PotW: The Next Generation

You might know this little fella from Merkeley and AliCat's blog:

I think it's safe to say this is the cutest episode of Panda of the Week on record (sorry, Knut). Look at that smile!

He also does a mean Clint Eastwood impression...

take back the blog

Remember how these bloggy things used to work, how we'd share goofy little facts about our lives and funny stories? That was back in 1 B.FB.*, right? Back in the day.

Anyway, the personal blog. This one is mine, though you might not be able to tell so much since it has been taken over by pandas. (Speaking of which, I do have quite possibly the adorable-est panda yet and will post as soon as I remember to upload the photo.) At the moment most of my personal minutiae does not feel important enough to blog about, but that last post has been sitting here for more than two months. Ouch.

So...this Sunday marks one year since the day I up and married my sweet Mr. Man. He's even cuter now than he was that day, if you can imagine:We're headed up north for the weekend (Big Sur was booked -- all of it). I can't wait.

Since I still haven't mastered this thing that some people call "relaxation," I have been running during my time off the bike. Inspired by a marathon-running friend, I decided that I wanted to run my own personal half-marathon before my on-bike training started up again. Yesterday I ran 13 miles and some change. Today I am walking funny.

I don't think the two are related.

I have added cross-stitch to my growing list of hobbies that will prepare me for little-old-ladyhood. It's fun. Have you seen these Subversive Cross Stitch patterns? They make it more fun. And I found a pattern generator, which means I can come up with my own snarky sayings. Muah-ha-ha.

This Life List project really inspired me, and I recently started my own list. So far it includes mostly modest and achievable things (like learning Morse code, so I can cross-stitch snarky messages in Morse code - I'm going to take the joke so far that it isn't funny anymore!).

That's all.

* If you didn't immediately realize that this stands for "Before FaceBook," go get yourself a cookie. You have earned it.

Panda of the Week: Is there a Doctor in the house?

Olympian, national champion, Worlds medalist, Beat the Clock volunteer timekeeper, all-around awesome person.

Doctor Christine Thorburn, Panda of the Week!

Save that race!

(See the original post here.)

The presenting sponsor of the Tri-Flow Menlo Park Grand Prix presented by Hawk Relay has defaulted on their $5,000 sponsorship for the race. I made promotion + spending decisions based on that sponsorship, including the addition of a third women's race this year. At present, I've been able to cover all expenses except one bill to the City of Menlo Park for $4,000. If we can't pay this bill, Menlo Park will not grant us permission to promote this race again in 2010.

The Tri-Flow Menlo Park Grand Prix has become a spring favorite with northern CA racers, with all fields selling out. The race is the first race of the Bay Area Women's Cycling Association points series, and includes separate races for Women 4 (with a separate podium for the W4 35+), Women 3, and this year, the addition of the Women's P/1/2/3 race. Velo Girls puts a ton of resources into this race to make it a memorable and safe experience for everyone.

Being a self-employed cycling coach, I don't have a big fat savings account to draw on to cover the defaulted sponsorship. So, I'm asking my friends in the cycling community to help SAVE THE MENLO PARK GRAND PRIX. Each small donation will help me pay this last outstanding bill and will allow us to promote this race in the future.

Follow the link to make a donation on fundable.com:

http://www.fundable.com/groupactions/groupaction.2009-07-27.8067402810

A note regarding Fundable.com. My goal is to raise $5,000. The posted goal on Fundable.com is $100. No donations will be collected unless we meet this $100 minimum.

If you prefer to make a donation by check, email me at Lorri@velogirls.com for details.

Thank you everyone!

Lorri

ps -- please note that the default sponsor IS NOT Tri-Flow. They have been a fabulous sponsor for many years and we hope to continue our relationship with them for many years to come.

Olaf Pandarhoot

You know, that guy. 'Nuff said.

Panda saves the day

Last week you saw his hand providing the big assist for mission ears on Lance...hope that didn't steal too much thunder. Go Roman, long-overdue Panda of the Week!

PotW: the one that got away

This is the one that got away:

Admittedly, my timing was bad; weaseling my way in with the other media (you know, the ones with TV cameras and legitimate news reports? Yeah, that other media.) and handing him the ears on the start line was not the best setup. Something about a game face.*

It all came down to one sentence: "I am 100% sure that I don't want to do it." You take your chances and some days you take your lumps.

Truth be told, I'm a little embarrassed...I've never had to fake it before.**

Update: Ken Conley got a much better shot of this -- click here for his Flickr page! Thanks, Ken!

* I'd definitely pose in animal ears on a start line...I wonder what that says about my game face.

** It really helps to have friends in the field, though. See that hand holding the ears? Check back next week for the real panda I got at Nevada City.

overheard

The scene: Happy hour. A young guy missing his right hand sits at the bar with a beer; he's the right age to be an Iraq war veteran. Another man walks across the bar with two drinks & sits down next to him.

Drinker: (Gives the handless man one of the drinks.) "Hey, man -- Iraq?"

Handless man: "Naw, nothing exciting like a war. A lot of people think that, though."
HM: "I lost it at my job."

Drinker: "Your job? Really?? What do you do?"

HM: "Oh, you know...sales."

this Panda of the Week makes your life easier

Both of the crits this weekend were bring your own wheels. A couple years ago I might not have thought anything of that, but lately something has been spoiling me rotten (and presumably a lot of you, too): Williams Wheels neutral support.

Think about it; when did you last have to schlep a spare pair of wheels to a crit? I know that it's been a while for me...so let's all make sure to thank this PotW, who works hard behind the scenes to make our lives and races a little easier.

Thanks, Keith!

Panda of the Week: local boy makes good

Congrats to Jackson Stewart, who's been to Paris Roubaix but still makes it out for the local races, and who is by massive request the latest Panda of the Week!Jackson, you've got some really loyal fans out there...