I bowled quite a bit when I was a kid. My parents put me in a junior league when I was around eight years old, Bantam Bowlers. I wasn't that good, at least not that I remember. I did receive a bunch of trophies, I think they were usually for Most Improved.

Ended up that bowling alone was not scary at all, it was fun. I talked to the people bowling next to me. They were probably in their 60s and just started bowling. I have my own ball, this makes me look better than I am. I had so much fun though, and actually improved as the games went on, that I decided I'm going to start going weekly. Maybe I'll get good enough to join a league.

I went online today and found some shoes that match my ball for only $30, so I bought them. Renting shoes is $3.50, so those would be paid for quickly. It's only $2 a game at the bowling alley down the street from me before 5pm.

The other day I walked into work at the bike shop and there were some fliers on the front counter for fresno's first alley cat race. I couldn't stop laughing. I mean there aren't even any bike messengers here, at all, not a single one nor a need for one. I know, you have to start somewhere. Someone has to organize the first alley cat. But wouldn't you know it's being put on by a bike shop, so surely they are doing it just as an advertising scheme because the bike business has been slow.

Will I attend this race? I'm really not sure yet. It would be fun to laugh at all the little skinny college-boy hipsters that are going to think they are so freakin' cool. Some racer will probably end up winning. It's not as if there are actual alleys to cut through and secret short-cuts to make your ride faster.

Anyway, I get called a snob a lot lately. I think I'm okay with this. My response is, "I know what I like and I like what I know (and I like tomato and mayonnaise sandwiches [okay, not really, that's a line from Harriet the Spy])."

I really didn't think I'd care at all about turning 30 years old. Granted, it's still almost five months away, but I'm already thinking about it. I guess the no-denying-it realization that I had no idea that this is where I'd be at 30. I'm sure I thought I'd be married, probably have a master's degree, maybe a kid (i really don't remember anymore whether I ever wanted them or not), definitely not living in Fresno at my grandmother's house.

So it's really about a lot of things. I am happier where I am now than where I was five years ago. I am actively working at making myself happier, healthier, and more sane.

This year is going to be different.

Now, that phrase can be said many ways. I am not saying it in that hoping and praying that this year is magically better than last year. I mean that I am going to make this year different.

At the least I probably won't get hit by a car and have my jaw wired shut again, right?

I'm still here in Fresno, proofreading and practically running a bike shop. I'm a little bored of bikes though. They aren't as fun in Fresno.

I'm reading a really amazing book right now: Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. Apparently she's been all over oprah and stuff. Anyway, it fits really well with what I'm going through in my life.

I've been reading a lot lately. It's become the escape for me that it was when i was a kid.

This morning, while I was in Starbucks (yes, now that I don't live in seattle, I drink Starbucks), I walked in and lo and behold there is Chuck Liddell having his morning coffee, with a bit of an entourage. Liddell "The Iceman", is from San Luis Obispo, but his management company is based in Fresno. So every once in a while he comes to town and uses the same Gold's Gym as I do.

I was totally blushing, because I think he's kind of cute in that rough, tough, fighting machine sort of way. Then, in walks our Mayor Autry (you'd remember him best from In the Heat of the Night as Bubba), they sit down and have a little chat, which I find oddly amusing.

then, as sweet pea and I are walking back to Tri-Sport, I see Liddell sitting in Sport Clips waiting for a haircut and get excited again because that's right next door to the shop.

Anyway, after a minute or two, in walks The Iceman with entourage in tote into Tri-Sport! Of course, I was such a dumb girl that all I could to was smile, blush and giggle. Meanwhile my coworkers were trying to convince me to ask for an autograph, but I didn't have the nerve. He walked back out before I could even give him a free t-shirt or anything. Why do i have to be so lame???!!!

Still, it was the highlight of my day (which is only a few hours in).

Maybe I was out of the loop on this, but my coworker at the bike shop just showed me this video and it absolutely amazed and bewildered me as to how and why anyone learns to do this.

Check it out, buy the books. I have my own secret, and finally, it's a good one, one that I hope to share with everyone some day.

I think that I may have actually figured it out. I know, how very presumptuous of me. I know what I want though, and at first, it sounds kind of lame. It sounds weak and a little out-dated.

For years I have been asking the question, What should i go back to school for. What should I be when I grow up. I've decided that I should be happy. I should meet someone that I love and care about nothing except for being happy and spending time with that person. Who cares if you go to work every day and get a raise if you come home at the end of the day and have no one to share that with? Who cares if you got a raise and you have no one at home who will throw their arms around you and tell you how amazing you are and then take you out to dinner and champagne?

I've realized that for me, personally, the only thing I really want is someone to share my life with. Someone that can make me laugh after the worst day ever. Someone that wants to hear my voice before anyone else's in the morning, and wants me to tell them goodnight every night before bed.

Maybe we wouldn't care so much about how fulfilling our jobs were if that wasn't where we were seeking our fulfillment and happiness from.

I've always known how to work towards professional and educational goals. I'm not exactly sure on how to work on a goal that is somewhat outside of myself. I need to make myself ready. Become the best person that I can possibly be so that I can be the best person for someone else.

How do you prepare yourself for love?

That's pretty much what like has consisted of; riding the bike, working at the bike shop, and hanging out with The Dude.

Fresno has been hot and the air quality here sucks ass. It's disgusting. The Dude and I constantly say things like, Let's go get brunch and bloody mary's somewhere with live music; and then we laugh and laugh and laugh - because obviously there is no such thing anywhere around here. Oh, well maybe we could join the country club or something!!

so, we just ride bikes. we ride motorbikes and pedalbikes.

I am addicted to the motorcycle, addicted to speed!!

I'm off for bloody marys and brunch, hahahahahahahahahaha.

thanks, andy, for fixing it for me!

Just a couple of weeks ago, I got my Surly fixed up as a single speed and it hasn't been ridden yet, so I'm going to ride that bike today.
Plus, if I get hit by a car again, I won't be upset about losing my $900 bike.

I did get a new bike this week. I just couldn't settle for anything less than the Trek Madone that I was riding when i got hit by the car. I did go with a different color scheme this time though.

I'm thrilled to be back on the bike and out of the car. I hate driving, wasting gas, being lazy, ruining the environment. Life would be so much better if everyone would ride. It's bike-to-work month, get out and ride!!

The article was about local brewpubs and restaurants. Alongside this article there was a little Q & A with the owner of Sequoia Brewing Co., which replaced the best brewery that Fresno ever had, Butterfields. I've yet to venture out to Sequoia, despite the fact that I try to patron mostly local joints in Fresno the land of chain restaurants. I've hear that neither their food nor beer is worth consuming.

Well today, I just might have discovered why it's not worth going to. When Michell Kendall, the owner of Sequoia Brewing Co. was aked what's the most expensive meal she's ever eaten, her answer was, "I'd rather go to KFC than eat somewhere expensive."

Oh, and when asked what her favorite beer brewed by someone else is, she replied that, "Growing up, I was a Coors Light person."

This, my friends, is the owner of the restaurant and brewpub.

And briefly, where I've been...

After moving back to Fresno, at first I didn't have much to write about. I didn't really do much or get out. I was a little embarrassed to be back! I also found out that many people here had been following everything in my life via my blog, but of course never actually bothered to email or call and say hi. This just really pissed me off. So I killed it.

Recently however, I have had lots to write about and to say, but first I had to go through the trouble of getting the blog back and working. I have lots of stories about the pain and suffering of getting ran into by a car and the even more pain of finding out that stupid chick doesn't have insurance, plus she just got out of prison.