Well, the bike ride is rapidly approaching. I've been sort of apprehensive or something in some way that I can' t really describe. But I'm really excited today. Let me tell you why.
1. I got a new derailleur a couple of days ago. While this may not seem like a big deal, I think it is. Now I can ride with confidence, knowing that if I go up any hills, I can actually shift my gears and be in the gear I want to be. I know that it is likely that I will need my derailleur or cables adjusted while on the ride, since my derailleur will be getting worn in on the ride, but I'm still really excited about this. I rode to work the other day, picked the hilliest route I could find, and it was a fantastic ride.
2. I'm getting really good pep talks from friends - a lot of really encouraging and supportive words. To top it off, I got some good luck gifts today, including the lip balm and lucky clover thingy from Kate and this most interesting naked gnome from Anne (rear and front views shown below). I was really touched by Kate's offering because I've been sort of crabby and she's dealing with it nicely. I had a totally different reaction to what Anne sent. I love the fact that she sent this to me, even if I think it is a little, well, unusual. Why do I love the fact she sent it to me? A. She felted this at family camp. Who goes to family camp? And, once there, who felts a bizarrely sort of anatomically correct gnome? B. She sent me a funny note about the ways in which this will bring me good luck, the opportunities for making puns that it will create, and the fact that I will save her from getting into trouble at work. C. She Fed Exed it to me. That's support. D. I think, despite some misgivings, that I will attach it to my bike. It will be a conversation starter on the ride. "Is that a gnome?" "Yes, it is. It is FELTED." "Is it naked? Are those breasts?" "Duh." Okay, maybe I should prepare some responses that are more socially acceptable.
3. I met all sorts of fundraising goals that I didn't even know I had before this week. First, I realized that between the MS 150 and the TRAM I was close to having raised a total of $5,000. Me! $5,000! I noted that on Facebook and Joelle, sweet Joelle, made a donation to get me to $5,000 on the penny. I then realized, with this donation, that my TRAM goal was nearly met - almost to the $500 mark. Again, good ol' Facebook saved the day. I noted that I was close to $500 for the TRAM and that, if I met that goal, I would get a free TRAM jersey. I promised that if my teammate Travis (also close to $500 at that point) and I got the TRAM jerseys, we'd wear them and take photos. My friend Stacy's mom and dad, Ann and Wade, who happen to be Travis' in-laws, made a donation to each of us to get us there. Thanks!
4. At rowing practice tonight, after headed into a, uh, precarious situation with the boat and trying to understand the yelling coach's directions and then hearing a lecture afterwards (while it was a dangerous situation, he didn't understand that we were actually avoiding it and that his yelling at us to stop actually put us in more danger - - - good job, Debi, for saving us and the boat from harm, and thanks for taking the heat, even though I think it was partly my fault)... ANYHOW, he turned out to be a nice guy who has ridden the TRAM 16 times! He told me all sorts of things (he confirmed Joelle's statement that people of all ages do this ride, so I can hack it, he explained how the camping and food works, he said the route shouldn't be too hilly based on the roads he's ridden in the area, etc.) that made me really, really excited.
So, we leave Sunday, head to International Falls, and start riding Monday. I've got to wrap things up for my week's vacation from work and take care of getting some last minute items (bug spray, spare bike tubes, etc.), but I'll be on my way soon, enjoying a nice ride through my beautiful state. And I made my goal of $500 for this ride, surpassing my combined goal of $4,500 by over $500. Thanks, guys. You're great. As your reward, Robert Frost's poem, without being bastardized by references to gnomes...
3. I met all sorts of fundraising goals that I didn't even know I had before this week. First, I realized that between the MS 150 and the TRAM I was close to having raised a total of $5,000. Me! $5,000! I noted that on Facebook and Joelle, sweet Joelle, made a donation to get me to $5,000 on the penny. I then realized, with this donation, that my TRAM goal was nearly met - almost to the $500 mark. Again, good ol' Facebook saved the day. I noted that I was close to $500 for the TRAM and that, if I met that goal, I would get a free TRAM jersey. I promised that if my teammate Travis (also close to $500 at that point) and I got the TRAM jerseys, we'd wear them and take photos. My friend Stacy's mom and dad, Ann and Wade, who happen to be Travis' in-laws, made a donation to each of us to get us there. Thanks!
4. At rowing practice tonight, after headed into a, uh, precarious situation with the boat and trying to understand the yelling coach's directions and then hearing a lecture afterwards (while it was a dangerous situation, he didn't understand that we were actually avoiding it and that his yelling at us to stop actually put us in more danger - - - good job, Debi, for saving us and the boat from harm, and thanks for taking the heat, even though I think it was partly my fault)... ANYHOW, he turned out to be a nice guy who has ridden the TRAM 16 times! He told me all sorts of things (he confirmed Joelle's statement that people of all ages do this ride, so I can hack it, he explained how the camping and food works, he said the route shouldn't be too hilly based on the roads he's ridden in the area, etc.) that made me really, really excited.
So, we leave Sunday, head to International Falls, and start riding Monday. I've got to wrap things up for my week's vacation from work and take care of getting some last minute items (bug spray, spare bike tubes, etc.), but I'll be on my way soon, enjoying a nice ride through my beautiful state. And I made my goal of $500 for this ride, surpassing my combined goal of $4,500 by over $500. Thanks, guys. You're great. As your reward, Robert Frost's poem, without being bastardized by references to gnomes...
The Road Not Taken
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
