Requesting tower fly by

So I'm home now from McVanagons maiden voyage. From the beginning people have asked:

And young lady what are you going to do when your bus breaks down?

Well, I guess I'll just climb into the back and make some pancakes till AAA arrives.

No AAA pancakes this trip. Crested Butte really is a fantastic spot. It made me miss the cool mountain air of Winter Park. This will be my first summer boiling in the desert, so it's nice to know that there is an oasis just a bus put put away. Molly and I got some play time in before the drive out. 706, Lost Lake trail (really not that hard to find the lake), and then looped up to Dollar Lake to the pass. But the hype is right, anything out there is good, as long as your out there doing it. The flowers are in bloom, as well as every bug known to mankind. There was actually a buzzing in the air.

Something bit the top of my foot during the night tree run, so my

lefty is swollen up like a hobbit. The benadril was packed for that very reason, but taking off in anything other then flip flips was less then entertaining. Speaking of entertainment, you know that scene in Dirty Dancing where they are learning the Cha cha on the log over the river? Yea well here is me failing miserably at the reenactment. Two three cha cha chaaaaaaaahhh!

We pulled into GJ with not the fastest time ever, but there was a sweet downhill tailwind at one point where Beck pulled another sweet 70. I was dumb enough to take my hands off the flying breadbox to snap picture proof. And of course no trip is complete without a Hummer getting the bird. Double whammy coming from a bus. Now there is about 4 loads of laundry to do, and 3 showers to get the dirt/sunscreen/bugspray layers off. Cheers to Molly and her shoe eating pup Abby for being brave enough to take the first trip with me....the shirt speaks truth.

Can't get much cooler then Pink Glasses

Would I dare?

Well the Crested Butte parade was everything I could hope for and pink doggie glasses. Here are some of my favorite floats from the parade.....


Bikes jumping fire, couch pulling on skis and the accordion playing, beer drinking dads who wanted to see boobies. I don't think that there is much that can keep you out of the CB parade....I can just see those three guys explaining to the parade director.....'Well, I can play the accordion...and Jim here can play the guitar.....Billy is going to let us borrow his truck, so he wants to ride in the back with us and look at boobies'.

Sounds good boys your in. Good times.

Beck McVanagon served up his first hot cooked meal of Steak and scallops with a side of asparagus for the 4th. Yum. Then we hiked up to watch the fireworks....which I actually didn't get to see due to a doggie panic attack.

I know, there is going to be a lot of talk about the bus, so your either going to have to get used to it or start visiting another site. There is one more day to put up with me and Crested Butte pictures, and a whole lot more of me telling you how awesome of a time we had, and how sweet my bus is. I'll be back to my crazy life soon enough where I am trying to postpone dealing with.....well I'll tell you about it later. Happy trails everyone!

6 hours strong

2 Passes.
Slowest speed 15mph
Fastest speed 72mph
5 hours (after picking up Molly on I70).
Dirt road taking us in.
Great Views.
4 Wheeling to the camp spot.
Smelly Dog.


What a sweet ride. Molly and I sat up last night and watched a DVD on my laptop, I woke up at 6 and ran around with the dogs, only to be greeted by Sativa covered in Elk shit. Ummm. It is impossible to fit a dog underneath the sink in the bus to wash her off. So I used up all of the water to soak her down and drove into town. Turns out there is a parade at 11. We keep looking at each other saying.....'Ya know really, I could stay till Friday.......or longer.'
This place is awesome.

Madness. Pure utter madness

REI sales are the best. Liz and I had great plans on being there at 7:30 for opening. We got there just before 8 and there was a line. Ok, so we go to stand in line. Turns out they open at 10. Crazy bastards waiting in line two hours, we opted for breakfast
At 9:30 I went back as Liz rushed home for work. I promised her that I would hold a spot in line for her so that she could get a tent and two sleeping pads. These people were INSANE. Swear to god, you would have thought that they were giving things away for free. The lady in green was going up to everyone asking them what they had there eye on....she wanted a camping stove and a tent and let everyone know it. She would even point to the one she wanted. When she asked me, I told her I was just driving by and saw a line........ so I thought maybe I should go stand in it. The people next to me laughed but she didn't think I was funny.Don't need a tent, got a bus to sleep in, don't need a stove, got a stove in the bus, so you can cross me off of the list of people to trample over on the way in. Like clockwork at 10 people bum rushed the gate. Liz got her tent and pads and I waked around with that lady's stove (afterall she couldn't grab the tent and the stove at the same time). No I'm just kidding I didn't do that....thought about it though. Just a few odds and ends for my trip this coming week. Going someplace I haven't been before....I hear it's epic...and there is a holy grail, which hopefully means that there is wine. Oh that reminds me I need to get wine goblets for the bus.
Happy weekend everybody.

Holy crap batman.
http://msn.foxsports.com/cycling/story/5732336

Not as earthy as I thought

I'm up this morning in my usual morning attire, cut off sweat pants, tank top, my favorite Totally Wired coffee/bike shop hoodie. Not to be left out is the craziness that we know as my muppet hair, pressed back into a very stylish headband all the while letting the ends poke out like a porcupine ready to fire. My phone rings. It's early, must be mom. Nope. It's the dentist office downstairs. They have someone coming in to spray for the bugs. 'What bugs?'
Oh we have cockroaches downstairs.
Sweet, like I needed to know that.

Before I can even protest pesticide spraying in my house there is a knock on my door. I hang up. Open the door. There is a guy in a Budweiser t-shirt holding a green tank and a metal spray hose. Instantly the King of The Hill song pops in my head.
(I look out to the parking lot....Please let me see a giant roach on the top of a van please! Nah, just a Honda civic with the company logo on the side. Damn)
'This will only take a moment'

"Whoa there big man, hold on. What are you spraying downstairs, is it harmful my dog, and I think I'll pass on it being sprayed in my apartment. I'm against the whole chemicals flying around my apartment thing." (meanwhile my fearless attach dog is wiggling like a jello shooter holding her Eyore doll in her mouth) I look down at her and shake my head, she better be high on the fumes for this kind of behavior.

He looks confused. After all it is 8 am and my coffee intake is peaking and the above sentence came out really fast along with the black woman 'stop' hand held out in front of me. The visual of me and my muppet hair is a total bonus.
(suddenly I'm not the only one on the porch on a coffee buzz.)

'Um, Ok, Where do I even start with this. First, It is not harmful to pets, it's a (blah diddy blah blah ) combination of chemicals. If you are completely against spraying I understand, but I can tell you first hand that if I don't spray the roaches will migrate to the area that has not been protected. Regardless if you have seen them before now. I'm sure you'll be fine living with roaches.

'Ok then, Please come in.'

Beck McVanagon

Liz nods her head approvingly.

Beck McVanagon



Cookie and I spent this morning getting plates and registration for Beck McVanagon. We even got the Colorado Collectors Plates.










We spent more time sitting under a tree at Sears waiting for the Bus tune up, then we did in line for registration.
At least the view was nice and it wasn't too hot. I had to snap a picture of the Sears guys riding around on the tractors. There were 2 of them racing when I first walked out, but I think I made them nervous taking pictures so the racing came to a halt after the first go time. (the john deer won) I had a lot of time on my hands and thought about test driving one myself, but the racing would just have been too tempting.

Wish You Were Here

I have to admit, since the burning of Pearl, I have been a little gun shy about jumping back into the bus hunt. But who would could have seen the rowdy Scotsman just a few blocks away looking to sell his bus and take his bride to California? Luckily one of the regulars at the brew pub saw it and came to find me. Good call. I owe that sweet lady a beer.

I bought him this morning. (This is a boy bus) He hasn't told me his name yet.

I was so nervous and excited all at once that I made Liz walk over with me. Then it took me about 20 minutes to figure out where reverse was.....Oh I see you have to push DOwn! Gotcha Note how this bus is NOT on fire.

The bus even came with a six pack of beer in the fridge.

Wish you were here!

Something is brewing.......................

Around 8 o clock it cools off a bit and I've finally started crawling out onto the rooftop to watch the sunset. (I've been saying that I want to do that since February.) I can see into everyone's backyard.....Which means everyone can see into my kitchen. Hum. Knowing that I'll think twice before I dance on the kitchen table.....Again.

It's so bloody hot here that I am debating shaving the dog. Any thoughts on this?

Ninja pup lurks on waters edge. Come closer duckies come closer....

Oh the tangled web I weave....

Seriously. How is it that you are still single? (a question I heard twice yesterday, once in the shower, and then again in the beer garden at the farmers market)
As I'm holding a drink, hair pulled back in a head band because the muppet look was a little out of control after the heat of the day. A tank top with something spilled down the front of it, hiking shorts, and sock monkey flip flops. ( I laugh at myself, I am dangerously good looking)

'Seriously Amanda'

'How did a conversation go from my psychiatrist to my twisted love life?'

"Well why is it that you will only date men who you know aren't available to be there for you?'

(looking around) "I think that we should roll a couch out here and I should start paying YOU $95 an hour to analyze my craziness"

"The extra money would be nice......"

(a beer glass and a wine glass tap in cheers)

'You could have a different clientele out here each night. Look, there is a drunk girl over there crying, she could be next on the couch.'

'See, she's TOO emotional, as opposed to YOUR fear of being emotionally available. Aren't your feelings hurt?'

'Yea. Thursday nights could be a group session. I could be in the group with her. I bet I have a lot to learn about letting my emotions out from the hiccuping girl who randomly sobs to her gin and tonic'.

Night of Jazz

A day filled with lawyers, anxiety, Dr. Appointments, a new psychiatrist, and an aching hip, promptly was followed by a night amongst the grapevines and a little jazz band. Liz's grandmother (who coincidently holds jedi status) cooked up a storm for 10 of us to feast off of. The vineyard provided the wine. Being the skinniest one there I made off with the leftovers. Sweet. (I'm terribly thin you know.) See Liz and Jedi Grandmother below.....
The jazz was terrific. A little string trio that drove around in a red schoolbus that runs solely on Vegetable oil. Aggghhhh, the sweet smell of french fries....
Looks like things started to get blurry as the night went on. Yes. I know. Double fisting wine at a vineyard.
Thats the kind of classy girl I am. Dont you judge me.

Where am I?

As if the Jeep wasn't ghetto enough

With the back door that doesn't open.....The hatch that doesn't open.....The drivers side window control being the ONLY working control's for the entire car.....The AC/Heat only works when it's on HIGH......... The gold rims......

now we can add a busted up drivers side mirror to the list. For the low LOW price of $66 at the dealership. Damn kids and their baseball bats.

We are soooo ghetto, and apparently live in one too.

His advice

Don't go snipe hunting in your underwear. (he said)

(I was 9 and on my way to my first summer at 4-H camp.)

I wasn't sure what a snipe was....or why I would be hunting it, but I took his advice very seriously and promised I wouldn't. And I never have.

Looking back on it, that was some great advice.

Happy Fathers day Pop

Searching for enlightenment

After a long day at work, where I was still trying to shake off the funk, I managed to haul my little butt to the bikram yoga class. As I lay on the mat in the 99, soon to be 103 degree room, for some very odd reason......

Instead of enlightenment.....I got a serious case of church giggles.

You know the kind. Something simple sets it off at a completely inappropriate time.

Like I was 10 and looked over in the pew to see Tiffany crossing her eyes, and a WAVE of uncontrollable belly giggles hit me. Not even mom smacking us on the knees telling us 'I will drop you pants right here and now in front of god and everyone if you don't get it under control young lady'. (**that actually would make the giggles worse, envisioning mom spanking Tiff and I, in the middle of the isle, as god himself was turned around, shaking his head in disappointment from the front row**)

Or the outdoor Beaufort wedding where Drew (who was the brother of my date) got me threatened by various family members of his to stop the church giggles. That one was justified. Please. Between the drunk preacher and the dog howling from his forced entrapment under the above ground pool.
The priest said:
'God made Adam..(long pause)..And after a while Adam got lonely, (more long pause followed by a drunken sway) Adam looked around at all of gods creatures finding none of them quite suitable enough as a wife'. My eyes got big and I looked over at Drew looking for support, and right on cue that dog belted out a howl of sure pain.

Come on. Who wouldn't loose it at that?

So back to yoga. I'm in my usual spot in between the freakishly strong 50 year old woman, and the hairy man, whom I'm sure is the missing link.. And there I went. Full blown church giggles between the circus freaks.
Im searching, sweating out pounds of water, positive that enlightenment is bound to be in there somewhere, all the while holding in the church giggles with every position change. Try doing that for 55 minutes. It was great core strengthening.

I guess I must have sweat out The Funk.

The funk is going around

Well , the weather has cooled off, and I'm still looking for any excuse to be a bum. Just in a funk I guess. Maybe it's the disappointment of Pearl catching ablaze....Maybe it's the sinking feeling I got when I mailed off the fathers day box for dad. I'm so far away.
Either way, it was a day spent cleaning and weeding, laundry and dishes, cooking and the Simpsons.
Is calling in 'the funk' to work excusable?