Motivated to Succeed

9:00 AM - Feeling the cumulative effects of too much work, schoolwork, and too little sleep. Hopped on the bike and did a ride while I crammed more for my Content Specialty Test on Saturday. The only good thing is once I take that it is my third and final certification exam so if I pass it I am done with tests! (aside from my Comprehensive Exams which I need to pass in July for my Master's Degree). Really looking forward to Sunday because Emma and I have a biking date on the Ashwillticook Trail from Pittsfield up into North Adams and back. Now if only Fro' Yo Soft Serve places were open!

Total Time: 1:00:20 Total Distance: 20 miles

Spent two hours before work mounting my new tires Continental Ultra Gatorskins to my bike. Phew that was a chore! didn't think it was going to be much work, but that's what I get for never having done that before. Thankfully I've never had a flat tire before *knock on wood*. Put on my bike rack too. I am all set now for my UltraCycling debut! Am hoping to go for a long bikeride tomorrow after I get out of observations at 2:30. If I get on the roads around 3, then I can get a few hours in on the bike. Supposed to finally be sunny and gorgeous here tomorrow too :)

50 MILE PR!! 2:48:50!

3:15 PM - After doing homework this morning i had to go observe at my brothers high school for a few periods. Zipped home and got changed and was anxious to head out on the roads with my new tires!! Was unsure of the weather at the start of the day. It was still rainy, foggy and mid 40s when I went to observe at 1 today. But by the time I got out it was 60 and sunny! You really couldnt ask for a better day!

Hopped on the bike and followed a somewhat normal route down Jockey St into Charlton, and then east into Ballston, down into Burnt Hills - Ballston Lake, Scotia, and back. I was all over the place. Some things I saw today that were memorable and/or I am not soon to forget:

1. 3 dogs tried to kill me before mile 5. Fortunately for me two were fenced in and one decided he/she was too old and fat to chase me as I sped past.

2. There were flocks of black birds in the trees making a horrifying screech (I think they might have been Starlings?). Reminded me of eerie Hitchcockesque "Birds". Made me go faster (around mile 14-15).

3. Rode past the YMCA where Harry (youngest brother) swims and look down and see I already have gone about as far as I normally go in a ride (22 miles). Contemplated jumping off and running in from the street to the gym and hopping on the treadmill and really freaking some old ladies out, but I figured a cyclist is crazy enough.

4. Got yelled at by a bunch of kids because they were riding their BMX bikes on the wrong side of the street mind you without helmets and they thought it would make them look smarter when I took a left hand turn on a green light without signaling because I was shifting and going way too fast when they yelled : "Hey dude! That's illegal!" I love kids. ~mile 30

5. Nice little lady was out gardening. I waved. She waved back. We shared a moment and for a split second the earth stood still. (Mile 32)

6. Went past a real smelly farm. It smelled of cows, but not the sweet smell of manure, the nasty smelling kind! (Mile 35)

7. Sign of the time: Saw first road sign by a school that said "WARNING This is a text free zone - $150 fine". Dang! ( I put my super duper text master machine away )

8. Stopped by the Charlton General Store for refuel because I drained both of my 24 oz. bottles and didn't want to experience the "Bonk" factor. The lady was real nice, so I left her two dollars and told her to have a very nice day. Jokes on her though. It wasn't a two dollar tip, but she accidentally charged me 1.49 for a Gatorade that I read on the sign said 2.10. Didn't want her getting in trouble though at the end of the night. Still left her a tip though. :) (Mile 37)

9. Cute little girl that reminded me of Baby Jane. I can't wait until I'm officially her Uncle Benn! (Mile 40)

10. Goats! (Mile 52) Not really memorable but I wanted to round out the number of cool things at ten.

Total Distance: 55.2 miles  Total Time: 3:10:08 Average Speed: 17.4 mph!

1:00 PM - My test went well this morning down in Schenectady. Was a little taken aback though. Out of 90 m/c questions about 30 were on micro/macro economics and related concepts which is about my worst sub-subject in Social Studies. Doh! The essay was good though. Was comparing and contrasting two opposing views written by women in the 1960s and 1970s. You know how I love my second wave feminism! haha.

Hopped on the wind trainer before long night at work. Couldn't get today off, so instead I have to work 4pm to 1130 pm. *Insert scowl here*. I get to see Emmy tomorrow though! Yay!

Total Time: 30:10 Total Distance: 10 miles

1:45 PM - Woke up early and drove to Emma's house today. We'd orginally planned for a bike trip on the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail, but it was low to mid 40s and windy. Actually encountered snow on the hour and a half drive to her house too coming over the mountains into Massachusetts. We ended up chilling at her house for a while. I got to see Rose and little baby Beaner Jane and Rose's dad whom I'd only met once before. Was nice to just sit with a coffee and forget about the hectic stuff that is all coming due this week or next week. Actually spent the better part of an hour talking about the New York and American Education Systems as well as North Korea's recent firing of a missile that morning, part of which fell into the ocean to the west of Japan. They claimed they were launching a satellite, but the U.S. had been monitoring it and no satellite appears to have actually been launched into orbit.

Around lunch time the sun was just starting to peak out of the clouds so we jumped in Emma's car and drove to Monument Mountain. This was the first time since "the Big Day" that we'd been back, and by the time we got there a bunch of other people must have had the same idea, because there were a half dozen cars at the bottom of the trail. We got out and started hiking, and it was simply gorgeous. Could hear the birds chirping, the chipmunks and squirrels chatting, and the wind rustling through the treetops. When we got up to the top we just sat there on the rocks looking out over everything. We watched a group of hawks for what seemed like forever - watching them float effortlessly in the wind, swooping around the precipices and overlooks, coming almost within reach. Emma sunned herself on the rock like a lizard. There was another couple up at the top with a dog and he kept running off.

Afterwards, we hiked back down the other side of the mountain. I was actually kind of sad that we had to leave the mountain, though on our way down we raced each other to "our spot" where I proposed in October. I think Emmy won! When we got there, we just sat on the rocks looking down the cliff, and just took it all in. We noticed the hawks were back, and I actually got the hawks on camcorder. Maybe it's just me but I consider this a meaningful vision: was videotaping two hawks swooping in circles in the cavern, and the two of them flew by each other and then came together, landing next to each other on a tall promitory in the middle of the cliff. It was truly an awesome site :)!

We hiked back to the car and then drove to Great Barrington and stopped at Uncommon Grounds coffee shop, only it wasn't the run of the mill Uncommon Grounds like the corporate one with the same name across from Borders in Saratoga. This one was awesome. It was totally organic, totally hippie, and totally cool! My dream coffee shop! Whenever I'm in Great Barrington again I'm stopping in there! They even have a cool yard for kids to play out back next to the river! After getting a coffee Emmy and I went to our favorite Indian restaurant in Pittsfield, House of India!

Total Time: ~2 hours  Total Distance: 3.0 miles

Looking off of Monument almost at the Summit. The pond looks like a map of the USA!

Rocks at the summit in the sunshine.

I found a mountain goat! Though this one was surprisingly much cuter than most you encounter at this elevation!

1:00 PM -  I was selected to participate in a NCATE interview today from 1:00-2:00 before my Sponsor - A - Scholar Program. Our college is in the process of getting reaccredited, and I was one of about a dozen people selected to go and represent the college. So that made me feel pretty good :). Afterwards I went right to Sponsor-A-Scholar and I had one of those moments.. where you feel like everything is worth it, that all your struggles and all the time you've put in to come up with workshops/lessons and everything was worth it.

Today's topic was GENOCIDE THROUGHOUT HISTORY and when we explained it to our teachers they were a bit removed and wary as to how we would interest the inner city kids at Albany High. There are three of us that work together for Social Studies. Well I was in charge of talking about the Armenian Genocide which occurred between 1915-1923 in which 75% of the Armenian population living in Turkey were exterminated and first world countries did little to step in, and have since still been reluctant to punish the Turkish Government. Well it worked out perfectly because Obama actually stopped in Turkey earlier this week and he has pledged to get the Armenian Genocide recognized globally, even as today Turkish youth are still taught in their schools that it did not happen and that it was more the product of a civil war and was the Armenians fault for uprising against them. From there we went to the Holocaust, showing pictures and maps of concentration camps (there were actually over 10,000 camps!). One of the eeriest handouts we passed around were three postcards that you could purchase from Auschwitz death camp that showed the crematoriums. What would write on them? "Uh, wish you were here? Not really?". From here we progressed and talked about Rwandan Genocide in the 1990s and then the recent ongoing genocide in Darfur. Well about halfway through I look up after finding a picture to show the workshop and I realize that not only did we have the biggest turnout of all four groups presenting.. with nearly 10 kids at our workshop instead of the normal 3 or 4, but each kid was mesmorized! They were asking questions and just sitting there stunned. They were so involved and active. It was truly an empowering moment. I just felt bad because two other groups had no one that attended their workshops!

As we were cleaning up and rearranging the room one of the other guys, DJ made a comment about Boy Scouts being "prepared". And I told him how I am a merit badge counselor right now and was an Eagle Scout since 2002. He told me that he was too! How cool is that I thought, then John our third partner came over because he heard us and he told us that he was an Eagle scout as well! Does that say something or what?! Eagle Scouts (only 1% of Boy Scouts ever reach that rank) as future Social Studies Teachers of America! I would be lying if I didn't tell you that I went to my class tonight with huge grin on my face. Everything went well today.

My day started with having breakfast with an angel in Pittsfield, and ended with a smile on my face. Kind of funny because my note that I read from Emmy before bed tonight said "I love it that when I think of you I get a big goofy grin on my face." She's so perfect. :D

9:15 AM - Got up early because my dad woke me up at about 6am since he was singing to Aggie, the St. Bernard puppy. Haha he's so crazy! It was snowing outside this morning! No thank you, Madam Weather! Hopped on the bike and started reading James Rollins's Excavation. It's a quick read. I'm already on page 80! Moves really fast. Historical fiction mystery set in the Peruvian Mountains regarding the discovery of a Dominican Friar and ancient Incan ruins. So much like Scott Smith's The Ruins, though it predated it. I'll be done with this one before the week's end probably! Much faster read than Oliver Twist was!

Total Time: 1:00:30  Total Distance: 20 miles

9:00 AM - Hopped on the bike this morning and read from James Rollins's Excavation. Really quick, engaging thriller with historical twist about the Incan Empire and a hidden pyramid. Read another 95 pages so I'm up to page 175 or so. Almost halfway through it already! Emma called about 5 mins into the ride but man is it hard to talk on the phone and bike at the same time, even when you're biking to nowhere! I am going to call her back shortly after a shower to destinkify. Then long day at work tonight 2pm to 1030pm. Gag! Oh and I saw more snowflakes today. Grrr it's April dangit!

Total Time: 1:14:00 Total Distance: 24 miles

10:40 AM - After nearly an hour and a half trying to get Aggie inside I ended up locking her in the garage through an ingenious trail of American Cheese. Just like Hansel and Gretel. Today's forecast was highs in the upper 40s, but windy. Winds were between 15 and 20mph, but today was my only chance to get in a ride, so I layered up with two bottoms, then put on a long sleeve sport shirt, the bike jersey Julian gave me and a purple fleece and headed out on a ride. I was taken aback by just how powerful the wind really is. As I went through Galway, Ballston, Charlton, Burnt Hills, Scotia, and Providence, I got to see a lot of the countryside that I love about this part of NY. Only downer was rude / unaware drivers. I would need about five hands to count the number of times people gunned their trucks past me without leaving adequate room and at least a set of toes for the numer of semis that I almost careened into. I think drivers are just unaware that if you drive too close to a biker, especially when there is a severe cross wind, you risk sucking him and his bike into your car! At least I made it back in one piece. My aunt Jane is up here for Easter. She just flew in from Tennessee. Time to go help my mom go Easter shopping and then back to do loads of homework! This was by far the hardest ride I've ever done, but also the most rewarding. I think that century better watch out! The Howling Commando's ready to slice and dice baby!

Total Time: 3:56:40  Total Distance: 60.5 miles  Average Speed: 15.4 mph

1:15 PM - It was a bit nippy out there; Temps in the mid 40s. Sunny and blue skies though. We had a lovely Easter with Rocco, Su, Emma, my Aunts Mary, Jane, Debbie, and a lot of their families up here. Probably abou 15-20 people in all. Needed to go work off some turkey. Emmy had to go to work today, so I saw her off and then went for a bike ride while they all went to the mall to go shopping. Had a good ride. Went down Jockey Street into Charlton, then over into West Charlton. All in all a nice ride. No other bikers out there because of the wind I suspect. But I had a blast :).  I feel like I am going to be able to do the century next month!! I'm just glad I didn't get carried away like Dorothy today! Phew! Time for a shower and tea and then mucho homework!

Total Time: 1:49:00 Total Distance: 31 miles  Average Speed: 17.1 mph

8:40 AM - Sunny and temps in the low 40s when I started, warming up though and it is now about 62 or so. Gorgeous day today for sure! Started off solo ride 53 miles in about 3:03, hit the 50 mile mark in 2:49, ten seconds off my PR I believe. A lot of farmers out getting the fields ready today as I cruised through Galway, Charlton, Burt Hills, Ballston, Scotia, Glenville and back. Then swung by home. Told my mom to expect me home at 12:00 and I pulled in at 11:57 right when she was in the middle of leaving a message on my phone about where I was. Funny!  Went riding with her and my youngest brother Harry to the Pizza Etc. place in Saratoga, about 13-14 miles each way. Stopped there and met our friend Kyle and my other brother Jonny and we had lunch, then biked home. I'm pooped! Still struggling to get all of my final unit plan stuff together. Going to get a shower and a quick nap and then try to do 1-2 more lessons. Ick. So blah. But at the same time I'm anxiously looking forward to my century ride which I am doing on May 2nd!! On a special note, today is six months since I proposed to Emmy and she said yes! Happiest day of my life! So lucky to have her as mine! :)

Total Time: 4:48:43  Total Distance : 78.56 miles Average Speed: 16.3 mph

Notes: next time remember sunscreen. Some sunburning on knees, calves, hands, and face. Total bottles drained 4: 96 oz plus a cup of coffee and cup of iced tea at lunch. Foods on the ride; 2 granola bars and a pack of gummies.

9:00 AM - A little bit of soreness this morning still. My legs were fatigued after the long ride last week. All this weekend I felt surprisingly tired walking up hills, stairs, etc. But I fet a bit better today. Hopped on the windtrainer and read about 120 pages from James Rollins's EXCAVATION. Almost done with it. I really like his style of writing! So happy today too because I am handing in my Unit Plan which is 40% of my grade for a class. It was 190 pages typed and fills up a 2" binder!

On a sad note, one of the professors at the college in the education department passed away suddenly last night. He was too young. His son is the same age as me and in a Master's program there. :(. Everyone at school is really sad and just lost about it because the school is so small everyone knows everyone.

Saw the weather reports for the weekend coming up and supposedly Saturday is projected to be 85!! Sunday 82!! I am going to hold off on the last long ride before the century until Sunday.

Total Time: 1:00:10 Total Distance: 20 miles

**Countdown : 11 DAYS

9:00 AM - Hopped on the bike after coffee this morning. Felt good. Finished reading Excavation by James Rollins as I rode. Something about the jet engine-esque sounds of the trainer make it easier to concentrate on the book. Today is bittersweet. My mom told me that she thinks we need to put Libby to sleep today. I guess I should be happy we got the extra few months with her since the vet said she had bad bone cancer. And I just got called into work early but I guess it's better that I won't be here when the vet comes to put her down. Last time with Geri was just too much for me.

Total Time: 1:16:30  Total Distance: 25 miles

**Countdown : 10 DAYS

9:00 AM - Got up and hopped on the bike after chatting with Emmy on the phone. Semester is quickly coming to a close and I still have a lot of projects and finals coming up. Eek! Read the first 60 pages of Iain Pears's AN INSTANCE OF THE FINGERPOST. I really like it already. It's a historical mystery set in 1663 England right after the English Civil War about a murder that is misconstrued and misinterpreted by four witnesses in four different ways. It's a longer book though so I will be reading it for a few weeks as it is nearly 750 pages!

It is sunny out now but really windy, hence the reason I did not go riding outside today. I am hoping to get in a recovery ride after work tomorrow though. I heard that this weekend there are 3 or 4 days of 80+ degree temps on the way!

Total Time: 1:04:00 Total Distance: 21.15 miles

** COUNTDOWN :  9 DAYS!!

 I GOT ACCEPTED AS A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER AND APPROVED BY THE B.O.E. @ the SCHOOL DISTRICT ON TUESDAY! I HOPE I GET A CALL SOON! :)

10:00 AM - Up early. A bit windy and already hot and humid out. Plus I wanted to hang out with Emmy since she's up here for today. So I hopped on the wind trainer and read until about page 130 in Pears's An Instance of the Fingerpost. It's really getting good! Did one hour reasonably hard effort. Emmy went on the treadmill at the other side of the room. No matter how hard I tried to bike over there to her my wind trainer seemed to make zero progress! Doh! Maybe next time :-D. I must admit she is an enticing target.

Total Time: 1:00:20  Total Distance: 20 miles

**Countdown: 6 DAYS!!!

7:40 PM - Long day of school work and hot day. Temperature was 88 degrees and crazy sunny. Emmy went home and Su went back to school. Got home and hopped on the trainer and did a quick half hour. Feeling good about Saturday. Just hoping that the weather holds up. They are talking about showers Friday lingering possibly into Saturday.

Total Time: 30:10 Total Distance: 10 miles

**Countdown: 5 DAYS!!

8:30 AM - Finally the temperature has cooled off some. Weather is looking a bit more promising for Saturday. Holding out hopes that any rain will come early on in the morning and that the majority of my ride is dry! Got back my huge unit plan yesterday that took 80+ hours to make and constitutes 40% of my grade. The professor said that we all did fine and almost everyone got 3.0 out of 4.0 which is professional, but he said that he would probably curve the grades .5 to .7, leaning towards .7 because he wanted us to get the grades we deserved. So he said to look at our grades and add those points to it. My grade BEFORE the curve was 3.8 out of 4.0!! Is it possible to get a 4.5 out of 4.0? HAHA! I was ecstatic! Also my huge presentation/project I handed in yesterday for another class went well, though we were still finishing it 20 mins before class. I think this contributed to feelings of guilt because I had a nightmare about getting a 0% because the teacher caught us finishing it right before class! Did a shakeout on the wind trainer. Anxious to get my final studying underway and also finish the last two papers for the semester. Have a final on Monday and another on Tuesday, but then I'll be done until the 18th. Going to look at Burke and Pavelka's book today at work and start getting a list compiled of what I need for Saturday! This is going to be exciting!

Total Time: 15:15 Total Distance: 5 miles