Today i graduated. I am officially done with college and an MTSU graduate. It's a bit odd to say i am done with school, but i don't think it will really hit me until the fall when i don't have to go back to Murfreesboro, TN. It's been an amazingly great day. I had family and friends come in town for my Graduation and it was so good to be with people who really love me.
On another note i leave for Oregon in 3 days! I am so ready to go... but not at all. My body is ready but honestly i have so many mixed emotions about leaving for 50 days. I want to do this so bad though. It's been in the works since July. It's gonna be nuts
At one point my riding partner is going to take kids to camp and i was a bit bummed at first (i thought i was going to have to ride on by myself) but i discovered i get to spend a week with one of my really amazing friends and her family for a week. Which i think during that week will be 4th of July which is such a great holiday! That's quite a ways in the future though.
I leave Murfreesboro tomorrow to go back to Knoxville, then i will have all day Monday in Knoxville to get ready for my trip doing things like packing and getting stuff together. I need some cycling shorts, i need to pay the rest of my bike off, and i have a bunch of other stuff also (i.e. chamois cream, knee brace, a new bike tire... i could go on and on honestly a bunch of little things) but it's whatever. i will get it done... I hope. My mind is everywhere so i really am just hoping i don't forget anything.
While blogging i am watching Ghost Adventures on Travel Channel and looking at cycling short reviews online. Woo hoo... fun times right?
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Sunday, May 1, 2011
9 DAYS!
Just got done playing basketball... i realized 2 things while playing...
1. I suck at basketball.
2. I would rather be on my bike than playing basketball.
I am sitting here at my place right now watching the Tour de Romandie, i feel like i am torturing myself. I don't have my bike yet i am just sitting here watching people on their bikes. The trip is on the horizon and it's more surreal now than it has ever been. I am going back to East Tennessee tomorrow to train this week and really try to ride everyday, rain or shine.
After my post maybe a week or so ago about why i am going on this trip i got some really good feedback from some of my friends who liked my reason for going. I have thought about it a bunch but there is also another reason i am going that most people don't know except a few close friends and i feel like it should be known why i am really going.
I want to love people. I want to show people what being a Christian is about. I don't want to judge anyone and i want to spend time with people and hear their stories. I want to build relationships with each individual i meet along the way and hopefully in some way, shape, or form impact people's lives. I feel like so many people are pushed away from the church by many different reasons, but the one i have heard the most of is that they have felt judged. Jesus didn't judge. He loved. No matter what. That's what i wanna do. I may not agree with things people do but i am in no place to judge them. So this is why i am going.
The trip is my right to passage but also i want to hopefully meet people and build friendships with people each day. I can't explain how excited i am about leaving.
While blogging: Obama's Speech, Tour de Romandie, and listened to my friends talk...
1. I suck at basketball.
2. I would rather be on my bike than playing basketball.
I am sitting here at my place right now watching the Tour de Romandie, i feel like i am torturing myself. I don't have my bike yet i am just sitting here watching people on their bikes. The trip is on the horizon and it's more surreal now than it has ever been. I am going back to East Tennessee tomorrow to train this week and really try to ride everyday, rain or shine.
After my post maybe a week or so ago about why i am going on this trip i got some really good feedback from some of my friends who liked my reason for going. I have thought about it a bunch but there is also another reason i am going that most people don't know except a few close friends and i feel like it should be known why i am really going.
I want to love people. I want to show people what being a Christian is about. I don't want to judge anyone and i want to spend time with people and hear their stories. I want to build relationships with each individual i meet along the way and hopefully in some way, shape, or form impact people's lives. I feel like so many people are pushed away from the church by many different reasons, but the one i have heard the most of is that they have felt judged. Jesus didn't judge. He loved. No matter what. That's what i wanna do. I may not agree with things people do but i am in no place to judge them. So this is why i am going.
The trip is my right to passage but also i want to hopefully meet people and build friendships with people each day. I can't explain how excited i am about leaving.
While blogging: Obama's Speech, Tour de Romandie, and listened to my friends talk...
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Short blog? ...YUP.
Today i wake up to a call from Daniel, mind you it was at like 11 in the morning... i shoulda been up already anyways, and he asked me my aunts address... I was confused at first but i realized it is time to ship our bikes! He shipped his today and i am shipping mine pretty soon also. Mine should be sent out by no later than Wednesday. Might have to pay a bit more to get it there on time but it is the only time i can ship it.
A bunch of people keep asking me why i am doing this trip. I kind of explained it a few posts back but be prepared for another "deep" blog later tonight. i will go into more detail but i am more excited about this trip more than most anything i can recall being excited for!
Listening to Afroman... yes... Afroman.
Eat before you are hungry.
Drink before you are thirsty.
Rest before you are tired.
Cover up before you are cold.
Peel off before you are hot.
Don't drink or smoke on tour.
Never ride just to prove yourself.
A bunch of people keep asking me why i am doing this trip. I kind of explained it a few posts back but be prepared for another "deep" blog later tonight. i will go into more detail but i am more excited about this trip more than most anything i can recall being excited for!
Listening to Afroman... yes... Afroman.
Eat before you are hungry.
Drink before you are thirsty.
Rest before you are tired.
Cover up before you are cold.
Peel off before you are hot.
Don't drink or smoke on tour.
Never ride just to prove yourself.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Time keeps on slippin slippin slippin.
Yes my title of this blog is a song reference but a cover... totally a cover song from the space jam soundtrack. Don't judge.
I sent a text to Daniel today it read,
2 weeks. 14 days. 336 hours. 20,160 minutes... No biggie
All those numbers keep getting smaller and smaller. These are the numbers of weeks, days, hours, and minutes till we fly out of here to head to Oregon. Not training is driving me crazy. Like i want to be on My bike so bad. I am hoping this down time before the trip won't hurt my first couple weeks of the trip and slow us down too much. It's gonna be the challenge of a lifetime.
Good news though, if anyone was wondering, my bike is named. She was named just yesterday and i wanted to break the news to you all.
Her name is Jolene "The Green Goblin". It is lovely but a lil bit strong. ha.
As for things that don't have to do with biking... i wrote this blog while watching NBC's the voice. My friends Josh and Nicole were on there and killed it. Their new coach Blake better get ready to be wowed. #teamelenowen all day everyday.
I sent a text to Daniel today it read,
2 weeks. 14 days. 336 hours. 20,160 minutes... No biggie
All those numbers keep getting smaller and smaller. These are the numbers of weeks, days, hours, and minutes till we fly out of here to head to Oregon. Not training is driving me crazy. Like i want to be on My bike so bad. I am hoping this down time before the trip won't hurt my first couple weeks of the trip and slow us down too much. It's gonna be the challenge of a lifetime.
Good news though, if anyone was wondering, my bike is named. She was named just yesterday and i wanted to break the news to you all.
Her name is Jolene "The Green Goblin". It is lovely but a lil bit strong. ha.
As for things that don't have to do with biking... i wrote this blog while watching NBC's the voice. My friends Josh and Nicole were on there and killed it. Their new coach Blake better get ready to be wowed. #teamelenowen all day everyday.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Bike or no bike, cardio is cardio right?
I took my bike into the shop yesterday. She's gonna be there till i leave, so i guess my training has come to a halt. I am trying to find a bike in Murfreesboro to train on. We will see how that goes though. I am a bit nervous. I don't feel like i have trained well enough but if all else fails i will treat my first week or two of the trip as training. It will work out i am sure. All i know is that i am going on my trip.
My Bike is in the shop right now getting the last few things done to it: rack, panniers, brakes fixed, a tune-up, and a 3rd water bottle cage. I mean i guess i can't be too prepared for having water right?
I have 2 days of college left. It's kinda nuts to even think about for me. Like i can't even fathom that i am almost done. I am just so ready to get on the road and be in the saddle. I am done with school this Tuesday and i don't have any finals... i am trying to decide if i stay in Murfreesboro, bike less i might add, and do nothing. Or possibly come back to Knoxville and train for a week before i have to go back for graduation... I wanna stay there and spend time with people but i also don't wanna ignore training. I guess i have a few days to decide but being car less also helps me in making the decision to stay in Murfreesboro. If i stay there i will prolly just run, cardio is cardio right?
Movement is a medicine for creating change in a person's physical, emotional, and mental states.
Movement is a medicine for creating change in a person's physical, emotional, and mental states.
My Bike is in the shop right now getting the last few things done to it: rack, panniers, brakes fixed, a tune-up, and a 3rd water bottle cage. I mean i guess i can't be too prepared for having water right?
I have 2 days of college left. It's kinda nuts to even think about for me. Like i can't even fathom that i am almost done. I am just so ready to get on the road and be in the saddle. I am done with school this Tuesday and i don't have any finals... i am trying to decide if i stay in Murfreesboro, bike less i might add, and do nothing. Or possibly come back to Knoxville and train for a week before i have to go back for graduation... I wanna stay there and spend time with people but i also don't wanna ignore training. I guess i have a few days to decide but being car less also helps me in making the decision to stay in Murfreesboro. If i stay there i will prolly just run, cardio is cardio right?
Movement is a medicine for creating change in a person's physical, emotional, and mental states.
Movement is a medicine for creating change in a person's physical, emotional, and mental states.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Slight reality.... or epiphany?
I had a really amazing friend ask me the other night why am i doing this trip. She went on to tell me how insane i was and that i was just crazy for going all in on this trip. It was cool though, it made me think a whole lot. I mean i know i wanna do it and i never really thought about why i said yes in the first place. This will prolly be one of the only blogs I have that are somewhat "deep" but this is basically why I decided to go.
Thinking about this trip i really couldn't put my finger on why i am going but once i did a bit of soul searching the other night i realized why (i think) i am going. I have been afraid of growing up for a long time. I was terrified of it. (I might still be... i don't know) As a child, teenager, or kid you don't have to think logically, you don't have to be anywhere really, and overall you can just do what you want (with parents allowing it). Your imagination is amazing as a child. You haven't a worry in the world really.
After my trip i have to get a "real" job, i have to work everyday, and i have to start to think about the future more than i ever have. This trip subconsciously (becoming more conscious) is my last hoo rah, my right to passage, my pilgrimage, or something along those lines. I am just going, not to find myself, but to really just see the country and do one last really illogical and crazy thing. Who knows, maybe i will still do stuff like this depending on where i end up in life. I feel like life is meant to be lived. Me, as a person, I'm a bit random, which i am totally ok with. I just don't feel like i need to graduate college, get a job, get married 3 weeks later, get a dog 3 months after that, and then have a kid a year later. I wanna live life and i know i may never ever have a chance to do something like this again.
I honestly don't know if that makes sense but to me it really does. I'm having trouble putting my thoughts onto paper i guess. What i am really wanting to say i think is don't worry about how old you are, or what you are "supposed" to do. Don't think about "what ifs", and just live. Be yourself.
This bike trip... is me being me and living.
Thinking about this trip i really couldn't put my finger on why i am going but once i did a bit of soul searching the other night i realized why (i think) i am going. I have been afraid of growing up for a long time. I was terrified of it. (I might still be... i don't know) As a child, teenager, or kid you don't have to think logically, you don't have to be anywhere really, and overall you can just do what you want (with parents allowing it). Your imagination is amazing as a child. You haven't a worry in the world really.
After my trip i have to get a "real" job, i have to work everyday, and i have to start to think about the future more than i ever have. This trip subconsciously (becoming more conscious) is my last hoo rah, my right to passage, my pilgrimage, or something along those lines. I am just going, not to find myself, but to really just see the country and do one last really illogical and crazy thing. Who knows, maybe i will still do stuff like this depending on where i end up in life. I feel like life is meant to be lived. Me, as a person, I'm a bit random, which i am totally ok with. I just don't feel like i need to graduate college, get a job, get married 3 weeks later, get a dog 3 months after that, and then have a kid a year later. I wanna live life and i know i may never ever have a chance to do something like this again.
I honestly don't know if that makes sense but to me it really does. I'm having trouble putting my thoughts onto paper i guess. What i am really wanting to say i think is don't worry about how old you are, or what you are "supposed" to do. Don't think about "what ifs", and just live. Be yourself.
This bike trip... is me being me and living.
We grow neither better nor worse as we get old, but more like ourselves.
20 days and counting... it's happening! (help me name my bike)
I haven't blogged in a while and that is cause honestly i haven't wanted to put up pointless things i have been doing. I think most people would just wanna read about my trip and not all the crap i am doing leading up to it. Therefore i am now back into blogging and i will be keeping this thing up to date more and more frequently starting this week. The trip happens in 20 days. My bike is in and i love it. Been training on it as much as possible. It's amazing. Marin made an incredible machine. I haven't named her yet so if you think you would like to help me name my bike just leave a comment.
I have a bunch of amazing stuff coming up. The next month or so is going to be awesome. I am ready for the activities to engage. I turn 24 this weekend on April 24th, i graduate college on May 7th, and then i fly out to Oregon on May 10th to begin this journey. Words can't express my desire to get the show on the road. The main struggle i am facing right now is finishing strong where i currently am. i only have 1 weeks left of college... it's NUTS! I'm really graduating.
This trip is going to be epic. I have ZERO money saved for food so i shall keep my fingers crossed for sure (if you wanna support my trip let me know). My riding partner, Daniel, and i have started talking everyday. The closer it gets the more anxious i am... but it can't get here soon enough!
Listened to YelaWolf and watched Home Improvement while typing.
I have a bunch of amazing stuff coming up. The next month or so is going to be awesome. I am ready for the activities to engage. I turn 24 this weekend on April 24th, i graduate college on May 7th, and then i fly out to Oregon on May 10th to begin this journey. Words can't express my desire to get the show on the road. The main struggle i am facing right now is finishing strong where i currently am. i only have 1 weeks left of college... it's NUTS! I'm really graduating.
This trip is going to be epic. I have ZERO money saved for food so i shall keep my fingers crossed for sure (if you wanna support my trip let me know). My riding partner, Daniel, and i have started talking everyday. The closer it gets the more anxious i am... but it can't get here soon enough!
Listened to YelaWolf and watched Home Improvement while typing.
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