Nope, Not Dead....Yet

Contrary to popular belief, I have not dropped off the face of the Earth. More like I've been absorbed into the busy face of the Earth and am finally starting to come up for some air. I had hoped that things would slow down a bit after the Yankee Springs Time Trial (which was three weekends ago and a huge success, by the way....) but the opposite seems to be true. Fortunately, it's been a good productive kind of busy instead of the bad stressful kind.

I finished with my first semester finals during the first week of May and my new semester starts next week already. My new job starts next week as well. I was offered some part time work at the first environmental company I worked for out of college. I'm trying not to feel like I'm being sucked back into the vortex of consulting despair but it is a little bittersweet. Packing boxes at Velocity was the best job I could have had for the last few months but it really did nothing to contribute to my life - other than make my bikes happy with new wheelsets all around! But I am looking forward to more $$, working with my old co-workers again, and doing shorter, more local jobs. I will be working Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and going to school on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Sounds a little like the end of the world as I know it....

I'm still having a lot of fun, though. Steve and I have been riding as much as we can - lots of mountain biking this year so far which makes me (and my long-neglected mountain bike) very happy. The new routine is this - we go to Cannonsburg Ski Area, ride a lap on the trail, and then I throw on my hiking boots and my 25lb. pack and hike the steepest ski hill while Steve continues to ride. As much as it hurts, I know that I need to continue to do this if I have any hope of dragging my sorry butt up that big volcano in Seattle.

We also took part in a midnight fixed gear race this past week. There's a local GVSU student who has started a weekly race series - Wednesday night fixed gear/single speed races around Reeds Lake in East GR. Last week was the second race so far and it was a blast! I think I giggled all the way around the lake! It definitely put the Peugeot (and me) to the test but we both had a great time. The race this past week was a relay - random partners were drawn at the start and each person had to ride a lap around the lake. Steve and I ended up being partners and, due to the guy in the lead being hit by a car (he's okay...and really freaking lucky), we won the race! Here's my big dumb face as I crossed the finish line....

Wish you could see the Peugeot better. I have to admit that I have a huge crush on this piece of trash bike. Of all the bikes I own (a total of 5), the only one I want to ride lately is the one I found on the curb down the street. Just look at this magnificent machine.....

Ahh.... Anyway - I'm off. After working on the trail at the ski hill this morning (we shored up a a bad root, built a log pile, and built a huge berm), I'm ready to party down at the East Hills Neighborhood Council's annual Garage Fest party this evening. Then it's up the northland for Mother's Day! I would promise to be better about the updates but we all know that's just not going to happen - hope you all have a great weekend!