*waves shyly*

[Owlie]

Hi all,

I've been staying off here for my mental health--my bike has been 200 miles away since Thanksgiving (to make my impending move easier), and I'm a little too competitive with myself and others, so it's frustrating to read about rides when I want to head out, but can't. You know what I mean.

Right now it's not really riding weather, but I could use the stress relief. Why? I got a round of rejections from every PhD program I applied to. Well, rejections from all but one, and nothing but silence from that, which I take to be an implicit rejection. So I'm waiting to hear back from the MS program (which may take a while), and I'm moving back in with my parents and job hunting. The good news is that if I get into the MS program, it's in a city with a number of bike paths (though they're not all connected yet), and the area in which I'd likely be living is rather less urban than where I'm currently living. Better for bikes, not so great for walking. It's a wash.

Hopefully you're all doing well, and I'll see you more often when I can get back on the bike. Hopefully by the time I get back to Cincinnati, it'll have stopped raining so much (it's a wonder my apartment hasn't flooded yet), and the trees will be somewhat less enthusiastic about it being spring.

Happy riding!

[Roadtrip]

Welcome back Owlie. I wondered where you were, but can feel your pain in not having your bike close, tho needing to ride for your own well being. When you gelt back to town give me a shout and we can go commerisate somewhere, on two wheels, or otherwise.

If you have any project management, requirements gathering, business intelligence (BI), or technical skills I might be able to assist with the job thing.

Keep your chin up!
Shannon

[badger]

sorry to hear the academic side of things isn't moving forward as you'd like! I'm sure everything will work out in the end (like they often do!) and here's to hoping you'll get back on your bike soon!

[Bike Chick]

Hang in there, Owlie. It's good to hear from you and I hope you get back on your bike and start posting again soon.

[badgercat]

azfiddle and I ran into each other recently and we were wondering what happened with you. I'm sorry to hear that things haven't worked out so far with your grad school pursuits. I'll keep my fingers crossed for beautiful riding weather to show up soon so you can burn off some steam. Good luck with the next round!

[OakLeaf]

Hey Owlie. Hang in there and good luck with all the life changes.

[Mr. Bloom]

Don't worry, I'm 50 feet away from my bike and can't ride because of rain! I noticed that TrekJeni had to drive from Cincinnati to Dayton to get a weekend ride in!

Good luck with the MS Program!

[zoom-zoom]

Don't worry, I'm 50 feet away from my bike and can't ride because of rain! I noticed that TrekJeni had to drive from Cincinnati to Dayton to get a weekend ride in!

Good luck with the MS Program!

Ha, really, most of my rides this Spring have been done in training for a duathlon this coming Sunday. Midwest weather has been such utter cold garbage that I don't think I'd have bothered were it not for the impending race. You're not missing much, Owlie!

But I'm happy to see you back and wish you luck on the next phase of your academic and work life.

[NbyNW]

Nice to see you back, Owlie.

Transitions can be tough, especially when you feel like you're not getting any traction. Don't give up! Something will work out.

[Owlie]

Thanks all. I actually popped in because I had a question, and I hopefully won't get too sucked in for bit. I really should be packing right now!

I emailed the head of the admissions committee at Arizona (which was my top choice), asking what I could do to improve my application for next year/whenever I reapply. He sent back a nice, but ultimately unhelpful e-mail. It boiled down to:
"It's not you, it's us. Any other year, we would have taken you in a heartbeat, but funding is down so we had to cut waaay back. Try to find a job in a research area. I'm sorry I couldn't be more helpful, but best of luck." It's the same everywhere, so I know it's not personal. It does make it that much harder to motivate myself to go through this process again, though. It's amazing how draining it is.

How's the new bike working out, zoom-zoom? Last time I was here I seem to remember you were stuck on the trainer.

By the way, Shannon, you set something off. I tried out a Dolce last time I was home. Love...though let's face it, I'd go with the Ruby.

[zoom-zoom]

How's the new bike working out, zoom-zoom? Last time I was here I seem to remember you were stuck on the trainer.

Awesome, for the most part...though our crappy weather days are still outnumbering the nice ones. I think that is going to change really soon, though...about time!

We're still working out dialing my fit in perfectly, though we're REALLY close. I'm suspicious that I have some leg length discrepancy issues at play (which weren't as big an issue on my previous bike with more forgiving geometry). I've always been VERY suspicious that my right leg is a hair longer...though signs point towards my left arch collapsing more than my right. It explains why all of my right knee pains while running disappeared as soon as I added Superfeet insoles to my shoes. If I take out the insoles my right knee hurts, again within a couple of runs. My Sidi shoes are too narrow, as is, so I've ordered some wider men's Louis Garneaus so that I might try Superfeet in those...and possibly some forefoot shims on the left side.

It stinks to hear your frustrations finding jobs in academia. It seems like academic and teaching jobs at all levels are really at a premium. Our local school district just cut nearly a quarter of teaching staff. It seems to me that cuts could have/should have been made elsewhere...the kids are the ones who will suffer most. I really hope things turn around--soon!

[ClockworkOrange]

Good to see you posting again Owlie.

Unfortunately funding for jobs appears to be a worldwide problem.

Just keep banging on doors, somebody is going to take you on soon.

Hugs.

[Roadtrip]

By the way, Shannon, you set something off. I tried out a Dolce last time I was home. Love...though let's face it, I'd go with the Ruby.

The ruby is such a sweet bike. I just had my fitting done and the stem replacement came in and is installed... I get to pick her up tonight. Plan is to take her out for a longer ride tomorrow for a true test.

Are you in town now???

Can you ride tomorrow?

Shannon

[Catrin]

Owlie! It is very good to see you back here, have been wondering if all was ok with you. So sorry to hear that things are working out differently than you had hoped, but very glad to hear you are ok.

[Owlie]

Catrin, have you taken up mountain biking while I've been gone?

I need to get back in the saddle, stat!
I'm also having major new bike lust...maybe I need to avoid this place until the crop of "new bike" posts goes away...or I get about $4000 for the Ultegra-equipped, bright red Ruby that I've been lusting after.