It's sad to say, but I hadn't been on my bicycle since the first day of spring! Yesterday, though, I finally had the chance to go out again. Brian and I met up with our friends Rob and EB, and we headed to Dauphin to the Stony Valley Railroad Grade trail.
I had heard about this trail from a friend at work who rides it regularly. We thought it would be good to try it out since it's not too far away and it's a rail trail, which means it's pretty level.
Well first of all, getting there was interesting. The last two miles of the trip were on a pothole-laden dirt road which was barely wide enough for two cars. The ruts and holes were so bad that we could hardly ever go above 15 mph - which made the hand-made sign at the beginning of the road, asking people to go slowly, laughably unnecessary.
We finally arrived at the parking area, got on our bikes, and started down the trail. I had read on one website that the trail was kind of rough and best suited for mountain bikes, but when I asked my friend about it, he said he had pulled a baby trailer on the back of his hybrid bike along the trail several times last year, and that we shouldn't have a problem with it.
Well, we were able to ride on it, but it was definitely not easy in some places. I thought because it was a Rails-to-Trails trail, that it would be much like the one in Newville, which has crushed cinders and some small gravel, and is pretty well-maintained. However, apparently the Stony Valley trail is not specifically designed for bikes such as ours - it's more of a hiking and mountain biking trail. We encountered a wide range of conditions and ground coverings on the trail - anything from packed dirt, to crushed cinders, to small gravel, to pretty large gravel - and there were a few areas with some pretty big puddles in the path. It was quite inconsistent: we'd be going along just fine on packed dirt, and then all of a sudden there'd be this section with some pretty good-sized gravel, and we'd have to slow down some to be able to get through it. Our tires are just not that wide, and don't handle rough conditions as well as mountain bikes do.
Having said all that, we did enjoy the trail, at least the portion of it we rode (it's about 20 miles from end to end, but we only went 6 miles before we turned around). It's out in the middle of the woods, and it was very peaceful and pretty. It was a beautiful day to be out there, and I took quite a few pictures along the way.
However, I don't think any of us are in a hurry to go back there anytime soon. The road to get to the trail, and the trail itself, are just a little rougher than we want to deal with. (I guess my friend - and his baby - are tougher than we are!) But at least now we can say we tried it.
I haven't posted for a while, but I haven't thought of anything that seemed worthy of an entire blog post. Now that I'm on Facebook (yes, finally), I've found that to be a useful venue for sharing brief and random thoughts, both of which the majority of my thoughts seem to be. :-) However, today I finally have what I feel is information worthy of a new blog post. So here goes!
Today, as most of you probably know, is the first day of spring. It's a day welcomed by many who are ready to say goodbye (or maybe even "good riddance") to the crazy winter of 2009-2010. I actually didn't mind the winter - I thought it was great to finally have a snowy winter again, like the ones I remember from my childhood growing up outside Chicago. But I'm also quite happy to welcome spring back today.
Well, today was about the best day you could have asked for, if you were wishing for a perfect first day of spring. Beautiful blue skies, a slight breeze, and temperatures hovering around 70 degrees! OK, so that's actually more like late spring than the beginning of spring, but I haven't heard anyone complaining yet!
Several of my friends and I were discussing Saturday's forecast earlier in the week, and we agreed that it sounded like a perfect day to begin another season as well - bicycling season! We made plans to meet at the Cumberland Valley Rail Trail, and then we decided it would be even better if we brought a picnic lunch along!
So, that's exactly what we did. We met in Newville around 11:30, got our bikes ready, and headed down the trail.
It really was a gorgeous day for a ride. And I was so happy to see signs of life returning to the fields and trees. I may be wrong, but it seems like some of the trees are greening up this year earlier than usual.
I even got a couple pictures of my Holstein friends, which made me very happy. (You see, in addition to liking groundhogs, which I mentioned in my last post, I also like cows - especially Holsteins - and have since I was really young. I even have quite the collection of cow items - but that's a story for another time.)
You might think that our first ride of the season would be a pretty short, easy one. Well, it was pretty easy, since it was very level, but it was not short. In yet another first today, we rode all the way from Newville to the Shippensburg Township park! Of course I had to take a picture of the park pavilion as proof that we made it there.
OK, so the trail from Newville to Shippensburg is only about 9 miles, but then, of course, we had to ride all the way back! So on the first ride we've done in I don't know how many months, we went 18 miles! And to put this in a little better perspective, the longest ride I have ever done was 21 miles - and that was in the middle of summer after many weeks of riding. Today my quadriceps were crying out for a large portion of the ride back - it's a good thing we were on level ground, because I don't know how I would have handled any hills at that point!
When we got back to our cars, we broke out the picnic fixings and started eating with reckless abandon. And because I was too busy feeding my face with things like peanut butter and jelly, grapes, exotic crackers, cheeses, and ham (the last three items courtesy of our friends EB and Rob), I didn't take any pictures of the spread. But rest assured, there was a nice assortment of goodies to help us refuel after our long ride!
So, it's been a good day. I was so glad to be able to get outside and see the signs of spring arriving across the countryside - and to not yet be affected by the tree pollen, which is the one bad thing about spring. And hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to get out of bed without groaning in agony!
I like groundhogs.
There, I've said it. I realize this statement probably won't win me any new friends, and may jeopardize some already-existing friendships, but I can't help it. It's the truth.
Therefore, I'm very excited that there's a holiday that centers on them. I know it's probably the silliest holiday that regularly gets a space on our calendars, but I can't help but enjoy this fact as well. I think at this point in the winter, a lot of people are ready for any excuse to celebrate, so why not celebrate the emergence of a mammal from a hole in the ground (or a specially-constructed shelter, in the case of some of the more famous groundhogs)?
Speaking of "more famous groundhogs," I actually got to meet the most famous groundhog of all a couple of years ago. In 2008, Punxsutawney Phil made a rare January appearance at the Pennsylvania Farm Show, and I simply had to go see him. Well, not only did I get to see him, but I got my picture taken with him and some of the members of The Inner Circle! (Astute observers will recognize my profile picture as coming from this photograph.)
And a couple of years before I met Phil, I wrote a poem about this holiday, which I've posted below, even though at this point in the day we don't know if Phil has actually seen his shadow. But even if he doesn't (which I think is pretty rare), I thought I should share it anyway.
There’s a certain little mammal
with fur that’s mostly brown,
who’s really good at digging holes
and lives under the ground.
This guy is called a groundhog
--but he’s called a woodchuck, too,
and on this day each year he has
a special job to do.
His job is not too difficult,
in fact he does it well—
he simply climbs out of his hole,
the weather to foretell.
For if he sees his shadow
when he looks upon the earth,
it means we’ll have more winter—
another six week’s worth.
But if he sees no shadow,
that predicts a different fate.
It means that spring will be here soon
and we won’t have long to wait.
This year the famous groundhog
known as Punxsutawney Phil
said that we will have more winter—
and you know, I think we will.
So keep your snow boots handy
and find your shovels, too,
cause although Phil is a groundhog,
I think his words are true.
Happy Groundhog Day!
Wow! I have to say that after years of not being a fan, Brian and I are certainly getting quite the introduction into all the excitement NFL football has to offer! Amazingly, both the Vikings and the Jets won their division games on Sunday, and so this coming Sunday, they're playing in their conference championship games!! And this also means the possibility of a Vikings-Jets Superbowl is still alive!
But before I go into that, let me talk a little about last Sunday's games. The Vikings-Cowboys game was great because the entire Vikings team looked good - including the defense. The defense had been a little sketchy the last few games, but on Sunday they looked more like they had back in October. Even my favorite defensive player, Jared Allen, had his first sack in several games! And he wasn't the only one who had a turn knocking down Tony Romo. The Cowboys really just seemed unable to do anything, as evidenced by the very lopsided final score of 34-3. But that didn't bother me one bit! I thought it was great to see the Vikings on fire!
And as I think about the Jets-Chargers game and why that was exciting, I'd have to say that it was pretty much for the same reason - the entire Jets team looked good too. There was no question in my mind that the defense would perform well - after all, they have the number one defense in the NFL - but I was kind of worried about the offense. However, they warmed themselves up slowly, and by the second half, they were looking good and scoring points. And they actually scored enough points to win the game!! At the end of the fourth quarter, when there was about a minute left, it slowly dawned on me that the Jets really were going to win, and the Chargers couldn't do anything about it! I really was quite astonished - but thrilled as well!
Of course, this means we have at least one more Sunday of nerve-wracking excitement in our household! And I really don't know what to think at this point about who's going to win each game. It boggles my own mind when I think about how many articles and interviews I've read about these upcoming games and the reasons why each of the four teams could win or lose. I mean, I have really become a football fanatic! Although I wouldn't be able to have a very long, complicated conversation about technical aspects of the game, I think I could probably keep up in a simpler conversation for a good while. And at this point, I think I can list the names and numbers of more Vikings players than Brian can. (I'm getting there with the Jets - but we haven't seen as many of their games on TV because they weren't broadcast in our area.)
So, back to the idea of a Vikings-Jets Superbowl - I guess it really could still happen, but do I want it to? I'm not sure! I will be sad if one of the teams loses on Sunday, but if they both win, I really don't know who I'm going to root for! There are so many good reasons to root for both teams! But I guess I shouldn't worry about that yet... right now I just have to make it through this coming Sunday!
If you remember from my post back in October (titled "a strange transformation"), my husband and I, for the first time in our lives, have become fans of NFL football. And we're not only supporting one team, but two - the Minnesota Vikings and the New York Jets.
And can you believe this - both of our teams are in the playoffs! And they're both playing today! So at 1:00 today we'll be wearing our Vikings apparel, cheering them on against the Cowboys, and then after that game is over we'll quickly change into our Jets apparel, and start rooting for them to beat the Chargers!!
I know there are probably some mathematical statistics that could be calculated to determine the odds of this situation, but I have to think it's a pretty rare occurence. I mean, consider the following:
1) it's our first year following NFL football
2) there are 32 teams in the NFL - 16 in each conference
3) we become fans of one team in each conference
4) both teams make their conference playoffs
5) both teams play on the same day
And I'd say most people would agree that the Jets being in the playoffs is kind of surprising. (Even in October I was saying I didn't expect them to make it!) With a rookie coach and a rookie quarterback, they weren't exactly a well-oiled machine. However, they're certainly looking more like that now, as the season has unfolded.
As for the Vikings, well, I don't think it's as much of a surprise that they're in the playoffs, with quarterback Brett Favre at the helm. However, their performance in December kind of fizzled a little, although they did do well in the last game they played.
However, despite what others may have thought and predicted, both the Vikings and the Jets are getting ready to play today, in really big games. And I think they both have very tough opponents to face. The Vikings got a week off to rest and recharge, which will hopefully help them, along with their home-field advantage. On the other hand, the Jets have not had a break, but it seems like for them that might be a good thing, because they've been building momentum and getting better each week. Of course all this could be subjective wishful thinking of a fan. :-)
I certainly hope both teams win, but I don't think it's guaranteed for either of them. So It's going to be quite a tense afternoon in our household today!!
It's been a long time since my last post, but I thought I should try to squeeze one more in before 2009 comes to a close.
The last two months of the year were - as usual - busy ones for me, preparing for and celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas. Work was especially busy for me too, because in addition to preparing for, and assisting with, a big user test of our system which took place in the middle of December, I also helped with the office Thanksgiving Luncheon and the office Holiday Party as well.
Thankfully, all of those events turned out all right. I was especially proud of the office Holiday Party, because there were only three of us planning the whole thing, and we did a lot of work to make it something we thought people would enjoy. And happily, we all received lots of positive comments and thanks from many people, both during and after the party. I would also take this time to give a special "shout-out" and thank you to my husband, who served as "DJ Santa" for our party, and did a great job.
As I look back, 2009 was a pretty big year for me. I did a lot of things that I had never done before, and I think it's safe to say I enjoyed all of them. I also did some things I had done before, and not surprisingly, enjoyed them as well. :-) Here's a (hopefully) brief recap of some of the "big" things I did in 2009 - many of which I did with Brian:
February: We had a very fun Casino Party at our pub
March: We went on our first-ever cruise, and it was great!
May: I got a bicycle, and I started this blog!
June: We went to California for the first time - that was also great!
July: I got a new car - which I am still really enjoying!
August: We went to Niagara Falls, Ontario (for the first time in 21 years for me, for the first time ever for Brian) and Seneca Lake, New York (our second time there)
September: We started watching NFL football!
Those are all the things I can think of off the top of my head, but I think I covered all the major events. Oh, I did also go to a few concerts during the year - most notably, Bruce Springsteen and Depeche Mode, which were both great.
As I look back on the year, it was a pretty hectic and busy one, but that was mostly because I was busy doing lots of fun things. So I guess I really can't complain about that. :-)
I don't know what 2010 has in store - as of right now we have no vacations planned, nor any parties, but I'm sure we'll go somewhere and have at least one party. And as for work, it's going to be busier than ever for me in 2010, which I'm a little stressed about, but hopefully things will go all right. I won't truly know until the end of the year, though!
Well, I guess this is it for 2009. I would like to wish everyone safe and happy New Year's celebrations tonight, and may 2010 bring you nothing but good things!
Just thought I'd write a little about how Halloween went and share a few pictures.
On Thursday Brian and I went to our friend Jo Lyn's house to help her pass out candy. We don't get any trick-or-treaters at our house, and a few years ago this came up in a conversation with Jo Lyn. She said she gets a lot of kids for Trick or Treat night and that I could come sit with her and hand out candy if I wanted. I jumped at the chance! This was the third year I sat with her, and this year Brian joined us for the entire time as well.
We dressed up, as we always do, and this year we were quite the eclectic group.
As you can probably tell, Jo Lyn was a pirate. Brian was some sort of mummy/zombie creature with a giant sword. Can you tell what I'm dressed as? I'm supposed to be an "old lady from New Jersey." I got the track suit from my mom, who got it from some other woman (don't think she was from New Jersey, though). It still had the tags on it, from all those years ago! The wig was advertised as being a 'Wonder Woman' wig, but I thought it worked really well for my costume.
I even wore the required hosiery for the look:
The next day, since it was the day before Halloween (and a Friday, when people usually dress more casually), I decided to wear a semi-costume to work.
The "Cat Treats" in the basket were Swedish Fish and Kit Kat bars (also Sour Patch Kids, but only because they came with the Swedish Fish). I went around the office during lunchtime and passed them out to everyone. People seemed to get a kick out of it - and of course most everyone was happy to get some free candy!
On Halloween night, Brian and I went to a party at the local Elks Lodge with our friends Marc and Jen. I took my cat costume a little farther for the party than I did for work:
Brian dressed as Robert Smith, and he looked really good! (Well, as good as you can look when you're imitating Robert Smith :))
Our friends dressed as Philly Sports Fans.
We had a really good time at the party - we hadn't seen Marc and Jen for quite some time, so it was great to spend a fun evening with them.
Now, however, Halloween is over, and I guess I have to start dressing normally again. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted - and there's always next year!
