Mis Historias

Happy 2009!! Goodbye 2008

2009-01-01T11:04:00.000-08:00

So this year we decided to stay home & chill.
After talking to my sister I invited her over to dinner & welcomed the New Year together, here is Angelique sporting her 2009 memorabilia. Happy to be awake at midnight eating candy & ice cream & running around screaming & making noise!

December went just as fast as November & for that matter the rest of 2008. We went to the

Dawn to Dusk race & ended up being 7th over all in the Co-ed Duo teams. I had a great time, it was nice & sunny & cool. No rain!! yeii for that.
Two weeks later we went to the San Tan trails, we had not been there before & found that there are a lot of new trails. It was pretty fun, except for one very long stretch on a wash that seemed to take forever!
We were able to take a couple of pics with Jeff's new camera gift card from Target, pretty cool!

We didn't want to do to much for Christmas this year so we decided to spend it at home, My Mami ( Happy 55th B-day!!) ended up coming over & had dinner with us. Lamb roast, Sweet Potatoes Al Gratin, Asparagus with garlic & butter, Salad with olive oil dressing, & some fresh biscuits. We had a lot to eat & then some! Oh yeah we also made Pumpkin Pie(2), which we just finished a couple of days ago.

Here area couple more pics from our New Years celebration, I got a picture of all the girls,
however somehow the boys didn't make it in to any pictures, really Sergio, Llello, Scotty & Michael were also here, we played Cranuim & Apples to Apples all night, Had a really great dinner & went to sleep at about 5:00 Am.

Today I've been dragging my feet & will finally get out for a short ride, Jeff is already out diligently following his training plan, Thanks Art!

This year I found out if I ride more I can actually get a little faster & stronger, now I have to
work on consistency as Jeff likes to remind me. I got a promotion at work & don't have to work weekends any more, yeiii! I went to New York for the first time in my life & was there for about an hour....Went to 2 weddings, welcomed a new niece (Yvette), Got a "new" road bike (lender), didn't loose the 10lbs I wanted, but also didn't gain any so I'll take that as even. Found out my Mom doesn't like sushi. I have a crazy, dysfunctional family that drives me nutz, but then again so do many other people.
I am very thankful to have such a wonderful Husband, I love him dearly & look forward to spending many more years together!!

November 2008

2008-12-31T10:36:00.000-08:00

November flew by, I blinked & here we are December 31st 2008, last day of this great 2008 year.

I got to spend some time with friends & visit the place where we met, Aunt Chilada's! We had some good Mexican food & a couple really good Margaritas, Yummy!
A few days later I flew to New York to help my little sister drive back to Arizona....This was not necessarily a fun trip, but it was memorable. I was very excited, but after 3 hours on the plane I realized I still had 2 more hours to go, this was the longest flight I've been on so far so it was pretty boring, all by myself..The good thing is that there was no one sitting by me so I had 3 seats to myself! Look at the positives, right?

I got to JFK at about 5:00 pm Eastern time & started driving at about 5:45. Manhattan is an interesting place, specially trying to drive at the end of rush hour, on a Friday night, in a
place you've never been before....Where everyone & their mother loves to ride the horn for no reason whatsoever than to make noise or get on your nerves. Friendly place!
What made it even better is that Maribel didn't fill up the fuel tank earlier so we had to stop & try to find a gas station.
It was very cool to drive over the Brooklyn Bridge & see the skyline at night.
I was a little freaked out but everything worked & we made it New Cumberland Pennsylvania that night & started driving the next morning again.
My poor nephew was stuck in his car seat for what I'm sure seemed an eternity. At first I believe he was having fun but after 2 days he was a very unhappy 18 month old. I'm sorry little Angel!!
On Saturday November 22nd we drove thru the rest of PA, Ohio, a tiny part of West Virginia, Indiana, Illinois & arrived at St. Louis Missouri at about 10 pm. Spend the night outside of St Louis. This part of the drive was kind of ok, we drove thru some snow but mostly it was clear skies & cold, cold & did I say cold weather? We stopped at so many gas stations & ate so much fast food that I was ready to get home & cook!
On the 3rd day, Sunday November 23rd, we drove the rest of Missouri, Oklahoma, Pan handle of Texas & made it to Albuquerque New Mexico. This seemed like a really, really, really long & boring drive. Wait it didn't seem like it, it actually was!!
I was hoping to make it back to Phoenix that night but since I was the only one who could see well enough to drive at night & we were very tired I decided to spend the night in Albuquerque. Next day we made it thru the last part of New Mexico & as soon as we hit Arizona I felt like I was home!
We made it back just in time to get Thanksgiving dinner ready!!

Me & my charming..he, he Husband had a great time cooking a big Thanksgiving dinner for my family. We had a great big turkey, mashed papas, green beans in butter & garlic, yucca (yummy), mushroom stuffing, corn, salad & for dessert empanadas de coco.
Some good wine & lots of kids running around!! Thanks you, Mom, Ruth, Sergio, Maribel, Angelique, Angel, Marleen & Yvette, for spending this Thanksgiving at our home!

We also had a special guest show up to make it a memorable night. Our Good friend the Turkey live and in person!

He made an appearance after dinner during play time & scared the ***** out of Marleen (not shown in picture). Yvette who is in her Mommy's arms was very happy indeed & immediately wanted to taste the Turkey.
Marleen (almost 2 yrs old) however looked like she had just seen a giant Turkey saying hello!....I guess this might be scary to a little toddler. Who would have thought!

Stay tuned for the Dawn to Dusk recap, as seen from my eyes!

Dust Devil #3 White Tanks

2008-11-17T09:37:00.000-08:00

On Saturday 11/15 was the 3rd race of the 2008 Dust Devil Series. We got up pretty early to make it in time for Jeff & I to warm up....right!
This is the only one of the 3 that Jeff was able to race in. We had a really good time. He raced Pro I beginner & we both got 1st place. Yeiii!!!

After wards we went over to Estrella Mountain Cyclery to use our Gift certificates from the race. They were generous enough to had out certificates to all the race winners. I ended up with a really nice pair riding shorts, short enough that I don't get a tan line down at my knees! I also got a camelback bottle & Jeff got some socks.....I think I got the better end of the deal!
Next Race Dawn to Dusk at Pemberton!! cant wait!

McDowell Dust Devil

2008-11-12T09:11:00.000-08:00

On 11/1/08 the 2nd race of the Dust Devil series took place, we left with plenty of time to be there by 8:45 so I could warm up & race at about 9:30....well that didn't work out!

First we had to spot & get Gas, 5 minutes not too bad, then the 101 north was closed at Warner & then we got stuck on Price road with the rest of the traffic. I'm glad to say we made it to the race on time....

time enough to register put on my shoes & hop on the bike to start the race!!!

One of the riders I never saw again, another

passed me on the sport/tech loop. Then another rider passed me on the long loop. After the first lap I warmed up so I was able to keep the last rider who passed me within sight & passed her at the end of the long loop. I started to slack off a little on the last sport/tech loop but was able to pick it up a notch.

(I'm on the far right of the picture....)

I finished 1st in my age group(20-29) there were no overall results but I came in 3rd (I counted).

According to Jeff & Art I'm not podium ready yet because they were not able to get a good picture of me up there......I just think we need better photographers, he,he

Now I'm looking forward to the 3rd race coming up this weekend 11/15 at White Tanks.

10/25

2008-11-12T08:55:00.000-08:00

On 10/25 I went to pre-ride McDowell, the 2nd Dust Devil race was set for 11/1.

I got to ride with Wendy & kendra who are awesome to ride with.

It was still pretty hot but we had a really good time. Don't we look pretty in Pink??

That night I got together with the girls, at our "Girls night in" get together. We've been setting a date once a month to just get together, eat some good food, drink some good drinks & just catch up on our busy lives. In October we decided to go with a Halloween theme & carved pumpkins!! It sounds easier than it is, specially after a couple of beers! But most of us got thru it & survived, unfortunately my pumpkin didn't, it was way hot that week so I had to get rid of it a couple days later :(

April with her masterpiece, too bad I moved the camera, the dog with a bone was a real spectacle!

Busy, busy...

2008-10-14T22:04:00.000-07:00

I don't take that long to post!!!.....well maybe a little, since I notice it's been about 2 months, sorry coyote!
Anyhow, I've been very busy working & watching TV & riding my bike, plus the computer was acting up so it was way too frustrating to try & write, but today seems like a good day.
I have been trying to ride more & get into shape, this last weekend 10/11/08 I got to race again after not racing in about a year. Estrella mountain is fun I like the challenge, even if I have to walk a few parts. Mom went to see the race which was cool...thanks Mami! & got to be worried about her little girl crashing! Really it was not bad just a little jarring. I got to meet some nice ladies & hope they keep racing, it's always more fun when you have competition. I ended up getting 2nd overall & 1st in my age group, but best of all is I did my fastest lap to date, yes even with a crash! It's just nice to see results after having to ride inside the house all summer on a trainer...mostly because I don't like getting up at 4am or 5 or even 6. Now that the weather has turned I'm in heaven!!!Sunday 10/12/08 was Columbus day!! Feliz dia de la Raza...& happy anniversary to me & Jeff. Yes we've been married a year already, this year just flew by, it seems just yesterday I was making wedding arrangements! We had a wonderful time, I was told not to make any plans, so I didn't, but at about noon when my hubby informed me he was going on a 3 hour road ride I thought I was getting jipped. However being the understanding wife that I am....I didn't complain & even went for a short recovery ride myself. Later I was informed to be ready by 5pm to go out for dinner & a night out, we went to Maria Maria, a restaurant owned by Carlos Santana by Tempe town lake, It was very delicious & interesting, an enchilada sauce with pumpkin???Yummy! Afterwards we got lost for a while trying to find the Celebrity theater & when we finally got there the next surprise was that Jaguares was playing.....it took me back to my high school days...very cool. Tomorrow I turn 28, not doing much just working, but over the weekend we'll be going to Sushi Eye with my sister & brother-in-law. & of course we'll get some riding in.
Well that's it for now, next race is the 1st weekend in November!! Cant wait! : )

Feliz sin cuenta, digo cincuenta

2008-08-04T21:55:00.000-07:00

Feliz Cumpleaños!!!!!

El Cinco de Julio nos juntamos para celebrar el medio siglo de vida de mi Tia Lupita!!

Lo mejor fue que era fiesta sorpresa.....aunque creo que lla se la imaginaba..

The theme for the day was Lila, Tia Lupita's favorite color.

Aqui esta una foto de "las muchachas", Mami, Tia Mirta, Tia Lupita, Tia Fely, Y Tia Chuyita, De joven a mas jovencita,

Mami junto con mi Nana Ofelia y Tata Manuel, igual de jovenes que siempre.

Tambien tome el tiempo de tomar una foto con mi Tia Lupita, siempre nos han dicho que nos parecemos mucho, yo creo por los cachetes, por que de hecho no es por la estatura o lo morena!

A La hora del Pastel la vela no se queria mantener prendida para que Tia la pudiera soplar, pero nos divertimos mucho viendola tratar.

Las niñas bailaron toda la noche,

La nueva generacion es mucho mas moderna como pueden ver en el corte de pelo de Nico

Flagstaff

2008-07-05T09:28:00.000-07:00

On June 27th I went along with my Honey to Flagstaff AZ. He was in a road race I was along for the ride, good thing we had a road bike to take along with me complements of James, thanks!!

On Saturday we went for a pre-ride, then on Sunday while the race was going on I went for a ride as well,I took a couple of pics just to have some actual documentation of the event, since I hadn't been on the bike for a while.

It was beautiful, nice weather maybe 80 degrees, nice blue sky, lake on one side & lots of pine trees on the other.

I Also took a picture of some of the women riders who were flying by as I was getting ready to turn around.

adventures in June

2008-06-16T10:56:00.000-07:00

Recently we had a chance to re-introduce 2 of our friends to bikes....Alma & Chris, they were very excited & seemed to have a good time, we rode about 14 miles!!

I'm sure they will be sore for a few days, the worst part about not riding a bike in so long is your tush really resents it!
here's a pic of me & Salmas

& her husband Chris, courtesy of the greatest photographer out there, Don Jeffrey Herrera

Later on that week we went to Minnesota for Beto's wedding, we got a chance to visit with friends & family even if it was for about a second.

But first Jeff took me to Afton for a pre-ride since he was also able to squeeze a race into the itinerary

As we were starting the ride it was rainy & windy the the rain stopped & sun came out so we came across a little snake sunning itself in the middle of the road I stopped to say hi but it didn't seem to like the company too much so before Jeff had a heart attack at having the snake so close I decided to leave it alone!

Later that day we made it to St. Cloud for rehearsal at a beautiful church.

Heres a pic of the newly wedded Mr. & Mrs. Roberto Madrigual,

Congratulations Jenni & Beto the ceremony was beautiful & we had a great time at the reception.

With Friends

&

Family

Next day we went to Afton for the race I spent my time enjoying the great weather & making sure I stayed hydrated.

Now we are back in Maricopa just in time for the 100+ degree temperature, I love it! At least that's what I have to tell myself so I can survive the next three months!

Happy New Year....in May

2008-05-29T10:22:00.000-07:00

Happy New Year 2008......yeah a little late into the new year here already at the end of May, I dont know what is with me & computers, I think it's a great idea to keep a blog & let friends & family know whats going on in your life but it takes time to sit & write....better late than never, right? Our New Year started out great we shared it with family..top picture, my sister Ruth, her husband Sergio, nephews yeyo, Scotty, Michael, Angelique who barely made it into the picture & Marleen who was somewhere eating a plant..really

& with neighbors, Lincoln & Jenna who are great to hang around with & wonderful neighbors, the also recently got married so congrats!!

So far weve been very busy with work & races, we've done a lot of driving as seen above, my love likes to take pictures of me barely awake & driving....just kidding!

Jeff's been racing semi-pro & has done awesome!! He recently Finished the Arizona state series in second place, yeiii!, he has the recaps on all the races in his blog so I wont go into it too much, I've been riding my bike on and off this year, specially since someone who shall remain nameless, has been cannibalizing my bike to keep racing...but I plan to race the Dust Devil series this fall & do the AZ State series next year..

Whats funny is that we've taken a whole lot of pictures this year but now looking back I'm barely in any of them so I'm putting pictures of my nieces & nephews...

This is Angel, we got to spend Easter with him and Marleen who is in the picture below, shes a funny little baby...

However, she recently got knocked off the "baby" throne, since her baby sister was born, Yvette, April fools, she was born 4/1/08, what a great birthday almost as good as Cinco de Mayo, he,he...

In a week and a half we'll be in Minnesota attending a good friends wedding, & at the end of June we'll be in Park City Utah for guess what a National race...those are very cool cause we get to see all the pros & dream....I'll try not to take so long in posting on the blog, till next time,

Norma : )

2007 in 12...17 pictures

2008-01-06T20:29:00.000-08:00

1/06/07 la primera y uniqua carrera(del estado) del año en la que competi!! Fuen en Papago park en Tempe AZ, me encanta andar en bici, y acompañar a mi lindo esposo pero me dan muchos nervios competir,haci que e decidido al menos por un tiempo no competir, aunque de todos modos son muy buenos recuerdos!!
si tuve oportunidad de competir en otra pero fue mas bien por divertirme!
Este mes tambien decidimos la fecha de la boda Y tres dias despues Jeff tuvo un accidente en bicicleta con un carro.

En Febrero me llevaron a ver un juego de futbol, Mexico Vs USA, 2/7/07........viva verde, blanco y colorado!! Jeff recupero muy pronto, por dicha y seguimos con los preparativos de la boda!

En Marzo encontramos la nuestra casa, foto en blanco y negro como las peliculas de amor!!
Tambien decidimos el lugar que fuen en Sancutary Golf Course.

La

primera noche oficial en la casa nueva!!4/18/2007

Happy 5 de Mayo!!! I mean Happy Birthday!
En mayo tambien empese a buscar mi vestido de novia.

I'm the king of the World!!

On the way back from Zion National park we stopped at a lookout point for some much needed stretching!
6/18/07

One of the first few rides we took around bautiful Maricopa in the middle of the great July Heat of Arizona 7/22/07

Black Canyon Colorado after the Snow Mass National race 8/12/07

En Septiembre mientras que yo me volvia loca con los preparativos de la boda, A jeff lo mandaron a Salt Lake City Utah "a trabajar" claro que tuvo oportunidad de ver un juego!

Angelique felt like a princess with so much attention on our wedding day, 10/12/07, Tia Tita doing her makeup & mommy her hair! I was feeling pretty special my self too!! Oh Yeah & happy B-day to me too, 23 already !!J/k :)

November we introduced a new rider to mountain biking! hopefully we can really get him going!
Scotty with Jeff riding behind him on the road bike at White Tanks Park.

December was an awsome month with a great race in the rain, mud, wind & cold, dosent it sound like fun? we also spend our first X-mas in our new home & as an newly married couple, I am truly thankful for a wonderful year and am looking forward to a new one!

Our New Home!!

2007-05-18T08:01:00.000-07:00

We just got our home and are very excited....we will be moving in by the end of May probably Memorial weekend!!!

It's down in Maricopa AZ..Got lot's of friends that live down there so we're pretty excited.

I'm having trouble putting pics up...but I'll put themup very soon!

First Night Ride

2007-03-19T09:46:00.001-07:00

I've been extremely scared of even the thought of going for a night ride, every time Jeff mentioned it I would tense up & my stomach makes a little flip, but I decided to give it a try anyway! We had just gotten back fro the Old Pueblo race & since we had some really nice lights that his team mates let him borrow I decided what better time than now? specially since we were giving back the lights soon & I'm not sure when we'll be getting such nice lights ourselves.

The night was actually a little chilly I think when we got back home we found out it was high 40's...like I said chilly, and it was really cloudy & windy and we even had a little rain....but we still went. I had a blast!!!! It was really different, but exhilarating. We went up Pima Canyon took a couple of pictures

Tadda!!!

I know I look like an alien, but I was warm! then we decided to go onto dessert classic but Jeff got too cold since we were going at my pace.....which specially at night is really, really slow...

So we went back home before his toes turned to little ice cubes and I was very happy with my first experience riding in the night.

That was until the second time we went which was about a month later.

we finished dinner at about 9 pm and decided it was a perfect night it was in the cool 70's no rain no wind and we still had one set of the "good" lights, it was going to be a "short" ride so we didn't charge the lights all the way....there's the first mistake!

We rode about 5 miles I felt very confident so I told Mi Amor we could keep going after a couple of more miles e asked me again if I was dong OK, and I said yeah we might as well finish the loop it's only a couple of more miles, so we did however on the way back before a steep downhill all of a sudden my lights were not so bright. but I said sure I can make it plus this is the last "steep" downhill.....made it down except I couldn't see the Little bump at the bottom of it and I ended up on the ground. Scabbed my left knee for the what is it now? tenth time? about that I guess.

I love it though it's a challenge and I'm not backing down, yet.....he,he

24 Hours in The Old Pueblo

2007-02-20T11:16:00.000-08:00

So this last weekend February 17th & 18th was the log awaited for 24 hour endurance race. In which Jeff was racing & I was supporting, but I think it was as much an endurance race for me as it was for him. We got everything ready made lists, bought everything we needed. Jeff left on Friday morning I worked from 1:30-10:00 PM then went to pick up my two lovely well behaved nephews that I love so much, Scott (9) and Michael (7). They currently are living with their Dad all the way over in Surprise, Arizona (about 45 miles away from me). I left everything ready and was able to finally go to bed around 2:00 AM. I had told Mi Amor that I would leave around 5:00 AM but when the phone rang at 6:00 AM I knew I was going to be late....thank you Ruthy for giving me the wake up call!!!! Finally at around 6:20 AM Mami, Scotty, Michael and I were able to get going and only had to make one stop at the gas station because I forgot the canned food (the race had a food drive for the Tri-Community Food Bank) to get into the camp site.
We got to the wonderfully set campsite, Jeff put up the Gazebo a HUGE tent, tables, chairs, bikes & arranged all the food so that we were able to get there and make breakfast so that Jeff could be ready to start. We still ended up falling a little behind but were in plenty of time for my love to start. They got started by running to their bikes from a mass start about 400 yards away. An hour and fifteen minutes later I was able to see Jeff again after waiting for him by the trail for 20 min with Michael by my side. Kiss, switch camelbacks, switch accelerate bottles, gel container, dixie cups with food, kiss and off he goes again 2 minutes later. We repeated that routine 5 times in the next 9 hours. The tuff part was having to go back to the campsite and also make lunch/dinner/snacks for Mom and the kids, also find time to go ride the bike and hike up the hill. The good thing is that each time I had to go Meet Jeff the kids went with me too so they felt like part of the action.

At around 1:00 AM everyone was asleep and Jeff was so cold and worn out that he fell a sleep on a chair, he finally decided to lay down and maybe slept for about two hours but we were both so worried that we would sleep too long that I don't think we rested that much. I lubed up his trek (he decided not to use the Giant anymore after two flats on the one lap that he rode it) he got going again I was able to semi-function for the next two laps although I didn't go out and meet him, since we missed each other once already in the night! He would come to the campsite & we would refuel there, once the sun came out I had to lay down and slept for a couple of hours. Made breakfast and then got ready to meet my very tired Fiancé at the finish line.

I had Michael at on point about 1/4 mile away from the finish line with a camera, Scotty at the bottom of a rocky decent both armed with cameras & I was a little ways down the trail ready to take pictures of the big finish. We had walkie talkies and a plan to meet right after Jeff went by, good plan right?? Except for the part were the boys get into an argument over the walkie-talkie and one runs away! So even though Jeff had just finished his race we spent the next half hour riding all over the campsite of about 10,000 people looking for Scotty..........who ended up having made his way back to our campsite since the beginning but was scared of being in trouble so hid behind some rocks........and yeah he IS still alive to tell the tale. I just keep telling myself I love my nephews, I love my nephews!
Jeff got 17th out of more than a hundred riders, I am extremely proud of him, he is my hero....I'm even thinking of trying to do one....maybe......we'll see....but I do have a volunteer to help out in case I do decide to try it out. Scotty & Michael were already mapping out how they would help me & Jeff on the race we are doing together.
I had a great time, I was happy to support the love of my life and be able to spend time with my family. Not the most relaxing weekend but it was well worth it!!

Until later,
Norma

Welcome!!

2007-01-28T15:09:00.000-08:00

I'm very excited about his blog, Jeff signed me up for one and even though I'm not sure if anyone will actually read it at least you can all come in here every once in a while and get updated on new happenings.

We've finalized our date (yes finally) it will be Friday October 12th 2007. Very, very excited to be Mrs. Herrera. he,he..

Unfortunately we've had some bad news in with the good, Mi Amor had a bad accident on his bike on Thursday January 24th, he is home recovering but it was a very big scare. You guys can look up his blog, he recounted the whole thing no need for me to go into it, except to say that I am very thankful, it could have been much worse, will this put a damper on our love for biking? I think not just a minor set back. In fact we are already planning the 24hr in Old Pueblo race down in Tucson, I won't be racing but will be the pit crue for my love.

I've been very lazy this past couple of month's haven't been training much, but it's been so cold!! Yes cold, here in Phoenix AZ...I'm a dessert girl I'm used to 70 degree weather in December not 40. I have not cold-weather gear and yes 40 degrees is cold, I guess I will have to prepare better for next year, specially after eating 2 dozen tamales during Christmas.

I am really looking forward to training now that it's above 50 degrees and will think about competing in the MBAA races. last years Dust Devil series were lots of fun, so hopefully this year I'll be able to do better, at least beat last years times.

I'll keep writting every couple of weeks and give my side of races & postings on our wedding!