask, when I'm going to post pics of my kids. I guess you're sick of seeing my bikes and pets, eh? So, here are the most recent photos we have. Golly, I need to update my photos. They're great kids, for sure.

Kern Time Trial....bring it on!

2007-04-30T13:25:00.000-07:00

My friend, Cat, is letting me borrow her TT bike. This is more machine than I will ever appreciate. She rode this bike in Race Across AMerica, last year......I'm hoping that some of her super powers will rub off on me. Here she is training for RAAM on the Titanflex.

The finish line ceremony. Did I mention she came in first, solo female?

Carrying her flag of Sweden and Titan.

All Girls Ride....

2007-04-28T14:45:00.000-07:00

We had an awesome ride this morning. At 8:am, it was 75 degrees and I knew we were going to have a great day.

Left to Right:

Diane, Mendi, Liz, Katie, Amy, Kathie, Vee

Rolling down Auberry Road, the sun was brilliant,

traffic was low and the birds were singing.....

Riding through Prather, we have miles of these

lovely tree lined roads. That's Amy and Katie, taking the lead.

Our last stop of the day.....pee, drink and eat.

I had to get in some more ride time so I continued on to Appaloosa Acres. Lots of happy horses live here.

My total ride time today was 3:40 and I feel great. I am so lucky to have friends like this and to experience these kinds of days.