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The "Life is good and I'm happy" thread

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The "Life is good and I'm happy" thread

Old 09-22-11, 11:26 AM
  #26  
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+1 from me as well, and I can already feel the pendulum starting to swing back to more rational territory.

And to add to the positive vibes, I'll report that I had a great time at an 'underground criterium' practice race Tuesday night, and, as of this morning, I am no longer still trying to hack up a lung from the exertion. Mornings are now almost chilly, and hopefully soon the highs won't reach triple digits. Looking forward to fall, a great time of year here.
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Old 09-22-11, 11:39 AM
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Life here is good and I'm happy. My wife is also happy which always makes life better.
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Old 09-22-11, 02:28 PM
  #28  
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Hmmm.... I'm not so sure about all this happiness. Where's the drama? Where's the conflict? Where are the spelling and grammar corrections?

Guess I'll have to browse the 41
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Old 09-22-11, 06:27 PM
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Thanks for starting this thread, Shifty.

Life is great. After a very long stay (almost one and one-half years) with its father, my tandem is back and rolling. There's nothing like a nice long ride on the old tandem to raise me up.
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Old 09-22-11, 06:31 PM
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Originally Posted by JamieElenbaas
Hmmm.... I'm not so sure about all this happiness. Where's the drama? Where's the conflict? Where are the spelling and grammar corrections?

Guess I'll have to browse the 41
I hear ya!!

Just like to throw this out there in a positive tone.

In all groups, you got "stuff shirts", you got "loose cannons" and you got "in betweeners" and "all sorts".

The thing is, we all enjoy bikes. Hence this is BF. Now, when conversations of "loose cannons", is not liked by "stuff shirts", conversations of "stuff shirts" is not liked by "loose cannons" no problem, IMO, we all got a right to contribute. If it doesn't go along with one's grain, then so be it, no big deal. I noticed a lot of crankiness snuck in on me as the years went by. And I know I am a piece of work. But, I know it!

When something doesn't rub me right (gotta be real way out to do that too), I know how to turn the page and turn the channel. Life is too short to get my panties ruffled over what somebody said on the internet!

Well, it is plain to see, I am not a "stuff shirt"..

We ain't passing this way but one time, and from what I hear, we ain't coming back this way again(at least with two legs). That is the way I look it at, and "life" is a gift, a super special and very precious gift.

Life is dam sweet!
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Old 09-22-11, 06:34 PM
  #31  
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Originally Posted by SaiKaiTai
Right now, life is not good and I am not happy. But at least I can ride and try to forget for a while.
When you think things are BAD, that is the time to count your BLESSINGS!!
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Old 09-22-11, 07:17 PM
  #32  
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My blessings make much too long a list to record here, but among them are:
1. the health to keep the wheels spinning
2. the senses to enjoy the times I am in the saddle
3. friends, some I've never met, that have the same interest and continue to inspire me and keep me smiling and counting those many blessings.

Thank you friends.
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Old 09-22-11, 07:28 PM
  #33  
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Given all the possible alternatives, I'll gladly embrace the life I have...
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Old 09-22-11, 07:43 PM
  #34  
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I can honestly say that the past 7 years of medical hell truly SUCKED. Cycling, both road and MTB have pulled me back into great health and for that I am TRULY GRATEFUL!! Life at times can still suck but my time on a bike never sux!! It lifts my bad tude off my back and clears my mind. Living in a cycling paradise also helps!!

The news talks about a second recession. WTF? We're still in the one from 2008! Despite it all time on bike helps me get through it.
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Old 09-22-11, 09:59 PM
  #35  
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David Benatur's [U]Better Never to Have Been for a differnt take on life.
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Old 09-22-11, 11:43 PM
  #36  
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Originally Posted by oldster
The key is, if you dont find yourself listed in the obits, when you read the paper, all is well...
Bud
for the longest time, when I googled my name the top story was about my horribly mangled body being found in an agricultural field in California.
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Old 09-23-11, 05:39 AM
  #37  
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Life is wonderful! Living with Leukemia, every time I wake up I know it's going to be a great day. It's going to get even better starting in November as I am retiring for the second and last time on October 29th.
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Old 09-23-11, 12:00 PM
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Originally Posted by John_V
Life is wonderful! Living with Leukemia, every time I wake up I know it's going to be a great day. It's going to get even better starting in November as I am retiring for the second and last time on October 29th.
Almost twenty years ago my father-in-law had a business with about a hundred employees. One of them was a man in his late thirties who went from burning the candle at both ends to barely able to get out of bed. This change happened over just a few weeks. He had developed a very aggressive form of leukemia. The good people at Stanford did all they could for him and he was sent home with a dismal prognosis. He went golfing with my F.I.L. on a rainy, windy afternoon. The other golfers moaned and complained about the weather. His only comment was that it was wonderful to be out golfing again.

Every day can be a great day. It's all between the ears.
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Old 09-23-11, 12:18 PM
  #39  
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Originally Posted by TheHen
Almost twenty years ago my father-in-law had a business with about a hundred employees. One of them was a man in his late thirties who went from burning the candle at both ends to barely able to get out of bed. This change happened over just a few weeks. He had developed a very aggressive form of leukemia. The good people at Stanford did all they could for him and he was sent home with a dismal prognosis. He went golfing with my F.I.L. on a rainy, windy afternoon. The other golfers moaned and complained about the weather. His only comment was that it was wonderful to be out golfing again.

Every day can be a great day. It's all between the ears.
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Old 09-23-11, 03:04 PM
  #40  
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I think it is great that those thorny bushes have roses. Reject the view that the rose bushes have thorns.
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Old 09-23-11, 03:32 PM
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In the spirit of the thread --

Friends have just left after an evening of laughing and eating.

I did a steady 45 miles this morning (our weekend), with the spouse and friends for half of them, then pushing a bit harder on my own for the second half. Swung by the fish and veggie market at the end of the ride, bought 3 sea bass still in a bucket of brine, 30 minutes fresh, had them cleaned while I bought melon, cucumber, dill, rocket, lettuce, spuds - pedalled back with bags from the bars

Shower, into work as I thought a couple of things needed attention, happy to find they didn't.

Back, nap, cook. Salad of melon, rocket, lettuce, small vine tomatoes, goats cheese, olive oil and raspberry vinegar. Prepping and listening to Hugh Laurie's blues record. Sea bass, extra cleaning, drying, salting, on a foil sheet with a bit of olive oil, some shallot cushions, lemon slices in slashes and half lemons in the voids, stuff with dill, sealed in foil parcels. Make spud mash with butter and sea salt. Roast carrots and red peppers and leeks. Baked apple cake.

Bottles of fizz. Lots of laughter. Opening foil parcels, one fish between 2, funny confusion and steam. Much enjoyment. 10,000 Maniacs playing in the background.

These are the days that should happen to you. Cheers, all
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Old 09-23-11, 11:19 PM
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Attitude = Thinking and acting on What Is, not What Isn't + Finding something, anything, positive in the situation.
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Old 09-24-11, 10:48 AM
  #43  
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Originally Posted by unterhausen
for the longest time, when I googled my name the top story was about my horribly mangled body being found in an agricultural field in California.
So... Did it hurt much? You appear to be doing well in spite of it and do seem to get around.
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Old 09-24-11, 01:57 PM
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Originally Posted by SaiKaiTai
Right now, life is not good and I am not happy. But at least I can ride and try to forget for a while.

Been there except I couldn't and still can't ride. Previously pain was a reminder either that I was alive or that I needed to do something, now, until this. This Pain was a devouring monster that took all the light out of life. Along with that was the imposition I was placing on those around me to care for me because I couldn't care for myself.

I found some comfort and happiness in their comments and seeing the expressions on their faces. They were happy to be serving. Then I saw others who were far worse off than me. It reminded me to pay attention to What Is rather than What Isn't. Didn't change my situation or my need for meds. It did change my mental status.

Not a lecture. Not a sermon. Not a chastisement. Not even a life lesson. Just a testimony that you are not alone and what worked for me.
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Old 09-24-11, 08:04 PM
  #45  
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TheMister and I rode the 78-mile City to Shore MS Ride today. This breaks my personal record for distance, and puts my first metric century under my belt! It was a great ride--no rain, cool temperatures, no flats. Additionally, in a ride of over 7,000 people I ran into Bike Forum member WillB!
Until today I wasn't sure I could ride that far but was able to prove to myself I could.
The crowds of people lining the streets near the finish line, some in wheelchairs, ringing cowbells and cheering as the riders pass, is moving and makes me realize that life truly is good!
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Old 09-24-11, 08:19 PM
  #46  
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Originally Posted by miss kenton
TheMister and I rode the 78-mile City to Shore MS Ride today. This breaks my personal record for distance, and puts my first metric century under my belt! It was a great ride--no rain, cool temperatures, no flats. Additionally, in a ride of over 7,000 people I ran into Bike Forum member WillB!
Until today I wasn't sure I could ride that far but was able to prove to myself I could.
The crowds of people lining the streets near the finish line, some in wheelchairs, ringing cowbells and cheering as the riders pass, is moving and makes me realize that life truly is good!
Congratulations! Its great to ride with the spouse, isnt it? My wife an I ride together too; we are working on getting her mileage up. Currently 15 to 20 miles is within her range. But a century is on our future agenda!

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Old 09-24-11, 08:35 PM
  #47  
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Originally Posted by teachme
Congratulations! Its great to ride with the spouse, isnt it? My wife an I ride together too; we are working on getting her mileage up. Currently 15 to 20 miles is within her range. But a century is on our future agenda!
Thanks! You can tell your wife that her new Lexa will serve her well in getting her mileage up. I rode mine for the 78 miles, and the bike and I worked well together! I have a better bike, but I like the Lexa more.
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Old 09-24-11, 11:03 PM
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Today was an especially good day since my buddy and I finalized our cycling trip to France. We're decent climbers so we're going to try Col de la Croix, Col du Telegraphe, Galibier, Ventoux, and Alpe d'Huez. Not all in one day, of course. Definitely a bucket list vacation. He's 64 and I'm 62. I haven't been so excited about a vacation in a long time.
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Old 09-24-11, 11:54 PM
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Last night my daughter celebrated her 25. Birthday. She announced some time ago that she would like to invite family and friends to a concert and sing Schubert's Schwanengesang (14 lieder) . She has been in a church choir since she was small but is absolutely not a professional singer and has never done anything like this before so I was very worried that she had taken on way too much. She has learned the whole set by heart and pulled it off in a great way. Another highlight of the evening was when an american tenor working at the Norwegian Opera sang Bernsteins Maria (her name) as his gift to her.
My 22 year old son was there very much in love with his first "serious " girlfriend. It is a great gift to see your children make lives they are happy with.
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Old 09-25-11, 05:36 AM
  #50  
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This has been a great week.
- a two day trip to Morehead, KY with my sister and aunt to dig in my cousin's garden
- a ten mile bike ride with friends
- I plan to attend a fall festival in a nearby town today and enjoy this beautiful fall weather
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