Mood Swings and Cycling in Snow

After some R&R following the Snowball's Chance in Hell on Saturday, Hollywood and I geared up the mountain bikes for a late night gig by the Mood Swings at the Uptown Bar.

6 inches into the snow storm, Jay and I ventured out for a slippery ride through uptown. There's nothing like being on 2 wheels, rear tire attempting to pass up the front, snow filling squinted eyes, and laughter filling the night air. Feeling like VIP's, Jay and I strolled in as they checked our names off the list. Ashley and Sallie rocked the house! It took the bassist a couple of songs n sips before he woke up, but it was just in time for some of Sallie's hard YEAH's. I've gotten to see them twice, now, and I've never been dissappointed. These gals rock, and they'll leave you wantin' more!

After they finished, we headed out to find out bikes buried under a couple inches of snow....we decided to hit the Independent for some great people watching and cocktails. There's nothing like sittin back, enjoying the Bar-covery Channel mating rituals, Animal House antics, and inferior IQ's. ; ) With warm whiskey belly's, we grabbed some groceries and headed back to brush off our chilled bikes. The timing was perfect.....we got back to the bikes just as a plow headed down Hennepin. We jumped on his tail and followed him to our turn - we were passing CARS! The side streets were a little sillier - sliding this way n that. All was good until we hit the 6 inches of unplowed snow on Jay's block....we actually had to dismount and walk the bikes in on the home stretch.

The entire night was amazing!

We followed it up on Sunday, enjoying the fresh snow at Cleary Lake. Jay's teaching me how to Skate Ski - very patiently I must add! We did the first lap together, reviewing and fine tuning my lessons from last week. I know Jay can move much faster than I can, so I encouraged him to tackle the long loop as I moved slowly along. I told him to catch me on the second lap, as I worked on rhythm and enjoyed the soft, powdery snow that decorated the woods. It was so peaceful - I didnt' see another person for the ENTIRE second lap, and all I could hear was the gentle sounds of my breath and poles in harmony with my skiis.

Jay actually didn't catch me. (the long lap was longer than either of us estimated) I was so wonderful, though, to get out again on my new skiis (Thanks again, sweetheart!). We retired to the palace for some home cooked food and fabulous Nutella Ravioli! (Yowza, you've got to try 'em).

I am one lucky gal to have found someone so diverse, energetic, alive, and caring. Thanks for another unbelievable handful of experiences, babe! Love n Kisses!

Snowball's Chance in Hell

Saturday was another rad gathering. Hollywood and I met up with the heart of MN cycling on Brownie Lake to enjoy the Snowball's Chance in Hell.

While the rest of the MN metro area was hunkering down with cheese dip and cheap beer, prepping for the 'storm of the season', we were among the 50-some hardcore, bike lovin, riders celebrating the ice and snow we've gotten. Wheels, Crossmax, KK, Hurl, Brower Power, and the lovely Kelly Mac were all there in good form, among others.


At High noon, we started up the Cold Hard Dash for cash - $20.07 frozen in a curling-disc-sized puck of ice. Hwood got the hole shot (of course), but lost after the U on land to a Pugsley. I was exstatic not to be DFL....and not to have fallen through the creaking ice.


Next began the Snowball crit heats (click for my video). The figure eight was fast and hilarious! Riders were droppin like drunken frat boys as they slip, slided across the ice. In the end, it was the fabulous Matt Moore that took 1st, sharing the podeum with Hwood in 2nd, and Wheels in 3rd.

Gettin' my Jerk on

Okay, so maybe I didn't get my Jerk on....but I enjoyed those who did.

Thursday night I met up with the boys at Hwood's palace for a night of debauchery at Decoys in Hopkins. The rockin' underground took over the mild sports bar for yet another dose of Jerk Jam.....what were they thinking?

Crossmax loaded us up in his recently stolen, yet quickly returned Benz - KK, the Chucker, Wheels, Hwood and I were ready to rock! The start was slow, but picked up quick after a couple rounds of cocktails, hidin in the back corner grass of Decoys. The Root of all Evil showed up, and even Stan Beaver's long lost Uncle made an appearance. Hollywood rocked hard and played some base, singin' KISS.....Deuce was rad, but his rendition of Cold Gin was even more metal....green and red lights flashing like a psychophrenic stop light, the onslaught of guitars driving every cord into your skull......

Near bar close, we walked proudly out after rockin' some hard a$$! Hwood and I were loaded up into the trundle seat of the wagon, causing Hwood's head to spin. KK got out of the way just in time for Hwood to decorate the side of the Benz with some used Tennessee whiskey. Poor us....Hwood felt better, but we were all grossed out! ; ) All's fair in love, war, and metal!

Life, love, and the pursuit of, well...uh.....life!

Finally!!!

F-tastic frustration.....I have been trying and trying to log my first blog on this ever-so-stylish, blog space with no luck. Gotta love computers and their refusal to cooperate. So, here I am for the first time and I am forced to rant about the cursor that wouldn't appear! Oi! 'Nuff said. Rant over.

On a lighter note....this past weekend was a rockin' good time, even without some good rockin'. Jay and I started the weekend off right with some snowy mountain bike racin' in Elk River. I stomped around the woods solo, taking photos, cheering loudly in the silence of the trail, and finding a new level of mellow. The Chucker was on fire, finishing 2nd, and Hollywood got 4th in the men's elite. Nice job guys. Afterwords, us three and Peter the Cyclocross Kid b-lined it out to Hopkins for some tasty vittles at the Boston Garden. There's nothing like 4 starving adults staring blankly at each other until their belly's are full.

After a power nap, Jay and I rolled out to Theodore Wirth Park for my first try at skate skiing! (The statues are back!) Hwood may be all rock n roll....but he's sweet to teach me new things. It was a little to dark to try out some classic "monkey see, monkey do", but it was fun! We wrapped up after a quick warm up to hit the Casa de Timmer n Angie for some Big Lebowski and tasty white russians. Hard Dog was there in good form as well. I got a little Cat Scratch Fever, but Angie took good care of me. : )

On Sunday, Jay n I hit Cleary Lake for some trail skiing in the daylight! Arms and calves burning, sweat dripping, tongue hanging out.....I love a new adventure! And Jay is such a doll to stick it out and slow-pace it for me. I don't know if I can say enough about how much it meant to me, but patience is truly a virtue......and love is truly a blessing......

How much this drives me crazy