I'M FREAKING OUT!!!!!

Okay, it's official. I'm freaking out. RAGBRAI is just 24 days away, and I am a little apprehensive about the whole thing. At this point, I should be riding about 150 miles a week. I am riding about 25. What does this mean, you may ask. It means, I'M SCREWED.

Alright, deep breaths now. I do still have 3ish weeks to go. I am getting stronger and more confident. But still, I am a Kessler, and that means we procrastinate. So, I will be cramming in training time from here until the moment we go. Problem is, I'm having trouble getting motiviated. RAGBRAI keeps sending me updates and useful tips for training, but it seems easier to blame my lack of motiviation on a) the weather, b) to busy, c) to lazy, or d) all of the above.

I have to keep reminding myself why I am doing this. Yes, ultimately it is for the prized handbag (yet to be determined). But I think it's also about respecting myself enough to think that, while I am not Lance Armstrong, I can be an athlete of sorts. It's also to support Jeff and spend some quality time together. Although, him screaming at me to ride faster might not be quite the quality time we had in mind.

I think it's also about doing something that not everyone will do. I hope at the end, I am able to dip my tire in the Mississippi and know that, statistically speaking, I am one of an elite group of riders. No, it's not Ride the Rockies, Triple Bypass, or Copper Triangle, but I will wear my RAGBRAI jersey with pride. The pride that I did something that most thought I couldn't do. Hell, what I thought (think) I couldn't do.

IT CAN BE DONE.....

Finally, Mother Nature is being kind. After lackluster training in the smallest room in the house, I am able to venture outdoors. My dedication to this undertaking has been wavering, but armed with new purse porn and sunshine outdoors, I actually believe IT CAN BE DONE!!!

This bag is a Fendi. A little out of the price range at $27,000. Platinum handles and top grain leather or maybe spun gold. Remember, I only have a $1000 budget.

This is a Birkin Kelly bag. So named for Grace Kelly. A real bargain at $47,500.

Now, on to the biking. I have been out on the road for the last 3 days and am truly surprised at how much I am enjoying it. Despite a knee incident yesterday, I am feeling pretty good. That being said, all three rides were 5 miles, but hey, you gotta start somewhere. I have wasted over 6 months of training time by being in denial. Now with only 129 days to go, I am in a bit of a panic.

I hope Mother Nature continues to shine on me and lets me get outside. Now if Father Time would help me get up at 6 a.m. to ride.......

So, it's been a while...

Well, I fell off the wagon. I burned out on the RAGBRAI training about mid-October. Really, I was busy, didn't have a lot of free time, and the exercise bike was hurting my knee. Yes, all really lame excuses, but all I've got. The good thing is that I really missed riding. Who would have ever thought that I would miss exercising. Certainly not me. Luckily, the holidays brought me some helpful tools with which to continue my quest.

The bag at the right is a Prada flap bag. Great style. My first really great handbag was a Prada that I found at a Saks outlet. Still my favorite bag.

On the the quest. For Christmas, Santa(Jeff) brought me a bike, a trainer, and various accessories. The bike is a used LeMond Buenos Aries with Ultegra components. I actually think Jeff has a little component envy regarding my bike. I got a screaming deal by getting it on Craigslist. Now that it is hooked up to a trainer, I can start my training in full force.

The reality of it is, I'm a little scared. As the days tick down I have some apprehension. When I tell people what I'm doing, they look at me and kind of smirk. That alone makes me want to complete it, but I'm still getting the bag. Never underestimate yourself. You only know what you can do if you try. For years I have stood by and convinced myself that I couldn't do things. No more. My New Year's Resolution is to do this and I will. Hope you all come along for the ride.

Now, onto the bags. I haven't really been looking for THE bag yet. Still too many to choose from. I think I'll know it when I see it. I want something a little impractical but not too over the top. Color? Not sure. Fashion changes too fast to keep up sometimes. What I like now may be totally out by the time I shop for it in September. That is my plan. Ride the last week of July and then Vegas over Labor day to purchase said prize. Join me...