July 4th in Bridgeport

Lacey, my youngest niece,
gets all dolled up for the parade.

In July, I turned my car back west, to 1) celebrate 4th of July in Bridgeport, 2) go to Bend, Oregon to cover the Cascade Cycling Classic, a 5-day pro stage race, for VeloNews, and 3) return to Bridgeport to put "stuff" in storage that won't fit in my matchbox-sized apartment in Boulder.

Bridgeport is nestled in the Eastern Sierras, just east of Yosemite, in a beautiful valley at 6500 feet. The population is 850, which is booming, as it was only 500 when I was growing up there. The 4th of July celebration has been going on for over 100 years, and is a three-day party that tourists and former locals return to year after year. Good times.

An entry in the parade. Human giants, or mini ponies?....

Oldest niece Abbey smilin' at the parade papparazi.

Brother Bill's youngest, Emma, doesn't think much of the parade.

We're a very cultured people...

3-year-old Alyssa takes a break from chasing thrown candy.

"Ok, parade's over...what's next? Mud volleyball, anyone?"

Movin' Day(s)...back in June

Leaving Fresno...
Can't fit anything else in my
Suh-boo-buh-roo...


...or in Sherry's monster truck.


Whew! We made it to Bridgeport,
and, more importantly, beer at
Rhino's!!! (Sherry, L, Me, R - duh!
and Kim's jones'n to be in the pic
from back left)


And we made it just in time to tip
a few with the Fishin' Mission. This is
their theme this year.


Breakfast with some of the Mission
before hittin' the road for the next leg --
Spring Creek outside Elko.

Livin' in the Bubble

I've gone and done it now (well, back in June). Took an unpaid personal leave of absence from Fresno State, where I was a tenured associate professor of child development, packed up my new little subaru (thanks for the help packing, Mom, Missy, and Sherry!), and set up house in a matchbox-sized apartment in Boulder, Colorado. Been jones'n about living here since discovered on a trip 'cross country while in grad school in Tennessee.

The long and short of being here so far...LOVIN' IT! I've got the support and company of some great friends, the riding is simply amazing (love the hills!), and little by little, I'm finding freelance writing assignments. Have continued doing some work for VeloNews, VeloNews.com, Women's Edition (regional magazine here), and most recently (thanks, Lindsey!) the advertising department at local paper, The Daily Camera. I've also met with education coordinators for Denver Head Start, and hope to do some contract work with them conducting teacher trainings.

So all is good...and I've finally started a blog! Wow.