Simply stated

Today was one of those days that I wanted to hurt someone. Too much to do and too little time. That’s all I’m gonna say. I don’t want to be negative.

Ventura to Camarillo

I decided that I was going to go for a 45 mile bike ride with the Channel Island Bike club last night. I woke up a half hour late this morning and contemplated my drive out to Ventura. I pondered for about a minute and decided to drag myself out of bed and hope there were some stragglers behind like myself.

The ride started at 8 a.m. and I arrived at 8:15. No riders in sight, there was nothing left but cars. I sat in the car and the lazy side of me tried to convince me to go home but I resisted.

I got of out my car and started to gear up and headed out with map in hand for my first long ride alone. No one there to encourage me and tell me that I could do it but me.

I started out in Ventura and approximately one hour later after riding through Somis and Saticoy I ended up in Camarillo at Noah’s Bagel asking the kind woman behind the counter for an egg bagel with peanut butter.

As I was riding I was thinking about how much better my ride would have been if I would have brought my ipod. At the same time I was thinking how I should have brought the ipod a little voice of Patrick is lingering in the back of my head telling me that it’s safer for me not to have it. He thinks I need to pay attention to the road and it’s unsafe for me to be listening to my music on a non bike path. So I guess I was glad I didn’t bring it after all. Knowing me I would be in the middle of changing songs and a huge truck would zoom by me and I would fall and hurt myself.

Sitting in front of the Starbucks and eating my bagel I realized that I rode 19 miles into Camarillo. In order to get back to my car in Ventura I would need to ride another 22 miles back. I started to freak out a little. I was a little tired from riding my hybrid and the other cyclists sitting at Starbucks told me the good news that I would be riding back against the wind.

So with that in mind I started my ride back. 1 1/2 painful hours later I made it back to Ventura. I’ve decided I’m getting a road bike. I’m starting my research.

It comes in three...

Things around the Tung homestead hasn’t been the smoothest lately. They say when it rains it pours... and lately it’s been raining cats and dogs.

First it was with my sister’s marriage. She’s been having some problems lately. Then it was her dog. Her 3 pound Yorkie got hit by a car while she was in New York visiting friends. As if she doesn’t have enough to deal with right now with her marriage on the rocks. then her baby gets hit by a car under her roommate’s watch..actually I’m just gonna say it. She’s getting divorced. 25 and getting a divorce, but according to her, it’s a good thing so I will support her decision and be a good sister.

Here comes the last thing..we found out a few weeks ago that my Aunt Jia has about a year or two left to live. It was about a year ago we found out she had stomach cancer. She went through chemo and was in remission for a while but I guess it’s back. She hasn’t been able to eat and she’s lost a lot of weight.

The horrible thing is that I really don’t know what’s going on. My family still treats me as if I was a kid and I wouldn’t understand. I also think that my aunt is trying to protect the family from getting hurt. I mean my grandparent’s still don’t know the whole truth. I honestly think she’s not telling us all the info about her sickness which kills me because she’s being so brave while she’s the one who’s sick. We’re supposed to be there for her and try to comfort her and here she is trying so hard to protect the family.

My older aunt is flying in from Hong Kong the first week of September to visit my younger aunt. I don’t want to be a pessimist or anything but I honestly think this can only lead to bad things. I know everyone wants to spend as much time with my aunt especially if the doctor’s say she has a year or two left. One year versus two is kind of a big difference.

I’ve never experienced a death before so close in the family. My parent’s have always found a way to protect us kids somehow. Even now at 26 they still hide things from us that they think will hurt us. I find it really annoying at times. It might not be the right way but it’s the Asian way.

I’ve been kinda depressed lately about the whole situation. I’ve been holding most of my feelings in and I don’t feel I can really talk to anyone about what’s been going on with my aunt. Plus I get too emotional when I think about the whole situation and the tears start to flow like crazy. And to think I used to have a tough side back in the day if anyone can believe that. Ok I’m gonna leave it at that. If any of you know my aunt please send positive thoughts her way.

Happy Anniversary to me.

I just realized that yesterday makes two years at my current job. Yay for me.

Cindy loses another bet.

I lost the bet to Patrick. I’m a little bitter but oh well. Thank goodness I can lose graciously.

When I told Ivan that I wasn’t going he started blackmailing me and telling me that I wasn’t going to receive the gift he brought back for me from his vacation to Mexico. Apparently he bought me a bag that has yet to be seen. So he said if I didn’t go he wouldn’t give it to me at all. So what’s a girl to do but to give into the evil of my trainer. (he’s really not evil, he just makes me work hard and sometimes I just don’t want to.)

Damn him, somehow I always get suckered into going to his classes. I usually don’t want to go but in the end I’m thankful because you feel so much better after you go. An hour and forty minutes of torture can really be good for you every once in a while.

Class wasn’t as hard as I thought it was going to be. I’ve been to worse so that puts a smile on my face. I think I’m going to reward myself with some Haagen Daaz Carmel Cone ice cream. If you haven’t tried it, stop what you’re doing and go to the store immediately. It’s heavenly.

Bootcamp

Ivan’s bootcamp= lots of sprinting, lounges, squats, push-ups, sit ups with little rest and unwanted pain.

Ivan’s bootcamp is tonight. I’m going to the gym but I don’t plan on going to his class. Instead when I see Ivan I’m going to tell him that I will be doing my own full body workout and hopefully he’ll accept my answer.

Apart of me didn’t want to go because my usual partner wasn’t planning on attending. I knew my brother wasn’t going to be there either and I didn’t want to be partners with some stranger. Basically I really didn’t want to go. So, my mind was already made up that I would just enjoy my own workout.

I made a bet with Patrick that Ivan will accept my answer and obviously he didn’t agree with me. We’ll see what happens.

Cool Breeze

My one year anniversary is coming up. That’s right, Sirri and I have been in a beautiful relationship thus far. Sirri’s my bike for those who haven’t met him. I named him after his model name. I know I’m not that creative but at least I have a name.

I haven’t taken him out as much as I should but I’ve been
doing better after I installed my cyclo-computer a few weeks ago. It’s very strange how all of a sudden I’m motivated to ride more since that little gizmo starts blinking out numbers as I ride. I rode my first 30 mile ride last Monday and I was pretty proud of myself.

Today I participated in my first organized cycling event. 1500 riders got to choose their route of 38, 60, 100 or 126 miles. Me being the novice to this sport chose the 38. I didn’t want to humiliate myself completely the first ride by not completing it.

I rode with my buddies Heidi and Seth, we all kept good pace with each other. We also held each other’s hands while riding on the 101 freeway for the first time. Well mainly Heidi and I. I don’t think Seth wanted to partake in any hand holding. Never in a hundred years did I picture myself being one of those crazy people riding their bike on the side of the freeway. ( that’s what I use to think of those cyclists, by the way) And here I was on a lovely Saturday morning pedaling my little heart out so I wouldn’t get hit by any cars.

The ride was very enjoyable with beautiful ocean views and lovely breezes and I definitely plan on participating next year. I’m hoping to do the century next time around. It gives me a year to train. In the meantime I plan on riding a few other events to get some more miles on my bike.