Brianne and Garett

Today when I was going through a stack of CDs, I came across some our our honeymoon pictures that we forgot about. We posted all of the pictures from our digital camera, but we forgot that we had also taken pictures on an underwater camera during our snorkeling trip. We had the pictures put on a CD at the Walmart in Maui and they somehow got lost in another stacks of CDs in the office.

So, now they are uploaded on my flickr page for all to see!

I am only 3 weeks away from the MS 150. I’ve been going on long rides every weekend and the same continues right up until the event. Last week was the Tour de Houston which was a pretty fun ride, going through part of downtown, the Heights area, around Rice University, down through the Medical Center area and back again. It really was a tour of Houston at 15-20 mph. The route was 70 miles and the first 50 felt like nothing, but just after 60 I started to wear down. Today I had a ride in the Missouri City area and I was going to do the 80 mile route but the weather changed my mind. Temperatures were in the lower 40’s to start with and the wind was blowing up to 20 mph with gusts over 25. Wearing 5 shirts and 2 pairs of shorts didn’t help much so 25 miles in, the route split between the 80 mile and the 53 mile, I chose the latter. From there on out it was into a very strong headwind.

Also this week Brianne decided to join me in the LIVESTRONG Challenge in October of this year in Austin. She is signed up for the 5K Run/Walk and I participate in it also, in addition to the 65 mile bike ride which is the next day. So we will be fundraising together later this year!

My favorite day happened again this year, my birthday! The title of this event really isn’t very accurate, since my birthday is always celebrated as a birth-week. Along with some very nice birthday wishes, I got some great gifts and Garett made me my favorite type of birthday cake AND birthday cupcakes. I have been telling Garett for the past two months that all I wanted for my birthday was to be taken out. So, on Saturday, March 14th, Garett gave me a total me day. He started the day by taking me out to breakfast at our favorite place, called “Le Peep.” Then, we drove downtown and he took me an amazing mall called ” The Galleria.” For those who don’t live in Houston, this mall is a pretty big deal, it is filled with designer stores like Louis Viton, Prada, Armani, Dior, Cartier-all the best. But it also has the kind of stores I can actually afford to shop in, like The Gap and Macy’s and New York & Company.

We shopped for hours, getting me some new work clothes, new shoes, and lost of other new things. Garett’s family gave me a big stack of birthday spending money and a very nice neclace and earring set, so I used the money to buy myself some really nice new clothes and accessories that I’ve been wanting to get for a while. Then, Garett took me to dinner at the Cheesecake Factory (one of my favorite places) and he took me out to a movie after that. Not only did I get to see a movie, I got to see “He’s Just Not That Into You,” a total chick flick.

Along with my me day, Garett also got me the new Kelly Clarkston CD along with a $150 gift card to a place called The Alamo Drafthouse, which is a really neat movie theatre/restaurant/bar mixture, where you can go to the movies and they will serve you yummy food and drinks while you watch the big screen. Going to the Alamo Drafthouse is one of my favorite things, but we don’t do it very much because we are so busy. Garett said that he got me the gift card so that he can take me out on many more dates in the next few months. My sister sent me a carepackage filled with lots of neat stuff from her recent trip to California, including a gift card to Target, a t-shirt, a great smelling candle, a shot glass, and a really cool salad to-go bowl so I can take my salads to work for lunch. The TV dinners are getting a little old. My sister also got me my Snuggie, woohoo!!! I’ve been asking Garett for a Snuggie for about 6 months and he refused to get one because he thinks they look ridiculous (as you can see on my flickr page), but I don’t care, I love it!!!

My mom and dad sent me a neat little diffuser and some beautiful votive holders from my favorite store, Yankee Candle, along with some wonderful smelling spring scented votive candles. They look great next to the beautiful spring boquet of flowers that Garett had delivered to me at work. My parents also got me the new purse I’ve been wanting since last fall, Garett tried to get it for me for Christmas, but it was impossible to find. Somehow my mom tracked one down and I ended up getting it afterall, which I was really excited about.

Overall, I had a really special birthday. Thank you to everyone for your birthday wishes, I am so lucky. Love, Brianne

Last Saturday, I participated in the Pedal Through The Pines in Bastrop. Part of the route covered some of the same and most difficult part of the MS 150 which is a hilly section through Bastrop State Park. I rode the 50 mile route in about 4 hours (counting 3 rest stops). This was my first ride with real hills and I really got to know my gears. Most rides I have completed already, I might switch gears once or twice the whole time. I also discovered that being larger then most cyclist has an advantage/disadvantage. When I go downhill, I pick up speed much more quickly and go much faster (my speedometer almost hit 40 mph on occasion), but on the uphill climb, you go much slower then everyone else. I am less then 6 weeks away now from the MS 150 and everyone can still make a donation. I have already hit my personal fundraising goal, but my team needs help in their overall goal. Click here to make a donation.

View the stats and map of my ride

Also, don’t forget tomorrow is Brianne’s birthday. Be sure to send her some birthday wishes!