That's me and Chip today: contentedly ruling the house for the day! After two days of working on the PR/Admissions photo shoot while feeling like death warmed over, I took today off to (1) get at least moderately healthy again and (2) get new Internet access installed. The Verizon Air Card just wasn't working well, so we gave the local wireless a try. So far, so good!
This day is great for my sanity. I've felt like life was just piling up around me, and I didn't have time to fully address the massive mounds at both work and home. Now, having dedicated a day to changing our address, getting the last of the stuff from the apartment and making progress on homework, I feel like my personal life might be somewhat more under control. And with the photo shoot wrapped up, I can refocus on the rest of my work tomorrow.
I love this life. In an email to my dear friend, Jenn, I wrote that God has truly provided for us and put us in His perfect place, despite our constant insistence to do things our way, not His. We are so very blessed.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Saturday, September 19, 2009
A Beautiful Day
On this lovely Saturday:
*I went to the Orientation Committee Recognition Brunch up in Mt. Pleasant. Since The Embers closed, we've struggled to find a nice venue for this, and I think it's an important event, particularly to provide some closure for the seniors. This year, though, we found a winner: Riverwood Resort, where they provided a fantastic brunch for our students.
*I swung by the Alumni Board meeting. It's usually a bit intense, but I've gotten used to the 20 minutes of grilling I get each time. As always, though, the group is supportive and enthusiastic.
*I gutted the garden along our front sidewalk and replaced the ragged hostas with bright, beautiful mums from Harrier Farms in St. Louis. They have the most beautiful plants; in fact, when I decided I needed another mum and drove to Andy T's in St. Johns, I couldn't bring myself to buy one of their less attractive (more expensive!) mums. I did, however, treat myself to half a peck of Empire apples (the best!) and a loaf of fresh sourdough bread.
*I made chicken salad - a favorite of mine, though Mitch isn't a fan - and applesauce from the overpriced, not-great-for-eating Macintosh apples from Uncle Johns. The apples smelled to good simmering on the stove, and I still have plenty for a pie tomorrow. Maybe apple-raspberry?
*I unpacked all my books, officially completing my little library in the new house. Well, it's complete except for the chair and a half that will eventually replace my bowl chair, anyway!
*As the sun set, I settled myself on the couch to wrestle with the Internet (our Verizon Air Card doesn't work so well, so I think we'll take it back and get the local wireless service) and do some homework. After this nice little break, I swear I'll finish my management chapter on evaluating environmental opportunities!
Oh, blessed weekend...
*I went to the Orientation Committee Recognition Brunch up in Mt. Pleasant. Since The Embers closed, we've struggled to find a nice venue for this, and I think it's an important event, particularly to provide some closure for the seniors. This year, though, we found a winner: Riverwood Resort, where they provided a fantastic brunch for our students.
*I swung by the Alumni Board meeting. It's usually a bit intense, but I've gotten used to the 20 minutes of grilling I get each time. As always, though, the group is supportive and enthusiastic.
*I gutted the garden along our front sidewalk and replaced the ragged hostas with bright, beautiful mums from Harrier Farms in St. Louis. They have the most beautiful plants; in fact, when I decided I needed another mum and drove to Andy T's in St. Johns, I couldn't bring myself to buy one of their less attractive (more expensive!) mums. I did, however, treat myself to half a peck of Empire apples (the best!) and a loaf of fresh sourdough bread.
*I made chicken salad - a favorite of mine, though Mitch isn't a fan - and applesauce from the overpriced, not-great-for-eating Macintosh apples from Uncle Johns. The apples smelled to good simmering on the stove, and I still have plenty for a pie tomorrow. Maybe apple-raspberry?
*I unpacked all my books, officially completing my little library in the new house. Well, it's complete except for the chair and a half that will eventually replace my bowl chair, anyway!
*As the sun set, I settled myself on the couch to wrestle with the Internet (our Verizon Air Card doesn't work so well, so I think we'll take it back and get the local wireless service) and do some homework. After this nice little break, I swear I'll finish my management chapter on evaluating environmental opportunities!
Oh, blessed weekend...
Monday, September 14, 2009
All Moved In!
That's right, folks: we successfully moved into our new home on Saturday! No furniture was dropped, no precious china shattered, no feline flattened (probably because he was at my parents' for the weekend). We are now smack-dab in the middle of unpacking, so there are unattractive cardboard boxes everywhere. However, as soon as I feel the place looks decent, I'll post some new photos!
Let me tell you, though: it's wonderful. There's so much space! Our kitchen is gloriously organized in the kitchen, not spilling over into the laundry room. The neglected bikes live in the garage, not the bathroom. We have clothes in the closet, not ski boots and ice skates and rollerblades. Glorious!
The strangest thing, though, is getting used to the idea that we're staying here. I've been regularly packing up my life and moving from place to place for almost ten years, between college and our various apartments. Every time I would unpack, the idea that I would be packing back up again crossed my mind. We didn't arrange tools on shelves; we left them in cardboard boxes. I saved packing materials. I got used to living without a sense of permanence.
And now, it's permanent. Wow.
Let me tell you, though: it's wonderful. There's so much space! Our kitchen is gloriously organized in the kitchen, not spilling over into the laundry room. The neglected bikes live in the garage, not the bathroom. We have clothes in the closet, not ski boots and ice skates and rollerblades. Glorious!
The strangest thing, though, is getting used to the idea that we're staying here. I've been regularly packing up my life and moving from place to place for almost ten years, between college and our various apartments. Every time I would unpack, the idea that I would be packing back up again crossed my mind. We didn't arrange tools on shelves; we left them in cardboard boxes. I saved packing materials. I got used to living without a sense of permanence.
And now, it's permanent. Wow.
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
The Whirlwind I Call My Life
Whirlwind...that's an apt description for everything right now! First, we closed on our house last Thursday and immediately got to work. So far, we've painted everything on the main floor (the basement will be a winter project) and just have a few more touch-ups to do. I started cleaning last night and hope to finish up tomorrow while Stanley Steemer cleans the carpets. We've also installed two of the three screen/storm doors we bought. For the next two days, then, we'll be packing up our apartment in preparation for Saturday's big move. Yikes!
Second, my fifth term in grad school started this weekend. I have two management classes: Strategic Management and Global Dimensions of Management. I don't have a sense of the workload yet, but I hope I don't fall too far behind over the weekend. In addition to the move, I have Mim's bachelorette party on Saturday night, and then I have to head down to my parents' to pick up Chip since he'll be staying there while we move. But good news: this is my second-to-last term. MBA, here I come!
Third, work is insane. I just finished two all-consuming weeks with the Orientation Committee, guiding them through training and Preterm. They have become an absolutely awesome group over the past few years...completely different from their traditional image, in many ways. I'm so proud of them! When I get a spare minute, I'll try to post their spoof on the alma mater from A to Z. It was pretty hilarious! In addition to wrapping up with the OCs, I'm helping plan an extensive two-day photo shoot, I'm a member of the steering committee for the implementation of the new campus-wide administrative software program, I'm planning travel season for my new little recruitment territory (Clinton and Ingham counties), I'm doing Web and portal upgrades in preparation for next year, I'm trying to get publications finished, and I'm getting the Alumni Ambassadors rolling for the upcoming year. Phew!
Fourth, I'd like to talk about how I'm still training and spending lots of time on the bike...but truthfully, my racing season is done and I haven't had time to do more than hit the Rec a couple of times since Maybury. I even bought a sweet new helmet that I have yet to actually try out! Mitch hasn't been able to ride much, either, primiarily because his knee was healing so slowly. But he took his stitches out this weekend and went for an easy road ride, which he said felt good. I know neither of us can race Addison this weekend (bummer, because I really like the course) but I believe Mitch is still considering Pando, if he can get back in good riding condition. Otherwise, he'll simply focus on Iceman in November. Overall, I have to say this has been an awesome racing season for us. Being a part of the On 2 Wheels team was great, and I definitely improved over last year. I look forward to some good training this winter so I can be an even stronger racer next year.
OK, I have to go run some errands around campus now. Thanks for reading this insanely long update!
Second, my fifth term in grad school started this weekend. I have two management classes: Strategic Management and Global Dimensions of Management. I don't have a sense of the workload yet, but I hope I don't fall too far behind over the weekend. In addition to the move, I have Mim's bachelorette party on Saturday night, and then I have to head down to my parents' to pick up Chip since he'll be staying there while we move. But good news: this is my second-to-last term. MBA, here I come!
Third, work is insane. I just finished two all-consuming weeks with the Orientation Committee, guiding them through training and Preterm. They have become an absolutely awesome group over the past few years...completely different from their traditional image, in many ways. I'm so proud of them! When I get a spare minute, I'll try to post their spoof on the alma mater from A to Z. It was pretty hilarious! In addition to wrapping up with the OCs, I'm helping plan an extensive two-day photo shoot, I'm a member of the steering committee for the implementation of the new campus-wide administrative software program, I'm planning travel season for my new little recruitment territory (Clinton and Ingham counties), I'm doing Web and portal upgrades in preparation for next year, I'm trying to get publications finished, and I'm getting the Alumni Ambassadors rolling for the upcoming year. Phew!
Fourth, I'd like to talk about how I'm still training and spending lots of time on the bike...but truthfully, my racing season is done and I haven't had time to do more than hit the Rec a couple of times since Maybury. I even bought a sweet new helmet that I have yet to actually try out! Mitch hasn't been able to ride much, either, primiarily because his knee was healing so slowly. But he took his stitches out this weekend and went for an easy road ride, which he said felt good. I know neither of us can race Addison this weekend (bummer, because I really like the course) but I believe Mitch is still considering Pando, if he can get back in good riding condition. Otherwise, he'll simply focus on Iceman in November. Overall, I have to say this has been an awesome racing season for us. Being a part of the On 2 Wheels team was great, and I definitely improved over last year. I look forward to some good training this winter so I can be an even stronger racer next year.
OK, I have to go run some errands around campus now. Thanks for reading this insanely long update!
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
A closing date!
This Thursday, at 3:30 pm, we'll close on our first house!
I'm just thrilled...it will certainly be a blessed day! Coincidentally, some of our friends are closing on their first house on Thursday, too. I sense some celebrations on the horizon!
I'm just thrilled...it will certainly be a blessed day! Coincidentally, some of our friends are closing on their first house on Thursday, too. I sense some celebrations on the horizon!
Loan approved!
Yesterday afternoon, Rural Development approved our loan application for our house! This means we can set a closing date, and I'm pushing for Thursday. The plan is to paint on Sunday and Monday, spend the rest of the week packing and cleaning, and then move in next Saturday! I'm SO EXCITED!
Last night, we bought all the paint we *think* we need. I absolutely love the colors we chose...I suppose I better, since I'll have to live with them! We also picked out screen doors for the ones that go out to the deck, and a nicer storm door for the front door. As long as we can borrow a friend's truck, we can get those and our washer/dryer set on Thursday.
It seems like we've been in the "hurry up and wait" stage for a really long time. I can't wait until there's a little more action!
Last night, we bought all the paint we *think* we need. I absolutely love the colors we chose...I suppose I better, since I'll have to live with them! We also picked out screen doors for the ones that go out to the deck, and a nicer storm door for the front door. As long as we can borrow a friend's truck, we can get those and our washer/dryer set on Thursday.
It seems like we've been in the "hurry up and wait" stage for a really long time. I can't wait until there's a little more action!
Friday, August 28, 2009
On Sunday Nights
On Sunday night, I get ready for Monday morning. The kitchen is sparkling clean, and I can smell the coffee grounds I've just put in the percolator. When I open the refrigerator, I see jewel-colored water bottles lined up on the top shelf, alongside two gallons of milk. Neat rows of Yoplait yogurt flank fresh bags of deli meat and cheese, ready for lunch the next day. Bright bags of fruit fill the drawers and spill out onto the shelves, washed and cut. Fresh lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, and maybe the odd pepper join the scene, all ingredients for the coming week's dinner. I close the fridge, and my family and friends smile back at me, haphazardly grinning from their Christmas cards and save the date wedding announcements.
There's just something about seeing a full refrigerator that gives me a strange sense of peace. I see God's blessings, food He will use to sustain me and my husband throughout the week ahead. I see planning and preparation that will make the week go smooth, and healthy meals that will keep us strong and fit. I see the table we'll set for family and friends who may visit, and the pleasure we'll take in our time together.
On Sunday nights, the stage is set. It's always beautiful.
There's just something about seeing a full refrigerator that gives me a strange sense of peace. I see God's blessings, food He will use to sustain me and my husband throughout the week ahead. I see planning and preparation that will make the week go smooth, and healthy meals that will keep us strong and fit. I see the table we'll set for family and friends who may visit, and the pleasure we'll take in our time together.
On Sunday nights, the stage is set. It's always beautiful.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
WARNING: Injury Photos
This weekend was the much-anticipated Maybury Time Trial. I love this race. First of all, it's short: just under 10 miles this year. That turns a lot of mountain bikers off, but I'm a sprinter masquerading in an endurance sport. I like to turn it on, full blast, but I can't sustain the pace. So a nice, short course is perfect for pushing myself as hard as I can.
Second, it's technical. I am not a strong climber, and I hate everything about climbing hills on my bike. But I LOVE tight, twisty single track. I like intimidating downhills where, if you let down your guard just for a moment, a rut or rock or root can send you careening into a tree. I like overcoming the mental game of close calls and I think I'm sort of ballsy, for a girl.
Third, Maybury State Park is so close to my parents' house that I can actually train on the course and prepare myself. Locals have a definite advantage here, and though I'm only a former local, I feel like I know the course pretty well.
So race day came, bright and early. Well, maybe not so bright...temps were in the sixties and the sun refused to stay out. It had rained over night, so the expert racers were reporting a combination of tacky and slimey conditions, depending on the spot. Mitch's class started about 40 minutes before mine, so I was able to cheer him on at the start before doing my own warm-up with Nichole.
My start felt great. I took off 30 seconds after Nichole, who was the only other woman in my class. In other races, this has really hurt my motivation. I race for the competition, but with no one to beat and no chance of keeping up with my amazing teammate, what kind of goals can I set? Well, this time I wanted one thing: to not get smoked. Nichole always beats me by a hefty margin, and I didn't want that to happen at my favorite race. I didn't have a specific time in mind, but that goal was enough to keep me riding hard. I feel like I picked great lines through the technical sections, and climbed to the best of my ability. I didn't slack on the pavement or gravel sections, but kept a consistently high cadence. At the end, I sprinted as hard as I could and ended with a time of just over 53 minutes. This was four minutes behind my teammate (I met my goal!) and four minutes slower than my time last year, but this year's course was two miles longer. Overall, I was thrilled!
Here's our team representation at the race. We rock!
So what about Mitch? He finished third, just fourteen seconds behind Rick. The first place guy has been whipping them both all season, so they were both pretty pleased with their places. Mitch, however, had a surprise waiting for me. Less than a mile in, he had crashed pretty hard. He knew he smashed his knee, but refused to look at it until he finished...
It's hard to tell from the photos, but there's a finger-sized hole in his knee. We had to go to the local ER, where they cleaned it out and put a couple stitches in it.
It's still pretty sore, though no he says the intense bruising and swelling is more uncomfortable than the actual wound. He'll be taking at least a week off the bike, I think.
Despite the injury, Mitch's broken sunglasses and my lost helment (which got misplaced in the flurry to get to the ER), we call the day a rousing success. It was a good way to end my season, as I don't plan to race at Addison Oaks (busy) or Pando (hate that race). Now I can just enjoy riding for the rest of the summer and into the glorious fall!
Second, it's technical. I am not a strong climber, and I hate everything about climbing hills on my bike. But I LOVE tight, twisty single track. I like intimidating downhills where, if you let down your guard just for a moment, a rut or rock or root can send you careening into a tree. I like overcoming the mental game of close calls and I think I'm sort of ballsy, for a girl.
Third, Maybury State Park is so close to my parents' house that I can actually train on the course and prepare myself. Locals have a definite advantage here, and though I'm only a former local, I feel like I know the course pretty well.
So race day came, bright and early. Well, maybe not so bright...temps were in the sixties and the sun refused to stay out. It had rained over night, so the expert racers were reporting a combination of tacky and slimey conditions, depending on the spot. Mitch's class started about 40 minutes before mine, so I was able to cheer him on at the start before doing my own warm-up with Nichole.
My start felt great. I took off 30 seconds after Nichole, who was the only other woman in my class. In other races, this has really hurt my motivation. I race for the competition, but with no one to beat and no chance of keeping up with my amazing teammate, what kind of goals can I set? Well, this time I wanted one thing: to not get smoked. Nichole always beats me by a hefty margin, and I didn't want that to happen at my favorite race. I didn't have a specific time in mind, but that goal was enough to keep me riding hard. I feel like I picked great lines through the technical sections, and climbed to the best of my ability. I didn't slack on the pavement or gravel sections, but kept a consistently high cadence. At the end, I sprinted as hard as I could and ended with a time of just over 53 minutes. This was four minutes behind my teammate (I met my goal!) and four minutes slower than my time last year, but this year's course was two miles longer. Overall, I was thrilled!
Here's our team representation at the race. We rock!
So what about Mitch? He finished third, just fourteen seconds behind Rick. The first place guy has been whipping them both all season, so they were both pretty pleased with their places. Mitch, however, had a surprise waiting for me. Less than a mile in, he had crashed pretty hard. He knew he smashed his knee, but refused to look at it until he finished...
It's hard to tell from the photos, but there's a finger-sized hole in his knee. We had to go to the local ER, where they cleaned it out and put a couple stitches in it.
It's still pretty sore, though no he says the intense bruising and swelling is more uncomfortable than the actual wound. He'll be taking at least a week off the bike, I think.
Despite the injury, Mitch's broken sunglasses and my lost helment (which got misplaced in the flurry to get to the ER), we call the day a rousing success. It was a good way to end my season, as I don't plan to race at Addison Oaks (busy) or Pando (hate that race). Now I can just enjoy riding for the rest of the summer and into the glorious fall!
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Brain Break
Ugh, I took the first part of my marketing final exam at lunch today and it kind of fried my brain. So, before I get back to work, I thought I'd dash off a quick post.
Turns out the bank sent our loan application in on Friday, with plans to send the water test results as soon as the report was ready. We received the report yesterday, so everything is complete. From here, the loan folks will review our application and let us know if we've been approved early next week. As there's no reason we would not be approved, we should be able to set a closing date by the end of the month!
Here are some more "house things" that are exciting to me:
*Not running out of hot water after less than 15 minutes. For some reason, the hot water heater in our apartment can't handle our evening showers. We've called and called and called, but they tell us nothing's wrong.
*Having more storage space. Right now, we're packed to the gills. Kitchen things are stacked in the laundry room; the guest room closet, while organized, is on the verge of exploding; and as you'll recall, we store our bikes and various bike parts in the second bathroom. This is not to mention what's in my parents' basement.
*Having a patio table. I like to sit on our balcony and do homework, but without space for a table, my productivity is limited. We have a nice little table all ready for our new deck!
*Planting gardens. In Mt. Pleasant, we made our balcony into a summer garden, but our current one isn't large enough. All I'll get to do is plant mums this fall, but in the spring...watch out!
Turns out the bank sent our loan application in on Friday, with plans to send the water test results as soon as the report was ready. We received the report yesterday, so everything is complete. From here, the loan folks will review our application and let us know if we've been approved early next week. As there's no reason we would not be approved, we should be able to set a closing date by the end of the month!
Here are some more "house things" that are exciting to me:
*Not running out of hot water after less than 15 minutes. For some reason, the hot water heater in our apartment can't handle our evening showers. We've called and called and called, but they tell us nothing's wrong.
*Having more storage space. Right now, we're packed to the gills. Kitchen things are stacked in the laundry room; the guest room closet, while organized, is on the verge of exploding; and as you'll recall, we store our bikes and various bike parts in the second bathroom. This is not to mention what's in my parents' basement.
*Having a patio table. I like to sit on our balcony and do homework, but without space for a table, my productivity is limited. We have a nice little table all ready for our new deck!
*Planting gardens. In Mt. Pleasant, we made our balcony into a summer garden, but our current one isn't large enough. All I'll get to do is plant mums this fall, but in the spring...watch out!
Monday, August 17, 2009
A Fantastic Weekend
We had two goals this weekend: ride a lot and relax at the lake. We accomplished both - and even a little more! First, Saturday morning's Maybury ride was awesome. We met up with Jake and Dan at 9 am and took off for our first lap shortly thereafter. I had a bit of a rough time initially...shoot, what did I expect after not riding a trail since the race at Stony Creek? But the second lap was better, and I even managed to hang on for a third. I was, however, useless for the rest of the day...which was OK, since we just headed to the lake and spent the day on the pontoon!
On Sunday morning, we rode Island Lake. This is a great trail for either a warm-up or recovery day, and my legs and lungs definitely needed some recovery! By the time I finished, everything felt good except the right side of my body. I took a hard spill in a sand pit at the bottom of a downhill - you know, I'm falling a lot more this season. Mitch says it's because I'm pushing it harder, but I'm getting a little tired of having tender, skinned arms and legs!
Anyway, we headed back home as soon as we showered and refueled. I had lots of homework (which should have been priority number one, but wasn't) and we saw that Sears was having a great sale on appliances. We swung through there on the way and walked out having purchased a washer, a dryer and a new television.
Here's Mitch, posing with the new monster and our old TV. Yes, it's a bit excessive for our current apartment...
...but it will look great hanging on the wall in our new basement!
And speaking of the house, we're still playing the waiting game. The water test report should be ready soon, and then the loan application can go off. We're still hoping to close by the end of the month!
On Sunday morning, we rode Island Lake. This is a great trail for either a warm-up or recovery day, and my legs and lungs definitely needed some recovery! By the time I finished, everything felt good except the right side of my body. I took a hard spill in a sand pit at the bottom of a downhill - you know, I'm falling a lot more this season. Mitch says it's because I'm pushing it harder, but I'm getting a little tired of having tender, skinned arms and legs!
Anyway, we headed back home as soon as we showered and refueled. I had lots of homework (which should have been priority number one, but wasn't) and we saw that Sears was having a great sale on appliances. We swung through there on the way and walked out having purchased a washer, a dryer and a new television.
Here's Mitch, posing with the new monster and our old TV. Yes, it's a bit excessive for our current apartment...
...but it will look great hanging on the wall in our new basement!
And speaking of the house, we're still playing the waiting game. The water test report should be ready soon, and then the loan application can go off. We're still hoping to close by the end of the month!
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Admissions News
Let me tell you, this has been an interesting summer in the Alma College Admissions Office. First, we hit a goal no one thought we could, give the state of the economy: we are bringing in over 400 new students, for the third year in a row. This is the first time in AC history we've had three 400+ classes back-t0-back, and it's a huge testament not only to the Admissions Office, but to the whole campus and their commitment to recruitment.
Second, we had a ton of turnover this year and many changes to territories. I won't bore you with the details, but we have three new reps who should prove to be incredible assets to the team. We've also shifted territories and responsibilities; New York is out for me, and Clinton/Ingham counties are in. I'm very excited about the change in my recruitment role, because I'll have more kids (I missed the connections) and my travel will be local.
Third, the campus is undergoing some big changes, both physical and otherwise. I've mentioned both the Hogan Center renovation and the first floor SAC renovation before, I think...those two things are going to transform some major areas of campus. We're also investing in a brand new administrative software system that will significantly improve (but fundamentally change) the way every office and department conducts business and shares information.
Finally, we have new staff members in key places. There's a new VP for Finance and Administration who is approving some much-needed expenditures, a new director of student life (Dave Blandford, the former Bruske hall director) and a new director of counseling and wellness. Top that off with a search for a new college president, and Alma is poised for a period of change.
Second, we had a ton of turnover this year and many changes to territories. I won't bore you with the details, but we have three new reps who should prove to be incredible assets to the team. We've also shifted territories and responsibilities; New York is out for me, and Clinton/Ingham counties are in. I'm very excited about the change in my recruitment role, because I'll have more kids (I missed the connections) and my travel will be local.
Third, the campus is undergoing some big changes, both physical and otherwise. I've mentioned both the Hogan Center renovation and the first floor SAC renovation before, I think...those two things are going to transform some major areas of campus. We're also investing in a brand new administrative software system that will significantly improve (but fundamentally change) the way every office and department conducts business and shares information.
Finally, we have new staff members in key places. There's a new VP for Finance and Administration who is approving some much-needed expenditures, a new director of student life (Dave Blandford, the former Bruske hall director) and a new director of counseling and wellness. Top that off with a search for a new college president, and Alma is poised for a period of change.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Ride and a House Picture
I've been so caught up in the whole house thing and so bogged down with school work that I hadn't ridden my bike at all since the race at Stony Creek. Where are my priorities?!?! So last night Mitch changed my tires and we rode out to the house. (Well, he took off and road farther, then came back for me, then rode home and then came back for me...but we still call that "riding together.")
I felt decent, I think. I was able to keep my cadence up for the most part, but a head wind definitely made it hard. At the end, Mitch had me do quite a long sprint...I thought my legs were going to collapse under me! It felt good to get out, though, and I hope to be more disciplined for the next couple of weeks, as I approach my last race of the season. I'd really like to do well at the Maybury TT.
And now, a house pic. I can't believe it took me this long to get it up:
More photos are up on my Picasa page. As for progress, we are waiting for the water test to come back so the bank can turn in our loan application. The application should take about a week to process, and then we will be able to set a closing date within a week of being approved for the mortgage. From there, it's time to paint (we've already chosen colors!), clean and get the necessary appliances (washer and dryer) before settling in ourselves. I can't wait!
I felt decent, I think. I was able to keep my cadence up for the most part, but a head wind definitely made it hard. At the end, Mitch had me do quite a long sprint...I thought my legs were going to collapse under me! It felt good to get out, though, and I hope to be more disciplined for the next couple of weeks, as I approach my last race of the season. I'd really like to do well at the Maybury TT.
And now, a house pic. I can't believe it took me this long to get it up:
More photos are up on my Picasa page. As for progress, we are waiting for the water test to come back so the bank can turn in our loan application. The application should take about a week to process, and then we will be able to set a closing date within a week of being approved for the mortgage. From there, it's time to paint (we've already chosen colors!), clean and get the necessary appliances (washer and dryer) before settling in ourselves. I can't wait!
Thursday, August 06, 2009
More Excitement
My parents are going to be busy within the next few months. Not only will they be helping us paint, move in and make improvements to our new place, but they'll also be doing the same with my brother! That's right, Bobby is going to be a homeowner, too! He's been eyeing this cute place since wintertime and after many twists and turns, his offer was accepted.
We now figure that ABC Warehouse will give all of us killer deals on appliances if we all go in together. He needs everything but a washer and dryer, and we need the laundry appliances. Too much fun!
We now figure that ABC Warehouse will give all of us killer deals on appliances if we all go in together. He needs everything but a washer and dryer, and we need the laundry appliances. Too much fun!
Friday, July 31, 2009
Waiting on the Bank
That's our status w.r.t. our future home: just hanging out until the financing goes through. We signed a whole bunch of papers - which I'm sure included the rights to our first-born - and are just letting the bank do their thing. On Tuesday, we did one final walk-through before waiving our rights to another inspection. The relocation company that owns the house had an independent one done already, and my dad agrees that it's very comprehensive, with acceptable results. So we're in this thing for good now!
Here are some things about having this house that are most exciting for me:
*Having parties again, and having lots of indoor and outdoor space for those parties. We'll have an open upstairs, a rockin' downstairs and a nice big yard with a bonfire pit!
*Having at least temporary space for a personal library. Until that second kid comes around, I get a small bedroom to fill with books, comfy seating and floor lamps.
*A real place for the bikes to live. The four-stall garage is a great place for Mitch to store and wrench on our bikes, but the basement will be a winter home for the road bikes and the ever-important trainer. We'll probably even have an extra TV that can be devoted to watching Train Right DVDs!
*Colors on the walls. After five years of blank apartments, I'm ready to toss some color up. Sage green in the living room, berry-tinged brown in the library, a hint of grey to match our bedding...oh, the possibilities!
*Unpacking our china and crystal...eventually. A contemporary china cabinet is on my wish list, but I'm finding I have expensive tastes.
There are tons more, but it's time for bed. I can't wait 'til we have a closing date!
Here are some things about having this house that are most exciting for me:
*Having parties again, and having lots of indoor and outdoor space for those parties. We'll have an open upstairs, a rockin' downstairs and a nice big yard with a bonfire pit!
*Having at least temporary space for a personal library. Until that second kid comes around, I get a small bedroom to fill with books, comfy seating and floor lamps.
*A real place for the bikes to live. The four-stall garage is a great place for Mitch to store and wrench on our bikes, but the basement will be a winter home for the road bikes and the ever-important trainer. We'll probably even have an extra TV that can be devoted to watching Train Right DVDs!
*Colors on the walls. After five years of blank apartments, I'm ready to toss some color up. Sage green in the living room, berry-tinged brown in the library, a hint of grey to match our bedding...oh, the possibilities!
*Unpacking our china and crystal...eventually. A contemporary china cabinet is on my wish list, but I'm finding I have expensive tastes.
There are tons more, but it's time for bed. I can't wait 'til we have a closing date!
Monday, July 27, 2009
Stony Creek Time Trial
Time for the race report! The Stony Creek Time Trial isn't one of my favorite races, but I needed to do it in order to get my five required CPS races completed. (It replaced Addison Oaks on my schedule, because Miriam's bachelorette party is the night before Addison, so I won't be able to make it.) Overall, I felt the race went well for me, even though I placed fourth (or last) in my class.
The course incorporates a lot of gravelly two-track, and I HATE riding two-track. I have a tendency to relax a bit and not push myself as hard as I should when I'm riding it, so I made a huge effort to go out hard at the beginning of the race. I kept my cadence and heart rate up, and pushed as hard as I could on the climbs. That exertion, however, meant that my body was getting pretty tired by the last mile or so of the single track: the part of the race that was the most fun! I believe they added a significant amount of single track to the course this year, which made it more technical and therefore, more suited to my preferred racing style.
I did have a pretty decent crash; toward the end of the single track, I was coming down a hill and hit a small rocky section. I thought I was going over my handlebars but I pulled it out. A few seconds later, I was sliding sideways down the trail! I didn't feel anything at the time and just jumped right back up, but this morning I have a sore left shoulder and a huge bruise on my right shin. Nice.
Like I said, I came in fourth out of four women in my class. I am pleased with my performance, however. The course was longer this year (not sure by how much), but my time this year was almost identical to my time last year. The woman who placed third came in two minutes ahead of me; she also raced last year in the sport category and her time last year was two minutes faster than mine then, too.
Mitch didn't have a spectacular race. He thought he was all recovered from being sick last week, but he had a lot of trouble breathing. After the race, his awful, hacking cough came back and he sounded terrible. I know it was disappointing for him, but these things happen sometimes. He'll be back on the ball for our next race, which is at Maybury in a month.
The course incorporates a lot of gravelly two-track, and I HATE riding two-track. I have a tendency to relax a bit and not push myself as hard as I should when I'm riding it, so I made a huge effort to go out hard at the beginning of the race. I kept my cadence and heart rate up, and pushed as hard as I could on the climbs. That exertion, however, meant that my body was getting pretty tired by the last mile or so of the single track: the part of the race that was the most fun! I believe they added a significant amount of single track to the course this year, which made it more technical and therefore, more suited to my preferred racing style.
I did have a pretty decent crash; toward the end of the single track, I was coming down a hill and hit a small rocky section. I thought I was going over my handlebars but I pulled it out. A few seconds later, I was sliding sideways down the trail! I didn't feel anything at the time and just jumped right back up, but this morning I have a sore left shoulder and a huge bruise on my right shin. Nice.
Like I said, I came in fourth out of four women in my class. I am pleased with my performance, however. The course was longer this year (not sure by how much), but my time this year was almost identical to my time last year. The woman who placed third came in two minutes ahead of me; she also raced last year in the sport category and her time last year was two minutes faster than mine then, too.
Mitch didn't have a spectacular race. He thought he was all recovered from being sick last week, but he had a lot of trouble breathing. After the race, his awful, hacking cough came back and he sounded terrible. I know it was disappointing for him, but these things happen sometimes. He'll be back on the ball for our next race, which is at Maybury in a month.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Quick House Update
Monday: Drove by house
Tuesday: Showing with our realtor, Jason Pavolko
Wednesday: Showing with Jason and my parents
Thursday: Made offer
Friday: Saw counter-offer; decided to accept
Saturday: Actually signed counter-offer; talked to Dad about doing a home inspection next week
Wow, this is happening fast! We're so excited...
Tuesday: Showing with our realtor, Jason Pavolko
Wednesday: Showing with Jason and my parents
Thursday: Made offer
Friday: Saw counter-offer; decided to accept
Saturday: Actually signed counter-offer; talked to Dad about doing a home inspection next week
Wow, this is happening fast! We're so excited...
Thursday, July 23, 2009
A Whirlwind Week!
Where to start? Well, first and most importantly, Mitch started his new job this week! He's a financial analyst for ETX, Inc., the holding company for Alma Products. This means we both work in Alma now! It's fun to ride into work together, but we have to get into town earlier so the days feel a bit long. I'm sure I'll get used to it soon, because I'm using that extra time in the office to study and do homework, without the distractions of the apartment.
Second, my work has been crazy. I came back to discover that both my computer and my phone committed technological suicide while I was on vacation. I had no files, no printers and no access to our main shared drive. Gah! It took IT almost three days to get me up and running, and I'm still having a few minor issues. I hope we get new computers soon! Then, at the end of the day on Tuesday, my phone quit working completely. It was back up by mid-morning yesterday, but it was awkward to call the bank from another office, because...
...we may have found a house! While I was unable to access anything but the Internet on Monday, I was browsing around online and found a house that met our really picky criteria. It's further north than we would have considered when Mitch was in Mason, but now that we're both up here, the location is fine. So drove by it on Monday, went with the realtor Tuesday, took my parents up there Wednesday, and are now in the process of getting a pre-approval so we can make an offer on it! Yikes!
About the house: it's a ranch built in 2003, located on a one-acre lot in a rural subdivision near Maple Rapids. It has an open floor plan, cathedral ceilings, a fireplace and a full, partially-finished basement with egress windows. I wasn't initially convinced about the "subdivision" part, but the friendly neighbors and the large lot size make it nice. Plus, when we have a family, it will be nice for the kids to be able to ride bikes on something other than the driveway or the back yard. Yes, biking is always a consideration!
All right, I have a pretty busy day, so I ought to get going. I'll write more as things develop with the house!
Second, my work has been crazy. I came back to discover that both my computer and my phone committed technological suicide while I was on vacation. I had no files, no printers and no access to our main shared drive. Gah! It took IT almost three days to get me up and running, and I'm still having a few minor issues. I hope we get new computers soon! Then, at the end of the day on Tuesday, my phone quit working completely. It was back up by mid-morning yesterday, but it was awkward to call the bank from another office, because...
...we may have found a house! While I was unable to access anything but the Internet on Monday, I was browsing around online and found a house that met our really picky criteria. It's further north than we would have considered when Mitch was in Mason, but now that we're both up here, the location is fine. So drove by it on Monday, went with the realtor Tuesday, took my parents up there Wednesday, and are now in the process of getting a pre-approval so we can make an offer on it! Yikes!
About the house: it's a ranch built in 2003, located on a one-acre lot in a rural subdivision near Maple Rapids. It has an open floor plan, cathedral ceilings, a fireplace and a full, partially-finished basement with egress windows. I wasn't initially convinced about the "subdivision" part, but the friendly neighbors and the large lot size make it nice. Plus, when we have a family, it will be nice for the kids to be able to ride bikes on something other than the driveway or the back yard. Yes, biking is always a consideration!
All right, I have a pretty busy day, so I ought to get going. I'll write more as things develop with the house!
Friday, July 17, 2009
A Biking Vacation
About once a year, we go on a big vacation. We weren't sure we'd be able to this year, but our teammates Aaron and Nichole convinced us to take a week and go mountain biking in Northern Michigan. While initial plans to ride in the Keewanau didn't work out, we had an excellent time in the Petoskey and Traverse City areas.
Boyne XC Marathon Race: This was the impetus for the whole trip...why not take advantage of being all the way up there for the race? Mitch, Nichole and Aaron were the only O2W racers competing (though I think I did my part making sure they had enough water!) and they all did great.
Here's the crew before the race - I'll be sporting that pink jersey at Stony Creek in a week!
Podium finishes all around - they did a fantastic job!
North Country Trail: We took the day off on Sunday, spending it lounging on the beach, exploring downtown Petoskey, collecting rocks at Wilderness State Park and cooking a tasty steak dinner. On Monday, we intended to try the trails at Boyne Highlands, but the local shop guys encouraged us to hit a section of the North Country Trail instead. They gave us a map and everything, but neglected to tell us that we'd just climb...and climb...and climb. After three miles of nontechnical ascents, we got bored and turned back around. The ride down, however, was anything but boring! The rush made all that grinding worthwhile!
Getting started at the NCT trailhead
Boyne Highlands: We don't listen well...though the locals told us the Highlands was pretty torn up from logging, we wanted to try something else after the NCT. The folks at the resort gave us a trail map...for the downhill park. What the heck, we thought! Let's give it a try. We ended up hiking up a trail we would not dare descend on our cross-country bikes for fear of busting both frames and bones. Once on top, we admired the view and tried to find a fun, relatively safe way down, but ended up in a logged-up mess. Eh.
The scenery was pretty amazing
Cute girls in pink
Made it all the way to the top
I resolve to never take a photo in my helmet again...unless I'm riding, of course.
Aaron did pretty well on this skinny, but Mitch did an endo!
Vasa Singletrack: So our first two trails on Monday were not the best, but Vasa made up for all of that! It's one of my favorite places to ride: flat, fast and flowy! I took a good spill on Monday but felt great, then rode a little easier on tired legs Tuesday morning. Of course, I spent the whole time on Tuesday thinking I had to pace myself for two laps, but we called it quits after just one in favor of wine tasting.
Another trailhead shot - man, that's a great ride!
Enjoying Michigan wine country
The TART (and some road): We initially planned to ride Big M on Wednesday, but the forecast called for rain so we skipped it. Horrible call: it simply threatened to rain all day, but the sky never actually opened up. Still, it was nice to take a day to get our next camp set up (Mitch and I moved from Traverse City to Interlochen when Nichole and Aaron headed home) and take a quick trip to "our" lighthouse in Frankfort to watch the big waves. Thursday, though, we were back on the bikes - after a trip to urgent care to take care of Mitch's hacking cough. Sick as he was, though, we spent 40 miles in the saddle, riding the Traverse Area Recreational Trail and various roads on the Leelanau Peninsula. It was gorgeous...we stopped at Blackstar and got the best cheese in the world, then had ice cream for lunch in Suttons Bay. Mitch even climbed a few of the massive hills right next to me, coaching me on my cadence and breathing. Made me want a road bike instead of just my mountain bike with road tires...
If the high prices and all the people weren't enough motivation to relocate to Interlochen, the Vicious Little Monsters that wrecked our tent to get at some food most certain were. Evil squirrels!
The Point Betsie lighthouse, where we got engaged back in 2003
Watching the waves and the kiteboarders in Frankfort
Looking hot in his spandex after climbing a big hill
I don't think the cheese at Blackstar came from this cow!
Mmm, ice cream for lunch...
Beautiful cherry trees
Now we're back home, with the whole weekend to clean up, catch up and get ready for the week. We're hoping to get in a couple quick laps at Maybury on Sunday when we go to pick up Chip from my parents'. I can't get enough of my bike this season, and I love it!
Boyne XC Marathon Race: This was the impetus for the whole trip...why not take advantage of being all the way up there for the race? Mitch, Nichole and Aaron were the only O2W racers competing (though I think I did my part making sure they had enough water!) and they all did great.
Here's the crew before the race - I'll be sporting that pink jersey at Stony Creek in a week!
Podium finishes all around - they did a fantastic job!
North Country Trail: We took the day off on Sunday, spending it lounging on the beach, exploring downtown Petoskey, collecting rocks at Wilderness State Park and cooking a tasty steak dinner. On Monday, we intended to try the trails at Boyne Highlands, but the local shop guys encouraged us to hit a section of the North Country Trail instead. They gave us a map and everything, but neglected to tell us that we'd just climb...and climb...and climb. After three miles of nontechnical ascents, we got bored and turned back around. The ride down, however, was anything but boring! The rush made all that grinding worthwhile!
Getting started at the NCT trailhead
Boyne Highlands: We don't listen well...though the locals told us the Highlands was pretty torn up from logging, we wanted to try something else after the NCT. The folks at the resort gave us a trail map...for the downhill park. What the heck, we thought! Let's give it a try. We ended up hiking up a trail we would not dare descend on our cross-country bikes for fear of busting both frames and bones. Once on top, we admired the view and tried to find a fun, relatively safe way down, but ended up in a logged-up mess. Eh.
The scenery was pretty amazing
Cute girls in pink
Made it all the way to the top
I resolve to never take a photo in my helmet again...unless I'm riding, of course.
Aaron did pretty well on this skinny, but Mitch did an endo!
Vasa Singletrack: So our first two trails on Monday were not the best, but Vasa made up for all of that! It's one of my favorite places to ride: flat, fast and flowy! I took a good spill on Monday but felt great, then rode a little easier on tired legs Tuesday morning. Of course, I spent the whole time on Tuesday thinking I had to pace myself for two laps, but we called it quits after just one in favor of wine tasting.
Another trailhead shot - man, that's a great ride!
Enjoying Michigan wine country
The TART (and some road): We initially planned to ride Big M on Wednesday, but the forecast called for rain so we skipped it. Horrible call: it simply threatened to rain all day, but the sky never actually opened up. Still, it was nice to take a day to get our next camp set up (Mitch and I moved from Traverse City to Interlochen when Nichole and Aaron headed home) and take a quick trip to "our" lighthouse in Frankfort to watch the big waves. Thursday, though, we were back on the bikes - after a trip to urgent care to take care of Mitch's hacking cough. Sick as he was, though, we spent 40 miles in the saddle, riding the Traverse Area Recreational Trail and various roads on the Leelanau Peninsula. It was gorgeous...we stopped at Blackstar and got the best cheese in the world, then had ice cream for lunch in Suttons Bay. Mitch even climbed a few of the massive hills right next to me, coaching me on my cadence and breathing. Made me want a road bike instead of just my mountain bike with road tires...
If the high prices and all the people weren't enough motivation to relocate to Interlochen, the Vicious Little Monsters that wrecked our tent to get at some food most certain were. Evil squirrels!
The Point Betsie lighthouse, where we got engaged back in 2003
Watching the waves and the kiteboarders in Frankfort
Looking hot in his spandex after climbing a big hill
I don't think the cheese at Blackstar came from this cow!
Mmm, ice cream for lunch...
Beautiful cherry trees
Now we're back home, with the whole weekend to clean up, catch up and get ready for the week. We're hoping to get in a couple quick laps at Maybury on Sunday when we go to pick up Chip from my parents'. I can't get enough of my bike this season, and I love it!
Friday, July 10, 2009
Going off the Grid
It's been a great week...and a not-so-great-week. Let's start with the good: I've been super busy and productive, because we're going on vacation next week. It's a biking trip in the wilds of Northern Michigan, so I won't have access to the Internet. That means I've been busting butt on grad school stuff to get it all turned in early, while grocery shopping, packing and planning. At work, I'm almost finished with the first draft of our new campus life publication. I wanted to get that over to our graphic designer before I left, and I think I'm going to make it happen! Then I can concentrate on being a good one-woman support crew for Mitch, Nichole and Aaron as they tackle the Boyne Marathon mountain bike race tomorrow, and on having a great time for the rest of the week.
We've been incredibly blessed, too, by a job offer for Mitch. I'll post details when I can, but it brings him home to me. Praise the Lord, and thank you for all your prayers!
And speaking of prayers, here's the tough news for the week: Alma College student David Moilanen fell into a coma while on a research trip in Ecuador with one of our faculty members. As of now, doctors in Quito believe he has a blood clot in his brain. They are hoping to fly him back to Michigan today. David is a great kid...I met him and his family as his admissions representative during his college search process and got to know him better through the Alma Ski Team, for which he is president and I'm the staff advisor. I've been praying so hard for him and his family...please join me. I know God is watching over this young man.
We've been incredibly blessed, too, by a job offer for Mitch. I'll post details when I can, but it brings him home to me. Praise the Lord, and thank you for all your prayers!
And speaking of prayers, here's the tough news for the week: Alma College student David Moilanen fell into a coma while on a research trip in Ecuador with one of our faculty members. As of now, doctors in Quito believe he has a blood clot in his brain. They are hoping to fly him back to Michigan today. David is a great kid...I met him and his family as his admissions representative during his college search process and got to know him better through the Alma Ski Team, for which he is president and I'm the staff advisor. I've been praying so hard for him and his family...please join me. I know God is watching over this young man.
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