Work

Today marks an all time #1 slot for the hardest day at work. My company has experienced much over the last few years with new ownership, multiple restructures and the economic downturn. While everyone has to buy groceries and many have resorted to eating at home to combat what were higher gas prices and the aconomy in general, they have changed what they put in their shopping cart as well as how much they put in it. I have been fortunate to work for a manager and a director who have guided me and taught me more than I could ever tell you. They have trusted me with new tasks that have helped me grow as an individual and as part of the team. Today we lost MANY to job cuts.

Everything that has happened unfortunately also led to the company not being unable to partner with my team as the title sponsor. We as a team weren't able to give them what they needed to drive the business to have the sponsorship dollars in return. It is a double edged sword for me. I had to realize what it meant that the business would not have the funds to participate, what that potentially meant with regards to the business and what was on the horizon. I also had to hear the disappointment from my sister cycling teammates, some more negative than others about the loss. It was hard not to respond like a caged lion at times. I saw many around me, including my sister-in-law lose their jobs in order for my company to survive. I will ride my bike no matter what, some times more than others. I will race my bike, some times more than others. I will do this no matter what is on my jersey - something or nothing.

I held in my emotions today until I said a very tearful "see you later" to my director. He and I have butted heads many times and my growth process was very painful for both of us. He has supported me so much more than I deserved at times and I am forever grateful. He will still be with the company in a different role but that doesn't comfort me because of the way my team and I depend on him to teach us how to be better at what we are doing each day. Because of the investment he and my manager have made I've become an asset instead of a liability. I know I'll grow by him not being there, I'll learn to be more independent in that way, but cutting that cord is still hard.

I am left now drained from crying, though I am probably not done. I have a survivor's guilt that I don't think I could explain. We have lost so many, not because they were doing a bad job, but just because the company had to make a change to survive. I pray for those that were eliminated, that they find more than they could have hoped for. I pray for the team I will work with moving forward that in time we find a steady pace to continue on. I pray that everyone learn to be more than grateful for what they have and truly see how much others have lost.

God bless and keep you.

This Old House

Long time no post!! But Jon and I are all moved in, a task that nearly killed us... or made us kill each other. Luckily we came out unscathed which is more than I can say for the fridge which fell out of the moving truck. But at least it still works!

We've taken up in one of the additional bedrooms and have completed most of the demolition work in the master bath. We took out two small closets behind the shower which will give us enough room for a nice jetted tub :) We'll be replacing the sub floor next and we have to get the rest of the manual labor done before we move on to the aesthetics.

Sanchez and Maddee have adapted beautifully. Though the recent de-claw of Sanchez has been hard on us all I think he is almost out of the woods and both animals will soon be tearing from one end of the house to the other soon.

The recent cold, rainy weather has made me very happy we have a fireplace. I'm also happy we have a garage even though we can't use it as it is being used for demo storage.

An update

The last few months have been more than the word crazy could encompass. Work has been a challenge to say the least with my responsibilities changing. But I press on with much help from those around me and with the Good Lord's help I'll continue.

The past three weekends have been busy, busy, busy.

Three weekends ago we went to Beaufort for the state TT races. Due to low turn out the women's fields were eliminated which meant race with the men or not at all. I had no concerns about racing with men, I was more concerned with the race seeing as how I haven't really been in any kind of form or had any kind of training routine. We were at mile 31 and I was feeling good about things... I was going to finish. Then all of the sudden everyone just say up... we went from racing to riding a freaking Sunday bakery ride. I ran into the rider in front of me and then another rider went wide rights then back in front of me and went down and then I went down. I dot back up and finished the race with no serious damage to myself or my bike thank goodness. I still have the bruise on my shin which is probably going to take another week or two to heal since I fell and landed on that part of my leg while riding my cross bike at Paris Mtn.
Jon did very well in the crit and the RR. He amazes me b/c he has such an ability to suffer and he is so freak'n strong. Funny that those very things make me just as mad. He can have 5 beers a day and take a month off the bike and come back like nothing happened. I do that and I don't even want to ride 5 miles let a lone race.

Two weekends ago was the famous Greenville Classic weekend. I raced sat and sun. Sat was the women's open which I fell of the back of as usual... the hill on the second turn is NEVER kind to me. But my teammate Melissa and I linked up and finished the race together... thank God she was there to pull my tired butt around the back side of the course or I might have just quit. Sunday was much better for me in a Women's 4 field. 9 of us escaped from the large starting group and even though it hurt like hell it was a fun race. I made $ both days so I can't really complain. Jon did well but this is the first weekend that I've won more $ than him!!

Then this past weekend was the famous Tsali camping/Mtb trip which I have never been able to attend before. We headed up to meet RaeRae and Sperry and the rest of the group Friday. Unfortunately we missed dinner but spent some time around the fire with everyone before pitching the tent and turning in. Saturday we got up, had a great breakfast and went to ride. I have lost all my mojo on the mtb after bing off of it for 8 months or so. Riding trails that I didn't know didn't help and my back decided it didn't want to play nice either. So after one loop of what for me was a complete suffer fest I went back to the camp and relaxed. Jon came back from riding with Sean, Sperry and a few others and I was completely blown away by the fact that he stayed with them even with a small wreck that apparently didn't slow him down one bit. That night was filled with AWESOME food, one of Danna's YUMMY cakes, plenty of Rae-ritas and jack & coke's and we all listened to songs a plenty thanks to Bo, Rusty, Randy and Remey. Sunday provided a nice easy ride that was completely enjoyable and I think my decision to take one bottle instead of wearing a camelback paid off. So much of the best parts of my life revolve around my bikes and those I know because of them. I am truly blessed and look forward to the next adventure.

And I think that adventure will be the NCXC series that I will be doing with my teammate Debbie... hopefully she won't kick my butt to bad :)

Let me Introduce Pele & House news!!!

First off - Jon and I got the contract back for the home that we made an offer on. It is in the perfect location near my old apartment. Close to both my work and his and downtown. It is a 3 bedrm 2 bath ranch style home with a two car garage (which Jon loves), two living rooms, a cute kitchen which we will probably gut and open to the living room that has a fireplace (which I love) a dining room, a breakfast nook, a screened in back porch (which Sanchez will love) and a very nice fenced in backyard (which Maddee will love)!! We still have to get the inspection done, etc but things are looking very good right now. Please make offerings to the Home buying deities that things go faster than normal so maybe we could move in by the end of the month!!!

Speaking of deities may I introduce Pele; she is the newest edition to the bike collection that Jon and I already have. She is named for the Hawaiian goddess of fire..."She-Who-Shapes-The-Sacred-Land", or the Goddess of a Thousand Names, Pele was a passionate fire goddess who commanded both fear and respect. Pele is both a destructive and creative force." Obviously ecentricity is a theme when I name my bikes, except for my mtn bike which I normally refer to as Effie.

Double Bakery Delerium :)

This weekend 1NJen, Kimberly, Sweet Melissa, Dawn, Caroline and myself rode from North Greenville and did the double bakery ride. It was wonderful!!! I rarely get to partake in those special rides with my teammates b/c I'm chained to the bike racks at the shop selling bikes, fixing flats and hustling Gu. But this was truly a worthwhile reason for a day off. I forget how theraputic riding with other women can be. I even made the comment that I could do the exact same ride with Jon and not feel near as good about myself as I did during and after. I felt great that day and I;m so glad I got to spend time with the girls!!!

Georgia Cup Excitement and the heat!!

There was a jam packed weekend of racing in Elberton, GA this past weekend thanks to the Georgia Cup. I must first say that this was a WONDERFULLY supported race, I was extremely impressed with the police and volunteer support. Though there were no women’s fields I give them a big Ole Golf Clap :)
Anywhoser… It started off Saturday with a team time trial which our very own Land Rover team dominated thanks to the streamlined style of big man on the bike Eric C. Then there was tons to watch in the men’s 3/4 crit which Jon finished 3rd in and the men’s 3 race which he finished 10th in and the team ended up winning.

He came home tired, slightly dehydrated but triumphant nonetheless and regaled me with the tale of him puking promptly after stepping down from the podium and then deciding what the hell, lets do the 3 race too. Can you even wonder why I'm so in love with him?? Then after a short discussion Saturday night I decided to go with him Sunday morning to race. Though there was no women’s field I entered the men’s 4/5. At the registration table I found out that the race was 2 laps which = 60 miles. GULP!! I hoped for one lap with the field which was small and not knowing these guys like I know the boy-cyclists of Greenville I was intimidated. We started out neutral until a right turn onto the course which gave me time to relax and hopefully ease the minds of the field that I wasn’t going to scream or cry or take any of them out. I had already selected my wheel for the race, he was a solid, calm looking fellow donning a plain white kit. He was exactly what I needed and was even mindful of me, constantly turning to see if I was still with him. Attacks would come and he would effortlessly pull me back to the field. I wondered how long I’d last, I have no computer on my bike so I never know anything any more. All I know is I made it almost to the top of the biggest hill on the course and just couldn’t hold on. The field eventually went out of sight and I was alone.

My legs hurt and were on the verge of cramping the whole time no matter how much fluid I forced down my throat. My inability to eat before early races crippled me combined with the heat and the lack of riding last week to facilitate the move out of my old apartment & making my shacking up with Jon official. I have never been so happy to cross a finish line even though I was willfully DNF-ing. I went to the car to change and waited for Jon’s race to finish. I heard the sirens of the police escort and here came big Eric C all by his lonesome for an awesome finish and BIG win. The sprint finish for the field was awesome b/c 3 field was the largest group. It was nothing but a winning weekend for the green zebras of Land Rover.

It was also good time spent with Jon which it seems there hasn’t been enough of the last few weeks with me moving. It has felt like life has been on hold the last few months and now it feels like the clouds are starting to lift. The rest of Sunday was spent at Granny’s pool with Jon’s mom, step-dad and little sister with a wonderful dinner following (certainly made me forget about my poor performance earlier in the day). I really cherish the time that we all spend together and fell so honored to have the warmth, love and trust that they have extended to me.

Planning a lot of riding this week, hopefully that will help things. Until next time, pedal like a girl!!

A litlle local race report

Last night was yet another in the BMW Summerseries. While the women's feilds have been SMALl to non-exsisitant after being cut from the race we received a pardon, if you will. There were are several women in Greenville forming a new team to help and inspire each other which I fully support. One of my best friends is part of this aspiring team and asked if I would be there. The thought was that if enough women showed up the race organizer would allow the women to start 20 seconds behind the men's field which is exactly what we did.
I tried to keep everyone in a pace line from the start which worked for the first lap. After that I tried to get them to pull through but we started breaking up. By the fourth lap it was just me and Kelly Patton switching off, eventually taking the wheel of one of the guys who got popped off.
All in all it was a wonderful race, I am so proud of each woman who was out there. Half the battle is getting out there and they all accomplished that. I wish there would have been more ladies out there, especially since it is a local race with a local organizer. It is low turn out like this that threatens the existance of women's 4 racing and the development of the sport. Regardless it was a wonderful race and I am so pleased that I was there to be a part of it!!