The Original Vine

TheWeekend Ride

2011-07-22T11:27:00.000-07:00

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce my weekend ride, the Giant OCR2 road bike. My posts for the weekend ride spot consist of bikes that I come across in my weekday readings, this bike came from Craig's List. Recently I have aspired to train with the Clovis Hills Women on Wheels, WOW in preparation for the Valley Girls Ride in October, and while I’ve been riding my commuter/comfort bike (Miss Daisy), and I think she is well equipped for the task that would be at hand, I thought a road bike might be a more proper fit for the occasion.

Even though I had purchased this new ride on Monday of this week, I had not had the opportunity to really test ride it until this morning. Yes, it was time to get acquainted with this new lightweight, skinny tire, bullet, and see if we were compatible, after all training starts in six more days, and I wasn’t about to go into it without knowing anything about this new ride.

I started out a bit on the shaky side, but in no time at all I started getting a feel for the bike, and a understanding of what this particular kind of riding is all about, and after 21 miles I knew we were going to be good friends.

So more to come from my adventures on the Giant OCR2, from the rides we will experience on the roads we visit, off into the early morning sun, to the orange kissed skies of a early evening ride...Awww, life is good.

Happy Biking

Why You're Wrong About The Right

2011-07-20T17:17:00.000-07:00

This book by S.E. Cupp & Brett Joshpe is a good read for any Conservative, or Liberal, who wants to know really how we think. As a Conservative, of course I found myself in agreement with the authors, but it was the discovery of some ideas, and groups that I would have never guessed leaned to a conservative way of thought, like the Log Cabin Republicans, this group I'm going to look into further. But to sum up a Conservative, I like Tucker Carlson's definition: A conservative instinctively sides with the individual over the group. We understand that not every choice is a moral issue, that sometimes people just prefer plastic to paper, a Suburban to a Prius, and that's okay. We are for diversity, in the true sense. You can eat any kind of breakfast cereal you want in front of us, and we won't judge you.

A good and informative read.

Happy reading.

The Weekend Ride

2011-06-04T15:37:00.000-07:00

The Airborne Goblin 29. Even though I am not much into mountain biking these days, I have to say I really like this bike. Maybe it's because of its green coloring, or its awesome bad boy name, but what ever the reasoning it's my pick for the Weekend Ride.

Happy Biking.

Update A Little, Update A Lot

2011-05-13T09:56:00.000-07:00

Okay so I have not been keeping up on my blog, as I should. This has been a source of irritations for me, because I have been debating with myself on how often I should be making post. I have even pick-up a preoccupation with viewing other blogs and becoming either relieved, or discouraged as to how often they are blogging. And to make things worse, I had to go a get myself a Twitter account, where almost everyone has a link to their very sophisticated blog and webpage, and here I am with my little Blogger, and no webpage…hum.

So on occasion I review my blog, usually when I want to add a post, or a widget (which I just added Dailymile), and I started to read my biography. In it I write ‘this blog is really just for fun’… Wow. There I had my answer. Now I know that when my husband reads this, he’ll say “ this is what I have been telling you” usually when he says this to me it’s followed up with” but get someone else to tell you.” But guess what? I didn’t need anyone else to tell me, because I had already written it. Right there on my blog, in black and white, oh yeah there is some color too, but this blog is all about F-U-N!

While I never intend for anyone to read my blog, (other than my husband), I do intend for it to be a fun project and learning experience for me, as I continue to pursue my degree in communications with a concentration in New Media. WHEW! Boy I can breather easier now.

The Weekend Ride

2011-04-29T15:22:00.000-07:00

The weekend ride is usually dedicated to bikes, but this post is about a different ride. This weekend Yosemite Fitness the Central Valley’s only indoor rock climbing gym will be packing up their ropes, harnesses, and shoes, and closing their doors. I have really enjoyed being a member of this gym. From the very first time I climbed at their facility across from Fresno State, I was hooked. Not only did I enjoy the physical aspects of climbing, but also I appreciated the encouragement and support I got from Team Yosemite Fitness.

The other ascetics that drew me to Yosemite Fitness was that they were unlike any other gym I had been to. Where other gyms focused on just the physical attributes of being complete muscle, YF challenged the body and the mind with the problem solving of climbing the wall, and just plain having FUN! YF was a friendly place, where parents could bring their children and share in the climbing experience while contributing to being physically fit. It was a place that being introduced to someone in the way of belaying them composed a friendship. And while either climbing, or in between various classes, you could sit, chat, and just enjoy being around the YF community.

Sean, thank you for being such a great sport. You were always very accommodating whenever I had a question or concern. I wish you nothing but the best in the future.

Here’s to a great ride.

God, Nature, & Man

2011-04-24T09:36:00.000-07:00

Nature does not want from man. Nature does not wait for man. The birds don’t need mans help when looking for their next meal. The squirrel does not ask man to give him a home, and the trees do not seek mans permission when it is time for them to drop their seed for new life to begin. Nature asked nothing of man, because nature depends upon its creator for all of its needs.

Nature does not desire or want. The only creation of God that has wants and desires is man. Nature is perfectly content with what God has given them, but man being of nature, but not content with his nature looks away from what God has given to him and looks to himself for self fulfillment. Because this is going against nature, man will never find contentment relying on another human being.

Man must go back to nature to understand what God truly desires for him, which is total dependence on God for everything. Only when this is achieved will man have peace with his world.

You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance. I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. Psalms 32: 7-8

The Weekend Ride

2011-04-22T08:17:00.001-07:00

In the year 1926 William ‘Rath’ Pashley first came on the cycle scene with variety of bike styles, but it was the carrier cycle made for the Royal Mail (the Mailstar) that Pashley is known for.

Today new styles are being built the same way they have been for 80 years, by hand. This commitment and attention to detail makes Pashley Britain’s number one cycle manufacturing company, and in my opinion truly a classic.

Happy Biking.

Politicians and Facebook

2011-04-16T14:29:00.001-07:00

With the 2012 U.S. presidential race just around the corner, and in the wake of Barack Obama’s successful campaign using social networking tools, such as YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook, I can’t help but wonder how many new candidates are using social media to advance their campaigns? It seems while some politicians might still be shying away from using the Internet to go out and reach the masses, others are following in president Obama’s footsteps and using every social media tool they can, as in the case of Michele Bachmann, congresswoman from Minnesota.

First off I needed to make sure that I had the official page for Ms. Bachmann since there are three different pages for her, but only one claims to be the official page with a link to her website. Ms. Bachmann’s page is updated everyday, with three to four entries. Most of the information that is posted is accompanied by a video of her latest interviews with news stations on issues such as, voting on budget cuts, and her take on the threat of a government shut down. She uses the social media platform to announce places and television appearances. She posts her opinions on certain bills and the way she voted on them. Compared to some other politician’s Facebook pages, it appears that Ms. Bachmann is a politician that is not shying away from using this social media tool.

During the 2008 primaries when Barack Obama had sealed the nomination over Hillary Clinton, I tried to email Mrs. Clinton to express some thoughts I had about her campaign. I was met with an email popup saying that because I wasn’t from New York my message could not be received. I wish that Mrs. Clinton had a Facebook page, because the way I see it, if you are willing to become the Commander and Chief of this nation, then I would think you would want to hear everyone’s ideas and concerns. Politicians who use Facebook have an advantage, not only is it eliminating the “smoke screen” of the middleman (the press) it’s allowing the future candidates to have a stronger grip on the pulse of us (the citizens), their potential bosses.

The Weekend Ride

2011-04-15T10:10:00.000-07:00

Well here it is the weekend, and looking forward to doing some wonderful spring outdoor activities, one of which I bet you can already guess by the title of this post. But whatever floats your boat in the way of your outdoor adventures, may they bring joy and peace to your soul.

Happy Biking

Big Hat Days Bike Ride

2011-04-05T17:42:00.000-07:00

This last weekend was the best I have had in a while. I enjoy all kinds of exercise, but I really enjoy riding my bike. This weekend was the Big Hat Days Bike Ride. I Bike Fresno http://ibikefresno.org had put out a post on their Facebook inviting Fresno and Clovis bicyclist to come and check out their first ever FREE valet bike parking. I Bike Fresno kept their FB followers updated with the building of the portable racks, which hosted a total of 122 bikes for the weekend. WOW! Oh, and by the way, not only did they provide a free parking place for your bike, but they offered a free cleaning and lubing of your chain, which my daughter took advantage of.

Along with free valet bike parking, I Bike Fresno was hosting an 11.3-mile bike ride that started off at the Iron Bird Café in Fresno and ended at Big Hat Days in Clovis. I had every intention in going the distance with the ride by meeting up with the folks at the Iron Bird Café and enjoying the whole experience, but two days before, my bike ended up in the shop at Steven’s Bicycles http://stevensbicycles.com with a cable that needed to be replaced. I explained my predicament to the clerk, whom was very nice and said that they would try to have it to me before Sat. Sure enough, Friday afternoon they called and it was ready, but I wasn’t due to prior commitments that keep me from picking it up in the time allotment. Instead of doing the 11.3 miles, my daughter and I did a 6mile ride over to Big Hat Days and parked our bikes at the first ever (at least in Fresno/Clovis) valet bike parking.

I Bike Fresno has already committed to hosting another free valet bike parking when Clovis’s Farmers Market will kick off their season on May 6^th thru September 30^th. I guess I’ll see you then.

Happy Biking

BaseBall Season Has Begun

2011-03-31T18:26:00.000-07:00

Today starts the 2011 baseball season; the news officially announced this morning. As I listen to the declaration made by my local television station a smile stretched across my face, while my heart began to fill with all the anticipation of going to my local baseball park, sitting in the seats just between home plate and first base, and partaking of the wonderful, unhealthy, but all part of the experience ball park food.

Our local baseball team is the Fresno Grizzlies who are a Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, and will officially start their season on April 7^th with a home game against the Las Vegas 51’s. I like our Grizzlies. There is a community feeling and closeness that dwells at the Chukchansi Park, and with all the fun promotional give away, (this year a Buster Posey bobblehead to the first 2,000 fans through the gate, tops my list) how could you not have fun? And not to mention the fun I have in just enjoying being at the park with friends, having a tasty beer with a great ball park hot dog, and oh yeah, don’t forget the Cracker Jacks. Hope to see you there.

Plaaaay Baaaall!

Christmas Gifts From Eastern Europe

2010-01-01T19:43:00.000-08:00

This Christmas my husband was presented with a gift of Georgian wine, two different years and two different varietals. We had never heard of wine coming out of this Eastern European region, and being avid wine drinkers, we were very excited about entering into a new adventure in wine tasting.

The white wine that we were given, Tsinandali, is made from two varietals, Rkatsiteli and Mtsvane. The flavor of this very dry wine taste more like a Brut champagne that has gone flat, than the usual sweet, fruity, or floral one would get from a Riesling, a Sauvé Blanc, or the buttery smoothness of a Chardonnay.

The second wine was a red, a 2000 and 2002 Saperavi. Saperavi is a grape that is described as "darked skinned, pink fleshed, violet scented, blackberries, and exclusively a Eastern European varietals." The other bottle was the same, but labeled as Napareuli. In my (Google:) research I found that:

Napareuli NAPAREULI - a dry red wine controlled by origin. It is made from Saperavi grape cultivated in Napareuli micro-area of Kakheti, situated on the left bank of the Alazani Valley, on southern slopes of the Caucasian Mountain Ridge, at an altitude of 420 meters above sea level. The wine matures in oak barrels for at least two years. It is of a dark pomegranate color and has a tender and rich bouquet and a harmonious taste.

I found it interesting that Georgia is on the same longitude as Napa and Tuscany, of which may explain some of the interesting characteristics in this red varietal.

I am sitting finishing my last drops of this most interesting and delightful wine and hoping that 2010 will bring more recognition to this great Georgian region.

Happy New Year.

Great Hamburgers

2009-03-05T20:33:00.000-08:00

I love hamburgers. I like them plain, or gourmet. The other day I received an advertisement from Red Robin to come and taste their new "Burnin Love Burger". The description on their flyer read, "season with cayenne pepper and pile high with fried jalapenos, pepper jack cheese, and homemade salsa, ( all though I think they could leave out the word "home" and just said salsa.), but non the less I was game for trying this spicy burger.

I have had several of Red Robin's gourmet burgers and I have to say the "Burnin Love Burger" left me feeling not so hot. This is one burger that I would not consider to be Red Robin's best. I think that I will stick to their Bayou burger, Five Alarm burger, or their Blue Ribbon burger.

CHRISTMAS ESCAROLE

2009-01-08T21:28:00.000-08:00

Most know that escarole is a member of the endive family and in it's simplest form it makes a great salad, but for my husband's family on Christmas Eve it is taken to a whole new level. The escarole is cleaned and cut into bite size pieces then put into a large pot of boiling water and cooked for 30 min. After draining the escarole it is then placed in a pillow case or a thin tea towel and squeezed until the majority of the water is out. Then olive oil is added, chopped anchovies, chopped purple Greek olives, chopped green Italian olive, ( I like the olives stuffed with cloves of garlic) raisins, pepper, then wrapping the mixture into a pizza dough like a calzone it is cooked on a griddle until browned on both sides. Yum Yum! The family not only enjoys escarole on Christmas Eve, but they taste even better on Christmas morning.