On My Summer Mind

So, we've really been into numbers lately, especially matching numbers (more on this much later). G had this idea to do 5 trails on the 5th of July. This would require lots of driving, so we settled for 3 trails but 5 laps in all. Not a necessarily TOUGH feat. But, time consuming with the driving involved and lots of warm-up/cool-down going on. We set off with the bikes in tow & old school rap on our minds.. yah, we're into that lately... don't tell G that I disclosed our secret passion.

We started at Hanson with pals Scott & Jon for a quick warm-up loop & some added fun at the end when we climbed back up the campground hill in order to do that last fun ski hill... ONE MORE TIME. wahooo... could do that all day long!

After Hanson we gathered up the bikes & headed to Aspen for a couple of laps where we surprisingly bumped into Dave in the parking lot! CRAZY!? yes, CRAZY fun! We even had time for some baby elk gawking!


A banana a day has been so delicious.

Especially good was banana embedded with cereal flakes or dipped in cereal!

MMMMrrrrrRRRruUUmmm!!! Oh, so, after Aspen & a burrito break, we headed back to Vasa to finish up our 50 mile day of singletrackish. The end. :) Hoping that next year he doesn't decide to do 10 on the 10th. ouch.

In other strange news... yesterday I hit the best market in the land knowing I only had 12 bucks cash and a few coins. I shopped carefully being sure to get the cilantro, portas, pineapple, grape wraps, spinach sandwich... Mmmmm (stomach is grumbling now!!) ... and ta da!! 12 bucks even!!?? Are you kidding me?
No joke. 12 bucks. That was just too good. I actually have this happen fairly often, I mean, hitting it on the button... very cool & seems like an odd chance of happening, don't ya think?

I love that odd time of day when the sun is going down and the shadows are beginning to cover the landscape... ahhh soothing & eerie and peaceful... Speaking of odd... I've had some odd moments and dreams. I need to start documenting these, so, here we go:

Dreams:

• Washing my cycling shorts in sugar-free Hershey's syrup my dad bought in a gallon size container. It tasted horrible!
  
• Nece hanging a huge wooden sailboat on a fine wire line in her house = danger!
• My Willow being crippled.
  
• Starting a race with my gloves half on & not enough air in the tires. (This is the being naked in public sort of dream.)
  
• Working for my old physical therapist when he asks me to meet him at the Rite Aid restroom. (...if you knew the whole story.. this may not be so odd...)
  

Losing My Mind

1. Putting bug spray on while standing in the kitchen. (dumb dumb dumb!)
   
2. Placing cell phone in camera case = can't find phone???
3. Driving 15 miles to drop off papers I left at home.
4. Driving up on a curb... much to G's annoyance. ;)
5. G asking me to buy some cilantro (for the herb garden) & I return with a bundle that is already cut. oops. :)
   

If you are curious...

Now I'm your big mal dropper, mud duck stopper
Fila on the bottom and Adidas on the topper
Transform scratchin', big beat matchin'
I can tell you're getting jealous by the looks I'm catchin'
I hate dumb skeezers, MC beaters
Drop 5 grand on my bird white needer? (i have no idea, but i think it's watt
meter)
Smooth like ice, don't get nice
Just turn up the box for the Mix-A-Lot slice (huh huh)

Y'all ready to get busy? (huh huh!)
Now, buttermilk biscuits here we go
SIFT the flour roll the dough
Clap your hands and stomp your feet
Move your butt to the funky beat (huh huh)

Buttermilk biscuits (x 3)
(Lord have mercy Mix-A-Lot's our here rappin' about biscuits now)

We're from L.A. to the Carolinas
Dip them suckers in Aunt Jemima
Don't make a difference what food you make
Use buttermilk biscuits to clean your plate
You eat 'em in the morn', you eat 'em at night
Kentucky Fried Chicken makes the suckers just right
I am eat 'em with jelly it's my favorite deally
Wrapped and sealed by a freak named Shelley (huh huh)

Buttermilk biscuits (x 3)

One day I kissed my freak, hit the street
Looking for something to eat
In a 18-wheeler, lookin' real swass
All the girls smile 'cause I'm the big boss
Said I gotta eat now, can't eat later
Made a lot of noise to attract my waiter
The boy walked up, and what did he say?
"Say, buttermilk biscuits free today!"
So what you waitin' on boy, get up shake a leg
Gimme 10 of them suckers with grits and eggs
A glass of Koolaid and a whole stick of butter
Them biscuits make me a superfast cutter (huh huh)

Now grab that can and wrap it in your hand
Bang that sucker till THE DOUGH EXPANDS
PUT them suckers up in your oven
Grab your girlie and get a little lovin'
Add a BIT of honey if you want to get funny
Microwave the suckers if you want your honey runny
GONNA get naughty at the Mix-A-Lot party
And rub them suckers all over your body (huh huh)


The cool cutting arm outside the house one day...

hot... DOG!

The days leading up to the 4th of JU-ly were nothing but drear, drizzle, & dampness! Oh...

and COLD! I headed out to the singletrack July 2nd decked out in base layer, short sleeve jersey, 3/4 shorts, down vest, wool hat & autumn cycling gloves = deer in headlights look I have here. UNREAL that this is JU-ly 2nd!?!? Yah.

So, the 4th rolled around with warmer temps. Picture perfect northern Michigan day for slinging the buffalo bbq. This year I scooped ALMOST every single one of the 4 hundy-ish yummies making for some serious repetitive stress injury to the right serving arm. Yah, I'm like, "G? What's up? Where are the buns, man???" Yah, that G was on bun duty. I'm sure he has seen enough buns to last him a year... uh huh.

So, the little cutie of my life (brother's life too) wasn't affected by the camera in her face as she did that thing that little kids tend to do for enjoyment...

This is that longing look she has... "awh, Daddy? Why can't I have a cell phone glued to my palm like my cool teenage sisters???"

Again... THAT look, "awh, Daddy? Why don't I have a horse to ride on our hundy acres???"

"ok, all better. 'cuz THAT clown SPRAYED me!!!"

The Willow chill'n between our bbq marathon & fireworks. His little perch above the kitchen counter tops lends him a nice view of what he'll be begging for come dinnahtime.

Nose2Nose. I like that G.

Waiting for the fireworks on a packed beach with a lovely moon & water view. I do love that little lake.

Wiped out from the day, I had a great view of the sky and these hooligans as I tried to get some shut eye just before the fireworks.

The glow stick show...
Pretty, but not as lovely as the fireworks through my camera lens...

I don't think I saw many fireworks with my bare eye. I was really trying to perfect the firework shot. Pretty much winging it & hoping for the best. Here are my favorites...
















That's it. Another 4th of JU-ly down in history.

I love this place.

It wasn't a squirrel...

...with a crazy white bushy tail.

It was the freezer ice-maker making ice at early AM hours... it took 6 years for me to realize this device actually works!?

And those strawberries? SEALED!

Being a Girl

A cycling magazine JUST for women?
&
glitzy-golden diamond bikes!


Last night was one of those sleepless varieties. I fell asleep watching my favorite night man, David Letterman, only to wake up around 1 o'clock feeling like I had slept for hours! I did a little late night Internetting, tossed & turned and was finally falling asleep when I heard...

...something that scared my heart into the 100's.

It sounded very much like sheet metal being rattled. Like a large piece of metal roofing being twisted in the night! I scanned my mind for an answer. Only to realize it could only be ONE thing...

...an intruder in my yard.

I immediately dialed G hoping he'd have his phone near his sleepy-head & thank goodness it was because the next step was calling my cranky brother. G asked the obvious questions trying to bring me to rational, but I was fretting and hardly breathing after I heard it again. It sounded like it was coming from my garage towards the back of the house. The BEST case I imagined was a raccoon in the garage knocking a bike or piece of camping gear onto the floor... (I imagined a lot of other things too, but... I don't want to scare you.)

After some moments on the phone, I determined I could sleep.

2 hours later, I was still wide eyed. No joke, I am the queen of anxiety at night & can out-awake ANY mortal. So, as The Willow snoozled next to my knees, I decided to try deep breathing and imagining happy scenes.

What do ya know, it worked.

So, today, being the rainy day it is... I hung around inside the house coming up with idle things to do when all of a sudden I heard.,.

...the sheet metal sound from the night hours!!!

This time it was IN my house. The kitchen to be exact. Can you guess what was making such a noise? I'll show you later.

Sleep tight.

This Is How Ya Muddle

A Mojito recipe to try... or this one?


Do use crushed ice in your mojitos. Crushed ice will melt faster, which is a good thing in a drink with such strong flavors. The extra surface area of crushed ice also means a colder drink.

Do not use a pre-made mojito mix out of a bottle. This is one drink you want to do right.

Do not over-muddle the mint, or muddle the lime with the ice cubes. These are strictly amateur moves.

Do try Bacardi rum in your mojitos. For many of us, it is the closest thing we can get to real Cuban rum.

Do not use dark or gold rum in your mojitos. They can muddy the flavor tremendously.

Do use bottled mineral water in place of seltzer water. Remember, garbage in, garbage out.

Do not order a mojito when there is a line at the bar. Your bartender is probably not going to put a lot of love into it. In fact, you might get just the opposite.

Do order a mojito when the bar is slow. Your bartender will appreciate having an intricate cocktail to make. And if he/she doesn’t? Fuck ‘em.

Do not have ten mojitos tonight. At around 150 calories each, that’s like 1500 calories, there, fatty.

Do order a mojito from a reputable bartender at a reputable bar.

Do not order a mojito at a dance club, sports bar, drink stand, airport bar, OTB saloon, chain restaurant or fraternity house. You’re just going to end up being disappointed.

Do order a mojito on a warm summer evening.

Do not order a mojito when the weather is below 70°F. This is almost as bad as ordering a Bloody Mary after the sun has gone down.

Do slowly sip a mojito and enjoy the way the flavors meld over time.

Do not slurp down a mojito in less time than it took your bartender to make it. You’re probably already on the back burner for ordering it in the first place, and it’s going to be a while before you’re allowed another.

do and don't list found here

That's Poison Ivy 4 You

Erva Venenosa (Poison Ivy) - Rita Lee

The good news? I don't feel compelled to mutilate the bottom of my foot with a needle tonight. (Thanks G for honoring my request. I know you were sleepy. I know you agonized about doing that to me. I know you REALLY thought I was losing my mind, I was. Thanks for being there for me... (snicker) I didn't tell the doc about that little incident.) So, it has been the untreatable itch for days with spots AKA WELTS! showing up in random places each morning, noon... MIDNIGHT. ARGH.

The crooks of my arms, ankles, behind my ears, stomach... hairline! OY! I finally hit the doc at 10:45 this morning for a steroid shot that he assures me will kick in within 12 hours. Well, it's been just over 7 and I'm feeling some relief. Unfortunately, some skin damage has been done... I have disturbing claw marks and deep purple wounds where I completely involuntarily scratched myself while sleeping (ok, I most likely knowingly did it while awake but well... I don't want to look completely out of control!??!!!!)!!!

In other news...
GREAT news...
semi-GREAT ...
NEWS...


I have something new on the way...




CAN YOU GUESS???

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It is lovely.
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It is shiny.
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It is something I love.
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It is something that rolls.. FAST...
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(relatively speaking, of course)
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on 2.
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.That's TWO...
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2 to U!
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Yah, ok, I'm not feeling so creative. Let's get on with it.
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...did I tell you that...
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I itch.
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BAD ITCH.
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Introducing garage clutter:

NEW clutter. Garage variety.


Redline Conquest Pro :) Hello.

For now this photos will have to suffice. G is bringing it back from the SE on Friday morning. I just know this bike already misses me and it hasn't even met me. It's going to be my roadie/off-roadie/cross-wanna-cross bike to replace the Kona Jake that is a little too BIG. G is going to take over the Jake as the off-roadie bike/cross vehicle. I am so excited about it that I can't stand it. BUT, there is ONE huge MEGA huge issue. I really really really really really wanted something a little more unique ... especially in COLOR... HOWEVER, this bike was a great deal with solid components that I just couldn't say NO. Sorta like that scratch on my back right now!

OFF TO SCRATCH
(no needles 2night)
well.. there was that one ... that nurse...

AliB123

Week of Wonder Full

	Southern Earth - Some Kind of Wonderful
	Found at bee mp3 search engine

My brother's little Bichon likes to hang out with us despite the fact that my Willow cannot stand the Bich (pronounced "Beesh" by us). Here is posing on my bed while I enjoy a summery nap after some good reading. Notice the water bottle by his legs? That's to spray the deaf & dangerous kitty. Love that kat.

Why was I so tired? Well, it was in the high 80's/90's for two or three straight days and I sweat-ed out all of my energy creating a small herb garden. Wow, it was HOT. Seriously, this is Northern Michigan.... go away 90's!

Here G doses the herbs for the zillionth time of the day. The poor things... we're especially hoping the mint will grow vibrant & strong in order to supply our summer Mojito needs.

All the while... the little creature called Niece-Elise torments her Bubber Brother Bichon with rides in the kayak...

Happy happy. He lets her do ANYTHING to him.. including rides in the Barbie Jeep & you remember the haircuts? uh huh... he's a very good brother to have around.


Smile Brother, SMILE!


So, Saturday we set off to ride 2 trails. Big M was the first stop... what a great time we had racing after this guy on his ss 29er. Around mid-way into the ride I felt something sticking to the back of my knee. I figured I had pine pitch or something back there... THEN, I found myself sticking to my saddle. Seriously, what was that about? Well, it was about my gel flask leaking raspberry Hammer Gel inside my jersey pocket & oozing out through the fibrous pores ...down my shorts... down my leg. Mmmm.. nice one Ali. Yah, that G was right, I need to learn to close containers more tightly. Oooops.


So, I changed out of my jersey since I had another for the next ride at Arcadia. After about 1/2 hour drive sitting on a towel you can see what happened.

It was a pony... TAIL. ugh... my favorite shorts!

EEEK! We soaked them in our food tub filled with water & all is right with the world once again.

There is something crazy cute about a dirty little deaf white cat who is a decade old.

Ok, he looks slightly pathetic but ... so adorable in the sunshine with his newly cut hair & a dusty gray patina.

After a bath and his favorite thing - a vacuum.... The Willow rests in his window box. Seriously, he loves this vacuum thing.

Weekend festivities were wrapped up with a trip to the strawberry patch with gramma and grampa.

She loved the big lumpy ones...

...and loved her Strawberry Shortcake winter boots. Oh my...

How fitting huh?

The traditional shot of red strawberry fingers.

Ahh... Love those berries... not loving that I'll be cleaning them all evening. :)

Joining the Club

	Michael Jackson - Smooth Criminal
	Found at bee mp3 search engine

So, it was 1983ish and I was in...well, 5th grade. :) My friend Kim had the glove. You know? THE GLOVE? Yah, she was hot stuff in the early 80's. She had the fabulous feathered bangs & I had the bowl cut that I'd been known for since 1979. She was also wearing a bra & skinny jeans... wow, I felt SO young compared to Kim.

That Kim, well, she also had a little side biz. That's right, a 5th grade entrepreneur. She was big into BOP... TEEN magazine and the like. Not only did she have Corey Haim pics, but she had MICHAEL JACKSON glossies for sale on the corner of her desk! (what kind of teacher allows such shenanigans!??). Anyway, straight from the pages of her magazines she would most likely spend her evenings sucking down candy and snipping photos for the 5th grade suckers students.

Yah, she pretty much suckered her classmates into spending pocket change on that stuff. (Notice that I've used the root word sucker a little too much?...whatever, school's out for the summer.) Convenient for her AND us... was the fact that hot lunch was like 90 cents which meant if mom and dad sent us to school with a buck, we'd have 10 cents to squander by 1pm! This also meant that Kim would have those 10 cent'rs to invest.

Lucky Kim lived on a seasonal road near the ONLY gas station in town that just so happened to have the most popular candy of the time - Atomic Fireballs. Yah, she'd take our dimes and buy Fireballs. Kim and her jet black feathered bangs also had a fire red mouth... ALWAYS... and with any luck, so did we.

It's Michael Jackson day at my casa & I think if I'm not careful G is going to lock me out of the house.

Now, enjoy even MORE Smooth Criminal versions for me... Man, how crazy would G be if I played all of these at the same time? ....I'll let ya know how that goes for me... ;)

	- - alien antfarm - smooth criminal
	Found at bee mp3 search engine

	Who's Bad - Smooth Criminal
	Found at bee mp3 search engine

	J.Viewz - Smooth Criminal
	Found at bee mp3 search engine

	ALPHA KENNY ONE - Smooth Criminal
	Found at bee mp3 search engine

hmmm.... Today's Music Break