It's a big weekend for me, so please send some good ju ju!!

[Shine]

Tomorrow night I'm singing in our 60-member choir's annual Spring Concert. Tickets are almost sold out and I have my very first solo, I'm so excited!! :bounce: I'm singing the alto lead in a Sweet Honey and The Rock song called "Wanting Memories". We sing spiritual, soulful music from many different cultures. It'll be a very late night for us, with the after-concert party with everyone and the requisite schmoozing. Should be a blast, though.

Then on Sunday, I'm up super early (5am) because I'm cycling 100 miles in an organized century bike ride. I've been cycling like a maniac lately, which is why I haven't been around DU as much. This will be a ride I've done before, it's incredibly beautiful. It has about 6,000 ft of climbing and goes all over Santa Cruz county. :thumbsup: It's about 8 hrs' worth of total saddle time. I hope to be on the road by 7am.

All week long I've been getting as much sleep as I can, to prepare for these next couple days, as well as carbo-loading. I'm also in hard-core hydration mode, to help with cycling performance: I'm drinking at least 1 1/2 gallons of water between yesterday and tomorrow night.

Hopefully, it won't be too problematic for me during the concert. LOL! :D

:hi: Wish me luck, loungers!

[Louis C. Phurye]

1. Here you go.

I wouldn't hand them out at the performance though. The audience might throw them at you. in adulation of course. :D

[Shine]

11. Yummy....I remember those!!

thanks, buddy! :hi:

[Nicole]

2. Good vibes for you!

I know you will do great! :hi:

[Shine]

12. Thanks, Nicole.

You've been so supportive through this whole thing, starting with my audition back in Feb. :hug: It means a lot to me. :loveya:

:hi:

[AllegroRondo]

3. break a leg!

and good luck on the cycling. Have you tried carbo-gels? I started using them for marathons last year and they really help.

[Shine]

13. Thanks, AllegroRondo!

Yes, I'm a big fan of GU gels. I use 'em all the time on long rides. Chocolate Outrage and Espresso are my favorite flavors...and they come in oh-so-handy little 100 calorie packets, too. :thumbsup:

:hi:

[AllegroRondo]

16. the Espresso flavored are the best!

Especially on early morning runs. Its like morning coffee with a sugar high!
I also really like the strawberry-banana flavored CarBoom brand ones.

the chocolate just didnt sit right with my taste buds, though.

[Shine]

21. I've never tried Carboom, but I should. I tend to be a creature of habit,

once I find something I like, I stick with it. I'm also a big fan of Cytomax sports drink, their tropical fruit flavor. I always bring along extra pre-measured baggies full of it whenever I do a century. That shit totally rocks and helps with recovery, too.

I gotta hand it to you runners. :thumbsup: It's not my forte.

I hear ya on the Espresso! They actually do have a bit of caffeine in them, too. Yummy...

:hi:

[BarenakedLady]

4. ju ju

for you you.

:hug:

[Shine]

14. Thank you, YOU!

:D

:hug: :hi:

[I Have A Dream]

5. Lots and lots of luck and good energy to you, Shine!

:hi:

[Shine]

15. Thanks, darlin'!

:hug: I always appreciate your supportive and warm energy, my friend. :loveya:

:hi:

[malta blue]

6. Here you go Shine!

:hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:

Break a leg tonight and have a great ride!

I look forward to a full report once you have recovered.

[Shine]

17. Thanks, malta blue!

:hug: Dress rehearsal and sound check is tonite, concert tomorrow nite.
Today I'm baking a ton of peppermint brownies for the concession sales during the concert intermission. We all pitch in as much as we can. Our two kids help to usher the paying patrons into their seats and also help to sell goodies during the intermission. (I think their main motivation is getting free treats, but hey, it's cool!)

Yes, it's a very full weekend. I'm livin' L A R G E!!! :D

:hug: :loveya: Thanks so much for your support and friendship. :hi:

[malta blue]

You are one amazing woman Shine....

And I though I was busy this weekend. All I have to do is pack!

I will think of you and all your activities as I haul out closets and try to eliminate the years' worth of junk I have accumulated.

[Shine]

22. Good luck with the packing, I know that's a BIG deal, too.

it's always a good thing to purge oneself of unnecessary crap, both literally and figuratively. You can use this time cleaning out your closets as a intentional way of letting go of what no longer serves you and bringing more Order and Clarity into your life.

Out with the OLD and in with the NEW, that's what I say!! :thumbsup: :hug: YOu go, girlfriend.

[cwydro]

7. You'll do us proud!

JUJU coming...

[Shine]

18. Thanks, sweetie.

:hug: Expect a full report...once I recover. :D

:hi:

[Gormy Cuss]

8. No problem.

GIANT VIBES FOR A GREAT WEEKEND FOR YA.

It sounds like an ambitious back-to-back schedule but when it's over it will feel so wonderful to have accomplished it. Happy endorphin rush.

[Shine]

20. Thanks, Gormy Cuss!

"ambitious"...yes, that's definitely the word these days. :D

Truly, I'm considering this century ride to be just a training ride for an even BIGGER and more ambitious ride I'm signed up to do on June 2nd, down in Ojai, where I grew up. It'll be a personal best for me, the longest and most challenging ride I've ever done in one day:

a double metric century (about 125 miles), with 8,000 ft of climbing. :woohoo:

It's a worthy goal, but damn!! :wow: :thumbsup: I'll keep ya posted....

:hi:

[swag]

9. Wow, crazy!

Good for you!

[Shine]

23. Thanks, swag.

:hi: I'll let y'all know how it goes...

[meegbear]

10. Knock 'em dead!

:woohoo:

[Shine]

26. Thanks, meegbear!

:hi: :bounce: I'm pretty stoked....now where's my water?? :D

[wildhorses]

19. shine, you will do fine

look, i made a
big fat rhyme
:)

here is some positive energy for your solo...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~:hug:~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Shine]

27. Thanks, wildhorses. You're a Poet...and you know it.

I've decided I need to do some kind of grounding visualization, before the performance, to help me feel more secure and more confident. I'm planning to send my "roots" down into the earth as I draw the energy up for my solo, to sing with Clarity, Strength and Beauty....That's my goal. :thumbsup:

:hi: :hug: I really appreciate your support. It means a lot.

[wildhorses]

30. what kind of shoes are you wearing?

the grounding thing just made me think

it would probably help if you could wear flats....

i am so excited for you:hug:

[Shine]

31. Girlfriend!!! This girl is out in front of 700 people singin' her ass off

there's NO way in hell I be wearin' flats!! :puke: LOL. Mama's gotta look SEXY, dammit! :D

I'll be wearing extremely comfy black strappy Aerosole sandals with about a 2 1/2 inch heel, not too bad. I'll also be wearing a black flowy and flirty skirt with a black sleeveless top.

I've got it all worked out, believe me. It's a lot harder than people realize, standing up on the risers, under the hot lights, for hours at a time. I was really surprised at how challenging it was, after I sang in my first concert with them. I had noooo idea.

Having the right shoes is absolutely essential, you totally get it, wildhorses. :hug:

[billyskank]

24. You're gonna so rock the fuck out

I know it. :headbang:

:D

[Shine]

28. LOL! Yeah, baby!!!

"Rock the fuck out" .....I totally LOVE IT!

Thanks, sweetie. You're the best. :hug: :loveya:

:hi: I'll keep ya posted, after I recover....:D

[Starbucks Anarchist]

25. Good luck!

:hi:

[Shine]

29. Thanks, Starbucks Anarchist!

:woohoo: I'm thrilled...

:hi: