The end is near....

Well.... Another month has flown by! I can't believe that tomorrow is December 1st! I'm in the final stretch of the fall semester. I have just 2 weeks left! But included in that is: 3 tests, 3 final papers due the last week, 2 papers due next week, 2 presentations, and lots of studying!!! Besides what I have to do, what did I do this past month? Joel went hunting with his dad in Port Huron area. He got an 11 point buck with his crossbow and then a 5 point buck on opening day of rifle season. I went to Joel's parents' for a visit at the beginning of the month and for Thanksgiving weekend. Thanksgiving morning I went to Nantucket Baking Company for our traditional bread and muffins. Then we packed and went for a 14 mile bike ride. It was chilly! After rushing to get cleaned up and the car packed, we went to Muskegon to visit my dad's side of the family. It was so great to see my grandma, aunts, uncles, and cousins. We didn't get to stay as long as I would have liked, because we had to get on the road so we wouldn't be late to Thanksgiving dinner with Joel's family. We had a lot of delicious food and I'm proud to say that I didn't gain weight this year from it! I only ate a plate of food at each location- no second helpings for this girl. I'm finding it very hard not to put weight on now that I don't have time to exercise. I'm already looking forward to spring and the chance to ride my bike at least once a week again! I feel like I should have done more stuff this month, but I honestly can't think of what else I did. Here's to a great (and busy) December!

We're getting it mounted...

Thoughts of a Cyclist- Or maybe it's just me!

As you know, Joel and I are into biking. I normally ride about 24-24.5 miles while he rides 25. We've discussed and decided that it's not the best choice to listen to music while riding. If you have ear phones in, you won't hear what's going on around you- which can be a problem. So what do I do for 1.5-2 hours on a ride???? I THINK! Rambling thoughts cross through my mind. I thought I would share some of things that go through my mind during a ride- particularly last night's ride:

" Alright, I'm keeping up with Joel. -  Oh, Joel's leaving me in the dust again. - I'm keeping a pretty good pace. - Crap, here comes a hill. - BUNNY! - I'm getting tired - I could ride for 45 minutes, then turn around and ride 45 minutes home. - It's a nice day out, not too hot. - Only 3 more minutes to go and I can start heading home. - Well, I'm this close to Rockford, I might as well ride all the way. - Wow, that girl is toned (At this point I start comparing myself to this girl, not "checking her out". She was blonde, tan, and toned. I wish I was as toned as her! Her stomach was so FLAT! I weigh just under 115 lbs- less than I did when I graduated high school- but I carry my fat right in my mid section. Most of my family has a little pouch in front. My new goal is to flatten my stomach- by next summer!) - Finally, Rockford! There goes Joel on his was back, time for me to turn around. - Stupid geese, don't hiss at me. - We really should enjoy the River Walk one of these days. - Wow, I'm at a great pace! 16-17 mph. I must be going slightly downhill. - Another Bunny! - I can't wait to blog about this. - Firefly! - I'm getting tired. - Only 10 miles to go ( I do a lot of math while riding to figure out how many miles or how much ride time I have left). - Wow! 18 mph! - Rogue River Park, only 9 miles left to go. - I hate when cars slow down in front of the bike trail. I'm already stopped, so keep at your speed and drive by already. - Oh great, I hope these people all move to the side when I get near. "On your left". Awesome, they moved. "Thanks!" - How can you roller blade with 2 dogs and stay untangled? That takes skills. - Here's a slight hill. I covered it with a speed of 15 mph. I kicked that hills butt! - I'm really tired. Can't wait to get home! - No cars, woohoo! - Here comes the bigger hill. I crossed that at 12 mph. That's better than the 9 mph on my way out. - We should try the Toucan Irish Pub, it sounds interesting. - Almost to 5th 3rd ballpark. - Darn it, I forgot there was a game tonight. Weaving through traffic is NOT fun. - At the bill board. Almost back to River Side Park. - Turn my flashlight on to get through the woods. - At the park! There are so many interesting things that go on here. Frisbee golf, band groups, fencing, even Hula dancing in grass skirts! - Only a couple of miles left to go! - I gotta push myself so I can increase my average speed! - Only 1 mile left to go! - Home!!!! Finally! Average speed = 14.7 mph, personal best! Way to go me! - I have to write a blog about my random thoughts."

Can you blame a girl? It gets pretty boring out there! Welcome to the thoughts of Kara!

May... Already?!?!?

I can't believe how quickly this year is flying by! It's already May!!!! This time last year I was the heaviest I had ever been in my life- married life does that to you. Joel and I decided to get healthy and lose weight together at the end of May. I lost about 24 lbs over the summer and am proud to say that I have kept it off! My next goal is to get toned muscles. To help me in that goal, I will start training for the Tour of the White Pine Trail - a bike tour that goes from Grand Rapids to Cadillac (92 miles) one day and back the next day. That's 184 total miles! I'm not sure if I can handle both days, but my goal is to make at least the 92 miles! I'm really excited and glad that I have until fall to get ready! I have a lot of work ahead of me- my longest ride so far has been about 25 or 26 miles. I think if I go at my own pace, I will be fine- but I have to build up that endurance! Wish me luck and you know that I'll be posting updates on my progress!