TGIF - 1/6/2012

Happy Month of Wendy!!  Also known as MoW, my tradition of claiming the birthday month (or birth month, as the boy likes to correct me) has been around at least 10 years now - good gosh, has it really been that long?  I won't subject you to my logic on the subject again but feel free to refresh your memory here.  As stated many times in the past, I accept gifts, cash and accolades throughout the month. Wait. Retract that ...  I'll accept those anytime you offer 'em up!!

I'm ok with sharing my birthday month with the King.

As for 2011, I've deemed it a transition year for me.  I had a long winter where I almost - almost - gave up on the bike.  Admittedly, working the Tour of Cali in May was eye opening and inspiring after a tough end to my race season in 2010.  Actually showing up to watch the boy race while my bike remained home gave some perspective, reminding me why I fell in love with the sport. Taking a full year off from racing was a difficult decision but it was the right decision. I was pleasantly reminded that real friends didn't care whether I was racing, training or taking up under-water-basket-weaving.  What color lycra I wore simply didn't matter.  Being happy, healthy and generally supportive did.  To my friends who have been unconditionally supportive, thank you - it has meant more than you can know. 
Aside from bikes and racing (blasphemy!!) transitions were huge, including finally shaking off the last couple of years and putting my happiness on the priority list, rocking the P90x program, selling the Vespa and several bikes, buying my CAAD10, establishing an LLC, renting my house, landing a new job and FINALLY moving to civilization (Arlington) to be with the boy that makes me smile.  

Don't get me wrong, it wasn't all roses ...  The year was stressful, insightful, frustrating and downright comical.  To be completely honest, the following list of highlights and lowlights is really just "life":

* Purging 9 years worth of  ... stuff - talk about "cleaning house"!
* Leaving my work "family" of 6 years
* Rediscovering the race scene - the more things change, the more they stay the same
* The standoff between the boy and Cassius the Cat (it's like having children)
* Discovering new, fun routes to new, fun rides with new, fun people
* Trying (in vain) to discover work-arounds for my commute to Tyson's
* Coping with my mother's progressing illness and other family drama
* Learning that no one is infallible and learning to forgive (work in progress)
* Accepting the shock and disappointment of conditional friendships
* Coming home to a warm hug from the boy, making whatever happened that day just a little better
* Impromptu rides, movies and dinners with friends

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We took the week between Christmas and New Year's to visit the boy's family - I'm told I passed the "mom" test during our September visit and it was smooth sailing this time around as well.  The weather was warm-ish for this time of year so we made the most of it with daily long rides.  I hired a cat-sitter for the first time - ever.  She was awesome.  As an aside, Cassius got along just fine with Barb.  I'm just sayin'. 

A relaxing week of ride, sleep, eat and repeat was much needed after the whirlwind we've been in since the move in October.  The Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack was probably worn out by the end of our 13hr (each way) drive.  Starbucks was a beneficiary of our travels - except between Louisville and Evansville.  For whatever reason, that area is a deadzone for Starbucks.  Gas station coffee just doesn't do it for me.  That reminds me of a team road trip to the SE Crit Series back in the Latitude days - friends don't let loved ones drink hotel - or in this case, gas station - coffee.  I digress.

As for 2012 - the sky is the limit!  Isn't it?  Right.  I've had enough life lessons in the recent years to keep it real.  Anyway, I don't make resolutions but I am more optimistic than I have been in a while.  I've been riding with various groups of fantastic ladies in the recent past - a benefit of living in civilization!! - and I'm looking forward to more motivation and fun times on the bike.  The boy and I are desperate for more living space so another move might be in the future.  It won't be a huge deal for me since most of my life is already packed up in storage!  After a full year off the race circuit and team drama behind me, I'm excited to see what the 2012 road season will hold - will I dip my toes in to test the race-waters? will it be a full race season?  will I be committed enough to race with a squad or is it a year where, for the first time in many moons, I race for me? 

Whatever 2012 might hold, I'm going to stick to my current MO: do what makes me happy, be good to each other and make progress where progress is possible.