OF COURSE I participated in this and I tried to get my fellow team members to as well... but yeah only I did it. I left my house about 9:20am...would have been a tad earlier at 9am but the neighbor and I chatted about my bike ride season so no biggie but I was slightly delayed.
Most of the ride to work is ok, a little hilly but manageable... but hot hot hot outside it was. This was my first time this season biking in the heat. The last mile to work is the killer though biking up the semi steep semi long road to work but 7 miles later, hot as fire, feeling dehydrated I made it to work at 9:56am. After an orange juice I was feeling oh so much better! I worked from 10am until 7:21pm. The dumb truck was 2 hours late so it really held me up. I still had to leave before it left because I needed to get home before dark. The ride home was easier. Maybe because I was trying to rush to get the kids, maybe because it was cooler, maybe because I had an oj with me? My chain popped going up the biggest hill of my ride home but I easily fixed it gulped some oj and continued on. I got home in record time.. 31 minutes! I was amused the only rude driver had a bike rack on the back of their van... really man? You should know pedestrian/biking rules and kill the rudeness and attitude. All in all a great ride I'd love to repeat several times this summer. by Bethany Sykes on Sat, May 28, 2011 @ 1:47 AM
Monday, May 30, 2011
Biking with Bikes Unlimited
Bikin Percival's Island
Overlooking the James River
In Flip Flops of course
I participated in the other bike shop in towns biking activity for Nat'l Biking Week. They recently moved their shop downtown beside the bike trails. Their deal was on Tuesday free bike rental from 12-1. I started a few minutes late because the stinkin LONG train I couldn't cross over to the trails. So I went to the trails and quickly realized biking alone is boring so I took an excessive amount of pictures to entertain myself. I timed myself somewhat on one mile and it wasn't good timing but just over 6 minutes for a mile in the rain not too crabby. OF COURSE it would be sprinkling most my ride at Blackwater Creek Trails--- until it poured my last mile. Of course I then treated myself to the Olive Garden- my fav Minestrone Soup (free refills!) and Fettuccine Alfredo until it was time to pick up the kids from school. I couldn't do Wed bike week activities as hubs is out of town on business and I have the kids. by Bethany Sykes on Sat, May 28, 2011 @ 1:26 AM
Friday, May 27, 2011
Rootbeer Ride
National Bike Riding Week
I participated did you? I was hoping to get 4 riding days in, but with my husband out of state working, and being a full time manager and mom- 3 days is all I could squeeze in but was happy with my 35 miles for the week, not to repeat it this week could be more than challenging! by Bethany Sykes on Sun, May 22, 2011 @ 10:07 PM
Rootbeer Ride 5/16/11
So I worked my shift 9am- just after 5pm. Then I changed clothes to bike in. I was going to do the "Rootbeer Ride" with the local bike shop. I was going to start 1 block closer to our destination (Sonic) and I decided to start 20 minutes early.l YES it is steadily raining but NOT storming-- there IS a difference. I figured a lil rain never hurt anyone right? WRONG I was the ONLY Rootbeer Rider. I waited at sonic sipping my rootbeer float for 1/2 an hour waiting on the other riders. I was afraid I would be out of shape and would need the head start because I didn't wanna embarrass myself in-front of these good bikers that lil amateur me would be sooooo far behind or slowing anyone down. I was beyond soaked. I didn't overly enjoy the splashing of cars and was wishing I had windshield wipers- haha. However, it was refreshing, a great ride and a good confidence boost that I easily did my first 10miler of 2011! I got back to BK and packed my bike into the van and picked up my lil beggars!
All in all it was a great ride, successful and may I add tasty but a tad disappointing the other riders are apparently allergic to rain- luckily I am not as I did not melt!
by Bethany Sykes on Mon, May 23, 2011 @ 9:40 PM
Leaving from My BK
Arrived safely, although wet, at Sonnic
Enjoying my Rootbeer Float
Thursday, April 28, 2011
MAY 2011: Meet Paula
MEET PAULA... REGULAR PEOPLE ARE EFFECTED
Paula is a local business owner here in Lynchburg, VA. She started Paula's Answering Service about five years ago. In October of last year she finally tied the knot with her now husband Troy after 10 plus years together. She is a hand-on dedicated and loyal daughter, wife, step mom, sister, friend, very proud aunt to RyLee who is five, hard and talented worker. I would say she is an everyday person, but I find her to be exceptional. The better I get to know her, and the more I learn about her the more proud I am to call her a close friend of mine. Her strength shines through and she continue to have positive attitude day in and day out.
DIAGNOSIS
Although formally diagnosed 8 years ago, Paula has been having symptoms in which an easy answer was no where in sight for about 15 years. She experienced unexplained numbness and would be very dizzy, "dizzy like never before, not like a roller coaster dizzy, like I can't see anything..... dizzy---it was terrible!", Paula remembers.
EMOTIONAL SIDE OF MS
Paula told me "I talk angry some times but I'm really not. I get frustrated because I can't run anymore, or skip, or play on the playground with my n, but then I have to think that I am so much luckier than others. I also have a relationship with God and I feel he will guide me in my path as well. I guess we are all just lucky to be walking around, breathing, living and enjoying what God gave us. I could get real depressed, give up, think my life is over, all the jazz, no need! Weather you believe in God, Buddha, Aliens, Allah....what ever...we are living for a reason and a purpose. If it takes a life time to figure it out I want that opportunity!" Although she was dealt MS in her life's hand of cards she has chosen to put on her boxing gloves and give it a good fight. She is nearly always in a positive up beat manner when see her, although I am sure at times she puts up her guard and the positiveness can be just a front. But she has a power and strength and desire to over come this disease and impresses me every time I see her. In the back of my head I know Paula has MS, but in our friendship over the last several years I just know her as Paula, the loyal friend, dedicated wife, great step mom, strong business woman, hard worker, and sweet lady with a great sense of family importance (she especially adores her five year old niece) and good sense of humor whom I am lucky to have as a close personal friend.
IN honor of Paula, and other MS victims like her, will you please consider making a donation to the National MS Society. I am specifically asking you support our bike team as we raise awareness about MS, and raise funds to find a cure and erase MS. If you are able to donate please visit our MS 150 bike ride page
We are riding in a 150 mile bicycle ride to raise awareness and funds for those struggling with MS. Thank you for your financial support as well as for your thoughts and prayers for us as we train for this bike ride and for those struggling each day with MS.
Paula is a local business owner here in Lynchburg, VA. She started Paula's Answering Service about five years ago. In October of last year she finally tied the knot with her now husband Troy after 10 plus years together. She is a hand-on dedicated and loyal daughter, wife, step mom, sister, friend, very proud aunt to RyLee who is five, hard and talented worker. I would say she is an everyday person, but I find her to be exceptional. The better I get to know her, and the more I learn about her the more proud I am to call her a close friend of mine. Her strength shines through and she continue to have positive attitude day in and day out.
DIAGNOSIS
Although formally diagnosed 8 years ago, Paula has been having symptoms in which an easy answer was no where in sight for about 15 years. She experienced unexplained numbness and would be very dizzy, "dizzy like never before, not like a roller coaster dizzy, like I can't see anything..... dizzy---it was terrible!", Paula remembers.
Eight years ago she was formally diagnosed with Relapsing/Remitting Multiple Sclerosis after an episode of numbness in her chest and hands, blurry vision and staying dizzy convinced her this was serious. Her primary care doctor got her in with a neurologist. She had to endure the non-stop numbness, blurry vision and dizziness for two weeks until her appointment. She was thinking maybe she had diabetes or something, and when she got the diagnosis of MS she went for a 2nd opinion at University of VA Hospital, had an MRI and it was confirmed.
Her doctor then told her to "expect about 100 different things. MS is a one of a kind disease....no two people have the same symptoms, they can be very similar and we can relate, however, some live there whole life with minimal problems, others are in wheel chairs, crutches, in the bed, some have terrible symptoms for months even years and then one morning they wake up and they are gone."
POST DIAGNOSIS
On one side you could be doing great no extreme symptoms and one morning you wake up and can't walk. During the time she was searching for answers and until her 1st diagnosis she was having a horrible time with symptoms, describing that two week wait as "torture". Luckily the symptoms all ceased for a while so after her original diagnosis she was not immediately put on any medications. However, BOOM one day all the symptoms came back without warning even worse and stronger than before. From that day on she has lived her life with medication. Thankful for being her, trusting in God and having an amazing support system in her family has been a huge blessing when dealing with MS.
SYMPTOMS
Paula's current symptoms are dizziness, leg cramps, poor eye sight, numbness, and heavy leg; She can't lift them sometimes, they drag That is what makes MS patients fall and hurt themselves. Cane's are good to use for balance, and Paula uses one on a daily basis. It helps her with balance and keeps MS from stealing anymore of her mobility and freedom from her.
MEDICATION
Paula take Avonex and has been on it for almost 5 years. She takes one shot once a week in the muscle. It is a two inch needle that hurts, stings, and gives you flue like symptoms for 24-48 hours each week. You feel like crap, don't want to do anything usually, some weeks are worse that others. You don't see the benefits of this medicine until later in your progression, months and years down the road. Since there is no cure for MS, the medicines have two main goals. First to ease the pain of the symptoms or to stop the symptoms (which does NOT stop the disease). Secondly it is designed to slow down the progression of your disease, prolonging your strength. Eventually MS takes your strength so the longer you have it, the more blessed you are. You have been given another day.
OTHER TREATMENTS
Paula takes a lot of vitamins and eats pretty good. I do not get sick often like colds, flu, stuff like that. I have a lot of pain in my legs and I never sleep much because of it. So, she takes pain medications and natural remedies like herbal medications.Her doctor then told her to "expect about 100 different things. MS is a one of a kind disease....no two people have the same symptoms, they can be very similar and we can relate, however, some live there whole life with minimal problems, others are in wheel chairs, crutches, in the bed, some have terrible symptoms for months even years and then one morning they wake up and they are gone."
POST DIAGNOSIS
On one side you could be doing great no extreme symptoms and one morning you wake up and can't walk. During the time she was searching for answers and until her 1st diagnosis she was having a horrible time with symptoms, describing that two week wait as "torture". Luckily the symptoms all ceased for a while so after her original diagnosis she was not immediately put on any medications. However, BOOM one day all the symptoms came back without warning even worse and stronger than before. From that day on she has lived her life with medication. Thankful for being her, trusting in God and having an amazing support system in her family has been a huge blessing when dealing with MS.
SYMPTOMS
Paula's current symptoms are dizziness, leg cramps, poor eye sight, numbness, and heavy leg; She can't lift them sometimes, they drag That is what makes MS patients fall and hurt themselves. Cane's are good to use for balance, and Paula uses one on a daily basis. It helps her with balance and keeps MS from stealing anymore of her mobility and freedom from her.
MEDICATION
Paula take Avonex and has been on it for almost 5 years. She takes one shot once a week in the muscle. It is a two inch needle that hurts, stings, and gives you flue like symptoms for 24-48 hours each week. You feel like crap, don't want to do anything usually, some weeks are worse that others. You don't see the benefits of this medicine until later in your progression, months and years down the road. Since there is no cure for MS, the medicines have two main goals. First to ease the pain of the symptoms or to stop the symptoms (which does NOT stop the disease). Secondly it is designed to slow down the progression of your disease, prolonging your strength. Eventually MS takes your strength so the longer you have it, the more blessed you are. You have been given another day.
OTHER TREATMENTS
EMOTIONAL SIDE OF MS
Paula told me "I talk angry some times but I'm really not. I get frustrated because I can't run anymore, or skip, or play on the playground with my n, but then I have to think that I am so much luckier than others. I also have a relationship with God and I feel he will guide me in my path as well. I guess we are all just lucky to be walking around, breathing, living and enjoying what God gave us. I could get real depressed, give up, think my life is over, all the jazz, no need! Weather you believe in God, Buddha, Aliens, Allah....what ever...we are living for a reason and a purpose. If it takes a life time to figure it out I want that opportunity!" Although she was dealt MS in her life's hand of cards she has chosen to put on her boxing gloves and give it a good fight. She is nearly always in a positive up beat manner when see her, although I am sure at times she puts up her guard and the positiveness can be just a front. But she has a power and strength and desire to over come this disease and impresses me every time I see her. In the back of my head I know Paula has MS, but in our friendship over the last several years I just know her as Paula, the loyal friend, dedicated wife, great step mom, strong business woman, hard worker, and sweet lady with a great sense of family importance (she especially adores her five year old niece) and good sense of humor whom I am lucky to have as a close personal friend.
IN honor of Paula, and other MS victims like her, will you please consider making a donation to the National MS Society. I am specifically asking you support our bike team as we raise awareness about MS, and raise funds to find a cure and erase MS. If you are able to donate please visit our MS 150 bike ride page
We are riding in a 150 mile bicycle ride to raise awareness and funds for those struggling with MS. Thank you for your financial support as well as for your thoughts and prayers for us as we train for this bike ride and for those struggling each day with MS.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
March Madness Continues...
In no particular order these were some of our March 2011 happenings in pictures
We went to Robin Alexander Bistro for Marko's 25th birthday where he enjoyed a Runts margarita
We exercised with Brandy and family... and Angela even found her mom--- a jail bird--- at the park...
Cute bathtime pics
Marko entertained by Brandy's bird
Went out to breakfast with Alexus and Joyce. Lexi was excited to wear her momma's purse.
Happy Saint Patrick's Day... with a rainbow colored tongue
Happy 20th Birthday to manager Josh
G hubs look miserable... hubs got embroidered business shirts that say "Thrive Information Technologies"
We went to Robin Alexander Bistro for Marko's 25th birthday where he enjoyed a Runts margarita
We exercised with Brandy and family... and Angela even found her mom--- a jail bird--- at the park...
Cute bathtime pics
Marko entertained by Brandy's bird
Went out to breakfast with Alexus and Joyce. Lexi was excited to wear her momma's purse.
Happy Saint Patrick's Day... with a rainbow colored tongue
Happy 20th Birthday to manager Josh
G hubs look miserable... hubs got embroidered business shirts that say "Thrive Information Technologies"
Birthday Party 2011...
Was a hit!! We had it where the kids got to summer camp and hired Balloon Dude Travis
. Even Ike the Toad got a special tractor balloon.
The boys had fun sword fighting, The girls liked the special heart wands. Poppy even got a rattlesnake.
The always amazing Paula was a fantabulous volunteer--- walking Target.
The cakes turned out good enough on a budget.
And although slightly bummed about a low turnout, thrilled about the wonderful close friends who did. Jayna really enjoyed meeting and playing with sweet Rylee.
Happy 7th Birthday Anthony
(playing catch up again)
Anthony kinda turned 7 on Feb. 28th. He was a lucky duck and it was a teacher work day so we had a family fun day.
It started at breakfast at our fav, Famous Anthony's
Then we played at Kid's Kove
Gramma gave him his FAV shirt
Then home and a relaxing evening of video games, tv and supper of Papa Johns and cup cakes
Anthony kinda turned 7 on Feb. 28th. He was a lucky duck and it was a teacher work day so we had a family fun day.
It started at breakfast at our fav, Famous Anthony's
Then we played at Kid's Kove
Gramma gave him his FAV shirt
Then home and a relaxing evening of video games, tv and supper of Papa Johns and cup cakes
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