Christmas 2013

My best-laid plans to get the Christmas letter written early this year were, not surprisingly, not realized and again I write this on Christmas Eve, at the last minute, and online even here on my blog. Wow, have I really devolved to this? I suppose I have but here we go: a recap of 2013.

My biking year started off slowly as I was still recovering from my permanent ostomy surgery from last fall and wasn't cleared to get back on the bike until late January and even then, my belly was still quite sore and tender and wasn't really keen on doing anything that required contracting those abs. Even so, I've ridden just shy of 3,200 miles so far which, while short of my goal of 3,700 miles, is still a respectable showing. I purchased a new TT (time trial) bike this spring and have ridden the wheels off of it, reaching new PRs (personal records) on many of my rides and improving my performance dramatically. Plus, it's been a helluva lot of fun.

I didn't get to physically ride in the Fuller Center Bicycle Adventure this year but set my yearly goal of 3,700 miles in an attempt to "virtually" ride the same distance as the cross-country riders. However, I was able to participate in a different charity ride this past November: the Smart Ride, a two-day, 170 mile ride from Miami to Key West to support HIV/AIDS organizations that provide education, awareness, and support. And I was able to do the ride with nine of my local bike friends and we made a vacation of it. The ride was fabulous and the week in Key West wasn't bad either.

My three furry children are doing well. Tigger had a scare this summer when he became quite anemic and required a blood transfusion all due to fleas. But after a day and a half (and a $3,000 emergency vet bill!), he's as good as new. Eeyore has developed a skin rash but is otherwise fine. And Roo is so far unaffected by any crazy ailments and is doing just fine. They certainly do keep me entertained and are wonderful companions for an aging, crazy, cat lady.

I also was able to do some Sandy recovery work as part of the Fuller Center for Housing's Millard Fuller Legacy Build in Atlantic City NJ. The amount of work to do there is immense and while we did a lot of good work, I can't help but feel we hardly made a dent in it. Just like the Gulf Coast after Katrina, it's going to take a lot of time and effort to rebuild the homes, families, and communities.

And speaking of the Fuller Center, in 2014, I will be partnering with it in a unique way: we'll be having a blitz build in June to celebrate my (gasp!) 50th birthday. All are invited to help build, sponsor, or otherwise support the build. I've got to raise $50,000 to build this house in partnership with a wonderful young family. More details can be found here: Toolie's 50th Birthday Blitz Build

For this holiday season, I finally did two things I've wanted to do for as long as I can remember: see the Radio City Christmas Spectacular and buy some diamond stud earrings. It was snowing like crazy and windy in the City that day, but it was the most fun I've had there in a long time. I can't believe I waited so long to do it. And we also got to see Jersey Boys too!

Well, that's about it. For all who celebrated Hanukkah, I hope you had a festival full of light, gelt, dreidel games, and tasty latkes. I wish for each of you a merry Christmas and a wonderful, healthy, happy, and safe new year.

Love Karen, Eeyore, Tigger, and Roo (and my bikes: Shiksa, Ruby, RW, Candy, Freddy, and Harry)