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So Scott and I decided to drive and then ride the bike leg of the triathlon this weekend. I don't know now if this was a great idea or a huge mistake. Driving it was okay, once were able to interpret the dumb inaccurate course map. It seemed fine except for an exceptionally steep downhill that flies into a hairpin curve. So we decided to park and ride it.

Let me first state that I did not have my own bike with me, my own brand new bike with the gears that work and the brand new fresh brakes. I was using Scott's autobike, this thing that shifts by itself and also, come to find out later, doesn't have the best brakes. And only one brake touching the back wheel. Also, loose handlebars. Otherwise it fit me fine (well, after we lowered the seat about a foot, haha) and I think it's probably a really great cruising around bike.

So we got ourselves set to go, and were on a very light downslope and started off. My gears were way too low though, so while Scott took off like a shot, I practically stayed still while pedaling my ass off until the bike finally figured out it should shift. So I started off way behind. Not that big of a deal, I just wouldn't want to use the bike in a race.

But then we came to the steeper downhills.

OMG.

I felt like I was back on the zip lines. Just straight FLYING downhill UNCONTROLLABLY with oh guess what: NO WAY TO STOP.

I was FLYING so fast and had the brakes clenched as hard as I could but the bike kept going. I had NO CONTROL. I was terrified. It really was like the zip lines all over again.

I stopped and told Scott, and he noticed the back brake which wasn't touching. He held the brakes and tried to push the bike and of course it wouldn't go, but that is NOT THE SAME THING as having all my weight on the bike pointed downhill with half it's brakes. TRUST ME, I had those brakes tight and I was still flying. I also showed him how I was clenching the handle bars so tightly that they had come loose and turned downward. Great angle for my wrists. Not. haha.

So we set off again and came to a steeper hill. Scott shot down it without a problem and kept going, I flew like a rocket downhill and decided I had HAD ENOUGH.

I caught up to him, called his name, and we stopped. I told him there was going to be NO MORE riding. With the zip lines I had no choice but to continue on to the end, but in this case, I had total control. We were done.

I'm going to take my own bike next time and we'll try it again. I mean, I HAVE to get through this. We didn't even go down that hairpin turn, and it's thoroughly shot all my confidence. Also, a lot of the course was at a slight uphill, and I was really panting. Now, my adrenalin really shot up with the downhill, so that was causing my heart rate to go way up anyway, but I really need to practice this course.

In the meantime, I'm thoroughly scared now. I had thought I was totally ready for this. But I was already uncertain about riding with a pack of cyclers, I've never done a ride with anyone before. So now I have the image of going down that hairpin turn with twenty other cyclers around me.

BOO. It's really shaken me. I need to get over it. My professor said she would help me but I'm afraid to show her what a baby I am. But I'm going to have to because I will be too damn pissed if I come in last just because of the stupid BIKE leg.

Guess what, y'all!

I'm on vacation! Just a little one, I go back to work on Wednesday. But I have four days off! And not one second of trouble planned! Four whole free days without trouble planned?? (oh wait maybe a slight bit on Monday but that's not for public knowledge) (never mind). So the plans are:

Saturday: Gym. Pool float time. No Doubt/Paramore concert
Sunday: Gym. Pool float time. (oh wait, no, Buffy wants to go to beach, so that's possible)
Monday: Gym. Pool float time.
Tuesday: Beach day with friends! A Cinequest friend of mine just moved here from Tennessee, and left his girlfriend behind (they only met right before he left, and they're all in love and it's all TRAGIC now). But she is here visiting now! First time in California! And they want to go to the beach, so I told them I would take them. So Tuesday, the beach. We're going to were the triathlon swim leg is, and she's a swimmer, so I'm hoping she'll swim it with me. That way I can completely freak myself about about the swimming part too.

Oh, did I not tell you about the bike course? Okay, I'll do that next. But for now... Vacation time!

No Doubt and Paramore

Buffy and her friend and I are going to the No Doubt concert at the Shoreline Amphitheatre tomorrow night. Buffy's friend bought her a ticket, so all I had to do was get my own lawn ticket and then drive them there. I have known about this for a very long time.

So you know I never did buy my ticket, right?

So today I remembered I had better get it before I forgot, but I wasn't really worried about it because I just wanted a lawn ticket and since when has the Shoreline ever sold out of lawn tickets? I mean... CAN they sell out of lawn tickets?

Why YES. Yes they CAN sell out of tickets at Shoreline. And they DID. The concert is SOLD OUT.

GODDAMMIT.

Did a google search for tickets, found some on Clickitticket.com for a total of $108 after fees. For a fucking $25 lawn ticket. I can't believe I waited SO LONG!!!!!! Why don't you all keep track of the things I need to get done and then make sure I do them, HUH? What kind of friends ARE you??

I need a personal assistant who will work for free, seriously.

The Triathlon is exactly 11 weeks out. And I'm prepared.

A decade ago I mentioned that how interesting your life is, is directly correlated to how much time you have to spend writing about it. And so as you can see, I'm just busy. Mostly being obsessed with training.

Also with watching Big Brother. As usual, we have Showtime on every night now from 9pm to midnight. And you know what? I don't know how these people function out in normal society. I think the hamsters this year are likeable for the most part - I mean I wouldn't want to be stuck in a house with any of them for three months but I wouldn't want to be stuck with any of you either - but seriously, no one is really despicable.

But they ARE stupid. Or Stupid, with a capital S. I SERIOUSLY don't know how they function out in real life. I haven't really seen how they are portrayed on the CBS show yet, I just see the real uncensored hamsters on Showtime and I just don't know what to say. Can you imagine if we have a final two of Laura and Jordan? My head would explode trying to make sense of their conversations. Not to mention all the INAPPROPRIATE sex talk. OMG. Your daddy must be SO PROUD of your ass licking stories. And your co-workers. Nice. I've never discussed this stuff with my own friends, never mind ON TELEVISION.

Tomorrow: Off to the SJ Rep for a Second City show.
Thursday: Unofficial Cinequest Happy Hour with film friends.
Friday: Off to Aptos
And every day: Triathlon training. It's highly addictive.

One more link, if you have access to KQED public television, This Dust of Words is playing Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. I saw this film at Cinequest 2008 and reviewed it here. I really really recommend it, so if you get this channel, please set your DVRs to tape it. I think you will really like it.

a 50 mile challenge to myself

Everything has been going well, we've just been SUPER busy this summer. Buff & I went to a musical last night, I was in Aptos all weekend, and between writing, taking Buffy rollerskating, hanging out with Cinequest people (I will work for you someday oh yes I will), going to movies, watching them on DVD and my computer and training for the triathlon, well, I guess that's all I have to say. Something is going to have to give when school starts, but I have another six weeks before that.

So the training is going GREAT, almost 20 pounds lost even after a three week gym break. I found out last weekend that THIS weekend is the LiveStrong bike race in downtown San Jose. I considered entering it, but that's a really short time to prepare even mentally for a race, and I would have had to rais $250 in a week on top of that.

Now I have no doubt that you would help me do that, RIGHT? So we'll do it next year. If I raise $3000 by this time next year I get a special award and dinner - so you all understand that's what my goal will be, right? Okay. Just so we're clear. Anyway, since I'm not going to actually compete, I decided this weekend would be a good day to do something crazy anyway. Next year I plan to do the 50miler at the LiveStrong, this weekend I'm going to attempt a 50miler on the stationary bike at the gym. This will require some planning on my part since there is a 30 minute limit on machines and 50miles should take 3+ hours. But I'm going to get it done somehow. Anyone else in with me? Anyone think you could try 50 miles on Sunday morning? CycloChip? How about it?

And since I'm behind on all my other writing, this is all you're going to get today. If you're in San Jose though, you really should come to the final Cinequest Happy Hour this Friday. I'll see you there!

Pretty on the Outside is one of my favorite websites, especially when Gilmore draws pictures of the Real Housewives of Whatever-City-This-Week. This week he shared a little animated behind the scenes video of the RH of New Jersey (My FAVORITE series, EVAH). It won't make any sense if you haven't watched the show, but if you have, you're going to laugh your ASS off.

Deirdre is a woman I met at a Cinequest Happy Hour recently, however I know she has followed me on this blog for awhile too. When I met her in person I also met her husband, and I knew there were some health issues they were dealing with, so when I saw her tweet that said this:

@Deirdresm How I Got Married and Donated a Liver: http://dsmoen.livejournal.com/248036.html

I thought she had donated her own liver to her current husband. Which makes ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE now that I write this, and I'm laughing at myself for thinking that. HOWEVER, the actual story she wrote about is a really good one and an important one. The main theme is about the process of organ donation and the importance of signing up, but the twist at the end brings up the matter of couples who are not married and how that affects the process. Of course not only does this apply to myself and Scott, it applies more heavily to couples who have no choice in the matter of marriage.

So just take a few minutes to read the story of this amazingly strong woman.

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The bike route
Guess what, y'all!
No Doubt and Paramore
Snapshot update
The Dust of Words - the Movie
a 50 mile challenge to myself
F***ing Prostitution Whore!!!
Organ Donation, Same Sex Marriage, and doing the right thing

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