Solve the Mystery

Calling all biologists! Can you identify this skeletal remain that my little buddy, Sean, found on Topsail Beach yesterday?

Pilot Mountain

I'll complete the cycling blog trio with one last two-wheeled post. Please pardon the cell-phone quality of the above photo. I took it with sweaty hands yesterday afternoon atop Pilot Mountain after Craig and I climbed more than 1,000 ft in just over 2 miles to reach the summit. We started our ride more than 20 miles away at a great B&B in the historic community of Rockford, NC. We were up in Surry County to see our friend, Julie, host the opening of her photo exhibit at the Foothills Arts Council. Congrats, Julie!

Some People Have All the Luck

While I slaved away the day at work on Friday, Craig and his friend, Chris, were at Brasstown Bald in Georgia to watch the mountaintop finish of a stage of the Tour de Georgia. They got to see American Levi Leipheimer win the stage, with his Discovery Channel teammate Tom Danielson taking second. It was a great day for American cycling in the post-Lance era.

Craig and Chris' good fortune did not stop there. While on the mountain, they also got to meet Phil Liggett and Bob Roll, the TV voices of professional cycling. I tried unsuccessfully to meet them several times during Craig and my Tour de France adventure, but never had any luck. I suppose I'll just have to live vicariously through the guys.

Crossroads

At the intersection of Christian Light and Kipling Rds in Harnett County, just outside Raven Rock State Park, Bob & Nan's Citgo is both a physical and metaphorical crossroads. I desperately wished I had a camera with me when I was there yesterday to stop in for a Payday bar. (These photos from Google will have to suffice in setting the mood.)


I arrived on bicycle, along with my fellow spandex-clad companions, Craig, Will, and Chris. Just as we approached the store, a large group of camouflage-clad hunters arrived in search of their own fortifications. Suddenly the trash-talking, competitive men who took me on a much longer, harder ride than they had promised became quiet. It seems that men in tight shorts don't like to draw the attention of men in camo. In moments like these, I am even more thankful than usual to be a girl. :)

Miscellaneous

A few random thoughts...

... I am still laughing my tush off at the latest blog over at dooce.com. Be sure to watch the video all the way through - the scrolling text at the end is the best part.

... I have broken two bowls and one dish in the last week, all while preparing or serving Passover meals. My theory is that Jewish food is heavier than my normal fare - my messes included tons of apples and potatoes. Either that, or I'm just a clutz. Tough call.

... Other than a babysitting gig last night, Craig and I had a weekend devoid of any planned activities. I'm only now getting over the oddness of it.

... Speaking of Craig, skinny boy has now dropped a total of 28 lbs and likes to show me how he can pull size 34 pants down over his hips. Classy, eh?

Everybody Loves Moses

When I suggested to Craig that we invite our Gentile friends to join us for last night's Passover seder, I figured a handful of folks might be interested in a new cultural experience. Ha! I was pleasantly surprised when more than a dozen people showed up, all eager to participate. Fearful of losing their interest, we did a condensed version of the seder using a haggadah I downloaded from 30minuteseder.com - "the haggadah that blends brevity with tradition." It was a hit!

My favorite part of the evening? Watching a group of adults tear apart our living room - including lifting up our couch - while in search of the afikoman. Jon Stewart will be thrilled to learn we doubled the number of people who understand his "afikoman in a large house" joke. :)

I think I may have created a tradition!

[Thanks to Aaron Saarela for taking the seder plate photo.]