Thread Drift

I finally feel better from my stupid accident. The black eye is fading. Although the lump on my forehead is smaller, it's not receding as quickly as I'd like. But, it's partially under my bangs. I just feel better. I went to boot camp this morning, for the first time in 10 days, as I had skipped last Thursday, because it was icy out. No ill effects, and since I normally feel like I'm going to die, doing that stuff at 5:30 AM, I am good. Yesterday, I did a hilly 8 mile ride, to sort of test myself. I used my granny gear for the climbs and my computer is messed up, so I had no idea how fast or slow I was going.
I probably should not have ridden 33 miles on Sunday, as I felt like a truck hit me on Monday. I guess I forgot how much energy it takes for our bodies to recover.

So excited!!! My DS is coming home from Afghanistan next week (he lives in Long Beach, CA) and will be coming to visit with his wife Dec. 18-23. I haven't seen him in a year and a half. Praying my DIL can control her moods, but I will try and give her a pass as she has to put up with him!

That's awesome news, Crankin!

Yay Crankin! What a nice Thanksgiving gift.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my TE sisters. I'm seriously grateful to all of you.

Very nice Crankin, that is great!

Seconding the Happy Thanksgiving to everyone here at TE. I am thankful to all of you and to TE for hosting this forum.

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Originally Posted by OakLeaf

Happy Thanksgiving to all my TE sisters. I'm seriously grateful to all of you.

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+1! Thank you all for everything!

Me too! Thanks for giving me something to aspire to as I dream of being back on my road bike. Reading of your adventures, bikes, and lives keeps me going while I can't be riding my Bike Friday on smooth roads and paths. Happy Thanksgiving all with gratitude!

I seriously think of everyone here as my friend. Not like in Facebook friend, but real friend. I knew I was in trouble, when in the course of a conversation, I said that "I have a friend who lives in Belize."

Heheh, I resemble that remark! :cool:

I feel the same. And virtual friends can very easily become real-life friends when geography allows!

I also feel the same way about the women here, and I've made face-to-face friends with several women from this forum. Crankin, I've made that same comment about a couple of women here, so you aren't the only one ;)

What you all said. :) Considering how well DH and I knew each other before we ever met face to face ... and that actually we'd met f2f exactly twice before we decided to start dating :p ... I think these friendships are just as real as any.


Apropos of nothing here's someone who took a little rest in my backyard this afternoon. Hope he stays safe the next few weeks!

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Maybe this should be under "other sports," but today, I went to a step and sculpt class for the first time since last winter. While the choreography wasn't hard and the cardio isn't an issue for me, I wonder how I'll feel when I get up at 4:50 tomorrow to go to boot camp. I sweated gallons and felt pretty tired at the end. I attribute it to there just being more people in the room than in the early AM, and the room being warmer.
Funny, how the "types" of people in these classes hasn't changed since I was an instructor in the late 80s-early 90s :). I amused myself by watching others so the suffering didn't get to me.
This is the first Wednesday I've had with no "emergency" commitments at work or studying in 3 weeks, and I actually was able to go to a class in the daytime and meet a friend for lunch.

I hate writing personal statements/statements of purpose for grad school applications. I hate trying to write "I'm awesome; you should let me in" things. I'm terrible at selling myself. Bikes--sure. Science, no problem. But I keep trying to come up with reasons why I want to go to grad school and I can't get anything beyond "I want a PhD and a career in research." I have no idea what I actually want to do my research on, just a list of things I'd like to avoid, and I'd be happy doing almost anything that isn't on that list. The only things I can actually talk about in any degree of detail are my undergrad research project (and that's fuzzy just because of distance) and my master's thesis, nothing from which has been published yet so I need to keep it kind of vague. Aptitude for graduate study? I've been bashing my head against a wall with my project and I haven't quit yet?

This whole process is soul-sucking. And I haven't even gotten to the personal history statement.

I was just up in my loft, stretching after a run and I happened to glance at one of the photos up on the bulletin board I have up there. It's a picture of my son and 3 others receiving the Principal's Award for community service in 2001. Guess who is standing next to him?
Evie Stevens.
I figured I would share this here, since no one else I know would appreciate it!

It just dawned on me this morning that I've a goal for my 80th birthday - assuming I am around that long. I want to be that 80 year old woman who is still riding, lifting heavy things and setting them down again (even if I've got to scale the weight back by then), get out hiking, geocaching or whatever else happens to strike my fancy by then! Basically a earth-bound version of the old woman who goes sky-diving (I HATE heights).

Me, too.
Sometimes I feel like the whole world is against us aging this way.

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Originally Posted by Crankin

Me, too.
Sometimes I feel like the whole world is against us aging this way.

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I've said this to a few people recently, about my vision of me as an 80 year old. Outside of my trainer the other two looked at me like they think I am nuts. That is ok :) We have to get active and stay that way to carry it into our later years, and it is encouraging to me that there have been women who started much later than I. Age will come as long as life continues and it is up to us to decide how to face it. Granted, not all of that is for us to control, but we do have to decide how to face it. Accidents and/or genetics sometimes have their role to play but even then - our fitness level has some impact on how well we weather such things - or not. In the end however, it isn't about adding years to our lives, but "life to our years" (lifted from a motivational saying on Facebook). THAT is how I feel about my riding and other fitness activities. At some point it became fun and a part of me.

Ok, that is enough philosophy for the evening, time to read for a bit before bed.

Sigh. I hate bathing suits. I appreciate that I can now try them on in the privacy of my own home (thanks, Athleta), but they rank up there with jeans in inducing self loathing. Why did I suggest Hawaii as our next big vacation. And, yes, I realize that I should not complain.....

I'm beyond excited. Going to a three day dog training seminar in San Fran next weekend. Learning things like chaining behaviors, introducing a puppy to a reactive dog household and strategic reinforcement delivery.

I've been teaching obedience at a local facility & the majority of my dogs are from shelters. They come in with all kinds of issues and sad stories. After six weeks, their tails are wagging, their eyes are bright and they have a new found confidence. I take no credit - it's the owners who work with them. But it's still incredibly rewarding (pun intended.)

BTW, I don't teach the jerk & puke method. We use food, toys and lots of praise. It takes longer but it's SO worth it.

Great job, Dogmama! I remember when you were looking for a job, and I am so happy that it's worked out so well for you.

Enjoy the seminar!

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Originally Posted by emily_in_nc

Great job, Dogmama! I remember when you were looking for a job, and I am so happy that it's worked out so well for you.

Enjoy the seminar!

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+1 Dogmama. That's really cool!

Way to go, Dogmama :-)

I just got called in for an interview for a job in the XC Skiing Association. It involves equal amounts of bureacratic nonsense and practical work, so I'm trying to figure out what on EARTH to wear... I think maybe a new pair of jeans and my dh's smart black wool jacket might be appropriate.

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Originally Posted by lph

... equal amounts of bureacratic nonsense and practical work...

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I bet they used different wording in the job announcement.

Good luck!!

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Originally Posted by malkin

I bet they used different wording in the job announcement.

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Yeah. I started trying to translate it, but figured that summed it up anyway.

Thanks! I haven't been to an interview where I wasn't the one hiring for a decade, so I'm somewhere between terrified and mildly amused.

Am I the only one around here who could care less about the Patriot's game? Usually, DH and I go out to some restaurant that is really hard to get reservations at during play off games, but he's at his company yearly meeting, and everyone I know is watching the game, or at some party.
I guess I will use the time to do some work.

I don't care about sports at all, but my mom and dad used to bet a buck a week on a football game so I keep that alive for mom. I never know who I'm betting on or if they're any good, but it sure makes her happy. :D

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Originally Posted by Crankin

Am I the only one around here who could care less about the Patriot's game? Usually, DH and I go out to some restaurant that is really hard to get reservations at during play off games, but he's at his company yearly meeting, and everyone I know is watching the game, or at some party.
I guess I will use the time to do some work.

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I felt that way about the Cavaliers when I was living in Cleveland. And if I ever hear LeBron James' name again, it will be 20 billion years too soon.

I mildly follow the Red Sox, but it is NEVER the center of my social life. I was a huge fan as a young teen (went to a lot of games and sat in the bleachers). My interest has waned since I started doing my own sports like cycling, hiking, etc. I don't even know who half the new players are, now. Watching cycling is fun, because I can relate to it, but if I never watched a race on TV or on line again, it wouldn't be the end of the world. I abhor football, basketball, and especially hockey. Thankfully, even my "regular" friends aren't huge fans, but they do go to games and watch on TV some of the time.
My son has a new job where he is opening an office of a company based in SF. He told me that he immediately was sent to deal with a long time client here in the Boston area, as they need a "New Englander to deal with them." He told me he has to brush up on the local sports scene to converse with these people...

I'll watch football if someone else has it on. I won't go out of my way to watch it. If I find out the Bengals are playing and I'm at my parents' place, I'll wander into the room and ask my dad if the Bengals are losing again, watch for five minutes and wander back out.

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Originally Posted by Crankin

He told me he has to brush up on the local sports scene to converse with these people...

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My family never watched sports when I was growing up. Football wasn't a big deal in my schools (my second high school didn't even have a football team). My first husband had to explain the rules to me. When I hung out my shingle I did some appointed criminal defense work, and with that, there was a lot of waiting around in the courthouse for cases to be called. I needed to be able to make small talk with the other lawyers, so I learned what I could about football. I was as surprised as anyone that I actually like it! But yeah, Owlie, being a Bengals fan takes a special kind of devotion. :p

Around here it's University of Kentucky basketball that is all-encompassing. Men's, that is. I'm a big fan of the women's team, ranked #5 right now; the men, not so much. But when the men's team is playing, there's less traffic on the roads, businesses are less busy, etc. It's a good time to run errands! And on evenings like we had last spring when they were playing for the national championship, the city pretty much shuts down. It's also a sad fact that during the victory celebrations that ensue upon winning the championship, you can count on a very slow response time from the police if you want to get up to mischief anywhere but right around campus.

I think we have a proto-spammer around here...

Possibly, but until the spam actually appears.....

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Originally Posted by lph

Way to go, Dogmama :-)

I just got called in for an interview for a job in the XC Skiing Association. It involves equal amounts of bureacratic nonsense and practical work, so I'm trying to figure out what on EARTH to wear... I think maybe a new pair of jeans and my dh's smart black wool jacket might be appropriate.

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Yup. I wore a new pair of jeans (read: 3 hours of shopping hell on a sunny Saturday morning) and my dh's smart black wool jacket - and they worked. I just landed a second interview :D

I'm flabbergasted. I didn't think the first one went very well, I got nervous and started waffling and giving politician type answers just to have something to say.

I'm not 100% convinced I want the job because it would mean a lot more time away from home, but I gotta admit, I'd LOVE to be offered it...

Congrats, LPH. Even if you turn it down, it will still feel good. And considering your free time when taking a job is very important to people like us, who actually value and use free time.

That is cool, lph. Always fun to be in the drivers seat!

Oh. My. God.

I just got an offer. It's for a little less than I already make, and sounds unnegotiable. However they also offer one day working from home a week.

When I was asked to describe myself I should have added "undecisive" and "anxious". I should be through the roof with joy! Why am I just all wibbly and teary about leaving my wonderful colleagues, and worried about not being able to do the job properly...? I've asked for a years unpaid leave to try it out, but I have no idea if my boss will even recommend it, and if he doesn't it's really decision time.

aaaaaagh........................

But if I don't take it I will probably kick myself for years wondering why.

I HATE making big decisions!

I have definitely been there on those kinds of decisions. And I am terribly indecisive and always second-guess my decisions.

Ultimately, I usually follow my heart and gut. When I don't, I end up regretting it.

As my yoga instructor likes to say "listen inside".

Congratulations!

Take the job.

Yeah. I know I will. I'd be an idiot not to. But I wish I could be a bit happier about it, right now...

But I've been in the job I have now for 13 years. I have most of my friends there. I've been on climbing trips, skiing trips and dozens of bike rides with coworkers. I've lost several coworkers to cancer, and one to suicide. I've mourned with the one who recently lost his wife after three rough years of illness. I've seen friends meet, fall in love and marry, and of course I've been out shopping for gift after gift for the ones who have big birthdays or who are home with a troublesome pregnancy, or who have a baby. In many ways I'll be saying goodbye to a large portion of my life the way it is today. I guess it's just normal to feel pretty darn sad about it. I know I can keep in touch with some of them, but most of them I won't, and even the ones I'm closest to I will only meet once in a while, instead of every day.

I will get over it and see the bright side. Just a bit despondent right now. And a little shocked at how badly I'm responding to change.