Marie is 60 years old and very proud of each and every one of those years. As a mother, a daughter, a sister and a caregiver, Marie has recently entered a new chapter in her life as a widow with a very large promise to live out for her loved one. She captures our attention with her calm and positive personality. Tackling a new sport and lifestyle at 60 years of age, Marie has broken down more barriers than most 38 year olds. Her story of achievement is impressive and inspirational. Stay tuned as Marie takes on more challenges and achieves more victories.
Hello to all,
It looks like our tenure as the original 5 Women Who Ride is winding down. I do have a few more stories to tell, and will try to get that out to you before I say "So Long For Now". This is where I spent last weekend in Cambia California and I had to be the one that found the snake.
In the meantime, the new WWR ladies have been chosen and you will have a whole new fresh outlook to read about, so stay tuned for more good things to come.
Well, the birthday is over for another year and yes, once again we managed to get though the process. I think as you get older the concept of the "UnBirthday" is a better idea. (Do we all remember Through The Looking Glass?) It all seems more special when celebrations don't take place on the actual day, at least that is how I would like to think.
I must say I received the great expression of love from each of my grandsons. They both made me individual cards and they were quite proud to point out that each card was the recipient ot "62" brand new staples. Yes, I said staples. Thy were so proud of the glittery masterpieces that were certainly suitable for framing and I'm considering it.
As a mother of two girls, I must say I enjoy two grandsons for all their innovations and inventions that they dream up. The boys are very thoughtful and not the least bit intimidated about showing their affection for "Grand Marie. Thank you also to my daughters and their husbands for helping me memember that age is just a number.
Thanks Will and Jack, Come Ride With Me.
I want you all to know how much I appreciate my life these days. I am connected with truly wonderful people in my life that includes my family and my extended family. I am often repeating a familiar phrase"You have your family you are born into and the family you create for yourself." If you are lucky they will all share it with you, and that happens with me on a regular basis. I am one lucky lady to enjoy a great relationship with everyone in my "family" and hope that the dynamic lasts forever. Now I belong to another family that is composed of two entities, Trek and LiveStrong. These two groups of fine, fine people have provided me with a new direction to my life and I couldn't be prouder for the work we are all doing to promote a cure for Cancer.
Saturday night I had the privledge to ride my bike down Sunset Boulevard. It was blocked off for one reason, to deliver a message that Hope Rides Again. It's not easy for me to find my way to these events and participate somewhat by myself, but I dig down deep and muster my courage believing that it's the least I can do for those that cannot help themselves. I walked my bike down Sunset in order to get to the starting gate. I didn't know how to use the Metro Link so I did what I do well, "Walk". Once I get to where I need to be, I have learned to chat with people and make myself feel comfortable in my surroundings. The only reason I am addressing this issue is because it would be good for all of us to experience a little discomfort as a way to reach out to others. This is the mural that was painted on the side of the Montalban Theater, recognize the artwork? The artist is Shepard Fairey. Of recent note, he created the Hope poster of Barack Obama. It was a beautiful night to listen to Lance speak of why he is returning to the bike. He is a great young man that will help us all accomplish great things. As someone who has been fortunate to hear him speak on several occasions, this thought is always on his mind... The LivesStrong message belongs to all of us and he will tell you that his name is not as important as all the volunteers that are responsible for growing this cause. Give it some thought, we are being handed an opportunity to make a difference.
Thank you Trek and Thank you LiveStrong.
Come Ride With Me.
I received an invitation last week from the Livestrong Foundation. I am being invited to join a bike ride this Saturday evening that travels down Sunset Boulevard. This is to kick off a campaign wherein 21 prominent artists will interpret and create a piece of art about the LiveStrong global fight against cancer and / or Lance's return to the bike. All art pieces will be a part of a touring art show in cities like Venice, Paris and New York which will run through October, ending in an event on 10/2/09, where the pieces will be auctioned off with all proceeds coming to LAF.
The event on March 7th will include Lance Armstrong (Trek Bicycles) and Doug Ulman (Livestrong Foundation President) visiting Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles and then a ride down Sunset Blvd. with 500 local cyclists. The LAF volunteers have been given 100 spots for the event and that is were I come in. We ride our bikes to the Montalban Theater where we will go inside and listen to Lance and Doug present the campaign and take comments from the audience..
I am so excited to be able to participate in this event and will share my experience with you next week. I will ride my FX2 , as I think it's a prfect fit for the social evening. Too bad I don't have one of the newer FX editions to show off for Trek. The FX2 model will look real nice becuase it has been on my trainer for so long, I hope she remembers how to act in public. We shall see.
Come Ride With Me.
Sunday February 22, 2009 was clearly a day of "Victories and Successes". AND... I was there.
Our Levi won the Tour of California!
Our Lance did a fabulous job on his "comeback" ride as well as raising the level of cancer awareness!
I had a great, one on one visit with Tori Broughton (Treks demo representative for the Western Region!
I ran into people that I have previously met through the Women Who Ride program, what a great surprise!
The LIVESTRONG booth raised plenty of money for cancer and also signed up new potential army members. We were giving away these cool fans for the fans. How fun!
I love meeting and talking with people about my passions and this day was perfect for interaction with so many wonderful people. I have a renewed sense of spirit to start my week and once again I am convinced that this is what I am meant to do; touching people through my life experiences.
Come Ride With Me.
"I'm on the lookout for the missing bikes and I hope I don't run into the Jerks that thought they could pull this off; IDIOTS
Next weekend I will be working in the Livestrong booth at the Tour of California as it concludes in Rancho Bernardo / Escondido. Anyone out there visiting for the day, I would love to meet you so please stop by. This will be my second time attending the Tour of California and I am more prepared this time because I have a job assignment.
I must note the wonderful bike riding I have watched this weekend and although the "pouring" rain is not my idea of a ride, I do enjoy watching from the sidelines how the professionals pull all this off. I can now watch with a renewed sense of appreciation just from the limited experiences I have had.
Come Ride With Me
You might have thought I was going to discuss my measurements, no way!
Rather...
Our life should not be measured by length, but rather in the joy we have experienced.
I plan to seize the day,,,don't be left behind
I don't know about anyone else but I am trying something new. If you live as long as I have, there is just about some sort of sad history with every month of the year. As time passes on it seems I found myself saying. Well, in January this horrible thing happened to me, then there was February, March, April, well you get the picture. I am sick and tired of focusing on everything negative and I think it just keeps bringing more negative my way. So I have a new plan, and it's never too late to devise one.
Since by way of burial, Valentines Day marks the day my late husband crossed over, I am now using this as a tribute to his positive personality. From now on I am going to make something nice happen for me on all these dark days from out of my past. I don't care if I find carrots on sale at the supermarket, I will try to remember the day for something positive. If we all work together, this turn around could effect / touch all of us in a significant way. (six degrees of separation)
We have pouring rain here again today so I won't ride the bike, but I can find plenty of other things to raise my spirit. Maybe I'll call a friend that needs a boost. If any of you have experienced this, let me know how you would turn your world around.
Come Ride With Me
Can you believe it's raining again in Southern California; I think it's our third day of rain this winter and I am worried about floating away. I am anxious to get these old bones out and about on my bike in the sunshine, but in the meantime if I don't keep moving I'll be stuck on the couch forever. So, as a recap for my week, I have participated in two Aqua Fit classes, one full hour each session, Belly Dance, again one full hour and Thursday was spent working on the recumbent bike for 30 minutes, a spin class and one more Aqua Fit session. While I am out there, I might as well fit in everything I can. I know my children are grown and have their own lives, and my husband has passed on, but this is my obligation for myself today. By the way, don't think my resting hours are spent resting. I am constantly working on "lists", work at least 40 hours per week in a structured workplace environment, and spend every extra minute I can socializing.
A year or so ago I was running and riding my bike. Because I can no longer hit the pavement with the bottom of my feet, I had to find a substitute and that is the Aqua Fit combined with the bike. Would I rather sit on my butt? You bet, but I have so much to lose if I go down that path; everything but weight..
Please consider some small amount of exercise if you are not riding or moving at this point in time. Try 10 minutes and see how good you feel about it. Then write to me and let me know your thoughts about going down a new path.
Come Ride With Me
Last week while I was at the gym, I met up with a new Spin Class instructor. We started up a conversation and I expressed how I so wanted to attend the class but didn't think it was a good idea with my tender knee.He immediately showed me his scarred knees as a result of several operations and quickly responded, 'Yes you can"!!!.. Besides, I can use my clip shoes again that have been on hold for some time due to doctors orders not to do the twist in those shoes.
If you know me, that is all I needed to hear to get me to that class and that is just what I have planned for this week. While participating in several different spin classes I must say when the instructor yells out to you to "get out of the saddle you lazy sleaze bag", several things come to mind but first, want to get out of that saddle alright and slither out of the room and hide. While I know they are there to motivate you, a good majority of us are barely there and I for one need more of a positive message. Let's move on...
My new instructor offered to adjust my bike, make sure everything is set up perfectly and told me by the time the first session is finished, I will have all the confidence I need to continue with the classes and become the super girl I intend to be, or that is in my heart. So here we go again, wish me luck as this is just once more step to getting myself back to where I want to be in my Bicycle life. I hope you are all listening and can see that we all have the wherewithal to make a comeback. You just need to want it in your heart and surround yourself with the right motivators/people in your life that want you to have it too.
Come Ride With Me.
