Bent???

I've thought about a recumbent for a long long time. Last week, after researching lots of different bikes, we went to Kansas so I could test-ride some. Mark, at The Hub, a fabulous shop in Hays, Kansas, put  a 24 inch carbon fork and wheel on a gently used Bacchetta Corsa to better fit my short legs. SOLD! It's a tricky little thing to ride, but I'm getting used to it. I've put on a bunch of miles already and can't wait to get out and get even more. Here are two photos of the new steed.

Still Making Cards

A Few More Cards

This is one addicting hobby!I've started using digital images, printing them on white textured paper, then coloring with copic markers. Man, those copics are AMAZING I can Zen out while coloring, talk about a really nice stress reliever. Here are two recent cards, both for former colleagues from TAS who are retiring.

Manipulated Moss Rose

Here's another card...this time with a manipulated original photo. (Used Picasa and their picnik editing tools.)

Digital Stamps vs Trainer Time

So, it snowed again, so there was no option (for me) to go for an outdoor bike ride. Hop on the trainer you say? Sure, it's set up in my dining room, should be a simple thing to get on. However...I have been bit by a new bug called "digital stamping and card making." I'm having a blast. Here are a few of the rather simple cards I have made:

Flipping Coins

So yesterday I decided to flip a coin to see if I could get an answer to my possibilities dilemma. Came up "no" twice in a row. Then later at home it came up "yes" twice in a row. What are the odds of that? Oh right, 50-50.

My mind has seemed to undergo a change just this past two days...it's telling me it's just fine to stay here now. And I'm not feeling the wanderlust bug tug on my heart right now, either. Strange.

Always Thinking of Possibilities

That, plus I always seem to find the grass greener anywhere but where I am. Been having a blast looking at various international school sites and seeing what jobs are available. Why? Because I can, I guess. Here is the weather forecast for three locations...one is where I currently reside, one is for where I resided for 11 years, and the last is for one in which I might like to reside...

Indoor Cycling

Not the easiest thing to do, but I am trying to stay motivated and ride my bike, which is set up on a Kurt Kinectic trainer, in my dining room. There are a couple of threads on bikejournal.com that are helping with my motivation, although I have neglected the bike for the past three days. Gotta convince me to get on before today is done!!!

Snow Day!

The snow fell softly for awhile...about 24-48 hours off and on. Here is the first snowfall photo...not too much just yet.

Here we have a bit more snow. All in all we had nearly 10 inches. Enough to actually have a snow day called.

New Post!

Been thinking about just deleting my blog, but there are a lot of posts that I want to remember. A lot of people I want to remember. So, maybe I'll get my arse in gear and post every once in awhile.

So, I am no longer in Taipei, but am now living and teaching in Nebraska. Unfortunately I am still not teaching in the same town in which my husband and I have our home. Not really holding out a lot of hope that it will happen for next year either, but one never knows.

My job this year is not an easy one, especially since I am fresh off the "private school in Taiwan boat"...where the climate isn't fraught with high-stakes testing and politicians who don't know any better, but still stick their noses in where they shouldn't. The teachers I work with are wonderful...they have been very welcoming and have made me feel right at home.

So, even though it's not my ideal situation, I am still very thankful to be here, and to have a good paying job.

Not Many Days Left in Taipei

This year will close one chapter of my life...on June 4th, my time at TAS will come to an end. I've had a blast and will definitely miss many many people. I am happy to be returning to Nebraska, and even though my new job will be 100 miles from my home, I am looking forward to new challenges...new school district, new bike routes, new friends...yep, the upcoming adventure should be a lot of fun.

Fun Travel

So, on December 29, I arrived in North Platte on time for my flight from there to Denver. The plane in Denver apparently had some issues, so they finally swapped out another one and made it to LBF almost two hours late. No trouble for me as I was spending the night in Denver, but the Great Lakes employees worked overtime for several people making new arrangements so all would get to where they were going.

Security in NP was pretty tight due to the "Christmas incident" with the terrorist from Nigeria. All our carry on baggage was hand checked and we were all patted down. Didn't take long, since there were just about 10 passengers.

Flight to Denver was nice, just a little bouncing around. The hotel shuttle arrived just 15 minutes after I got there, and then I enjoyed a nice repast from Ruby Tuesday's. Fantastic ribs and Louisiana shrimp...yummmmm.

I had asked for a 1:30 am wake up call and the 2:30 shuttle, but since I was still fighting jet lag, I awoke at 12:30. Went downstairs early to check out and await my scheduled shuttle departure time, but the driver was there so I went early. Only to have to wait at the airport until 4:30 when United opened their stations. Huh? They open only an hour and a half before their first flight was to leave? Got through quickly, then faced a long line for security. Huh? The line moved about as quickly as I've ever seen it, so it took just 10 minutes.

Got to the gate with plenty of time for my Denver to San Francisco 6:05 flight. Which FINALLY departed about 9:30 due to a brake problem. They scavenged a part from another airplane, which then need to scavenge a part from the next airplane in line. I don't know when the scavenging stopped, I only know that I was happy to take off. I had talked to a gate agent and inquired about the 8:30 flight (which I normally take) to SFO, but it was fully booked.

Interestingly, the guy in the seat next to me was also traveling from Denver to SFO to Tokyo and on to Taipei! ALL on the same flights as me. Our pilot really tried to make up for lost time, and would have gotten us into SFO ten minutes earlier, but some unruly passenger on another plane caused that plane to be moved to the front of all other incoming flights. When we did finally make it to the gate, we didn't know if we would make our flight...so we grabbed our carry ons (I blocked people from getting in front of us...my good Asian elbowing techniques worked well) and we RAN for the international terminal. While on the run, I slowed enough to look at the departure screen and found out departing gate...97...almost at the end of the terminal. I had to slow, but Nick kept on running.

Huffing and puffing I reached the gate where the doors were still open...I was the last person on board. I am still amazed that we made it...I was envisioning another overnight stay in San Francisco.

After that drama, the rest of the trip was completely uneventful and I arrived in Taipei 20 minutes earlier than scheduled. Now the jet lag fight begins anew...

Some More Summer Photos

Not far from Valentine is Smith Falls State Park, complete with the tallest waterfall in Nebraska. Wow, who knew the flat state of Nebraska had such a great waterfall? We were all quite impressed by Smith Falls.


Brent, Rhonda, and Russ at the falls.



Rhonda, Brenda, and Russ



On the way back to Gothenburg, a train was blocking the only way back to the highway we wanted to be on. Did that deter us? Not a chance. Russ pulled a state trooper turn and headed back down the way we had come, and turned off onto a different highway for the trip back. Well done, Russ, we saw parts of Nebraska we didn't know existed. The highway was full of ups and downs and I kept thinking, "This would be a tough little hill on the bike!"

Just prior to rolling into Arnold, we were struck almost dumb by the sight of this canyon. NONE of us had ever seen it. It was a fitting end to a really nice weekend with good friends.

A Few Summer Photos

It's raining cats and dogs here in Taipei, I'm not going to be riding my bike, and I don't feel like starting my resume just yet, so I'll pop on some summer photos. I finally uploaded them from the camera yesterday. Good grief, am I getting lazy or what?!

Russ, Brent, Rhonda, and myself enjoyed a lovely weekend in Valentine, Nebraska. We stayed in some little cabins not too far from town. Sitting outside, looking off into the distance (you could see darn near forever), enjoying good conversation as well as the resident dog, and simply relaxing...this was a really nice respite from the relaxation I was already enjoying.

Taipei "Lovely" Weather

Yeppers, it is a bit hot here. Feels like 109 degrees? No wonder I haven't any energy.

Back in Taiwan

After a lovely summer spent relaxing and biking in Nebraska, I took the big bird back across the pond. After four uneventful legs, I arrived back in time to find everybody preparing for the first typhoon of the season. Since I had been gone for the summer, there wasn't much food in the cupboards and practically nothing in the fridge, so I hightailed it to the nearest 7'Eleven and picked up a few things.

Yesterday was spent inside the apartment listening to the wind howl and watching the rain come down in occasional torrents. The rain is a very good thing because Taiwan was in the middle of a drought and this will help fill up reservoirs. Not sure where the eye of the typhoon currently is, but I'm hoping it's on the way outta here quickly.

Sublime Solo Saturday

What a beautiful day for a bike ride. The bike took me on Highway 47 south toward Farnam and back. Had some nice gently rolling hills, very little wind, and tons of blue sky. Saw three rabbits, three families of wild turkeys, and one deer. Ended up with a scant 30 miles, which was just fine by me.

7/9/09

The bike took me on the old highway out to the Cozad road and back. I then went home to replace my new saddle with my old one. Back out...and the bike decided to go the south road nearly to Cozad and back. Kind of a hard ride, but not hard enough to deter me from getting 54 miles today.

Weather Conditions: Dark black clouds for a bit, southwest winds while heading east, southwest winds while heading north and east, north winds when heading south. Misted on me a bit, skies remained overcast. Temp was perfect!

Solo Sunday 7/5/09

What a beautiful morning for a 35 mile ride...not much wind, blue sky, white puffy clouds and very friendly folks. Went the old highway to Cozad, then took the south route back to Gothenburg. Stopped for a bit and watched the crop duster. I don't particularly like the chemicals, but it is fun to watch the flying.

I am so lucky to be able to ride here in the summertime...the people really are amazingly friendly and give me plenty of room when they go around me. Add that friendliness to the wide open spaces, the green fields and hills, and we are truly blessed to be here.

Oh yeah, I did have one dog try to give chase on Highway 47, but since I was already cruising at 18 mph, I just bumped up the speed enough to leave him in my dust.

Solo Saturday 7/4/09

Cut my planned 35 mile ride short due to very iffy looking clouds and strong winds. Old highway almost to Cozad road and back. Fought the wind on the way back, but it was a fair fight and I won. Besides a good hard workout, I needed the fight because I'm still perseverating on my friend's email. Gotta stop...gotta put it behind me.