Bunnies don't eat ketchup.

I talked to Scott Shapiro ( B&B group leader) yesterday, bemoaning the cold and the all the excitement of cycling that is lost to a stationary bike. Ah! but lo and behold, today a balmy 50 F, so in lieu of more pressing matters of schooling I decided to fit in an short ride. The Virginia Tech cycling club has a pretty nice website with different routes that are bike friendly or relatively so--essentially a low density of those large trucks with 4 rear wheels and lights on top. Also they include these neat and clever elevation profiles, which I have labeled to summarize the trip. The portion of ride under "Torture" is Harding Rd., which intersects on the way up roads such as "Bunny Trail" and "Happy Hallow." I started to think as I climbed whether I should turn off one of those. Surely Bunny Trail Rd. would be less steep and generally more happy. And if I got tired, I am sure a large group of soft rabbits would gently carry me the rest of the way home anyway.
Also on this ride I found a deflated Hover Disk. And, yes, I attached it to my bike and took it home. I plan on repairing it so that it may fly once more. Although, all in all, the garbage in Blacksburg is much less and exciting or diverse then the litter surrounding Greenbelt, Md where I was this fall-- a surprising number of wigs, bags of bread (specifically baguettes), boxes of bananas, and on one occasion an unopened box ring pops. More than once I thought I had pedaled far beyond the reaches of civilization and would hit a ketchup packet at 20mph. Incredibly pleasant.

Thanksgiving, hydration, and polo sans ponies

I think I will start a tradition of shameless thanking at the beginning of each entry.

Many thanks to the following:

Claudia and Margie, who despite having only met me a number of times, most often at Panera Bread, are both amazing and donated, even knowing that I am the daughter of Miss Manners. That says a lot.

Karen, even though as a child I trespassed on her yard, probably killed plants and wildlife. And she even sent me back my stamped envelope. Thanks so much!

Stephanie, who also took it upon herself to entertain my homeless brother for several days’ time. She is amazing. Congratulations if you have even just ever met her acquaintance.

Sam. Provider of the Lotus road bike, which truly started it all. Not very good at Scrabble but has a myriad of other good qualities, like being an awesome swim coach even to those who don’t swim anymore

Aunt Ruth. You’re the best. See you at the end in San Diego! We can discuss the trip over dinner and muffins.

Ms Cindy and Mr. Don, who also so generously supply their basement, chocolate beverages, backyard, and a little bit of their sanity every time we all come over. Thanks for everything!

So at this point I am at $995. yes yes yes!

I need $2000 by March 21^st and $4000 by May.

Update on self trickery: It has thus far earned me $12 from myself ( oh, new total $1007), and also obviously all the immediate health benefits from avoiding coffee as well like: the grogginess, the irritability, and the inability to function in a normal social setting before 10am.

Actually for the most part I have been fine. I have started employing other methods to keep me awake anyway such as always needing to go to the bathroom from drinking so much water all the time.

Real updates:

Next Virginia Tech Chapter of Habitat for Humanity build March 15th.
http://www.habitat.org.vt.edu/portal.html

Biking/training has been semi-productive. Home to class to home is about 5 miles, and when you forget your books, its 10. yea. Fun.
Otherwise it has been too ungodly cold to take on any serious rides as of yet. I have been mostly swimming, playing water polo, or trying a stationary bike.

Speaking of water polo. Championships @ James Madison University April 12-13^th

Worth mentioning because I have good faith that we are going to be awesome.

Shameless thanking and healthier caffeine free lifestyle

Let us all bask in the amazing awesomeness of Miss Laurie and Mr. Mike along with Auntie Paula and Greg, being my first donors. Truly amazing and great. It has even inspired me to write what is sure to become this self-consuming blog, which, case in point, has thus far kept me from finishing my homework for tomorrow.

I have developed a scheme in which to improve my overall health as well as earn me some much needed funds.

--A scheme is obviously necessary because apparently I can’t just choose to be healthier, or just give of my own free will. That would be ridiculous.

I have calculated (well, not actually calculated, more like a brief mental estimate. Putting real numbers on this would be far too depressing) the large sums of money I must spend on coffee on a week to week basis. It’s just way too much. Then if you factor in the other warm, often breakfast-associated beverages that I consume throughout the day… tea, hot chocolate, the absurdity grows.

Anyway, the plan/self-trickery goes as this: strong coffee desire comes, pull out the money, put in self-trickery jar, drink a glass of water. I am hoping that the warm feeling I will get inside from helping others will replace the actual physical, cold, rather unpleasant feeling of drinking the curiously metallic-tasting water from any number of water fountains scattered about campus.

So if all goes according to plan, I will solely rely on the energizing good feelings, which come from charity and proper hydration to keep awake in class tomorrow. I will let you know how it goes.