Wow, so I haven't written in awhile. Just been busy with no signs of slowing down.
Let's back up. The last day of work was May 22nd. That night we had a little get together at my co-worker's house. It was super fun. I always end up getting to know and having fun with my coworkers towards the end of the year. Usually then I'm leaving and it's too late to really get to know them and have fun, but since I'm staying I'm really looking forward to next year.
That weekend, Memorial Day weekend, Megan came to visit. That was a good time. Saturday night when she got here we went out. Sunday we just hung out I think. I really can't remember at this point! Monday we planned to go tubing on Salt River, which is like an hour drive. We get over there and the road is closed because the river is too packed! So there is a ton of people, inlcuding us, just waiting in a Walgreens parking lot. We sit there for like an hour when we're told a different road is now open. So we go the long way to get to the river. We get there and they tell us they stopped selling tubes 15 minutes ago!!! (earlier than was advertised by the way). So that sucked. Tuesday, Megan & I went hiking at the White Tanks and she left on Wednesday.
Thursday, Ivan's friends from Illinois College, Devone & Ziggy, came to visit. We knew Devone was coming but Ziggy was a surprise, so that was fun.
Friday morning I left for Lake Tahoe for America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride. The team flew into Reno, then there was an hour long shuttle ride to South Tahoe. Let me know just say, it was gorgeous!!!!!! The weather was in the 60's, which at first I thought was too chilly, but I got used to it and it was pretty nice actually. So, Friday was a free day to just hang out. Saturday morning we all got up for a short ride, which was the first 15 miles of the course. Oh wait, I forgot I hadn't even mentioned this part. I didn't actually do the ride. I just wasn't ready, plain & simple. So after discussing it with my coaches, I decided to still go with the team to support them during their ride. I'm so glad I still went. I had an amazing time and they are just an awesome bunch of people. So anyway, Saturday was the pasta party which is always fun, you cry, you're proud of yourself for raising the money, and you get pumped for your event the next day. And it was so fun to watch all the newbies go through the experience for the first time. One of the guys on our team was the #5 fundraiser of all the cyclists-- he raised like $33,000!!!!!! Can you believe that?! By the way, thank you all so much again for the donations. Although I didn't end up particpating in the ride, the bigger purpose of the fundraising was to get the money to the people who need it, and we did it!!! SO YAYAYAYAYAYAY!!!!!!
Ok, Sunday morning was the big day. The riders headed out & started at 6:15, and so did we, the SAG crew. SAG stands for "Support And Gear." So basically our job (which was me, our head director, a participant's mom, a coach's daughter, and one of our coaches) was to stop along the course every 15-20 miles and just give the riders whatever they needed. We had water, gatorade, made PB&J, had oreo's, an air pump to pump up their tires, cheer them on, and take pictures. They were all on such a high!!! So fun to watch, and they all did SO well. They were awesome. Our coach wasn't really supposed to be SAG'ing, she should have been in the ride with everyone, but she hurt her back moving luggage our first day in Tahoe!! She was in and out of the ER and doped up to high heaven that day just to sit in the van, but she too did very well!! She was a riot (but didn't know it!) and was so upset she couldn't be with her riders. But it was great having her in the van too.
So that night was the victory party. After that we went to a little bar for some drinks too with one of the coaches & all the newbies who had just finished their ride. It was so funny to watch it happen: all they talked about was their next season with Team In Training! I'm telling you this stuff is so addictive. Even though I didn't participate I too was thinking, "what's next?" I still want to do a ride, and eventually a triathlon. But I also told Ivan to make me take a break!! If I wasn't ready for this ride then I know it's time to take a break. I've done 3 seasons in the past year and a half you know? But, don't fret! If I do another I specifically want to try and do it without asking everyone for money, and just with events & things like that.
Anyway, this morning I had to get up at 2:30 a.m., to get a taxi to the bus stop in South Tahoe, to take the shuttle to the Reno airport. Then I switched planes in Vegas. Finally got back to Phoenix around 11:00. Came home, took a nap, and then the shuttle brought my penpal, Cathy, to the apartment!! She has another friend who lives in the area so she met up with her tonight. While she was doing that I did the laundry, unpacked, cleaned, homework, and all of that stuff. Tomorrow morning she & I are heading to the Grand Canyon. We're going to stay the night and swing by Sedona & Jerome on Wednesday. That night a friend of hers that we know who lives in California now is going to come out for a couple days too. They'll both leave on Friday, then I'll pack and head to Africa on Saturday!!!!!! I can't believe it!
Anyway, gotta get to sleep. Long day again tomorrow.
