Here it is almost February and that means it's ALMOST TIME!!!
I go to Washington, DC on Monday to speak at a big event for Ovarian Cancer. This will be my first outing, my first time speaking publicly about the ride, about being a cancer survivor, about a number of things. Actually, I get two minutes, so I won't get to speak about that much. Just some targeted words about this project.
I just started a facebook group page (Laurey Bikes) - gee, so up to the minute I am! I'm beginning to lose track of what has been updated and what hasn't. (not really.)
In other news, the other day I was talking to my accountant, who is also a bike rider, about the ride and he casually said, "Well, you need a JERSEY!" And yes, that would be a nice thing but I don't have funds to send in that direction so I just let it go. But then I went back to work and walked in and there, in my shop, was the guy who makes our work t-shirts and I was talking with him about t-shirts and he said, "Yes, but what are you wearing when you RIDE?" and I said, "Well, a bike jersey" and he said, "I PRINT bike jerseys!" And I started squealing and that was that. The thing has now been designed and he's off working on it. Tra la! We'll start with ones for me and then might print some for sale. I LOVE this kind of thing.
And, finally, I'm still trying to work out the kinks in my body. Got a sore hip that I'm working on and this week I did stuff every day (spin, gym, pilates, spin, ride) and then yesterday was just too sore and took the night off. Feeling better today. I AM getting stronger, slowly but/and surely.
I'll be in touch.
Ciao.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
A nice new picture!
I'm excited to have this new snap to show you. And I think today is the day that a new article comes out in Verve magazine here in Asheville. Bold life, another publication, is doing a story in February. All is moving along nicely.
Spin classes. Pilates. On it goes. The countdown is really on now. And planning is starting for the kickoff event in San Diego. I'll keep the details posted here so if you live there you could come to the beginning of this ride.
Also today I'm sending a package to Ellen (de Generes). I LOVE the idea of being on her show, telling the world about this ride and about the importance of paying attention to the early warning signs of ovarian cancer.
Just today I got a note from a gal who is in the midst of treatment. It is everywhere and I hope that this ride makes a difference.
Monday, January 12, 2009
The money is IN!
Woo-whee!!
I went to Jubilee yesterday and got the final check for the bike ride. Funds are still coming in (thank you very very much - and no, it's not too late.)
Just to clarify, the funds that I sent in are were funds that I collected from sponsors who wanted to support me, not just the ride. There is still a good amount of money in the Jubilee account and I will be giving it to the beneficiaries after the ride is done.
In the meantime...
Last week I rode once, did two spin classes, and had two workouts. Still does not seem like enough, but now I feel the need to take care not to overdo it. Someone on the ride pointed out that this is not a race (I KNOW this) and that the beginning of the ride is a reasonable amount of miles. People keep saying I look fit (!?) and so I am trying to relax and just trust that what I am doing is fine.
Today I went on a little shopping trip and bought a little gear bag that straps onto the cross bar of my bike. It will hold my little video camera. And then, on a kiosk that I happened to be standing in front of as I was waiting for the guy to find the little gear bag, I found a tiny little tripod that ALSO straps onto the bike. It will hold my video camera - while I'm riding! I have this image of riding through a Monument Valley-type place, clicking the "shoot" button on my little flip camera, and pedaling on. I still have an idea for a video that I hope to do. In my mind's eye (and ear) it lasts 4 minutes and is accompanied by Jason M'raz's "I'm Yours," a sweet, lilting, captivating, energizing song. And in my mind's ear, it is sung by my friend Randa McNamara. We'll see how this all plays out.
So now it's off to Spin Class I go. Got some new bike shorts today too and I'm going to try them out.
Oh - I'm going to Washington, DC in early February to speak at an event for Women Chefs and Restaurateurs and the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance. I'll be bringing my bike (of course!) and am looking forward to this first public speaking opportunity.
The adventure continues!
I went to Jubilee yesterday and got the final check for the bike ride. Funds are still coming in (thank you very very much - and no, it's not too late.)
Just to clarify, the funds that I sent in are were funds that I collected from sponsors who wanted to support me, not just the ride. There is still a good amount of money in the Jubilee account and I will be giving it to the beneficiaries after the ride is done.
In the meantime...
Last week I rode once, did two spin classes, and had two workouts. Still does not seem like enough, but now I feel the need to take care not to overdo it. Someone on the ride pointed out that this is not a race (I KNOW this) and that the beginning of the ride is a reasonable amount of miles. People keep saying I look fit (!?) and so I am trying to relax and just trust that what I am doing is fine.
Today I went on a little shopping trip and bought a little gear bag that straps onto the cross bar of my bike. It will hold my little video camera. And then, on a kiosk that I happened to be standing in front of as I was waiting for the guy to find the little gear bag, I found a tiny little tripod that ALSO straps onto the bike. It will hold my video camera - while I'm riding! I have this image of riding through a Monument Valley-type place, clicking the "shoot" button on my little flip camera, and pedaling on. I still have an idea for a video that I hope to do. In my mind's eye (and ear) it lasts 4 minutes and is accompanied by Jason M'raz's "I'm Yours," a sweet, lilting, captivating, energizing song. And in my mind's ear, it is sung by my friend Randa McNamara. We'll see how this all plays out.
So now it's off to Spin Class I go. Got some new bike shorts today too and I'm going to try them out.
Oh - I'm going to Washington, DC in early February to speak at an event for Women Chefs and Restaurateurs and the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance. I'll be bringing my bike (of course!) and am looking forward to this first public speaking opportunity.
The adventure continues!
Monday, January 5, 2009
Two months to go
Today is January 5, 2009.
In two months I will be in San Diego and will be taking my trusty red Trek to the ocean where we will ceremoniously dip our rear tires into the water. Two months from tomorrow we will get on the bikes and pedal off, away from the sunset off to the east coast, only 58 days and 3100 miles away.
I've had a low couple of weeks. For one thing, it has been cold here (it IS winter) and for another thing, my schedule has gotten kind of messed up with the Christmas holidays. I'd been going to a spin class on Mondays and Wednesdays, but both Christmas eve and New Year's eve were on a Wednesday this year, so that meant I was down to one class a week. Then I went to my sister's home for Christmas and ended up getting sick - a letdown from the pace? I did get outside on my bike yesterday and am on my way, this afternoon, to a spin class. See if I can get back on track.
There continues to be a hovering, lingering aura of concern around me these days. It's a worrisome thing to own a business and have a lot of employees and not be sure what the economy is going to do. I guess it is probably safe to say that I NEVER have known what directions things are going to take, but I guess it is also safe to say that I have been paying more attention lately, and have gotten myself into a bit of a twist.
Howard, the pastor at my oddball church, Jubilee! (a derivative of Matthew Fox's "Creation Spirituality") says to turn off the tv, ignore the newspapers, and carry on, paying attention to things that are real, stable, and comforting. Like the dance of Venus and the Moon this week. The two of them came closer and closer in the early night sky, dazzling me, and everyone else who happened to look. I've been wondering about all of this - about how to stay perky when things get scary. Time, perhaps, to turn to Pema Chodron and "The Places that Scare You."
And then there is this bike ride which seems very daunting. I think about people who do MAJOR adventures, like major first ascents or first descents or first anythings. Many people have done this ride that I am getting ready to do. Many. I even know someone who has done this very ride. I AM doing what I need to do to get ready, as much as I can given the restrictions that exist: work, time, health. And some of the daunting things for me are NOT particularly hazardous or daunting to another person (maybe.) Like I am concerned about how my business is going to do. And how my dog and cat are going to do. And I'm concerned about money. And yes, about my body and my plain old ability to do this ride. I have a lot of "gee I really don't KNOW if I can actually do this thing."
Which is guess might be the reason to push on and try to do it, regardless of the daunting aspects of it all. The only thing I rally can do is go to my class this afternoon and then go to the thing I've planned to do tomorrow and then go to the next thing and then the next and then the next. And then, after not too long, it'll be time for me to pack and go to San Diego and then, well, we'll just see how it all goes.
Okay. That's all.
In two months I will be in San Diego and will be taking my trusty red Trek to the ocean where we will ceremoniously dip our rear tires into the water. Two months from tomorrow we will get on the bikes and pedal off, away from the sunset off to the east coast, only 58 days and 3100 miles away.
I've had a low couple of weeks. For one thing, it has been cold here (it IS winter) and for another thing, my schedule has gotten kind of messed up with the Christmas holidays. I'd been going to a spin class on Mondays and Wednesdays, but both Christmas eve and New Year's eve were on a Wednesday this year, so that meant I was down to one class a week. Then I went to my sister's home for Christmas and ended up getting sick - a letdown from the pace? I did get outside on my bike yesterday and am on my way, this afternoon, to a spin class. See if I can get back on track.
There continues to be a hovering, lingering aura of concern around me these days. It's a worrisome thing to own a business and have a lot of employees and not be sure what the economy is going to do. I guess it is probably safe to say that I NEVER have known what directions things are going to take, but I guess it is also safe to say that I have been paying more attention lately, and have gotten myself into a bit of a twist.
Howard, the pastor at my oddball church, Jubilee! (a derivative of Matthew Fox's "Creation Spirituality") says to turn off the tv, ignore the newspapers, and carry on, paying attention to things that are real, stable, and comforting. Like the dance of Venus and the Moon this week. The two of them came closer and closer in the early night sky, dazzling me, and everyone else who happened to look. I've been wondering about all of this - about how to stay perky when things get scary. Time, perhaps, to turn to Pema Chodron and "The Places that Scare You."
And then there is this bike ride which seems very daunting. I think about people who do MAJOR adventures, like major first ascents or first descents or first anythings. Many people have done this ride that I am getting ready to do. Many. I even know someone who has done this very ride. I AM doing what I need to do to get ready, as much as I can given the restrictions that exist: work, time, health. And some of the daunting things for me are NOT particularly hazardous or daunting to another person (maybe.) Like I am concerned about how my business is going to do. And how my dog and cat are going to do. And I'm concerned about money. And yes, about my body and my plain old ability to do this ride. I have a lot of "gee I really don't KNOW if I can actually do this thing."
Which is guess might be the reason to push on and try to do it, regardless of the daunting aspects of it all. The only thing I rally can do is go to my class this afternoon and then go to the thing I've planned to do tomorrow and then go to the next thing and then the next and then the next. And then, after not too long, it'll be time for me to pack and go to San Diego and then, well, we'll just see how it all goes.
Okay. That's all.
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