Happy New Year! Wishing you all a wonderful 2008. Love, Health, Peace and keep on RIDING

Xmas-Pooh

One of my favorite things to do (NOT) : folding laundry
Today, I had Santa's little helper's (NOT). All he does is fuzzing the stuff, in his words, adding extra insulation to my sweaters.

I was glad, when his girl friend Daisy came over to play. They kept busy playing and I could do my chores.

Later today Martin and, wrote our Christmas cards and listened to some Xmas music and the spirit of Christmas came over us and Mr. Whiskers:

And to keep things fair....I promised Mr W to blog this picture as well.

Now it is up to you to decide, who looks cuter with the antlers:))

Mr. Whiskers in Training

Yesterday, Mr. Whiskers' training diary would read:
Ran 10.1 miles at Manawa with Martin (While he was riding).

While I am earning doggy-treats, the two of them are out tearing up the trails:))
Whiskers loves to run with the bike and especially in the snow.

For my defense. I did go to the gym last night and worked out. The gym at work is small but not bad and I had it to myself for the most of the time.
Hey, a private gym. I am not complaining.

Getting through the Moguls

Not that you can tell, but that is me:)
It's me getting through a field of moguls at Winter Park, CO. SO MUCH FUN!!!! Really:)
But, you have to work for it and you have to concentrate and make sure you do everything right.

That's how I feel at work right now.

Yesterday was my first day in my new department. Yes I passed my test on Friday:)
and I had to ski hard, but it was a lot of fun.

I only wish, it would burn as many calories as skiing....
But today, I pack my gym stuff and try out our gym at work:)

TT Tomorrow

Unfortunately TT doesn't stand for time trial, but for "test-time".
Tomorrow will be my final test of my class.

I am a little nervous, but I feel well prepared and I am excited to be soon done with it and go work in my department.
I will be still in training, but doing the real job.

So far, I am really liking the company. My supervisor seems to be really caring and the atmosphere is very positive.

The HR department, got a lot of kudos today, because they approached me to let me know, that they found a place, where I can leave my bike INSIDE the building.
So, I can start commuting any time....
I have to test ride it first to find out, how long it would take me.

Well, I better go to bed. I have to get up at 4.30am to get ready for work.

Hope you guys have a great weekend.
For all of you racing down in Kansas. I am sounding my cow bells for you!!!!!!

Winter, Work and Aventskalender

It is kind of hard to see, but there is a squirrel sitting on a itty-bitty branch, munching on some chow and I was wondering, if that branch was sturdy enough:)
We have pretty well fed squirrels.
As you can tell in the pictures, winter is definitely here.
It was a cozy (not) 1 F, when I went to work this morning. I am dreading tomorrow morning because of the severe weather warning...
Other than that, the training is going well and the job is shaping up to be very interesting.

Next week, I will start my normal work hours on my team and then it will really show, how things will work out....

Sunday was already the 2nd Advent. Do you guys celebrate that? Those are the 4 Sundays before Christmas?
In Germany, we also have the old tradition of giving each other Adventkalender, with 24 little presents or chocolates to count down the days in December until Christmas Eve. That is the day, when we open our presents.

This is mine, filled by Martin

This is Martin's. A friend of mine actually helped me sew it. It's quilted.

I am ALIVE!!!!

The pictures were taken in Germany. My brother actually saw the light coming through the church window. I like these kind of pictures. (Besides that I took them). The light symbolizes hope and a higher presence...

Today, I am meaning that literally.

I live in Omaha, Ne and this place is known for its lack of crime...until today, where a 19 year old disturbed (crazy) guy took 8 lives and his own at a mall and injured even more to "go out with style"....
I just found out that this guy lived in my neighborhood. The same place that I go out every day and night to walk Mr. Whiskers, by myself, without even thinking about danger....

What has this world come to???

I go to CNN News and see the mall and the shop that I go to quite often "in pieces".

Sad, disturbing, alarming,...

You start a day and worry about all these little unimportant little things, until something like this puts all that back in the right perspective....

And I have to say, I am grateful for being alive: Thank YOU