Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 28

I love musical theatre.

And, you know that there is always that one song

that gets the audience moving...

In "Grease" I think this is the one...

And when I'm riding my bike, it gets me moving too...!

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 27

This is another one of those songs that I like to have on my cycling playlist
simply for inspiration.

When you're on a long ride you need it,
and who better than Sara Bareilles to sing it to you..!

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 26

Seriously, how can you not ride fast while listening to this...?
How can you not find the inspiration to push yourself further and faster...?

Ok, if anything, it's a great wake-up song...

Enjoy!

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 25

I've said before how I get a lot of my music

from TV and movies.

Like this song.

I first heard it on SYTYCD

So You Think You Can Dance...

It's upbeat

It's peppy

It's a great riding song...

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 24

You know those songs from your college days

that made you feel as though life was the best ever

and dancing would go on all night until

you thought your legs would fall off...?

That kind of song... 

that's the kind of song I love

on my cycling playlist.

Because it reminds me of being young

and full of energy

and being able to dance until the morning came

and sometimes you need that

when you have been riding all morning

and you need to find that little bit of something

to just make it all over that next hill...

That's why this song is on my playlist.

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 23

OK, who can't move and groove to this sick beat...?

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 22



I can't tell you how much I love this song for cycling.  It's got it all:  fast-paced music, inspirational lyrics, and just an overall great feel.  When friends ask for music for running, cycling or working out, I am quick to recommend this song. 

I like this song to come on in the middle of my ride so that I can keep on going.  Or, I like it to come on when I am hitting a big hill, because it really inspires me to attack the slope.  Then again, it's great at any time... yeah...!  So get to work, B!^@#...

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 21



As I've mentioned before, I find a lot of my music from movies and TV shows.  This one is from the movie "Spy."  It's fresh, it's upbeat, it's fun to ride to... enjoy!

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 20

You have to admit it... you see some beautiful things while riding a bike...

And, sometimes you just want to listen to 

good up-lifting music...

Like this song from Jason Gray...

It's so wonderful to just be in the moment...

And enjoying the ride...

I love this song so much I included it in a video

I made about our National Parks' Trip a couple of years ago...

which featured this song as part of the Birthday Shuffle then...

Enjoy that video too...!

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 19

This is one of those songs that can be a warm-up song

or a cool-down song.

Either way, it's one of my favorite songs when I ride...

Enjoy!

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 18

I know this song is all about expectations,

but this is a song I like to hear somewhere

around the middle of a long ride...

when I am starting to feel Numb.

On short 20 - 30 mile rides,

I know what my body needs to keep functioning

and keep cycling, but I am still learning

what I need to do to keep my knees from freezing

and locking up,

and what I need to do so I don't feel

like my lungs are going to explode

on those longer rides.

Or especially in the middle of a long incline...

I hate long inclines.

Are you watching the Tour de France...?

I have watched it the last 2 years.

It's inspirational even though I know

I will never be at their level.

I kinda wish I had watched it as a kid

because it definitely would have been

inspiring then, and maybe I would have

trained more and done more when I was younger...

Anyway, this was their stage profile from yesterday... yikes!

And this was their final climb... eek!

We have some hills nearby which are similar,

and I am med control for a local race

the Tour of the Unknown Coast...

This is not something I would want to do on a bike...

Talk about feeling numb...

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 17

I have a lot of music on my "Spinning Wheels" playlist

that I like to call traveling music;

it's there for nothing more than something

pleasurable to listen to while riding,

and this song on today's shuffle

is probably the quintessential traveling song...

Feel free to sing along...!

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 16

the first one...

It's amazing how easy it is to feel as if you can't do something.

It's also amazing how many people will make you feel bad 

about something as you're doing it.

Like Meghan Trainor says,

"Yeah it's pretty clear I ain't no size 2..."

And, I can pretty much say you start to feel

very vulnerable when you put on those

cycling clothes for the first time. 

     

Which is why I like songs like today's shuffle pick

"Titanium" by David Guetta & Sia

  

Just when you're starting to feel frustrated

and as if you aren't really accomplishing anything

this song will come on...

And those people making fun of you on your bike

don't matter, because in your head you're thinking,

"Yeah, but can you do this...?"

or this....?

Cause I can...

and I did....

and I do...

"I'm bulletproof, nothing to lose

Fire away, fire away

Ricochet, you take your aim

Fire away, fire away

You shoot me down but I won't fall

I am titanium

You shoot me down but I won't fall

I am titanium..."

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 15

I get a lot of music from movies,
and this is one of my favorites from
"Charlie's Angels."

It's by Prodigy,
and it's heart-thumping
legs-pumping fun.

Enjoy this scene as you imagine riding down a hill,
full throttle...!

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 14

Well, of course this song came up again...

I've written about it before...

How can you not feel like you could climb a mountain

when this song comes on..?

So Rock On with me,

are you gonna go my way..?

This is how I remember first hearing this song

in 1993...!

Still have a girl crush on that drummer..!

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 13

Today I went for my first bike ride in 2 months.

I knew it was time to get back onto the saddle,

and get back into the habit.

It's time...

As I was pulling out of my driveway,

the first song I wanted to hear was 

Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen.

This is my second favorite start-of-the-ride song:

a nice pleasant intro,

followed by a bit of a build up

for the first 2 minutes then

a great guitar riff leading into 

the piano solo around 3 minutes.

And then around 4 minutes,

bam! Kick-ass electric guitar..!

Usually I am warmed up by that point and

it sets up the right mood for the rest of the ride...

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 12

Today's your birthday!! Actually, it's my birthday, and so I am deviating a little and picking out one of my favorite songs on my riding shuffle... Oye Como Va by Celia Cruz...

I was trying to find the version that I have on my shuffle which is the Latin/Trance mix...

I have a lot of Latin and salsa music on my shuffle...

what can I say, they have an awesome beat and really keep

you moving even when you don't want to...

Keep on, movin' on... 

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 11

I've mentioned before I have an eclectic taste in music...

The following song I first got as a free song from Starbucks,

and it immediately grew on me,

and it's oh so perfect as a pick me up on a long ride...

Dance on..!

I mean, Ride on..!

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 10

Long stretches require a little moving music to keep up a rhythm.

That's why I love this song...

As I've said before, I get a lot of my music from

"So You Think You Can Dance" and

that's where I first heard this song.

Think about this when you hit those long flats,

and see if it doesn't put a little spring in those legs...

Enjoy...!

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 9

Fun, upbeat, energy-packed...

everything you want in a cycling song...

Boogie on,

Ride on,

Party on...!

I chose this YouTube video

because I will always associate this song

with this movie,

and, I love this movie..!

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 8

I first heard this song in a commercial for a car

and it stuck with me.

Now it's one of my favorite riding songs.

 It's edgy, it's upbeat, it makes me want to go fast...

enjoy...!

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 7

Sometimes you need a song that's upbeat,

but also kinda mellow

for some of those long flats...

That's why I have some Jason Mraz in my playlist.

I've really enjoyed his music,

but especially moreso after going to his concert

in San Francisco...

Today's song is just one of several I have on the playlist...

We'll see if any of the others come up during the month

Enjoy!

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 6

"Runnin' Down a Dream"

You don't need an explanation as to why this is a great cycling song...

Especially when you're doing a long ride...

And then facing a long climb...

That road seemingly headed straight up...

Whew!  I did this...!

I thought I would share a video I made using this song

from a road trip we took 2 years ago... enjoy!

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 5

Some rides are just for fun...
Like this song...
Just something upbeat to listen to while
riding around.
During a long ride, it gives just a little bit of extra energy,
and if it weren't for the fear of bugs in my teeth,
I might just sing along...

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 4

Given that it's the Fourth of July,

I am going off the shuffle for a day to bring up

one of the other songs in my playlist:

I have a lot of songs on my playlist that are for inspiration.

Especially when I face new challenges.

In comparison to how far I've come,

10 miles doesn't seem very far... 

but it was the climb that was the challenge.

This was one of my first ones...

I call these "lung vomit hills"

because I honestly feel like my lungs are going to burst

up out of my throat...

Songs like this one, and some others in my playlist

really help.

And of course add to the celebration

when you get to the other side

and race downhill...!

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 3

I've known my friend Melinda since college.

Just recently, we've both started riding separately

and earlier this year for the first time together...

50 miles, crazy elevations...

I think about her because of the next song in my shuffle:

"Tainted Love" is one of the soundtracks of my college days.

I love hearing it when it comes on during my ride.

It reminds me of being 20 and carefree.

Dancing all night as though my legs could go on forever...

I need that little inspiration sometimes on a ride.

Especially when faced with a challenge like this one:

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 2

Today's shuffle brought up

The Time (Dirty Bit) by the Black-Eyed Peas

Everyone knows the starting riff is from Dirty Dancing's 

"I've Had the Time of My Life"

but much more techno...

I like that it gets my heart going

and gets my legs pumping.

I also like that it reminds me at the onset

"I've had the time of my life,

and I owe it all to you..."

My husband was initially against my getting a bike.

He argued about how dangerous it was.

He argued about how no one respects cyclists.

He argued, and I bought a bike anyway and started riding.

Now he supports my riding.

He encourages me to get out on the road.

He drives me to locations and drops me off.

He's picked me up when I'm riding home, 

and it's suddenly started raining.

And, now he's driving me to biking events...

And, I keep having the time of my life... 

Birthday Shuffle Sixth Edition - Day 1

I can't believe I've been doing this over the last 5 years.

Wow, time sure flies...

This year, I thought I would blog about the music in my

cycling playlist:

one because it's great music,

but two, as I look ahead to turning 49 this month

I really have to start thinking about taking better

care of this body so that it can last another 49 years.

So, I am hoping that I can be re-inspired

to start riding more regularly again...

And maybe do a 100 mile ride instead of my usual

50...

So let's begin...

The rest of the month I'll be doing a true shuffle,

but this first song is almost always my first song on a ride...

I don't know what it is about this song,

but the opening is ethereal;

those first 20 seconds are like a heart beat.

As I start my ride, it's finding the right position,

making all those fine adjustments for the ride ahead,

and then getting settled in the seat... 

At about the minute mark, the pace of the song changes

which is about the time I start to pick up the pace

stretch out my legs

adjust the gears

find my cadence.

Around 2:35, the rhythm

picks up suddenly.

I'm starting to get warmed up,

all the adjustments have been made

I'm in the zone.

Then there's a sudden lull at 3:19.

Soft piano music

then back to the initial ethereal heartbeat rhythm.

I have a moment to remember to breathe.

Then the singing starts again,

and I continue my ride...

Stealth Mode

Excuse my absence, but after the April Challenge

I usually need some time to decompress.

And, this Challenge was harder than usual because of my

chosen topic and being on the road at the time.

Now I've had some time to relax,

get back into work mode,

and actually feel like writing again.

And, I made a promise to myself that I would start blogging

more seriously,

more frequently,

even if no one's reading...

or are they too in stealth mode..?

Z is for Z... the Last Letter

I've been writing about my mother this month,

and this is the final one.

I haven't wanted to write this one because it is the last one

for this challenge.

Something just didn't seem right about it.

Because, it's not the end,

my mother's story continues.

We've got Mother's Day coming up in about a week.

A Mother's Day we weren't sure she was going to be alive to see.

We've had ups and down.

We have daily challenges.

I have almost daily frustrations

because I am someone who needs control

who takes control of situations

and this is one I can't control.

I know, I know,

"Let go and let God."

I try.

And, that's all we can do at this point,

keep trying...

until we can't any more.

Y is for Yonder Year

We never know what the future may hold

at the beginning of a new year.

Almost a year ago I wrote about how it might be

the last Mother's Day I spend with my mother.

But, here she is, 

still fighting,

still living,

still going strong.

So one never knows...

All I know is that:

every day has to be treasured

even when she frustrates me to the point of screaming.

every moment has to be enjoyed

even when I get suddenly tearful thinking it might be the last.

every chance I have to tell her I love her has to be used

because I want her always to know that I do.

and,

every second I have to give thanks to God

for just another opportunity to spend with her.

X is for eXhausted!

I have been switching from nights to days with no sleep as my body adjusts... and I think I might be catching a cold... promise to write more as we finish up the challenge...

W is for World Traveler

Momma and I about to board a plane to Puerto Vallarta...

Like I said before, I can't remember a time we

weren't going somewhere.

We've traveled all over Mexico.

We went to Australia for three weeks

when I graduated from college.

We went to Europe for three weeks

just before I started preparing for med school.

She made it to Alaska on a cruise this last November.

And, recently, we've been exploring the western U.S.

one road trip at a time.

She still has places she wants to go,

but time is running out...

Can I get her on a cruise to the Panama Canal?

Could she make it to Morocco and Greece?

She always wanted to visit Japan.

How do you make time when time is limited?

How do you continue to move forward when almost daily

there are set-backs?

Her wishes have become my wishes,

and I still want to grant them...

But will there be enough time

and can she survive the journey

when her path is almost at an end?

V is for Varsity

This is a picture of me wearing my mother's 

Varsity Sweater.

You can't see the big "F" for Fullerton Union High School

or the "56" on the sleeve for her graduation year,

but this is her sweater.

She earned it playing Varsity Tennis of all things.

I remembered that she had tennis rackets in the garage.

We never played, and I don't remember her playing.

But she wouldn't get rid of them.

I learned one day that her father had bought them for her;

quite an expensive gift given that my grandfather

was a migrant farm worker with four other kids to feed,

 but he was proud of her accomplishments.

They are vintage wooden racquets with the

wooden racquet frame presses still on them.

http://jimstennis.com/contextRoot/html/racketPressesCollection/presses.html

Her specialty was women's pairs, and I guess
her and her partner won a lot of matches.

I kind of like to imagine my mom like that,
young and aggressive.
Full of life and verve.
Her father would end up dying just before her graduation.
Maybe she would have gone on to play college tennis.
Maybe she would have had a scholarship.

Maybe I need to talk to her some more,
and hear about her varsity days.
Let her re-live those matches, one more time.

U is for Univision

I've written in the past about telenovelas

or Spanish soap operas.

And, I've written about how much Momma

LOVES her soaps.

Even on vacation, she's worried about her shows.

She's only following one right now, 

"Pasion y Poder"

but still if I can, when I can, 

she wants to keep up on what's happening.

So I pull out the iPad and fire up

Hulu or our satellite network and

stream the latest episode for her.

And, then she tries to drag me into the story...

"Well that one is having an affair with this other

one's wife, but he really loves his own wife

who had an affair, but divorced him because of his affair

and even though she's still in love with him

she tells him she doesn't ever want to see him again."

And, just like that, BAM!  You're sucked in.

Actually, I stopped watching telenovelas because

they were sucking me in... I was spending too much time just trying to keep

up on the stories and missing important things... like gardening or

cleaning the house on my days off.

But, Momma can enjoy them.  It gives her something

to look forward to in the evening, and something

to talk about during the day... 

And, I don't mind listening,

because, really, they can get quite intriguing...

T is for Travel

As I've stated before,

from an early age Momma always stressed the importance of travel.

 I can remember being 5 and going on my first airplane trip.

I was so excited I threw up all over her new coat.

Since then, I can't think of a year we didn't travel somewhere.

Momma and pre-DH in Puerto Vallarta

(*they were learning how to get along)

Momma in Colima, Mexico

Me and Momma on my honeymoon in Cozumel, Mexico

On a boat in Key West

Miami Beach, FL

Alaska Cruise, in Skagway

Grand Canyon train, AZ

Badlands National Park, in an RV

Momma fulfilling her bucket list item

of seeing Mt. Rushmore.

She told me she never thought she'd live long enough

to see it with her own eyes. 

I'm glad I was able to make that happen.

I hope we still have time

to make a few more trips

because the journey has been great so far.