sshhhh... 1, 2, 3,

surprises are underrated.

some of the best things ever, have been unexpected.
receiving a 1932 Underwood typewriter with an already typed letter in it (surprise)...
giving a seaplane flight over San Francisco to someone I love (surprise)...
being visited by a wonderful supportive friend in tow with a beautiful flower arrangement (surprise)...
returning to my hotel room alone after completing an Olympic Triathlon and finding a card and chocolate dipped strawberries (surprise)...

likewise, some of the worst things ever, have been unexpected.
hearing that you need to rush to the hospital to say goodbye to a young family member...
answering the phone and being told your friend had an accident and is no longer with us...
listening to your husband say he has cancer...

all of those best and worst moments I remember like it was yesterday.
I guess the biggest difference between the two is...
the worst ones? are out of everyone's control, and - if you are fortunate enough - are shared with family and friends.
but the best ones? those are for JUST you - one person. someone - or maybe a few someones - did something so wonderful, for only you. and that feels so. incredibly. amazing.

I love that.

in other news...
...surprise someone (anyone) today with something good.
...my dog is so lazy that instead of chewing his entire rawhide, he simply swallowed the last half of it (surprise!). I have never paid so much attention to his poop as I am now.
...parties are all fun and games until you cry (surprise!).
...Jonathan Pierce from The Drums, I wish you were my man twin (surprise!).

Easter Candy = Best Candy

the Oscars. that point in the year where I wonder, why the foosball did I only see ParaNorman?

needless to say, I experienced zero winnings in any and all Oscar bets.

completely unrelated to that...
recently I was chosen to be a Wellness Ambassador at my place of employment. what does that mean? good question. I will get back to you on that once I find out. until then, I have been collecting handy nutritional facts from places I have been visiting. also? I have consumed a lot of Easter candy - let's not leak that information to the Wellness Ambassador committee shall we?
as of now, I know I get a T-shirt. I also know my co-worker is letting me boss him around during our workouts now that I am 'official' (unofficially). but in return, he is telling me everything that he thinks is wrong with the gym.
no, I will not be able to get another wall built.
no, I will not be able to demand the runners on the treadmills stop because they are too loud.
no, I will not combine the locker rooms in to one giant co-ed one.

because it is late, I am tired, cranky, emotional, my legs hurt from running, my back is cramping, and my butt is going numb from sitting on this ground... this is getting wrapped up like a loose burrito at Taco Bell (poorly).

my dog remembering he had a stuffed squirrel in the apartment

green Calaveras Rd.

me holding a medal while drunk in a public space

a horrible way to start a memoir.

 in other news...
...loading.

inside out and back loop

Valentine's Day... is when I pretend my expectations are low low LOW... but when those expectations are met, I'm sad sad SAD.
DUMB. I suppose my thinking needs an alteration.
luckily it is also my dog's birthday - happy #6 my #1 pooper! I purchased some sweet swag from Target and turned him in to a chihuahua/beagle/pug GANGsta... whaWHAAAT. he also got a long leisurely walk at his own pace (not a good idea if the HUMAN needs to pee) and roasted chicken in his dinner bowl.

I am excited to see what he has planned for MY birthday.

the following weekend was made awesome by some good friends and a beautiful atmosphere.. and possibly some amazing Indian food. : D


my friends Ricky and Alex met up to go out and back on Calaveras Rd. with me.
Ricky and I exchanged South Park impressions while Alex laughed and contributed a stellar Butters.
I finally got to check out the Water Temple at the hwy. 84 turnaround point.
the extra long driveway gave the impression it was going to be cooler than it was but nonetheless, my curiosity has been fulfilled (and it didn't kill me so, that's a plus).


when you get up the steps by the pillars and look down, it appears to be some sort of bath house with small tiles in which a naked Russian mobster is slicking back his hair with tattoo-covered arms when 2 more naked Russians strut in with knives and then a naked fight ensues and things flop every which way and then the 2 attackers get beat to a naked pulp and the naked bad-ass weiner - I mean - winner, looks up at us cyclist visitors and Ricky gives him a thumbs up and we leave.


it was pretty amazeballs.


the trek was amazing and included rolling green hills, birds singing, ground squirrels tossing rocks in my path, etc.


it felt good to breathe.

the next day I joined my buddy Rai for a ride up Sierra Rd.

the route starts the same as the Calaveras trek but then splits in a different direction that gets some higher grades while being a shorter overall distance.

the views are just as wonderful but include more homes *correction, more EXPENSIVE homes.
surely there are several CEOs in those mountains. everyone owns at least 4 horses, 5 sheep (or goats - same difference), 3 free-range chickens, and a minion to roll the garbage cans down the mile-long driveway to the curb every week.

360 video...

http://youtu.be/n08lMaWy1Rs

thank GOODNESS for winter apparel... I kept my leg warmers on the entire time and removed my windbreaker for the middle segment only to quickly toss it back on before making a 40mph descent after the climb.

Rai is still figuring out the best windbreaker / leg warmer / arm warmer combination during his rides and usually ends up removing, putting on, removing the same item several times - but all that extra time works in my benefit... allowing me to catch up and pretend like I am not tired.

"What's wrong with you? Why did you stop?"

(ie. I hope you put something on inside-out so that I have more time to rest)

in other news...
...is it wrong to enjoy the smell of new tires on my Xterra every time I drive it?
...butterfinger hearts. thanks mom : D
...I am not sure what is worse: unknowingly wearing my underwear inside-out, or realizing this mid-day and not fixing it.