Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Rough and easy, smooth and hard

This weekend started out with feathers and sparkles - as it should! - and moved into big 'taches - as it should! I've just realised this post sounds a bit porn-y - which it's not!

New Orleans party  in the Oakland hills - slipping mask made me look a bit demonic


 '65 Galaxy leads the parade...

Saturday night we popped into a New Orleans party, another school fundraiser. What a great idea - they'd hired a unicyclist and trumpeteers and led by the King and Queen in their yellow cadillac, the whole fandangle swayed around the block for a couple of hours, briefly stopping in at various friendly homes to freshen their drinks.  Everyone shook their feathers and swung their beads and drank of their coloured goblets. This would be a fun every-Friday night thing with the neighbours, no?

*That same night, our friend held his 50th birthday at Vamp, a funky, funky record store and party space tucked away in Oakland near Lake Merritt.

Vamp owner Fernando spinnin'  


Our friend used to sport a splendid moustache when he was an actor ...these days he works in computers. There was a rocket ship to sip in while the DJ spun (is that how you say it?) everything from Cleo Laine (doobedoobedo) to Satchmo...
Vamp
*Big news next day: we realised Teddy, our  2.5lb Maltese puppy, can climb up the stairs. I haven't been that proud since my last child took his first step. Actually I'm prouder, because for short-arse Teddy our stairs are like us ascending Kilimanjaro. (and yes I realise this launches me from my former "dogs? meh"" to fully-fledged Mad Dog Lady.)

Teddy mounts his Kilimanjaro

*How's the cycle "training " for our South of France ride going? Not good. I took off for an hour ride and nearly four hours later was very, very lost on the island of Alameda.  Turns out my bike has electronic gears - you press the rough button to get the easy gears and the smooth button for the harder gears. I always have to repeat instructions to myself (people hate doing ski clinics with me as I call "dive for danger!" all the time). It was a perky me who called out "Rough and slow! Smooth and hard!" as I started. Three hours later, it was a weary, lip wobbling "rough and smooth.... slow and slow..."

"How did it go?" my husband Kevin asked when I finally returned home.
"I can't go up hills" I replied "and it's scary for me coming down...do you think that'll be a problem?"
I could see by his face this was a "Does my bum look big in this?" question (which by the way he answers these days with a "Your first instincts are right on this.")
"Kind of" he replied "We'll be following some of the Tour de France route."

The Tour de France route Image 


Oh bugger.

52 comments:

  1. Jody- Love the puppy. My kids are begging for one and I hope if we get one I can make your transformation to mad dog woman, too...

    Loretta

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  2. Jody your school sounds like they do some fun things. The party at the record store sounds like a blast too. You bare always doing fun things and I love to read about it all.

    That little Teddy is precious. Good for you for trying to do the bike thing. I don't think I could. I fall off on my way to pick up the kids from school!

    Have a good week!

    Kim

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  3. What a great theme for a fundraiser - love your mask! Your staircase is fabulous, by the way. And, love your new banner - so fun!

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  4. You go to some crazy fun parties!!! I can see how Teddy is challenged by the stairs. He's soooo tiny but very darling.

    Keep working on those gears so you are fully prepared (me thinks the south of France is hilly) for what sounds like an awesome trip which we will, hopefully, hear about upon your return.

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  5. Your weekend parties look like a blast! Gotta enjoy life... and so nice to see you doing it.

    My Frenchie can manage to go up the stairs... but down is a whole different ballgame. Lil guy will forever be carried. But his cute little bunny butt is worth hauling around!

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  6. You certainly attend the best parties around! I love the photo of Teddy on the stairs! Good luck with the bicycle training:)
    ~Anne

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  7. Hanging out at the front of our house that night, we heard your parade music off in the distance, and Charlotte said, "It sounds like a parade!" and I thought she was off her rocker. Turns out she was right, when we saw the whole gang walking past our house. It was very exciting for us to see. Wish that happened more often :)

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  8. Wow! I want to go to these parties they sound fabulous!

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  9. Oh this post makes me miss my party days and younger ways...I actually lived in Lake Meritt the year before I moved back to LA, such a sweet neighborhood. I have no doubt you'll be in stellar shape before your trip. How long do you have?

    xo Mary Jo

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  10. Welcome to the world of mad dog ladies. We are so glad to have you!

    And really, this bike thing is stressing ME out for YOU! Can't you just rent a pedi-cab for entire trip?! ; )

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    Replies
    1. MIL, welcome to the blog. Pedi-cab sounds fab, will they do a pedi-cure while they're at it?

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  11. Umm, that last comment was really me. My secret blog and alias are driving me bananas! Shhh - don't tell.

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  12. Encantadoras imagenes...

    Un saludo muy afectuoso.

    Manoli

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  13. Your social life is so Impressive! And I just ADORE your little dog!

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  14. Um... yeah- hills (up and/or down) would be an issue for me too. That's why I must stick (for now) with the stationary bike... but kudos to you for getting out there and doing it!!

    And on an entirely different note, thank you so very much for your nice comment today on Alexis' blog. It seriously made my day. On my way back over there to jump in on the {virtual} discussion! :)

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  15. That's a great idea for a school fundraiser. It beats the pants off "White Elephants" or Barbies, or even "Fayres". Mind you in our wee school, I doubt that they'd go for it, but our Year 11s could probably strip that lovely '65 Galaxy down to its component parts in less than 30 minutes.

    Electric gears on a bike?

    Impressed.

    What happens if your half way up Bagnères-de-Luchon and your battery runs flat, or your brakes go halfway down?

    Best of luck. Take a good first aid kit, plenty of Health Insurance and I would also recommend your own personal defibrillator and oxygen supply.

    You just can't be too careful these days.

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    Replies
    1. Battery yes, just realised that, taking another. Yet one more thing to keep powered in

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  16. Always think of France and practice your French while riding the bicycle-describe what you are feeling, the view of where you are passing through, and French cuisine and different chocolates-the ride will be a song.

    It's sweet after a long effort.

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  17. You are CARZY to go on such a bike tour. The only bike you'll ever see me on is one of these big black Dutch ones with extra padding on the saddle :-) Good luck!!

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  18. Jody you will be spectacular in France....up hill and down dale in great outfits with a smile on your face doing miles and miles everyday. That is the plan right? Only kidding..it will be fine.ps dog is so cuuuuuuuute.

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  19. Looks fantastic!! Love that car, so fab!! xx

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  20. Jody, you know how to have fun. :) And I am sure you will be in great shape for your Tour de France.
    Ada

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  21. Oh my goodness what a big challenge on the bike riding! I agree you seem to go to the best parties!!

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  22. Your husbands comments are funny ~ these days you have to be careful what questions ya ask! I'm with you, those up hills ventures are brutal to the back side.

    Teddy is too cute training to climb that mountain of steps and great pics of the fund raiser!

    leslie

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  23. I like your party outfit. Good luck on cycling!

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  24. I wish our school fundraisers were as exciting as yours - I might have to move to Oakland.......

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  25. Wowee, I love your outfit, I am really not getting out enough. I have just bought a ridiculous, non lifestyle friendly feathered jacket - oh yeah that will be great for the supermarket.

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    Replies
    1. There is a designer in New Zealand who makes feather jackets - love them

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  26. Hey! I love the new header!
    Good luck with the training, I'm sure it'll all come together!

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  27. LOVELY POST:) I really like your blog and I want to follow, do you have twitter or FB??

    If you want some swedish decor inspiration, you can check out my blog:)
    Have a great week.

    LOVE Maria at inredningsvis.se
    (Sweden)

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  28. Wow, Tour de France!! So impressive! I like that you attend fundraising parties!! You looked amazing!Love your mask!

    xoxoxo

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  29. I LOVE your school fund raising parties. They're way cooler than our boring as fart here (shh...hope no one I know is reading my comment). You brave woman! My hubby is a tour de France enthusiast. He loves cycling with a passion. I'd much rather get strapped into 100 roller coaster rides than zoom down on my speed bike downhill.

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  30. You all have some great parties. I don't know if I've told you or not, but your little dog is precious. Enjoy your training.

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  31. can't go uphills... scary coming down... very funny!

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  32. Everybody's weekend should feature a big 'tache somewhere along the lines...!

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  33. well done Teddy!!! :D

    I like this whole go-around-with-the-candilac-and-visit-friends-houses-for-drinks thing!!! hehehehhehe

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  34. Life is one long party huh? Seriously impressed with your stamina. Party stamina that is (I come out in hives if I have to be too sociable too many times per month/year...)

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  35. Lovely pictures! I especially love the mask! NoLa is one of my favorite places to visit. xo style, she wrote

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    Replies
    1. Still haven't been there but I have the mask when I do!

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  36. I really wish that I could be your friend and come to all of those fabulous parties! You sure know how to live life, Jody :) xoxo

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    Replies
    1. And I envy you going off to the beach every weekend!

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  37. we sit on the grass in jeans and eat chicken BBQ for our fund raisers...we eat a lot of chicken BBQ because every fundraiser does the same thing!!
    fun pictures and life...good for you!

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    1. I would do well there - love chicken on the barby!

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  38. I want to come and live with you. I'm willing to crack the whip and help you train for your bike ride...rough, smooth, fast, slow...yeah I can do that. In return, can I attend your fundraisers? I could grow a tache.

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    1. Trish, you are always welcome here, in fact I'd love to turf out of our annoying unpaying lodgers and have you to stay anytime - tache and all.

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  39. Replies
    1. Thanks Melissa, now I need to find somewhere else to wear it!

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  40. Welcome to the Mad Dog-Lady Club...

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  41. The mask is beautiful and looks so glamorous with your dress which looks like it has just the right amount of sparkle!
    http://missbbobochic.blogspot.co.uk/

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