I really try to keep my politics aside. Even in my own beloved family, personally political views are so diverse and can lead to such extremely intense debates that it is best to keep my opinions to myself and just let it go. It is one of the special things about being an American. You are not only entitled to have your own opinions, voice and act on your own beliefs, but you are encouraged to participate in the outcomes and it is a blessing and gift to be able to live with all perspectives, beliefs and views.
So for the first time in a very long time, I feel hopeful for a healed America. Someone is preaching to my heart about why I love my country and even my non-voting husband is considering joining in on the election. I told him if he was in Belgium, he would be in jail for not voting---as it is a law there that all citizens in the country MUST vote. He said, "that's why I live here, sweetie", just to be a smartie-pants. Sigh.
And on a lighter note, Mike and I are heading for Southern California this week for our last effort before the big "show" in Vegas at the end of the month. These roadshows are much easier together than when I have to go it by myself. I can finally relax after October 13th. Seems like a long way off, but that is the final planned business trip for the year. And even though the last trip will be on the Big Island in Hawaii (Kona-Ironman), I'd much rather be going there surfing or exploring the volcanos with my husband on vacation, then setting up and breaking down in the Ford Ironman Expo for a week leading up to the race with my friend/Belgian colleague. Hopefully all of this will amount to a really successful year---but no matter what, the experiences I have had this year on these trips around the USA (and Italy) have been priceless.
The wind is blowing like crazy today...some cold front vs. hot front kind of scientific combo which results in a major wind day here in the high desert. Nothing like Gustov, so I won't complain---but it sure isn't fun riding in the wind. My brothers are both in town and so we will all go and have an early dinner together tonight.
Anyway---happy Sunday, and Happy Labor Day!
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Late summer baby birds
Every day after work, I come home and then head out with the Scrapper for her evening, pre-dinner walk while Mike rides his bike. (I ride in the mornings before work and he rides in the evenings after work). I am usually tired and cranky, and don't feel like heading out in the hot, windy desert air, but the fact is that it is as good for me as it is for the small hound---especially after sitting on my butt all day staring at a computer! But really, if it were up to me, I'd let the Scrapper take herself for a walk while I sit down and watch, but Mike would not be happy with his lazy wife.
Funny thing is, I usually call my Mom while walking through the canyons, or I power walk up and down the hills to get my heart-rate going and once I am in the zone, or on the phone with my Mom, I enjoy the time outside with Sydney. In every season but the hot summer, there are plenty of big hare's for her to chase. In the summer though, it's lizard's. Last week though, I noticed something different moving along the sandy and hilly terrain. At first glance, I thought it was a bunch of moving rocks. But as I got closer, I realized that they were little birds. Lots of little baby birds. They kind of waddled along like baby ducks.
By the time we came upon the little guys, the Scrap was too hot and tired to chase. But I couldn't help but wonder, what are these baby chicks doing being born just before Fall? Then the Mom and Dad Quail hurried through and got control of the gang and quickly got them out of harm's way.
Today was a lovely Saturday, with no where to be, and no work or travel for a change. We are heading to SoCal right after Labor Day, so I doubly enjoyed not having to work this weekend! Just rode my bike for lots of hours and went out to a very nice lunch with my husband afterwards. Perfect day! I hope yours was too!
Funny thing is, I usually call my Mom while walking through the canyons, or I power walk up and down the hills to get my heart-rate going and once I am in the zone, or on the phone with my Mom, I enjoy the time outside with Sydney. In every season but the hot summer, there are plenty of big hare's for her to chase. In the summer though, it's lizard's. Last week though, I noticed something different moving along the sandy and hilly terrain. At first glance, I thought it was a bunch of moving rocks. But as I got closer, I realized that they were little birds. Lots of little baby birds. They kind of waddled along like baby ducks.
By the time we came upon the little guys, the Scrap was too hot and tired to chase. But I couldn't help but wonder, what are these baby chicks doing being born just before Fall? Then the Mom and Dad Quail hurried through and got control of the gang and quickly got them out of harm's way.
Today was a lovely Saturday, with no where to be, and no work or travel for a change. We are heading to SoCal right after Labor Day, so I doubly enjoyed not having to work this weekend! Just rode my bike for lots of hours and went out to a very nice lunch with my husband afterwards. Perfect day! I hope yours was too!
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
It's why they call them "jobs"...well sorta.
It's funny, because even as I type away, and put words to the computer screen, it sounds pretty fun. Visiting bike shops, hauling around some of the blingiest gear the industry has on offer, riding in different areas, and traveling with my husband. Could almost be a vacation---thus it makes the fact that it really is work and hard work at that, and makes folks roll their eyes when I say things like, "I am exhausted!" Exhausted from what? Vacation?!?!
I try and run things like a really tight ship though---and let me tell you what it's like informing my husband that he has work to do before he can go for a ride, and "no, I don't know where to go ride here---". Sigh. The mental challenge of it all is why I am mostly tired. And traveling with Mike has way more pluses than minuses. We are a good team, and we did get some fun riding in, between retailer visits. And the fact that the folks in the industry that I have chosen to work with are really some of the coolest folks around helps too!
Mike and I made the long drive from Reno to Seattle, a week ago last Sunday. It was a beautiful ride until we left Portland and hit the Seattle bound traffic for 90 miles. Made LA seem like cake. It really was that bad. But we arrived safe and sound and had a little apartment like setting for a couple of days right on the Microsoft campus in Redmond. Each morning before our meetings we rode around Lake Sammamish---a beautiful, yet densely populated, Marin-like setting, just North of Seattle. The traffic is horrible and there's not what I would call a bike-friendly road to be found. But it helped keep the day in tact if I didn't have an antsy Taylor who didn't ride, and it helped me to ride before work as well.
We stayed a night in Olympia to get out of the traffic before heading to Portland. Then a friend hooked us up in the now Pet-friendly Hilton (the Scrapper had her own doggie pillow, purse full of treats and stainless steel doggie dishes in the room), right in SW Portland, a block from the River, and Jack even treated us by taking us out to a lovely dinner at the oldest restaurant in Portland, Huber's. We were also enjoying lots of success in our Taylor-duo selling campaign. Did I mention that River City Bicycles is one of the coolest shops in the country? Did I also mention that a former co-worker from Palo Alto Bicycles, Ben Dodge, now works there? Small world.
From Portland, we headed to Bend for the weekend. We stayed with friends, rode up Mt. Bachelor, and enjoyed more success with our retailer there (we worked on Saturday and Sunday last weekend). On Sunday we headed to Boise, Idaho. A new town for both of us, and a really nice, clean and friendly little town. I had arranged our hotel right along the bike path that goes for 8 miles up and down the river, and into town. I liked Boise. The downtown is spotless with lovely architecture and the town is surrounded by mountains everywhere you look.
A busy week and there is no place like home. But you might see what I mean about the "job-thing". It sounds like all play when I write about it. I won't even begin to mention that in about a week we are heading to Southern California to do it all over again...
I try and run things like a really tight ship though---and let me tell you what it's like informing my husband that he has work to do before he can go for a ride, and "no, I don't know where to go ride here---". Sigh. The mental challenge of it all is why I am mostly tired. And traveling with Mike has way more pluses than minuses. We are a good team, and we did get some fun riding in, between retailer visits. And the fact that the folks in the industry that I have chosen to work with are really some of the coolest folks around helps too!
Mike and I made the long drive from Reno to Seattle, a week ago last Sunday. It was a beautiful ride until we left Portland and hit the Seattle bound traffic for 90 miles. Made LA seem like cake. It really was that bad. But we arrived safe and sound and had a little apartment like setting for a couple of days right on the Microsoft campus in Redmond. Each morning before our meetings we rode around Lake Sammamish---a beautiful, yet densely populated, Marin-like setting, just North of Seattle. The traffic is horrible and there's not what I would call a bike-friendly road to be found. But it helped keep the day in tact if I didn't have an antsy Taylor who didn't ride, and it helped me to ride before work as well.
We stayed a night in Olympia to get out of the traffic before heading to Portland. Then a friend hooked us up in the now Pet-friendly Hilton (the Scrapper had her own doggie pillow, purse full of treats and stainless steel doggie dishes in the room), right in SW Portland, a block from the River, and Jack even treated us by taking us out to a lovely dinner at the oldest restaurant in Portland, Huber's. We were also enjoying lots of success in our Taylor-duo selling campaign. Did I mention that River City Bicycles is one of the coolest shops in the country? Did I also mention that a former co-worker from Palo Alto Bicycles, Ben Dodge, now works there? Small world.
From Portland, we headed to Bend for the weekend. We stayed with friends, rode up Mt. Bachelor, and enjoyed more success with our retailer there (we worked on Saturday and Sunday last weekend). On Sunday we headed to Boise, Idaho. A new town for both of us, and a really nice, clean and friendly little town. I had arranged our hotel right along the bike path that goes for 8 miles up and down the river, and into town. I liked Boise. The downtown is spotless with lovely architecture and the town is surrounded by mountains everywhere you look.
A busy week and there is no place like home. But you might see what I mean about the "job-thing". It sounds like all play when I write about it. I won't even begin to mention that in about a week we are heading to Southern California to do it all over again...
Saturday, August 09, 2008
Pacific Northwest---next stop
The bad thing about writing inconsistently, is that so much happens that I forget stuff. I had a great week in the Bay Area, but now it is like a memory. Mike and I are loading up a mini-van with bikes, and clothing and leaving for Seattle early tomorrow morning. At least there will be two of us as opposed to just me hauling my blingy gear all over the place. Even Sydney's bags are packed! We will stay two nights (3 days) in Seattle and then head south from the city and stay a night in Olympia which sounds nice---although I have only driven passed this city.
From Olympia, we will head into one of my favorite cities, Portland and will be there for a couple of days as well, before packing it up and heading to Bend for the weekend. I think we are staying with some friends in Bend and will get a day or so to rejuvenate and ride, before we head to Boise. Boise is our last stop for this "road-trip" and we head back to Reno to end our loop.
As I write this it all sounds "fun". And it would be "fun" if there wasn't a lot of work involved. Mike will get a good taste of what it feels like when I am on these crazy trips. He'll join me again for another one about 5 days later when we head South (Utah, Arizona and Southern California). The good news is that from New York to California, the trips have proved very successful. And the more I can get done before Las Vegas---the better (=easier) Las Vegas will be this year.
Last weekend we went and rode the passes again in Markleeville. It was epic! We been averaging monthly visits to the passes and that in itself is a gift. I am looking forward to Fall more than usual. Not for the weather, or the usual stuff, but my nephews are here and I never see them. They will be in school before I have time to hang out, but luckily we have such a lovely fall that I can enjoy some football games locally and spend some time just being an Aunt. I have never had the luxury and now I am out of town so much that it feels like I am missing out.
Just for fun we dressed up my Seven with some wheels that cost more than my car. Talk about bling! Happy Saturday!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
