Updates

Work's been getting cancelled a bit lately, but it looks like I'll be getting a pretty nice tax refund soon which will help immensely when I go to pay my bills next month! I also might get to be an assistant track coach at CHCA middle school, which would be crazy fun and help out a bit financially as well. We'll see... Still waiting to hear from ETS about the pics I sent in a week or two ago. Hopefully they'll buy a good number of those and give me some positive feedback to be even more successful the next time around.

Spring appears to have sprung, though I realize the temps'll be up and down for awhile. Still, it's helped with my training (that, and not having so much work lately!). I've been out on the bike a few times recently, and even used it for my first 11.5 commuter miles in Cincinnati yesterday! Looking forward to the start of the time trial season, though the big hill on the 40K course is scaring me a bit and I really don't know what kind of time to expect. Running with the Fleet Feet gang has been awesome lately as well! The run/walkers are way cooler, or maybe I just like it better 'cause I'm not always the slowest one anymore... :-) No, but it just makes it more social and therefore more fun when you're not focused entirely on the pain. Actually, I haven't had much pain yet, for which I'm truly thankful, though the long runs are getting longer and taking their toll. We did 14 miles last Saturday, which hurt. Nothing specific, it just sapped every ounce of energy I had, and I'd even forced myself to suck down some gel along the way. Guess I still have some stuff to figure out there. And, I'm not looking forward to doing my long run this week by myself... Oh, well.

Also had to re-plan my summer race schedule when I agreed to go back to New Jersey for the internship again. Except the 70.3 in Michigan August 1, that I've still got to do since it's my A race this year. And the folks in Jersey agreed to let me take 2 days off to get out there and back, so that's awesome. You may recall that I had a rather difficult time in Princeton last summer, yet a big part of me is really looking forward to going back: seeing the friends I met last summer again, training with some skilled and fun athletes, not having to worry about work for two months, competing in a couple of the same races I did last season to see if I've improved... Plus, I definitely won't be staying with Irmgard this summer, so it's bound to be better in that regard, though I will stop by to visit with her. And this time, since I know for sure it's only temporary, I'm not quite as worried to be leaving my Cincinnati friends, even though I will definitely miss them.

Been chatting online with a few nice guys from eHarmony. Looking forward to phone calls and/or getting together soon... Also, a couple friends and I have started a challenge to get out and meet new people and date more casually over the next couple of months. It's kind of exciting to think about, but also terrifyingly uncomfortable at the same time. Could be a good time to learn and grow, though, so we'll see how that goes.

Guess that's about it for now! I'll try to keep more up-to-date with my postings in the future...

Retreat Reflections

It's been awhile since I've taken a weekend away to really focus all my attention on my God. And what a beautiful God he is! I hate to admit it, but I often forget that... Still, there's something about the twinkling of a million stars or a hundred eyes to remind you that God is good.

I was reminded this weekend that truth and faith go hand in hand, and convicted to spend more time learning about and meditating on the truth of who God is and who I am in him.

I was refreshed by humble, honest, beautiful times of worship. I cannot imagine a life without the gift of music, because often times these melodies are the only way I can praise my God when words are not enough.

I was encouraged by the passion of the kids I was supposedly there to lead, and humbled because I realized just how inadequate I was to do that.

And I learned a few random things about myself, too:

I treasure independence to an unhealthy extreme. I'm afraid to need people, (even though I sometimes think I need a man to love and affirm me,) and that sometimes translates into being afraid to need God as well. I know I've put up these walls because of wounds from my past, but I also know that God will never let me down. And yet I find it hard to surrender my "strength" to the tenderness of his touch.

In the midst of pondering these things, God seemed to answer me with this song by Tenth Avenue North called By Your Side:

Why are you striving these days
Why are you trying to earn grace
Why are you crying
Let me lift up your face
Just don't turn away

Why are you looking for love
Why are you still searching as if I'm not enough
To where will you go child
Tell me where will you run
To where will you run

And I'll be by your side
Wherever you fall
In the dead of night
Whenever you call
And please don't fight
These hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you

Look at these hands and my side
They swallowed the grave on that night
When I drank the world's sin
So I could carry you in
And give you life
I want to give you life

And I'll be by your side
Wherever you fall
In the dead of night
Whenever you call
And please don't fight
These hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you

Cause I, I love you
I want you to know
That I, I love you
I'll never let you go

And I'll be by your side
Wherever you fall
In the dead of night
Whenever you call
And please don't fight
These hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you

Butt Dance

So, I just got back from helping out at my church's youth group retreat, and let me tell you: it was awesome! I'll describe some more specifics and some things I learned soon (since I'm super tired now,) but I couldn't wait to share this video... It's Eric, drawing his Chinese name in the air with his butt. Yep, that's what I said. Why, you ask? Well, see, that was his punishment for not having his name tag at one point during the weekend. Right... O.k.... Well, anyway, just trust me: you'll love this!

Long-Awaited Arrival

Well, after almost two-and-a-half months, the washer and dryer I bought on Black Friday have arrived!

And I can't wait to do my first load of laundry in them tonight, especially after that filthy bike ride last Sunday...

Realization

A month or so ago, I filled out the eHarmony personality profile thing, and now they keep sending me all these matches, guys they think I'm compatible with. But of the 200+ guys they've shown me, I've only found maybe 20 that sound interesting. Even then, though, I can't really respond to any of their communication requests without paying, and I just don't have the money for that right now. Plus, I'm also really skeptical about meeting people online, (although I do have a friend who just married a guy she met on eHarmony). They did have a free communication weekend at the beginning of January, and from that I actually started emailing one guy a bit. He sounded very nice, and smart, and we seemed to have a lot in common, but then he sent me his picture... And I can't say that I'm particularly attracted to him. Maybe I'm shallow, I don't know, or maybe I'm just coming to a realization: I think I'm more attracted to Asian guys these days. I guess it makes sense since most of my friends are Asian, but I was still a little surprised to realize this about myself. Unfortunately, I'm afraid this might limit me even more: even if I were to find a single, young-ish, tall-ish, Asian guy who loved God, had some musical ability and were as active as I am, I'm doubtful that he'd want to date a white girl. Hmm. Guess this'll be another lesson in trusting God.

Everything's Funner with Friends

I have to be honest: I love it when my student cancels his lesson on Wednesday nights. 'Cause that's usually when some friends are cycling, and then I can join them! On warmer days, we do the Wednesday Night Hill Ride out of Team Cycling, but when it's too cold for that, we opt for trainers in someone's living room. Well, last night we made it a ladies' night, swapping the usual BigDave for his better half. I mean, sure, I could have saved at least an hour-and-a-half if I'd have just set the thing up at home, (and then I probably wouldn't have been up until the wee hours of the morning getting songs ready for worship practice,) but it was way funner riding with friends! (And yes, I know that "funner" is not a word, but it's just funner than saying "more fun!") Here's a pic of the three of us: Mrs. BigDave, Mary Sunshine, and me. Yay!

2009 Race Schedule

This is by no means set in stone, but after looking through various race websites and my own calendar, this is my tentative race schedule for 2009:

March 29 - Heart Mini Marathon (15K)
May 3 - Flying Pig Marathon (half or full, we'll see)
May 17 - Tri for Joe (?)
June 7 - State Time Trial Championship (OR Deer Creek Triathlon?)
July 5 - Caesar Creek Triathlon (olympic)
August 1 - Steelhead Ironman 70.3 (half iron)
August 23 - Breat Buckeye Challenge Triathlon (oly)
September 6 - Portage Lakes Triathlon (sprint?)
September 27 - Toyota Challenge at Deer Creek Triathlon (oly)

Other biking events:
BDBC's Cross State Record Ride (Cincinnati to Toledo) - practice March 28?, actual attempt June? July?
QCW's Cleves Time Trial Series - every Tuesday May-September
QCW's 40K Time Trial Series - second Saturday March-June
CCC's Spring Opener - April 18
CCC's BCBCBC Ride - August 22
CCC's GGRR - October 3

17 Things

A friend of mine recently published a list of 17 random facts about herself on her blog, and invited others to do the same. So here are a few things you might not know about me...

1. I generally prefer to read non-fiction than fiction. Sometimes Christian living books, sometimes linguistics books, most recently triathlon training books.
2. I rarely drink hot beverages. I don't like coffee or tea, but even hot chocolate doesn't tempt me much: I tend to drink it too quickly and end up burning my tongue every time.
3. As nice as back and shoulder massages are, I would almost always prefer a calf massage.
4. I really want to adopt, maybe from China. I'd be open to having my own child as well, but I don't really feel the need to actually birth a baby myself.
5. I like my feet. I think they're cute.
6. I have scoliosis and had to wear a back brace from fourth through eighth grades. I had great posture at the time, but it only shows now when I sit to play piano.
7. I seem to develop crushes easily, and apparently always have to like someone. So, if you're a guy, and you're my friend, and you're single, be careful. I'm just sayin'...
8. I can't remember the last time I cried.
9. I generally always prefer veggies to meat, but I only like meat on my pizza, no veggies, except maybe tomatoes.
10. I've never been to Chicago, even though it's the closest big city. Guess I always choose to go to the mountains instead when I have some time (and money) to get away.
11. It's been at least 25 years since I've thrown up.
12. I seem to feel colder more often now than I did before living in Harbin, China. Crazy: I thought nothing would feel cold after the persistently sub-zero temperatures there.
13. Noises bother me, especially loud ones. Like lots of kids screaming, or concerts, or beeping machines that other people don't even notice...
14. I think I've changed exactly one diaper in my entire 30 years.
15. I love traditions, especially around the holidays. I'm also excited to start some traditions of my own once I have a family, like running on Thanksgiving morning.
16. I've never gotten into the habit of flossing every day. That's one of my New Year's resolutions.
17. Ironically, 17 is my favorite number. I have no idea why, but I do like that it's prime.

Wanna play? Post a list of 17 random facts on your blog or facebook page, or send me a good old-fashioned email!

Good Beginning

So, ever since I started posting my crazy fortunes, I really look forward to getting my cookie after a nice Chinese lunch. And when I get a sort of normal one, I sometimes try again to see if I can find something stranger the second time around. Actually, it took me three tries this afternoon, but I ended up with this:

"Good beginning is half done."

Huh? Nice... :-)

Welcome Home!

Well, I suppose it's time to post some photos of my new place, especially for those of you who aren't on facebook. I'm all settled in and it really feels like home to me. I'm glad it's such a comfortable place, too, since I spent practically my entire weekend at home, sprawled out on the couch watching movies on T.V.... Stupid immobilizing cold. Anyway, the pictures!