H2O - is there anything crueler

Sisters, explain to me the need for retaining water
The Human Body needs on average 64 oz per day. Given that I run around a bit or am riding my bike, 100 oz is really a good happy medium for me.
but for a few days, every couple of weeks, what is it? why? Why be greedy and holdon to extra water? Hogwash =)

19

So I have developed a wee little cold. Nothing huge, but enough to drive one crazy - ears itch, nose runs (jogs really) and scratchy throat with cough. My weapons of choice are Advil Cold & Sinus and Ricola. I've grown to enjoy the rereshing Lemon Mint Sugar Free herbal Throat drops more so than any other flavor/variety. With these two items in my arsonal, i can kick a cold in about 5 days.

Today, as I reach for a Ricola drop, I notice on the bag "19 drops"
There are 19 drops in the bag - not 20, or 25 or 12 or 24, but 19
It's a prime number - 19
Why only 19? the bag could fit one more
This will sit in my brain for a while.
19 drops?

208 revisited

HURRAY! $208 again =)

New Math

So I think I need to review my math skills
b/c I'm actually $308 away from my goal - OOPS! =)

208

two hundred and eight
That is the gap between My Goal of $4000 and my current fundraising efforts
WOOOHOO!!!
not to much to go - granted it was all due on Friday BUT I'm still plugging!

Hmmm...if Drag Queens bicycled....

Imelda honey, Eat your heart out!


I got neeew shooooes! I got neeew shooooes! I got neeew shooooes! I got neeew shooooes! They are shiney and pretty and sparkly and FREE! ($12 for shipping and handling) My old cycling shoes, may they rest in piece(s), are no longer with us, but with the wonderful invention of the Life Time Warrenty, not only did I get knew shoes, I upgraded!!!
the light grey on the shoe straps - Shiney silver
the grey mesh - more shiney silver
the black plastic - has silver sparkles

Skills? yeah, i got skills

I got mad skills of sorts =)
I need to use them to find another $850 in donations by friday
I used them yesterday to get a spot working the VIP tent at the CSC Invitational Bike Race.
Mad skills I tell ya
mad

Popcorn + Fruit Loops = Episode of CSI

I had a dream last night, somewhat vivid, somewhat lucid, but very memorable. No, it's not one of THOSE dreams, ew. I was somewhere outside, running with someone. Not jogging, but being chased or trying to hide.The next t hing I know, I'm jumping and I'm shot in the chest, right in the sternum.I felt something - it wasn't pain, just the sensation of the bullet going into my chest. I could feel hitting the ground, the leaves and grass around me. I rolled onto my side, both hands over the wound. I remember thinking,"just close your eyes, they got away, it's ok to die, they got away"
This is when things started to get more lucid
I wasn't scared, I certainly wasn't going to close my eyes and let it pass. I started taking stock of the situation. I could feel my heart beating, I could take short shallow breathes. I could feel a cold wet dripping through my hands. But I didn't feel it on my back so the bullet didn't go all the way through. The bullet must be lodged in there, shoulder blade or against the vertebrae, must have been a small caliber. Heart beat is even, so it didn't hit my heart, tight chest, must have it the lung...ALL of this going through my head while I'm lieing on the ground. I look at my chest and I see the hole and think,"ok, i've been shot" - still not scared, just taking note there is a hole in my chest. I'm going through, from head to toe, noting my condition.
I see someone I work with (in the real world) and I call out ,"dan, call 911" OK. I'm listening and he's calling the office, he's calling my bosses. "DAN, CALL 911" Ok. still on the phone with my bosses.

Then I remember being annoyed with dan and thinking, "just get up". So I did. I walked a bit and up to an ambulance, the EMT turns and I said "Hi, i've been shot in the chest" I take my hands away from the wound to show him.

Then I wake up.

So weird
No more microwave popcorn and fruit loops at 12:30 AM
I wasn't even watching CSI

In Georgia? when did she go to Georgia?

Interesting has been the first months of 2005. Here I am approaching the middle of it and I'm taking a little mental stock check. I've not been myself, I've not been the "Old Maggi" as referred too by a buddy. Where did she go? When did she leave? Did she remember to turn the coffee maker off? She's been gone for a while more than just in 2005. I think what made me the saddest is that I didn't even notice she was gone. I didn't notice until I was at my wits end that she was gone. I missed her. No, I mourned her, I'd been in mourning for 8 months. I couldn't sit and mourn her anymore. I needed to find her/me. I was weighted down by under this coat I'd put on myself - a coat woven from tension and anger with a scratchy lining of bitter and worry. This coat didn't match any I owned, it didn't match me. But I had to go, i had to uncover my eyes and find that point on the path where I left her behind.

Tour de Georgia - I bailed out at least 10 times. Here was an invite to be present and work for an amazing event and I was nervous about going. It made me sick to think about it - so I knew I had to go. Went by myself, knew not a soul, bought the ticket and just went. That is something the Old Maggi would do and the Current Maggi would find something to bitch out.

*Note: the 'old' in Old Maggi does not refer to age thank you very much - I look good for 33 =) I get carded

It's Saturday, dad is taking me to the airport. "Ciao Pop, see you in 10 days" "Bye Maggi, have fun and be careful, huh?"
Airtran bumps me up to business for $35 and I'm seated by the window waiting for take off, which used to give me the shakes, but today, no shakes, I'm calm. No grumpy, no "this plane smells", no "how qualified is that pilot".
The Stewardess asks if I'd like a drink "Coffee, please"...

PING!

I have no real plan for this adventure, no set arrangements, i don't have to ride my bike for a billion miles, I don't have to wear a God awful taffeta dress, no meetings, no fundraising. I don't have any real control over what is about to happen to me.... I'm free... I'm not in charge... I'm not obsessing over an agenda... feels like the coat came off...


You know that feeling, the first Warm sunny day in March, you go outside and the sun washes over your skin. It's been hidden, protected, locked way, but now that warm warm wash. That tingly feeling...

"On second thought, vodka tonic, please - I'm on vacation." She smiled. Boy that was a tasty beverage - no Grey Goose but a girl's gotta adapt, you know?

The adventure begins and lo and behold, Old Maggi begins to appear and apparently she was in Georgia - how she got there? I don't know, I don't remember sending her there, she didn't even leave a note (how rude). But I found her, I found me- at a cycling race in some of the most beautiful mountains and sweetest towns and among the charming residents of the Great State of Georgia. I met so many people, I took chances, I spoke from my heart and mind, I learned so much, I had patience again, I had thirst again.

It's good to be back =)

New Verb

Adventure:
An undertaking or enterprise of a hazardous nature.
An undertaking of a questionable nature, especially one involving intervention in another state's affairs.
An unusual or exciting experience
Participation in hazardous or exciting experiences: the love of adventure.
A financial speculation or business venture.

ADVENTURE - Sounds like you need to get shots, a pith helmut, some quinine and lots of film, and you're not quite sure what you'll see or you'll make it out alive.... oooooooo

Take a Trip - A Trip is to the market or the gas station
Go on Vacation - A Vacation involves either a beach condo with planned community events, something made by Disney or Time Served with WAAAY too much family.
On Holiday - "ON Holiday" if your brittish, but again it could be Time Served with WAAAY too much family or a chance to get home appliances at rock bottom prices.
I've decided that I will no longer take a trip or go on vacation. I don't think I'll plan to be "On Holiday"
Need a different verb than "go" or "take"
I will adventure - Adventure is my new verb, my new action =)
I need to adventure and get myself a pith helmut, but it had better be cute and go with my Machete sheath and Saheli/English dictionary.
For now, gonna adventure for lunch - I'm a little peckish from my mental adventure =)

Good things... =)

So, it's late and it's been a busy
lots to think about
lots to plan
lots to take care of
lots to get rid of
filing
cleaning
running around
lots
but I try to remember to stop and take a mental picture or tivo a moment or two of the day.
Here is my photo/tivo list:
Whisteria growing along Hunter Mill road - so pretty
*Driving to pick up a sandwich, windows open, sun out, singing out loud and badly to a song on the radio
*Quick chat with a friend overseas - he'd better not be in his hotel room =)
*Getting a wonderful card in the mail from someone I haven't seen in ages, but she sent me a little note of encouragement and a wonderful donation (the card is GORGEOUS! it's pink!)
*Driving on 495, the sky is like a painting
*That moment right before my nephews melt down, when they are really quiet and sweet and smile... THEN they start to scream =)
*Sitting with my brother in his basement talking computer geek stuff - 40 minutes of real converation =)
*Learning to prep the 64 oz of formula for the boys with my brother

Good things... great tivos =) I love when I get ready for bed and think about the day. Especially when the lights are out and I'm under the covers and I'm smiling just because.

Blah news and Good News

So The Blah first: On the advice of my Doc and some deep thought, I've decided to step away from participating in Tahoe for the Cancer Charity event in June. It's really a smart way to go b/c my asthma has been worse than ever and my lungs never quite healed up from lasts year trek to 6500 ft above sea level. I'm alittle sad but not that much really b/c the most super, uber important goal is being reached - Cancer research and survivors are getting the much needed funding they deserve. the little sad part is b/c I made promise, but I will just be post poning that promise.

The Good news: With proper care and taking it easy, I can be back to my crazy hard core riding ways for next year. This year is all about relaxing, letting the lungs heal up and do what they do best =) In the words of Rachel to Ross "Hard Core Charity Cycling, we just need a break" =) I'll take this year to take it easy on my lungs and next year - WATCH OUT!

about freaking time...

Hi! Yeah, so I've been on vaca and and went straight back to work the second I was back so I haven't been able to share the AWESOME TIME I HAD IN GA!!!!
MAN OH MAN - I can't really describe what it was like...
like watching pro racing on tv only the tv was life size
... that looks like Floyd Landis, but it must be a look a like....

Shook hands with Phil Ligget

I had breakfast with Bob "Tour DAY France" Roll

Andrea Tafi sat next to me in a bus

And then to watch the coverage on OLN on Sunday - WOW
I saw myself on TV, but it was realy just my ponytail and my torso and I was jumping up and down like a big dork fan, which is what I am. Along with seeing this atheletes in person, I met so many people that I never want to forget. people from everywhere in the US and Canada, from all walks, from all careers, from all corners - we were all the same there, Huge Fans of cycling.
I guess this is what it's like for baseball fans when they going to training camp with their favorite teams.
I'm so lucky to have had the chance to go and particpate. It was the best time of my life!
As soon as I can be a little more coherant (surprising, yes, but it is posible), I'll share the photo's and storys of the tour =)