Oy vay, the highlight of my day was finding a bright red t-shirt that was given to me almost a decade ago by my parents for xmess...it simply says "HO HO HO, BLah BLah BLah, Yadda Yadda Yadda" Pretty amusing.

Today was a huge mess of errands and domesticity. Fortunately, I slept in - I was exhausted. Been planning on sleping in - catching up on some well deserved sleep. Decided that I was gonna go on a really long bike ride (supposed to be nasty tomorrow - snow, sleet rain). Next weekend I'll be out of town for xmess - so wanted to go on a long 50+ miler. Which is what I did, went from Sterling to Percellville and back - 51 miles. It was very beautiful, on the chilly/frosty side - but I was well suited up. Only had to stop 3 times to warm my fingers.

Finished up, ran a few last minute xmess errands (it was busy busy busy!) - came home, showered, cooked dinner (yummy spinach with a garlic mushroom sauce, turkey, and curry potatoes). THen embarked on a bachelor night of laundry in the round - washed everything, sheets, all linens, towels, bathmats, all bike clothes, all clothes, towels, car/bike rags ...even the furry toilet lid cover.

Tomorrow will be a quick rush of a morning - haircut, last xmess errand, quick bike ride - then will spend the late afternoon cooking (stuffed mushrooms) - then will hopefully miss the sleet/snow/ice - it's supposed to be a wicked monday morn commute.

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THank goodness it's Friday - although, it's now almost over. Was a very busy day at work, suprized I was able to handle all of it. But overall, it ended on a great note. Went on a really nice semi-long dark cold bike ride tonight, bout 39 miles. I saw more bikers than usual on a cold, dark and on a Friday eve. And many deer, saw a total of 12. Two of whom jumped right in front of me and rendered me scared. Came home, had dinner, then watched "The Terminal" with Tom Hanks - it was actually a brilliant film in concept - entertaining, but rather predictible.

I have to finish putting in the "edits" my friend Kari did for my cookblog, been procrastinating this task for seemingly weeks now - hopefully will finish over the weekend. Special thanks to Kari for helping out!

Looking forward to a relaxing weekend, no special plans - just errands, preparations for being out of town next weekend, a few really long (sunlit) bike rides. It may snow on Sunday eve...will have to play all that by ear.

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Seems that all I've been doing daily is Work, Bike, Blog...Work, Bike, Blog...Work, Bike, Blog... I need a little diversity in my life after the Holidays. Feel free to leave a comment as to what kinda hobbies/activities I should to take on starting the New Year. Or something to break the monotony.

Welp, worked today - was very busy. Then I biked - 34 miles of sheer frozen hot dog legs, darkeness, deer and wafts of suburban steak, dryer sheets and skunk. Now I'm home, took care of some domestic crap, now I am on Blogger writing about it. Swell.

                           

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Was cold cold cold, again. They are now predicting snow for Monday. Oy freeken vay.

Was a very busy day at work - more of the same "hurry up and get this done so we can enjoy the holiday" crap. This will continue until next Thursday (day before Xmess eve). Thank goodness I have a day off (gee wizz). Will be a busy day/weekend....will be driving down to my brother's house and stay with them for xmess eve (fri), then spend xmess night at my parent's lake house (sat), then drive back on Sunday. Back to work on Monday, happy freekin holidays.

I am in the spirit though, I have finally finished all my xmess shopping, complete with stocking stuffers, cards, the whole nine yards. I have my "much requested" homemade pumpkin soup made, frozen and ready to take. Just need to gas the car, load the camera - and enjoy.

Tonight's bike ride was the opposite of hell - it was fricken freezing. Yet again, it was below freezing when I went out. The wind was horrible, but there was no one out there (I am crazy, not stupid...when it gets below 20 degrees F, I am indoors - or if there is ice or snow). Got back to my car, warmed it up as I hobbled around in my frozen hot dog legs ungearing and packing my car. I was paralized by how cold I was. Jumped in my car and sat there shivering as the car blasted heat on #4. I finally thawed.

Speaking of thawing, I cooked a nice dinner tonight - (had to thaw some chicken, which is why I was thinking of that) - took some left over brown rice (made before in a ginger sauce), green beans (drizzled with sesame oil), garlic, chives, mushrooms, green pepper, diced chicken - sauteed the whole thang, added a spicy thai peanut curry sauce. Took me 20 minutes. Damn, I spend that time sitting in traffic commuting to work less than one mile. It was quite nice.

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Cold COld COld - oh my gosh it was cold today. Was in the 20s this morning when I went out to my car. Not used to that. Had to warm the car up extra good this morning - it was all tired and cold. Work was very busy - nonstop all day. Got off work a little late, needed to finish a few things - but wasn't un-shy about not wanting to go out into the freezing cold (literally) for my bike ride.

At 6pm, it was 32 degrees F (0 degrees Celcius) - and heavy wind chill, according to www.weather.com, it was to feel like 23 degrees. The temperature in screenshot is what it is now. Not getting any warmer.

So I took this bike ride, by far one of the coldest I've ever encountered. It wasn't too bad, all 31 miles. I was totally geared out, to the maximum. When I got back, I was completely numb. my legs felt like frozen hot dogs. The temperature dropped a few degrees while I was out there - and the wind, it was relentless. I am glad I went, just to push the envelope to test how far I can bike within a time frame in freezing point weather. I know it's exactly 1.5 hours. Got back to my car, let car warm up and heat interior while I ungeared, and put bike away. I was still completely numb until I got home after an hour. Had dinner, wrapped the last of my presents for xmess, and just relaxing.

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What a busy, yet boorish day at work. Oh, and today is my birthday. I don't feel old, I don't feel a change. I think this birthday just represents when birthdays are just that - another day. Especially at work. Granted, I've only worked there a little less than a year - but not one person in the office knew. Almost a relief. If there was any knowlege - absolutely no fanfare, because two reasons - no one in the office gives a shit, and the morale in the office is negative 312%, no one has the effort to even fake a birthday lunch, cake, card, et al. SO the day sailed by.

My parents had told me to reserve tonight as a night to treat me out for dinner - didn't tell me where, just that I had to join them so "don't go on a bike ride" (cuz I usually end up getting home late and dinner out would be an huge inconvenience for them). So I skipped my bike ride, drove home with what seemed to be little traffic - met my parents...opened a few gifts. My parents are very sweet, they knew I needed a few things - some pants, jeans and dress pants for work (all my pants don't fit..they are 4" too wide in the waist), a really nice winter sweater pullover - very smooth and warm - and a blender! What a treat - my mother picked up on the "I really have blender envy, mom" thing I said when I was making pumpkin soup (I have a crappy old food processor). Anyhoo - it's a great blender.

They drove me to this restaurant...which they would not say. It ended up being Ruth Chris Steakhouse. OMG...what a treat. Very $$$$$. It was VERY good. If you want a steak, this is where you go. I had a 12oz Fillet Mignon - medium, it was cooked PERFECTLY, served on a 575 degree plate. I just drooled and cut into this monster. It was like butter. We spent the evening talking about birthdays and what not. The meal was superb - I was more than grateful to my parents for that experience. Overall, it was a nice day - and I'm grateful of all of it, even the lack of fanfare in the office.

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Wow! The Museum of the American Indian was just amazing beyond words. Spent all morning and early afternoon there - just spectacular, a little overwealming - but stellar.

Came home, changed clothes, drove out to Vienna for a bike ride - it was chilly and threatening to rain. Did the Annandale loop, about 44 miles. Finished up, then ran a few more Xmess shopping errands. Came home, had dinner, watched a little tv...wrapped presents - not just applying for jobs online and setting up for the week. Booooring...

Sunday night anxiety settles in - gonna be a busy week.

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