Five Years of Bliss

I went shopping over my lunch break day and I spent my five years of sweat and servitude at my company in one $24.99 moment of toilet paper and paper towel bliss. That's right, our 5 year service award which I received two days before putting in my quitters notice was a $25 gift card to Target. Oh how high I rose up the ladder of success before throwing it all away.

Maybe If I had stuck around for another five years or even heaven forbid ten years, I could have bought the super pack with the double rolls and still had enough left over for my favorite bag of Target brand Parmesan Cheese Hydrogenated Potato Products.

Happy Friday. Only 14 days left until my parole starts.

Urban Assault Ride

Urban Assault Ride: Road Bikes 1, Mountain Bikes 0

This past weekend was a return to action for me. Time to get back out on the bike after a long hiatus in Ohio and time to get the competitive juices flowing once again.

I spent Saturday morning struggling through one of those ride where you and the bike are not one. I changed a flat tire on Friday night in my garage, and that $7.99 tube lasted exactly 4 minutes on the trail before flatting. Then after putting a new tube in the tire, I somehow ripped the valve off during the inflation part of the process...no clue. Anyhow so I spent $15.98 to ride those four minutes...swell. My four Team ODP adventure racing buddies had a swell ride after that though as we dragged my recently post ACL reconstruction beginner biker buddy AB up and down some non beginner hills.

Sunday was the Urban Assault Ride in Tucson which is basically a bike scavenger hunt through the whole city. I rode with BJ my cousin's husband, and he came pimping with a town bike loaded with fake purple fur weaved around the frame. I had my blazingly fast full suspension mountain bike with about 30 lbs of pressure (air kept leaking out). There were tons of people at the start, with every kind of bike and outfit imaginable. It was a cool vibe since the event was sponsored by New Belgium Brewery, and they know how to party. We had to answer a quiz to get our starting position, and due to BJ's great googling skills, we ended up in the first start group.

The first secret location we had identified was at a parking lot halfway up A Mountain. I have never road raced and so it was an interesting feeling as a whole group of us raced down roads in tight formation. It was easy to see that all of the road bikes were blowing by us. Since it was already hot and I had gotten little sleep Saturday night exploring 4th street's best haunts, I was quickly redlining. Once we got to the checkpoint and turned back downhill, I felt better. At each checkpoint we would get a bead to put on a necklace.

The next five checkpoints were basically in a big loop around the entire city. The standard feeling was that periodically, road bikers would pass us, but we made sure to not let the mountain bikers by us. At each checkpoint, they had fun activities set up that we had to complete. One was riding mini trikes around an obstacle course. Another was a blindfolded piggy back ride around an obstacle course. Because of my amazing biceps and the fact that BJ is a skinny man, I carried him...and passed a ton of people. Hah. We also did a ring toss, and a bike ride around a cone with a bowl of water balanced on our heads...no joke. The final event was a blowup obstacle course full of water. The water was much appreciated because it all the sudden is hot as hadies here.

We rode as hard as we could the whole time, but there were periodic road bikers passing us the whole time so we felt like were were towards the back of the back. When we finished though, I looked around and realized that almost all of the bikes lined up at the finish were road bikes. Small victories are victories I say. We ended up finding out that we finished 14th out of 96 coed teams. Not too bad for having a really good time the whole time. We also got two free NB beers at the end and a bunch of snacks. I recommend this race to anyone in it's path.

Maybe someone needs a road bike at some point...

An opportunity to get back out there.

So I have been bummer lately that due to my inability to run, I have had to give up many of the adventure racing type competitions that I so enjoy. I know I can always walk the trekking parts, but I hate being non competitive in something I am spending money on.

Well, this weekend I finally found an awesome substitute. There is a bike scavenger hunt in Tucson called the Urban Assault Ride which is sponsored by New Belgium Brewery. It is a biking only scavenger hunt through town that also has a lot of strategy involved in both the clues given to find where checkpoints are located, as well as the fun obstacles that must be completed at each point. They give you 5 known checkpoints that you can plot ahead of time to determine the fastest way to bike in between them. They also give you a crossword puzzle that you need to fill out and then use the clues to come up with a 6th secret checkpoint. At that checkpoint they also give you another set of clues to figure out a 7th checkpoint on the fly. The order in which you leave the start is also created by who places the highest on a 20 question quiz we had to complete today due by 5.

Already it has been lots of fun. There appears to be a lot of fun activities we will have to do like bike limbo and slip and slides, etc. I will let you know how it goes. The winning duo gets a set of cruiser bikes and you know what, I am in need of a new around the town type bike. Bring it on you spandex road weenies...the mountain bikes are coming.

Procrastination Inspiried.

I am finally back in the land of sand and sun and it feels good. I miss the desolation of the desert when I am away for long. I have a burning desire to go climb a hot dusty mountain or bike down a rocky cactus strewn path. While I love home and love my family, this place has definitely become part of the fabric of me.

It have a strange feeling right now, and by now, I mean for the last couple of months. It is like I am in the process of closing up one chapter of my life and beginning another and I have weird moments of nostalgia that are intermixed with the immense feelings of relief. This is normal I am sure, anytime you shake off the old to make room for the new, it brings back tons of memories, both good and bad. I really am closing up shop on this career I have had as an engineer, for the past 10 years (including college). I have never minded the challenge of it all, but in the end, it just wasn't enough for me. I want more. I have more to give than what I currently give to the world and I am happy that I realized it in enough time to actually make a difference.

There are definitely some material things that I will miss, money being just one of them. It is easy to take for granted free diet coke and color printing, awesome health insurance, and the ability to have an off day at work without anyone getting hurt. But more than often, I just marvel at the thought that I am actually going to be starting on this dream that has been just a glimmer in my mind for so long now. At first the glimmer wasn't even concrete, it was more like a whisper in my mind that said "there must be more than this". It took three years to become a concrete path towards the medical field and another 2 years to become an achievable reality. I hope that everyone has one dream in their mind, something that may be scary to even acknowledge, that one day they are able to achieve. It is a great feeling.

Here are a couple of photos from the last 10 days in Ohio.

The Wedding. The happy couple is in Hawaii, but apparently one volcano bike ride wreck may have added another knee injury to the mix. My bad luck is contagious.

My new rock band. I think I am bringing them down.

There was a surprise 30th birthday party for my buddy Chris while we were at Tom's family home and our theme was to dress like he does. We raided his old childhood closet and came up with these old gems.

Easter at the farm. This followed the egg hunt and what I like to call "how to gain 3 lbs in one day".

Still in Ohio

I am now getting yelled at for not blogging. I suppose this is the highlight of my blogging career.

I have been in Ohio for a week now and have successfully gotten the sister married off. I have also successfully taken a walk through a snow storm, spread shit on a garden and then tilled it, planted 300 bulbs of lillies, tromped through a muddy creek, and have brought both my parents and Tom's parents homes into the 21st century with wireless internet. It is just another spring week in Ohio. Snowing one day and then sunny and warm the next.

I meant to blog about a day at Campe Verde two weekends ago in which I volunteered at an Sierra Adventure Sports race and learned how to really orienteer. I also meant to blog about numerous other mini adventures I have had, but I find when I am home I spend a lot less time online and a lot more time outside, playing games, or just hanging with the family.

I will resume my blogging activities with more gusto soon. I promise...fingers crossed.

Here's to Sarah

So my sister Sarah is getting married this weekend so I am off to Ohio in a couple of days for a much needed 10 day R&R in the motherland. I am super happy for Sarah, as her husband to be seems to be the perfect fit for her. Sarah was the sister closest in age to me (1.5 years older) and I can honestly say that she is definitely interwoven into the person I have become today.

We grew up in a rural farming community, and my parents farm house sat about a mile back from any road surrounded by corn fields and forests full of exploration fun. Sarah and I used to build forts made out of brier bushes and refrigerator boxes in the fields in which we would create little worlds usually consisting of "No Bossy Becca Allowed" clubs. Becca was my older sister ( 4 years older than me) who also had the elder sister bossiness trait. I remember the weekend that Sarah and I spent laboriously making a hiking trail in the woods by cutting through the underbrush with tree trimmers, only to have all the brier patches grow back by the next weekend. I remember the day we found and explored the unknown junk yard found deep deep in the woods and set up a little house with all the stuff we found and dragged out of it. I will never forget the day that we are convinced we found a dead dog corpse chained up to a pipe in the forbidden barn...course we didn't stick around to find out.

I spent almost every day all summer long outside exploring, and I have no doubt that this is part of why I feel such a drive towards getting outside still in my life.

As we got older, Sarah and I remained friends, even when she was sometimes too cool to hang out with her younger sister. We shared rooms as teens, and got into trouble together when she let me drive her car before I had my permit and I put it in the ditch. Sarah and I were on the track team together where I was supposed to hand off to her but we always seemed to screw it up. I remember when we had our first sip of beer together (shh) and snuck into our first OSU bar while visiting Becca. Finally, when we both ended up at Ohio State, we both learned to love the Buckeyes and hate Michigan together, culimating in a year when we lived together right before I left for Arizona.

Sarah is now an amazingly smart, centered, spiritual, and happy example of how to live your life in the correct way. I still learn from her. So here is to Sarah, wishing you the best possible life ahead of you. You have been a part of most of my life and I am so happy to be a part of you future life with Mike.

Also, I love my other two sister as well just so they don't feel bad even though this narrative isn't directed at them. PS: Becca is still bossy.

And because I am truly a giver, I now give you a piece of life in the early 90s on the farm. Enjoy.

Unsuccessfully Chasing Down Life.

So I am sure that you have noticed that I am not blogging as much as I previously did. I feel like this is as much of a reflection on some large changes in my life more than me just not wanting to blog.

Firstly, I have been busy with life. Work is no joke now that the cat is out of the bag and they know I am leaving. Micro-mangement anyone? They want me to get done everything planned for the year in the next 30 days. Hah. I think they don't realize that I don't give a shit what they want.

Secondly, this week is hectic because I have my organic chem midterm on Thursday, and I have put no effort in to studying up until this week. Hah. I think my prof doesn't realized taht I don't give a shit anymore. Just need a C.

Thirdly, I have had about 3 doctor appointments a week for the past 3 weeks for all the crap that my life is going through. Knee second opinions, physicals, multiple innoculations needed for school, titers needed to be obtained as proof of vacinnations when I was five, dentist appointments...all in order to get ready to quit my job, start school, and have really shitty insurance.

Fourthly, I am not blogging because I haven't done all that much cool in the past month. I have been babying my knee and pretending to like a social life versus an adventurous life. Vegas is fun but Vegas can't even compare to exploring a canyon or climbing a rock wall. So I have little desire to photograph Vegas, cause it is just not my bag baby.

Finally, in case you were wondering, firstly, secondly, and thirdly ARE in fact words in my world. Fourthly may be taking it just a bit too far.

Clipless has clips.

Lake at Papago Park in Tempe: home of the Tuesday night STP rides.

My left hand is a little sore right now, but that is okay. It is to be expected. You see, I keep tipping over while I ride my bike and catching myself with my hand. Why, you might ask?

Well I finally did it. Last weekend I graduated to clipless pedals on my bike which for those who are bike illiterate means they actually have clips which hold your shoe to the pedal. It is unintuitive, I know.

I was a big chicken in transitioning to clipless pedals because basically since I started riding I have been rehabbing various major ACL surgeries and I didn't want to wipe out clipped into a non symmetric aluminum object and somehow rip another ligament. I do have bad luck you see. Now that I have realized that my knee is just broken all the time, this danger seems less calamitous to my heart.

And surprisingly, the transition hasn't been that hard at all. Not that I haven't had my share of slow motion tipovers in front of numerous groups of people who then try not to laugh (most notablity those nice St. Patty's Day revelers at the bar I rode up to last night). But as a whole, the benefits of climbing in those things outweight any of the negatives. It is amazingly easier. Now I just need to figure out how to get into and out of the climbs in a more expeditious manner.

Anyway, my love of biking just keep increasing with each skill I acquire and each moment I capture while doing it. I truly do appreciate the ability that it gives me to go on a relatively pain free journey out of reality and into nature. You always appreciate something more when faced the the possibility of losing it.

Snuggie: The Most Powerful Blanket In The World.

YO. CAN I GET A WAT WAT?

I am in a good mood today for no apparent reason. Tis almost Friday and tis beautiful out. Next week is spring break so that means no night classes and I am headed to Vegas next weekend to meet up with my old OSUWRFC rugby buddies and it is going to be the BOMB. I will have to strap it on because I have gotten quite soft and wimpy in my old age, going to bed at ridiculously early times on weekends and such.

So recently I got a box in the mail. It was addressed to both Tom and I and it arrived during our week of birthday magic & fun-ness celebration. Well let me say we tore into that large box with gusto, excited to see what some admirer had sent us. Much to my pleasure, out popped not one but two maroon snuggies with matching reading lights. After a little sleuthing, we tracked down the sender to none other than the great Chris Thomas of Chris Thomas Productions. We all had a good laugh and we discussed how those special deals you see on the television do seem very tempting. However when I saw that the great one, Mr. President of the Free World also wears a snuggie while conducting important phone business, I knew it was going to change my life.

And let me just say, IT HAS. It is a great invention for keeping toasty while blogging or surfing the web, or pretending to work hard on organic chemistry labs while secretly procrastinating while facebooking...you get the picture. Someday Tom and I will pose with our matching snuggies and I will grace you all with that vision of loveliness. In the meantime, give in to your late night television snuggie desires and get yourself this important tool in productivity.

PS. This message has been endorsed by the Barack Obama.

The first smattering of flowers.

Springtime In The Desert: Papago Park

This weekend was all about fun riding. No speed, no pressure, no pain. Just moseying along with friends with lots of stopping to enjoy the flowers. Springtime is coming to the desert.

Saturday I took an old friend who moved away but was back for a visit to McDowell Mountain Park. Flowers were beautiful and the weather was perfect. It was great to see her gain confidence as we rolled along the competitive track. She was a rock star for being mostly a beginner.


Sunday I took two beginner riding buddies Em and AB to Papago Park in Tempe to start riding. My buddy AB just is coming off ACL surgery (damn u rugby) and so she is following my footsteps of starting biking. She seemed to have a great time and I have to laugh at her antics. She did a stellar job but was mad at how weak her knee was. Welcome to the club AB. Welcome. May your luck be better than mine.