I suppose you’re wondering about my ‘breath-taking’ photo? Its from the Twin Cities Bicycling Club (TCBC) annual Halloween Ride. Not only did I embarrass myself in front of my friends, I rode my bike all over town looking like this! I was "Doris – the blind date from Hell." I passed out copies of my ‘personal ad’ hoping for new prospects. Here’s my ad, including the ‘read between the lines’ explanations:

Doris – the blind date from Hell

SWF (so far, everything is true) 30’s (OK, a hellava lot closer to 40, but it makes me appear younger than I am), educated (Hooked on Phonics grad), career-oriented (23 years as Walgreens clerk), gourmet cook (expert at "defrost and microwave"), homeowner (apartments won’t take my 11 cats), family values (I still live with my mother), classic beauty (Bride of Frankenstein was a "classic", right?), athletic (former member of East German swim team). Enjoys children (I have 7, each by a different father), moonlight walks (I’m much better looking in low light), movies (I live vicariously through others), travel (last year I visited Fargo AND Iowa), bicycling (I still ride the Schwinn Varsity I got in Jr. High), quiet nights at home (I have no friends). Seeks soul mate (yeah, right) 18-59 (I’m too desperate to eliminate any possibilities) for romantic dinners (at REALLY expensive restaurants and you pay), world travel (of course, YOU pay), and long-term relationship (anyone who goes out with me more than once qualifies).

Strange… I never got any new dates???

The year started off badly with a new round of back problems. Weeks of doctors, chiropractors, physical and massage therapists, plus really good painkillers brought it back under control. Its been behaving well lately, as long as I stay in the zone between ‘too much’ and ‘too little’ exercise. Oh, but aging is fun.

As a result, my bicycling was not as extensive (or should we say excessive-compulsive?) this year. In June, we held "Fox Lake Follies XVIII – Eat to Ride, Ride to Eat" at Mom’s cabin near Brainerd, where we biked the 70 mi. Tour of Lakes. Later that month, I joined TCBC for Weekend on Wheels (WOW) in River Falls, WI. In July, about 30 cyclists from the Twin Cites joined the Bicycle Tour of Colorado: a week of riding 440 miles up and down the Rockies with 100° + heat the first two days. Do I know how to have fun, or what? In October, I spent a weekend mountain biking in the Chequamegon National Forest in WI. What incredible riding!

What else have I been doing to keep myself amused this year? I attended my Minnetonka HS 20 year class reunion in July. Did I mention that aging is fun? Mom had family get-togethers at her cabin for both the Olson’s and the Hansen’s in August.

I’m in my tenth year of singing with the City of Lakes Chorus. In April, we performed at the Sweet Adelines regional competition in Grand Forks. In November, at international competition in Nashville, we won the silver medal! Let me tell you, its quite an experience to sing and dance in front of 10,000 fellow musicians… not to mention 8 judges plus live video on a 25 ft. screen.

Also in November, I got three new housemates: Kathy plus two fluffy and fun-loving cats, Linus & Lucy. As Kathy’s also a crazed cyclist, it brings our household bike total up to seven!

Thankfully, the stock market has rebounded and I’m still on track for Odyssey 2000 (O2K). I’ve decided to keep my townhome and find some way to handle the payments while I’m off biking around the world and receiving no income for a year. When I first signed up for the trip in ’95, it seemed so far away… not anymore! I’ve already made extensive lists of all that needs doing in the next 54 weeks. I’m starting to get very excited… ‘terrified’ is still few months off.

May you all have a terrific 1999. I plan to send out a letter next December just before I embark on the "Bike Ride of the Millennium!" Happy Holidays!

Valerie