NaBloPoMo - Day 26 - Today's Wishes

Right now, I wish I was riding my bike more.

I'll see posts about cycling 30 miles and wonder if I could even do 7 right now,

and that's coming from the person who used to quip they

wouldn't get out of bed and ride for anything less than 10.

I will wish I had organized everything a lot better

and gotten rid of more clutter during the rummage sale

we had back at the end of September.

Hopefully, I'll have things better organized before next September.

There's several relationships in need of some repair.

I'm hoping a year from now I won't be wishing that I had done something about them...

talked to someone...

reached out to someone...

tried to come to some kind of understanding with someone...

tried to love and comfort someone...

I feel like I try pretty hard to live life in the moment

so that I won't have any regrets

because working as an ED doc, if there's one thing I've really learned,

it's that life is fleeting and at any moment things can change

and that constant you've come to depend on can suddenly be gone...

Anyone else like to share their answers...?

Can't wait to read them....

NaBloPoMo - Day 25 - Sneak Peek

This is all I'm allowed to show you.

I am pretty much done with the painting that I did for a friend of mine...

My first, hopefully not my only, commission.

It's pretty much done. Just a couple of touch ups

and I'll be ready to put the final coat on it

and give it to my friend.

I am very excited about it.

One of my mentors said it was "the best painting I've done to date..."

Oooh, can't wait for you all to see it...

Soon, very very soon....

NaBloPoMo - Day 24 - Some Things Change

Everywhere I have been seeing the 2009-2019 challenge

with people sharing photos from 10 years ago...

Well, 10 years ago I was in residency and still had about another 10 months

before I would be graduating and starting my career...

So here I am with my hubby in 2009 in New Orleans...

I had been invited to compete in a medical case presentation

so we went since we'd never been to NOLA before...

It was so much fun, and I ate a TON of the most butter-rich amazing food...

The second photo was in 2019 in Olympic National Park in Washington State...

It was in July, and it was the first time away from home since my mother passed in April

and, boy, did I need that trip... 

I just needed to get away from home 

and all the memories 

and all the stresses of dealing with her death.

It was a trip that just took my mind off of things for a while.

I really am more excited about the 2010 - 2020 comparison

because it's just more significant in terms of dates and how far I've come

since completing residency and having been an attending for 10 years...

eek!

Next year will definitely be a time for change and reflection...

And, now it's almost just about 6 weeks away...

eek!!

Birthday Month Shuffle - 7th Edition Day 1

When I look back at my posts, I am amazed I haven't done this since 2016...!  OMG!  This was such an annual tradition.  Of course, life got kinda busy, and July especially so with Momma in the house, then DH's grand daughter coming to stay for the summer the last 2 years.  I never had time to write.  Now I do, so now I am...

For those of you that are new readers, traditionally I start off with a song of my choosing then spin the iPod shuffle and see what's in my music mix.  Given that this is the YOFWM, I will pick a song in her honor to start the shuffle off... and, who knows, I may just continue picking songs from my music list that remind me of her to continue... so let's begin:

I don't know why this song always reminded me of my mom, but it's a song about support and love and lifting someone up when they are feeling so down.  So many times in my life, my mother did this for me.  Through the struggles of getting into medical school, going through medical school, internship, residency, my many moves and trials; she was always there, supportive.

I can't remember a time when she would say, "Well, maybe you can't do this and should think about doing something else."  It was always, "You can do this.  Pray to God for support.  I'll pray for you, and you will get through this."  And, I did.  I achieved all the goals I set out for myself because I knew, no matter what, that she was there.  The song is "You Needed Me," but in reality, I needed her moreso than I ever could have imagined.  And, I still do.

Here's my original post from 2014... and the sentiments are still the same.  Hug your mom today.  Or send a prayer for our Mommas in Heaven.

X is for X-Wing Fighter

Anyone else want to fly one of these?  "Star Wars" came out when I was 10, and my dream in life was to be a fighter pilot.  I knew that one day, these would become a reality.  Of course, I changed my mind multiple times about what I wanted to be when I grew up, but a part of me would still love to be a fighter pilot.  Especially flying one of these through the starry skies of space. "Pew! Pew!" indeed!

NaBloPoMo 2018 - Day 15

Last year was my "Year of 50" and I was determined

to achieve a lot of "firsts" and check off some things

from my Bucket list...

Like getting a tattoo:

I've wanted one since I was in college, but every time I thought

about it, I wondered if I would still feel the same about

whatever I'd chosen when I was 80.

Last year I did it.

I'd been cycling since March of 2015 when I bought a bicycle

on a whim to help with some stressors going on at the time

as well to help get me back into some sort of shape

other than round.

After my first 5 mile ride (which took me about 45 minutes)

I kept on riding... and riding... and riding...

then I started training on the hills.

As my times improved, so did my stamina and soon I joked

that I didn't get out of bed for less than a 10 mile ride.

Then 10 became 15, then 20, 

and that year I completed my first metric century (62 miles).

The next year I did a 50 and a metric century,

but for that "Year of 50" I was going to complete a full century.

So I bought a "real bike."

And I got a tattoo of my spirit animal to go along with my 

riding hashtag: #GoCheetahGo

And, I started training on that bike.

And I worked those hills.

And I cross-trained on a friend's mountain bike to build up stamina.

Then I went and did it...

I signed up for the Sacramento Century Ride.

The full century...

It was a beautiful morning to start my ride.

I started around 6:30 in the morning because

I knew from prior years that around noon it was going

to start to get hot, and that's the last thing I wanted to experience.

Soon I was riding through the trees beside the river...

And, just like that... 25 miles was done..!

As the morning went on, so did the miles until I came to the one

break in the action...

We had to ride the ferry across the river...

Almost 1/2 way done at that point... still a long way to go...

I made it to the lunch stop which was at about 52 miles,

and then I fell off my bike.

It was stupid really; I just didn't get enough speed starting

and fell straight over.

Since I was clipped in, I didn't even have enough time to

get my leg out, so down I went.

I was more embarrassed than anything, 

but then I had a skinned knee for the rest of the ride.

Somehow I made it the next rest stop,

and I realized that I had beat my longest distance to date.

That, and the sun starting to bear down gave me the

impetus to continue riding even though muscles were starting

to really ache, and my knee was killing me with every stroke

of the pedals...

Somewhere along this road I started to really hit the wall.

That's where you suddenly start thinking of excuses to not keep on going.

I'd done that before on those other metric centuries; 

you're baking in the sun,

you're almost out of reserves,

your water that you filled 20 miles back is warm,

you starting wondering about hopping on the next

SAG wagon you see pass by.

But, you know what I love about these rides..?

It's the encouragement from the other riders.

As the speedy teams pass you, they always call out,

"Yeah, you're doing great! Keep going..."

or they ride alongside you if it looks like you're struggling

and ask if you need any water or an energy bar.

If you stop on the side of the road to work out a cramp,

they'll stop and ask if you need help.

And when you tell them you're just taking a break,

they'll call out,

"Keep going, we're almost home!"

And, before you know it, there it is...

I love this bridge.

I know that once I get there, I just have to ride over it,

and it's a short downhill coast to the finish line...

And the Rotary Club lines up on both sides 

and cheers you as you ride through.

And, that 100 miles is complete...

And, as you sit drinking that well-earned beer,

you raise a glass as others raise a glass to you...

You made it all the way!

Bucket list item:

Ride a full century: check!

#NaBloPoMo18

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 Year V - Day 22 - I Hope I Get It

While this isn't the music from "A Chorus Line" the movie... I think you get the idea...


I've written before that I love musicals.  And this is one of my favorites.  It's a story about dancers trying to reach their dreams.  Which is probably why I have liked "So You Think You Can Dance" for the last 10 years.  Again, people working hard to reach their dreams.

Not to make a political commentary, but as I have been watching the Tour de France and watching SYTYCD this summer, I think sports and dance are the only places left where people who work hard get rewarded for their effort and not just for showing up.  There's no free ride.  If you don't put in the time, you don't have a chance to win the prize.

Ok, and off the soapbox.  What's your favorite musical?

Birthday Shuffle Year V - Day 21 - Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)

I have a bunch of Kelly Clarkson music on my iPod, so it's interesting that after five years of doing this shuffle, this is the first time that one of her songs comes up... and, one of her newer songs to boot.

I've loved her music since that first season of "American Idol."  I remember her as the contestant that could sing anything!  No matter what was thrown at her, she could sing it...

And through it all, she was so humble and down to earth.  And still seems to be...

As for today's shuffle pick, like most people, I first heard this song on the Toyota Camry commercial.

I was immediately attracted to the beat and to the lyrics.  It's now one of my favorite cycling songs because just as I am feeling as though a hill is about to beat me this song comes on, and I feel like I can power through and go up and over.  And that holds true to anything else that life might throw at me... With inspirational music like this, you just keep going on and on.

Birthday Shuffle Year V - Day 12 - iPod Medley

When your husband surprises you with this

for your birthday...

One song just isn't going to be enough...

So my three favorite "I love life" songs for today are:

Good to Be Alive by Jason Gray

Living in the Moment by Jason Mraz

and

Best Day of My Life by American Authors

Cheers to what this next year of life is

going to bring and feeling thankful

for the blessings I have received this last year...

Birthday Shuffle Year V - Day Two - Geronimo

Music has always been a part of what I do.

Writing, working, riding my bike...

This song by Sheppard has become a sort of "war cry" for me

during this time that I've been cycling and training.

It's got a good beat that I can do my cadence training to.

And, the lyrics...

As a kid, did you ever see the cartoons where when someone

was about to do something scary, they would yell out

"Geronimo!" right before they did it?

That's how I felt about cycling.

Unfamiliar, challenging, kinda scary.

But, I pulled up my biking shorts,

plugged in my iPod, 

and rode...

Thinking "Geronimo!" whenever 

I faced my next challenge...

#losethepannus

Technically, it's the panniculus,

but most medical folk know it as the pannus...

And, some time in March of this year

I decided to finally wage a strong battle against it.

So far, I think I might be winning...

Earlier that month, I came back from two back to back trips:

one to New Orleans and another on a two week cruise.

If either of those doesn't scream out LOTS of GOOD FOOD to some of you, 

then you've got some traveling to do.

But, I digress...

Much to my chagrin, after these two trips despite my best efforts

to get in lots of walking and, at least, an occasional trip to the workout room,

I came back to find none of my clothes fit me comfortably.

Even my scrubs were a bit on the tight side.

So I did something I've only done like 4 times in my adult life...

I weighed myself.

Now, I like using kilograms because as a physician we

use the metric system all the time.

Plus, when you see 70kg on a scale, it doesn't seem so scary.

Imagine my consternation when I made the conversion from

kilos to pounds (multiple by 2.2)....!!!

Yikes!!

I was very close to the 200 pound mark.

When did that happen??

And, how did it happen so easily??

Well, I am sure this had a lot to do with it,

but now I really needed to do something about it...

So I bought a bike:

Now, I know nothing about bikes, so all I asked for was:

something that was a road bike, not a mountain bike

something that didn't weigh a lot

something that was middle range in price

and something that would be durable.

After trying out different models and seats,

I ended up with a Fuji Absolute

So I went on my first ride in Folsom where I stay when I work in Sacramento...

I planned out a route and thought,

seriously, how hard could five miles be?

Almost immediately I thought I was going to die

either from a heart attack or due to my thighs exploding

from the strain...

and I hadn't even gotten to the hilly part yet.

But I made it through that ride... 

note that GoogleMaps says

I should make the ride in 30 minutes... 

yeah, right...

Not fully discouraged, I kept riding and came up with the hashtag

#losethepannus

both as a tongue-in-cheek inspiration for weight loss, but also because

having something hitting/resting on the top of your thighs

when you're riding is not conducive to good cycling form

and definitely slows you down.

So I rode:

And, I rode:

And, I rode:

Building up some distance...

And pushing myself farther:

Then came the hills.  I christened this one

"Lung Vomit Hill"

The distance wasn't so long, but check out the grade at the beginning..

I seriously was going to raise my arms above my head 

and cheer when I made it to the top!

But my lungs and thighs were on fire,

and I think I might have been hallucinating the 

"Rocky" theme song at that point.

Once I was back home on the coast, I took to our local country roads...

And found that I had a perfect route for some interval training...

And, then, I became "that person" 

You know, the one that takes their bike on vacation...

And, I challenged myself to this ride...

At the top... ouch...

which screamed for this hash tag

#anotherlungvomithill

Then I went and did it... 

I bought bike shorts.

I was starting to consistently ride close to 10 miles,

and I started to notice around mile 7 that my butt was getting kinda sore.

So, I made the investment.  And, my ischial tuberosities thank me...

As I've progressed in distance, my DH has become

part of my support team.  He offers to drive me places

so that I can get in a longer ride...

Like cycling down the Avenue of the Giants...

There were some challenging hills on that route...

He also challenged me by offering to buy me lunch...

if I rode my bike into town...

the extra 30 minutes on my time is because of

Loleta Hill which is

#anotherlungvomithill

but those extra 1097 calories burned were so worth it

because let's be honest...

I love to eat..!

A couple of days ago, he dropped me off on the highway

so I could do this ride from Scotia to home...

Those three bumps you see below on the elevation chart 

are the "Three Sisters"

with yet another "Lung Vomit" hill...

So, after three months, the pannus is slowly shrinking,

clothes are fitting better again,

I've been able to work off a lot of recent personal stress,

and my bike and I seem to suddenly be getting invited to a lot of places.

Locally, there's a 30 mile ride through a lot of the same

routes I've been riding while at home which I've challenged 

myself to do in October.

My best friend from college has challenged me to

do a 50 mile ride with her in January in a town just east of San Diego...

and, I actually registered for it...!

And, who knows, maybe a year from now, I'll be able to ride a part of the 

Tour of the Unknown Coast as a cyclist and not just as medical support...