My lovely web hosting provider (iPower) moved my site to a “new and improved” server, and in the process screwed up my blog beyond all recognition. Had you noticed my site was down for a month? In the end I had to fix myself, but half due to principle and half because I was too busy, I tried making my host fix their own mess. Bad idea!

Three weeks went by with no solution, just a few rounds of help desk ticket volleyball where they tried to blame me, and I reminded them everything was working fine before they screwed around. Lucky for all of us, I kept back-ups of everything. While I’m pissed enough to switch hosts, everyone seems to have horror stories about every halfway decent hosting company, so I don’t know if I’d come out ahead.

Oh well… What matters is the Bombshell is back!

Spring has sprung, and with it came the return of sunshine and flowers. It’s at this time of year even the thoughts of a ninja may turn to love. This phenomenon is evidenced by the fact that one such Ninja, my best friend in the whole wide world, is soon to wed.

I want to extend my congratulations, bestow my blessings, and let the future Mrs. Ninja know that she is one very lucky lady. (Though I presume she has discovered this already.) Because her beloved Ninja just happens to be one of the finest humans alive.

He’ll make you laugh until your sides split, even at times when you thought nothing could break your sadness. He’ll be there when you need him, helping you discover the bright side of even the most painful situations. And he always has an endless supply of affection.

(Please don’t tell the other ninjas.)

Although he is in possession of all the skills and talents necessary to be successful in just about any endeavor, the Ninja is far too wise to be ensnared by the lures of mere worldly measurements of greatness… His highest goal: To become the perfect weapon - Pure Love!

My best advice to you is, remember that he’s not the average ninja. This one is special. If you bolster him with extra care and love him back the best you can, you may each achieve your amazing potential.

Heaven knows you’ll be busy. After all, he’d like to start a family soon. And who knows what other opportunities (disguised as challenges) God may throw your way. Rest assured, you can handle it. Any person the Ninja would choose as a partner is certainly up to the task.

Wishing you a beautiful life together!

Would you believe I finally got the very first stamp on my passport?

The Ninja brought me along on an all-expense paid trip to a resort in Mexico! He kicked some butt at work and earned a vacation that began on his birthday. We kicked off the last year of his 20s at the Pueblo Bonito Rose in Cabo San Lucas with a few dozen of his co-workers.

It was a four-day trip and Jordan’s company organized transportation, lodging, meals, and even provided an additional $125 per person room credit that we could use on spa treatments, room service, or whatever. The resort wasn’t brand new, but our experience was still very nice.

Most of our friends went on excursions (riding quads, parasailing) but the two of us mostly relaxed in and by various pools and worked on undoing some of our cycling tan lines. We enjoyed a preview of summer weather with temps in the 90s by day and mid 60s at night.

Had I written this right after I returned, my review of Mexico would be slightly more glowing. But I’m still getting over (for lack of a better term) intestinal trouble, bug bites, and a head cold, so I’m slightly less than thrilled with travel in general, especially to third world countries.

In fact, if you take a look at how we spent the room credit, it pretty much sums up what trips with the two of us are all about: we’re always hungry, so there are tons of charges for room service, and the rest went for snacks, hydration, bug sprays, lip balms, and sunscreen.

We may not be well-suited for travel, but we still had fun!

The results: I finished 4th… Out of 4.

That last-place finish doesn’t do much for my ego, but I learned a lot from the experience. Mainly that when you’re nervous it makes you have to pee. A lot! And wearing bib shorts, having no restrooms in the vicinity, showing up too late to warm up, and riding an unfamiliar course, are all things that don’t help.

Not only that, but it should also be mentioned that in many women’s cycling events they group all categories together since there are so few women involved in the sport. So where men might race with no more than 2 categories, my pathetic little category 4 slow newbie ass is up against professional and semi-professional female cyclists from all over. Kind-of makes that 4th place finish not sound so bad after all.

Since I have that first event under my belt, I’ll be trying a few more throughout the season. Maybe even a road race and/or a criterium toward the end of this month, and I’ll keep you posted on my results as they come. Originally my goal was not to be dead last, but I think I’ll set my sights a bit lower from now on… Finishing at all is good!

Watch me jinx even that.       PS: Happy Birthday Jordan!!! XOXOX

So, the Ninja and I hopped in the car and drove to Vegas. We stayed at the Signature at MGM Grand, which was made even more enjoyable thanks to a free upgrade to a penthouse suite. Pretty nifty. Not that we spent a lot of time there, since we were in the other city that never sleeps, and there’s no shortage of fun things to do and see.

However, the whole point was to meet Misty, Dena, Shelly, Lisa, Gina, Monica, Tasha, and Salena. Regrettably, only 5/8ths of that goal was achieved because (despite my best effort) I couldn’t track down the last three. However, it was lovely meeting those first five special ladies. Turns out your blogs very accurately portray who you are and what you’re all about… You’re each as fantastic as I’d imagined, and more!

Now that I know how awesome you are, I wish that Virginia Beach were right next door to Southern California. Though the Ninja and I are a couple of premature (yet immature) fuddy-duddies who don’t drink, smoke, or gamble, we hope there will be many more fun times to spend together soon. Maybe with hubbies and kids even… No? …Or not.

I should have done this in person, but I didn’t want to get all serious on you in the midst of all the fun, so listen: Blogger friendships may seem too distant or detached from outsider perspectives, but the laughter and support we share means a lot me. Thank you for sticking around through some very tough times, and for never forgetting that I exist even when my posts dwindle down to once or twice a month.

You’re each amazing, wonderful people, and I love you… XOXOX!

(The bunny on my handlebars helps though.)

Normally, I prefer 30-50 mile rides while surrounded by ten to twenty of my other road biking buddies, and of course, the one and only Jordan. I’m stoked that we’re once again enjoying daylight savings time (also known as cycling season). My office life sucks, but it’s made more tolerable when I can ride off the stress after work.

This weekend we’re heading out for yet another road trip. We’re gearing up for Las Vegas where we’ll be meeting a few of my favorite peeps on earth! I’m so excited. Good thing I’ve been so busy lately, otherwise I’d be obsessing over what to pack, dreaming about the fun we’ll have, and stressing that I’ll be too shy to enjoy it all.

As it stands, I’m worried about not having appropriate shoes for all the walking required in that town, so I wrote to Manolo the Shoeblogger for advice. To my great pleasure, he wrote about it and made suggestions. I’ll try and head over to a nearby Cole Haan boutique later tonight and find some of those Nike Air heels he recommends.

See you gals soon! XOXOX

Last weekend The Ninja and I had the extreme pleasure of watching over two darling children for some dear friends who were away on a skiing trip. The pair of siblings consists of a girl about 10 or 11 and a boy around 6 or 7, who were in our care from the moment school let out on Friday until it resumed again Monday morning.

The best part was the kids. They were awesome. Just the way kids should be. Quirky and fun and sloppy and charming. Caring for them was a pleasure. We played nonstop. We baked cookies, picked up a new Webkinz, went to baseball practice, went bowling, rode our bikes, and spent way too much time rotting our brains with video games.

But, let’s set the stage. These kids aren’t from any normal suburban town. They live in Rancho Santa Fe, known to locals as “The Ranch” - the second most exclusive residential area in the nation. Mind you, the reason it’s exclusive could be the curvy, poorly marked roads that caused me to get lost once, leaving me in tears of frustration.

If you’re ever able to find their home and get inside without setting off the alarm (like I did, accidentally, resulting in a confrontation by armed security… again, leaving me in tears) you’ll find that it’s not normal either. Even the toilet seat has a secret life, keeping the seat warm, deodorizing the air, rinsing and drying you off. It’s an unusual place.

All weekend I thought about all my mommy blogger friends, wondering what tales I’d bring back to empathize with your frequent struggles. But, the only complaint I now truly understand is about laundry. You’d think over one measly weekend there wouldn’t be much, but I ended up having to wash, dry, fold, and put away five super-sized loads.

Not much to complain about. Except when you consider that when you’re caring for two kids in a house with like five bedrooms and five bathrooms, that equals a whole lot of running around. There are weekends where I’ve put in over 100 miles on the bike, but never has it made me as tired as a weekend of traversing that house.

It may have been only a glimpse, but my hat is off to you, ladies.

Though I’d like to pretend it was just to see me, they were all here to compete in the 2008 Amgen Tour of California. This eight-day stage race, first held in 2006, just keeps growing in popularity. This year drew the best peloton so far, and to top it off, they decided to end at the Rose Bowl.

For those of you not into cycling, let me give you a small example of how it felt to have these guys riding where I could see them with my own eyes: Imagine your favorite celebrity, one you’ve long wanted to meet, and then imagine having known for weeks in advance that today, when you open your front door, they’ll be walking right past your house. I could barely contain my excitement!

As the hostess with the mostest, I felt it was my duty to volunteer and do my part to ensure their experience in the City of Roses went well. Originally, I was scheduled to work Anti-Doping, which is the equivalent to having a backstage pass, but some crazy lady screwed it up for me the day before by showing up in the showers. Since it was males only, my Ninja handled that job, and I directed other volunteers instead.

No complaints though. We attended the last two stages, met a ton of pro cyclists, had a great time at the finish, and even got to hang with security afterward to meet more of our heroes (even Hincapie!) once the press conference was over. Now, I can hardly wait until next year!

So, umm… You know how almost everybody wants a Wii, but (at least where we live) they’ve been chronically difficult to find in stock? Well, umm… The most fantastical boyfriend ever tracked one down at a local Game Stop and presented me with it on Valentine’s Day. And, umm… Since then, I’ve been so “busy” that I neglected to post about it.

My Ninja also hooked me up with Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga and Super Mario Galaxy, both of which are terribly fun. Even the Sports game that comes with the console is a blast. Of course, the very next day I scooped up all my old games and traded them in (what a joke, I still had to fork out a chunk of change on top of that) for Guitar Hero.

And speaking of that game, I am reminded that my dear Smizzo wanted to know the details about a matter involving a certain famous lady whose first name starts with “O” and if you’ve been following me on Twitter, you already know I was busy playing Guitar Hero with the kids, so I missed out on being introduced… and honestly, I don’t mind.

When the birthday party started to buzz, I knew exactly what was up. However, after spending all night yearning to get away from the adults to spend some time with two of my favorite kids on earth, there was no way I was going to send the message that anything else was more important than playing with them. It was an easy decision.

Naturally, the very moment that I spout off about having almost completely given up television, I learn that one of my childhood friends is starring in a new series.

Lindsay Price and I go way back. Like every week at Sunday School as kids, back when she was starring in Toys R Us commercials. We haven’t crossed paths in ages, but since there’s no expiration date on my loyalty, you know I’ll support my girl’s new show.

Even though I was loaded up on Benadryl after inadvertently consuming dairy before running last night, I managed to keep my eyelids open long enough to catch the season premiere of Lipstick Jungle.

This new series is yet another work based on the novels of Candace Bushnell of Sex & The City fame. My friend stars along with Brooke Shields & Kim Raver (of the hit show 24) as three high-powered friends.

Lindsay plays fashion designer Victory Ford, and she simply stole the show. The premiere episode of Lipstick Jungle didn’t wow me, but I can see that it certainly has potential. Good luck, Lindsay, and congrats!

Scene at 6:45 on Friday mornings: The alarm rings, I realize it’s the last day of the work week and I crack a little smile. A moment later, that grin is wiped out by frustration as I pull the covers over my head and pretend to sob, because I remember it’s business casual time again.

Folks, it’s been a long time since I last had a decent wardrobe. During the last two years I wasn’t able to find much to help alleviate the stress of figuring out what to wear to work every blasted weekday. It’s bad enough when you don’t like where you work, but just try getting out of bed when, on top of that, you have nothing to wear.

I don’t even want to know what people at the office have said behind my back. Probably things like, “Didn’t she wear that last Tuesday, and the Tuesday before that, and the Tuesday before that?” - And the sad part is, they’re right. Staying on track financially through some tough times took everything I had and then some. No budget for clothes.

But, now I’m out of excuses, so I finally went and picked up a few pairs of trousers and coordinating tops. Though my problems from Monday through Thursday aren’t solved, come Friday morning I’ll wake with that little grin and keep it on all day (that is, unless I weep for joy) because for the first Casual Friday in ages - I have something to wear!

Did I ever mention that I pretty much gave up television a few years ago? Yeah. Reality TV marked the decline and fall of my tenure in front of the tube. At first, I gave it up temporarily just to see how my life would be affected. But after a few weeks without it I realized that I had become far more productive, and was getting a lot more out of life.

This Week: Ten Ways to Avoid Watching TV
 
10. Find a human and strike up a conversation.
9. Surf the Internet to learn about something.
8. Get to work on chores you’ve been avoiding.
7. Be Creative: Draw, Create, Cook, and Dance.
6. Weigh yourself and consider going for a jog.
5. Sell things you don’t use any more on eBay.
4. Find someone to hug and squeeze and kiss.
3. List your big goals and write up action plans.
2. Grab a book from the shelf and start reading.
1. And my personal favorite: Go ride your bike!
 

 
People often say “life is short” and fantasize about all the things they’d still like to accomplish, but then go on to waste huge amounts of time on things that don’t contribute to their goals. If you spend more than a couple hours each week watching television, I recommend taking a tv “hiatus” to tackle some of those more important things.

Who knows, maybe (like me) you’ll never go back!

But today, I just want to tell Gwen how much I enjoy her show of good humor via this charming little homage from her Harajuku Lovers Spring 2008 collection.

These “Rocket Girl” bags have a strangely familiar appeal that I can’t seem to place, but I hope dear Bawidamann is flattered by this coincidence, too.

PS: and Gwen, if rumors are true, congrats on the new bun in the oven!

The beautiful Ana (she recently became a new mommy) tagged me to complete a 20-item questionnaire designed to help you reflect on last year and plan ahead for this one. The hitch: Toss one question and replace it with your own, then tag a handful of friends to participate. My beloved blogroll buddies are invited to join in the fun.

Here are the questions & answers:

1. At what age do you wish to marry? In general, I think 30 is a great age to take the plunge, but I passed that number a little while back. You’d think that after finishing a divorce last year, my answer would be an emphatic NEVER, but fortunately that’s not the case. I’m optimistic about the future and I still think marriage is a beautiful thing.

2. What color do you like most? I’m a colourlover and I like them all! Blues and greens and purples go nicely together. I go on pink kicks. I’ve been smitten with reds and yellows and oranges lately. Be vibrant!

3. Where is the place that you want to go the most? Japan! And India is a close second. I haven’t done much traveling yet, but I hope to experience these places while I’m still young enough to enjoy them.

4. Which part of you do you hate the most? My pride. Usually in the form of self-interest and all sorts of vanity, like self-importance and momentary feelings of superiority. I struggle with pride (and loathe it) far more than any of my physical flaws.

5. When you encounter a sad moment, what would you do? I tend to be cerebral, so I’d think and pray about it, look at things from every angle, seek ways to help those impacted, and hope to learn something.

6. What are you afraid to lose the most? Bowel function. (Kidding!)

7. If you win $1 million, what would you do? After taxes that sum won’t get me far, but I could kill any remaining debts, do some neat things to help friends and family, then maybe buy a car and put a decent down payment on a little condo here in Southern California.

8. What’s your wish for the year ahead? Nothing major. Just a fresh start, beginning with a new job. Do you know anybody who can help me with this? Let me know, and I’ll gladly send you my resume.

9. How did you celebrate the New Year? Never been much of a party animal. I think I fell asleep about 15 minutes after midnight.

10. Why did you start blogging and why will you continue to do so in 2008? Originally it was because my ex husband ignored me and adamantly discouraged me from social activities. I needed an outlet. Now, I blog to document where I’m at in life, and also to maintain long-distance friendships… That means you!

11. Which type of person do you hate the most? Hate is a bit strong since I believe anybody can be redeemed. But my friends will tell you liars and withholders drive me nuts. I’d also be thrilled if I could prevent every rapist and molester from inflicting harm.

12. What is your ambition? To find out how God intends to use the gifts He’s given me. And also… Is it too late to have a dozen kids?

13. If you had one wish what would you wish for? To meet Jesus in person. It’s much harder be like someone in every way if you’ve never spent time with them face to face. At least I’ll get my wish some day.

14. Name a body part your significant other tells you he adores: I’m extremely grateful that there’s at least one person on earth who isn’t thoroughly grossed out by this badonkadonk.

15. What is the best gift you can give someone this year? True love.

16. List two of your new year’s resolutions: New job. New home.

17. A picture that pretty much sums 2007 for you: Click here.

18. What are two things you were most thankful for in 2007 that will make you even happier in 2008? Finalizing the divorce and “dating” the most fantastic person I’ve ever known. I don’t call it dating because we were already best friends, which is the right way to start.

19. What was the best lesson you learned in 2007? Always wear a helmet when riding your bike. Too many crazy drivers out there!

20. Are you doing what you thought you’d be doing at this stage in your life? Not even close, but that’s ok. I’ll get there sooner or later.

Though I have not emerged from the rubble unscathed, an amazing team of supporters helped me recover much faster than I could have imagined. There simply aren’t sufficient words to express my gratitude.

Now that I’m on the other side of this mess, I almost don’t know where to begin. After spending the last week or so mulling over what I should tackle when, I came to the sad realization that money matters, so finding a new job is going to be priority one.

This is the first year in over a decade that I’ve looked forward to living. Perhaps my life is finally starting to turn a corner, and maybe, just maybe, it’s starting to resemble something that I’ve built deliberately instead of something that just… happened. Let’s see how it goes.

You’re browsing racks of clothes, trying to find just the right outfit for an upcoming event. You wade through aisle after aisle, amassing a good selection to choose from. Then you haul it all into the dressing room and start trying it on for size. This one’s too big. That one is too tight up top. The other needs to come in a few inches in the waist. And with some luck you’ll eventually emerge with a piece that fits just right.

We can use that as a metaphor to better understand how I test out ideas, behaviors, and attitudes. I like to try them on, view them from different angles, and walk around in them a little (privately) before making a decision. Figuring out what works and what doesn’t, adjusting from there to find the perfect fit. Once in a while, I’ll let someone inside my dressing room to provide a second opinion. Woe be it unto them.

Often I don’t give warning. When wrestling with an issue, I’ll just throw concepts out there to seek feedback and study reactions. Those poor people closest to me have trouble at times figuring out whether I’m simply trying something on, or if I bought it. And bless them for trying. Maybe some day I’ll be able to slow the flurry of thoughts enough to first let people know when I’m headed into the dressing room.

You know, it’s not even Christmas, and already I feel spoiled. I’ve been able to put together a new bicycle thanks in part to a number of great (and early) gifts. I couldn’t possibly ask for more, but before I lost my original velocipede in the accident, my wish list looked like this…

This Week’s Topic: Ten Things I Want For Christmas

Apple MacBook Pro 15″ & Adobe CS3 Design Premium • Nintendo Wii & Super Mario Galaxy • Aliph Jawbone in Red • Polar F55 Womens HRM in Red • Valentino Side Bow Satchel • Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-T200 in Red • Dior “Lovely” Ruched Hobo • and a Pegoretti Responsorium Ciaveté

And while we’re at it, a few of my dreams on four wheels…

Bugatti Veyron 16.4 • Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 Versace Edition • Koenigsegg CCXR Special Edition • Aston Martin V12 DBS • Peugeot 307CC • Audi A1 Metroproject • Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione

Heaven knows I can’t be without a bike for two seconds before I start jonesing for a spin, so I began rebuilding immediately after the crash. Coincidentally, cycling legend Eddy Merckx was coming to town, and since I’d had my eye on one of his frames, that’s where I began.

My new CHM arrived in the same package as the bike Eddy would ride, and Stan and his crew filmed me unwrapping both frames. Although I wasn’t able to ride with Mr. Merckx on December 1st, Jordan took part in a four-man breakaway that proved Eddy still has what it takes to turn the screws. Then, before he left, the Cannibal signed my frame.

Not a bad start for a new bike. The frame isn’t top of the line, but it’s a good value for European carbon at around 2 pounds. So far I’ve built it with Campagnolo Record, Salsa Poco carbon bars, flashy white pedals, those new Fulcrum RS cranks, and Nokon cables for extra bling.

Replacement of the red hot Fulcrum Racing Zero wheels I received for my birthday may need to wait until the property damage settlement, but they’re gonna look pretty flippin’ sweet. Not sure if I’ll need to swap out the Deda carbon stem and seatpost for better fitting items from Thomson, but I’ll post pictures when it’s all done… Almost there!

It doesn’t take much to get me into the holiday spirit. The first sign of red and green gets me smiling, even if it’s while strolling the aisles at Target in October. So, it came as no surprise that last night’s theatrical event threw me over the top, and into full-on yuletide zeal.

My best friend on earth (Whom I just happen to be dating. Did I forget to mention it before? Interesting. Maybe I’ll share the story some day.) is a private banker, and his firm bought out the seats for last night’s performance of “A Christmas Carol” by South Coast Repertory.

I’m no theater buff, but I can see how people get into seeing shows on a regular basis. It was oddly relaxing and thoroughly entertaining. You can kind-of lose yourself in the drama, and there’s an interactive quality that could be addicting, especially when you have great seats.

Not only was the show fantastic, but it was a hoot getting to wear a pretty new cocktail dress and spending the evening on the arm of a very dapper gentleman. Even the obligatory schmoozing with clients and co-workers was unusually tolerable. Last night was such a treat!

Though I’m nearly a week late, it’s been a while since I did one of these weekly “Top Tens” and this one made me smile, so here you go:

This Week’s Topic: Ten Best Games

1. TETRIS - Nearly wore out the buttons on my Motorola SLVR because of this game. My high scores would blow your mind. As an unexpected bonus, mad Tetris skillz have a real-life application: You can pack and move all your household belongings into storage in under five hours.

2. KINGDOM OF LOATHING - If you’ve ever played an online text-based RPG you’ll love this game. The NPC concepts and combat messages are hilarious, and some of the quests could drive you to drink, but that’s ok because drinking earns you extra turns each day. Trust me and try it.

3. MONOPOLY - Though most people probably burn out on this one after a few tries, there’s a special breed of people who don’t tire of this classic board game. I’m one of them. These days the game goes much faster thanks to computers taking care of tedious manual tasks.

4. SETTLERS OF CATAN - Not your usual board game, simple to pick up and fun to master, this game puts your mind to work. With a little bit of luck and a decent strategy your colony will claim victory.

5. APPLES TO APPLES - An interactive card game, mostly for kids, which is more about how well you know the people you’re playing with than anything else. This game gave me and the step kids so many laughs.

6. SUPER MARIO BROS - There’s a good reason why this is the best selling video game of all time: It’s fun! My mom withstood my begging and pleading for a video gaming console until the NES came out, but after that I spent a large chunk of my childhood playing this game.

7. CHEZ GEEK - I have to thank PJ for this one. He brought it with him on his visit from Canada and I liked this card game so much that I got my own deck after he left. Now I just need to find a geek to play with.

8. MAJOR MUD - It may not be as widely known as World of Warcraft, but I must pay homage to a precursor to that modern-day classic. Though I’ve made so many good friends playing MajorMUD, please take my advice and never marry anyone you met in an RPG.

9. CAESAR & CLEOPATRA - Not many people know of this card game, but it won awards when it came out in 1998. Game play and strategy are fun and simple, and I like the elegant shape and design of the cards.

10. MINDTRAP - This is another game that most of you probably haven’t heard of, but I really like it. It involves solving logical riddles, and some of them are so difficult, they’ll really get your gears turning.

BONUS: Don’t forget the ARCADE GAMES here at Atomic Bombshell. Choose from Pac Man, Asteroids, Tetris, Space Invaders, Hexxagon, Simon, Snake, and Tic-Tac-Toe. Always here and ready for you to play.

So, it was no big surprise when, after months of panic attacks on the bike every time I rode within proximity of a silver Toyota Tacoma, one finally ran me down on what would have been our tenth wedding anniversary. No, it wasn’t my ex that took me out, but a total stranger… But still, pretty eerie, is it not?

I was riding with about thirty cyclists that morning and I was fifth from the lead. The truck overtook most of us, then cut a quick right turn into a driveway ahead of me, offering me no option but impact. I was able to slow down from about 18-20 mph to about 6-10 mph prior to the collision, but hitting a wall of steel at any speed is gonna hurt.

And hurt it does. This is my first day back at the keyboard in over a week, and I’m making it a short visit just to update. Although I was extremely fortunate that I didn’t go under his back wheel, I did suffer a great amount of damage from the three impacts: my bike hitting the truck, my body hitting the truck, and my body hitting the ground.

My left side bore the strongest impact, with my hip at the focus, but the doctors were impressed that my bones fared so well. Keep taking your calcium, girls… It works! Despite pain in places I never even knew I had, and having more contusions, pulled muscles, and pissed-off vertebrae than you can imagine, I am very lucky things weren’t a lot worse.

The driver was cited for a multitude of offenses: not carrying his drivers license, no proof of insurance, and last but not least, that unsafe turn. The police report places all blame for the collision on the truck driver. He swears that he has proper insurance, and he’ll have to show proof or lose his license, but if he’s lying, I’m going to weep endlessly.

Let’s not even begin to calculate the doctor’s bills and ongoing physical therapy costs I’m in for, but cycling is a huge part of my life. The sense of freedom and joy that I’ve experienced over the last year and a half has been invaluable. Not only have I made so many treasured friends through this sport, but as a cancer survivor, riding the bike as an outlet for stress and to achieve greater fitness is vital to me.

So, even though one legal battle (the divorce) is finally behind me, and the best part of that was no longer having to deal with (or pay for) attorneys, it seems that now I must sign on for a new fight, and brace myself for all the fun that comes with it. I’m pretty sure any insurance company will choke when they’re told the replacement cost for this bike runs in the thousands of dollars, thanks to fancy carbon components, brand new racing wheels, and a custom frame.

Keep your fingers crossed that I’ll find the right team of doctors, physical therapists, and legal help to set me quickly back to right.

When I wrote that previous entry I kind-of knew that whining about the divorce dragging on forever would be the “anti-jinx” to make sure the marriage that never should have happened would at least be over before its ten-year mark. And I was right, as this week it was declared finally, finally, final… Well, except for all the loose ends.

But hey, legally I’m now unmarried.

You’d think since I was the plaintiff in this case I’d be doing cartwheels right now. Especially after recently being contacted by the “new ex” (that he used for a year and a half after I left) and learning that he’s become even more intolerable. Perhaps that offered some validation. Or that I’d at least be excited about the future, knowing that I’m no longer a prisoner of that big bad decision I made in Las Vegas.

But no. Even after eight years of pain, even though my pastor at church would attest that I had biblical grounds, there’s still this great big part of me that knows that when I signed on for forever it meant for ever. And knowing that, I can’t help feeling like a total and complete failure.

I’m not sharing this because I need your sympathy or encouragement. In fact, being able to share these feelings is a small celebration of my liberation. I don’t have to pretend like I’m hunky-dory any more or stick to the approved topics. Introducing: More of the real me.

You’ve probably heard of Nike+ since the kit has been around a while, but they just unveiled two new gift packs in time for the holidays, one with an iPod nano included (nicknamed the “fatty” for obvious reasons) and one without. If you already have a first or second generation iPod nano the kit is fully compatible, but it doesn’t work with other models. Perhaps they’re trying to keep you light on your feet.

Want to know what’s so special about this little bit of gadgetry? Let me tell you. This thing is a lot more than a pedometer. (In fact, it’s really an accelerometer, but we won’t go into all the boring techinical stuff here.) What really makes Nike+ special is that it’s interactive.

Here’s how it works: you connect the Bluetooth adapter to your iPod nano, attach the sensor to your left shoe (and no, you don’t need the special shoes, there are plenty of other options), link the two items through the Nike+ iPod settings menu, and then start running.

You can choose a goal for your run, whether it’s a particular distance, amount of time, or number of calories. During your workout you’ll listen to music and receive periodic verbal progress messages. (”Two miles completed” for example.) When you’re finished you’ll receive a summary of your run stats, and if you broke a record you’ll be congratulated.

The fun doesn’t stop there. When you sync your iPod with Nike+ online you can participate in goals and challenges and earn virtual trophies. For example, I’ve set a goal to run 10 times in 4 weeks, and joined a challenge to complete a “marathon” (26.2 miles) by Thanksgiving. Nike+ automatically charts your progress and even offers widget codes to share your results on your blog. (View mine from the main page.)

So, if you’re wondering what to put on your Christmas list, I’d like to offer this as a little suggestion. And if a few of you are interested in taking advantage of this tool as part of your overall fitness regimen, I’ll even set up some goals and challenges just for us, so let me know!

Virtual Trick-or-Treating
Carve a Virtual Pumpkin
Why Pets Hate Halloween
Pumpkin Contest Winners
Jason’s Rejected Pumpkins
Spooky iPhone Wallpapers
Pumpkin House of Horrors
The Great Pumpkin House
The REAL Great Pumpkin
Ben & Jerry’s Halloween
Undesirable Costumes
…and Mac-O-Lanterns

Not to be left out of any trend, Pasadena now has its own cupcakery, called Dots. They may not be the best cupcakes I’ve ever tasted (they’re a little doughy and not as festive as Nanette’s creations) and it doesn’t help that the shop owner is always cranky, but nonetheless I find myself visiting this little hole in the wall to pick up a cheery little morsel of goodness every now and then.

Is there really such a thing as a bad cupcake? I don’t think so. Besides, once it hits the low point of being even marginally unsavory, I’m fairly certain you’re supposed to start calling it a muffin or a scone. So far their Pumpkin, Red Velvet, and Chocolate are my favorites.

To make matters worse, even once the court clerk pounds his or her stamp onto our paperwork and it’s legally over, we’re still not completely done. They have to analyze our retirement assets, slice them down the middle, and then there’s still the matter of the ultimate disposal of my car, leased in my ex’s name.

It’s a frustrating situation, but it’s worth all the struggle to be free…

Free from an emotionally (and at times physically) abusive relationship. Free to be myself without fearing constant harassment. Free to enjoy friendships without abiding his disapproval and criticism. From being ignored by the one who should love me. From unreasonable demands. From being viewed like a utility. Water, trash, electricity, wife.

Big thanks everyone who already sponsored: Misty, Dena, Jeff, Jordan, Andrea, Markus, Kath, Dalia, Jan, Rob, Linda, Dave, and Gail - You guys are the BEST! Together we’ve raised $470 to benefit the hundreds of thousands of people waging the battle against MS. But just because I’ve exceeded my fundraising goal doesn’t mean the rest of you are off the hook.

CLICK HERE TO SPONSOR MY RIDE!

I first participated in the blogger BoobieThon in 2005, and I’m back this year to participate in their sixth annual event this week, but the big difference is this time I’m back as a survivor. A few weeks after my first BoobieThon photo submission I discovered a lump in my right breast and wisely saw my doctor about it immediately.

That sparked a huge series of events that I’m now glad are behind me, but I’m glad to report that I now have new cancer-free bionic boobs. Few survivors have it so easy though. Too many, like my aunt Cathy, discover breast cancer only in later stages. I strongly recommend the Aware BSE pad, which helped me achieve earlier detection.

Support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month by making a donation to BoobieThon this week and you’ll receive access to their photo galleries. Last year BoobieThon raised nearly $10,000. Choose to direct your tax-deductible gift to benefit either the Deb Fund or the well-known Susan G. Komen foundation for the cure.

Thank you for helping make this year’s fundraiser a success!