My first blog

Okay, so Paul is absolutely amazing at blogging and has motivated me to begin...after 4 months in Beijing, maybe it's about time. I am at work so have to make it brief for now. At least I am getting started! It is rainy here today. I rode in with the Wingerters, Tricia, Chuck, Erika, and Christina. It took over an hour, which is unusual but the rain caused traffic just as in DC. I enjoyed the conversations as always :-). In addition, I enjoyed the break from riding my bike in. Especially after yesterday...my toughest ride yet. It started out great! I was feeling rested from the night before and had an easy going day at work. However, midway through the run, Chuck got frustrated with a car in the bike lane (a daily occurrence). He said "go ahead of me, I want to p*** this guy off and ride right in front of him". I said "sure thing" and smiled. I waited patiently for the light to turn green. Me with my blonde hair, surrounded by Chinese people, who btw, look at me like I have come from some alien planet. I can see the light counting down the other way 5...4...3...2...1. I hop up and start peddling, look to my left and see two cars, side-by-side Chinese style turning right towards me. I surge forward anyway...all of the sudden I feel myself being pushed to the right by some biker with a rider in the back on a rack; then some scooter guy comes up on the other side of me....BAM! He knocks me right over!!! I save my head by landing on my right side. I am dumbfounded. The rest of the bikers keep right on; as well as the man that knocked me over. Chuck pulls me up...and says "I have a med kit". Thank goodness he was a marine ;-). I was shaken and a little scraped up but okay and continued on.

So...as evident in my blog title, I am aiming to lose 20 pounds this year. I am determined and that means I will do it! I have been pretty good at keeping up with working out; but have been eating bad and enjoying some wine a little too often. I thought about posting my weight daily on the blog posts...but find it is too embarrassing! Maybe when I get down to 10 lbs away :-).

On another note, Devon has a cauliflower ear...we are not sure if it is from bug bites or something else. I just made him an appointment with the med office at 1pm. Otherwise, boys are doing great. I am so very proud of each of them. EEks...work is calling...ttfn! BTW, how do I write a blog without using a lot of "I" statements? I guess I will have to figure that one out?!?!