Arbuckle Wilderness

To get away from the monotonous flats of Plano, you have to head North up to Ardmore, Oklahoma about an hour and a half away. A group of us on Sunday got up so flipping early to meet up there at 7:30. About 10 miles into the 75 mile ride, the guys up front (who always have something to prove)started hammering it up the first climb to try to drop people. My friend Michelle just looked over at me and told me to go ahead and go because she wasn't planning on working hard at all. Relieved by this statement, I told her not to worry, I just felt like dinking around on my bike. So, that's exactly what we did, and we ended up having a great time! Somehow we missed the arrows that were spray painted on the ground, got lost and ended up in some retreat center. Seeing as it was Sunday, I guess it was appropriate.




Check it out, we're actually wearing gloves and arm warmers. I think when we started out at 8:00am, it was at least below 60. Shortly thereafter, it warmed up.


A moment of reflection in front of the church and the paddle boats.



Everyone waking up to the Oklahoma Sunrise.

Soccer Spectrum

Last night was our first game of the season. I hadn't kicked a soccer ball since our playoff game last January, so I was a bit rusty. That only lasted for about the first two minutes. I soon remembered how important it is to keep the elbows out at all times, especially when it's one of the big guys. We lost miserably last night, but I still couldn't keep from laughing the entire time.



If you remember playing as a little kid, it was always bunch ball. This is similar to that, but with adults and we do actually pass every once in a while. Our team is in the "D" league. Yes, that's right the "D" league. (There isn't an "F" league, "D" is the lowest a team can go.)

Oh Man...

I just did my first run since last Thanksgiving. I forgot how different running is from cycling. Ouch! It was only for about 35 minutes, but it seriously felt like an hour. I passed a few cyclists and as they went by, I was checking out there bikes. Nope, no comparison, no one has as pretty of a bike as mine. Only a couple more runs, and it'll all come back to me. I have to get back into running shape so I can beat the old man again at the Thanksgiving day race up in Oklahoma City.

In Austin on Labor Day

Thoroughly excited to have a two day weekend because of Labor Day, I booked it out of Plano as soon as I could after work Saturday evening and headed for Austin where my bro Sean, and his fiance, Ann live. I saw a chance to escape the dullness of Plano even if it was for two days and I took it as fast as I could!

Ann has already trained Sean quite well as the designated dish washer in their relationship. You go girl!


Me and Ann taking a self portrait. Yes, it took two of us to hold the camera because I was too shaky after drinking a delicious late at Cafe Teo.




Me practicing the "self-portrait" mode on my spiffy new digital camera. (Still very excited about it.)

I would recommend going to the Draught House beer pub that is off of Medical Pkwy in Central Austin. They had a very delicious Hefeweizen (or however you spell it). Also, the atmosphere is great.

I was being a good future sister-in-law by going to the bridal store with Ann and being the model for bride's maid dresses. I think I tried on about 6 and retried about 2 or 3. Now, if you know me, you know that I was really being good because I usually don't like to try a lot of things on. However, Ann was really quick in her decisions, so I think we make a good "shopping match". I also don't think Sean would've been as good of a model as me with the whole dress thing.

Sean working on the old steel Nishiki. I taught him everything he knows about bicycle mechanics. Ha! Ha!