My life has changed so much – and in such wonderful ways – that the original tone and usual content you found here just isn’t who I am right now. However, there’s still so much I’d like to share with those of you I’ve come to adore over the years. Expect an email from me in coming weeks with a link to the new site.

As for the Atomic Bombshell, she will not fade into oblivion just yet. In fact, I plan to relaunch this site to cover my passion for cycling. Eventually, I hope to help build a local cycling team and utilize this site as the communications hub for that group. Or who knows, maybe it can even serve to support female cyclists and related events throughout the region.

Here’s to new beginnings!

Back to my first point: the Ninja and I will finally be moving into our own little love nest. There will be plenty of work to do. After the packing and unpacking there will be painting, decorating, and eventually upgrades to the kitchen and bathroom. Fortunately, I will have plenty of extra time to take care of these things once my job ends in two weeks. Every time the economy takes a dive, marketing takes the first hit.

Which leads me to news item two: I’ll be returning to college in January, studying for a degree in Management Information Systems. Although I’ve really enjoyed the last 15 years I spent making other companies and individuals wealthy, I’ve grown weary of this roller coaster. My last layoff was after 9/11 and I’m seeing a trend. Time to make a transition.

Now that I think about it, I guess my New Year’s resolutions are all set: A new home, learning new skills, and working toward a new career. That’s plenty to bite off and chew on for a year or more! How about you? What things, great and small, do you plan to tackle in 2009?

This Week: Ten Simple Things That Make Me Happy

10. Doing helpful things for other people
9. The clean feeling just after a shower
8. Catching good sermons on KWVE
7. When things I want go on sale
6. Quiet, private, snuggle time
5. Watching movies at home
4. Baking delicious treats
3. Heart to heart talks
2. Riding my bike
1. My Ninja

This will be my third year participating in the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Pacific Coast Chapter’s MS-150 Bay-to-Bay Bike Tour. The purpose of this event is to raise money to support those living with this debilitating disease, and to fund research to find a cure for MS. If your life, or that of someone you know and love, has been touched by this disease, you’ll know why events like this are such a help.

October 11th and 12th, the Ninja and I will ride our bikes from Irvine all the way down to Mission Bay in San Diego… That’s just over 100 miles! We’ll be pedaling our tails off to support the cause, and you can help without breaking a sweat – Simply sponsor my ride! I have committed to raise $400 by October 10th but haven’t made a dent in that goal yet. Please give what you can and know every bit helps!

Click here to send your tax-deductible gift. Thank you.

It’s not that the poor car did me wrong, but it just wasn’t that exciting for me to drive. Sure, it had great horsepower and tons of features, but it just wasn’t my style. Which means it was time to go car shopping again. Did some research after identifying these issues:

1. Must no longer be forced to purchase premium 91 octane gasoline. 2. Must have fuel economy of around 30 miles per gallon highway. 3. Must have a much lower overall cost of ownership than my previous vehicle. Basically, I need this new car to save me some money!

Those hybrids everybody’s crazy about help save fuel, but they’re too ugly to pay thousands over MSRP. So, I test drove a few economy cars, but nothing made me smile like the New Beetle… And when I saw the Triple White special edition, I knew the search was over.

Everybody say hello to my 4th Volkswagen… Meep meep!

My lovely web hosting provider (iPower) moved my site to a “new and improved” server, and in the process screwed up my blog beyond all recognition. Had you noticed my site was down for a month? In the end I had to fix it myself, but half due to principle and half because I was too busy, I tried making my host fix their own mess. Bad idea!

Many weeks went by with no solution, just a few rounds of help desk ticket volleyball where they tried to blame me, and I reminded them everything was working fine before they screwed around. Lucky for all of us, I made back-ups of everything. While I’m pissed enough to switch hosts, everyone seems to have horror stories about every halfway decent hosting company, so I don’t know if I’d come out ahead.

Oh well… What matters is the Bombshell is back!

Those of you who wanted to be there but could not make it – like dear Dave II of Blogography fame, who crafted the charming Bombshell & Ninja illustration above – we know you were there in spirit. If you’re listed as a “Friend” in my Flickr contacts, expect pictures soon. XOXOX!

Spring has sprung, and with it came the return of sunshine and flowers. It’s at this time of year even the thoughts of a ninja may turn to love. This phenomenon is evidenced by the fact that one such Ninja, my best friend in the whole wide world, is soon to wed.

I want to extend my congratulations, bestow my blessings, and let the future Mrs. Ninja know that she is one very lucky lady. (Though I presume she has discovered this already.) Because her beloved Ninja just happens to be one of the finest humans alive.

He’ll make you laugh until your sides split, even at times when you thought nothing could break your sadness. He’ll be there when you need him, helping you discover the bright side of even the most painful situations. And he always has an endless supply of affection.

(Please don’t tell the other ninjas.)

Although he is in possession of all the skills and talents necessary to be successful in just about any endeavor, the Ninja is far too wise to be ensnared by the lures of mere worldly measurements of greatness… His highest goal: To become the perfect weapon – Pure Love!

My best advice to you is, remember that he’s not the average ninja. This one is special. If you bolster him with extra care and love him back the best you can, you may each achieve your amazing potential.

Heaven knows you’ll be busy. After all, he’d like to start a family soon. And who knows what other opportunities (disguised as challenges) God may throw your way. Rest assured, you can handle it. Any person the Ninja would choose as a partner is certainly up to the task.

Wishing you a beautiful life together!

The results: I finished 4th… Out of 4.

That last-place finish doesn’t do much for my ego, but I learned a lot from the experience. Mainly that when you’re nervous it makes you have to pee. A lot! And wearing bib shorts, having no restrooms in the vicinity, showing up too late to warm up, and riding an unfamiliar course, are all things that don’t help.

Not only that, but it should also be mentioned that in many womens cycling events they group all categories together since there are so few women involved in the sport. So where men might race with no more than 2 categories, my pathetic little category 4 slow newbie ass is up against professional and semi-professional female cyclists from all over. Kind-of makes that 4th place finish not sound so bad after all.

Since I have that first event under my belt, I’ll be trying a few more throughout the season. Maybe even a road race and/or a criterium toward the end of this month, and I’ll keep you posted on my results as they come. Originally my goal was not to be dead last, but I think I’ll set my sights a bit lower from now on… Finishing at all is good!

Watch me jinx even that.       PS: Happy Birthday Jordan!!! XOXOX

So, the Ninja and I hopped in the car and drove to Vegas. We stayed at the Signature at MGM Grand, which was made even more enjoyable thanks to a free upgrade to a penthouse suite. Pretty nifty. Not that we spent a lot of time there, since we were in the other city that never sleeps, and there’s no shortage of fun things to do and see.

However, the whole point was to meet Misty, Dena, Shelly, Lisa, Gina, Monica, Tasha, and Salena. Regrettably, only 5/8ths of that goal was achieved because (despite my best effort) I couldn’t track down the last three. However, it was lovely meeting those first five special ladies. Turns out your blogs very accurately portray who you are and what you’re all about… You’re each as fantastic as I’d imagined, and more!

Now that I know how awesome you are, I wish that Virginia Beach were right next door to Southern California. Though the Ninja and I are a couple of premature (yet immature) fuddy-duddies who don’t drink, smoke, or gamble, we hope there will be many more fun times to spend together soon. Maybe with hubbies and kids even… No? …Or not.

I should have done this in person, but I didn’t want to get all serious on you in the midst of all the fun, so listen: Blogger friendships may seem too distant or detached from outsider perspectives, but the laughter and support we share means a lot me. Thank you for sticking around through some very tough times, and for never forgetting that I exist even when my posts dwindle down to once or twice a month.

You’re each amazing, wonderful people, and I love you… XOXOX!