The Backpack Blues

What? You think I have the blues? Not a chance!
The kids head off to school tomorrow, RAH! RAH! RAH!

I am released from 90 days hardly labor! It really wasn't labor hanging on the beach and traveling, but it wasn't all fun either. I am literally exhausted from 3 months of negotiating, explaning, boundry setting, rule enforcement, dietary policing, stop antagonizing, quit hitting, no fighting, would you two please just knock it off-ing!!

I may just kiss the road the bus travels upon. I'll surely embrace the marching band teachers who insist on keeping my eldest a few hours after school. And for the girl scout leaders... showers of flowers.

I'm going for a ride!!!

Well, my new bike had a one in a thousand defect and is back in the shop. Rob was really great and explained it just so to the manufacturer and my new gear rings are on their way ASAP. I really am hoping I have no further trouble, cause it's cost a bit of love for the bike, cost a bit of skin and some blood when the chain popped off and I fell. I started balking at hills unsure if the bike was going to be with me or not. That's poison in the brain, man. You can't conquer a hill if you think you can't. You can't do anything if you know you're going to fail. You psyche yourself out. And you definitely hesitate attempting when the chances are good you'll pop the chain, loose momentum and end up sprawled on the pavement with your feet attached to a way-too-expensive-for-problems bicycle.

I'm confident the shop will take care of me, but for at least a couple days, it's back to riding the way-too-heavy mountain bike.

As soon as I drop the kids off at school, I'm going to meet a riding group in Glen Ridge that goes out at 9:30. It shoud be significantly easier to keep up with than the guys are, so the mountain bike shouldn't be too much of a handicap.

Good News!!!
More than a few of you have said you were encouraged to dust off your bike and start to ride again. And somebody asked if they could ride with me. I am honored. In fact, I decided to start a group route in the Morris Plains and/or Pompton Lakes area on fairly level ground at a beginner's pace and duration. So this is YOUR chance. Stop waiting for the perfect time... it's here!

Tell me what your preference is and let's get rolling! You will thank yourself over and over and over again!!!
Write me at Sandie@SandieReilly.com

I'll leave you with a note from a friend in from Maryland. He's a Singer/Songwiter/blues guitarist who I met and had the pleasure of playing with in Ocean City, MD. It was a once in a lifetime chance meeting where our guitars were attracted to one another(both being Taylor's, ya' know) and everything else followed. We were instant friends and mutual admirers. So cool. So profound. He made me smile with this one.

"Way to go Sandie !
One day s.one will write a song about this event.

Oh,oh,oh Sandie there ain't no mountain you can't climb
oh,oh,oh dear Sandie where there's a challenge you'll not hide
Many would have fallen, just not tough enough
Now you'll be a legend when your children are all grown up
Oh ,oh ,oh Sandie

Congratulations Sandie !
Your one of my heros."

And Mike, you're one of mine! :-)