Saturday, June 28, 2008

Lake Tahoe, Nevada

I had the opportunity for job training and networking a couple weeks ago in Lake Tahoe-South Shore-Stateline, NV. Sweet, I know. I did the power-tourist thing and saw the area in a whirlwind by road, mountain and gondola riding (so I could attend many of the sessions at the conference).


I did not get much sleep as I had a mountain view and I left the curtains open all week. I have a ton of pictures from the full moon setting over the ridge. Awesome.


See the reddish patch of land below the snow-capped mountains, that was from last year's Angora fire area.
A 250 years old Western White Pine.

My hotel/casino was to the right of the gondola below. The odd numbered rooms had the mountain views. I steered clear of playing blackjack as I wanted to spend my time and money outside.

Monday, June 23, 2008

Whoa Nelly!

Wilson, you could have edited the picture!

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Grandview Grand Prix

The last five years, my neighborhood had an awesome race that passed by my house on Janet Avenue. There has been some race promoter drama the last month so our community is looking to keep my neighborhood criterium on the schedule for July 26th. Registration opens Tuesday, June 24th on Bikereg.com.

Come race and meet my cute, little, furry buggers. It is always a good time for all racers and non-racers alike. We grill burgers, dogs ('cause we are cat lovers :-) and have many cold ones on hand. Bring your own folding chairs and join us for some great racing and socializing. I turn the big four-"o" in July so you must come to the Grandview Grand Prix and have a cold one with me.

Who's the Man?!

Tiger!! I know - it is a week later but I was without a computer to do blogging. I missed the epic battle as I was in the skies to Lake Tahoe on Monday, June 16th. At least I got to see the highlights in the hotel on the Golf Channel (with massive mountains and a gorgeous lake view outside my window). Since Tiger will be out of the next two majors due to acl surgery, I will not torture the non-golf, non-Tiger fans as I will not be recovering/watching golf for the rest of the year.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Vegan Marshmallows


This coming week is Full Circle Susquehanna's Sense of Wonder Camp and I had to find vegan marshmallows for the Thursday overnight.

Well, I found these at Whole Foods. They had fish gelatin. And you could taste it, too. Yuck. I made everyone taste them. Even a child knew that had that awful fish after taste.

Pretty funny but costly. I had to compost them.

EAGLES!!!!

Yesterday's US Open was the most exciting sport to watch. I think conquering the mental aspect is the toughest of any sport and Tiger knows how to overcome. The crowds roared and roared and roared. It was just amazing to watch over and over again on ESPN Sportscenter.

You gotta check out the video highlights at NBC.com and ESPN.com. Final round today at 3 p.m. EST but Tiger will probably be teeing off around 4:30 p.m. EST. I am all about Tiger Woods. These crazy posts will probably be regulars four times a year if Tiger is rocking, which he usually is. (Masters, US Open, British Open and PGA Championships if you did not know the "majors")

Sunday, June 8, 2008

First Lap of Liberty Classic 2008

You will have to do a little "where is HPC Powered by Altarum" with the pics.

Fire goddess on the outside-front; she rocked on the second lap, too. "10:16 EDT The women finish their second climb up the Wall. QOM results are 1 Kristin Armstrong (Cervelo Lifeforce Pro Cycling Team), 2 Mara Abbott (Team High Road - Women), 3 Kristy Scheffenacker (HPC Powered by Altarum)." - CN
the field;
Lesley and Lorena and Kate?? - I did continuous shoot. I think Kate is hidden by a rider - look at the Jen photo... if you can blow it up, you can see the back of her.

Kate? and Jen;
JDub;
JDub;
JDub.

Staging


Yea, I am still awake because I am a freak. I go a while not posting then slam! :-) I have to do this - work will be crazy as someone resigned and her last day was last Thursday; I have been off since last Thursday; I leave for a conference on June 16th and I have to finalize some girl's camp stuff that weekend before.

Feed Zone

I could not sleep so I woke at 4:30 a.m. , showered and headed to the feed zone to snag a tent for the team. I thought I forgot to pack my mace so I ended up walking through the start/finish area as to avoid all the homeless people sleeping everywhere. Single woman, walking with a camera bag and backpack said "tourist" all the way. I sweated even more in the pre-dawn humidity. The walk took me twenty minutes. My legs are still throbbing and I did not race or even ride a bike today. Ugh. I dropped at least 5 lbs and that was after I ate dinner at 4:00 p.m. I just popped some of those pills Good Andy had in his hands and down a glass of water. My job was to manage the feed zone and I think we did pretty good, all things considered.

We didn't have a big box cooler as I did not have room due to my commuting situation for the weekend and I ran out of time to buy a Styrofoam one. I forgot my 5 gallon jug of water at the yummy Fudge and Phluff lady's house and I was without a car to go get it. So I had to try to stay calm and improvise. The team car was being loaded from two hotels and they did not have time to run for the water jug, either. Thank goodness PCT came through with the water and ice so it all worked out. I snagged some chairs from the expo as the vendors had not dragged their hungover arses out to set up yet. (6:00 a.m. came pretty fast) I even borrowed a small lunch box cooler from a vendor so our team car had drink bottle supplies to feed the riders and themselves. I called Brad at 6:30 a.m. requesting a Styrofoam cooler from Whole Foods. He showed up with two of those portable freezer bags and I about had a cow. Earlier, one of the volunteers gave me a huge trash bag and I put two cases of water and a 40 lb. bag of ice in it with a towel over it as a make shift cooler as I waited for the "cooler" that never arrived.

PCT provided a hospitality tent for the teams' support and volunteers marshaling the feeding area. I was so grateful as that bagel was the only thing I ended up eating all day. Once the mayhem began, it was non-stop until 1:00 p.m.

Liberty Classic 2008 Night Before

The middle man for the feed zone: Annnnnnndy Pooooooooooser!! (ready to rumble announcing...) My buddy rocks. Thanks "Good" Andy, for helping out my mates!! We have a Bad Andy that races, too. And these Andy-s have met; small world.




Saturday, June 7, 2008

Rock Star PR for Altarum

The Franklins, Fox 29 and the parade caravan for Sunday's big day in Philadelphia.