Television

So I have off this week! How cool is that? I have a bunch of stuff I want to read and overall I just mainly want to chill. I've been pusing it so hard earlier this semester, so I really want to just mellow. I gotta say, I'm not looking forward to the second semester. That's when the caca really hits the fan.

In my chilling state, I realize I have acheived (sp?) complete couch potatodom. I have watch approximately 8 hours of television. My back and butt really hurt from yesterday. I stacked a cord of wood with my husband. I used muscles I didn't realize were there. Okay, off to watching more crap tv. I won't be able to do it in the spring, that's for sure.

~D

Wow! I really like to clean!

So as I posted before, I've been doing a lot of reading on environmentalism and stuff. I have come across this really cool book called Clean & Green by Annie Berthold-Bond. I've used some of the recipes in there... the one for furniture polish, cleaning the shower curtains, the laundry detergent and an all purpose disenfectant. There's a really awesome feeling of accomplishment I feel after mixing these recipes, using them, and having success. I recommend this book. It's pretty awesome. I can't believe I actually like to clean.

I'll never tell...

So, I've been doing a lot of reading lately on consumerism and how detremental it can actually be, see www.adbusters.org. I've also been doing a lot of reading on the enviroment, see www.oilposter.org. And finally, I'm always doing reading on cycling-not as a sport mind you, but as a vehicle for transportation. I find it's a damn shame that more people in the US don't cycle for transportation, but more on that later.
I've finally decided that my frugal assed husband has been right all along! How frugal is my man, well let me tell you... Instead of diamonds, I get cubic zirconias. His philosophy, jewelry depriciates so why spend so much on it. Instead of fancy underwear, I get Hanes Her Way. Instead of going out to dinner, we cook at home. Instead of heating our home with electric, we use a wood stove with an Ecofan on top (we will be planting Black Locusts in the spring to try and replace the ones we've used).
Whenever I read articles on consuption, the environment and transportation, I realize hey, my husband does that. If anything it's pretty humbling to me that my husband is right. Because before doing any of my reading, I've always tried to buck him (except for the jewelry part, hey it's jewelry, I'm a woman and I can't say no).
So how has all of this impacted me? Well for starters (and I apologize to any men reading this) I don't use maxi pads or tampons anymore. I gave them up and I don't think I'll be going back. Instead I use cloth pads (I love them!) from Lunapads. I don't think I'll ever be going back to Always. Instead of tampons, I use a Diva Cup. Can I tell you how nice it is not to have to worry about TSS? I have made sure to recycle more. I generally tend to have more recycling than I do garbage. I have used my bike for commuting more often. I love riding my bike. Finally, instead of shopping at clothing stores, I went to Goodwill instead. Dude! You can get so many clothes for decent prices, plus I got an awesome rocker! I've put on weight since these research classes so I needed more clothes. Hopefully I will be able to take that off when I graduate or finish or whatever the hell you call it.
So will I ever tell my husband he's right? HELL NO!! I don't want to get kicked out of the wives' club. But will I follow his advice on stuff, you betcha!

I'm back in the saddle again

Man I did it. I biked in 35 F degree weather today. Too too cool. Now don't get me wrong, I wasn't really speedy, I did breathe heavy, but I still did it. I rode up hills! There were some hills where I had to prepare myself but my butt made it up the hill. I'm really proud of myself. I'm ready to go again for longer tomorrow. My steed is not the fastest, my steed sure as hell is not the coolest, by no stretch of the imagination! But she gets me to where I need to go! Thanks K for motivating me with our cycling conversation last night!!

It's research, it's research fun for a girl and a boy!! It's research, it's research....

Well, I finished writing my second research exploration paper. This paper focuses on quantitative as opposed to qualitative. My qualitative paper didn't do so well. But at least I can resubmit. It's funny as I'm writing my quantitative paper, I feel more comfortable with my ideas. I always thought of myself as a qualitative person. Now all I'm going to do is going over it with a fine tooth comb.

I have actually started compiling my "stress curriculum". All those research articles are going to serve as a basis for what will be in it. Now it's just a matter of putting it all together. I'm really nervous about next semester. I think I'm going to be as stressed out as my participant. The good news is that I know what signs I need to look out for and the steps I need to take to prevent it.

Yesterday I went for a ride. Dang it was nice, but dang I'm out of shape. By the time I got my big ole butt up the hill, I was wheezing and panting. It was a sad sight. Oh, and my chest was burning too. My hubby tells me that it's because of the cold air. I was coughing and hacking all night. Took some Nyquil and some Emer-gen-C and I feel better.

There's a group ride scheduled for today, but I think I'm going to bail. I need to get accostumed to riding by myself. I think that's one of the reasons I stopped. I would be driving by myself and no one would be there telling me, "Car back!!" I need to get used to feel the cars next to me as I ride. Plus I need to get used to my clipless pedals. Oh the joys of falling to the side because you didn't unclip your feet quick enough. I used to be afraid of falling but the only thing I'm afraid of is falling off in traffic. There's a hill during my commute in which I'm afraid of falling. Well, it's just a matter of practicing now.

Still in a slump!

This really sucks. I think I've grown so used to biking with others that I've gotten yellow about biking by myself. It's bad, when I get up in the morning and it's dark, I just have difficulty wanting to get out on the road. And you know, it's not so much the morning, it's more of the afternoon that I don't relish. I hate having to deal with the teenagers on the road. I'm hoping that I can get out of this soon.

In a Cycling Slump

I feel like a huge dork, that's obviously nothing new, hence my name. I haven't commuted at all this week on Gertrude, my bike. I had my research class this Tues. and as much as I enjoy discussing research, it just really wears me out and then some. I've scoped out some hills in my neighborhood that I want to check out this weekend and maybe crash on. I've fallen twice so far. It's the bizarrest thing. When I fall, my first thought isn't am I okay? My first thought is who saw me? Then I just laugh really hard.

The mornings are getting colder and I think I may have to break down and get arm warmers as well as leg warmers. I just cringe at the idea of leg warmers. I can't help but think of the movie Flash Dance, except I don't look like that hot chick. Lol!!

Epilogue to a 50 year old beat my ass on a hill: I found out that the guy was actually 64. I am in awe!! I want to do that when I'm 64. I mean, really, how cool is that!! To be 64 and kicking some thirty year old's butt on a hill. That is frekkin' sweet! Dude!!