Intruder

Posted on by lindsay
I was craving food a few minutes ago (not to be confused with actually being hungry), so I walked into the kitchen to get a snack. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a flash of movement, so I quickly glanced over and saw One Big Ass Spider. Panic ensued, I let out a comically delayed yell of horror more because it seemed appropriate than anything else, and the first thing I instinctively did was trap him under a glass. Not out of any desire to preserve his life, no effing way, but simply because I needed time to figure out what to do. To squish him would be a horrible mess complete with twitching legs and exploding guts and what would I use to do it anyway? My slipper? PLEASE. They'd be dead to me after that. Once he was safely under the glass, I bent down ...continue reading.

I’d Write More, But That Might Keep Me From Resting More Aggressively

Posted on by lindsay
I started a new job a few weeks ago at a small IT company in Reston. [No, the teaser photo was not me signing the offer letter.] I like the gig well enough and the people seem to be my kind of people. Sharp-witted, irreverent, firmly against early morning meetings. They already make comments about how I’m a dictator and, when a subcontractor said in a meeting today, “people in [Lindsay’s] role can’t be too nice,” my coworker immediately replied, “oh that’s not a problem for her.” So things are going well, if not a bit busy while I juggle managing two proposals simultaneously. It’s fine; better now in my off month than when I’m trying to ride six days a week, lift weights, and sleep more than six hours a night. As usual, rest month is not smooth sailing. On one hand, there is something sinfully delicious about having ...continue reading.

It’s the end of the year as we know it, and I feel FABULOUS

Posted on by lindsay
Part 1, Saturday Morning: Before The Race All of this year's travel, training, hard work, and highs are coming to a close at the end of today. Wow. What a year! I didn't know what to expect coming into this season - while I longed for a great year with results that would launch me into a pro contract, I tried to temper my expectations and see this season as a chance to learn and improve. My one goal was to podium at a national-level race. Things didn't go as expected. First was qualifying for the Nature Valley Pro Chase - I was so excited to have that opportunity and a big event to focus on for the season. Then I won Walterboro at Speed Week and was thrilled; I can still remember every moment of that experience and how incredulous and excited I felt. Seeing those podium flowers and ...continue reading.

These hands were made for cowbells

Posted on by lindsay
The Race: Tacchino Cyclocross The Course: 45 minutes of JOY JOY JOY The Field: 1/2/3 women The Finish: Somewhere around 1.5 laps to go, to the right of the course After finishing my 'last race of the season' at Thater with a burning desire for more, I quickly registered for the TD Bank Mayor's Cup NCC Crit in Boston at the end of September. A month seemed like a long time to wait to race, but with no road events easily accessible earlier in the month, I decided to register for a single cross race. What fun! I thought, imagining a breezy autumn day spent zipping merrily around a delightfully fast, grassy course followed by sipping craft beer and nibbling frites. Things I did not take into consideration: it's been over a year since I've ridden anything unpaved, my cross bike was missing key elements like the drivetrain, I was never particularly gifted ...continue reading.

Uncharted Terrority

Posted on by lindsay
Dog #2 has cancer. The poor guy cannot catch a break. First, he went blind in one eye in November 2009. Then, at the end of last year, he started to go blind in the other eye and had a few months of regular vet visits and dozens of daily eyedrops and pills, followed by a surgery that ended the ordeal but left him totally blind. He has adjusted well to this, other than the part where he gently ricochets off everything as he navigates the world, but now he's been dealt another kick in the pants. The problem seemed minor at first. I took him on a walk to 7-Eleven on Monday and, as I was crossing the street in bright daylight, I noticed the skin under the fur on his tail looked irritated. I bent down for a closer look and was appalled to see the skin was red, mottled with spots, and oozing ...continue reading.