The first Autocross that I've gone to this year...

Unofficially, I placed third out of the four women in the WC class racing today. My best time was 1:08:50. The winning time was 1:03:48 and my husband’s best time was 1:07:55 so I was less than a second behind him (but he's not in my class!) That should put me 4th in points for the year. So, as long as I go to more races than at least one other person I should get a trophy (they give 3). We're really hoping that we don't have to go to the Wendover race since that will mean we'll need a new set of tires (really bad tarmac).
The next Autocross will be May 21st (the day after the GMAT - what a great way to unwind?)
Of course, the rest of the women in my class are all Boxster Girls which means that I have a heavier car which is harder to turn so I'm even happier. If we got racing slicks, it would put me in a different class where there are no other women (so as long as I went to 4 races in that class I would have a trophy). So the question is: is my ego big enough that I would spend money on a set of tires that would only be used 4 times this year?
Either that or I need to find someone who would let me use their 944 at four autocross events....

I just finished...

A one hour bike ride. I've decided that I need a padded seat let's face it, my bum was a lot smaller 20 years ago when I was last on a bike. I haven't been on a street bike in that long just the ones in the gym and their saddles aren't the hard skinny kind and I want gloves. My hands kept going numb on the handlebars. I'm not sure if that's from the overuse tendonitis in my elbows or another problem. My biggest fear in life is not losing my sight (although that would be horrid); it's losing the use of my fingers.
If I can see and not use my hands, I would be longing for the things I can't do. Stitching, crochet, needlepoint, typing this blog, hand quilting. So many things for which I need my hands. If I lost my sight, I would still have the desire for those many things but if even I can't see to do them, I can still listen to audio books and type using an audio response system so I'm not as isolated as if I lost the use of my hands. It's amazing what ADA and technology have done and how far they've come.

Something learned at CATS

I learned one very important thing at the Stitching Festival in Vegas – I don’t have enough smelly stuff in my bathroom. I grew up in the middle of four boys and was more of a tomboy than a girlie girl. My travel kit includes sunscreen, toothbrush and toothpaste, antiperspirant, a travel makeup kit, shampoo, soap and a hairbrush. It all fits in a small bag. Compared to my roommates, it’s like having a snack size baggy when everyone else has a gallon size freezer Ziploc. Out bathroom had bottles of lotions and body splash and hair products and other perfumed things that I had no clue what they were (but they smelled nice). But then I also packed all my clothes for a 4 day trip into an overnight bag. How did I miss the over-packing gene? Now my friends did have to pack all their stitching supplies in their bags along with their clothes and I had a separate bag for that (not to mention boxes of things to give away.)

A letter on our anniversary

Today, My Love, will be 19 years together. I still remember the night before when my mom tried to convince me that it wasn’t too late to cancel the wedding. I remember her trying to stall me with a shopping trip after my hair appointment and before the ceremony. I remember being all hot and sweaty from having escaped her at the mall and walking in an unseasonable warm April day to Natalie’s apartment where she and Hinckley had convinced me to leave the dress. I know they were right and if I hadn’t left it there, I wouldn’t have had a white dress to wear at the reception. I knew what I was doing was right. I was ready to fight my family and the entire world to be with you. I knew without a doubt that our Father in Heaven approved of our being together.
Now here we are getting ready to start a 20th year together. Our oldest will be 18 this year and leaving the house. Just think only another 9 years and we will be alone again together.
Already, I’m picturing the fun we could have with just the two of us alone. The things we talked about and promised to each other, after the kids were gone. I do hope that you still remember that you promised me a mission. Even if it’s just a local leadership mission or something like Jim and Margie did. I look too at the opportunities to help those around us. You have such great educational abilities. People learn when you teach. I think of all the construction experience you have even though your back won’t do it anymore. What a great tool to share with others. You know how to build with the old tools. Without electricity, and the modern things that may not be available in a third world. But I digress...
I wanted this to be about how much I love you. How much you are still my diamond in the rough. I still see the king that you can be. It’s been 19 years and you still treat me like a queen. Thank you for being you. For helping me grow and letting me be myself even if I am more responsible than I ever planned on being. One of us had to keep their feet on the ground while the other flew. Also, remember you’re FyreRaven’s hero too. She can’t believe that being married so long; I would be going through withdrawal after only three days apart and would be planning how to get a burger in the airport or at least on the way home.

Insomnia and Cars...

I usually revel in my insomnia, except for tonight it just seems a little off. Usually I get a ton done during my bouts of insomnia - house cleaning, stitching, quilting, and reading. Tonight, however, I'm sitting here aimlessly surfing the Internet and that is not an efficient use of time.
I guess I could pack for Vegas but that would probably disturb my sleeping husband. I could hit the treadmill, that might even make me tired enough to go to sleep. However, it could also give me an energy boost and then where would I be?
The kitchen could use a good scrubbing but that just doesn't sound much fun at all, especially since the stove is filthy after the boys boiled over the Mac and Cheese.
I have a ton to do at work tomorrow so that I can leave for Vegas. Maybe that's the problem; I'm trying to work in my head instead of doing anything constructive around the house.
I have laundry that could be folded, new fabrics to put away, a table that’s been collecting paper that could use sorting. The last of the Harry Potter Quilts is on the frame and has maybe 6 to 8 hours of work left on it (which of course means that I have absolutely no desire to even look at it, stupid completion anxiety complex).
I'm not looking for a cure for my insomnia; I really do enjoy having 2 -3 hours for myself at night. And I’m not complaining about having insomnia, I just don't like it when I feel like I'm wasting the extra time that I’ve been given.
Maybe it is time to go to bed; I need to have the car at the dealership in the morning since it really hasn’t been aligned well since they repaired it after the Dodge Neon drove under it.
It’s hard to believe that it’s been almost 2 years since that happened. I just haven’t felt the same about the truck since then. Tonight I saw the ads for the new Mustang. I wonder if I could get a good trade on the ’66 in exchange for a new one. I just love that image actually, driving up to the dealership in the red ’66 Mustang that has me listed as the second owner and asking them if the new one will last just as long. Except I think I want Ice Blue or that new chameleon paint that goes teal to purple. I just don’t want a car payment though so it will have to wait. There is supposed to be a Shelby style model in 2007 and who knows what Saleen will do to it. Then again, I could get a used Boxster (Porsche) for the same price. I do like my truck though, there aren’t too many ¼ ton Chevy trucks with pink and purple detailing.