tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20850610867103729442024-02-21T07:54:01.524-05:00ATMO-Liciousa tale of two girls on the west coastUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger68125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2085061086710372944.post-29531214444040565002008-05-06T21:12:00.005-04:002008-11-12T21:55:03.857-05:00NEW BLOG<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3liuS54KiCPtsc9_2-_yPwoUogOpBSaObJv0VEPQB8xZb_EQ1coCzArO1SuMizAx1ErVpN0n5oJ00HNIVObmUKIBcjCTvrCnnBvMZ1IbaKf9VlKA6O_8U-913sUtMafL57N0QLat6Pm8/s1600-h/DSCF5363.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3liuS54KiCPtsc9_2-_yPwoUogOpBSaObJv0VEPQB8xZb_EQ1coCzArO1SuMizAx1ErVpN0n5oJ00HNIVObmUKIBcjCTvrCnnBvMZ1IbaKf9VlKA6O_8U-913sUtMafL57N0QLat6Pm8/s400/DSCF5363.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197444846668588242" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Well, along with the hip-detachment comes a spin-off blog... the solo adventures of amy will now be documented at </div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://theamywallace.blogspot.com/">http://theamywallace.blogspot.com/</a> </div><div style="text-align: left;">... check it out!<br /></div>amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12349930261225332949noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2085061086710372944.post-26121406812479780072008-04-10T11:08:00.007-04:002008-11-12T21:55:04.110-05:00Where's the WARM SUN?!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRhFDK7bfaVVuMqu0Bmgpfnu1S9d4j6yWu_dVb0qxXOBuTzF6j0fC6m0fID09M6E2cFCiQr6K5eTznz_g5sqrHk8kUfgMM1DXar4uqvz1-175JlZXKl_p3xEhJHNPkp6IMAmKi0dtGpbA/s1600-h/Chipotle.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRhFDK7bfaVVuMqu0Bmgpfnu1S9d4j6yWu_dVb0qxXOBuTzF6j0fC6m0fID09M6E2cFCiQr6K5eTznz_g5sqrHk8kUfgMM1DXar4uqvz1-175JlZXKl_p3xEhJHNPkp6IMAmKi0dtGpbA/s320/Chipotle.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187641270250305426" /></a><br />Today is Thursday, April 10th and its SNOWING. I guess thats ok, but still, I like sunny weather better. Good news is that this is Boulder and the weekend should be in the high 60s! Anyway, lets see, since Tuesday, I've done heaps of riding - Tuesday I had the pleasure of riding 3 hours with a few new friends out here, one whom I'd never actually met in person but had been emailing with since last Fall! Finally! I ended the day with a tasty Chipotle burrito and a tour of the Slipstream headquarters with Daimo. Kim, the friendly financial manager (?), was working late, so I was able to also meet her. Yesterday I got to ride for over three hours before meeting up with Cheynna and twenty little 2nd thru 5th graders for an after school bike program! We took them along the bike path, teaching them how to call out "Rider up!" or "On your left!" They were like little ducklings...very cute. I may also volunteer next week, if my *busy* (haha) schedule can fit it in - Oh, and the kids want some "REAL pros" - so all you "Pros" reading this, you should come too!!! By the time we were done, they couldn't wait to go in for some snack, and we parted ways so that I could also head home for a "snack" (or, rather, a HUGE dinner with lots of ice cream for dessert). I bailed on a night out and sank deep into the creases of the couch. Tomorrow is an exciting day 'cause I get to go pick up Monsieur Lim from the airport. He's got a few weeks home in the states before again heading back to Girona for the big deal Euro races. <br /><br />Now its time for me to go see if that climbing machine that I follow actually wants to ride in this icky snowy weather.....<br /><br />And for those of you who know my yiayia (greek for grandma), she's going through her first chemo today, so send good thoughts her way!! ...S'agapo, Yiayiamu!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2085061086710372944.post-66072510983732097072008-04-07T22:21:00.002-04:002008-04-07T22:38:50.451-04:00Finn's 2nd Birthday!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos-f.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v192/9/11/10401748/n10401748_31258325_4291.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://photos-f.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v192/9/11/10401748/n10401748_31258325_4291.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />I waited until tonight to write a post for Finn's birthday (which was yesterday) because I needed to have a photo to show off my favorite little 2 year old. So here's to you, Finny-finnster on your big 2nd birthday!! I was sad not to be there to celebrate with him and the rest of the Seeber/Huysmanns crew, but I was thrilled to get to actually talk WITH Finn on the phone yesterday, instead of the usual one-sided phone conversations. His vocabulary is rapidly increasing and he melted my heart with a "Hi, Alie. I love you, alie. i miss you....BALLOON!...." and then silence as he dropped the phone in search of a balloon floating around the house. I can't wait to see the boys when I return home for a few weeks at the beginning of May.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2085061086710372944.post-46126585420614517292008-04-07T10:59:00.003-04:002008-11-12T21:55:04.307-05:00Weekend Fun!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzbhU6kz5ebyA2XGkS8-gLGOoVrEjRujf6CSc6q3i4ChCqw7IDPqz6lQuD_haJoysHC5sXFmlSPmN7WDZ7_MpWSA3qCaxVf85OYTpN9HqjXdVF4AGAXOdOtvuvwPeceW0KsiKBC7MngPM/s1600-h/n619239666_460067_6322.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzbhU6kz5ebyA2XGkS8-gLGOoVrEjRujf6CSc6q3i4ChCqw7IDPqz6lQuD_haJoysHC5sXFmlSPmN7WDZ7_MpWSA3qCaxVf85OYTpN9HqjXdVF4AGAXOdOtvuvwPeceW0KsiKBC7MngPM/s320/n619239666_460067_6322.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186529955795345362" /></a><br />Dear Richie,<div>This weekend was FILLED with fun times. On Friday, the sun came out and allowed for a beautiful climby ride up to Jamestown and back over Lee Hill, where I even encountered a few familiar faces (although they were slightly contorted due to the strain of monotonous intervals - YUCK.). I spent the afternoon walking around downtown with a friend, eating tasty paninis and then heading out to North Boulder where I was responsible for the care of Ryder, a friend's dog. Saturday morning welcomed more sunshine and a group ride with Steph and some of her co-worker friends. We met at <a href="http://photos-748.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v192/9/11/10401748/n10401748_31254584_599.jpg" target="blank">Amante</a>, a local coffee shop in NoBo (yeah, i'm gettin' down with the lingo here). After getting through a very windy first 10 miles, we began our epic assent to Ward. The climb to Ward is 15ish miles with the last 1.5 miles at about 17%, I was told. It is a beautiful climb, and now one of my all time favorites. After a lovely 50 mile day on the bikes, and only <a href="http://photos-748.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v192/9/11/10401748/n10401748_31254586_1183.jpg" target="blank">one mechanical</a>, we parted ways only to reconvene a few hours and showers later up at Steph's beautiful home. We spent the evening jumping on her HUGE <a href="http://photos-666.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v194/173/11/619239666/n619239666_459998_7909.jpg" target="blank">trampoline</a>, cooking tasty food, playing <a href="http://photos-666.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v194/173/11/619239666/n619239666_459978_2533.jpg" target="blank">ping pong</a>, gaining both geography AND oceanography trivia knowledge and hangin' out on the 13 grain red leather sofa. Unfortunately, this meant we had to split from another group of folks who wound up downtown for a night of music and drinks - Hopefully next weekend we can figure out how to do it ALL!! </div><div><br /></div><div>Yesterday was a bit windy and left me with the choice to either ride out to cheer for the folks racing in Superior (I'm still too scared to enter races against these girls just yet), OR go for a 5 mile run. I chose the run and am paying for it in blisters and sore muscles today. Oye. I had a lovely evening out on the town; burgers, sweet potato fries and some drinks with friends. Still excited to get my massage school started, but until then, I'm soaking it all in and enjoying the life of a Boulder-ite. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2085061086710372944.post-56082241553729282572008-04-04T21:19:00.004-04:002008-11-12T21:55:04.937-05:00It's Good To Be Home!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQgdvO8eAnKIdccQNgQVXoYtxhS3CJ215nzDoS5Kez-vodGCbeyWXzq1aBeTlPXXcD_N-4dG2iz08Xr2kbmqexKVxFk0mL5sSvBYkBh7qN11VnOY8ebEhIE_4UUtXl6AVk3y27OcUCQ7g/s1600-h/DSCF5447.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQgdvO8eAnKIdccQNgQVXoYtxhS3CJ215nzDoS5Kez-vodGCbeyWXzq1aBeTlPXXcD_N-4dG2iz08Xr2kbmqexKVxFk0mL5sSvBYkBh7qN11VnOY8ebEhIE_4UUtXl6AVk3y27OcUCQ7g/s400/DSCF5447.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185565965563269810" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Party in my cube. Note the disco ball.</span></div><div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">It's been just about a week here back on the east coast, and it's nice to be home. I trust that the nice weather will be along shortly. I'm getting back into the swing of things at work, and have even had time to ride my bike most days this week too! Otherwise it's been a productive week - I'm officially suburban now, as I signed a lease today for a new apartment in the center of Andover. I forgot to take pictures of that, but I promise it's awesome. I <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">did</span>, however, stop by Jordan's Furniture on a whim after work, and... several hundred dollars later, I find that I'm already the proud (soon-to-be) owner of some <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/Spring2008/photo#5185564363540468370" target="blank">lovely furniture</a>! <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I'm looking forward to playing with my new bike team this weekend (don't worry, just a new road team! i'm still on team e-RICHIE), and spending some time in Northampton too.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I took <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/Spring2008/photo#5185564286231056994" target="blank">this picture</a> last weekend at home, which, for me or others familiar with Dalton, is hilarious. This house sits at the end of Dalton Division Road, which is the road that runs along the town line between Dalton and Pittsfield for two miles. All my life this house has been just plain white... I get home last weekend, and the house is half scraped-down, right down the middle of the town line. The house is now painted white on the Dalton half and black on the Pittsfield half of the property, as if the town line cut it right in half. ... ... Okay, so it was funny to me.</div></div>amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12349930261225332949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2085061086710372944.post-20292779430956330932008-04-01T22:01:00.008-04:002008-11-12T21:55:05.217-05:00Reality sets in...sort of...<div style="text-align: justify;">Amy and I may have parted ways, but don't worry folks, we still talk/text/email daily. She has made a smooth transition back to the life of an office lady and is happily accepting any and all assignments. The weather back east has even been kind to her, allowing for some outdoor sunny riding while I, on the other hand, was caught in a snowy blizzard after 30 minutes on my bike yesterday!! <br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As for me, my journey continues to morph and develop, as I meet new friends, potential future co-workers and adorable kids. Yesterday I had the pleasure of taking care of two of the most adorable and well adjusted 5 and 7 year old boys I've met in a long time. (Don't worry, Jack and Finn, you're still my absolute favorite 4 1/2 and 2 year olds!!) The boys didn't bat an eye when they awoke to find just me, a stranger to them, in place of a parent. They welcomed me right away with stories, treats and enticing offers to let them stay home from school to play the wii and read books. Cuteness abound. Below is a shot of my other source of income...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGScDR6MSepjxLhvUgaFmWFczFbp0rf7JAMCeeSiVvpjrmy6j-C5gPbsexWlriYTOa5RhZqrQOEBReaNgQvIP3LTfqxFhIhYhqAw9QSYgMv8pDHaukYxlLjfVQt4pFe2GUsqk8sxq0gw4/s1600-h/work.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGScDR6MSepjxLhvUgaFmWFczFbp0rf7JAMCeeSiVvpjrmy6j-C5gPbsexWlriYTOa5RhZqrQOEBReaNgQvIP3LTfqxFhIhYhqAw9QSYgMv8pDHaukYxlLjfVQt4pFe2GUsqk8sxq0gw4/s320/work.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184472030805401522" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-gmzDInUXB4mNiJtyKKOxwnU6sIvp-P61v79i6hSHt0T8vTnJdS3DSHSlZW4TDnVU9DZ9mOapoYJKSXBLJ8kKDbysXAgb-HVpUYUrzGsQkAonyaPJJL_SiQeJE_ohVXmJUSCBGWTA3IU/s1600-h/Ali.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-gmzDInUXB4mNiJtyKKOxwnU6sIvp-P61v79i6hSHt0T8vTnJdS3DSHSlZW4TDnVU9DZ9mOapoYJKSXBLJ8kKDbysXAgb-HVpUYUrzGsQkAonyaPJJL_SiQeJE_ohVXmJUSCBGWTA3IU/s320/Ali.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184473370835197890" /></a>My job as a 'personal assistant' to a local bike racer out here is also continuing smoothly. I've met some great people through him and the team. I use the term "job" lightly, as its more of a "hang out, have fun and support when necessary" role, than a mundane job. Tomorrow night I'll be attending a birthday bash BBQ for my current hostess and a bunch of cycling community members. I've got about a week "off'' now while the boss is racing Redlands. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Till next time...hope this quenches your blog thirst, richie :o)</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2085061086710372944.post-32950370101824008262008-03-29T00:58:00.004-04:002008-11-12T21:55:05.390-05:00Homeward Bound<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-cl4in7to0a0J-HrqrlojDwd2xTL6EmnyPTKSo_udUkR0Yv7NG0CP1zbgdUkrxCWXDN4qcseUZEde5p65ywWdgJK-znQRDA9NS11VPwA9og74mS5AKL6Ovu56VUmWdMsxKqMQ2ZUT-gc/s1600-h/homeward+bound.jpg"><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-cl4in7to0a0J-HrqrlojDwd2xTL6EmnyPTKSo_udUkR0Yv7NG0CP1zbgdUkrxCWXDN4qcseUZEde5p65ywWdgJK-znQRDA9NS11VPwA9og74mS5AKL6Ovu56VUmWdMsxKqMQ2ZUT-gc/s400/homeward+bound.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183023572557304386" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">Yeah, I'm even going to blog from the airport. The separation is going well so far, I guess... at least I'm taking it better than <a href="http://homestarrunner.com/sbemail35.html" target="blank">Strongbad</a> did. Mostly I just had to say that the <a href="http://www.grizzlyrose.com/" target="blank">Grizzly Rose</a> is possibly the coolest place ever, and i'm so sad that we only discovered it tonight on my last night in town. We stayed long enough to hear an awesome opening band, and Alie and I decided that we need to learn some country line dancing. We've already got <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/NEWNewCaliforniaAlbum02/photo#5176339146372002306" target="blank">the outfits</a>, so why not! Today was actually the second day in a row we decided we needed to learn a dance - yesterday's decision was <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=un3-Hb9wF9s&feature=email" target="blank">this</a> instead of country music. Can you picture it?<br /></div>amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12349930261225332949noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2085061086710372944.post-57390796095214650362008-03-28T15:22:00.003-04:002008-11-12T21:55:05.459-05:00Hip Detachment Day :-(<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRS00MmXWNaD8T0wcahVL5_cNKuQuKw2SP2jQbGAkaqwAUpdGN9F7uMFlmImAKhqc75O_LVcePcyYsUk6jj4Czjvae3cvcS_2GXT7E6UuXkZPzf5bckiEf1Q8aMu5uyvzeuAIGxATcQnI/s1600-h/DSCF5240.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRS00MmXWNaD8T0wcahVL5_cNKuQuKw2SP2jQbGAkaqwAUpdGN9F7uMFlmImAKhqc75O_LVcePcyYsUk6jj4Czjvae3cvcS_2GXT7E6UuXkZPzf5bckiEf1Q8aMu5uyvzeuAIGxATcQnI/s400/DSCF5240.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182881172916605490" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">The day has arrived... my winter vacation is officially over, and i'm back to work on Monday morning. Boulder has been lots of fun, and I can't wait to come back and visit!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I've finally retrieved my camera, so a few <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/Boulder" target="blank">new pictures</a> are up from last weekend. Last night Alie and I practiced for the real separation as Alie stayed in Boulder and I came to visit Laura in Denver. We are still recovering from last night's pub crawl on Colfax Ave, and we've had an extremely productive day of going to <a href="http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.wordpress.com/2008/02/03/48-whole-foods-and-grocery-co-ops/" target="blank">Whole Foods</a> and then sitting in Laura's hot tub. Tonight Alie will join us in Denver for my <a href="http://www.grizzlyrose.com/" target="blank">last supper</a> before heading to the airport at midnight!!</div>amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12349930261225332949noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2085061086710372944.post-69310250387994233472008-03-27T11:39:00.002-04:002008-03-27T11:45:03.509-04:00It's Snowing, Again<div style="text-align: justify;">Well, today is the second to last day for me in Boulder. Alie is settling in here and we've learned a few good ride routes already, but nowwwww it's currently snowing. And we still have no new pictures to post since my camera is still in Denver.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So. While it may seem that we've turned into mega-slackers and don't ride bikes anymore, it's not entirely true. On Tuesday we rode up to Jamestown and around some other hills, and yesterday Alie explored a few more of the local climbs. Maybe we're starting to feel the effects of altitude, or just the effects and staying out later, but we're tired! This snow isn't helping either, so today we're going to go on some kind of adventure instead of a bike ride.</div>amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12349930261225332949noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2085061086710372944.post-15993984328106614762008-03-25T11:25:00.002-04:002008-11-12T21:55:05.861-05:00Days Go By<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgakpXc9Sq_I10_INg1Taa5J3XBKHV65TFlwFgsUugtQ2I9b4vow_V_XJPEyBNbagwAsVG4nK3HHQDvwsYRj9TaEIln5fci6bviXbs5nI48l-v4gCTgkBCBwKmlYJfrHcbbQOaSridpDmQ/s1600-h/broken+derailleur.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgakpXc9Sq_I10_INg1Taa5J3XBKHV65TFlwFgsUugtQ2I9b4vow_V_XJPEyBNbagwAsVG4nK3HHQDvwsYRj9TaEIln5fci6bviXbs5nI48l-v4gCTgkBCBwKmlYJfrHcbbQOaSridpDmQ/s400/broken+derailleur.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181701276680917330" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">What's wrong with this picture? Yeah, more broken bike parts. It's a talent I guess.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Between a busy weekend, snowy weather, and now the equipment malfunction of yesterday, Alie and I haven't gotten in too many long miles since we've been here. But that is about to change today! The weather is looking great for my last few days in town, so we're going to make the most of them. It may even be warm enough to sport <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/Boulder/photo#5181706735584350578" target="blank">these guys</a> in town!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So while I spent a good part of the day yesterday working on my bike, Alie drove out of town to go check out new apartments. Sorry for the lack of pictures in this post, but my camera got left behind at a friend's house Sunday night and it still hasn't been rescued!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">That's all for now I guess. We miss you Oli!!!</div>amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12349930261225332949noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2085061086710372944.post-66848435589388199702008-03-23T00:28:00.009-04:002008-11-12T21:55:06.171-05:00Winter Escape Plan Stymied By Snow<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7VVPjBO3kcgHaEvvzAjPAU_XGhL__KBEfNVADDTsYMwCV5e52aagN0so1gH408djyAidWu3megKzSeZPYwDk3w5JOd-JKwHLNH13P-CixmW6iqw2rxgQeBrtobOJtZSweyrsgokPects/s1600-h/DSCF5317_2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7VVPjBO3kcgHaEvvzAjPAU_XGhL__KBEfNVADDTsYMwCV5e52aagN0so1gH408djyAidWu3megKzSeZPYwDk3w5JOd-JKwHLNH13P-CixmW6iqw2rxgQeBrtobOJtZSweyrsgokPects/s400/DSCF5317_2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180789944750248082" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">It's freaking <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/Boulder/photo#5180795120185839794" target="blank">snowing</a> out tonight. In the words of Michael Cody, "... ... aghhhhh..."<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Well anyway. While Alie spent a few hours today driving a support vehicle for some pro guy's training ride (hooray for a job!!), Oli and I spent more time shopping on Pearl Street. A few hats, dresses, shoes, soaps, <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/Boulder/photo#5180705471333470306" target="blank">toys</a>, and tea-straining travel mugs later... oh boy... well, Alie rescued our wallets from Pearl Street and we went home.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Our 5:00 bike ride was abruptly ended, yet again, by the very strong winds around here... but today it started snowing too! So instead we spent some time in the hot tub, and after dinner made some <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/Boulder/photo#5180795180315381970" target="blank">ice cream floats</a> in our Porter's Double Chocolate Stout beverages. ahhhh tasty.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">All in all, a good day again. We also thought we'd share some deep thoughts with you:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">Amy and Oli, recounting the story of accepting beverages from a stranger on Pearl Street today:</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">Alie</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">:</span></span></span> "So wait - you guys drank tea that some random guy came up and offered you on the street??"</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">Amy:</span></span></span> "Alie. For the same reason that you need to accept beer when it's offered to you in the feed zone of a bike race, you need to accept <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/Boulder/photo#5180705441268699218" target="blank">tea from a stranger</a> on the street when he's pouring it from a blue porcelain teapot."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">Oli, on being sad to have missed the trip to California this winter:</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">Oli:</span></span></span> "I mean, I love Paul and everything; he's the best thing that's ever happened to me. But you guys are the second best thing that's ever happened to me."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Stay in Boulder with us Oliiiiiii!!!!!!!!!</div>amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12349930261225332949noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2085061086710372944.post-16093605867118794812008-03-22T11:06:00.001-04:002008-11-12T21:55:06.310-05:00Biking in Boulder<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDRTp-puONwZwIXSJfwbOx8F7tzuXOzJ4vraXVzXOoy3aS_Q2r61uETbUOXNyhI9Yo0SkxFoX_v-BfPP9Tdn-M_aQxRSXHUbP8VH_j_BQIjeObe4s5GFsGoA3inQQzU8lH2qoy_fkHd9k/s1600-h/DSCF5280.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDRTp-puONwZwIXSJfwbOx8F7tzuXOzJ4vraXVzXOoy3aS_Q2r61uETbUOXNyhI9Yo0SkxFoX_v-BfPP9Tdn-M_aQxRSXHUbP8VH_j_BQIjeObe4s5GFsGoA3inQQzU8lH2qoy_fkHd9k/s400/DSCF5280.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180592487923781666" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">It's pretty windy here. We already told you about yesterday's ride, so I guess I don't need to repeat anything other than to direct you to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rdxcoI_qk8" target="blank">this video</a>. <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After the ride, Alie and I each invited old friends over for dinner - Alie's friend <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/Boulder/photo#5180436172589043474" target="blank">Katie</a> from Vermont, and my friend <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/Boulder/photo#5180437250625835010" target="blank">Laura</a> from Massachusetts both live in Denver, so they came to hang out! Laura and I began with a typical <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/Boulder/photo#5180436606380740482" target="blank">poptart exchange</a>, and Katie found great new uses for the easter <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/Boulder/photo#5180436206948781858" target="blank">egg wrappers</a> while we were dying eggs. OK, actually Alie and Oli did most of <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/Boulder/photo#5180436434582048610" target="blank">the egg dying</a> while Laura and I caught up. And Oli wrote a <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/Boulder/photo#5180436769589497762" target="blank">note for you</a>, Richie.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">That's about it. I still haven't finished my coffee this morning so I need to get on that. I also realized that I have one week until I go home, so I should start practicing waking up before 9 a.m. this week...</div>amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12349930261225332949noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2085061086710372944.post-20487456910560101032008-03-21T13:43:00.000-04:002008-11-12T21:55:06.474-05:00OMIE is back!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04JC-XphgLa2grPSvp9XUXXu3sTGmgHXxm-Mfm42x7AnSPJxUuq0SORA6XXvN_kQ5aPdL0sI7XKOhrJTMUN6B5C2lMhm258-MBqcb2cWbOZ9-R6r9LnhvVLFeFW-6p9wTp9f33yb1-4Y/s1600-h/DSCF5223.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04JC-XphgLa2grPSvp9XUXXu3sTGmgHXxm-Mfm42x7AnSPJxUuq0SORA6XXvN_kQ5aPdL0sI7XKOhrJTMUN6B5C2lMhm258-MBqcb2cWbOZ9-R6r9LnhvVLFeFW-6p9wTp9f33yb1-4Y/s400/DSCF5223.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180254083155562194" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">Early yesterday morning, Alie and I were happy to pick up the final piece of our trio from the Denver airport - Oli is here!!! We found a bike for Oli, went for <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/Boulder/photo#5180227389933817298" target="blank">a ride</a>, and of course did some shopping on Pearl Street after a lunch (<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/Boulder/photo#5180228309056818786" target="blank">and dessert</a>) of crepes at Crepes a la Carte in town. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After a much needed nap, we ran into Rebecca Menke on our way to dinner at Mountain Sun... coincidentally, she was headed for the same place so the reunion continued at <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/Boulder/photo#5180227493013032418" target="blank">dinner</a> time! After the usual <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/Boulder/photo#5180227604682182130" target="blank">group text</a> and catching up, team Omie headed to The Foundry to play pool again with <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/Boulder/photo#5180228407841066610" target="blank">Mike Cody</a>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Today we went out for a ride after settling in at our new temporary home on Grape Avenue, and it was probably the windiest ride we've ever been on. Accuweather reports that winds today are blowing at 21 mph with gusts up to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">51 mph</span></span>... Apparently on windy days in town people head up to the mountains to ride for a little shelter from winds. So, at the top of <a href="http://www.ucar.edu/eac/bike/steep.html" target="blank">Sunshine Canyon</a>, we reviewed safe descending techniques for high cross winds! Safely back at home, we're excited for a dinner at home tonight and some Easter egg decorating :)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And for anyone else in Boulder, you will soon see us sporting these <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9866331@N08/2350564240/?addedcomment=1#comment72157604192245851" target="blank">sweet new threads</a> in town...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Miles Ridden 2008: 1,530... this is now getting pretty approximate!</div>amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12349930261225332949noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2085061086710372944.post-41884673856793457192008-03-19T19:57:00.000-04:002008-03-19T22:31:38.973-04:00Home Sweet New Home<div style="text-align: justify;">Well, here we are in Boulder, Alie's new home. The drive yesterday was AWESOME!!! We woke up early on Tuesday at our hotel in Hurricane, Utah and headed for the nearby <a href="http://www.nps.gov/zion/" target="blank">Zion National Park</a>. We have so many fantastic pictures of rocks. Lots of rocks! and tunnels through rocks, trees on rocks, us standing on rocks, and water flowing over rocks. Check 'em out <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/CrossCountryAdventure" target="blank">here</a>. We could've spent days exploring the park, but sadly only spent an hour or so as we had a long day ahead on the road...<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">Our long day on the road flew by with gorgeous views, good company, and road atlas trivia. You may now quiz us on any official state nicknames, state capitals, and the rank of the top ten largest states.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />We were welcomed last night by our gracious host and fellow former New Englander, Keith Jennings. After immediately passing out for a good night's sleep, we woke up to a day of beautiful Colorado sunshine. We went for an exploratory bike ride around town, met up with Mike Cody for part of our ride, and cooked dinner at Mike's place afterwards.<br /><br />That's about it! So far Boulder is GREAT. We like it a lot. Tomorrow we welcome OLIIIIII and we can't wait for a fun weekend reunion :)<br /><br />Miles Ridden Today: 31<br />Miles Ridden 2008: 1,471<br /></div></div>amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12349930261225332949noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2085061086710372944.post-49417874153931333822008-03-19T00:37:00.000-04:002008-11-12T21:55:06.729-05:00BOULDER...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSMNghU7KwIvwZmtbRvGwpSywXovkqs_QCLrD4eNuEo4wqXc6pGbP8Dhdx0pokmeapLw2-9Fi0bZgcgOiXoVRT1VebsvvqCEDvQiaSDQbx9ft9aPwsGKvk1sYzBCRMLbXNpklR1s_vfX0/s1600-h/DSCF5046.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSMNghU7KwIvwZmtbRvGwpSywXovkqs_QCLrD4eNuEo4wqXc6pGbP8Dhdx0pokmeapLw2-9Fi0bZgcgOiXoVRT1VebsvvqCEDvQiaSDQbx9ft9aPwsGKvk1sYzBCRMLbXNpklR1s_vfX0/s400/DSCF5046.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179487340220102722" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">...is colder than California. for sure. but we're SO PSYCHED to be here! Just wanted to let everyone know that we arrived safely and we'll post a more detailed account of our travels at some point tomorrow...<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">For now, you can keep yourself entertained with our <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/CrossCountryAdventure" target="blank">photo documentation</a> of the journey.</div>amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12349930261225332949noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2085061086710372944.post-80728911858859566602008-03-18T01:24:00.000-04:002008-11-12T21:55:06.912-05:00Happy St. Patricks Day from Hurricane, Utah<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCkvv2dUHllfqGZ-AjGud09XUIcfOY7aoV0yZ4mcyONWSxoMHUAMs3wv-NcwEvyLK9sgT7XLO2OwvC7Jt9YcS49w62Q7gpguGHQkj4qb4L7_bnPGSEp_wCLPWwx4EEEixKna_ayK-Bro/s1600-h/DSCF4940.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCkvv2dUHllfqGZ-AjGud09XUIcfOY7aoV0yZ4mcyONWSxoMHUAMs3wv-NcwEvyLK9sgT7XLO2OwvC7Jt9YcS49w62Q7gpguGHQkj4qb4L7_bnPGSEp_wCLPWwx4EEEixKna_ayK-Bro/s400/DSCF4940.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178953703418476594" /></a><br /><div><div style="text-align: justify;">Well, today turned out to be quite different than originally planned. We decided to hit the road after breakfast rather than staying in LA for another day. Though we were sad to say good bye to Amy's <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/LosAngeles/photo#5178941887963445138" target="blank">fashionable family</a> and also miss out on The Price Is Right, we were very relieved to hit the road and say good riddance to LA! After a few hours of mountain passes, scorching desert highway, and one rest stop where Amy was bestowed with the alleged good fortune of <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/CrossCountryAdventure/photo#5178942729777035186" target="blank">being pooped on</a> by a bird, we arrived in Las Vegas. Excited at the prospect of stretching our legs and riding the Red Rocks Canyon Scenic road, we parked and kitted up. Thirty minutes of hellish traffic and riding with no shoulder turned us right back to the car and wanting nothing more than to get back on the highway and as far away from yet another "Las" sucky city again. Sad that we didn't even get to drive down The Strip or get near a casino, we stopped at the last chance gambling town in Mesquite, Nevada for <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/CrossCountryAdventure/photo#5178944542253234178" target="blank">dinner and drinks</a>. Amy needed to test out her good luck after being pooped on, so we went to the tables for a game of craps! I guess the luck helped a little today, as she started with $20 and walked away with $23. woohoo!!<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">You may not get an update from us tomorrow since we'll spend most of the day in the car bound for Boulder, but we promise to have some better pictures after this leg of the journey, so it'll be worth the wait!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div>Miles Ridden Today: 12</div><div>Miles Ridden 2008: 1,440</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2085061086710372944.post-90857914803678886902008-03-17T00:18:00.001-04:002008-11-12T21:55:07.045-05:00One More Day...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYtGkodPEFTW0MR07iDXuJqgsV4Op1t8eGLijj1G8VRZh_dm7-wWjnatI7emYxyK7s8qr6J9E2IBhsKsdBLDdclktpTQnER2Ym6Z-q_L4L3xUyKYCDdomar4wjcbjiQ5f7lxiiK3tKM1E/s1600-h/DSCF4914.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYtGkodPEFTW0MR07iDXuJqgsV4Op1t8eGLijj1G8VRZh_dm7-wWjnatI7emYxyK7s8qr6J9E2IBhsKsdBLDdclktpTQnER2Ym6Z-q_L4L3xUyKYCDdomar4wjcbjiQ5f7lxiiK3tKM1E/s400/DSCF4914.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178561156292523890" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">One more day until we head out of California! It's been a lot of fun spending some time with my family, but we're both looking forward to the trip out to Boulder which begins Monday night!<br /></div><div> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Today we went out with my sister Kaity, doing lots of sightseeing and shopping in LA and Santa Monica. We rode the ferris wheel on the Santa Monica Pier, had some lunch, and walked around <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">a lot</span>. It was a long day, but I guess that's about all we have to report. We also caught a very <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/LosAngeles/photo#5178555087503734610" target="blank">nice sunset</a> from the pier as we headed back to our car. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Tomorrow we plan on actually riding our bikes, watching a filming of The Price Is Right (<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">yes!!!</span>), and hitting the road bound for Las Vegas :-D</div>amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12349930261225332949noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2085061086710372944.post-17845227239284564932008-03-15T13:11:00.000-04:002008-11-12T21:55:07.234-05:00Made it to LA<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTIPsm_tpHBbEg5kwVfnkb-Jz6gjsN830pz1_iJND9imuGOp93Yl4Q0s7ZZBA2zfT2jpFU0LMyiQZMtjyi7Fv6grokzE2UGGHF0ZevliAW17JFH6WgP6-PYDYP10HSHeJpnCck0hS8rx8/s1600-h/DSCF4786.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTIPsm_tpHBbEg5kwVfnkb-Jz6gjsN830pz1_iJND9imuGOp93Yl4Q0s7ZZBA2zfT2jpFU0LMyiQZMtjyi7Fv6grokzE2UGGHF0ZevliAW17JFH6WgP6-PYDYP10HSHeJpnCck0hS8rx8/s400/DSCF4786.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178111765274408322" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOiqCkrFibPZJ1YDOFgkqJMe4Y6ER7MHCE9I-E4nn5k7U7ZvFzEf4WrDgGUioVMkH15qZHzEDlAeRCGjENF06LfrbQrojBv3mkfccczJbA3uEbV3FnwxNGmSCwNwkdTsMjmeyIE-cHmnU/s1600-h/DSCF4797.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOiqCkrFibPZJ1YDOFgkqJMe4Y6ER7MHCE9I-E4nn5k7U7ZvFzEf4WrDgGUioVMkH15qZHzEDlAeRCGjENF06LfrbQrojBv3mkfccczJbA3uEbV3FnwxNGmSCwNwkdTsMjmeyIE-cHmnU/s400/DSCF4797.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178111421677024626" /></a><br /><div align="justify">A quick update from the Wallace household in Long Beach, California! We did a beautiful ride up some huge mountain in <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/LosAngeles/photo#5178108741617431762" target="blank">Malibu</a> yesterday which was actually pretty nice, even though I still claim to hate climbing. The view from 2,800 or so feet was worth it though! In fact, we were so high up, at one point Alie said, "car back" and we realized a few seconds later that she meant "plane up!" </div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">We finished our ride with perfect timing to drive into LA at rush hour, and met up with my family for dinner last night. Yesterday <em>also</em> happened to be <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pi_day" target="blank">pi day</a>, which I hope everyone remembered to celebrate! We even heard a special pi day broadcast on NPR last night! This morning, Alie and I spent some quality time doing arts and crafts with my cousin <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/CapeCodMemorialDayGrammyS80thBDay/photo#5104302920235139250" target="blank">Rose</a>, and have decided to take the day off the bikes today! LA is not well suited to cyclists, fyi. ugh.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Miles Ridden Yesterday: 23</div><div align="justify">Miles Ridden 2008: 1,428</div>amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12349930261225332949noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2085061086710372944.post-70469663263952723432008-03-13T23:44:00.000-04:002008-11-12T21:55:07.257-05:00"Whelmed. It's Official."<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1m1Lcqtzw0AeftcQFSB5LfcHXjy_0m2RqasgHyRE4vDe9_wtnWhEzZbXQ7Vpu2GxexwuUNnjyDhyphenhyphenBKr1IkR9ekEND_5fynIak3suCux-nYqMdhvabZGz0cudQ0hhpfZJogFaotQMuvFI/s1600-h/DSCF4752.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1m1Lcqtzw0AeftcQFSB5LfcHXjy_0m2RqasgHyRE4vDe9_wtnWhEzZbXQ7Vpu2GxexwuUNnjyDhyphenhyphenBKr1IkR9ekEND_5fynIak3suCux-nYqMdhvabZGz0cudQ0hhpfZJogFaotQMuvFI/s400/DSCF4752.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177441789030937602" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">We find ourselves facing the common problem tonight of trying to pack our bags with a LOT more stuff than we arrived with just a few weeks ago! Luckily we now have a car that we can pack to the gills too.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We did an easy last-day-in-town ride today to Santa Margarita Lake, and stuck our <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/NEWNewCaliforniaAlbum02/photo#5177441776146035698" target="blank">legs</a> in for a refreshing break when we got there. After the ride we headed to town for our last night at the SLO Farmer's Market. After all this time, we finally ate the <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/NEWNewCaliforniaAlbum02/photo#5177442063908844610" target="blank">Tri-Tip steak</a> (SO GOOD!), and figured out the perfect way to <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/NEWNewCaliforniaAlbum02/photo#5177442003779302450" target="blank">wash down dinner</a> at a dry street fest. Last of all, we paid a final visit to <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/NEWNewCaliforniaAlbum02/photo#5177442141218255954" target="blank">Bali's frozen yogurt</a> and headed back home to pack.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Tomorrow, Los Angeles!!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div>Miles Ridden Today: 21</div><div>Miles Ridden 2008: 1,405</div>amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12349930261225332949noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2085061086710372944.post-45367097917105122132008-03-13T15:34:00.000-04:002008-11-12T21:55:07.494-05:00Another March Birthday!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVkgpxzxChTC5yI-Hgx7JCLtG5KZmUwVi3j3uJTPiSMpNnJcRgBMUubeTEDMOnBesljYi5wkZ1wdgeJbecqerxHml17CwfRg7VzB0mbpQFLHeqxciEUTrJcLOjYufOuhYNVN6x1zT_vqM/s1600-h/n6914767_31167160_7852.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVkgpxzxChTC5yI-Hgx7JCLtG5KZmUwVi3j3uJTPiSMpNnJcRgBMUubeTEDMOnBesljYi5wkZ1wdgeJbecqerxHml17CwfRg7VzB0mbpQFLHeqxciEUTrJcLOjYufOuhYNVN6x1zT_vqM/s320/n6914767_31167160_7852.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177312379860244546" /></a>Happy 21st Birthday to our new teammate on the RS squad, Williieeeee Dugan!!!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2085061086710372944.post-18451483902482915592008-03-12T23:05:00.000-04:002008-11-12T21:55:07.646-05:00I WANT MY MILKSHAKE!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsHe9I_2D3yl5ipbHStugtBXS4ZKeZwjr31TIK4R4iYzYzBcXayIvccp_wt71EiPf4FXHhXa4uC5unSfKdHC52t8RO8km583gi9gp0Ag7X4-f4WjPaIzAcS9Cc70mc5l4SisGutN4pSRQ/s1600-h/DSCF4739.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsHe9I_2D3yl5ipbHStugtBXS4ZKeZwjr31TIK4R4iYzYzBcXayIvccp_wt71EiPf4FXHhXa4uC5unSfKdHC52t8RO8km583gi9gp0Ag7X4-f4WjPaIzAcS9Cc70mc5l4SisGutN4pSRQ/s400/DSCF4739.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177057410932782034" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">Today we got out of the house early despite the <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/NEWNewCaliforniaAlbum02/photo#5177050770913342018" target="blank">overcast skies</a> to begin our first century ride of the winter, and my first <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">ever</span> century! After only ten minutes, we noticed that a huge pack of cyclists was approaching behind us. We held up a little bit to see what they were all about, and the pack was led by none other than <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/Feb162008/photo#5168027365894805890" target="blank">Rebecca Much</a>! She came along with a pack of 30 men in tow from the <a href="http://www.xxxracing.org/" target="blank">Triple X Racing</a> team on a training vacation from Chicago. After parting ways in Creston and feeling like our ride was now just beginning, we cruised the next few hours and quickly found that our ride was half over already! We spent some of that time debating whether the forecast of a 14-mph Northwest wind meant the wind blows <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">toward</span> or <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">from</span> the northwest... we found out as we headed southeast on Route 1 with a <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/NEWNewCaliforniaAlbum02/photo#5177051127395627666" target="blank">killer tailwind</a>!! A lunch stop at mile 62 brought us to <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/NEWNewCaliforniaAlbum02/photo#5177051234769810098" target="blank">tasty sandwiches</a> and an ocean view at the Little Market in Cayucos.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Back on the road at 2:45, we headed in a roundabout way towards San Luis Obispo to pick up Alie's car from the garage. We were happy as could be, enjoying the sun, feeling great at mile 91 when suddenly <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">POW</span> this piece of metal jumped up and bit a <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/NEWNewCaliforniaAlbum02/photo#5177051355028894418" target="blank">huge hole</a> in Alie's rear tire!! I mean huge! a gash that I could've stuck my whole head in. or Alie's fist? Okay, at least a thumb's diameter hole. big. In a slight hurry to get to the garage before 5:30, the industrious A-Team engineered a <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/NEWNewCaliforniaAlbum02/photo#5177051423748371170" target="blank">dollar bill and electrical tape</a> solution to this minor problem. With some trepidation, Alie mounted her trusty steed with 60 psi in the rear tire... twelve miles and thirty minutes later, we rolled into the parking lot at Landis Automotive to pick up Alie's car. <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/NEWNewCaliforniaAlbum02/photo#5177051586957128450" target="blank">The tire made it</a>!! <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/NEWNewCaliforniaAlbum02/photo#5177051659971572498" target="blank">barely</a> though. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After 6 hours and 15 minutes of riding, all we wanted were our freaking milkshakes. So we promptly showered and made a beeline for our first official meal at In-N-Out Burger!! They made us wait for our food a <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/NEWNewCaliforniaAlbum02/photo#5177052256972026754" target="blank">long time</a> because it was so busy, but we got our milkshakes. First, <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/NEWNewCaliforniaAlbum02/photo#5177052385821045666" target="blank">I drank Alie's milkshake</a>. Alie was <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/NEWNewCaliforniaAlbum02/photo#5177052141007909730" target="blank">upset about that</a>, and then <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/NEWNewCaliforniaAlbum02/photo#5177052467425424306" target="blank">I drank my milkshake too</a>. And I'd do it again!! You know why? <a href="http://idrinkyourmilkshake.com/" target="blank">Because</a>!</div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div>Miles Ridden Today: 103!!!!</div><div>Miles Ridden 2008: 1,383.5</div></div>amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12349930261225332949noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2085061086710372944.post-75899932385420969032008-03-11T23:34:00.000-04:002008-11-12T21:55:07.844-05:00Winding Down...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3EoDR4vsB0beuHBDJE0FI4wHyMyWD9Q6G2t0M6vJiepXdhx-_N622KI2wuImW3T46xN5dW6hkRRkp_3qOIS92K13-KfxaiqVk_-po51yBUdtR8C_UeliDWRY-qh1JnGIGYZ6cBgT_2a0/s1600-h/DSCF4686.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3EoDR4vsB0beuHBDJE0FI4wHyMyWD9Q6G2t0M6vJiepXdhx-_N622KI2wuImW3T46xN5dW6hkRRkp_3qOIS92K13-KfxaiqVk_-po51yBUdtR8C_UeliDWRY-qh1JnGIGYZ6cBgT_2a0/s400/DSCF4686.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176693670152483378" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">The number of days ahead of us here in San Luis Obispo County are winding down, and we're hacking away at that to-do list. I didn't realize it this was a goal on the to-do list, and I guess Alie didn't either, but we found ourselves racing for the train crossing today when we heard the whistles blow and the bells dinging for the first time ever on a road we ride every day. So, we were excited to have to stop at the train crossing in town for the first (and last??) time. <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We finally took a picture of <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/NEWNewCaliforniaAlbum02/photo#5176691922100793890" target="blank">The Grade</a> for you all - the section of Route 101 between home and San Luis Obispo. That yellow sign you see is a bicycle over the words "Watch For Surface Cracks"... don't worry, we have <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">not</span> ridden our bikes on this road!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We plan to embrace tomorrow's 70 degree weather (again? yup. really, it doesn't get old!) with our very first 100-mile ride of the whole winter! Check back for a post from two exhausted girls tomorrow after we hit up the In-N-Out Burger post-ride.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Miles Ridden Today: 27.5</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Miles Ridden 2008: 1,280.5</div>amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12349930261225332949noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2085061086710372944.post-57969210509105148872008-03-11T16:11:00.000-04:002008-11-12T21:55:08.217-05:00BREAKING NEWS!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiylb7DuGLRqVwJyBGu6ivx58QML3RVG9JncHsjj7tDkYRj4Hbfdihzm4O5hFclSM8_F2_qyeh-8hWhGHQY0PI8Ua_hA6aYw3dkKAY6s88bpVhCEA1MoVhnSP_yZZlgc_2ONUp7QMPE53c/s1600-h/there+is+three+of+us.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiylb7DuGLRqVwJyBGu6ivx58QML3RVG9JncHsjj7tDkYRj4Hbfdihzm4O5hFclSM8_F2_qyeh-8hWhGHQY0PI8Ua_hA6aYw3dkKAY6s88bpVhCEA1MoVhnSP_yZZlgc_2ONUp7QMPE53c/s320/there+is+three+of+us.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176581999196723250" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">Even more exciting than the Fed <a href="http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080311/wall_street.html" target="blank">making money</a> for our stale 401k's today, and ALMOST canceling out the bad news of a $660 car tune-up, we just got the news that <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/OliAndPaulSWedding/photo#5152760113821884802" target="blank">OLI</a> IS COMING TO VISIT US IN BOULDER next weekend! Look out Colorado, Team OMIE is arriving in T minus 9 Days. <br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2085061086710372944.post-16005743704437330102008-03-11T00:07:00.000-04:002008-11-12T21:55:08.332-05:00~*~AMY'S BIRTHDAY~*~<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3aIYdXA6ifVfwPwoAcSW1FE9CJGYAE-E9sSCSyT5zQeLRAyrvNe16dYu-ER-seoV4S75rRUkOBK1HqEjMsXr57L52ifCwwr-eaeUctCnGxknZPdo-gz88IF4CiSDDxib4yVY5fiAMkjk/s1600-h/DSCF4621.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3aIYdXA6ifVfwPwoAcSW1FE9CJGYAE-E9sSCSyT5zQeLRAyrvNe16dYu-ER-seoV4S75rRUkOBK1HqEjMsXr57L52ifCwwr-eaeUctCnGxknZPdo-gz88IF4CiSDDxib4yVY5fiAMkjk/s320/DSCF4621.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176339183220643874" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">(Look carefully at the bike...What do you see??)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Today was Amy's 26th birthday and we celebrated accordingly. I was able to quietly decorate the house and bake a cake while Amy got a little extra beauty sleep this morning. Breakfast consisted of a hearty batch of <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/NEWNewCaliforniaAlbum02/photo#5176312362955943970" target="blank">french toast</a> and chocolate frosted FUNFETTI cake. Though I didn't actually remember to get real balloons, <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/NEWNewCaliforniaAlbum02/photo#5176314471784886770" target="blank">these</a> seemed to do the trick. After sufficiently filling our stomachs with sugary goodness, we headed out on our bikes for a spin to the Pozo Saloon and back. We achieved our first 2,000 km for the winter! When we got back, Amy had some birthday cards and a <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/NEWNewCaliforniaAlbum02/photo#5176312813927510162" target="blank">fun new purse</a> waiting for her, not to mention one ZILLLLLION birthday emails. We ate some more <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/NEWNewCaliforniaAlbum02/photo#5176313750230380898" target="blank">cake</a> and then headed off to Paso Robles in search of some cowboys, a <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/NEWNewCaliforniaAlbum02/photo#5176313587021623618" target="blank">mechanical bull</a> and <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/NEWNewCaliforniaAlbum02/photo#5176313501122277682" target="blank">BBQ</a> meat. We actually succeeded in finding all three; although our pre-dinner search for the <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/NEWNewCaliforniaAlbum02/photo#5176314076647895458" target="blank">right attire</a> just may have been the best part. After a bit of practice, Amy and I totally nailed the "<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/NEWNewCaliforniaAlbum02/photo#5176314257036521922" target="blank">podunk</a>" look. We were proud, to say the least. Ultimately, we did end up leaving the "Boot Barn" with some <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/NEWNewCaliforniaAlbum02/photo#5176339146372002306" target="blank">loot</a> that we will actually wear. Dinner was good, the mechanical bull was ridden, NOT by us (by a 6 year old who completely rocked it and got lots of hoots from fellow diners), and the $1.99 margaritas went down like water. Sunniest birthday for Amy, ever? Check.<br /></div><div><br />Miles Ridden Today: 38<br />Miles Ridden in 2008: 1,253</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2085061086710372944.post-88558221806300228772008-03-09T21:14:00.000-04:002008-11-12T21:55:08.762-05:00Daylight Dinner and BBQ Sauce<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Happy daylight savings day!!!</span> This may easily be one of my favorite days of the year, although this year it came without the usual relief of leaving the office pre-sunset for the first time in months. Today we each went for solo rides, as Alie opted for a workout of threshold testing, and I cruised around on a photo adventure ride. I liked these mailboxes:</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimroY-poeA25UK8r2nwcfEoizRVjuJh92Wim0AsCDd93wnA_MJ4fEOzd6gvGukM22DPxWJ60vI2wI6NA2fkWTajeL1D4n-9ArBnpQo8azDLv9vGnFV5hSTQbEXBceQdNH-6EInjFYUEjA/s1600-h/DSCF4571_2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimroY-poeA25UK8r2nwcfEoizRVjuJh92Wim0AsCDd93wnA_MJ4fEOzd6gvGukM22DPxWJ60vI2wI6NA2fkWTajeL1D4n-9ArBnpQo8azDLv9vGnFV5hSTQbEXBceQdNH-6EInjFYUEjA/s320/DSCF4571_2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175916354086350866" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">I also liked <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/theamywallace/NEWNewCaliforniaAlbum02/photo#5175914567379955618" target="blank">these horses</a>, which is saying a lot because I really dislike horses for the most part. After reconvening at the homestead, we were both hungry and rejoiced in the daylightiest dinner we've had all winter! We are very excited to announce to any of our fellow BBQ sauce afficionados that we have a NEW FAVORITE BBQ sauce!! Move over Sweet Baby Rays, meet the local cowboy, McLintock's BBQ Sauce. Yeah, we found the stuff from the SLO Farmer's Market at the grocery store, and we plan on buying a few cases before we come home.<br /></div><div> </div><div> </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHgMGVFTjiQF0fYDjbcBnmY15Ndb1gow-l79cwWfERgVrI9wBALZ3XPiswFsCMLvpFeiYIRy74Yk3Bj8NXzdWVCFz8UtJ71DCu8-IbzVZShqmiY_wIxdChyphenhyphenaHS9tRHS7vsTDJAMrGVVCo/s1600-h/DSCF4607.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHgMGVFTjiQF0fYDjbcBnmY15Ndb1gow-l79cwWfERgVrI9wBALZ3XPiswFsCMLvpFeiYIRy74Yk3Bj8NXzdWVCFz8UtJ71DCu8-IbzVZShqmiY_wIxdChyphenhyphenaHS9tRHS7vsTDJAMrGVVCo/s320/DSCF4607.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175915924589621250" /></a>And, props to Trader Joe's for carrying Kennebunkport Blueberry Ale!! yum.<div><br /><div>Miles Ridden Today: 35<div>Miles Ridden 2008: 1,215</div></div></div>amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12349930261225332949noreply@blogger.com3