A Most Excellent Birthday

Can you remember the best birthday in you life? Was it when you turned 16 and got your license, was it when you turned 21 and you really thought you were an adult, or maybe it was when you turned 5 and you got your first skateboard.

Today was the best birthday I’ve had in a long time and quite possibly the best birthday ever. Let me give you the run down.

Today I did what I’ve wanted to do on my birthday for the last 16 years of being a working stiff. I took the day off of work. Working for “The Man” really is quite a bummer on your birthday so I just decided to just skip it altogether. Truthfully, that really felt good.

Since it was my birthday Jenny let me sleep in. I was feeling really out of control so I didn’t roll out of bed until 6:45. There was just no stopping me. I know that is still insanely early but it was almost a 3 hour sleep in over a day in which I work. When I got up from my super extended slumber I wandered down stairs and this is the first thing that I saw.

Holy Cow!!!! What to my wondering eyes did appear it was a black balloon holding up the holy grail of bicycles. Not only was it a new bike to add to my collection which is now proudly up to 3 but it was a 2008 Trek Madone 5.5 Pro.

I seriously couldn’t wipe the smile off of my face for the rest of the day. In fact, I’m still smiling and if this condition doesn’t change by morning I might need to see a doctor. So why am I still darn giddy? This bike is so stinking light that the helium balloon attached to it almost lifted it off of the ground. It’s also so fast that you have to register this bike with the local police station. You have to do this because if a radar gun is shot at this bike it will have to be recalibrated that is if the radar gun is even usable after that. It’s just that light and fast.

Here’s the amazing thing. Jenny got it for me and I didn’t even have to beg, plead, cry or make impracticable/impossible promises to get it.

It rained like crazy today so I wasn’t able to take it out but you can bet I’ll be out for a ride at the first sight of dry weather. I will always have fond memories of when I turned 16 and got my license on my birthday but this anniversary of my “29th” birthday has now taken over as the reining champion.

P.S. Jenny has made in into the finals for a story writing contest but she needs your help getting out of third place. Here’s what you can do. Go to http://becausemomsaidso.blogspot.com/2009/03/have-travel-will-story-finalists-i-have.html

Navigate down the page a couple of inches and in the right hand side bar there is a voting box that looks like the picture below. All you have to do is click on the Nudist & Lofts radio button and click on the vote button. It’s as easy as that.

Way to go Lizzylou!

Hi, Jenny here. Mike is unable to post for a few days and has asked me to stand in for him.

Lizzylou was the big winner for the week of Friday March 6 to Friday March 13. She lost a whopping 1.79% last week. AWESOME. In fact everybody did great! Of the reports received, nobody gained any weight this week.

Success for all.

Now, the rest of us realize that when there is a biggest loser there has to be lesser losers. All of you~ Please join Mike and I by going to Lizzylou's Livestrong page and donating $5-15.00 to cancer research. You choose the amount depending on how badly you feel about getting beat.

The Official Weightloss Throwdown will be taking a break this week as it is Mike's 29th? birthday. (He's actually considering changing that number to 39 this year which might or might not be actual.) He's doesn't think weightloss will happen for him this week. You see, I have big plans. (Well okay Mike requested big plans but when it's your birthday you get to make requests!)

Eggrolls and Worlds Best Cake. I'm also trying to find a perfect gift but when he see's the best cake in the world it won't really matter because he won't notice anything else.

He may still lose weight anyway since we also have plans for "The best bike ride of the year so far" on his birthday. Oh how I hope for sun that day. My toes couldn't take another cold wet one. We're planning on an awesome 67 mile route through Granite Falls and Monroe that we rode last time we were training for the STP. (please pray for sun)

It's a very big week at our house.

Mike turns 29 on Thursday. You should all commemorate this day with a bike ride. Then come here and tell Mike all about it. What a great present that would be. Please be sure to make many comments that day. He needs at least 29 comments in honor of his BIG day. He also needs much trash talk in recognition of the aging process. You know, things like natural blond highlights speckling his head.

It is also our oldest daughters 16th birthday on Friday as well as the day of her first date. Any thoughts on how we should deal with this situation? Our friend has every boy who takes one of his daughters out on a date sign their own bullet. That's an idea...

Watch my blog this week, too. I plan on posting a step by step recipe for making Mike's Eggrolls. I will probably make them on Wednesday since I will be riding my bike (Kleetus) all day on Thursday. I think I'll also ask The Fat Cyclist if I can do the same with the best cake in the world.

Your assignments this week:
Donate to Lizzylous Livestrong Page
Continue with your amazing weight loss
Make a plethora of comments on this blog on Thursday
(write a birthday ballad?)
Try Mike's Eggrolls from the recipe I will be posting on my blog
Share creative ways to recognize our daughters escort Friday night

That should keep you busy for a little while. After that get on your bike and let the good times roll.

The Princess Turns 9

Last nights ride wasn’t very uneventful. I didn’t get to riding until 8:30 so it was another inside trainer ride. I rode for an hour while Jenny and I watched a couple of episodes of the Gilmore Girls Season 3. I really struggled to make it an hour. I swear this should be getting easier but not so far. I guess I have that to look forward to. Pretty soon I’m going to start introducing intervals. I’m not looking forward to that.

On another note yesterday was Denise’s 9th birthday. She made out pretty well. She scored on all kinds of lute from Earrings to Barbies. This was right up Denise’s alley. Last night we also went out for dinner in celebration of Denise’s birthday to Cristianos. When we entered the restaurant I noticed that people were staring at Denise and pointing. I was wondering what the heck was going on then I took a look at her and instantly knew what all the fuss was about. She wore a tiara and a sequined scarf all day yesterday. Oh to be a 9 year old princess!

Because it was Denise’s birthday she got her very own bowl of ice cream. Of course we all helped ourselves to at least a spoonful but Denise got to enjoy the rest.




Denise also requested a beach scene birthday cake. When she told us all of the details of her cake requirements like must have waves and a beach with a mermaid I thought there was no way possible to make this cake.

Little did I know that Jenny had such cake decorating skills. Check this cake out. Just what Denise asked for.



Not too shabby. I think when my birthday rolls around I’ll request a Tour de France Alp D'huez cake with all of the switchbacks and fans lining the road. I can’t wait.