Complacent

Yesterday was a pretty average day for me, but I'm not going to complain one bit. I woke up early as my dad was leaving for work and he helped me jump my scooter. As I left the battery charging, I rode up to Kaldi's to have morning brew with my guys. It was really cute sitting with them because at the table next to us were 4 retired men laughing and talking about their lives. I can picture us in our retired years, riding our old crackity bikes to the coffee shop and laughing about all the silly things we did when we were younger.

I did a few things around the house once I came back home, then had an eye exam and ordered more contact lenses. I also snagged the Union Jack half helmet from the Vespa store. I can't wait to wear it today!! I then took a nap once I came home and really cannot remember the last time I've taken a nap before yesterday, how sad! I absolutely love afternoon naps. After my nap I drove into the hood for dinner with Truckey at La Tropicana (great suggestion girl) and enjoyed the short 2 hours we had together. This girl and I go back to our college years. I still remember the first class we had together, an 8:30am class, and she would always fall asleep. My friend and I looked forward to her sleeping episodes every class, it cracked us up. Now that I know her a little better, she is this incShredibly talented writer with a wide perspective on life. I am so glad I have her in my life, she always makes me feel so good about myself. She is the type of person who is so comfortable with herself, that you learn how to love yourself in return.

As we sat outside getting ready to wrap up dinner, a lady in a red Explorer was pulling out of her parallel parking spot (with my car in front of her) and backed into the shiny new Mini Cooper behind her. It pushed the cooper up into the air and as she slowly left Truck and I got her plate #. I ran inside and told the guy who owned the car; he said it just came from the shop today because he was recently rear-ended. As the police arrived a cop got out of the driver's seat and a cadet got out of the passenger seat. I felt a burst of excitement erupt and remembered that we get to do ride-a-longs while in Academy, SWEET!

After dinner with Truck, I jetted over to the Cowboy for a team meeting. Good times as usual...super secret team information though, sorry I can't share anymore...lol.

Batteries and ribs

Yesterday was my day off the bike and thankfully so. My body was so tired from finally resting after a year of constant go-go-go and a few periods of losing someone close to me. I started the morning out with coffee and biscotti at home while watching Italian music videos and the Tour de Suisse coverage. I then swung by the shop to pick up my belongings, all the while screaming at the guys that I was sick of their sh!% and was never coming back, that I couldn't take it anymore in the relationship. They got the joke and we all kind of laughed but also felt sad inside.

I then headed over to my see my amazing therapist. What a wonderful woman she is. I'm finally going to keep up with my appointments and not be stubborn anymore. I'm so DIY that I usually end up visiting her and getting caught up in my own grind that I forget I need her. Well, I'm finally in a place where I am ready to ask for help. Just to give you an idea of how much I love the ladies, even SHE was surprised that I am actually sticking to this 6 month hiatus. Whew.

I then dropped off my suits at the dry cleaners and started laundry. I'm afraid to see my dry cleaning bill, but also realizing that I have not dry cleaned them for over a year now and actually saved money by ironing them myself...lol. Once laundry was taken care of, I hopped on my Vespa and drov...wait a minute...I was out of gas...filled the tank at home...had a dead battery...plugged in the tender...battery is dead...so I drove to the new Vespa store in Kirkwood (nice, but really small) and found out I can jump start the bike with a car, among other things including the fact that they are selling an awesome Union Jack half helmet I have to buy today. I then walked to Crown Optical to buy more contact lenses and found out I need another eye appointment before I order more contacts. Bullocks, I freaking hate doing that but it must be done. It's kind of like starting a new relationship and getting tested for STDs so you and your partner know each other are clean...except my eyes don't sleep around...so why test them?

And then the evening came and went. I headed over to Geoff's for Kill Bill, Kill Bill 2, 8 hour smoked ribs and citrus vodka tonics. I love that guy and have officially unofficially called him my best friend in the past 3 conversations I have had about him. I just need to work on not leaving food and drink at his house when I leave. He has a week-old avocado of mine, bag of pine nuts, whole smoked chicken, and bottle of citrus vodka.

Picture of the day pays homage to Quentin:

On the last day and the day for fathers

Listening to: Justin Nozuka

Yesterday was my last day at the bike shop. It was rather bittersweet in the fact that I felt so comfortable there, but also must move on to a new career that will send me on my way. What's great is that I will keep my shop friends, but also make many more new ones on the Police force. It's amazing to sit back and think of how many friends I have in my life and how wonderfully different they all are.

Father's Day was a blast. My brother came over to my dad's house and we grilled steak and bonded, you know, typical guy stuff;) Josh is as beautiful as ever and I'm glad he is still on the right track after derailing a few times. I convinced the guys to go to Ted Drewes, so we drove down to the hood and sulked in Mr. Drewe's famous desserts. After we were done eating, 3 men walked up to my dad and started talking to him about the weather, as if they knew him. I thought one was an agent he works with so I started goofing off with Josh. I took his photo next to Luigi, the chocolate maker...

...sat on the curb as we watched a guy walk home from Aldi's with headphones on, connected to the boombox he was carrying...along with me almost fitting Josh upside-down into a trash can filled with custard cups...then looked over at my dad who was surrounded by 3 Christian men praying for him; one's shirt read, "Jesus Beat the Devil"...I never knew they fought?!

Just as the uncomfortability set into my nerves, I looked up to see Rob and Megan walking their dogs across Hampton and quickly ran over to say hi. I was glad someone was praying for my dad, but it was kind of the wrong place to be doing it. Nevertheless, my dad felt like a rock star and that's what he deserves so I just kept my mouth shut for once and let him sulk in the moment.

Overall, the night was superb. I was able to bond with my sober brother and love my dad as usual, all without Josh needing a drink to open up to his family.

Tonight I will begin posting about my vacation week before Academy starts.

Last Week

After having the past 2 days off work (and enjoying them very much) today I head back to work for my last week ever at the Trek Store. After the first time I left the shop to work at the law firm, I didn't realize just how much they missed and needed me. But now I am realizing how great of an asset I am to the shop, and that a huge piece of it's history and growth and improvement will leave once I leave. I was one of the original employees who carved the shop into what it is today. So, this exit is going to be a bit more sentimental than the previous.

In turn, (like how I started with the bad but ended with the good?) I am absolutely thrilled to start Police Academy. They told us last week when we took our psychological tests that it's up to us to put in our 2 weeks at work, since we still had to pass the psychological tests and physical exams and weren't guaranteed the position yet. I thought about it and talked with others and decided to go ahead and put in my 2 weeks and take off a week before Academy starts on June 23rd. I decided to take the risk and hope I get in, in order to have a week off before I dive into 6 full months of Academy.

All of my tests are complete. Now I wait for the phone call saying I am in...they will most likely call next week.

Dave Lucas - 6/1/2008

I lost another friend on June 1st. I befriended Dave about a month ago when he came into the shop and bought a super nice bike, the Trek 7.7FX with tons of accessories so he could get back to riding and commuting everywhere as he used to when he was younger. He told me he was a pilot and flew his own plane he built himself. I told him stories of when my dad flew me around in his private plane when I was a child and Dave invited me to fly with him some time. We exchanged numbers and kept having to postpone a day of flying due to bad weather and my busy schedule.

I hadn't heard from him in awhile and on June 1st at around 5pm I decided to give him a call and left a lengthy message about when I was free to go fly and how I hoped he was doing well and riding his bike everywhere.

I got a phone call yesterday at work that he died in a crash that same day. He was going to fly a friend that day and the friend was running late, so Dave started up the plane to get it warmed up. He took off and somehow crashed; details on the cause of the crash won't be released for about a month.

Dave was an amazing pilot, amazing friend, and incredibly sweet man. He always had a smile on his face and always made sure others were taken care of.

Here is the article concerning the accident:
Article

Track Night

I went to the first Wed. Track Series last night and am hooked. I always knew I would make a great track racer because I have such a muscular build, but I never knew I would enjoy it as much as I did last night. I could see Rob and TJ enjoyed it just as much when we all wore huge grins on our faces after the scratch race.

The clinic was led by Joe and PJ Walsh, two legends from St. Louis, and was very helpful. I already listed things I need to work on - sit closer to the wheel in front of me, go harder in the turns, and change my gear from 82 to 88 inches and my bars to real track bars. I can't wait for next Wednesday!

I've felt extremely busy lately and it makes me happy. I know I haven't been hanging out with/seeing my friends because of lack of time, but I'm making sure I at least keep in touch with them. I'm just at a time in my life where I need as much ME time as possible. When I work 8-10 hours a day talking to complete strangers at work, then drive each weekend with my teammates and race for 2-3 days surrounded by other racers, I need my evenings alone. I have 2 books I want to start/finish, letters to write to people, tons of boxes to still unpack, and a new career to focus on. I may seem selfish with my time, but I need it right now. This 6 month challenge is making me realize I was running away from myself by keeping myself busy with events that prevented me from looking deeply within.

This blog is going to be a great way to document the next 6 months.

It's raining, I'm on the couch with Fair Trade Ethiopian coffee from Local Harvest to my right, my beautiful cat Elisa to my left, and ever-so-interesting morning news on the teli; I have to do an easy 1 hour ride today and may have to drag out the trainer if the rain is as bad as the radar says it is.

Lawrence is where it's at

Lawrence, Kansas. Who would have thought?

I drove into Lawrence late Saturday night to Brian and Michelle's new house. I thought I had the wrong address as I drove through cornfields, over severely uneven railroad tracks, and onto roughly paved roads. It was some time after 11pm and all I could see were randomly placed homes on large acreage plots and small blue street signs listed by numbers (1500, 1750, etc.). I almost called Brian to make sure I was in the right area when in the blink of an eye those rural roads turned into small town suburbia. The pavement quieted, the street signs appeared more quickly and were actual words (Summit, Northwind, etc.), and street lamps popped up. "Wow, we're going to have an amazing ride tomorrow", I thought to myself.

Michelle woke me up Sunday morning and I walked downstairs like a zombie, only focusing my senses on the smell of coffee and eggs. I was told we were joining an 8:30 group ride as Brian gave me the second half of his bagel, insisting I eat more because supposedly it's a long, tough ride. To hear him say a ride is tough means he is serious. I suddenly became extremely excited to start the ride, also glad I brought my Aeolus wheels. Last year I would have been frightened by a ride description of long and hard, but now it's nothing but a great chance for me to increase my endurance and fitness.

We rode about 2 minutes through town and met the group - all guys, mostly older (masters type guys), and one woman besides Michelle and I. They all watched us roll up and just stared at me with mini-smiles, curious as to who I was and excited to see a fresh face. They all asked about Team Revolution and gave compliments about the teeth on my bike. The ride took off at a great pace through town and once we hit the country roads we began to take turns pulling. I was able to ride next to many different guys, Gary, Tom, Joe, Dan, Scott, and the dude on the freaking fixed gear with bullhorns - kudos man! I took my turn pulling more than some of the others who sat toward the bike and just enjoyed good company. I enjoyed sharing the work and also looked forward to pulling off the front so that Dan could move up and make some silly comment like, "Eh, good", or "have you seen the movie Babe? You did good Babe, you did good", or "not too bad". I finally cracked about 2 hours into the ride and was glad to have Michelle show me where to sit my front wheel in the drafts. After a stop for more water we were close to town and I managed to take a county limit sign before my legs told me to stop the hard efforts. The weather was beautiful, the route absolutely perfect, and the company warm.

Once we were done showering, baking cakes for Brian's graduation party, and refueling, Michelle and I went into town to stop by Dan's shop so I could get a cool t-shirt. Dan ended up giving it to me, along with 2 neat Life is Good stickers I picked out. What a great guy - SUPER strong rider, great business owner, and wonderful friend. If you are ever in Lawrence, please stop by his shop and say hello to him - tell him I sent you. After Michelle had to pull me out of the shop, we drove to get beer for the party and came back home with time for me to start reading my new book and hang out with Nick before the party-goers arrived.

I met some great people on the ride and at the party. Everyone wanted to meet each other, were excited to get to know each other, and just had a great time. It's nice going to parties where nobody acts too cool to introduce themselves. It seems like in St. Louis some people feel they are too cool to meet new people.

What a fantastic weekend.

This week I am working a bunch in order to leave next weekend for Quad Cities. Race hard, rest well!