Lisa Heuer

Here is proof, I really rode my bike and enjoyed the ride.

 44 miles in

47 miles in

69 miles in

grabbing food to refuel-looking at the beach

Finished!

It is difficult to ride and “film” and the same time.  Notice my skills!  : )  Nevermind the sound of coasting wheels in the background. 

Here are the bike ride pictures-proof that I was there! 

Top picture: Elwood Brown, Brett Olsen, Me and Minda Pacheco  Elwood is Brett’s father-in-law and Brett is Shireen’s husband.  Shireen is Minda and my friend.  Did you catch all that.  The Brown’s hosted the lovely weekend-allowed us to stay at their home, mapped out the ride and took great care of us!  Shireen was the “get away” car.  She dropped us off at the start line and picked us up 3 hours away from her parent’s home in San Diego.  She was a warrior!

Above we are getting ready to hit the road.  Notice we are all a little giddy…

above picture:  I had to stop and take a picture.  It was so beautiful, the coast, the shoreline, the waves crashing, etc.  We were about to ride by but the hill ahead was a little too steep so I knew I couldn’t stop at the bottom and take photos-I was counting on all the momentum I could get!Minda had an insatiable hunger!  She went through many bananas and PB&J’s along the way.  She was enjoying one of those in the picture above.

This picture showed a bit of the trail.  No people, no cars, just us…    I couldn’t have asked for a better route (minus the slight necessary detour thanks to the closed Base-we had to venture about 10 miles ON THE INTERSTATE 5.  I was a bit of a mess!)

Here, we stopped on the pier in Oceanside, grabbed some food and I needed a picture.  I mean really-water views (and surfer views) the whole way!

And FINALLY… completion, victory, success!

And now for my post ride thoughts: 

I am large and in charge.  My upper half is well, ummm a little big.   But then again, so is my lower half.  I determined that my century was the ride to kick off my health and happiness goal.  To see pictures is to see the truth.  Time for me to focus (dang I hate this part), time for me to get real about my weight (ok, I hate this part too) and do something about it instead of talking about it (the hardest part). 

And, I am short!

There are all sorts of morning afters but this one….

I woke up barely agreeing to open my eyes for fear of what my body
felt like. Here is my best description starting from feet up. Oh,
first I want to take note of a beautiful shower yesterday. It is few
and far between when a shower completely transforms you to a new
woman! I felt so fresh and clean after my shower, it was fabulous. I
had a LINE where my sock was on my ankle, a line disinguishing dirt
from cleanliness. The dirt was from my ankle up. I had a wipe bath whe
I was done riding and I wiped my leg and the wipe turned black. Oh
wow! That was gross. But the shower, the water the ran off my legs
was black too. I didn't realize how dirty you get on a quick little 7
hour jaunt on your bike. ; )
So my body: my feet feel great, my calves feel great, my quads and my
hamstrings are a little sore-just like after a good workout but my
bum/sit bones feels like I was a asphalt project that a road crew took
a jackhammer to. I am almost nervous to look and see what damage has
been done. I wouldn't be surprised to see giant bruises. It is sore to
say the least! My stomach is fine and my chest and arms are fine but
my traps are another street project. I knew they would hurt but
thinking they would hurt is much easier than feeling the hurt. I need
a good massage… Julie? : )

So, I lay here ready to get out of my bed, which by the way was lovely
to sleep from about 10pm to 9am. I am already thinking of the next
century-same time same place next year! I truly loved it and would do
it again for sure (unlike that dum marathon I ran. I knew the minute I
crossed the finish line that running a marathon was nothing I wanted
to do again. I hate to say never but trust me, it is close to never!)
We are off to church and then have a few hours before we are on a
plane back home. Sitting on a lovely plane seat with my sore "seat"
should be a lovely experience! I am hoping for padded seats at
church. : )

–
Sent from my mobile device

www.lisaheuerphotography.com

I did it! I completed one of my 2009 goals today. I rode a
century-from Long Beach to San Diego, CA. It was so awesome, so
beautiful, so perfect outside. The day couldn't have been better.
There were some challenging hills here and there but for the most part
the ocean view was incredible and the road was flat. I have some
pictures and video to load when I get home but for now I just had to
post my success. 100 miles. (Actually it was 100.24). We had no
tragedies or crazy things happen. My chain came off once and minda
took a slight spill when her shoe didn't unclip.
100 miles.
Did I say that enough?
100 miles!!!
So we started at about 7 am in longbeach and we were right away loving
it! We rode from Long Beach to Huntington Beach to Laguna Beach, to
Dana Point to SanClemente, to Oceanside. In Oceanside we grabbed some
food and one of the hardest things was getting back on the saddle. My
booty wanted nothing to do with the saddle any longer! Somehow I got
back to numbness and was able to complete the last 20 miles after that
refuel.
I loved it. It was a challenge that I was unprepared for. We haven't
trained and the longest ride I had done was 65 in ShowLow a couple
months back. I was surprised that I was feeling as good as I did in
the end. The hills kicked my butt- I need a few more gears to make it
up without pushing the pedals like crazy. I always lost power on the
hills.
Minda, thanks for making that ride happen! I am so glad I did it.
There was nothing that I could think of that I would rather be doing
on a beautiful saturday morning in CA!

I wish we had the bike paths that they have here!

Over and out now while I crash… Until later when I can load pics!

–
Sent from my mobile device

www.lisaheuerphotography.com

I took a picture of her with her new haircut but there has been one more change.  I had 2 notes from school…  first one, she failed the vision screening.  Second one, she failed again on the screening several weeks later.  I couldn’t imagine that she couldn’t see that well so we had her checked out.  When I told her what we would be doing, she was nervous and assumed the eye doctor was most likely similar to the family doctor offering shots and medicine and body inspections.  I eased her a bit, explaining that the doctor only blows a puff of air in the eye (I didn’t tell her that it drives me crazy) and it wouldn’t hurt.  The eye exam was a bunch of questions about what you could and could not see and what looks better.  She pathetically told me, “Mom, I am bad at those tests.  I can’t see the letters.”  I pictured her trying to hard to give the correct answers at school during the screening but her little eyes just couldn’t see far enough.  Zoe doesn’t like to fail at anything so it frustrated her.

At the exam, I could see what she was doing… squinting.  How did I never notice this before?  Well, she has a new prescription for GLASSES.  She wasn’t keen on the idea at first but quickly decided that she was excited and thrilled to pick out new glasses.  Isn’t it so funny that kids want braces, broken arms with casts to sign, glasses, retainers, etc. until they have them and then the novelty wears off.  We all went through that stage… 

As she was climbing in the car for school today (oh, yes… let’s have a moment for fall break being over and kids being back in school… ahhhh!) had to quickly grab a snapshot.  I noticed that she has transitional lenses.  I remembered that I did agree to that.  ; )  I suppose I didn’t think I would really notice but I definitely do! 

We visited San Diego, Trailer Trash style.  It was a great time with lots of time to relax, have fun and go to Sea World.  We went with the Jones and all the kids had fun.  I have lots of stories from the week and will tell as I go along… it will be just like a storybook.

Once upon a time, a family went on vacation to San Diego and visited SeaWorld. (raising the book towards the kids, pictures outward, panning right and left so all can see.)

Their son was not happy with the Shamu show and had a difficult time sitting still.  (boys and girls, this is no way to behave!  Please never follow his example.)

He no longer was interested in Shamu and began a tyrant about sharks.  Sharks is what he wanted to see…  Mama left the show and took sweet (turning not so sweet) boy to the shark exhibit.  After the shark exhibit, he wanted nothing more than a shark toy.  “This will be your souvenir for the trip,” she warned.  He didn’t care what else Sea World had to offer, the shark was where it was at for him.  So, mama bought the shark and created a happy boy. (panning right and left again.  Good story so far?  Where is the climax you ask?  Keep reading)

  Soon after Shamu, mama and boy met up with the family.  The boy was angry with his sister who tried to take the shark!  (Boys and girls, this boy knows how to get his sister in trouble? Look at this picture of him being very angry!)

This little boy also loved to pick his nose at Sea World.  His mama had to ask him several times to remember to use a tissue.  Boys and girls, remember to always wipe your nose with a tissue… picking your nose is yucky.

Shark went everywhere with the little boy.  He was never put in the bags and he never asked his mama to carry Sharkie.  After lunch, he even tried to put Sharkie in his lunch bucket-wanted to give Sharkie a home.

Then little boy and his sister discovered the photo booths (good job kids) and decided that nothing was as fun as the photo booths.  They began a game of “house” and each had a room in the house.  (panning back and forth again, explaining that money doesn’t always need to be spent to have fun… take note!)

After prying them away from their cozy house, they played on the gigantic playground.  The only way to climb to the top of the play structure was by maneuvering up the ropes.  Little boy was scared to death, sister was a pro.  Somehow, mama ended up on the ropes too.  After a few practices, little boy and sister went by them selves.  It may have been little boy’s proudest moment in life thus far!

Sister jumped and jumped but little boy couldn’t get past the entrance.  His is a little bit scared of these things.

The day at Sea World ended with a ride on the Shipwreck Rapids.  Good times for all (little boy and dad stayed behind to watch the fun from safe grounds).

Great little story.  : )  So much suspense and character development!

Thanks for the good times, Jonesies.  We love to trailer trash it with you!

Here is a picture of our set up.  We parked so that our doors opened toward one another.  We had towels hanging off the fence, swimsuits on chairs, pumpkin lights on the awning, plastic table cloths on picnic tables, shoes everywhere, broken chairs in the sideline (super funny story about that) and pumpkin lanterns that the kids made.   RV’n it is the way to go!  Relax, lay back in the reclining chair and even sneak in a few games of Qwirkle (my new favorite game!!!!!)  The kids loved going to the pools and the spa.  We discovered the best tacos in the US (thanks Tim) and sat at the beach for about 20 minutes.  Good times, good times!

I was really excited about posting this today, until she became rotten, I mean really rotten.  She woke up in a bad mood and has made everybody pay all day long.  She had a friend over and was not been kind to her.  She even said this, ‘”I didn’t even want you to come over in the first place.”  I looked at her with true disappointment and sadness and said, “Zoe, why would you say that to her?”  Her reply, “Well, it’s true.  You’re the one that invited her over.”   (a quick clarification here… she called her friend and the voicemail picked up.  I knew that I could text her mom and make a plan because they would be back soon.  I told her that I would get in touch with them so her friend could come over and play.  Technically, yes, I invited her…) I was dumbstruck by my daughters complete disrespect and rudeness.  I couldn’t believe that she would dare treat somebody like this. 

It didn’t stop (or start) with her friend.  This incident was more like the tip of the iceberg.  I told her that if she couldn’t be nice then she didn’t deserve to be around anybody and I sent her to her bedroom and told her that I don’t want to be around somebody like that (ok, and I was raising my voice a bit).  She yelled back to me, “I don’t want to be around you either,” and slammed the door. 

There was more, I am sure of it, because I was sick to my stomach knowing that my offspring was capable of such behavior (I shouldn’t have been shocked because she has acted this way before-so maybe I should clarify and state that I continue to be shocked).  She did some spiteful things this morning and it has just continued all day long.  Where does she learn this and think it is ok?  Do I sound like this?  I am certain her teacher treats her kindly and I am sure she is surrounded by people that encourage her and love her.  I really hope that she learns someday the importance of treating people kindly.  (otherwise, she will have no relationships and live with me for the rest of her life-ahhhhh).

Ok, I should redeem myself and bring out the good….. but I can’t today.  It will have to be another day.  I am truly so saddened and sick about how she acted all day long that I am having a hard time forgetting and moving on.  Me, as her mother, is internalizing and analyzing and wondering what I can do to help her learn whatever she needs to learn.  I can’t make her learn it though.  She will learn it and I am sure she will hurt some along the way (and that is sad) but lessons come in the strangest ways (and maybe this lesson if for me-yep, it probably is and I am just so set in figuring her out and wanting HER to change).

Next point… how come kids can forget it and move on like it never happened and we adults hold on to stuff for so long?  She said she was sorry and put on a smile.  Me, I told her, “thank you for the apology but I still have no desire to be around somebody that treats me that way.”  I know, you are thinking, GROW UP Lisa.  I tried.  And, here I am, in my office venting to the keyboard about the event that I bet she has forgotten.  I want to be more like that!

The point of my story..

here is that cute girl with her new haircut (and all sorts of pinks).  We went to have a shape up, trim up and she told the lady that she wanted it short and pointed to her ears.  I love it for her, it is easier than a ponytail that she wanted every day. 

She is precious.  She really is.  I have lots of parenting learning to do.  I want the days to go smoother with her.  She is too smart for me.  : )

Zoe, I am sorry for my “rude” behavior today.  Man, I wish I could have acted like the adult today.  If you need to live with me forever I suppose I would do that for you.  : )  I want what is best for you and many times my failures are simply because I don’t know any better.  I haven’t done this job before and you didn’t come with a manual.  What is important is that you know you have a family that loves you.  Now be a little kinder to me, would ‘ya?

I have come across a blog that I like to read-isn’t the blogging world so weird?  Complete strangers reading all about you and you have no idea they were there…. 

Anyhow, she nailed something this week and I stole it and I am posting it but giving her credit for it!

The following was taken from http://jayniemoon.blogspot.com/

What are You Doing? (Or more importantly, what are you doing better than others?)

I was teasing Jed about Twitter yesterday (so touchy! So touchy!) and was commenting that Twitter, and Facebook updates are like getting braggy Christmas cards 24 hours a day. I did have to admit that Blogs, too, are perfect vehicles for one to toot his own horn (what did you want me to say her?)

At any rate, we live in a funny world now, don’t we? We all have these little places where we can sing our own praises, and post our cutest pictures. And we all keep checking each others’ places and feeling a little bit worse about ourselves after:

"Oh, he runs marathons."

"Wow, that sure looks like a tasty meal she whipped up."

"I wish I was going on a trip."

"My kid can’t read."

"I wish I’d found that YouTube link first."

"My bathroom looks like schnackle."

"I don’t dry fruit."

"Should’ve stayed awake to catch that conference talk everyone’s tweeting about."

"My kids eat sugar. Sometimes only sugar. Not even organic sugar."

"What is organic anyway?"

Well enough already. Yikes!

I think about this often!  People visit blogs and not only see the good of what is going on in other people’s lives but assume the rest is all good too.  We pick out things from what people are writing and COMPARE.  Minda told me once: Comparison is the thief of happiness.

You can see what happens over when it is late and some people (not mentioning any names) have had too much sugar!  : )  btw, take note of Zoe’s awesome mumu!  She hasn’t retired it yet but it is getting a bit too small.  She doesn’t seem to mind.  She still loves it.  Who could blame her?  ; )

Oh, and Zane’s PJ’s?  It is impossible to get that little guy to get rid of anything.  He loves his cozy clothes no matter what their size.

I am realizing after this post, I should go out and get my poor kids some new PJ’s?!?!?!?

it is bedtime.  Here is the conversation I am having with my son-me in the office, him in his room, in his bed.

Z-Mom, there is a monster in here

Me-really, what does he look like?

Z-he is green

Me-oh, tell him that green is my favorite color

Z-(repeats what my comment to the said monster) Mom, he mess up my bed and is going round and round

Me: ask him nicely to leave your bed alone

Z-Monster, please leave my bed alone.  Mom, he isn’t leaving me alone

Me:  tell him if he can’t be nice than he will have to leave

Z- Mom, he won’t be nice.

Me:  tell him to leave.

Z- Monster, leave.  Mom, he won’t leave

Me: What should we do

Z: Mom, I want you to get him.

Me: I don’t have the right monster tools, you will need to get him

Z: (gun noises)

silence…

Z: Mom, there is a witch in my room

Me:  I bet she is there to scare off the monsters

Z:  Mom, I need to tell you someping (i love the way he says that!) can I come in the office please

Me: sure.  (he rushes around the corner and won’t look back)

Z: Mom, can I sit on your lap because the witch is going to get me.

He curls up on my lap and is truly afraid. 

Me: where did the witch go?

Z: She is right there (pointing about 5 feet in front of us)

Me: what color is the witch, I don’t see her

Z: she is gween

Me: perfect for Halloween!

Z: mom, don’t let her get me

Me: Zane, she won’t get you, I think she is a good witch.

Z: oh.

Me:  Please go back in bed, its late

Z: Mom, I can’t

Me: I will take you back in your room (As I stand up, he wraps himself around me)

Z: put me under the covers

Me: like this? (putting the covers up to his chin)

Z: no, like this (shimmy’s down underneath completely)  I don’t want it to get me

Me: OK, I am in the office if you need me (walked out of his room)

silence

Z: Mom, mrrrrshshshshshmmmm   rrrrshshshsmmmmm  (I didn’t understand him, he was under the covers in the next room trying to talk to me)

Me: (walked to his room, peeled back the covers) Zane, what did you say, I didn’t hear you?

Z: I’m sweaty

Me: I know buddy.  You are wearing your winter PJ’s and getting hot underneath the covers.  (pulled back the blanket and left him with a sheet to his chest.

Z: but the witch will get me

Me: where is she?

Z: right there, pointing toward his closet

Me: What is she doing?

Z: she is looking at me

Me: and then what will she do?

Z: She will get me

Me: with what?

Z: her gun

Me: what gun?

Z: a green and yellow gun

Me: what does the gun do?

Z: it will do this to me (he makes a hissing noise)

Me: oh really?  and then what will happen?

Z: The ghost will come.

Me: what kind of ghost?

Z: the wiggly one that is white

Me: Where is the ghost now?

Z:  I don’t know

Me: hmmmm.  Well, I am in the office if you need me (walking out of his room)  The witch is following me now, I think she wants to watch me work on the computer

Z: Mom, the witch isn’t here anymore

Me:  That is good news Zane!

Silence

Z: Mom, I need a drink of water

Me: Zane, water breaks are over.  I will see you in the morning

Silence

ahhhhhhh.  Is this what life is like once your kids know about aliens, monsters, ghosts, etc?  I’m not sure if I already took note of our experience shopping for a Halloween costume?  We went to Wal-Mart and hit the costume isle.  Zane was spooked by the masks and scary items.  He grabbed my leg and says, “mom, its scarwee.”  We moved one more isle over and found happy, fun costumes.  He fell in love with the scooby doo costume but is was several sizes too small.  I promised him that we would go to the Halloween store to find a costume for him.  As we left the isle and visited another section of Wal-Mart, two boys passed with fake swords and masks.  They were hiding from one another and just having fun.  Zane once again grabbed on to me and said, “mom, they are trying to sceh me.”  I tried to assure him that it was all fake and they were just pretending.

We went to the Halloween store and I barely could get Zane in the front door.  He wanted me to carry him.  There were cardboard trees with moss in the front door area with some Halloween ish music and sounds playing.  He was totally spooked.  I carried him to the kid section with “safe” costumes.  BUT at the end of the isle was a mummy.  Zane gave it one look and said, “Mom, don’t go around that corner.  He is going to get you.”  I picked him up and went closer so he could see that it was pretend but he wouldn’t even look at it.  Then he says, “Mom, let’s git outta here.”  My poor little guy is totally afraid of all this scary Halloween stuff. 

(we left only because he had already picked out a Kung fu Panda costume)

Today, we were shopping for some Halloween decor.  In the isle was a old scary man mask.  Zoe was pushing the cart and went an isle ahead of me so when they turned and couldn’t see me, I quickly put the mask on and went to catch up.  I just casually said, “hi guys,” in my regular voice and Zane did NOT like it.  He screamed at me to put it away, I pulled it off and showed him that I was ok.  He said, “mom, dat wasn’t funny.  let’s git outta here.”

So, I need to figure out a way to deal with spooky things.  I tried to show him that a prayer would help him feel safe and comfortable but he wants me to take control of the situation.  Like I know a thing about monsters and witches???  : o

Just when I thought he was asleep, he is now hollering out for me again, asking me if I am done working because he wants me to go see him again. 

Z: Mom the monsters are back

Me: the same one or different ones?

Z: different ones

This could be a long night…