Snow, Snow and more Snow!

Hard to believe that just yesterday, Mike rode his bike up Geiger Pass. Outside. Sigh. We woke up to maybe 6 inches of fresh snow covering everything. Again. We had a couple of weeks of a reprieve from winter's last blast. But here it is again. I bought a new trainer of my own that I really like. Some Italian "Fluid" job that really does make the indoor workout a bit more tolerable.

And just like "life does", the last couple of years of living in season's has prepared me for the "indoor workout" phase. Something I certainly never knew much about growing up in Northern California's paradise weather for cyclists. Now, once the snow flies (sometime in December), I set my mind to the fact that I won't be riding outside. My habit of waking up early to hit the pavement is transformed to sleeping in a little longer and riding the trainer before work. It's really bad when Mike can't ride outside though. Since he quit racing so seriously, he has a harder time suffering for hours inside. I don't suffer inside or outside---

I am traveling for the next couple of weeks setting the stage for next fall's winter riding wear and sales. So I guess the weather is irrelevant, though I notice that everywhere I will be will have crummy-ish weather---'cept maybe So.Cal if the rain would ever stop.

I have been taking some time off from public journal writing. January is my time for introspection, thinking and planning for the year. I can just hear the "why aren't you out toughing it out in the weather on your bike, Joni?" My reputation of riding in even the worst of downpours (thanks for reminding me Amanda), was one thing. But cold and snow and grit----must be getting old or something! Heavy sigh.

Anyone who thinks I am a party-pooper for not "loving" the snow---well, I do love looking at it. I don't love shoveling it, cleaning up after it, driving in it or working in it. But it is beautiful. I just miss my outside time on the bike.

Happy Sunday!!

Time out!

Taking some time away from blogging. Travel and life and snow just have taken up all my time lately. Be back soon!

Downtime pleasures

When I was last in the Bay Area, my Mom was busy giving me stuff (when you grow up in my house, and probably your house too, "Mom" is always making sure you have enough food and toys), and a couple of the new editions to my "collection of stuff" included her old folk guitar, some old movies on tape, and some Kit-Kat bars and M&M's for Mike.

My guitars are all steel string and so my "soft" finger tips made playing quite painful---lack of practice. Nothing like a nylon string, pint sized guitar to help get your fingers in shape. This snow has been good for developing guitar calluses! I grew up listening to my Mom play guitar/ukulele and sing the three of us to sleep (or to laughter!). And now I have (yikes) become my Mom and am singing old Southern folk and "hippee" songs to the small hound. She doesn't laugh. She does sleep.

I have just begun reading Manhunt (12 day chase for Lincoln's killer)...riding the rollers, and watching old movies and Tours (de France, de Suisse, de jour)---being that we are somewhat "snowed in" for the weekend. The snow is even too deep for the Scrapper---so we're spending "family time" indoors. We're even expecting more snow showers today/tonight and the temps have cooled down and won't get too much above 32 today.

Enjoy the day!

Because if you were snow (reprise)...

...where would you want to fall? Really a fabulous commercial (that I first saw last year during the Tour of California while I was visiting Specialized last February). We got pummeled, hammered, and drenched in Rain and then Snow. It rained most of yesterday and we received 1.72 inches of rain in Reno (Annual average is 7 inches---month of January average, with January being the wettest month is 1 inch). When the rain shifted to big huge snowflakes in Verdi, Mike and I left work and headed home around 4:30pm. The snow went back to rain while we headed East to our house, but as soon as we headed up the hill to our house it was slippery snow.

We hunkered down in our warm house and watched the snow just fall from the sky. It was piling up outside at about 3-6 inches an hour for a while. Mike went out and shoveled every hour and he got it down to where the intervals only took about 25 minutes for the front and back. I always thank (and think) the world for (and of) my husband---but let me tell you how my Minnesota Guy shines in the winter! It's really remarkable!

The sun came out in the morning and kids were sliding down the street on body boards, and sleds---and Mike and I watched the news about the levee that broke in Fernley, and Sydney went hunting in the winter wonderland for rabbits. The we watched our neighbors (who are not near as efficient as Mike), get out and shovel. No one uses snow-blowers---

At about 1:30 it started to snow again. Another 3-6 inches. After a ride on the trainer, I decided to redeem myself a bit and I went out and shoveled for 45 minutes while Mike rode the rollers. We are expecting even more snow tonight and tomorrow. It is absolutely beautiful. And it just started snowing again!

Happy Saturday!