tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61626432012-01-03T14:45:26.897-06:00ski bike yoga read write garden eatPyxichicknoreply@blogger.comBlogger1041100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-11033985094046319982010-10-05T10:22:00.002-05:002010-10-05T10:22:22.337-05:00

My book is now on Amazon! You can actually search for me or for the title and it comes right up! Wow. If you really put your mind and effort into something, you can achieve it :) I dare you to try!

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-61748673778054070522010-09-21T09:58:00.000-05:002010-09-21T09:58:25.131-05:00

bARTer I was down a rabbit hole on Amazon last night, which started with me looking up the book "Twelve by Twelve"- an account of a man who lived in tiny cabin in the woods. I ordered it from the library, but I'm number 22 in line, so I may not get to read it for awhile. That book led to "Possum Living" which was written in 1978 by an 18 year-old woman who lived off the grid with her father in

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-50547677021227881572010-08-18T19:32:00.000-05:002010-08-18T19:32:06.070-05:00

Upper Midwest Summer Vacations The above shot is from my three-day weekend visit to Madeline Island. Look at that water! Lake Superior is surely superior to any other lake. And to add to the attraction, it was actually warm enough to swim in! At least this summer, in Chequamegon bay. I visited the North Shore (Gooseberry Falls and Grand Marais, MN) a couple weeks later, and the water temp was a

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-52431814796100161362010-06-08T20:11:00.000-05:002010-06-08T20:11:16.344-05:00

Dog Days at the Weir Farm has finally been unleashed upon the world. After some attempts at traditional publication methods (a.k.a. collecting rejection letters from literary agents), I thought the timing may be good to try this new e-book publishing gambit. The idea of self-publication is losing much of the stigma that used to be associated with "vanity presses" as more and more authors are

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-50358277727077794732010-05-27T17:52:00.002-05:002010-05-27T21:54:29.667-05:00

Simply Living I've been finding inspiration all over the place for my new obsession of living simply. I haven't embraced it in my own life yet, aside from combining my bedroom and office into one small room in my house, but I'm looking forward to purging stuff that I don't need and making do with much less. Maybe it was the Tumbleweed Tiny House site that first got me hooked on the idea, or

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-21183383890695622872010-05-15T09:05:00.000-05:002010-05-15T09:05:54.452-05:00

A May bouquet to brighten your day! The month of writing and guitar is going swimmingly. And I mean this literally, since it's been rainy for the majority of the first two weeks of this month. The weather has been cooperating with my intentions for indoor activities. But today the sun is back out, and it's time to get back outside for a bit. Before I do that, just wanted to share the latest

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-7443065792738312202010-05-01T14:28:00.000-05:002010-05-01T14:28:49.478-05:00

Yoga and Bike Month I wanted to do the 30 days of biking challenge, but I also wanted to do 30 days of yoga, so I decided to do both in April. Yoga and riding the bike every day for a month. It went well. I only missed four days of cycling, mostly due to going out of town one weekend. I still made it 22 days in a row, which is way more than I would have done without the challenge, so I'm pretty

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-61158607215181176762010-03-07T21:37:00.002-06:002010-03-07T21:46:25.073-06:00

Anyone else feel a little lopsided, off-kilter, discombobulated or generally messed up lately? Ever since last weekend I haven't felt myself. Maybe it was the huge effort of the Birkie, or the blow to my tailbone (first chakra and all) when I fell at km. 48, or maybe it was the latest big earthquake which shifted the Earth's axis (Ruth Montgomery, you were prophetic after all; I wonder how much

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-33028236429269642572010-03-06T17:44:00.002-06:002010-03-06T17:45:50.743-06:00

These are bulbs that were for sale on the street in Paris in November, but the photo makes me think about what may be stirring underground here soon. I don't wish for winter to end too soon, but if it must, there are worse things to replace snow than flowers.

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-17703325475903121812010-02-02T21:29:00.000-06:002010-02-02T21:30:03.771-06:00

I found this wonderful quote today:"Everyday, think as you wake up: Today I am fortunate to have woken up. I am alive. I have a precious human life. I am not going to waste it. I am going to use all my energies to develop myself to expand my heart out to others for the benefit of all beings." Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-24023277068203964422010-01-10T22:35:00.002-06:002010-01-10T22:35:58.822-06:00

Random Item:I sent a manuscript of Dog Days to the editors at Random House as an entry in their First Young Adult Novel contest.Wish me luck!

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-66883336165124498402009-12-10T18:06:00.002-06:002009-12-10T18:15:52.623-06:00

PARIS!Yes, it is just that gorgeous ALL the freaking time! They really do have a way with lights, that I cannot understand or possibly replicate. In fact, most of my Parisian pleasures were things that could only be experienced and enjoyed in Paris. The food, the lights, the sounds, the wine, the champagne, the bread, the art, the architecture... none of those things could be packed up and taken

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-80298459541340135232009-11-20T12:41:00.002-06:002009-11-20T12:45:38.446-06:00

It's a Beautiful Day!Ever have one of those days when everything just seems so right and perfect that you wouldn't change a thing?This is one of those days for me.I went for a run this morning down by the river and stopped to watch a plane fly overhead against the thin, rumbly-looking clouds and thought "that is going to be me soon."I stood a couple feet from the Mississippi and watched the

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-65231695869859874162009-11-11T22:26:00.003-06:002009-11-11T22:29:46.172-06:00

The book website is up!http://www.dogdaysattheweirfarm.comThank you, Heather, for your gorgeous design and brilliant ideas.Now it's time to find a publisher. Wish me luck!

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-28954371509946936462009-10-25T10:50:00.002-05:002009-10-25T10:53:08.986-05:00

I've started work on a kids' story. Its working title is "The Fabulous Adventures of Oona Oolong." Here is a bit that I've written so far...Oona Oolong opened her front door and stepped onto the porch. She took one big inhale and looked around. A tendril of morning glories wrapped the faded wooden fence in green and sky blue. They were not there last night. Orange sunshine streaked across the

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-51576912812782847422009-10-25T10:39:00.003-05:002009-10-25T10:47:51.145-05:00

Book Website update...I have seen some sample pages of my book website from the very talented Heather Murphy. I am absolutely thrilled with her gorgeous design and I can't wait to see the finished website! This is just so very exciting for me to see it come alive. I am lucky to have such a professional and inspirational artist to work with.I will share her lovely work as soon as the website is

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-42187212780339418452009-10-18T20:30:00.002-05:002009-10-18T20:35:28.860-05:00

Smile PhilanthropistIt usually pays to do that thing that you are afraid of doing because someone might not approve, or you may face ridicule. In fact, those are the things you really should do, because there are way more people out there who are waiting for you to do it. Someone has to pave the way to show that it's okay to be honest and bold and brave. Go ahead. Do it. Then watch what happens.

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-16725736968886504042009-10-03T16:16:00.002-05:002009-10-03T16:20:16.745-05:00

Yoga teacher training is going great so far! This week I learned how to give good Sivasana.I'm going to state my BIG DREAM here right now, because I know the more I focus on it, the more likely it is to come true!So here it is...I'm going to start a yoga/writing/art/meditation/nature retreat center. It's going to be in northern WI. I'm going to live there with whatever friends and family wish to

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-30697691370223585092009-09-14T21:40:00.002-05:002009-09-14T21:40:33.333-05:00

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-29543881138128469992009-09-14T21:30:00.004-05:002009-09-14T21:34:10.712-05:00

A SongI'm sorry if this makes no senseI just got back in townI went away to find myselfAnd got all turned aroundI met a crow out on the roadWho pointed to the skyHe said your answer lies up thereAnd flapped his wings to flyI wandered on and met a girlWith marbles white and goldWho stretched her arms out wide and saidContinue on this roadI walked until I reached the seaA turtle there turned '

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-52075698246844219902009-09-14T21:20:00.002-05:002009-09-14T21:25:21.483-05:00

NightfallOut the front door and the globe of skyHisses a warm pink and way orangeLike the wave pattern on sand.Inhale the watery-smelling airAs a V of geese squawks by.Sun hangs outside that globeSlipping around to the other sideLeaving those watery rumbles to memoryAnd dragging behind a purple reminderThat drips to blue, to black, now night, now home.A crisp moon crescent cuts the sky,Its

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-20232257454857881112009-09-12T20:59:00.003-05:002009-09-12T21:03:51.258-05:00

My Author website is up!My dear friend, Heather, whom I met at MCTC taking graphic design classes, has recently graduated, and is unleashing her creative genius upon the world. I asked her to create a website to promote my writing, and she came up with a gorgeous design that I think reflects my own love for ephemera as well as her unique collage style of design. Thank you Heather!Here it is:

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-19410921953746582009-09-12T20:50:00.002-05:002009-09-12T20:56:04.176-05:00

Labor Day Weekend at the Christine CenterI had another mystical stay at the Christine Center over Labor Day weekend. The weather was gorgeous and the silence was penetrating. I watched grasshoppers get it on, saw a doe nurse her fawn right outside my cabin window, observed turtles eating algae in a pond, witnessed a daddy long legs wrestling match, and narrowly missed being hit by a tree

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-71547590596102264382009-06-21T22:36:00.003-05:002009-06-21T22:38:24.841-05:00

Twins StadiumOn my bike ride around the perimeter of downtown Mpls. I stopped to take some pictures of the progress on the new Twins stadium. Looks like it's coming along quite nicely, at least from the outside.

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-43969388312777453682009-06-21T22:32:00.002-05:002009-06-21T22:36:10.508-05:00

Duluth!Spent the weekend in Duluth with Rebeca, who ran the Grandma's Half Marathon. It was a gorgeous weekend and we had a beautiful solstice! Spent part of Saturday doing one of my favorite things in the world-- beach combing on the shore of Lake Superior. We walked along the lake and saw these brave people swimming and jumping off this old part of a pier. It looked really fun, but the lake was

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-48119148736886184772009-06-13T19:48:00.002-05:002009-06-13T19:51:52.696-05:00

Bike Ride Cont. 2Finally, coming off the bridge, the trail goes through a little wooded section before connecting up with West River Parkway. Today it looked especially magical, all dappled in sunlight and with the cottonwood seeds gathered on the sides of the path like little fairy feathers. Makes one wonder where this portal leads...

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-49427736977433387622009-06-13T19:47:00.002-05:002009-06-13T19:48:46.768-05:00

Bike Ride Cont.One of my other favorite sites is the Mississippi River. I go over it every day, either in my car to and from work, or on my bike rides. It's hard to avoid it since it's about 2 blocks from my back door. This is one of the prettiest views of the river-- Coming over the Ford Bridge, looking upriver toward Minneapolis. If I had a 180 degree camera, you'd also be able to see the Ford

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-36327899039759930532009-06-13T19:35:00.005-05:002009-06-13T19:47:13.822-05:00

A Bike Ride Through Minneapolis and a Bit of St. PaulToday I had a totally free day! So after morning meditation, breakfast, coffee and farmers' market, I took Little Blue out for a spin around the neighborhood. I headed south to Minnehaha Falls Park. There I saw the meager flow of the creek cascading over the limestone bluffs, and a special treat-- this guy was playing guitar and violin and

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-22977076902069611522009-04-09T19:52:00.002-05:002009-04-09T19:55:27.908-05:00

Back on the bike!So far so good. I'm about 90% pain-free, so that's good enough for me to ride about 3x a week. Not sure what the racing outlook will be, but I have a contingency plan for my spare time if I can't ride as much this summer. I'm learning how to play guitar.Here it is-- a Seagull Coastline Grand (parlor-sized)

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-80068973269808316482009-03-03T21:32:00.002-06:002009-03-03T21:39:24.276-06:00

A Shot in the A** or Too Much InformationI stopped riding my bike in August of last year after having intense pain in one of my sit bones :( This was not entirely a bad thing, because while I was looking for something to occupy my time and take my mind off the fact that I couldn't ride, I somehow discovered the Christine Center.Being off the bike for 5 months should've healed whatever ailed me,

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-71965558702855948252009-03-01T14:21:00.002-06:002009-03-01T14:23:03.149-06:00

BIRKIE REPORTThanks to everyone who called, wrote or otherwise wished me a good race!Team Sturdy Women (me, my mom, my sister Wendy and Niece Leah) all wore our team sweatshirts to Telemark the day before the Birkie to pick up our bibs and to see Bjorn Daehlie, who was singing autographs. We got in line early and got our team sweatshirts signed by the greatest skier of all time (Michael compared

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-70503458789709629512009-01-14T22:33:00.001-06:002009-01-14T22:34:21.644-06:00

Sent queries and first few pages to four more agents. I have no idea what I'm doing, but it feels good to be doing something.

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-47978987494288940632009-01-08T22:32:00.002-06:002009-01-08T22:35:06.040-06:00

The Agent Search BeginsNow that the book is written, I'm trying to find an agent. I've submitted the first chapter to an agency and will hear back by Feb. 1st whether they like it enough to want to read the rest.I don't like this waiting part. I feel like I've spent so much time on the thing, that I just want it OUT THERE as soon as possible.It's exciting being done with it, but weird to think

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-79002916077681559022008-12-19T23:09:00.003-06:002008-12-19T23:15:52.099-06:00

First draft of Dog Days is complete!I wrote the last chapter (which wasn't really the last chapter consecutively, just the remaining one that I had yet to write) last Sunday sitting on the floor with my laptop in front of the fireplace. I had a weird giddy feeling the whole next day, where I couldn't concentrate on anything else. But I had to submit my final project for my InDesign class, so I

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-49854361021678718072008-12-08T22:00:00.003-06:002008-12-08T22:03:26.605-06:00

First Significant Snow of the Season!And I got home to find a murder of crows right across my alley. They alighted just as I got out of the car and went in to get my camera. It was an amazing sight, the black figures in bare trees against the gray sky. I managed to capture a few before they all disappeared toward downtown. Wow. It was a beautiful evening full of snow and mystery.

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-15868975258988410222008-11-08T23:22:00.001-06:002008-11-08T23:22:32.755-06:00

A human being is part of the whole, called by us “universe,” a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings, as something separate from the rest – a kind of optical delusion of consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-30249312764626776392008-10-21T21:02:00.002-05:002008-10-21T21:07:27.595-05:00

Christine Center WeekendI went back this weekend for some "spiritual deepening" and on Saturday I awoke to this lovely scene...It was clear, and the waning gibbous moon was still visible in the sky and the leaves were just tumbling off the oak and maple trees. It was so quiet there, I could actually hear the leaves falling. It was truly a magical moment. I went for a walk in the woods and by the

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-7976778135068173782008-10-12T21:11:00.003-05:002008-10-12T21:14:58.725-05:00

Grand Marais Cabin Weekend.Here's a shot I took at the top of one of our hikes, just off the Gunflint Trail. It was a very short steep hike that afforded a really good view. I only wish I could share the wonderful smell that exists in this place. Pine-y goodness.It was a rainy weekend, but we managed to find the windows of opportunity to hike when it wasn't drizzling.

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-89877154419251632012008-10-08T21:14:00.004-05:002008-10-08T21:23:56.497-05:00

New addicting site.When I'm not thinking up new t-shirt designs, I'm spending too much time on Polyvore, creating wardrobes and objects that represent characters in my book. The site appears to have been created for kids to make their own fashion spreads, but I saw a different use for it.

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-58849112655858928682008-10-02T22:53:00.003-05:002008-10-02T23:03:17.440-05:00

The news of the day is that I finally used a Neti pot.Thanks to John, who encouraged me to get one today when he heard that I had a cold. I went to Whole Foods after work and got one, and when I got home from picking up my CSA delivery (I know, Michael already scoffed at my granola-ness) I irrigated my nasal passages. John, you're right. Instant relief! It sort of feels like that weird stinging

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-64642511956149843492008-09-20T22:51:00.003-05:002008-09-20T22:57:53.304-05:00

Last night I rode my bike on the track!It was crazy scary fun! It had just rained about an hour earlier, and we weren't sure if we'd be able to ride, but the track dried out and pretty soon I was out in the infield practicing riding a fixed gear track bike. I really had to retrain my brain and body to learn this new skill. It was very awkward at first. But once I got going, I got the hang of it,

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-22377627222495580362008-09-17T21:45:00.007-05:002008-09-17T22:29:44.907-05:00

Designing T-shirtsI started making t-shirt designs just to keep my Adobe Illustrator skillz well-honed. You can see them at:www.cafepress.com/yoga_chakra www.cafepress.com/atha_yoga(atha yoganusasanam is the first yoga sutra, which means, roughly "now we begin our practice of yoga")and this one just for my friends:www.cafepress.com/brownchickenIt's quite addicting, sitting here playing with

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-40809531073533469392008-09-07T12:39:00.002-05:002008-09-07T13:06:28.250-05:00

My Happy PlaceI went on a retreat last weekend and unexpectedly discovered the place that from now on my mind will go when I need to be happy and relaxed.It's called the Christine Center.If I could live there, I would. And maybe I'll figure out a way to do that one day.I wanted to find a quiet place where I could go to be in nature and work on editing my book. I found the Christine Center on the

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-23318641185222214482008-08-10T19:35:00.006-05:002008-08-12T17:24:58.418-05:00

Team Time TrialThis year we had two Velo Bella teams for the Town Hall Team Time Trial. Me and Brook did it last year with a slightly different team and shaved 6 minutes off our time this year. It was a gorgeous day in the 70's with no humidity and little wind. The course was beautiful rolling farmland and woods. We worked well together and finished strong. And we looked awesome doing it. That's

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-68155121687410434332008-07-15T09:31:00.003-05:002008-07-15T09:45:34.854-05:00

Bike Race!Last weekend I did my first road race.My teammate, Jen, offered to drive me and Manda up to Marty MN, near St. Cloud, for a 30 mile race.I felt good that day, ate the right stuff, warmed up enough, brought all the required equipment.Our group of cat 4 women had 10 racers, and two 40+ women raced with us as well. I was surprised at the easy start pace. No vying for position or sprinting

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-78724275260299112002008-06-17T21:39:00.002-05:002008-06-17T21:51:47.073-05:00

Kate's CritI finally did a "real" bike race. Today was my first criterium. It was at the State Fairgrounds, with nice wide streets and 6 corners. The course was about 3/4 mile, and we had to do 40 minutes. I'm not sure how many laps that was, but it ended up being around 13 miles for me.The race was a women's open race, with cat 4's scored separately from the cat 1-3 women (of which there were

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-70951561539150624792008-06-06T22:18:00.002-05:002008-06-06T22:24:47.572-05:00

The Novel Plan:In order to finish a complete mostly edited draft of my novel by the end of the summer, I have created a timeline for myself. I will have to edit five chapters a week for the next six weeks. So far I've done the first five, so I'm already in week 2. If I force myself to stick to this plan, I WILL have it done by August. The idea of that is so thrilling to me that it might just be

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-7561261906181338112008-06-03T21:45:00.002-05:002008-06-03T21:52:10.841-05:00

New Moon NightToday I bought my cycling license. I don't know how many races I'll do, but I hope this will encourage me to try some types of racing that I haven't yet done. And I'm happy that in the future the results will say "Velo Bella" by my name, rather than "unattached" since you have to have a UCF license in order to put down a team affiliation.Tonight I reworked ch.'s 1-4 of Dog Days. I'm

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-82319341570200306602008-05-30T21:50:00.002-05:002008-05-30T22:02:11.369-05:00

The news this week is as follows:Pea-sized hail does not dent my car! I found out the scary way, listening to it ping off my roof.Michael's car was stolen on Wednesday night and recovered Thursday morning. His computer and other electronics were taken, but the car was OK! Well, minus a broken window and door scratch.Today I turn 38. I feel good.I bought a new rosebush today. It's called Hope for

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-82437019965146769722008-05-10T20:37:00.002-05:002008-05-10T20:43:21.280-05:00

Since I haven't mentioned it in awhile, I want to give a shout out to my new bike. I LOVE YOU!Today Michael installed the computer, which means I will quit bugging my cycling buddies to tell me how fast we're going and how far we've ridden. I got to really test it out on some hills on Thursday night, when I was out getting lost in Mendota Heights and heard someone call my name from a gas station

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-71274400585947705812008-05-10T20:30:00.003-05:002008-12-10T06:17:05.047-06:00

Summer Break!Okay, I know I'm only taking one class per semester, but I still get that feeling of relief at the end of the school year. I will have my Tuesday nights free again. Maybe I can finally make it to a group ride out of NOW Bikes. But the best part is that I will be free from school guilt for three months! I get a little obsessed about doing my homework. I don't know why this kicked in

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-39195891945082853822008-05-01T22:46:00.002-05:002008-12-10T06:17:05.211-06:00

My final project in my Illustrator class is... anything I want. So I'm making a cover design for my long-awaited novel.Here it is as it stands right now.I only feel okay designing a cover because I'm about a chapter or two away from a complete first draft.My goal for the summer is to finish the thing and get it off to someone to read/edit/whatever.This Illustrator class has been really fun and

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-74783072926032756772008-04-14T20:28:00.002-05:002008-04-14T20:31:25.665-05:00

New Bike Debuting Soon...I pick it up on Wednesday, after which I will give a ride report. It's weird to think I have a new bike because I dropped it off the day after it arrived, so it's like when you buy a new item of clothing and promptly lose it behind something in the laundry room and find it weeks later and think "oh yeah, I forgot I bought that." There's some magical time frame that has to

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-5186729855298483432008-04-02T22:31:00.003-05:002008-12-10T06:17:05.421-06:00

New Bike!Tomorrow I will have this new bike.I can't wait to see it in person.I'm a little nervous, hoping it fits me.We'll see what happens.

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-66010807372035507392008-03-26T19:39:00.002-05:002008-03-26T19:50:34.488-05:00

I fixed my toilet!The thing had been running since just after Christmas. Finally it got to the point where we'd just twist the knob to stop the water from going into the tank, and turn it on only when we needed to use it. Eventually things got so bad that I had to remove the lid of the tank and manually pull up the float, since the chain was broken as well.Finally. Today. I'd had enough.I checked

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-75227688220740461052008-03-13T21:01:00.003-05:002008-03-13T21:45:49.990-05:00

Hot 'n' Sweaty YogaToday I got it in my head that I was going to try taking some classes at the yoga studio where I'd like to take teacher training. They offer the first week free, so you can try it out. Since this was a rather spur-of-the-moment decision, I went directly from work to the 5:30 level 2 class uptown. Boy, am I glad I live on the East side and don't have to make THAT commute every

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-77641829407677631142008-03-12T21:50:00.002-05:002008-03-12T21:51:33.479-05:00

How much of a dork am I that I don't even have my own blog bookmarked and I sometimes forget how to find it?

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-34479859288070295662008-03-12T21:28:00.004-05:002008-03-12T21:55:41.384-05:00

Lucky DayToday I had that excited feeling in my stomach for most of the day. I don't know why. It was a rather dreary day, but I still felt exhilirated. I heard from a couple friends whom I'd been sending non-physical messages to contact me. The Law of Attraction works. That's all I'm going to say about it right now.Later I went to the gas station to get a car wash, and just as I was leaving, had

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-15406300776690506082008-03-06T20:10:00.006-06:002008-12-10T06:17:05.778-06:00

GoalsI was recently looking at some goals I had written down about a year ago. Out of five goals, it turns out that I have actually accomplished two of them-- skiing a sub 5 hour Birkie and racing my bike (I actually did two races last summer.)I love that I had forgotten even writing them down, and now here I am, a year later, having accomplished some of them. I do think the writing them down

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-40089337153392442012008-02-28T21:45:00.004-06:002008-12-10T06:17:06.171-06:00

Birkie Fun!Yes, I said fun. This year it actually was enjoyable, for the first 38 km or so at least. After that, well, let's just say that four hours of doing anything starts to hurt.The weather was great-- between 10 and 33 degrees during the race. The snow was good, not too deep, not too icy, just right. Even the troughs on the hills were navigable. I enjoyed the splitting off of the classic

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-9719622965556656142008-02-15T20:20:00.003-06:002008-02-15T20:39:19.178-06:00

Busy Time of YearThis is the time of year when I don't see many people except those on the ski trail, or at work, or in my class, or my writing group, or yoga sessions. Unfortunately, that leaves out a lot of friends. I'm sorry if you haven't seen or heard from me the past couple months. In March things will slow down a little, and then in May, I'll be off from school for the summer.Update on a

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-43412261689723634992007-12-13T17:45:00.003-06:002007-12-13T17:52:42.519-06:00

I'm still in my Food Obsession Mode, and going with that theme, I'm recommending this book today.What to Eat by Marion NestleI'm reading it right now, and while it's not helping a ton so far in knowing what to eat, it sure has a lot of good info on what NOT to eat. Let me just say that I'm very glad I've never been a consumer of margarine.Also, a visit to her website today reveals this bit o'

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-7637235420638236962007-11-25T22:02:00.000-06:002007-11-25T22:03:50.746-06:00

Time for a new post. Thanksgiving vacation was lovely. One of the highlights was the first ski of the season at ABR. The only bad thing is that I don't know how long I will have to wait to ski again. I pray for cold weather so the local places can make snow. Real live nature made snow may be too much to hope for this early in the season. But it was great to get out on the trails again!

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-18798796863340724382007-11-03T22:45:00.000-05:002008-12-10T06:17:07.167-06:00

20th annual Halloween PartyThe theme was "old time hocus pocus" and I think everyone did a great job interpreting the theme. Take a look at the fun costumes! I was a Salem witch this year, in a costume I can re-use at Thanksgiving minus the flames.

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-76547985510734506822007-10-08T20:46:00.000-05:002008-12-10T06:17:07.639-06:00

Grand Marais, MNAnother lovely annual fall trip to the north shore. Nothing like hearing the waves crashing into the shore all night long while tucked into a cozy cabin across the road from Lake Superior.The only thing that may come close is this view from about 25 miles north, a little ways off the Gunflint Trail. Couldn't you just LIVE there? Ahhhhh...

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-82706236874558887582007-09-30T21:29:00.000-05:002008-12-10T06:17:07.910-06:00

Crex MeadowsThis morning I had the pleasure of waking up to this view.The lake is full of coots and Canada Geese, along with some flying overhead. The birds were quiet last night due to heavy wind that blew all night long until the thunderstorm in the wee hours. In the morning, I got a couple pictures before I had to head back home. When I was driving out, about 30-40 sandhill cranes flew

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-86323120133741749002007-09-23T20:43:00.000-05:002008-12-10T06:17:08.633-06:00

Wild River State ParkWe camped at this MN state park this weekend. The weather was beautiful, as you can see from the pictures. 70's, no humidity. We put ourselves to work, gathering wildflower seeds (our job was to gather Penstemon seed pods) so the park can spread the prairie plants to reclaim the areas that are being converted back from farm fields. We also saw an astronomy presentation, got

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-57878595414076206302007-09-20T19:44:00.000-05:002007-09-20T20:00:16.510-05:00

YIKES!I just had the best/fastest bike ride ever. I was going to head out for an hour or so and do some intervals since I haven't been riding as much as I'd like, and could use to get in better shape. So I start down West River Road and I feel good, so I start to cruise. I figured I had a tailwind, because I was going a couple mph. faster than normal. I think I see a flash and I look up, the sky

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-34998031370815993992007-09-11T18:09:00.000-05:002007-09-20T19:43:16.083-05:00

Just in case there was any doubt... NEW YORK (Reuters) - Higher U.S. gasoline prices may slim more than just wallets, according to a new study from Washington University in St. Louis Entitled "A Silver Lining? The Connection between Gas Prices and Obesity," the study found that an additional $1 per gallon in real gasoline prices would reduce U.S. obesity by 15 percent after five years. The

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-2035830509777139162007-08-31T21:55:00.000-05:002007-08-31T22:04:46.965-05:00

August is just about over (two more hours) and I feel pretty glad to say goodbye to it.1 Bridge collapse1 Crash of teammates2 Power outages at home1 Bat in the bedroom1 Incident of me standing in the backyard in my pj's at 1:00 a.m. with the house lit up like a christmas tree and back door wide open (due to item above)4+ Nights of less than optimum slumber due to thunder and lightningNow for the

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-1456076467304794112007-08-12T21:44:00.000-05:002008-12-10T06:17:09.066-06:00

Power Outage and Team Time Trial WeekendThe weekend started out at 4:00 a.m. on Saturday with a terrific lighning and thunderstorm. Unfortunately it knocked out our power. Just our half of the block, not the neighbors across the street or at the end of the block, they were enjoying their lights, A/C, refrigerators, dryers, dishwashers, radios, t.v.'s, garage door openers, outdoor fountains and

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-63187439854063947312007-08-02T23:46:00.000-05:002007-08-02T23:54:28.269-05:00

Michael and I are both okay. Neither of us was on that bridge at all the day it collapsed. He was at the Twins game when it happened, and I was on a bike ride, albeit one where I witnessed a crash of my teammates. I haven't been downtown, even though it's only a couple miles up the road from my house. I don't want to be a gawker getting in the way of people who are trying to do their jobs. Plus I

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-17529731209882409842007-07-26T20:22:00.000-05:002007-07-26T20:26:03.964-05:00

I was never exceptionally good at science, but I sure love to read about it now. I'm especially intrigued by the overlap of science and metaphysics. I recommend the book The Field by Lynn McTaggert if you want a scientific look at the zero point field, or the idea that everything in existence is connected. This book shows that there is actual scientific proof that we can create our own reality.

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-62446391210563376402007-07-14T11:49:00.000-05:002007-07-14T11:59:02.059-05:00

Today's the new moon. Here's a Reiki Meditation if you're so inclined.And here's even more moony goodness. Happy New Moon!

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-14574108254348494382007-07-10T20:41:00.000-05:002008-12-10T06:17:09.574-06:00

Weekend AwayMichael and I had planned for some time, a trip to southwestern wisconsin for a get-together with the people from his rep group. The destination was a farm near ViroquaHaving never been to southwestern Wi, I was excited for the road trip, but expecting it to look pretty much like the rest of the state.How wrong I was! This is the driftless area, where the glaciers didn't smooth

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-38105744816132473212007-06-13T20:33:00.000-05:002008-12-10T06:17:09.896-06:00

My First Bike RaceI did it!I rode the Black Dog Time Trial tonight. I rode as hard as I could for seven miles and felt like I was going to throw up from about mile 3 on, but I did not hurl. I rode to my limit, with heart rate between 180 and 190 for about 22 minutes (not sure of my official time yet) and now I know that I can push myself a lot harder for a lot longer than I thought possible.I

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-46890731642484367342007-06-04T21:42:00.000-05:002008-12-10T06:17:10.147-06:00

Food MusingsI'm reading Harvest for Hope right now. It's an excellent book about where our food comes from (the subtitle is A Guide to Mindful Eating.) I checked it out from my local library, along with another book called The Real Food Revival.I've made a decision to eat as organically as possible. I'm making an effort to stop spending my money on needless crap and start buying better food.Some

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-91876942854555758342007-05-30T21:50:00.000-05:002007-05-30T21:55:37.494-05:00

This year's birthday consisted of driving mom and dad to the airport (wish I could go to alaska, too!) buying my annual rosebush with my birthday money from grandma, along with a bunch of other garden additions, and spending hours in the garden planting, weeding and mulching :) and then going out to eat with Michael and touring the inside of Jennifer's new house. For some reason I didn't feel

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-34245964553864515742007-05-22T21:36:00.000-05:002007-05-22T21:44:20.936-05:00

Talking to my fellow Desperados last night (the writing group) I learned from Mike that a friend of his and his wife have personal challenges every month. Like going for a month without alcohol, or only eating vegan. So we decided to have a writing group challenge-- to write for 10 minutes every day for the next month. Today is my second day, and so far I'm doing well. Blogging doesn't count, nor

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-42378365256066953512007-05-19T14:06:00.000-05:002008-12-10T06:17:10.328-06:00

The Naturalist's Estate SaleThis was definitely in my top two estates sales ever. Right up there with the hatmaker/printmaker couple sale in Kenwood-- this was a Nature-lover's house in Longfellow. A small, unassuming house that beckoned with vintage linens waving in the breeze out on the front lawn. Jennifer tipped me off to this one, calling me while I was weeding my side garden and insisting "

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-34120967055475678182007-05-19T07:46:00.001-05:002007-05-19T07:49:53.309-05:00

Two bike goals accomplished in two days:I went out to the track on Thursday to cheer on my teammates. Track racing looks really fun and scary!I rode my bike to work yesterday! It was 28 miles round trip with three moderate hills. It wasn't as difficult to find a route as I had feared, so I'll probably do it again. And everyone at work was really impressed and they all asked me about it. "How did

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-24553978952469234632007-05-16T21:46:00.001-05:002007-05-19T14:33:44.050-05:00

Finally, I found this in a format other than cassette tape. For your listening pleasure, it's T.S. Eliot reading the Waste Land!!! http://world.std.com/~raparker/exploring/thewasteland/explore.htmlThis website will take you through all of the allusions in the Waste Land. I found myself immersed in this website for an hour before I even realized it.

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-14206793527775162432007-05-13T08:09:00.000-05:002008-12-10T06:17:10.682-06:00

Yesterday I inadvertently did a 56 mile bike ride. How does one accidentally end up riding for four hours? Try to find a small town on the outskirts of St. Paul where you friends are riding in a TT and don't bring a map.I never did find the TT, but I got in half my miles for the week in one day!

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-72918364076580813362007-05-08T22:30:00.000-05:002007-05-08T22:56:36.126-05:00

What not to do if you want your quads to feel good:Ride your bike 14 miles in the wind as fast as you can,don't do anything the next day,the following day attend a yoga session where you spend several minutes in chair pose rotating with several minutes in crescent lunge.Ouch.Tonight I did practice racing and sprints with the VB gals.Can't wait to see how it feels tomorrow!

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-60908808063392815502007-05-02T21:57:00.000-05:002008-12-10T06:17:10.844-06:00

I had to do three posters for my typography assignment due today. It's for a fictional designer lecture series at the Walker Art Center. Here is my favorite one. But according to my class, it had lots of problems. Back to the drawing board?

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-51320787951090333112007-05-01T22:48:00.000-05:002007-05-01T22:52:26.399-05:00

Hey, it's May Day and a full moon. That must be why I feel so gooood today! And the flowering crabapple or dogwood or whatever they are on 28th street are blooming a block from my house and man, do they smell great! The azaleas and tulips are looking great, and pretty soon it will be lilac time :) Time for one of my favorite bits of doggerel...Now that lilacs are in bloomShe has a bowl of lilacs

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-1188770988690162452007-05-01T22:36:00.000-05:002008-12-10T06:17:11.062-06:00

Here's what I did last weekend...The Minnesota Ironman! No, not a triathlon, but a 66 mile bike ride through windy farm/new suburb country. There I am at the front of the pack, as usual. Okay, so I'm just glad that they actually captured it on film, because for the whole second half of the ride I was wheel sucking at the back of the pack, gasping just to hang on. From this pic, it looks like the

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-55717221889394063282007-04-21T22:39:00.000-05:002007-04-21T22:46:58.777-05:00

Monumental day: I went on a group ride and for the first time did NOT get dropped on the hills. I wasn't the first one up, but I wasn't the last :) Yay! First sign of visible improvement in my cycling!Also, noticed my lungwort that I got from Wendy last summer is already flowering. What a lovely sight. I have high hopes for my garden this year. However, I experienced quite a jolt when I went to

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-35365329809977128922007-04-19T22:44:00.000-05:002007-04-19T22:48:32.159-05:00

So I was riding my bike the other day and I came upon a family on bikes with a little boy dressed as a superhero. I thought, man, why is it okay for kids to dress like superheroes but adults can't get away with that.Then I looked down at my cycling kit, and it made me laugh.I think that's the real reason people love cycling. It's acceptable to dress in brightly colored spandex and speed around

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-38947460684380858862007-04-17T22:36:00.000-05:002007-04-17T22:38:25.136-05:00

Cycling season has officially started for me. I have 180 miles in for the year. Today I learned how to touch wheels and not (always) fall off the bike. Baby steps.

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-1176059315896659812007-04-08T14:04:00.000-05:002007-04-08T14:20:16.143-05:00

I'm back on the blog.The first few pages of my novel, Dog Days, is now posted at poppyred.comDon't expect to find anything else there just yet.Today my cycling friend Jennifer P. brought over an old bike frame that's too big for her. She thought I could have it built up into a fixie or something. It's a Trek 520 from 1984, color: taupe. Apparently this is a frame for a touring bike, so it may

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-1165642768551518482006-12-08T23:36:00.000-06:002006-12-08T23:39:28.560-06:00

This post is so late it's almost time for another haircut. But here is my before and after of my (finally) haircut after several months of hair grow and probably the longest it's been since I was 14.

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-1162269378212320152006-10-30T22:35:00.000-06:002006-10-30T22:36:18.236-06:00

I love Halloween.

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-1160708816641133442006-10-12T21:58:00.000-05:002006-10-12T22:06:56.656-05:00

This is why I love going to Grand Marais in the fall. Lake. Rocks. Trees. Cabin.

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-1160486080241530212006-10-10T08:08:00.000-05:002006-10-10T08:14:40.253-05:00

The Sand BlowThe last weekend in September, Mom and Dad and I met up for a weekend at Crex Meadows, near Grantsburg, WI. This was the second year I've gone. It's a great fall destination. The oak trees are beautiful and there are thousands of migrating geese and sandhill cranes. Even a few swans, hawks, ducks and coots. And in case you have a hard time remembering the difference, like I

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-1158977285176389752006-09-22T21:04:00.000-05:002006-09-22T21:08:05.186-05:00

This is the first and only time I have been in FRONT of all these fast skiers. I'm just glad it was captured on film!It was the City of Lakes Loppet Roller Rally-- a fundraiser for the Loppet ski foundation. Since I was one of only a handful of people who didn't have rollerskis, I biked the 40 km (not counting another 10 miles to and from home) and believe it or not, I actually had to sort of

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-1157988622251091342006-09-11T10:13:00.000-05:002006-09-11T10:30:22.276-05:00

The Defeat of Jesse James Day Bike Tour in Northfield MN:I did the 60 mile ride with some cycling buddies, while my fellow Bellas did the 100 mile ride. It was about 50-60 degrees and overcast and windy. I wore more layers than when I ski in 30 degree weather, and I was glad for it. I could've used shoe covers and and full gloves.It was a beautiful tour through farm country with lots of cow

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-1157636089794479842006-09-07T08:27:00.000-05:002006-09-07T08:34:49.806-05:00

A week ago I cut my finger on a can of tomato sauce, trying to fix a quick dinner because I was too tired to walk the two blocks to El Norteno for takeout.I was halfway through making my dinner when it happened. It isn't easy cooking half a meal when you're spurting blood out of your middle finger. After dinner (which by the way wasn't even very tasty) my finger still hadn't stopped bleeding,

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-1157080397236695812006-08-31T22:10:00.000-05:002006-08-31T22:13:17.253-05:00

My new Amici Veloci jersey is really pretty swanky. I dare say I like it even better than my Velo Bella jersey.The first time I wore it, I had two guys on the trail try to talk to me during my ride. Unfortunately, I think they were both a little crazy.

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162643.post-1156465150403796722006-08-24T19:15:00.000-05:002006-08-24T19:28:50.646-05:00

My latest hobby which has taken over all my non-work, non-sleep time is bicycling.Here's where I like to talk to other women cyclists: http://forums.teamestrogen.com/And bikejournal is where I've logged all my cycling miles almost since I started.I joined the local chapter of Velo Bella, an all-female cycling club.

Pyxichicknoreply@blogger.com0