Hello Lovelies! Big hugs to all those who are returning from the 2010 Challenge and WELCOME hugs to the Newcomers.
There are five things I wanted to share with the Class. First, CYCLING of course. I finished out the year with a total of 2,025 miles on my bike and even rode in below freezing temperatures on 12/31. yay! And even though I awoke the morning of January 1st feeling like a truck had run me over and I did NOT want to go cycling(wait for it- here comes my FAVORITE EXPRESSION!),
I DID IT ANYWAY! This new year though, I want to be a little less concerned with miles and a little more concerned with heart rate. More hills, higher heart rates, more sweating--that's the goal now. I also need to work much harder to get the weight off because last year may have been my Year of the Cyclist; this is My Year to Become the Runner. I think about 1/2 of you here run and I'm chasing after you now to join your Elite Rank.

My first running goal is to start training using the Couch to 5K running program during the Week 12 Wild Card.
The second thing I wanted to share with you is further popping of the Twilight cherries with my brother-in-law (BIL) and sister-in-law (SIL). You may or may not recall my taking my "Twilight" DVD and copious amounts of rum (I was FINALLY drinking again! woohoo!) down to Portland with Hubby and showing Twilight virgins BIL & SIL the movie, expecting them both to hate it with a passion. (BIL is a bit of a hipster, very calm-cool-collected but rather sweet like his brother, my Hubby. SIL is nice but very unemotional and tough as nails.) So SIL enjoyed Twilight (shocking!) and BIL *really* liked it (*very* shocking!). So now Hubby & I go back to Portland for Christmas and we all watch NM together. I kinda knew they wouldn't like it since it doesn't have the same sweet vibe as Twilight. Sure enough, I watched SIL throughout the movie and I'm surprised she didn't fall asleep. She said it was too teen-angsty for her. Shocked AGAIN, BIL liked it and he wants to see Eclipse now! When I was explaining to SIL *why* NM affected me so, especially crying while reading the break up scene, SIL was at a total loss but BIL related a story of a lost love and how he rode away on his motorcycle, crying his eyes out. Who knew both Hubby and I would get to know these 2 family members *even better* all due to the magic of Twilight?
Third, I'm sadly off the sauce again. I had 3 shots of rum that night, didn't get a buzz, just a stomach ache that made me stop drinking.

Tried the chocolate martini and hated it. I did drive about 4-5 hours after I had the 3 shots and was super paranoid but probably not "drunk". What do you think? Would you drive 4-5 hours after 3 shots plus a big dinner? I was probably ok but kept thinking, 'what will I tell a cop if he pulls me over and asks if I've had anything to drink?' I felt very stupid for getting behind the wheel and won't do that again. BUT, I will try once again to get drunk the next time I'm with Dietrich's fun loving cousin who always wants me to drink with him!
Fourth, my birthday was great! Started the day by cycling (of course!), had saved my pennies all year and got a facial that day, but mostly as a reward for all my bike miles (ah...heavenly), Hubby took me out for an awesome dinner and he gave me "Eclipse". I haven't even taken the discs out yet. I guess I'm no longer a Superfan. I think I'd rather watch Twilight again, even though Eclipse was my favorite book.
And fifth. Hubby really surprised me this year for Christmas and bought me a little Canon PowerShot camera. It's about the same size as my cell phone. I'd asked for it months ago, like just once then changed my mind and said let's get it later. I was SO surprised when I opened it. Last summer I inadvertently become the unofficial official photographer at the annual hippie fair we attend, had SO much fun taking so many pics and getting appreciation from our friends, so I've started taking lots of pics. Although Hubby's camera is really nice, it's very big and bulky (TWSS) and I don't like lugging it around. Hence, the little camera. ALSO, I think her name was Deb and she was in this Challenge for a while in 2010, she shared with us her 365 Project where she takes at least one picture a day. Remember? I decided to do that too and I started on Christmas Day. Some of you have already seen some of the pics I've shared here in the Forum and on Twitter. More to come this year.
Whit- please share your pics too since I know you started doing this too, right?
Ok, enough blah blah blah. SO excited for this New Challenge!!!
And lastly,
MS. CLAUDIA- Thank you again, oh Fearless Leader, for taking on the project of Mod, putting together the spreadsheets and Wild Cards, and taking on the role of Cornerstone of our Group. We couldn't do this without you and we love and appreciate you so much.

(I'm speaking for the new girls too, because like Alice, I see the future and KNOW they will come to love you, too.)