Sharry Miller

Packing for Bhutan

To preserve my sanity, I decided not to go for one final bike ride today. My plan had been to ride for an hour after work, wash a load of laundry (including the cycling clothes I'd been wearing), and pack for my trip. I started getting a bit too stressed about getting packed in time, however, and decided that I didn't really want to spend my last night home in a tizzy. I forewent the... Read more →

Bhutan Training - Stymied by Snow

34 degrees and wet, heavy snow all day - needless to say, I was less than inspired to ride. I'd had every intention of it, and if it had just been rain falling, I'd have been out there, but I just couldn't face the snow. Instead, I spent 50 minutes on my treadmill and watched the first episode of Glee on Netflix. I foresee a lot of treadmill time in the future so I can... Read more →

Bhutan Training - The Mountain Bike Phase

Alright, alright, I'm a weenie! Despite the fact that it was 45 degrees and sunny (our nicest day yet), I let winds strong enough to buffet my 3/4-ton truck around keep me from riding. I know, I should have been out there anyway. The wind would have just added a toughening element to my training. It didn't help that I'm feeling a bit dispirited after my outing with Pali yesterday. We did 10 miles, and... Read more →

Training for Bhutan

Despite the rain/snow (slop) that was falling last night, I had high hopes for a good bike ride today. Happily, my hoping was rewarded. By the time I finally got out of the house at 2:00, the clouds were bright enough to require sunglasses and the road was dry. My goal today was to up my mileage by riding out to 10 mile, a round trip of 16 miles from the end of Wood Way.... Read more →

Bhutan with WomanTours

The days bringing me closer to leaving for Bhutan keep passing inexorably by. A bulky envelope from WomanTours appeared in my mailbox three days ago carrying the latest bits of information, as well as more forms to complete and mail back, and a few gifts. I learned that there will be 16 in our group of women, including the two guides. The rest of us are from homes as far flung as Florida and British... Read more →

Shoulder Surgery Eventually

Although I've alluded to it in several posts, more or less blatantly, I've not yet officially announced that I have to have shoulder surgery. An appointment with Dr. Rhyneer in Anchorage yesterday unfortunately confirmed what I'd already strongly suspected. I slipped in a puddle of water in November (darn Crocs are slippery on wet floors) and fell. It would have been a classic pratfall - feet straight out in front with a hard landing on... Read more →

Boldly to the Future

The Chinese year of the dragon just started a couple of days ago. After reading about the characteristics attributed to those born dragons, I wish I were a dragon rather than...a sheep. Really, a sheep? Characteristics such as smart, artistic, kind and happy are good enough, I suppose, and do describe me reasonably well, although I'm not as fond of the less complimentary adjectives reserved, insecure and dependent. Dragons, however, dragons are innovative, enterprising, flexible,... Read more →

Another Day Closer and Deeper in Debt

I stole this post title idea from the song Sixteen Tons made famous by Tennessee Ernie Ford in 1955. It has the chorus You load sixteen tons an' what do you get? Another day older deeper and debt. St. Peter don't you call me cause I can't go: I owe my soul to the company store. It's one of those songs I learned because Mom always sang it when I was a kid. For some... Read more →

Looking for Adventure

I've been developing the habit of writing down quotes that catch my attention, partly because I want to remember them, but also because they often inspire me to write. As a result, you are likely to be subject to those quotes and my related random thoughts here in my blog. You do, of course, always have the option of not reading, but I hope you don't feel the need to exercise that option often. "Adventures... Read more →

Let the Vaccinations Begin!

I went to the doctor today to have my shoulder looked at again. I fell three weeks ago and tried to wrench my left arm off - my shoulder hasn't been right since. I got a steroid shot in the bursa a few days after it happened, but it didn't completely take care of the problem. Anyway, the point of my visit today was to say it still hurts, isn't is strong as it should... Read more →