Yaaayyy!! Hi again from froggyAimee

[Rhacopilot]

Hi hi hi!
I'm excited to see the forum back up. My handles have been redeyedtreefr0g and froggyAimee previously, I'm not sure which was here.

I got into cycling in 2010 while stuck at work between routes when I was a school bus driver, so I asked for a "real" bike for my birthday. I got a Schwinn Gateway from Target, a heavy 7 speed with fenders and a rear rack and easy-to-understand twist shifters. I loved that bicycle so much. I committed to work on several states and through extremely fun snowy Oregon and Colorado winters. I'm Colorado I got my beagle and Jack Russell into bike rides and weed go to a weekly bike night event during the summer, which was a huge local pedaling parade through the streets. Granddad's death in 2017 brought us back to Florida and an end to commuting to work by bike, as the property is 30 minutes by car from everything.

I'm really struggling to ride as much as I used to.

I upgraded at work from school bus driver to driver trainer to Router to Route Coordinator. In 2020 I had a hysterectomy surgery which we thought at the time was due to a life-threatening uterine aertiorvenious malformation. Granddad's dogs died. Frankie finally succumbed to the weird tooth/eye injury he had at Granddad's death that we loved and nursed him through. Clyde survived intestinal surgery to live another several years into his calm old age forever-sleep. We gradually rescued local dogs and ended up with a new pack of them. 6.

In 2021 I had to stop sub driving buses due to herniated discs in my neck from the repetitive trauma. I ended up with progressively worsening myelopathy due to them pressing on my spinal cord, so I had Deuk Laser Disc Repair, and I think avoided what could have been permanent nerve damage.

During that pre-surgery period, Jamie attended a trade conference with me and got "hired" on the spot to help install cameras on school buses out in California. When this latest and best Transportation Director left the district and it didn't even take 6 days for the administration to reverse a lot of the progress we'd made over the last 3 years, I quit and joined my husband.

I have my own company Rhaco. It's a portion of the scientific name of flying frogs Rhacophorus. In my young life I wanted to be a pilot, attended and graduated from Embry Riddle with a degree, but never really for off the ground, so to speak. I still love frogs and flying.

Anyways, before all that life drama, grandad had been helping me with a 1972 Schwinn Super Sport ladies Opaque Green bicycle. That bike traveled, ballbearings and all, in pieces through several moves. After my cervical surgery I basically dumped it at a local bike store to put together. Members here had donated brake cables. I'm supposed to have a set of the proper pedals somewhere...

We had 7 dogs when starting our new life on the road. We tried babysitters and it didn't work out long enough to "get on our feet". Dogs got stressed I think and long story short we ended up with a dog fight where they all attacked the littlest one, and nearly killed her. I got my hands injured pretty badly. We had another incident on the road, I did the same stupid things and got hurt again, but She sustained far less severe injuries. Our other male stayed in that state very happily adopted with a brother just like him in size age and energy.

So now everything has settled into a fine rhythm. With the other male gone the original rescued male, who used to be a bait dog, is calmer again. The girls have more or less grown into their established hierarchy and everyone is now spayed. They've learned new road rules. I bought a bus and we've upgraded into my very own skoolie, which is, even without plumbing, so much better than the camper trailer I wish we could have started out that way.

Now are almost done working for the year and headed home for over a month of free time. Bus upgrades will be happening. I've tried and kind of failed to get into a biking routine on the road. My hands took substantial damage and either the myelopathy, dog fights, or new work with a lot of drill use isn't going well. I'm not sure the road bars will work out. I got a bike trailer this last trip, I do still think the ticket to being motivated to ride is to involve a dog a day. I'll be looking for regular handle bars I think, and fatter tires. Then, how will I be able to resist the puppy dog faces when they want to go for a ride with me? (I miss my first babies so much!)



So that's me and I like to write/talk when I'm excited. I'll try to keep everything else I post short and sweet.
Have a wonderful day!!!

[Rhacopilot]

Here's my old avatar probably, a froggy on a bicycle

[FICHT150]

Welcome back, Aimee. Nice to see you posting!

Ted

[JeffC]

Welcome back Aimee.

[acg_schwinn]

Welcome back! I was wondering how many of the old members would reappear. (If I remember right, didn't you used to post in green text?)

[schwinnman67]

Welcome back!

[Rhacopilot]

didn't you used to post in green text?)

Yes that's me!! I still do in a lot of places, but if I recall here and the Wanderlodge folks had formats that were hard on the eyes, so I don't as much anymore.

[Bikes42]

Welcome back, Aimee! Great to hear from you again.

Tad