Saturday, November 10, 2012
Monday, October 22, 2012
http://www.evergirlart.com/2012/10/11/2227/
http://www.evergirlart.com/2012/10/11/2227/ my first art east event! Finally, I get to participate in something in my hometown!
wind
As a small child I used to talk to my grandparents on the telephone before going to bed. Before saying good bye my grandfather would tell me he was blowing me a kiss . I remember him asking ," Can the phone cord reach the back porch? I replied," yes". He said," that is wonderful. Now go stand on the porch and tell me when you are ready!" 'Once on the porch he would say," okay I am blowing you a kiss let me know when you get it. " Sometimes it would be seconds , other times minutes and sometime I would tell him you missed me!
45 years later when I feel the wind on my face I think of someone blowing me a kiss. If I stop to pay close attention I swear I am catching some of those kisses I missed so many years ago.
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Thirty 32 years a go a boy by the name of David Ponis gave me a totem as a birthday gift.
When I left to join the army I left it with a friend. That friend died this month and so I have brought the totem home.
In an envelope taped to the back of the totem I found this:
The eagle is symbol of the zenith.
A great reminder of your own ability to soar to great heights.
Eagles are messengers from heaven and are the embodiment of the spirit of the sun.
Those with an Eagle totem need to have an involvement with creation;
a willingness to experience extremes;
a willingness to use your ability
even if it means getting "scorched" a little as you fly high;
a willingness to seek out your true emotions.
A demanding totem, but one that offers so much reward at the end of the journey.
Its four-toed feet remind you to stay grounded even went soaring high;
Its talons remind you to grasp the things of the earth;
Its sharp beak shows you when to speak, how much, and how strongly.
This totem will show you opportunities and how to ride the winds to your benefit.
Eagle people can live in the realm of the spirit
yet still remain connected and balanced within the realm of the Earth.
You must become much more than you ever dreamed possible.
In an envelope taped to the back of the totem I found this:
The eagle is symbol of the zenith.
A great reminder of your own ability to soar to great heights.
Eagles are messengers from heaven and are the embodiment of the spirit of the sun.
Those with an Eagle totem need to have an involvement with creation;
a willingness to experience extremes;
a willingness to use your ability
even if it means getting "scorched" a little as you fly high;
a willingness to seek out your true emotions.
A demanding totem, but one that offers so much reward at the end of the journey.
Its four-toed feet remind you to stay grounded even went soaring high;
Its talons remind you to grasp the things of the earth;
Its sharp beak shows you when to speak, how much, and how strongly.
This totem will show you opportunities and how to ride the winds to your benefit.
Eagle people can live in the realm of the spirit
yet still remain connected and balanced within the realm of the Earth.
You must become much more than you ever dreamed possible.
Friday, November 11, 2011
An Experiment, working for a living
Is it just me or has the new generation of young adults taken on an attitude of self entitlement?
I have spent the past few weeks looking at job pages. There seems to be thousands of jobs out there. Now don't get me wrong these jobs are just that jobs not dream careers.
I started thinking about America jobless because I have been taking coffee and cookies down to Seattle's Occupy headquarters. I have been shocked at how many young people are there. I was talking to a young girl yesterday and she actually told me," I am tired of working crap jobs!" She told me she collects food stamps for her and her baby and she lives with friends.
As a parent I understand the need to care for ones offspring but when I see over 300,000 jobs listed on job sites I have to wonder if the unemployment rate is so high because our children are just spoiled rotten?
I was told by another occupy protester that you had to know someone to get a job.So I decided to come home and do a little experiment.
Last week I made my self a gmail account under an alias. Then I made a simple resume with no work experience and typed up a cover letter with the skills a high school student has. I applied for a dozen jobs and so far I have been offered interviews for 8 of them. The hours might might not be perfect the work my not be as fun as playing rock band but work is just that work! These jobs pay between $1500-3500 a month they do not require a degree!
In my search I have found that pretty much every cell phone company has at least 4-8 job openings.
yes, you might have to deal with some grumpy customers,but, hey dealing with grumpy people is a good life skill to have!
I recently told my own offspring, "They can't hire you if you don't apply for the job!" What is the worst thing that can happen? Well they can say no, so you move on to the next place.
On a personal note 18 years ago my husband was job hunting he applied for a position and got the thanks but no thanks letter. He applied again with a new resume changing some key words and adding a new cover letter and eh got the job. Moral of the story:
Sometimes we need to fail so that we can succeed! Don't be afraid to put yourself out there.
I have spent the past few weeks looking at job pages. There seems to be thousands of jobs out there. Now don't get me wrong these jobs are just that jobs not dream careers.
I started thinking about America jobless because I have been taking coffee and cookies down to Seattle's Occupy headquarters. I have been shocked at how many young people are there. I was talking to a young girl yesterday and she actually told me," I am tired of working crap jobs!" She told me she collects food stamps for her and her baby and she lives with friends.
As a parent I understand the need to care for ones offspring but when I see over 300,000 jobs listed on job sites I have to wonder if the unemployment rate is so high because our children are just spoiled rotten?
I was told by another occupy protester that you had to know someone to get a job.So I decided to come home and do a little experiment.
Last week I made my self a gmail account under an alias. Then I made a simple resume with no work experience and typed up a cover letter with the skills a high school student has. I applied for a dozen jobs and so far I have been offered interviews for 8 of them. The hours might might not be perfect the work my not be as fun as playing rock band but work is just that work! These jobs pay between $1500-3500 a month they do not require a degree!
In my search I have found that pretty much every cell phone company has at least 4-8 job openings.
yes, you might have to deal with some grumpy customers,but, hey dealing with grumpy people is a good life skill to have!
I recently told my own offspring, "They can't hire you if you don't apply for the job!" What is the worst thing that can happen? Well they can say no, so you move on to the next place.
On a personal note 18 years ago my husband was job hunting he applied for a position and got the thanks but no thanks letter. He applied again with a new resume changing some key words and adding a new cover letter and eh got the job. Moral of the story:
Sometimes we need to fail so that we can succeed! Don't be afraid to put yourself out there.
A Candy Apple Army Experience
My first duty station was at Walter Reed Army Medical Center which was considered the candy apple army. I was supposed to go to Korea first but that is another story for another time. My job in the finance office was pretty easy so I got permission to get a part time job as a bartender in the NCO / Officer’s club.
One Friday afternoon I was stocking the cooler preparing for boss 's night, when I turned to help a polite soldier who had come in for a drink. As I turned to help him I about came out of my own skin.
This soldier has been hit by a scud missile, from the elbows down he had no arms, his face was more terrifying than any Hollywood horror movie monster, skim melted off, he had no legs. He used his elbows and mouth to open out a small coin purse and asked me to count out enough for a beer.
Living on base at WRAMC had its plus points, our mess hall was the hospital cafeteria, and being the hospital in DC the food was pretty good so I ate there most the time. What I remember most about being at WRAMC was the people I would meet at the hospital, in the cafeteria, elevators and in the hospital smoking areas. I spent hours visiting people in their rooms and sneaking then up booze in mouth wash bottles. (It was one of those sneaking booze into the hospital when Peter saw me for the first time).
Now back to that young soldier that lost both arms facial skin and his legs. He was only 19, to young to have a drink. He showed me his exit papers he was only getting 30% disability! I served him a drink anyway, it was on the house!
One Friday afternoon I was stocking the cooler preparing for boss 's night, when I turned to help a polite soldier who had come in for a drink. As I turned to help him I about came out of my own skin.
This soldier has been hit by a scud missile, from the elbows down he had no arms, his face was more terrifying than any Hollywood horror movie monster, skim melted off, he had no legs. He used his elbows and mouth to open out a small coin purse and asked me to count out enough for a beer.
Living on base at WRAMC had its plus points, our mess hall was the hospital cafeteria, and being the hospital in DC the food was pretty good so I ate there most the time. What I remember most about being at WRAMC was the people I would meet at the hospital, in the cafeteria, elevators and in the hospital smoking areas. I spent hours visiting people in their rooms and sneaking then up booze in mouth wash bottles. (It was one of those sneaking booze into the hospital when Peter saw me for the first time).
Now back to that young soldier that lost both arms facial skin and his legs. He was only 19, to young to have a drink. He showed me his exit papers he was only getting 30% disability! I served him a drink anyway, it was on the house!
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Shame on you Issaquah!
Sunday July 10, 2011
I was not planning to get out of my car, I was just dropping a kid off at kid stage.
While leaving downtown Issaquah around noon today I was sitting at the traffic light near the pool heading south. I saw an elderly lady trip and fall on the sidewalk ahead. I counted, twenty cars came around the corner and just drove past her lying on the ground. I finally ran the light and pulled up to help her. I had forgot that all I was wearing was my night gown. Her glasses had gone into the bridge of her nose, one eye lens had popped out of her glasses, and she was unable to get up on her own. Blood everywhere. She had literally fallen flat on her face.
Three cars honked at me for stopping and then a car pulled up behind me to help. The driver of the other car and her two sons called 911 asI kept direct pressure on her wounds. The fire department arrived quickly and took over!
I am shocked that so many people in Issaquah just drove by a 91 year old women on a sidewalk!
Thank you the good Samaritans that stopped to assist her and the 5 hot fireman that showed up so quickly to take care of her.
Cynthia
I was not planning to get out of my car, I was just dropping a kid off at kid stage.
While leaving downtown Issaquah around noon today I was sitting at the traffic light near the pool heading south. I saw an elderly lady trip and fall on the sidewalk ahead. I counted, twenty cars came around the corner and just drove past her lying on the ground. I finally ran the light and pulled up to help her. I had forgot that all I was wearing was my night gown. Her glasses had gone into the bridge of her nose, one eye lens had popped out of her glasses, and she was unable to get up on her own. Blood everywhere. She had literally fallen flat on her face.
Three cars honked at me for stopping and then a car pulled up behind me to help. The driver of the other car and her two sons called 911 asI kept direct pressure on her wounds. The fire department arrived quickly and took over!
I am shocked that so many people in Issaquah just drove by a 91 year old women on a sidewalk!
Thank you the good Samaritans that stopped to assist her and the 5 hot fireman that showed up so quickly to take care of her.
Cynthia
Monday, June 20, 2011
Molly Doesn't Live Here Anymore.
Molly doesn’t live Here Anymore!
Mom didn’t believe that children needed many things, and dad went along whether he agreed or not. "A nice neat simple life", I remember them constantly saying,” We can’t have the house looking like Romper Room now can we?” I was told from the time I was a small child that it just wasn't healthy to get attached to material things. Doing so was an outright sin as well as being considered greedy.
The closer it got to my ninth birthday the worse I felt. The pain in my stomach was so bad I was sure that it felt just like someone was stabbing me with a knife. Later I learned that was not what a being stabbed felt like at all but we won’t go into that here. I new that if I were to die at that minute I would go straight to the burning pits of hello for what I was thinking about doing was certainly a huge sin.
The BOX
Every year a week before my birthday my parents would come to my room with a box, I was to put all the gifts from my previous birthday into the box. I would have about an hour to do this chore. After placing everything into the box my parents and I would go over a list of charities that were collecting toys for less fortunate children. Once we had picked one my parents would call and set up an appointment for us to deliver them. I never really minded this family tradition, until my ninth birthday.
Great Grandma La Gra had give Molly to me the previous year. Molly was the perfect friend. She was about 15 inches tall with long straight, dishwater blonde hair. Her skin was like porcelain even though she was made of plastic. He lips where painted a soft pastel shade of pink. Her cheeks were blushed as if she were just kissed by a cool sweet breeze. Molly’s dress was white cotton with little pink roses on it. She wore bobby socks and little white sandals. She was not an expensive doll but Molly was more than just a stupid toy. Molly was my best friend. Oh how I loved Molly, I really didn’t want to put her in the box.
The Big Sin
The box sat outside my bedroom door for a couple of days. I had put a few of my other gifts from the previous year inside the box carefully. Then I hid Molly and when asked about her whereabouts I lied! I told my parents I had not seen here and that I was concerned that she had run away.
After a fifteen minute lecture that seemed more like three hours on the topic of how children today don’t take care of things. I thought I was off the hook and that they would move on. I was so wrong! Dear ol’ mom offered to go help me find the missing doll. My heart dropped all the way to my big toe. I thought for sure I was going to vomit. I can honestly say I don’t think I ever felt so panicked! What does one do when cornered, confess sins or keep mouth shut! Mom would find Molly in minutes and she did! Molly was now in the box and it was time to take the box to the children’s hospital.
I remember thinking on the drive o the hospital that I would rather give a kidney or any other part of my body that someone should use if I could only keep my best friend. But I knew it was pointless to argue. Once we arrived at the hospital I asked if I could give Molly to someone myself. My parents agreed as long as I promised not to pull anything. If I could have donated my parents to charity on that hot summer day in late June , there is not a doubt in my mind that I would have.
I walked from room to room visiting children passing out the items in the box. All that was left was Molly. I walked into a room where there was a girl about my age. She looked scary; I quickly covered Molly’s eyes! Some horrible person had lit her on fire. She was covered with scares; it scared me to look at her. Molly whispered to me to run! That is when the girl looked at me and smiled. It was a gentle smile. When she spoke her voice was soft and scared. She asked. “What is her name?” Molly I replied. Then out of the blue I handed her my best friend and said, “I brought her to keep you company.” She smiled and took her carefully and said, “Why thank you, it has been rather lonely here and with the burns the others say I am scary. “Molly will be a faithful friend,” I told her, “just love her and she will love you back.” and then I ran out of the room. I could not believe I had just given away my best friend. My life was now over I would die from loneliness within the hour.
Well 13 years later, I was still alive; I had not died of loneliness. I was now twenty –two married with a son. Life had gone on. I got an urgent call from my father someone had telephoned him with a message for me. An old classmate was trying to locate me? I wrote the number down but I didn’t remember ever being friends with an Annie Svennson or any Ann for that matter. I stuck the paper with the number in my sweater pocket and went on about my day! Two weeks later my father called again and said, “Please call your friend, she keeps calling here for you.”
Calling people on the phone was never something I liked doing. To make call required a lot of guts! One just never really knows what the person on the other end of the line is going to say. After a few more calls from my dad I finally decided to suck it up and give this girl a call and ask her what the heck is up! Well I dialed the number counting to 10 between dialing each number! Yep, this was back in the days where you actually dialed a phone! One ring, two ring I still had time to hang up, when I heard a man say, “Hello this is Dave Svensson,” I asked to speak with Annie and he said, “you must be Cindy, she was hoping you would call” I explained that I had not been called Cindy since I was a child and that he should call me Cynthia. He said, very well and told me he would go get Annie. There was a silence l and I really wanted to hang up. Then I heard a voice that was vaguely familiar, “Can you meet for lunch?” she asked.
Red Robin at 1:00 they really did make the best burgers, I got there right on time and starving! I told the hostess I was expecting to meet someone. The hostess asked me my name and then she told me my party was waiting for me. As I walked towards the table I stopped short. My feet wouldn’t move. Oh my GOD! There she was, not Annie but Molly! I slowly made my way across the room to the table and stood in amazement and just starred. The hostess handed me a letter. Unable to speak I sat there still and in shock. She looked just like I remembered. How did she find me? I picked her up to look at her and in my state of shock I forgot about the letter.
A few minutes later a waiter stopped and asked if I was ready to order. “Order, order what?” I asked.
I picked up Molly and the letter and went out to my car. I sat starring at the envelope. It was off white with a bit of lace. On the back it had a wax stamp seal. It smelled like Lily of the valley.
I carefully opened the envelope and on the inside was a letter written on a perfumed piece of Victorian style stationary. Dear Cindy, Thank you for sharing your best friend with me when no one else would be my friend. I enjoyed her company and I think she enjoyed mine. I have a husband and my own daughter now so I thought I should return her to you, I noticed many years ago that on the inside of Molly’s dress in dark pencil were the words , if lost please return to Cindy at WA2-4917. Cindy if you want to hear about some of the adventures that Molly and I shared gives me a call at LE7 -1928.
The story of Annie and Molly doesn’t end here. I wanted to hear about the adventures they shared and for three years we were the best of friend. Three years was all we had as Leukemia took Annie away from me. This time the pain was much worse much closer to being stabbed in the stomach and the heart.
To comfort her 5 year old daughter Christina I once again parted with Molly. I told Christina that Molly was an old friend of her moms a great listener and that she would be her friend through thick and thin. Christina was delighted to have a friend that had shared so much of her mom’s life. For a year I spent almost every day with Christina, playing and sharing stories with her that her mom had shared with me. A year was all we had when Leukemia also took Christina.
It’s been 20-25 years since I started writing all this stuff down I have kept a journal about the adventures of Molly and my friends. I have found that having friends and spending time with them is the most important gift of all. When birthdays rolls around and I see gift in boxes I instantly remember the dreaded birthday box and all the friends and family I have lost to Leukemia over the years.
Mom didn’t believe that children needed many things, and dad went along whether he agreed or not. "A nice neat simple life", I remember them constantly saying,” We can’t have the house looking like Romper Room now can we?” I was told from the time I was a small child that it just wasn't healthy to get attached to material things. Doing so was an outright sin as well as being considered greedy.
The closer it got to my ninth birthday the worse I felt. The pain in my stomach was so bad I was sure that it felt just like someone was stabbing me with a knife. Later I learned that was not what a being stabbed felt like at all but we won’t go into that here. I new that if I were to die at that minute I would go straight to the burning pits of hello for what I was thinking about doing was certainly a huge sin.
The BOX
Every year a week before my birthday my parents would come to my room with a box, I was to put all the gifts from my previous birthday into the box. I would have about an hour to do this chore. After placing everything into the box my parents and I would go over a list of charities that were collecting toys for less fortunate children. Once we had picked one my parents would call and set up an appointment for us to deliver them. I never really minded this family tradition, until my ninth birthday.
Great Grandma La Gra had give Molly to me the previous year. Molly was the perfect friend. She was about 15 inches tall with long straight, dishwater blonde hair. Her skin was like porcelain even though she was made of plastic. He lips where painted a soft pastel shade of pink. Her cheeks were blushed as if she were just kissed by a cool sweet breeze. Molly’s dress was white cotton with little pink roses on it. She wore bobby socks and little white sandals. She was not an expensive doll but Molly was more than just a stupid toy. Molly was my best friend. Oh how I loved Molly, I really didn’t want to put her in the box.
The Big Sin
The box sat outside my bedroom door for a couple of days. I had put a few of my other gifts from the previous year inside the box carefully. Then I hid Molly and when asked about her whereabouts I lied! I told my parents I had not seen here and that I was concerned that she had run away.
After a fifteen minute lecture that seemed more like three hours on the topic of how children today don’t take care of things. I thought I was off the hook and that they would move on. I was so wrong! Dear ol’ mom offered to go help me find the missing doll. My heart dropped all the way to my big toe. I thought for sure I was going to vomit. I can honestly say I don’t think I ever felt so panicked! What does one do when cornered, confess sins or keep mouth shut! Mom would find Molly in minutes and she did! Molly was now in the box and it was time to take the box to the children’s hospital.
I remember thinking on the drive o the hospital that I would rather give a kidney or any other part of my body that someone should use if I could only keep my best friend. But I knew it was pointless to argue. Once we arrived at the hospital I asked if I could give Molly to someone myself. My parents agreed as long as I promised not to pull anything. If I could have donated my parents to charity on that hot summer day in late June , there is not a doubt in my mind that I would have.
I walked from room to room visiting children passing out the items in the box. All that was left was Molly. I walked into a room where there was a girl about my age. She looked scary; I quickly covered Molly’s eyes! Some horrible person had lit her on fire. She was covered with scares; it scared me to look at her. Molly whispered to me to run! That is when the girl looked at me and smiled. It was a gentle smile. When she spoke her voice was soft and scared. She asked. “What is her name?” Molly I replied. Then out of the blue I handed her my best friend and said, “I brought her to keep you company.” She smiled and took her carefully and said, “Why thank you, it has been rather lonely here and with the burns the others say I am scary. “Molly will be a faithful friend,” I told her, “just love her and she will love you back.” and then I ran out of the room. I could not believe I had just given away my best friend. My life was now over I would die from loneliness within the hour.
Well 13 years later, I was still alive; I had not died of loneliness. I was now twenty –two married with a son. Life had gone on. I got an urgent call from my father someone had telephoned him with a message for me. An old classmate was trying to locate me? I wrote the number down but I didn’t remember ever being friends with an Annie Svennson or any Ann for that matter. I stuck the paper with the number in my sweater pocket and went on about my day! Two weeks later my father called again and said, “Please call your friend, she keeps calling here for you.”
Calling people on the phone was never something I liked doing. To make call required a lot of guts! One just never really knows what the person on the other end of the line is going to say. After a few more calls from my dad I finally decided to suck it up and give this girl a call and ask her what the heck is up! Well I dialed the number counting to 10 between dialing each number! Yep, this was back in the days where you actually dialed a phone! One ring, two ring I still had time to hang up, when I heard a man say, “Hello this is Dave Svensson,” I asked to speak with Annie and he said, “you must be Cindy, she was hoping you would call” I explained that I had not been called Cindy since I was a child and that he should call me Cynthia. He said, very well and told me he would go get Annie. There was a silence l and I really wanted to hang up. Then I heard a voice that was vaguely familiar, “Can you meet for lunch?” she asked.
Red Robin at 1:00 they really did make the best burgers, I got there right on time and starving! I told the hostess I was expecting to meet someone. The hostess asked me my name and then she told me my party was waiting for me. As I walked towards the table I stopped short. My feet wouldn’t move. Oh my GOD! There she was, not Annie but Molly! I slowly made my way across the room to the table and stood in amazement and just starred. The hostess handed me a letter. Unable to speak I sat there still and in shock. She looked just like I remembered. How did she find me? I picked her up to look at her and in my state of shock I forgot about the letter.
A few minutes later a waiter stopped and asked if I was ready to order. “Order, order what?” I asked.
I picked up Molly and the letter and went out to my car. I sat starring at the envelope. It was off white with a bit of lace. On the back it had a wax stamp seal. It smelled like Lily of the valley.
I carefully opened the envelope and on the inside was a letter written on a perfumed piece of Victorian style stationary. Dear Cindy, Thank you for sharing your best friend with me when no one else would be my friend. I enjoyed her company and I think she enjoyed mine. I have a husband and my own daughter now so I thought I should return her to you, I noticed many years ago that on the inside of Molly’s dress in dark pencil were the words , if lost please return to Cindy at WA2-4917. Cindy if you want to hear about some of the adventures that Molly and I shared gives me a call at LE7 -1928.
The story of Annie and Molly doesn’t end here. I wanted to hear about the adventures they shared and for three years we were the best of friend. Three years was all we had as Leukemia took Annie away from me. This time the pain was much worse much closer to being stabbed in the stomach and the heart.
To comfort her 5 year old daughter Christina I once again parted with Molly. I told Christina that Molly was an old friend of her moms a great listener and that she would be her friend through thick and thin. Christina was delighted to have a friend that had shared so much of her mom’s life. For a year I spent almost every day with Christina, playing and sharing stories with her that her mom had shared with me. A year was all we had when Leukemia also took Christina.
It’s been 20-25 years since I started writing all this stuff down I have kept a journal about the adventures of Molly and my friends. I have found that having friends and spending time with them is the most important gift of all. When birthdays rolls around and I see gift in boxes I instantly remember the dreaded birthday box and all the friends and family I have lost to Leukemia over the years.
Friday, June 17, 2011
All in a days work
So, I am wondering how many people have you given CPR to? What, you have never given CPR? I clearly remember my last time!
I was at Dillard's department store at Lakeline Mall. I stopped in to do some quick power shopping before meeting up with Quac Tran and a few other folks from the IGDA to discuss a partnership with the Austin game conference.
I was in the dressing room trying to decide if should fork out the cash for a new pair of blue jeans for the upcoming conference, when I heard a crash in the dressing room next door.
I hollered over, "hey are you okay" no reply so I opened the door to my room and looked under the door of the room next to me.
Shit , a middle aged lady was lying on the floor. Her head was bleeding from the fall. I crawled under the door and checked her pulse. I opened the door and yelled for help.
I then took of my Austin game developers T shirt and wrapped it around her head to help stop the bleeding. She was not breathing so I started CPR. Between breathing I would yell for help.
Finally after what seemed like hours but was actually only minutes a young store clerk came to the rescue or at least so I thought. She took one look at me bent over the lady and said oh my God all that blood. She took off, and in the distance I could hear her vomiting in the trash can behind her register. Moments later I yelled back, "please call 911!"
When the EMT's finally arrived they took over the CPR and they rushed the middle aged women to the ER, with my shirt still on her head.
I once again yelled over to the sales clerk , can you bring me a shirt, they took mine.
Crap! My wallet is back at the office!
I did end up with a new dress to wear to the IGDA meeting on Dillards. A month later the middle age ladies husband had me meet up at the store for a nice thank you gift for savings his wife's life.
I was at Dillard's department store at Lakeline Mall. I stopped in to do some quick power shopping before meeting up with Quac Tran and a few other folks from the IGDA to discuss a partnership with the Austin game conference.
I was in the dressing room trying to decide if should fork out the cash for a new pair of blue jeans for the upcoming conference, when I heard a crash in the dressing room next door.
I hollered over, "hey are you okay" no reply so I opened the door to my room and looked under the door of the room next to me.
Shit , a middle aged lady was lying on the floor. Her head was bleeding from the fall. I crawled under the door and checked her pulse. I opened the door and yelled for help.
I then took of my Austin game developers T shirt and wrapped it around her head to help stop the bleeding. She was not breathing so I started CPR. Between breathing I would yell for help.
Finally after what seemed like hours but was actually only minutes a young store clerk came to the rescue or at least so I thought. She took one look at me bent over the lady and said oh my God all that blood. She took off, and in the distance I could hear her vomiting in the trash can behind her register. Moments later I yelled back, "please call 911!"
When the EMT's finally arrived they took over the CPR and they rushed the middle aged women to the ER, with my shirt still on her head.
I once again yelled over to the sales clerk , can you bring me a shirt, they took mine.
Crap! My wallet is back at the office!
I did end up with a new dress to wear to the IGDA meeting on Dillards. A month later the middle age ladies husband had me meet up at the store for a nice thank you gift for savings his wife's life.
Monday, December 20, 2010
This morning I woke up with words running thru my head. The tail end of my dream involved me reading a poem out loud. What I heard was the end of that poem, but even though I was reading it, it wasn’t totally my voice.
What remains is:
To live we must be forgiving
and giving is for us to give,
and the reason for living is loving
and the reason for love is to live.
Pretty cool.
What remains is:
To live we must be forgiving
and giving is for us to give,
and the reason for living is loving
and the reason for love is to live.
Pretty cool.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Math teachers are not all bad
A few months back after receiving a report card for one of our high school age students I wrote a note about homework and asked what it is really for. I got some phone calls and emails in reply and had a few days of back and forth emails with the instructor who had given our daughter an F and then placed the comment ,” Child has an exceptional understanding of material /homework not turned in regularly.” I never got the result I had hoped for but today I have a different story,
When someone does something wonderful they should be honored!
We all know there bad teachers, mediocre teachers, teachers that are just doing there time, teachers that as students you dreaded and every now and then there is that teacher that helps change your life forever! The teacher that is there for her students even after the bell rings! Liberty High Schools Math teacher Angie Kruzich is one of those exceptional instructors. I wonder how my life would be different if I had been blessed with such a wonderful role model and exceptional math teacher when I was in school!
When you have a kid that likes to learn but just can’t seem to get the homework in the difference in the grade can be an F instead of what should be an easy A. These silly letters of the alphabet can make a huge difference in how a child thinks and feels about themselves. In middle school and high school we are judged by our peers our instructors, our parents and parents’ friends, and often our friends by what type of student we are. The difference in a 1.8 and a 4.00 grade point average is huge. It is even huger when you are looking at colleges and even huger when you look at how if can cause kids to work at the level that is expected of them and not the level they are capable of.
I take my hat off to Liberty High schools Math teacher Angie Kruzich; she dared go where few others before her have dared to go! Angie does not clock out as soon as the bell rings. She does just the opposite. Angie stays at school and offers kids the opportunity to stay after school with her one day a week to be a part of homework club! When our daughter started staying after school one day a week her math grade went from and F to a B- in just a matter of a few weeks. This helped with the previous negative attitude towards her homework and turned it into something fun. Mrs., Kruzich goes out of her way to make sure parents know what the math grade is throughout the semester she sends parents updates and makes it easy for us as parents to follow up.
I would like to thank Angie Kruzich for doing an exceptional job. Our daughter calls her the teacher who keeps her on task! I call her a teacher who cares and is truly an inspiration to others, Angie is a role model that inspires and works to motivate kids and looks outside the box for solutions!
Thank you Angie Kruzich!
Sincerely,
Cynthia Freese
Issaquah, WA
When someone does something wonderful they should be honored!
We all know there bad teachers, mediocre teachers, teachers that are just doing there time, teachers that as students you dreaded and every now and then there is that teacher that helps change your life forever! The teacher that is there for her students even after the bell rings! Liberty High Schools Math teacher Angie Kruzich is one of those exceptional instructors. I wonder how my life would be different if I had been blessed with such a wonderful role model and exceptional math teacher when I was in school!
When you have a kid that likes to learn but just can’t seem to get the homework in the difference in the grade can be an F instead of what should be an easy A. These silly letters of the alphabet can make a huge difference in how a child thinks and feels about themselves. In middle school and high school we are judged by our peers our instructors, our parents and parents’ friends, and often our friends by what type of student we are. The difference in a 1.8 and a 4.00 grade point average is huge. It is even huger when you are looking at colleges and even huger when you look at how if can cause kids to work at the level that is expected of them and not the level they are capable of.
I take my hat off to Liberty High schools Math teacher Angie Kruzich; she dared go where few others before her have dared to go! Angie does not clock out as soon as the bell rings. She does just the opposite. Angie stays at school and offers kids the opportunity to stay after school with her one day a week to be a part of homework club! When our daughter started staying after school one day a week her math grade went from and F to a B- in just a matter of a few weeks. This helped with the previous negative attitude towards her homework and turned it into something fun. Mrs., Kruzich goes out of her way to make sure parents know what the math grade is throughout the semester she sends parents updates and makes it easy for us as parents to follow up.
I would like to thank Angie Kruzich for doing an exceptional job. Our daughter calls her the teacher who keeps her on task! I call her a teacher who cares and is truly an inspiration to others, Angie is a role model that inspires and works to motivate kids and looks outside the box for solutions!
Thank you Angie Kruzich!
Sincerely,
Cynthia Freese
Issaquah, WA
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Who in the Hell was King Palmer
Who in the Hell was King Palmer? Friend, joker,inventor,entrepreneur,father,lover, spouse,brother, grandfather,protector,and provider.Born in Tacoma,Washington on January 3, 1944.
King believed in living life, working hard but most importantly taking time to have fun. King wanted to remind us all that when we get to the pearly gates we will be asked by our maker if we have enjoyed the life we were given. He said his reply would be YES! On October 23, 2009 King did his last wheelie all the way to heaven.
(I am sure he enjoyed not having to wear a helmet on his last ride!)
King believed in living life, working hard but most importantly taking time to have fun. King wanted to remind us all that when we get to the pearly gates we will be asked by our maker if we have enjoyed the life we were given. He said his reply would be YES! On October 23, 2009 King did his last wheelie all the way to heaven.
(I am sure he enjoyed not having to wear a helmet on his last ride!)
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
grandma is now just a memory
Yesterday, on June 17th my sister Tammi called me to let my know my grandma Twila had passed in her sleep. We had been waiting for her to pass for a few months. I have so many memories of time and talks with her that she feels even closer now. It's like she has moved and now lives with me. I am glad I told her how much I loved her and how much she met to me. She always encouraged me to do new things and always made me feel so loved and important. I am so thankful that she was my grandma.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
LOGIN Leaches
LOGIN Leaches
Now heading towards year 4 LOGIN is considered by those who attended to be a huge success. We have been successful in bringing together C-level people from around the world that develop games that are played online, mix in quality speakers and relevant sponsors , devoted adviser's and great volunteers and you have a recipe for success. This success isn't something that happened magically. It took a lot of people working together and devoting hundreds if hours , it required community support , and a lot of hard by Peter . LOGIN is called the best industry event by all those who attend. Sure we have had our share of problems but over all the event is a successful event. Please don't get that mixed up with being profitable!
After the event each year we give ourselves a week to cope with the post conference funk and then its back to work on planing the next years event. This year I made a big mistake. I started contacting people whose business cards I had collected at the conference. That might not be thought of as a mistake but that is only the first part. I asked if they had a good LOGIN experience and after the call I would add them to my address book , or invite them to join me on linked in.
The mistake was when I contacted a gentleman who gave me his card and I noticed he hadn't registered for the event. His title, Vice President Content / Entertainment Practice. The company he was with did not seem to be a small struggling company quite the opposite. When he told me he had enjoyed the parties I told him that the parties were for attendees only and that he should have bought a day pass or I would have been happy to sell him a party pass. I told him that since he attended I would like to send him a credit card authorization form or give him our address where he could mail us a check to make good for at the very least he should purchase a day pass. His reply was, " whats it to you if I didn't pay?" "There is no way in hell I am paying for an event where I just went to the parties and held meetings? " This response knocked me off balance and put me on the defense. When I told him that in my eyes gate crashers at LOGIN are not only stealing from me but they are stealing from all the attendees he got a bit pissed. He then sent me quick email telling me that his company attorneys have his meeting schedule along with a written letter from the Marriott that the Lobby areas are common areas and that he could be there if he wanted to be. How does one do this in less than 5 minutes? Was he bluffing , was it done in advance? All these questions racing through my mind. I sent an email back and said you win! I am dropping this, have a nice day.
Red flag for Asshole! He in advance had a letter from the Marriott about where he could be? I wonder??
But, I had his business card which to me met he was at our party which was clearing marked private party. So I told Mister whats it to you , what I thought and regretfully said I would like to post his name on the LOGIN web page along with a few others that were only pretending to be an attendee.
Mister what's it to you, wasn't the only LOGIN leach, there were a few others one was a CEO who had recently announced raising millions of dollars. One guy had the nerve to come down to our exhibit area and when I asked him if he was going to register he said no I am just here for a meeting? WTF! Why do some people think they are entitled to getting everything for free? Are they legends in there own minds? After pouring myself into an event each year and ending up in the red I feel like I have a right to take people stealing from me personally.
Was the guy I called on the phone just pissed because he got caught? I looked at his Linked in profile and it clearly said he was attending LOGIN. Is this the new way to do business? What about the CEO who was hanging out in the LOBBY just feet from our party, or the guy who told me he lost his name badge and 20 minutes later I saw someone else with the name badge on. Are these these the types of people we want to do business with? It seems to me that if these folks value the quality of the attendees that we bring together that should support the event instead of act as a LOGIN leach. We are not a company with deep pockets and a huge staff. We are Peter , Paul , James, Joe, John, Erik, Steve , Scott ,Brandon, Rich, and me, all working hard to do something really cool for an industry we love.
Sure there are a lot of conferences and they are expensive. We work hard to make sure our event offers the best quality and the best attendees. We understand that times are tough and people are struggling and they can't afford to attend all these conferences. We are happy to help people out! Our volunteers ranged from CEO's to students some helping before during or after the event so that they could earn a complimentary pass.
Maybe I should not take things so personally, maybe Mister whats it to you, was right when he emailed one of my friends and said, "So now you bring up an interesting point. Compromise might have been achievable, as I am always in favor of helping one out. However, Cynthia needs to go to business school to learn how to approach people and have professional discussions, with C-levels from companies. Her approach and tact; has been nothing short of unprofessional, inappropriate and downright offensive. Therefore, all hope of a compromise has subsequently been lost."
I honestly think if Mister what's it to you, registered for LOGIN 2010 I would prefer to send him a refund and tell him to stay home. Sure it might be immature and unprofessional but I find stealing to also be unethical , unprofessional, and insulting.
Please tell me if I am over reacting! Should I just be happy he booked at the conference hotel? Do you want to do business with Mister whats it to you?
Now heading towards year 4 LOGIN is considered by those who attended to be a huge success. We have been successful in bringing together C-level people from around the world that develop games that are played online, mix in quality speakers and relevant sponsors , devoted adviser's and great volunteers and you have a recipe for success. This success isn't something that happened magically. It took a lot of people working together and devoting hundreds if hours , it required community support , and a lot of hard by Peter . LOGIN is called the best industry event by all those who attend. Sure we have had our share of problems but over all the event is a successful event. Please don't get that mixed up with being profitable!
After the event each year we give ourselves a week to cope with the post conference funk and then its back to work on planing the next years event. This year I made a big mistake. I started contacting people whose business cards I had collected at the conference. That might not be thought of as a mistake but that is only the first part. I asked if they had a good LOGIN experience and after the call I would add them to my address book , or invite them to join me on linked in.
The mistake was when I contacted a gentleman who gave me his card and I noticed he hadn't registered for the event. His title, Vice President Content / Entertainment Practice. The company he was with did not seem to be a small struggling company quite the opposite. When he told me he had enjoyed the parties I told him that the parties were for attendees only and that he should have bought a day pass or I would have been happy to sell him a party pass. I told him that since he attended I would like to send him a credit card authorization form or give him our address where he could mail us a check to make good for at the very least he should purchase a day pass. His reply was, " whats it to you if I didn't pay?" "There is no way in hell I am paying for an event where I just went to the parties and held meetings? " This response knocked me off balance and put me on the defense. When I told him that in my eyes gate crashers at LOGIN are not only stealing from me but they are stealing from all the attendees he got a bit pissed. He then sent me quick email telling me that his company attorneys have his meeting schedule along with a written letter from the Marriott that the Lobby areas are common areas and that he could be there if he wanted to be. How does one do this in less than 5 minutes? Was he bluffing , was it done in advance? All these questions racing through my mind. I sent an email back and said you win! I am dropping this, have a nice day.
Red flag for Asshole! He in advance had a letter from the Marriott about where he could be? I wonder??
But, I had his business card which to me met he was at our party which was clearing marked private party. So I told Mister whats it to you , what I thought and regretfully said I would like to post his name on the LOGIN web page along with a few others that were only pretending to be an attendee.
Mister what's it to you, wasn't the only LOGIN leach, there were a few others one was a CEO who had recently announced raising millions of dollars. One guy had the nerve to come down to our exhibit area and when I asked him if he was going to register he said no I am just here for a meeting? WTF! Why do some people think they are entitled to getting everything for free? Are they legends in there own minds? After pouring myself into an event each year and ending up in the red I feel like I have a right to take people stealing from me personally.
Was the guy I called on the phone just pissed because he got caught? I looked at his Linked in profile and it clearly said he was attending LOGIN. Is this the new way to do business? What about the CEO who was hanging out in the LOBBY just feet from our party, or the guy who told me he lost his name badge and 20 minutes later I saw someone else with the name badge on. Are these these the types of people we want to do business with? It seems to me that if these folks value the quality of the attendees that we bring together that should support the event instead of act as a LOGIN leach. We are not a company with deep pockets and a huge staff. We are Peter , Paul , James, Joe, John, Erik, Steve , Scott ,Brandon, Rich, and me, all working hard to do something really cool for an industry we love.
Sure there are a lot of conferences and they are expensive. We work hard to make sure our event offers the best quality and the best attendees. We understand that times are tough and people are struggling and they can't afford to attend all these conferences. We are happy to help people out! Our volunteers ranged from CEO's to students some helping before during or after the event so that they could earn a complimentary pass.
Maybe I should not take things so personally, maybe Mister whats it to you, was right when he emailed one of my friends and said, "So now you bring up an interesting point. Compromise might have been achievable, as I am always in favor of helping one out. However, Cynthia needs to go to business school to learn how to approach people and have professional discussions, with C-levels from companies. Her approach and tact; has been nothing short of unprofessional, inappropriate and downright offensive. Therefore, all hope of a compromise has subsequently been lost."
I honestly think if Mister what's it to you, registered for LOGIN 2010 I would prefer to send him a refund and tell him to stay home. Sure it might be immature and unprofessional but I find stealing to also be unethical , unprofessional, and insulting.
Please tell me if I am over reacting! Should I just be happy he booked at the conference hotel? Do you want to do business with Mister whats it to you?
Monday, May 25, 2009
Traditions
When we moved back to Washington State Peter and I started a tradition of meeting each Wednesday for Lunch at a wonderful little Greek place in downtown Issaquah. It is a quite and cozy restaurant with , great food and wonderful service and its the perfect setting for intimate conversations or a nice place to sit and chat with friends. We considered this place as our own private restaurant. When we are at Tantalus we are young lovers. Tantalus was our secret and we only went there together. Each Wednesday Dale greeted us the same way with a huge smile and offering us our table which was located up a couple stairs with a nice window and a bit out of the way from the rest of the lunch crowd.
May 25 , 2006 our anniversary fell on a Wednesday and I new what I wanted to get Peter for a gift but I had been too busy to get to the store to pick it up. I figured since the store was next door to where we have lunch I could leave early and grab the gift, have it wrapped just before meeting Peter for lunch.
Revolution Art Gallery is a place that sells art by local artist a lot of the art is created from recycled products , its a great place to find one of a kind gifts and lets you support a local artist. One of the artists that is featured at the gallery makes fantastic clocks out of corrugated cardboard they have personality and charm. There were two clocks that had been on display for awhile but they were a bit pricey for cardboard. One of the clocks seemed to really fit my personality and the other one seemed more like Peter. After thinking about it I really wanted to give Peter the clock that seemed to represented myself. It's a small square clock about 6 inches tall and by 6inches wide. The different colors of cardboard that make the sides have a unique design and around the face of the clock there are old postage stamps. The stamps all have something to do with various types of air travel from hot air balloons, airplanes , space travel , blimps, all things I really love. So it seemed like the perfect gift to share with they guy I love. So I went ahead and spent $125 on a cardboard clock had it gift wrapped and told the clerk I was meeting my husband for lunch and was giving him the clock as an anniversary gift. I left the store and headed to our private meeting place.
Little did I know that as I was walking around the front of the building Peter was coming around the building from the back side. We were later told that we were only about 30 seconds apart. He too had a mission as he had also seen the clock with the air travel stamps and thought it would be a perfect gift. When he got into the store to purchase the clock it it was gone. He saw the other small clock that instead of stamps of airplanes and reference to air travel this clock had had music notes positioned creatively around the face. As a lover of music he decided he would purchase this clock and share with me something that he really loves. He bought the clock had it gift wrapped and told the sales clerk he was meeting his wife for lunch and would be giving her the clock as an anniversary gift. He then rushed off to our meeting place.
What we both found out later was the clerk at the art shop was really wishing that see new where we were having lunch. worried that we would want to return one of the clocks she called the owned of the store to share what had transpired over the past ten minutes. Both the clerk and the owner agreed that when we returned we could have a refund on one of the clocks.
Who in there right mind would want two cardboard clocks at a $125 each? The owner and the clerk where sure that once the gifts where opened we wouldn't want to keep 2 6ich square cardboard clocks for a total of $250. The owner told the clerk that it t would be okay to do a refund. So the clerk sat at the store and waited for our lunch to end to see if we would be back.
Once Peter arrived at the secret meeting place we ordered our lunch and traded gifts. We laughed when we saw what we each had picked out for the other. Peter and I shared our stories about how we had both just purchased them. Our waiter Dale was amazed as he looked at the almost identical one of a kind clocks that we had placed on the widow sill. He said, " you too think a lot a like you are meant to be together. " We had a hard time not laughing every time we glanced at our gifts.
After lunch we walked back to the gallery and as soon as the clerk saw us she told us she had called the owner and had permission to return one of the clocks. She couldn't believe that the clocks had sat in the store untouched for over 6 months and then purchased the same day. We explained that we were not there to return our gifts just to tell her it was pretty funny and to thank her for her part of making our anniversary memorable as it was obviously not easy for to keep a straight face when she was selling the 2nd clock.
The clocks are kept in each of our offices and each time I look at the time I remember a special day that was full of love and silliness.
May 25 , 2006 our anniversary fell on a Wednesday and I new what I wanted to get Peter for a gift but I had been too busy to get to the store to pick it up. I figured since the store was next door to where we have lunch I could leave early and grab the gift, have it wrapped just before meeting Peter for lunch.
Revolution Art Gallery is a place that sells art by local artist a lot of the art is created from recycled products , its a great place to find one of a kind gifts and lets you support a local artist. One of the artists that is featured at the gallery makes fantastic clocks out of corrugated cardboard they have personality and charm. There were two clocks that had been on display for awhile but they were a bit pricey for cardboard. One of the clocks seemed to really fit my personality and the other one seemed more like Peter. After thinking about it I really wanted to give Peter the clock that seemed to represented myself. It's a small square clock about 6 inches tall and by 6inches wide. The different colors of cardboard that make the sides have a unique design and around the face of the clock there are old postage stamps. The stamps all have something to do with various types of air travel from hot air balloons, airplanes , space travel , blimps, all things I really love. So it seemed like the perfect gift to share with they guy I love. So I went ahead and spent $125 on a cardboard clock had it gift wrapped and told the clerk I was meeting my husband for lunch and was giving him the clock as an anniversary gift. I left the store and headed to our private meeting place.
Little did I know that as I was walking around the front of the building Peter was coming around the building from the back side. We were later told that we were only about 30 seconds apart. He too had a mission as he had also seen the clock with the air travel stamps and thought it would be a perfect gift. When he got into the store to purchase the clock it it was gone. He saw the other small clock that instead of stamps of airplanes and reference to air travel this clock had had music notes positioned creatively around the face. As a lover of music he decided he would purchase this clock and share with me something that he really loves. He bought the clock had it gift wrapped and told the sales clerk he was meeting his wife for lunch and would be giving her the clock as an anniversary gift. He then rushed off to our meeting place.
What we both found out later was the clerk at the art shop was really wishing that see new where we were having lunch. worried that we would want to return one of the clocks she called the owned of the store to share what had transpired over the past ten minutes. Both the clerk and the owner agreed that when we returned we could have a refund on one of the clocks.
Who in there right mind would want two cardboard clocks at a $125 each? The owner and the clerk where sure that once the gifts where opened we wouldn't want to keep 2 6ich square cardboard clocks for a total of $250. The owner told the clerk that it t would be okay to do a refund. So the clerk sat at the store and waited for our lunch to end to see if we would be back.
Once Peter arrived at the secret meeting place we ordered our lunch and traded gifts. We laughed when we saw what we each had picked out for the other. Peter and I shared our stories about how we had both just purchased them. Our waiter Dale was amazed as he looked at the almost identical one of a kind clocks that we had placed on the widow sill. He said, " you too think a lot a like you are meant to be together. " We had a hard time not laughing every time we glanced at our gifts.
After lunch we walked back to the gallery and as soon as the clerk saw us she told us she had called the owner and had permission to return one of the clocks. She couldn't believe that the clocks had sat in the store untouched for over 6 months and then purchased the same day. We explained that we were not there to return our gifts just to tell her it was pretty funny and to thank her for her part of making our anniversary memorable as it was obviously not easy for to keep a straight face when she was selling the 2nd clock.
The clocks are kept in each of our offices and each time I look at the time I remember a special day that was full of love and silliness.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Cold Masks
It’s been a rough few weeks at our house. Hosting a sick house guest, then playing nursemaid to a sick husband and now our youngest daughter stayed home from school. With a runny nose, sore throat, cough and mild aches and pains she came down stairs this morning and said, “I think I have what dad had.” I told her to go back to bed and I called the school to have her excused. Around 10 AM she got up to take some cold medicine and asked me, “Why don’t people in the United States use cold masks when they are sick to help keep from spreading germs?” Good question, I had always figured it was for vanity reasons. Then she shared with me that in other countries it is considered to be polite to wear a mask to keep from spreading germs and that if she had a mask she could have roughed it out and attended school today. Am I a bad parent for not thinking of stocking the house with cold masks? I honestly can’t imagine being in high school and wearing a cold mask to classes it seems so uncool. I am obviously more shallow than my 16 year old! It’s nice to know she stayed home to keep from spreading germs but now I am wondering why cold masks are not catching on in the US? To avoid the risk of losing class credits many students go to school sick. To avoid the loss of income many responsible adults go to work sick. Do we need designer masks or just reminders that the masks are to keep from spreading germs not to protect us from catching them? Is it selfishness or is it vanity that keeps us from protecting others or is it something completely different?
Cynthia Freese
Issaquah
Cynthia Freese
Issaquah
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Dear Grandma,
As I tried to get myself into sleep mode last night my thoughts drifted to you. I went back through time and was thinking about my happiest childhood memories. Most of which were with you and Grandpa. I reflected on my young years playing outside at the Edgewood/ Milton house. I thought about the one and only time you ever spanked me, I was between the ages of 3-5 years old and I had crossed the street to check your mail. I thought I was being a good helper and in turn my good deed was rewarded with a swat on the bottom, followed with hugs where I was almost drowned in tears and almost died from having the life hugged out of me. I felt so loved!
Other firsts:
You wrote me the first poem I ever received , it was on a little piece of notebook paper: It went something like:
As the sun shines on your golden hair and eyes of blue and your mind is worry free
I will think of you, will you sometimes think of me?
Love
Gram T
Plum trees, gardening, swinging on the swing under the apple or was it a pear tree in the back yard? Making daisy chain crowns and of course picking dandelions. I have planted a plum tree at every house I have ever owned. This house I planted two. I prefer to spend time in the yard than doing housework!
I remember laying on my back in your back yard looking at the sky and watching the clouds I was certain that the earth was moving and not the clouds. I remember talking with you about what animals I saw in the clouds. Bunnies always bunnies!
I remember the man who tried to get me to look in his car so he could give me a bunny? I was riding my bike on the hill near your house and a man in a little red Volkswagen pulled up and tired to give me a bunny. I rode my bike as fast as I could back to your place because I was sure he was trying to abduct me. He count figure out why a little girl wouldn’t want a bunny and followed me to your house. He really had a little bunny which I was allowed to keep but once at home our tom cat pounced on it and snapped its neck.
Bunnies!
Going to Wyoming to visit Sharon and Paul with you and Grandpa and Uncle Randy for Easter was also one of my childhood highlights! I still have a photo Randy took of us standing in front of an old cover wagon that was parked off the side of the road near a filling station. It snowed for Easter and I got the most adorable yellow bunny. If that rabbit should talk! It’s 41 -42 years old eyes falling out and I think its being held together with a combination of snot and tears love and a bit of dust. I have carried that darn rabbit around with me every where I have gone. I took it to church summer camps, military boot camp , honeymoon, vacations, it’s been kidnapped and held for ransom by different friends at least a dozen times over the years. Three of my most favorite things are things I received from you and grandpa, The Swan Princess book, and the little gold swan ring holder / box and yellow bunny.
You get all the credit for introducing me to music and sharing with me some of my life long favorite silly songs:
Listening to you play guitar and yodel what fun! I remember once Auntie Sharon drawing faces on her toes and having them dance while you played and sang!
Birdie, birdie in the sky dropped some white wash in my eye
I am a big girl I don’t cry
I am just glad the cows don’t fly.
(This song still makes people giggle)
I had me a chicken that wouldn’t lay an egg so I poured hot water up and down its leg
The little chicken hollered and the little chicken begged but the little chicken laid me a hard boiled egg! Yee haw!
Cottage cheese, I had some at your house and I remember throwing up on the floor in front of your fridge. I still can’t eat cottage cheese unless of course it’s mixed with potatoes in a dumpling.
Bread pudding & milk toast were never better than if you made them they are still my comfort foods.
You made me feel so important by letting me play messenger for you when you were mad at Grandpa, I can see the house and the rooms as if it were yesterday! He was on the living room I seem to remember birds and greyhounds on the sofa or the wall paper I got to go tell him he was an old poop! He then gave me a message to give to you. You were in your bedroom and you had the neat red wall paper that always reminded me of a bandana.
I remember waking up at your house one morning and coming down stairs an having to follow a string around the house which eventually led me outside to find my first bike. Oh the joy and excitement!
My love of riding hills must go back to the early days of peddling from your house up the hill towards the house where I lived as an infant.
I wrote this a while back to share with my cycling team at a fundraiser event. There is a bit of fiction for appeal but most is from my heart.
The Church of Bike is Always Open
In the Church of Bike, I would be a sweat-slathered gospel singer belting out praises and stepping side to side to the beat of the divine cadence. My Lycra robes would be soaked and I would throw toothy smiles to my bike, who would lean on an indoor rack in the front most pew. Membership is easy in the Church of Bike. It only requires one to speak of the possibilities of cycling. All are welcome in the Church of Bike. It is compatible with any faith.
Cycling has the potential to be a spiritual act. By spiritual act, I mean an act that leads someone to access that which is intangible, that which is of spirit, that which is greater than the self. Possibly, you think that “spirituality” is for people clad in loose –fitting organic hemp who place crystals on corresponding chakras to balance their energy bodies. However, you can identify with the Church of Bike if you know the elation of beginning a descent after a brutal climb or if you have been seized by overwhelming love for your cycling buddy. If you find deep satisfaction in returning home from a ride covered in mud and bleeding from at least two different places, or if you have figured out a tiny aspect of your life after a long ride , then you understand the church of Bike.
I have not always seen the correlation between cycling and spiritual practice. I begrudgingly began riding as a child. My grandmother thought it was really fun to outfit me with a bike and weird gear and drag me out to nearby trails. Even though I was embarrassed about grandma’s neon bike outfits, I still evolved into a bike enthusiast. The correlation between biking and spiritual practice became apparent to me while I was trying to learn about meditation and yogo a few years ago. Sitting still just has never worked for me.
When I started incorporating spiritual practices into my life, my experience unfortunately were not always revelatory or drenched in white light. Mostly, I came to recognize that my mind is like a Tasmanian Devil who darts in circles and on occasionally clunks herself over the head with a large mammals femur. However, along with the discouraging realization looking at yoga and meditation also gave me a path to calm the whirling mind. As I began to bike more, I realized that cycling clears the mind just like other spiritual practices. While charging up a hill on my bike, the femur-wielding Tasmanian devil can hold no forum. My mind has to assume complete focus if I am to ride to the best of my ability. An Intense quiet takes over. It is, in fact, a meditative state.
The purpose of creating a serene state of mind is not solely to enjoy a reality more pleasant than tumult. Rather, in a serene state of mind, truth becomes clearer. And isn’t the pursuit of truth the point in this insane world of exultation, devastation, birth, life, and death? Cycling, like mediation or yoga can create a frame of mind where truth is present
In the Church of Bike, Cyclists take a refuge under the vaulted dome of their own toil. They relish in the beauty of knowing that the God’s vehicle takes the form of a simple machine underneath their butt. Will I have figures of Lance Armstrong and his incarnations on a shrine in my house Definitely not. Will I wash my bike in holly water probably not. However I will subscribe to the Church of Bike because cycling is a cherished practice, and I will be a dedicated practitioner until my body doesn’t work anymore. Halleujah.
C. Freese
Thanks so much for the encouragement you have always given me!
I have just signed up to do a fundraising ride for cancer. This time my ride will take me around Lake Tahoe. It’s 100 of Americans most beautiful miles which includes a nasty 8 mile hill that is a major altitude climb.
As I ride my bike in the cold wet snowy weather I am able to separate myself from the chills and numbness and pain as the pain of pushing oneself on a upward incline on a bike is nothing compared to what people living with cancer face daily.
When I ride no matter what the weather imagine the sun shines on me and my mind is free from care and I can think of you.
Love,
Your first grand daughter
Cynthia
PS. For my 50th birthday I am planning to ride my bike from Washington State to Washington DC in 30 days! I still have a year or two to train!
As I tried to get myself into sleep mode last night my thoughts drifted to you. I went back through time and was thinking about my happiest childhood memories. Most of which were with you and Grandpa. I reflected on my young years playing outside at the Edgewood/ Milton house. I thought about the one and only time you ever spanked me, I was between the ages of 3-5 years old and I had crossed the street to check your mail. I thought I was being a good helper and in turn my good deed was rewarded with a swat on the bottom, followed with hugs where I was almost drowned in tears and almost died from having the life hugged out of me. I felt so loved!
Other firsts:
You wrote me the first poem I ever received , it was on a little piece of notebook paper: It went something like:
As the sun shines on your golden hair and eyes of blue and your mind is worry free
I will think of you, will you sometimes think of me?
Love
Gram T
Plum trees, gardening, swinging on the swing under the apple or was it a pear tree in the back yard? Making daisy chain crowns and of course picking dandelions. I have planted a plum tree at every house I have ever owned. This house I planted two. I prefer to spend time in the yard than doing housework!
I remember laying on my back in your back yard looking at the sky and watching the clouds I was certain that the earth was moving and not the clouds. I remember talking with you about what animals I saw in the clouds. Bunnies always bunnies!
I remember the man who tried to get me to look in his car so he could give me a bunny? I was riding my bike on the hill near your house and a man in a little red Volkswagen pulled up and tired to give me a bunny. I rode my bike as fast as I could back to your place because I was sure he was trying to abduct me. He count figure out why a little girl wouldn’t want a bunny and followed me to your house. He really had a little bunny which I was allowed to keep but once at home our tom cat pounced on it and snapped its neck.
Bunnies!
Going to Wyoming to visit Sharon and Paul with you and Grandpa and Uncle Randy for Easter was also one of my childhood highlights! I still have a photo Randy took of us standing in front of an old cover wagon that was parked off the side of the road near a filling station. It snowed for Easter and I got the most adorable yellow bunny. If that rabbit should talk! It’s 41 -42 years old eyes falling out and I think its being held together with a combination of snot and tears love and a bit of dust. I have carried that darn rabbit around with me every where I have gone. I took it to church summer camps, military boot camp , honeymoon, vacations, it’s been kidnapped and held for ransom by different friends at least a dozen times over the years. Three of my most favorite things are things I received from you and grandpa, The Swan Princess book, and the little gold swan ring holder / box and yellow bunny.
You get all the credit for introducing me to music and sharing with me some of my life long favorite silly songs:
Listening to you play guitar and yodel what fun! I remember once Auntie Sharon drawing faces on her toes and having them dance while you played and sang!
Birdie, birdie in the sky dropped some white wash in my eye
I am a big girl I don’t cry
I am just glad the cows don’t fly.
(This song still makes people giggle)
I had me a chicken that wouldn’t lay an egg so I poured hot water up and down its leg
The little chicken hollered and the little chicken begged but the little chicken laid me a hard boiled egg! Yee haw!
Cottage cheese, I had some at your house and I remember throwing up on the floor in front of your fridge. I still can’t eat cottage cheese unless of course it’s mixed with potatoes in a dumpling.
Bread pudding & milk toast were never better than if you made them they are still my comfort foods.
You made me feel so important by letting me play messenger for you when you were mad at Grandpa, I can see the house and the rooms as if it were yesterday! He was on the living room I seem to remember birds and greyhounds on the sofa or the wall paper I got to go tell him he was an old poop! He then gave me a message to give to you. You were in your bedroom and you had the neat red wall paper that always reminded me of a bandana.
I remember waking up at your house one morning and coming down stairs an having to follow a string around the house which eventually led me outside to find my first bike. Oh the joy and excitement!
My love of riding hills must go back to the early days of peddling from your house up the hill towards the house where I lived as an infant.
I wrote this a while back to share with my cycling team at a fundraiser event. There is a bit of fiction for appeal but most is from my heart.
The Church of Bike is Always Open
In the Church of Bike, I would be a sweat-slathered gospel singer belting out praises and stepping side to side to the beat of the divine cadence. My Lycra robes would be soaked and I would throw toothy smiles to my bike, who would lean on an indoor rack in the front most pew. Membership is easy in the Church of Bike. It only requires one to speak of the possibilities of cycling. All are welcome in the Church of Bike. It is compatible with any faith.
Cycling has the potential to be a spiritual act. By spiritual act, I mean an act that leads someone to access that which is intangible, that which is of spirit, that which is greater than the self. Possibly, you think that “spirituality” is for people clad in loose –fitting organic hemp who place crystals on corresponding chakras to balance their energy bodies. However, you can identify with the Church of Bike if you know the elation of beginning a descent after a brutal climb or if you have been seized by overwhelming love for your cycling buddy. If you find deep satisfaction in returning home from a ride covered in mud and bleeding from at least two different places, or if you have figured out a tiny aspect of your life after a long ride , then you understand the church of Bike.
I have not always seen the correlation between cycling and spiritual practice. I begrudgingly began riding as a child. My grandmother thought it was really fun to outfit me with a bike and weird gear and drag me out to nearby trails. Even though I was embarrassed about grandma’s neon bike outfits, I still evolved into a bike enthusiast. The correlation between biking and spiritual practice became apparent to me while I was trying to learn about meditation and yogo a few years ago. Sitting still just has never worked for me.
When I started incorporating spiritual practices into my life, my experience unfortunately were not always revelatory or drenched in white light. Mostly, I came to recognize that my mind is like a Tasmanian Devil who darts in circles and on occasionally clunks herself over the head with a large mammals femur. However, along with the discouraging realization looking at yoga and meditation also gave me a path to calm the whirling mind. As I began to bike more, I realized that cycling clears the mind just like other spiritual practices. While charging up a hill on my bike, the femur-wielding Tasmanian devil can hold no forum. My mind has to assume complete focus if I am to ride to the best of my ability. An Intense quiet takes over. It is, in fact, a meditative state.
The purpose of creating a serene state of mind is not solely to enjoy a reality more pleasant than tumult. Rather, in a serene state of mind, truth becomes clearer. And isn’t the pursuit of truth the point in this insane world of exultation, devastation, birth, life, and death? Cycling, like mediation or yoga can create a frame of mind where truth is present
In the Church of Bike, Cyclists take a refuge under the vaulted dome of their own toil. They relish in the beauty of knowing that the God’s vehicle takes the form of a simple machine underneath their butt. Will I have figures of Lance Armstrong and his incarnations on a shrine in my house Definitely not. Will I wash my bike in holly water probably not. However I will subscribe to the Church of Bike because cycling is a cherished practice, and I will be a dedicated practitioner until my body doesn’t work anymore. Halleujah.
C. Freese
Thanks so much for the encouragement you have always given me!
I have just signed up to do a fundraising ride for cancer. This time my ride will take me around Lake Tahoe. It’s 100 of Americans most beautiful miles which includes a nasty 8 mile hill that is a major altitude climb.
As I ride my bike in the cold wet snowy weather I am able to separate myself from the chills and numbness and pain as the pain of pushing oneself on a upward incline on a bike is nothing compared to what people living with cancer face daily.
When I ride no matter what the weather imagine the sun shines on me and my mind is free from care and I can think of you.
Love,
Your first grand daughter
Cynthia
PS. For my 50th birthday I am planning to ride my bike from Washington State to Washington DC in 30 days! I still have a year or two to train!
team training the riding continues
Saturday morning April 14th 8 am: I jump out of bed and I load up my bike and gear up. I rush to the Redmond QFC located just off Novelty hill road to meet with a group of dedicated riders that ride no matter what the weather. We are riding as many of you know because we are training for a century ride around Lake Tahoe on June 3rd to help raise funds for the Leukemia Lymphoma society.
On the drive to the parking lot I ate an orange and once I got to the parking lot I scoffed down a raspberry yogurt and pumped up my tires. Okay, I better give credit where credit is do, James pumped up my tires as I changed shoes and put my shoe covers on so my feet would stay warm and dry. Another wet cold day for a ride. It was suggested we bring snorkel‘s with us. I sometimes wonder why I signed up to do this.
Being so busy at work I had not taken time to read about this weeks ride so I was clueless to where this ride was taking us or how far we would ride.
I am handed a map and I take a peek. It says Trilogy Snohomish / Monroe 46.4 miles 1 hour and 39 minutes. (Driving time) I did 50 miles two weeks before so I am not concerned.
Before leaving the parking lot this week’s ride was dedicated to Allison, Allison is 21 years old and just received a diagnose of having Leukemia as her birthday present this past week. Now, I remember why I signed up to do this!
As I start to peddle away from the parking lot I am secretly praying that I can stay in a vertical upright position throughout the day. My knees and elbows have finally healed from all the falling and I just had to invest in a new helmet (see last email on why I needed a new helmet).
Fresh air, rolling hills, and a nice down hill start 4.11 miles of down hill to start. Whoo hoo! This is really fun!
Then from out of no where a big black barking dog starts chasing after me! I reach for my tire pump to swing at it. Shit! the tire pump is still in the car. I start to raise my right foot to shake at it and Shit! Foot is stuck in clip and I really don’t want to fall. So option three, I scream and scream and dog continues to chase me and bark. I managed to out peddle him and stay on my bike. Major accomplishment!
Mile 5: It’s flat for about 50 feet! Then we get the rolling hills, the wind in our faces, and the smell of the country. Oh how lovely the smell of the country is when your peddling up hill trying to breath in and out and as you inhale the smell of cow dung goes deep into your lungs to the point of actually tasting it. Yum, Yum! This is how I spend my free time. This is usually a good time to remind myself why I am doing this again.
Mile 10: Coach Robin is telling us to eat and drink; she wants us to do this while riding. I am trying to tell her that it’s better to stop to do this because I wasn’t ready to kiss the highway. Robin said,” no stopping! Eat and drink!” Robin would make a great Drill Sgt. She actually had a fun cadence for our hill climbs and she doesn’t put up with much. I finally got to a point where I figured okay I will give it a go I am thirsty and I need to drink. I am on a small downward incline and so I don’t have to peddle I can coast and drink. That’s when I hit a rock ,dropped the water bottle and I quickly decided that if I tried to stop I would most likely fall or cause someone else to fall so I left the bottle for my team mates to ride around. We were doing line riding which means we have about 6 inches between us. So you can see if I stop with out warning everyone could end up kissing the roadside. So I am down to one water bottle.
Around Mile 14: the road changes to Elliot Road. It should be called Elliot hill and it was about 3 miles straight up. I had to stop halfway and get rid of some of the layers I was wearing as I was really warming up. My team mates stopped for a rest as well and we joked about taking a nap on the side of the road and they teased me a bit about my road side strip tease. I didn’t want to ride up Elliot hill and if bike shoes were easier to walk in I would have walked but given that bike shoes are made for peddling and not walking it is actually harder to walk than to ride. So the ride continues.
At the top of Elliot Hill Coach Robin tells us we are less than ten miles form the Snohomish bakery which she goes on to tell us is famous for the wonderful collection of homemade pies. She urges us to peddle faster so we can have some pie! We started peddling really fast as the thought of pie after Elliot hill was mouth watering. We were working on line riding most the day and the closer you ride to the person in front of you the muddier you get. I promise to include a photo of how we all looked when we arrived at the bakery for pie as someone on the team snapped some photos of us.
Mile 26 or so we have reached the bakery and we were all starving! I ordered a big slice of strawberry rhubarb pie and an apple juice and sat with a our foursome after sitting for a couple minutes I started to wonder if I was going to be able to lift myself off the chair.
As we started to head out another group of cyclists pulled up and asked if we saved any pie. The Snohomish bakery seems to be the place to go for pie. I can personally highly recommend it.
As we were leaving I was relieved that we are heading back a different direction as that 4.11 mile down hill start would not make a fun ending to the days so called rolling hill ride. It’s amazing how warm you get riding. After sitting and having pie and juice the first few minutes back on the saddle was a bit chilly. We rode for about 10-12miles or so and we stopped at a park where Bill had stopped to provide energy drinks and snacks. It seemed strange that we would stop for pie and snacks but heck I am not one to complain about being forced to snack on gummy bears and potato chips. Go with the flow is my attitude.
The last 12-15 miles: I started to get really tired. I kept telling myself that I needed to starting getting up earlier before rides and eat a good breakfast. Saturday is for sleeping in and given the option to get up early or wait until the last possible moment sleeping until the last possible moment wins hands down.
We had crossed a bridge and gathered so Coach Robin could give us advice on preparing for the last portion of the ride. This seemed odd as well. She proceeded to tell us we would be taking Snoqualmie Valley road NE up for 2.3 miles and then we would take a left on to 232nd Ave NE which was up 1.4 miles and then we would go left on to Trilogy PKY for a 1.2 miles which was up just a little more.
Did Coach Robin trick us? How did we get back to the bottom of the hill we came down? If I had bothered to turn over my directions I would have noticed by the map that we did a big loop and were going to end up back at the big hills we came down. If I had only looked before I abandoned my car. I would have started the ride at the bottom of the hill to spare myself going back up.
4.11 miles up hill and my ass was dragging. My legs were killing me and if I only had some water left! I started to feel dizzy so I though I better get off and walk. I was wishing I had given my car keys to someone so they could come pick me up.
By this point I am alone the last person on the hill. I have finally reached a nice down hill and I wondering if I missed my turn because I really didn’t remember riding up this one. I noticed a car heading my direction so I stopped and waved them down. The woman stopped and I asked her, “Which way to Trinity hill?” She said,” go left at the bottom of the hill, but you really don’t want to ride up it do you? “. I told her I was worried I passed it and if I had I didn’t want to turn around at the bottom of this hill only to go back up it as I am tired. She offered to give me a ride and I told her I was training for a century with team training in Tahoe and she asked for more info. I took out one of my letters that I keep handy and gave it to her. I thanked her and headed down the hill.
Do you believe in Angels? I met one on my way up Trinity Hill. I am not sure were he came from as he seemed to show up out of thin air. He was probably in his 60’s and appeared to be in excellent shape. He literally seemed to pop up out of thin air on his shiny very expensive looking bike. I was stopped part way up the last hill and I heard a voice behind me ask if I was okay. I laughed and said, “Sure I am just tired, but I am almost finished.” I had been huffing and puffing and maybe cussing a little wondering if I was ever going to make it to my car. I guess I didn’t hear him behind me with all my heavy breathing. He offered me a fresh bottle of water, I told him where my car was parked, and he told me to get back on my bike and ride. He stayed with me talking to me which helped me not think about how much I ached. When we reached the light across from my starting point, he turned left and vanished down the hill and I turned right where I was greeted by Coach Robin and my teammates.
49.4 miles and I didn’t fall, at least not until I got home and decided to take a quick spin up my neighbors drive way (Peter actually got a photo of this fall).
The benefits of this weeks ride, I found a great place to go have pie: which I would probably drive to next time
Having my teammate waiting for me and cheering me on actually made me forget about how hard it was and just made it all worth it.
Thanks again for supporting me and my journey
I have included elevation map of what I will be going up against in June http://www.bikethewest.com/Art/AMBBR-Elev.jpg
This June I am peddling 100 miles to help find a cure for blood cancers
http://www.active.com/donate/tntwaak/evergirl
Thanks again
Cynthia Freese
On the drive to the parking lot I ate an orange and once I got to the parking lot I scoffed down a raspberry yogurt and pumped up my tires. Okay, I better give credit where credit is do, James pumped up my tires as I changed shoes and put my shoe covers on so my feet would stay warm and dry. Another wet cold day for a ride. It was suggested we bring snorkel‘s with us. I sometimes wonder why I signed up to do this.
Being so busy at work I had not taken time to read about this weeks ride so I was clueless to where this ride was taking us or how far we would ride.
I am handed a map and I take a peek. It says Trilogy Snohomish / Monroe 46.4 miles 1 hour and 39 minutes. (Driving time) I did 50 miles two weeks before so I am not concerned.
Before leaving the parking lot this week’s ride was dedicated to Allison, Allison is 21 years old and just received a diagnose of having Leukemia as her birthday present this past week. Now, I remember why I signed up to do this!
As I start to peddle away from the parking lot I am secretly praying that I can stay in a vertical upright position throughout the day. My knees and elbows have finally healed from all the falling and I just had to invest in a new helmet (see last email on why I needed a new helmet).
Fresh air, rolling hills, and a nice down hill start 4.11 miles of down hill to start. Whoo hoo! This is really fun!
Then from out of no where a big black barking dog starts chasing after me! I reach for my tire pump to swing at it. Shit! the tire pump is still in the car. I start to raise my right foot to shake at it and Shit! Foot is stuck in clip and I really don’t want to fall. So option three, I scream and scream and dog continues to chase me and bark. I managed to out peddle him and stay on my bike. Major accomplishment!
Mile 5: It’s flat for about 50 feet! Then we get the rolling hills, the wind in our faces, and the smell of the country. Oh how lovely the smell of the country is when your peddling up hill trying to breath in and out and as you inhale the smell of cow dung goes deep into your lungs to the point of actually tasting it. Yum, Yum! This is how I spend my free time. This is usually a good time to remind myself why I am doing this again.
Mile 10: Coach Robin is telling us to eat and drink; she wants us to do this while riding. I am trying to tell her that it’s better to stop to do this because I wasn’t ready to kiss the highway. Robin said,” no stopping! Eat and drink!” Robin would make a great Drill Sgt. She actually had a fun cadence for our hill climbs and she doesn’t put up with much. I finally got to a point where I figured okay I will give it a go I am thirsty and I need to drink. I am on a small downward incline and so I don’t have to peddle I can coast and drink. That’s when I hit a rock ,dropped the water bottle and I quickly decided that if I tried to stop I would most likely fall or cause someone else to fall so I left the bottle for my team mates to ride around. We were doing line riding which means we have about 6 inches between us. So you can see if I stop with out warning everyone could end up kissing the roadside. So I am down to one water bottle.
Around Mile 14: the road changes to Elliot Road. It should be called Elliot hill and it was about 3 miles straight up. I had to stop halfway and get rid of some of the layers I was wearing as I was really warming up. My team mates stopped for a rest as well and we joked about taking a nap on the side of the road and they teased me a bit about my road side strip tease. I didn’t want to ride up Elliot hill and if bike shoes were easier to walk in I would have walked but given that bike shoes are made for peddling and not walking it is actually harder to walk than to ride. So the ride continues.
At the top of Elliot Hill Coach Robin tells us we are less than ten miles form the Snohomish bakery which she goes on to tell us is famous for the wonderful collection of homemade pies. She urges us to peddle faster so we can have some pie! We started peddling really fast as the thought of pie after Elliot hill was mouth watering. We were working on line riding most the day and the closer you ride to the person in front of you the muddier you get. I promise to include a photo of how we all looked when we arrived at the bakery for pie as someone on the team snapped some photos of us.
Mile 26 or so we have reached the bakery and we were all starving! I ordered a big slice of strawberry rhubarb pie and an apple juice and sat with a our foursome after sitting for a couple minutes I started to wonder if I was going to be able to lift myself off the chair.
As we started to head out another group of cyclists pulled up and asked if we saved any pie. The Snohomish bakery seems to be the place to go for pie. I can personally highly recommend it.
As we were leaving I was relieved that we are heading back a different direction as that 4.11 mile down hill start would not make a fun ending to the days so called rolling hill ride. It’s amazing how warm you get riding. After sitting and having pie and juice the first few minutes back on the saddle was a bit chilly. We rode for about 10-12miles or so and we stopped at a park where Bill had stopped to provide energy drinks and snacks. It seemed strange that we would stop for pie and snacks but heck I am not one to complain about being forced to snack on gummy bears and potato chips. Go with the flow is my attitude.
The last 12-15 miles: I started to get really tired. I kept telling myself that I needed to starting getting up earlier before rides and eat a good breakfast. Saturday is for sleeping in and given the option to get up early or wait until the last possible moment sleeping until the last possible moment wins hands down.
We had crossed a bridge and gathered so Coach Robin could give us advice on preparing for the last portion of the ride. This seemed odd as well. She proceeded to tell us we would be taking Snoqualmie Valley road NE up for 2.3 miles and then we would take a left on to 232nd Ave NE which was up 1.4 miles and then we would go left on to Trilogy PKY for a 1.2 miles which was up just a little more.
Did Coach Robin trick us? How did we get back to the bottom of the hill we came down? If I had bothered to turn over my directions I would have noticed by the map that we did a big loop and were going to end up back at the big hills we came down. If I had only looked before I abandoned my car. I would have started the ride at the bottom of the hill to spare myself going back up.
4.11 miles up hill and my ass was dragging. My legs were killing me and if I only had some water left! I started to feel dizzy so I though I better get off and walk. I was wishing I had given my car keys to someone so they could come pick me up.
By this point I am alone the last person on the hill. I have finally reached a nice down hill and I wondering if I missed my turn because I really didn’t remember riding up this one. I noticed a car heading my direction so I stopped and waved them down. The woman stopped and I asked her, “Which way to Trinity hill?” She said,” go left at the bottom of the hill, but you really don’t want to ride up it do you? “. I told her I was worried I passed it and if I had I didn’t want to turn around at the bottom of this hill only to go back up it as I am tired. She offered to give me a ride and I told her I was training for a century with team training in Tahoe and she asked for more info. I took out one of my letters that I keep handy and gave it to her. I thanked her and headed down the hill.
Do you believe in Angels? I met one on my way up Trinity Hill. I am not sure were he came from as he seemed to show up out of thin air. He was probably in his 60’s and appeared to be in excellent shape. He literally seemed to pop up out of thin air on his shiny very expensive looking bike. I was stopped part way up the last hill and I heard a voice behind me ask if I was okay. I laughed and said, “Sure I am just tired, but I am almost finished.” I had been huffing and puffing and maybe cussing a little wondering if I was ever going to make it to my car. I guess I didn’t hear him behind me with all my heavy breathing. He offered me a fresh bottle of water, I told him where my car was parked, and he told me to get back on my bike and ride. He stayed with me talking to me which helped me not think about how much I ached. When we reached the light across from my starting point, he turned left and vanished down the hill and I turned right where I was greeted by Coach Robin and my teammates.
49.4 miles and I didn’t fall, at least not until I got home and decided to take a quick spin up my neighbors drive way (Peter actually got a photo of this fall).
The benefits of this weeks ride, I found a great place to go have pie: which I would probably drive to next time
Having my teammate waiting for me and cheering me on actually made me forget about how hard it was and just made it all worth it.
Thanks again for supporting me and my journey
I have included elevation map of what I will be going up against in June http://www.bikethewest.com/Art/AMBBR-Elev.jpg
This June I am peddling 100 miles to help find a cure for blood cancers
http://www.active.com/donate/tntwaak/evergirl
Thanks again
Cynthia Freese
letters from my team training
Dear Friends,
This week’s team training ride was another cold and wet one. I started out the ride with better clothing and a new saddle which really made a difference. As some of you know it took me 6 hours to warm up from the last ride so wool socks and booties really make a difference. Our team training group was in good sprits regardless of the weather and we were all peddling hard to get to your half way point so we could have some hot coca. The halfway point ended up being just a few miles more than my last ride.
This week’s ride was dedicated by our team mate Bob: we rode for his sister’s 8 year old daughter who has just finished her last chemotherapy treatment. On today’s ride I noticed many team members have photos in zip lock baggies tapped to their handle bars to help them keep going when they are cold and wet and tired. One lady was telling me she just lost her husband of 25 years this last November. He died in his sleep the day after he had been diagnosed. Everyone seems to have a story of someone they have lost. As I ride with the group I am making friends and sharing something we have in common: A goal to help find a cure for Leukemia and Lymphoma.
Today’s ride was just over half of the total I have to be able to do by June 4th I rode 56 miles. We started in Fall City Washington and rode up to Snoqualmie Falls then turned around and headed back to Fall City and then we rode into Carnation. We mostly stayed on very rural roads. The smell of the country on a bicycle, there’s nothing like it and there’s no rolling the windows up folks!
Wednesday I will be going to Fred Hutchinson center for lunch and I will meet the child that I will be pledging the rest of my rides for. Memory’s of those I have lost got me started on this journey and from this point out I will be riding for someone that is still living.
There’s still time to sponsors me. You can just click on the link. http://www.active.com/donate/tntwaak/evergirl
Newt week I will try to have a team training photo up on the site. It’s just been so wet and muddy I haven taken the camera with me on a ride yet.
Thanks again
Cynthia
This week’s team training ride was another cold and wet one. I started out the ride with better clothing and a new saddle which really made a difference. As some of you know it took me 6 hours to warm up from the last ride so wool socks and booties really make a difference. Our team training group was in good sprits regardless of the weather and we were all peddling hard to get to your half way point so we could have some hot coca. The halfway point ended up being just a few miles more than my last ride.
This week’s ride was dedicated by our team mate Bob: we rode for his sister’s 8 year old daughter who has just finished her last chemotherapy treatment. On today’s ride I noticed many team members have photos in zip lock baggies tapped to their handle bars to help them keep going when they are cold and wet and tired. One lady was telling me she just lost her husband of 25 years this last November. He died in his sleep the day after he had been diagnosed. Everyone seems to have a story of someone they have lost. As I ride with the group I am making friends and sharing something we have in common: A goal to help find a cure for Leukemia and Lymphoma.
Today’s ride was just over half of the total I have to be able to do by June 4th I rode 56 miles. We started in Fall City Washington and rode up to Snoqualmie Falls then turned around and headed back to Fall City and then we rode into Carnation. We mostly stayed on very rural roads. The smell of the country on a bicycle, there’s nothing like it and there’s no rolling the windows up folks!
Wednesday I will be going to Fred Hutchinson center for lunch and I will meet the child that I will be pledging the rest of my rides for. Memory’s of those I have lost got me started on this journey and from this point out I will be riding for someone that is still living.
There’s still time to sponsors me. You can just click on the link. http://www.active.com/donate/tntwaak/evergirl
Newt week I will try to have a team training photo up on the site. It’s just been so wet and muddy I haven taken the camera with me on a ride yet.
Thanks again
Cynthia
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About Me
- Cynthia Freese
- Issaquah, WA, United States
- I am who I am because of thousands of life experiences