New England Classic Tour de Cure 2010 Days 1-3

Hello All,

I realize it's been a while since I last posted. I've just had so much going on lately, I haven't had time to post. Currently, I am in a hotel room at the Attitash Grand Summit Resort Hotel in New Hampshire. Now why is this? This is because I am riding in the New England Classic Tour de Cure. It's a bike ride for diabetes research. There are two rides for the NEC Tour de Cure. One is a 2-day 150-mile bike ride from Woburn, MA to the University of New England in Maine. The other ride is the 7-day 550-mile ride through MA, NH, VT and ME. Some ask how I got involved with the Tour de Cure? Mr. Cousineau's co-worker was the team captain of "Sweet Support." She tried getting him to do the ride, and his response was, "Are you kidding me?!? I work on computers. I'm not gonna kill myself riding a bike for so many miles, but I know someone who might." He referred me, so I went and signed up for the 7-day 550-mile ride. Everyone thought it was a mistake and that I meant to sign up for the 2-day 150-mile ride. It was no mistake. I want to push myself to do my very best. Now, I ride a 10-speed Motobecane Mirage, which is about 35-years old, made in France, that I bought last year at a used bike shop in Amherst, MA, for $142 after my 10-speed Columbia USA was stolen from school. Let me tell you a little about my ride, so far...

Day 1

On Friday, July 9, 2010, I woke up right around noon and then headed to Dick's Sporting Goods to buy bike shorts, jerseys a tool kit, and some tube patch kits and spare tubes. I then headed to work in Agawam to work at Bridgeport National Bindery 3:30pm-midnight. Once I got out, I headed home and got about 2 hours of interrupted sleep. Yes, I said "interrupted" sleep, not UNinterrupted sleep. I then got up and drove myself out to Woburn, MA at 4am. We signed in right around 6am, got our jerseys and NEC Tour de Cure t-shirts, and met with our teams. We left Woburn on our bikes around 8:30am and didn't stop until we hit the University of New Hampshire, 82.37miles away. When we left Chomerics in Woburn, I was riding with the front of the pack. I was feeling really good, being able to keep up with everyone riding. But that didn't last for long. We hit a downhill not even to the first rest area and my chain fell off. I was in the middle of the pack and had to pull off to the side to put it back on, and turn my nice clean hands and brand new cycling gloves black. I put it back on and continued on. I caught up with a few people that passed me, and eventually started riding with a group of riders. We all took turns leading and kept each other going at a nice pace. Later on in the ride though, it felt like the muscles in my thighs exploded and sucked all of the energy out. It hurt so bad and I couldn't keep riding. I pulled off to the side and pulled some energy chews out of my back pocket, that I had picked up at the last rest area. Somewhere during that day, another rider saw me falling behind, so he gave me a packet of energy gel and that really helped me out a LOT! I love the stuff now and try not to ride without it! The day was great and I was glad when it was over. There was a strong feeling of accomplishment finishing the 82.37miles, seeing as how before the Tour de Cure my longest bike ride was about 40-60miles long :-P. Everyone was soaked in sweat and rain (from the thunderstorm we got caught in). We had dinner at UNH around 5pm, and then I headed to bed. Fell asleep before 7pm and woke up around 4:45am. Dang that was a good night's sleep :-).

Day 2

We had an amazing breakfast at 6am in the University of New Hampshire dining hall. After I finished packing, I found one of the riders I had been riding with the day before, and started talking to him. We ended up riding together in a group and left campus around 8:30am. Day 2 was a BEAUTIFUL day. We rode by so many beaches in our 69.78-mile ride from the University of New Hampshire to the University of New England in Maine. My favorite part was riding through York, Maine because I haven't been there in too many years. We stopped at a rest area not to far from York Beach, ME. Our group hung out there for a good 45-minutes. The weather was nice and cool, with a slight rain. The scenery was beautiful and we all had our pictures taken together in the groups we were riding with. Finally, without falling behind our group at all (until the home-stretch about 1/4mile long), we arrived in Maine at the University of New England just after 2pm. That gave us plenty of time to get ready to watch Spain defeat the Netherlands 1-0 and become the 2010 World Cup Champions!!! At dinner that night, I wasn't too hungry so I only had some pasta and rice. I headed to bed after talking on the phone with family. But the room was so stuffy and hot, I couldn't get to sleep and ended up waking up 3 times in the middle of the night, sick as a dog and sweating like crazy. I did not sleep well at all that night.

Day 3

When I finally woke up, it was so difficult to pack up and go eat breakfast because I felt so sick. I didn't think I was going to make it across campus to the dining hall for breakfast without passing out or vomiting. I ended up riding my bike to breakfast, but only eating half of a pancake and a bowl of fruit loops. That was the worst breakfast I've ever had. I then went to the mechanic, had my front derailleur adjusted, and found a cyclist slowly straggling out for the day's ride. His name is Bella (sp?). He's been riding in the Tour de Cure for a couple of years now, and we rode and talked together for a little bit before I picked up my pace and made my way to the first rest area a bit quicker. About 4-5miles before the rest area, I met Tim. He coached me along, got me to pick up my pace and encouraged me to keep going. Later on in the day, I came to find out that he's a soccer referee!! He and I had a great long conversation as we made our way up the hills and to the Attitash Grand Summit Resort Hotel in New Hampshire. When checking in, the hotel didn't have my name on the list (just like the day before at the University of New England). So Tim went to get Ryan, the coordinator of the NEC Tour de Cure, and even used his own credit card to verify me checking into a room! I ended up getting a room all to myself, with 2 couches, a big flat screen TV, a refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher and stove, and a bed that folds down out of the wall!! This hotel is amazing!!

I've met so many awesome people while on this ride! Most of them I haven't mentioned in the previous paragraphs, but it doesn't mean I don't appreciate all they've done for me. These people are AMAZING! They helped me clean up my bike (actually, they did it for me while I took a nap), fixed my bike (made adjustments), and give me the motivation to keep moving forward. Everyone has told me that I'm unbelievable for riding a heavy, old bike with no clip-in pedals and riding in only indoor soccer shoes. My seat post is frozen and can't be moved, so my seat is too low, putting a lot of strain on my knees and thighs. And somehow, I'm still able to keep up with the riders that paid thousands of dollars for their bikes! Everyone has told me how impressed they are with me and that I'm doing twice as much work as everyone else and am out-riding my bike. Most have said that if I had a new bike and the right gear, I'd be a monster flying down the road! They've told me plenty of times that I'm crazy, but they're so proud of me for doing what I am; riding 550-miles for diabetes, keeping up with the rest of the riders on an antique bike. Tonight, one guy actually offered to sell me one of his old bikes that he bought back in 1994 for over $1,000, for only $50!! I'm going to have to get his number and take him up on that offer!!

Well, it's time to go down to the laundry room and get my clothes out of the dryer. Then I have to rest up for tomorrow's 97.03-mile ride from Attitash Grand Summit Resort Hotel in New Hampshire to Capitol Plaza Hotel & Conference Center in Vermont. I'm really not looking forward to tomorrow's LONG journey up what they call Crawdord Notch (sp?). I here it's killer and not many will make it up. If I'm still living tomorrow night, I'll try to get back on here and post about the day's ride. Wish me luck!!

Oh, one last thing.... If anyone wants to sponsor me for riding (pledge money for American Diabetes Association), you can do so at http://main.diabetes.org/goto/manning_rides. I'm still a couple hundred dollars short of my goal to raise $2,500 for the ADA and I need to raise the rest of the money and turn it in by August 15, 2010, or I'll have to pay it out of pocket, and I just can't afford that. Thank you to all those who support me on this ride!!

Twilight

When I read the Twilight Series I was inspired, because I wasn't sure that a story of True Love would be accepted by an majority of the world.  And I glad that so many enjoyed a story that showed True Love and not just...well you know.  So many teen books deal with issues like homosexuality, teen pregnancy and sex out of wedlock.  It was so nice to read a book about LOVE.

Then I went to my favorite website, which I am even a moderator of, and most, if not all, the men are complaining about the Twilight Series!  Now, some of what they say is correct, 40+ women should not be chasing after 17 year old teen actors.  And I agree that it is a sickness of our society when people think that is acceptable behavior.  What bothers me is when they talk about "poor sentence structure and grammar."  And how Bella was a typical Emo teen.  And, at least, one person said these things and more had not ever read the books.  How frustrating is that!

For me the characters were realistic, enough so that I related to them and understood where they were and why they ended up where they did.

Another complaint was about the use of vampires.  They said "it's been done."  But not the way that Meyer did it.  Instead of the completely evil hell spawn, they were human with a circumstance and they had to choose what life they were going to lead.  Sounds a lot like real life and a lot different from the typical blood sucking vampire.

I think that the men who have issues with this story without ever reading it are only jealous.  Jealous that someone made it successful with a concept they thought had already been done to it's limits.  And they were proven wrong.  Oh, snap.

New Bedford

This past weekend we headed out to New Bedford to visit our bff's.  Suzanne and Roger and their three great kids!  We always have a good time visiting them.  Suz and J met almost 14 years ago when J started working at Polaroid.  When we met it was instant friendship.  And we have been best friends since we met.  We know we were bff's in Heaven before we were born.  Sometimes...who am I trying to kid....often, I wonder why I live here in MA, but then I remember my friends, like Suz & Roger, Erik & Carol, Sean & Carol, Josh & Janel, Bobby & Gail, Joe & Noel, Eric & Brooke, etc, etc, etc, and I know why I'm here.  (If I left your name out i'm sorry, I just can't list everyone who is special to me, but please know that I do love you and think of you and pray for you often!)  Add to that my family, Shari, Mike, Mel & Christian, TJ & Coe, plus the extended family...just too many to try to write, and I know I'm here for a reason and I'm in the right place.

Sometimes I wish I could spend more time with everyone, but then I'd never have time for my family.  But in about 11 years I will have time. (Madison will be 18)  Then I can hang out, talk on the phone, go to lunch, etc.

Suz, Roger, J & I will be taking a vacation in 20 years.  In 2030, we are going to go to Jamaica on an all expense paid vacation.  I'm going to start saving now.

So, here are some pictures of our "staycation."

 Left to right: Elise, Bailey, Suz, Adam & Madison

Adam and Madison throwing gang signs.

This is Destiny.  She just got her permit 7 days before we arrived.  She gets nervous when her parents are in the car with her because they get nervous.  So I went with her for a 2 mile drive.  She didn't know it, but I was nervous, but not knowing it she stayed calm and drove very well.  Once Taylor turns 14 I'm going to start her on driving lessons, in parking lots!  Don't worry your car is safe.  That way she won't be so nervous once she gets her license.  

Oh, and today is her 14th birthday.  But she isn't here.  She has youth conference for the weekend!  Her birthday party is on April 30th, so we'll do the whole bit then.

And the reason Taylor isn't in any of the pictures is because when we went to Suz & Roger's we dropped Taylor off at her cousins.

Birds of Prey

As part of homeschooling I joined a group called the FRC, Family Resource Center.  In doing so I get emails and discounts.  In these emails are offers for discounts on homeschooling activities.  Most recently we went to a Birds of Prey assembly.  There were about 40 kids present.  We got there early and were able to get front row seats!  We previewed the display table, which I didn't bother with pictures because everything was behind plastic and I'd never be able to hold still long enough for the exposure, because the lighting wasn't great. 

The kids got to see a Kestral, Perrigrin Falcon, Barn Owl, Great Horned Owl, Turkey Vulture and a Golden Eagle.  All are native to Massachusetts.  The kids listened to the speaker and because we were in the front row they got a great view of the birds.

Great Horned Owl

Barn Owl

Kestral

Perrigrin Falcon

Turkey Vulture

Golden Eagle

The kids also got to discect owl pellets.  They got papers to write down facts they learned from the speaker.  It also had facts about the vairous bird on the back of the same page.  The papers they received also had images of the bones they may find in the owl pellets.  The kids are going to take the bones they found and glue them on to the skeleton paper so that they know what parts they have!  Fun!

At the end, the speaker talked about how much he loved speaking to home-school groups.  He said that everyone was so well behaved and polite.  He said that when he's at the public schools it's not so nice.  So kudo's to Jordan and Madison, because they were the only kids present that aren't homeschooled and he couldn't tell the difference.  Yeah, my kids are great, aren't they!

Summer in Spring

It's almost 90F outside and it is beautiful!  It reminds me of the summers of my childhood in California.  Low humidity and a wonderful breeze to cool you down.  The kids are outside playing in the sprinkler and the nieghbors are setting up their pools.  The kids decided to make a tsunami in the yrad.  So I had to go check it out.  They had dug into the lawn and made a dam which one of them (probably Madison) destroyed.

Ben is angry because he can't find the attachment to the pump.  He said just before I took this picture, Don't take my picture I'm not in the mood.  So of course, I took it anyway. 

I did some yard work, too.  I'm trying to get the yard into something I want to spend time in.  Though, with the mud puddles and holes it may not happen this year. 

Gingerbread Boy

Well, first things first. I'm sorry I haven't posted anything for a while. But, well, there really hasn't been anything to post.Until now.

My parents go to the temple with another pair of parents.They leave their children with us and we baby sit. Well, there are two kids: Joshua the oldest brother and Krysten the little sister.
Usually, Joshua just statys downstairs and plays wii with MADison. Krysten euther watches them or comes upstsairs and annoys us. Well, yesterday it was the same thing. Except it was a nice day out and Krysten and I went outside to play. When we came inside because we heard screaming, Everyone was crowde around the bathroom door and Joshua was behind it screaming"Three of my teeth are loose!" (This the teeth is not true.) Kara(our neighbor who came over to help) and Taylor kept saying that they were sorry but he always just said they were liars.
Taylor suuggested Krysten go in and talk to him, but he wouldn't let her in so she banged and kicked and pulled the door until T aylir pulled her away. Eventually, he stormed out and we followed him putting on our shoes because he ran outside. We found him up a tree which Krysten had been climbing earlier. Krysten ran toward him and climbed up the tree. I told her to stop but she woulldn't listen.As, she climbed up the tree, Joshua jumped down and ran thorugh the woods. We all followed him (actually, we were following Krysten who couldn't stop chasing after him because "He's my brother!")
He jumped on the road that stopped our woods and kept running.
I waited for Madison to catch up while Krysten, Taylor and Kara went after him. Eventuallly, we olowed them and found Josh walking back with Talor and KAARA. I went back to find Krysten, who had gotten caught in a bush.
I went home just in time to see Josh running up the street, Kara, Taylor,Lady, and Madison at his heels. I told Bailey to watch Krysten and left. We follwed Joshua until Kra sent me and Madison home. Josh came home and I got the rest of the story:
Josh was in the bathroom because kara accindently hit himm in the mouth.
Taylor had persueded Joshua to come home by offering Ice Sream and nobody bothering him.
That's all for now!

I don't have pictures!

I really hate not having pictures for everyone to see.  Granted not that many people read this either.  So I'm sure you don't mind that I don't post images or find something that is completely unrelated to this post.

The Sister missionaries came over to our home last night and helped me organize the living room.  The moved furniture, swept floors, went through my book case and organised the books by size and genre!  It took them hours, I'm guess 4 hours with dinner in the middle.  What a blessing they are!

Is it getting older that causes us to forget things we've known since we were a child, or is it just me?  I keep calling the Elders, Brother.  I know it's wrong but half the time I don't even hear what I'm saying!  I think I said one thing, and everyone laughs and tells me what I said.  Most of the time it's not big deal.  But what if this happens and it hurts someone's feelings!  I need to listen to myself, I guess.

So I'm going to go and volunteer at the Bishop's store house today.  I'm hitching a ride, and that's always fun.  It should be fun to do service for others.  Help pay back the service other's have done for me.

Madison will be turning 8 in July and so baptized shortly afterward.  I had hoped for July, but it seems that August is going to be a better time.  Suzanne has even asked to do late August, so that she and her family could come.  I have reservations about that because I wanted to be baptized so bad!  And I had to wait almost 2 MONTHS!  Now, that may not seem like a long time for you, but at 8 years old it might as well have been 2 years!  I'm thinking a Saturday would be good too, because then we can try to get the Ducharme and the Fisk families time with the Elders and/or Sisters.

Jordan had a pancake breakfast birthday and she and the 4 girls she invited had a blast!  They stayed up until 4:30am then got up at 8am to go and have a tour of a sugar house and pancakes.  They each ordered 2 pancakes with bacon, no one finished their meals.  So keep that in mind when you go have pancakes at a sugar house, always order less than you think you'll eat.  You can always order more!  Again, I forgot my camera and so have no pictures! :(

So here is a FacePalm to show my regret in not having any pictures for you.