Some folks get company cars...

...but for me, the perks are different. I just built up my new "company" bicycle. A race-ready, light weight (14lbs and change) road machine that I will try to be worthy of. It was a hot one today---but this is my first weekend in many weeks where I wasn't traveling beforehand and Mike was here and we were a family home. Nice. We woke up early and contemplated going to Markleeville. We decided Friday evening if it was smokey here, we would head to the climbs...but if it looked ridable in Reno, we would watch the Tour Stage and then head out from home.

We woke up to a kind of haze---but I was so tired of traveling that even the thought of driving in a car to ride my bike felt like too much of a contradiction. So we watched the Tour and suited up and I didn't care about the smokey haze, the heat, the road work being done on my favorite road to my climb or anything. It just felt good to head out into the sunshine on a new lightweight racing machine, after a relaxing morning with Mike and the Scrapper

This little Ridley is the exact same bike Mike rides---only in miniature. I may not ride like a racer, but I was dressed in the finest cycling clothing money can buy (yes---biased as they get, and yes, Campagnolo is all over me) on a fast race bike and I had nothing to do but ride for hours.

I had a date when I got back with Mike for a sushi feast, courtesy of my brother/sister and nephews, and so life is pretty good today. New bike, new clothes and lots of food after a long hot ride.

I am heading out on Tuesday and will be gone for the week in the San Francisco Bay Area, including a Grand Opening Party of a new Bicycle Studio in San Francisco. At least this trip will include a long over due Movie Night with Mom---It is looking like I will be away more than home for the rest of the summer, but after this trip, Mike will be with me as well. Otherwise I would never see him. I am already counting the days to a relaxing week in the Fall in Marshall.

Boston to Denver

Funny how seeing Boston as a visitor was such a different experience for me than living there. To put it differently, I really enjoyed being there and was able to appreciate New England in a different light. I am sure that being able to stay with friends, especially after NYC, enhanced things. Gibson and Teens have a new 6 month old yellow lab named Maggie that was delightful and Stella, the older lab was the same sweet hound she always was. I missed the Scrapper immediately.

It was fun to know where I was going for a change and Paola and I started our visit in Belmont and then headed over to the Seven Factory. Paola enjoyed a tour, and was intrigued by the process of building one bike at a time by hand. I enjoyed visiting with my old "homies". It was nostalgic in many ways. Jenna and Karl met Paola and I for a nice dinner in Newton Square and we drank beer and ate New England fare and gossiped and chatted into the evening. It was a muggy, moist but lovely time.

The next day we headed to Newton to visit International Bike Centers (a great shop if you're ever there) and then into downtown Boston for our final visit. I was thrilled to NOT get lost and Paola was happy to have made some American electronics purchases for her friends. And, just like magic, it was a perfect day---the weather was beautiful, humidity was not there and there was a nice breeze. To end the evening we went out for sushi in Brookline. It was in fact the first sushi place that Mike and I ever went to in Boston before we even moved there. We were 4 gals out on the town. It was "fantastic" (it sounds better in Italian).

Gibson offered to take Paola on a motorcycle ride the next morning to Harvard square so Paola could relax before heading back to Italy and I left before the crack of dawn to fly to Denver. I was amazed at how smokey Denver was---from the far reaching California fires. But I was happy to be out of humidity. I couldn't even see the big mountains until I was near Colorado Springs. Had a great visit with another one of my favorite accounts and then it was back to Denver for a relaxing evening before heading home.

From Denver to Reno I was on a flight with some Minnesota Fire Fighters who were heading out to help in California. They were from Ely, and were impressed that I knew where that was. I bragged a bit about my Minnesota geography by telling them I went on my honeymoon in Grand Marais. It's amazing to me how vast this country is and how different the people are from coast to coast---yet the same too. It was a fun time and I am glad to be home even if I can't see anything in all the smokey haze. I really wanted to ride outside, but the air is awful so I enjoyed the Tour and rode the trainer. For once, I can have the house all clean, laundry done and shopping complete for Mike who will come home from Oregon tomorrow night. He always has everything spic and span when I get home...so it is nice to do the same for him for a change.

The coolest thing was the phone call this afternoon, "Sweetie, I won the race!" Taylor takes the last stage in his race in Cascades (he raced master's for the first time because he couldn't get out of work early enough to do the Pro1/2). He's still got it!

Two dangerous women in Manhattan!

The night before I left for our East Coast launch of Campagnolo Sportswear, I received the following text from Italy, " we are two dangerous women!" Indeed! NYC is "off the hook". It is not possible to spend three days only and even touch on the expanse of such a place. I have never visited "on business", and aside from flying in and out, I haven't been there since I was a teenager visiting my grandparents. I felt like a small town girl lost in a foreign land--where they spoke english, albeit very fast english!

Our hotel was called The Dream---and it was very NYC-Manhattan-Midtown. All "a-la-carte" and very expensive by this girl's standard's. I really enjoy traveling with Paola. I have learned some things about "living". She doesn't miss a beat. She's in NYC and so she will enjoy as much as she can there in the time she has---even if it is a business trip. All of our NYC retailer appointments went off without a hitch. Better than planned, including a visit with Bicycling Magazine editors. So hopefully we will enjoy some success!

On Monday night, after we finished with our last appointment for the day, we hopped on the subway and headed to Long Island City to visit with my cousin Sharon at her art studio. I have seen Sharon's work throughout my life, through cards and prints, but never have I had the opportunity to touch and see her paintings live. WOW! Her studio looks out at the NYC skyline---and is a co-op with several other artists. Very vogue in an artisian, NY way. And a real treat.

Afterwards we went for dinner at a nice Thai restaurant and then walked out to the water and enjoyed the twilight as Manhattan came to life before our eyes. All twinkles and a city that completely encompasses your entire visual panoramic view. Loss of words.

We were sure to also enjoy Central Park before 7am by foot---no cars are allowed before this time and I was amazed at how many people there were so early in the day. This is truly a city that does not sleep. I feel more worldly afterwards. I will have to write more about Boston and Denver---NYC deserves it's own space. The photo's are of Paola and I in front of a bikeshop in Long Island City and of my cousin Sharon with me. I heart NY!

Happy 4th of July

Even with the cost of living and being a citizen in the USA these days, I am proud to live here and to be an American. I can not think of a place I would rather live. I was surprised to find the "recession" of the world even in Italy. It's expensive and stressful everywhere---Euro to dollar or no. I enjoyed a lovely morning ride in a silent Reno. As a cyclist, the less traveled roads and traffic free existence is a good thing. Not sure what it "used" to be like when the economy was better, but I kinda like it this way. I fill my tank once a month---so the only thing I notice is that food (my gasoline) is more expensive. Sigh.

I was encouraged to see so many folks out riding. Last year, we set a record heat of 108F. Today it was cool---wind-free and no smoke---though a bit hazy. I did my climbing laps and on each lap, I rode with different folks who were also enjoying the calm sound of silence.

I am leaving at "oh-dark-thirty" on Sunday morning to head out East. New York City ---Manhattan at that! I am very excited. This feeling is enhanced by the fact that I really have a nice relationship with my Italian colleague now. We're friends. It took us a year to get to this fluid place, but we are there and have leaped some barriers and I am learning so much from this woman. She's very talented and so my job with her is fun. She is very excited to see my cousin Sharon's studio and so we are planning an evening together with a real NYC woman. We're all Aquarian, Independent people with a ton of energy for what we love. Passion. It's contagious.

From NYC Paola and I will head to Boston. I am beyond excited to see the gang at Seven. And to visit some local shops that I really enjoyed when I lived there. It's amazing to feel local about a place that is 4000 miles away. It is also common in my little industry. It is very small. While I was entrenched in my life in Boston, I had no idea that I was bonding for life with some places and people. Like in 10 years I will be thrilled to see these folks. It's funny. Time can be a nuisance---but the beauty is in how time's perspective makes a person whole. I am happier now than I have ever been.

Paola will head back to Italy from Boston---but I will continue on to Denver & Colorado Springs. It will be good to be home. Mike is heading to Oregon to race Cascades. He's been wanting to participate in the race for years---and so I am thrilled for him and yet bummed to not be there too!

My brother and his family moved to town. Last Sunday I went to visit his new place and there was my little brother, in the pool with 15 other kids. I popped my head into the water to give my eldest nephew Daniel a kiss. The gal sitting next to me asked if he was my son or my brother. I said he was my brother's son. She said it was un-canny how much he looked like me. I glowed all evening. Zachy and D, and Kris and Steve are adjusting well---sometimes the boys are a little homesick, my Kristine looks more relaxed than I have seen her in years.

A big Happy Birthday to My Uncle Hy! 90 years! And Happy 4th of July to all!