My. Motto

Happy New Year!

One more time...

With feeling. To make the transition from sleep to exercise easier I'm sleeping with the first layer of bike clothes as pjs. I'm waking up before the alarm with no excuses. The only option is to get up and ride. A blessing. Pan Mass Challenge. To help those fight the good fight.

Squeezing one in

Figured I could get in a quick 15 minute spin before work. Actually got in 20. Pan Mass Challenge 2016.

Four Days

Four days off from work. Four days of sleeping in. Four days of exercise. Four days relaxing with family. Four days of bliss.

Do you see what I see?

The love of the fathers. Saint Joseph and Steven Branfman; two fathers,  Both sons died too young.

With the love for both - Pan Mass Challenge 2016

Christmas Garage Ride

Legs always working for 13 miles.

Cut from the same clothe

Spent yesterday with my youngest getting ready for today. We cooked. Cooked some more. Played games. And talked. After church we watched a Christmas movie, The Christmas Shoes, then we baked a final batch of cookies.

Somewhere between scooping the squash and a round of cribbage, she announced that the time we were sharing was her present to me.

Under the tree is a card I wrote to her stating my present to her is time we will spend together.

Time, the most expensive and rarest present of all.

Gift Giving

Even the deer can use some good cheer this time of year. It's a blessing to know someone with a heart as big as the great outdoors.

The Power of Love

When you truly feel loved, you can't help but love others.

It's nice to know

Work, for that matter life, doesn't always go the way we want. It's nice when somethings don't change. Like love.

Love you more than life itself.

I say, Love you more than life itself, to my daughters every time we part company. Whether it be for a few hours or for what will be months.

And I wonder if that is how Jesus felt, for us?

Would you bother?

Went out to pound out a garage ride this evening and the speed/distance sensor wasn't being detected by the Garmin. I pedaled away, anyway.

I realized an analogy between undocumented exercise and an anonymous small act of kindness. Exercise is a kindness we offer to our bodies. And it's nice to have a marker or two about our endeavors to gauge progress, but it's not necessary. Just the same as praise for a kindness is not a requirement. The blessing in knowing you did it is all that is needed.

I did it.

Home

She is home for about 36 hours. She gave me the gift of time. The best gift of all. No tears. No heart ache. She is happy healthy whole. No mother could be more proud.

Timely News

Yesterday was my eye opener. There are a lot of email chains and Facebook status on being thankful. We delete them. Some read them. We might even post. Yesterday was my eye opener. So much so, I'm repeating that sentence on purpose. For yesterday my love for my husband was laid out before me as we sat in the ER 8 hours finding out his intense pain is a kidney stone. Out of the blue. Intense crippling pain. The man who never complains about his health. Texted and asked if I could come home from work. Yes was my response. Heavy town traffic tested my nerves. Texted him to call 911. I had no details but to come home.

Later in the day the news of a fatal crash in a local mall parking lot and two serious crashes on major local highways snarl traffic for 4 hours. Life will never be the same for so many in the blink of an eye.

Each moment of each day, remember we are all winners. Embrace love. It can be taken in the blink of an eye. Don't blink.

Lap Dog

My dear friend Gully still thinks he is a little puppy. I know what he is going through. I still think I'm in my 20s.

It's Started

Monday night is religious ed night. We practice kindness. We practice the cup song. Last night the students recruited other students in another class to teach the hand cup coordination. They are passing their talent along. In kindness. A simple lesson in which everyone smiles. Looking forward to next Monday night.

PS: Hugs deluxe or otherwise are always free.

Where did the time go?

This weekend was bike riding, raking, hiking, church. Also decision making: Doing the Pan Mass Challenge next August. Let the winter training begin.

Short stacked?

Short yes, but valuable. Representing all the table chip value... I won. I sat there. Looking at the stack. Small in stature but representing a win. Like do many of life's more important circumstances.

It's the little thing that truly matter.

It's A Cup

My girls and I spent the weekend in Boston. Starbucks was a staple. The shop was next door to our hotel. We noticed the new cup. I love the red. It's just a cup.

Attention To Detail

This lovely lady served us breakfast with the utmost kindness and attention to detail. She perfectly crowned our birthday weekend. Thank you.

I have always...

I have always wanted to spend the weekend in Boston. The city, where the driving scares me. But the bright lights are intriguing. Twenty miles away. Took over an hour and 20 minutes to drive. Valet parked. Checked in. We walked to the public market and then to dinner. Swung on the Rose Kennedy Greenway public bench swings. I've always wanted to experience this place. To stay at this hotel. It's so different from our normal life.

Facebook

It's so powerful to watch your children grow up. So very powerful.

Today is my birthday!

Nothing beats the gift of time together.

Rowing

With the winter months approaching ushering less daylight. and longer work hours I have turned to our rowing machine housed in the office for daily exercise. Touted as a full body workout, we will see how it goes. So far I've logged 5 sessions. At first I thought it was crazy. Now I look forward to it. First thing. No one else around. Listening to my music. The key is to keep exercising.

Seriously.

No traffic. Was given the pass at work to go out for a bike ride. Weston is only 4 miles away via the aquaduct.

To boldly go...

Afternoon traffic is a killer. It's so wonderful to have the opportunity to ride where there are no cars.

One Bike. Two Bikes...

Got this baby as a gift. She is a bit big for me, but a shorter stem will make it all better. Rides like a dream. A cyclocross... Off road, but not rough road. Had her in some dirt roads and grass today. Very nice.

Patricia

Never under estimate the strength of Patricia. Note to self.

Let The Chips Fall

Where They May... Life is full of choices. Some play it tight. Others are more aggressive. With either playing (life)style there is risk. You have to know when to call, and know when to fold them.

Am I too old for Patty?

I'm sneaking up fast on 55, and today I saw an email chain regarding a hot pick up tomorrow in California. It read: Let Patty at Saxon know if 7 AM will work with the crew.

Patty... It sounds like I'm closer to 17 rather than retirement. When I'm 88 will I still be called Patty? Or will I have graduated to Pat or the longer formal Patricia?

I don't feel old... But I guess I am. What's in a name? Personality? Lifestyle? Maturity? It's interesting.

All on its own

We harvested this wild onion from an old garden space in our yard. Years ago we planted onions and they didn't really grow. We moved the garden plot and used the old spot for compost. While doing some yard work this weekend we discovered this beauty. Amazing what will grow when you leave them alone to flourish.

This Bridge

This bridge is the North Bridge in Concord MA were the Revolutionary War started. I hadn't been to this bridge since sixth grade until today. In the past I had ridden by but today, relaxed and riding just to be outside, I stopped. Stop and view the bridges.

Winners

It's nice when we have a physical showing for winning. But with many of life's most significant wins we don't end up with the biggest chip stack. It's the little things, always.

A Rare Opportunity

I got to stand in the middle of a stream the other day. It was so cool to be outside, relaxed, walking, exercising.

Can you say done?

Sure you can. Six months later and I can breathe a sigh of relief. A promise completed. With hope it's new owner will be happy with her new window.

Like all of life's projects it was suppose to be finished up quickly. Like all of life's projects it took forever to plan and think through.

It's one of a kind. Never to be created again.

First Light

Six months and finally light passes through it. Still a lot of soldering and finishing. But it's getting there. Slow. And. Steady.

An it's gone

The weekend, it's over. It's work and school as usual. But then it's religious education starting tonight. I have a seventh grade class this year. All new kids. No one that I know, for my youngest is in high school. My bag is packed. Games. Cups. Music. Paper bags. All in His name.

Still beauty

Even when we perceive doom and gloom, look closer. There is still beauty.

A First

Picked up a snake. So little. Progress even in baby steps, is still progress.

Foiling

Finally... There is light at the end of this project. It will be interesting to see how this all goes together. A lot of different new techniques will be employed

And Last Night

No eclipse to watch, we played Magic. Cost: Time. Reward: Love.

Time: The Best Gift Of All

Walking with a friend yesterday we discussed time: the best gift of all. Time spent with family and friends. Priceless. Watched the eclipse last night with my little one. Though she is not so little these days. We used my oldest daughter's telescope. Which was left home when she moved out west after college. While watching we texted her and thanked her for this opportunity. A great TIME was had by all.

Didn't Go.

All that planning, training, mapping out the route to be sidelined. Woke up this morning feeling sick. Headache. Body aches. Upset stomach. Dressed in my cycling clothes, I crawled back into bed and slept another 3 hours.

I'm thinking about the first space flights that would get sidelined due to weather conditions. Astronauts waiting suited up in the capsule for hours only to learn it was a no go. Disappointment.

My trip is only to New Hampshire not into space. Like the astronauts, my window will open up again. But until then, it's training and planning as usual.

Motivational?

Sometimes motivational is over the top. Resulting in the opposite reaction.

Tomorrow is the big ride. Legs rested. Map reviewed. Clothes almost picked out. Need to buy food. This time tomorrow I should be on my way...

What do you do for a living?

We took the day off yesterday and went to the Big E. Did my best to pretend I didn't have a job. Forgetting the office and what awaits today. But can you imagine what it would be like to ride an extreme pogo stick for a living? Wonder if there are any ladies getting into this field?

Saturday

Today is about facing down the anxiety surrounding Saturday. You can do this. Pack Monadnock. Fifty plus miles one way. The Mountain. Alone. What am I proving and to whom? Am I ready? Is it that important? What life lesson? At 54, almost 55, is this necessary? Breathe.

Take it slow Patty. You can do this. Take it slow.

The weekend

We rode into New York. It was a pleasant ride; very slow with many pauses. After 50, I wasn't tired. Thinking about the 100 and the mountain this coming Saturday. Doable, if I take it slow.

Doubt and Fear

Rode my bike the 14 miles to poker last night. My legs were still not 100 percent after last Saturday's 80 mile jaunt. Putting fear and doubt in my mind. Tomorrow I'm riding in Vermont/New York. Seventy miles, at least, that is the plan. And next weekend over 100 up Pack Monadnock. Will my legs last? Will I let the fear and doubt derail my plans? Breathe. Listen to the knee. Be. Brave.

And for poker... I joined the league my husband plays in. It gives us more time together. Last night I won the ice breaker game called the turbo. First win ever... Placed 11th in the first official game of the night and lasted until after midnight to come in second in the second game. Seriously, who knew.

Proper Planning

You have to have a plan. To know where you are going, and basically how you will get there. It's okay to vary the course. To avoid a tough climb, even though it adds on a few miles. Life and cycling are like that.

So looking forward to giving this a go in Yoda's arena where there is no try, only do. Now... Let's hope the weather holds.

Sometimes you have to reach for the impossible

To see truly what you are made of.

I know what I said.

The ride to Wachusett would be the last big, over 60 mile, ride I would do this season. But I wonder if I have another attempt at Pack Monadnock in me. One hundred and ten miles... 1000 more feet of elevation gain. And after this, what will be next?

Today rode a light 20 miles to shake out the legs. They are tired from yesterday, but in good shape all things considered. No pain.

What to do? And shall I go solo?