Job Hunt

Alright, so I have been gone for a bit.  Not on vacation, but working . . . working . . . working.  I hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with loads of turkey, and family fun.  Due to the fact that I have to work Thanksgiving and Christmas this year I am considering quiting one of my day jobs.  Help me out with this one.  Here is a current list of my daily works and I am needing to dwindle it down to a few favorites.

• Bella Rosa Bikes - this is my passion!  I LOVE my job here, and WON'T give it up.  It makes me happy.  It brings peace to my inner soul.  It completes me.

• Rusty Mill  - My good friend Kelly and I have started making frames, and other rad wood stuff .  We love it, and I DON'T want to give this up either.

• Born Ready - I sell kid tees at the local craft shows.  I LOVE this and don't want to give this up either.
• Photography - This is a hobby that has turned into a true passion. Opening up a photography collective in small college town next month. I am in LOVE with my camera, and don't want to give this up either.

• FULL TIME MOTHER & WIFE - This is my favorite of all favorites!  I couldn't ask for anything more.  I am in love with my family, and don't want to give up this fun full time job.
• HOSPITAL - I have worked at the hospital for 15 years.  I am greatful for this job, but don't LOVE it.  I can't quite give it up due to stability.  Freak, life is confusing.

So, because you are my friends and help me with all of my issues - I NEED HELP!  I'm on the job hunt. . . the hunt to dwindle down the things I don't enjoy.  The problem is I LOVE all of them.  Oh dear Bella friends, please help.

Bike Fit Article

(thanks to my good friend Kelly for modeling for the article)

The other day a guy named Mike called.  He said he was interested in getting a gift certificate for his wife for a custom bike.  She was celebrating her 50th birthday, and he felt he wanted to surprise her with something special.  Mike, you are a TRUE man.  What a rad gift!  To make a long story short - Liz came over to get sized for her new ride.  The look on her face when I wished her happy birthday was priceless.  Big grin from ear to ear!  I don't think I have ever seen anyone so excited for a custom ride.  During her fit analysis with her current bike Brian and I noticed that she was going to be a great candidate for custom.  You would never know that Liz just turned 50.  She is my inspiration - cross country ski master, teli instructor, forest service ranger, and cyclist.  The thing that put the icing on the cake was that she just moved to my small little town.  How cool is that?  Can't wait to bike with Liz this coming spring.

Yesterday an article ran that Brian and I wrote in a cool online magazine called Cycle and Style.  It was an article on bike fit for women.  Check out the amazing website.  Great resource for women in the cycling world.  Check out our article HERE http://cycleandstyle.com/2010/11/sitting-pretty-intro-to-bike-fit-for-women/

Tough Cross Chics Rock

Saturday at the local cross race there was this girl. 

I don't know her name or where she was from, but what I do know of her is that she is friggin tough.  She was racing in the men's cross division and kicking some serious butt!  The thing that was so impressive was the determination on her face.  She was going to give it her all and not an ounce less. I learned a pretty valuable lesson from her.  Sometimes giving 100% is not enough.  Dig in and find that last 10%!  In the end it will make a huge difference in how life turns out.    

What Do You Dream?

Ever since I was a kid I have had big dreams.   Big hopes of one day becoming something amazing.  Becoming something that I could be proud of.  Why is it that no matter what we dream it seems unreachable?  Well, I have realized that unreachable is good.  No, unreachable is great.  Seriously!  It means that we have to continue to strive for perfection before we can reach the unthinkable - the unreachable dream. 

Do you dream?  What do you dream?  What are you reaching for?  I heard this quote by Gail Devers that said   

"Keep your dreams alive.  Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in YOURSELF, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication.  Remember all things are possible for those who believe."

So tonight when you go to bed DREAM!  Dream about life.  Dream about your next finish line.  Dream about your hard training.  Dream about your early mornings.  Dream about your smile while riding through the wind.  DREAM!  Even if those dreams seem unreachable - Dream.  

Sweet dreams my friends. 

What is an Athlete - Featured Writer Jennica Hirrlinger

I can't believe it's already November.  The leaves have fallen off the trees and the crisp clean air means it's time to prepare.  Yeah, snow!  The bicycle hooks will soon be filled with the bicycles of my three little ones along with the bicycles of me and my husband.  It has been a very fulfilling year.  CX season is still in full swing so those bikes will remain unpolished for a little longer. 

My good friend Jennica has done it again with her featured story.  I always love reading what all of your thoughts are.  As a female race women are truly powerful individuals.  Man, I would LOVE to see what life could be like if we all put our hearts and minds together for a special purpose.  Keep rockin' it this month girls.  GIRL POWER.

What is an Athlete - Featured writer Jennica Hirrlinger

I recently saw a news story outlining how a high school girl chose an autistic student in her grade for her date to their senior prom where it was probable that she would be voted Prom Queen. This young man was so excited for an evening out with this beautiful girl that he slept for a week prior with his tux layed out on his bed. The other students responded to this unusual situation by voting them prom royalty as their King and Queen. The newscaster went on to mention a few other similar incidences occurring across the country and summed it up saying, "Some of today's young people are changing the definition of beauty..."

I was considering this story as I went to work the next day and saw all the different kinds of people running or biking for exercise that morning. It used to be that only super fast, naturally talented, traditional-type athletes trained for and participated in races but today, pretty much anyone can and does register. Marathons and triathlons are some of the fastest growing, most inclusive sports in the world right now. Have you ever seen such a wide-spread support system?

With the exception of only few traditionalists, most people are thrilled to see the growth and to help pass on their knowledge of these sports and training techniques. Some elites even stand at the finish line, long after they have completed their race, cheering until the last competitor has crossed over.

I gave a talk once where I used my bike and my tri gear as visual aids to illustrate my point. A few months later, a neighbor approached me and thanked me...saying that, because of my talk she and her family were inspired to start running and they had planned to compete in a 1/2 marathon! She seemed super excited about it and was thrilled about the weight that she and her family had lost already.

      (Jennica is always doing something active and fun with her kids and other's in the neighborhood.  Cute pic at the local sand dunes)

It has been a couple of years since then and I still see them out running as a family. They are not, what some would consider traditional athletes but they are none-the-less ATHLETES. They are a brave, skinny, amazing, dedicated family of athletes. They, and so many others today, have changed the definition of the word athlete.

And that, is inspiring to me!

Jennica Hirrlinger