As the holidays begin to close in on us, the days are quickly getting away from me one by one. I have been feeling like I need to “get caught up” on all these reverb posts – both reading and writing – and I do. But today I realized it doesn’t necessarily have to be in order. I do plan on writing on every single topic, because it’s my goal as a writer to answer every prompt. (Yes, I realize the objective is to get myself writing on the daily, not just on each prompt, but hopefully in pushing myself to write on them all, I’ll try to avoid letting them pile up like this again.)

So, on to it.

Prompt: Community. Where have you discovered community, online or otherwise, in 2010? What community would you like to join, create or more deeply connect with in 2011? (from Caligater)

So, did this happen to anyone else? You graduate college, and then suddenly a year or two later, discover that there’s all kinds of hobbies and clubs and crap out there? You suddenly realize you have time for all the stuff you were too busy studying  to enjoy back in school. No? Just me?

In 2009 I was all “OMG bikes and blogs and clubs and yoga and stuff!”

In 2009, I discovered a lot of communities.

and in 2010, i started to build one.

I am the president of a four-person club called Ad2 Reno (that’s DOUBLE our membership from a month ago, thankyouverymuch). It’s a club I almost let die, and it’s a club that is constantly reminding me why I’m here, living this life, working in advertising, doing what I do. I mean, advertisers are obvs the most fun. But Ad2 helps foster something in me that is essential to my well being. In Ad2, I get to teach, to lead. In Ad2, I get to make my very own local community a better place in a very real, tangible way, through public service. So yeah, I’ve found community there. I discovered a national community that is there to support me and my baby little club.

and in 2011?

We’re going all the way. We’re creating a community for young advertisers, and I’m going to deeply connect the crap out of it.

so what’s this?

#reverb10 is an annual event and online initiative to reflect on your year and manifest what’s next. The end of the year is an opportunity to reflect on what’s happened, and to send out reverberations for the year ahead. Get in on this.

So, lent is upon us. For those who don’t know, I’m a non-practicing agnostic Jew who dislikes everything about religion. For the most part. While I do have a deep appreciation for people who do find faith and solace in practicing religion, and I see how it brings people together in a community (and I can’t knock that). But in my experience and what I know to be true, it brings added separation to our world. Keeps individuals from connecting with other individuals and communities from connecting with other communities. And to me, that is bad.

That said, I think the practice of giving up a vice for lent is valuable, no matter your beliefs. But I was curious about the history and the WHY. Good old Wikipedia says:

Lent, in Christian tradition, is the period of the liturgical year leading up to Easter. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer — through prayer, penitence, almsgiving and self-denial — for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus, which recalls the events linked to the Passion of Christ and culminates in Easter, the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

There are traditionally forty days in Lent which are marked by fasting, both from foods and festivities, and by other acts of penance. The three traditional practices to be taken up with renewed vigour during Lent are prayer (justice towards God), fasting (justice towards self), and almsgiving (justice towards neighbour). Today, some people give up a vice of theirs, add something that will bring them closer to God, and often give the time or money spent doing that to charitable purposes or organizations.

So, while I’m obviously not preparing myself, the [?]believer, I think the practice giving something up to increase your focus [be that on God, charity or relationships], is valuable. Or at least worth a shot.

so, if you haven’t guessed already, i’ve given up red meat, chicken and pork

Inspired by my friends Liz and Doniree, I tried to be a for-real pescatarian last summer, but it didn’t last. I decided on Ash Wednesday to participate in lent because it was lunch time and I hadn’t eaten any meat yet. So, I wanted to see if I can really do this thing.

My boyfriend is definitely a steak person, so it’ll be interesting figuring out dinners that work for both of us … recipes forthcoming!

This week’s A-team project was to give in some way involving food. A fitting and relatively easy task for this time of year. I chose to go to the store and buy about $25 worth of non-perishables like beans, rice and canned meats and veggies. I brought them to a local organization called Northern Nevada HOPES, which is facility and safe house for families and individuals affected by HIV/AIDS. They have a food pantry, which they struggle to keep open. It’s is only open as often as there is enough food to open it. And then, when that supply is gone, they close it again.

This organization doesn’t mean anything in particular to me, other than I worked with them on a marketing campaign Ad2 Reno did for them last year. I don’t really have a particular connection to any organization or charity. At least not one that’s personal to me. It’s hard to try to determine who deserves my help and volunteer hours [I'm unsure how to say this without it sounding somewhat snooty]. Yes, battered women deserve a place to go, veterans deserve proper care, puppies deserve a home and terminally I’ll children deserve a life they wanted. I’m blessed to never have been affected by these things enough to know that any one cause is the one for me.

So, I brought them the food last night.  I’m not sure how I expected to be recognized. I guess I thought maybe someone I’d worked with might be there. To thank me profusely. I expected $25 to look like much more food. I expected that my contribution would push the pantry to full and they’d be able to open it for Thanksgiving. I don’t know if that will or won’t happen. But the point is, my expectations and my being recognized don’t matter. I did what I could to help for this holiday weekend. I could have bought a meal for a friend, or paid for the coffee of the stranger in line behind me. But I wanted to do something that means something to me. Even if it goes completely unrecognized. That’s not the point. The reason I did it is because it was the right thing to do and the best way I could do it.

I guess for now I’ll just have to be involved with the organizations I get to know and grow to care about through my work with Ad2.

So, after last weeks post and joining 20sb waiting for my 20sb membership approval, I’ve decided this place needs a makeover.  I have NO idea what exactly that’s going to look like, but I know that if I’m going to do this–REALLY do this–then this space needs to be much more than “my last bike ride.”

Don’t get me wrong.

I’m totally still going to ride my bike and write about it (when it get’s warmer).  But … there’s so much more to me.  There’s so much more to the development of the person I’m becoming.  What I need to bring my focus to is what do I want?  What do I want to do? I love my life and the people in it.  I love my job and my family.  But I have become complacent.  I know I’m not the only one.  I’m not the only person who graduates college [two years ago, now], finds a great job [trust me, I know how lucky I am], loves unconditionally and gets comfortable in that.

Hey, so live a comfortable life.  I’m SO lucky.  I know that.  I was brought up in a privileged, caring and compassionate household [that's not without its problems, trust me].  I’ve made good decisions.  I’m no genius and I’m no innovator, but I know I’m smart.

So what?

I love my job.  I love my boy.  So many people try their whole lives to get what I’ve got.  It’s like my own little miracle.  I can stop trying to find the right career.  I’m in it. I can stop looking for Mr. Right.  I have him. I can now focus all of that energy on anything and everything else.

But what?

I don’t know yet.  I’m going to spend some time thinking about who I am and what I do.  Who I want to be and what I want to do.  I’m pretty excited.  And I really hope that some of this will mean as much to some of you,  as the things you have done mean A LOT to me.  But I guess the truth is, it doesn’t really matter because this means a SHITLOAD to me.

Not very, if you’re using this blog as an example.

I was never too interested in having a blog of my own.  It just seemed like a public diary to me.  And I’ve NEVER been good at the whole diary/journal thing.  I’ve always enjoyed reading others’ blogs though.  ESPECIALLY the personal ones.  We all know there’s something to be said for being able to relate to people (strangers, even), whether it’s about becoming a bigger rockstar, finding some center and stability in our lives, improving our communities, struggling with weight or just gushing about what we love on the weekly.

So, who in their RIGHT MIND would want to read my ramblings?  And WHY?! (I mean, my dad reads this, but I think that’s less about me being awesome at blogging and more about the fact that I probably don’t call my family enough)

I guess it doesn’t matter.  What matters is that I’m writing.

For at least the last six years, I’ve called myself a writer.  I have it tattooed on my body for pete’s sake.  The cycling thing was a good way to get me started in the world of blogging.  And it’s been awesome because I’ve discovered a whole new community (but mostly it’s awesome because the blog MADE me want to ride my bike, which is a huge accomplishment).  In truth, this blog has been just an experiment for bigger and better blogs in the future (dun dun dunn).  I’ve learned SO much since I attended Wordcamp in March and started this blog in April.

Lately, I’ve been training myself [with the help of a few friends] on what it takes to build a really great, customized, beautiful blog with WordPress and CSS and all kinds of other crap I knew nothing of a few weeks ago.  (Can’t wait to share it with you all … soon!)

But anyway, thanks to this amazingly honest little yogi writer in Minneapolis, I’ve learned about Twenty Something Bloggers (membership pending).  I’ve heard about it here and there, but never really felt like there was a place for me in that network.  Until I learned about how their new partnership is going to save the world.  Okay, I don’t want to save the world necessarily.  Or rather, I am aware that I can’t.  But I am realizing more and more every day that there is more to my life than just me and the crap I do.  I’m a part of this awesome organization called Ad2 Reno, and every year we (a group of advertisers under 32) donate a full service integrated marketing campaign to one local non-profit organization.  After having been involved in the winning campaign last year, I decided to take on a bigger role as the public service c0-chair.  So, basically, my friend Jessie and I are the account executives of this campaign for this amazing non-profit client.  At first, I’ll admit, I mostly did it because I wanted a position on the Ad2 Board and they needed someone to step up.  But I couldn’t be happier.  Yeah, it’s frustrating sometimes.  It’s a volunteer program that comes out of a less-than-strong membership.  Sometimes people aren’t reliable or whatever.  But what I’m realizing is that we are going to make a big difference in this community.  We are giving a valuable local non-profit organization an opportunity they might never otherwise have.

So THAT is why I’m joining 20SB.

Because I live in this world.  And I want to make it better in what little ways I can.  So I’m going to.  So, I’m not yet sure what will happen here … but I hope you’ll keep reading anyway.  Because I’m gunna keep writing. (I will, dammit.)

This morning I decided that from now on, unless I *really* can’t, I will ride my bike to work every day.  No more of this I’m too tired or it’s too hot or I feel like wearing a skirt today.  From now on (or at least until it’s no longer bike-riding weather–i.e. til it’s real, real cold) only the following reasons are acceptable for not riding to work:

• I have a legitimate meeting to go to that I can’t ride to, or hitch a ride with someone else going to that same meeting.
• I am injured (insert requisite “poo-poo” for Annie).  Not sore knees or other various muscles, either.  Riding tends to help the pain in those cases and I know it.
• I’m [really] sick.  And if I’m too sick to be riding to work, I probably shouldn’t be going to work anyway.
• Bad weather.  Not it’s too hot or it might rain, but real bad weather.  Acceptable forms of bad weather include: thunder/lightning storms, hail, extreme wind and (if I’m still riding this late in the year) snow.

That said, it was hotter than hades this morning.  It’s hot here in the summer, that’s a given, but typically it’s not THAT HOT at 8 a.m.  Well, today on my ride (I even left early) it was THAT HOT.  But as I said last week, I did it anyway.  Not such a fan of arriving to work as a sweaty pig, though.  May need to start wearing different clothing and packing work clothes to change into.  Whatever I need to do to make sure I ride to work.  Because there’s no reason (except for the above bullets) that I shouldn’t be riding to work every day. 

So … sorry for the two-week-long (or at least it was two weeks back when I started this post) hiatus.  Seems like it’s taken longer than I thought it would to get out of that funk, I guess.  But I think I’m officially out of it.  At least for now (haha, I’m not stupid enough to think it won’t return).  As I’ve said before, time with family is license to eat like shit, and a weekend in Vegas is no different.  I seriously tried to brainstorm ways to get to go for a bike ride while visiting family for three days, but darn-it they just don’t make those overhead compartments big enough for my bike!  However, running around after a two-year-old niece is pretty good exercise:

see? she won't even stop playing long enough for me to take a picture (yes, that is a pink baseball mit and a purple ball)

So, I didn’t get much activity while in Vegas, but I was pretty quick to get back to riding to work.  Although I haven’t been so good about riding otherwise (neither has the boyfriend).  Wait, that’s not true.  We DID go on one long ride to Michael’s so we could buy paints to decorate our watering can (we’re crafty).  This is what happens when you don’t ride for several weeks:

lots-o-dust

So, to any of my local friends reading this: GET A BIKE!  Then we can ride together and be merry.  Go, right now, to the Reno Bike Project and buy one. (But please, for the love of everything that is holy–or unholy–wear a damn helmet.  And if you need to know why, please check out my friend David LaPlante’s blog post, “An Ode to Helmet Hair and the Vanity of the Fools. Don’t be a dumbass, wear a helmet.” Srsly.

However, I WILL be going for a ride tonight, however, to go see Veer, a bicycling documentary that will benefit the Bike Project.  They are going to have a bike valet. That.  Is.  Awesome.  So, hopefully more frequent, longer distance bike rides in the future.

In other, completely unrelated news, we have an awesome garden coming along in our planter box:

basil to the left, chives, lettuce, more chives and tomatoes on the upper right. yeaaahhh.

And a pretty little watering can to go with:

we're crafty.

and lastly, my niece is awesome.  Just an FYI.

LEGO FINGERS!!!

Challenge for next week: go on the Scheels Tuesday night bike ride.

As stated in a previous post, I am not good at spending time alone.  I spend my weekends alone, cleaning, doing laundry, watching ANTM marathons, sometimes going for solo bike rides and a little too often, feeling sorry for myself.

Exhibit A – I once had to spend a Friday afternoon by myself at work:

This is super sad.  I really, really hate being alone.  Maybe it’s because I am home alone so often, but I really do not appreciate my alone time as I should.  I don’t have kids, or many responsibilities for that matter, so I really just haven’t come to appreciate being alone.  I am sure in a few years or so, I’ll really love my me time, but for now, I want to be surrounded.  Maybe it’s a need to feel loved?  Maybe it’s because I was NEVER alone as a kid and as a result never fostered that imagination gene, but I really don’t think I am very good company.

No wonder I tagged that entry with the word “pathetic.”

I would like to express my newfound okay-ness with spending time alone.  After having an overwhelming amount of house guests two weekends in a row, I look forward to my next weekend alone.  That is not to say I will be happy to have Brad away for 10-hour workdays on Saturday and Sunday.  This is also not to say that I don’t LOVE having house guests.  I really, really do.  There is something special about people coming to Reno to see my life, our life, in our cute little home nestled just southwest of downtown.

Last weekend, for Brad’s graduation, among many of Brad’s family members in town, my dad stayed in our guest room.  On top of this, my sister was also moving out of the dorms and into a new place.  It was a busy weekend.

This weekend, my good friend Margarita stayed with us, while my mom stayed at the Atlantis.  Now, while my sister is moving out of her new place and into a different new place, she’s crashing with us.  [Leah, if you're reading this, which you're probably not, I <3 having you stay with us and please don't hurry out!]

As I said, I love having anyone (within limits) stay with us.  But that was pretty condensed, I’ve got to say.  Since I have to work on Saturday, I look forward to a Sunday of housework, laundry, solo bike rides, tv and absolutely no feeling sorry for myself.  And maybe even a little gardening if we have a finished planter box by then:

Planter box we** are building

**I use the term “we” loosely because all I’ve done is hand Brad screws or hold things steady while he saws/drills things.

So tomorrow, Friday, May 15, is Nevada Bike to Work Day.  And I think the whole week is actually considered Nevada Bike to Work Week.  I am not totally sure.  Either way, I was pretty bummed that I wasn’t going to be able to bike to work on Friday.  My dad will be in town and I’m not going to work!  Please do not confuse this with my being bummed about my dad being in town and/or taking a day off!  But I am totally and genuinely bummed about not getting to participate in Bike to Work Day.

As stated in my previous entry, I resolved to bike to work the entire week, save Friday.  And here we are on Thursday and I did it!  Even today, which is a half-day.  I’m not gonna lie, I am pretty darn impressed with myself.  Not that it’s a tough or long ride.  It’s relatively short and easy.

As stated in another previous entry:

I definitely need to be on my bike a lot more to have better stories to tell.  Now, the learning part is mostly taken care of.  I can ride the bike.  Now I need to start experiencing life from my bike.

Yes, I just block-quoted my own blog post.

Hopefully after Brad is done with school we can go on some more after-work rides.  I really want to try the trail along the river that goes all the way to Vista.  Anyway, I suppose that’s it for now … yay for a fun weekend of graduating, BBQing, family visiting and hopefully a little bike riding!

Hooray!  Brad and I both vowed to not drive at all yesterday, and we rode our bikes everywhere we went!  It was my first day riding to work.  Brad came with me and we make a mini piedibus and he dropped me off at work on his way to school. 

After work, he came to pick me up and we rode to Bicycle Warehouse to pick up the basket I ordered (running to go take a picture):

my adorable wicker basket

We then rode to Sushi Pier 2 for some all you can eat.  We then had to ride home.  Ouchies.

Oh, I almost forgot to gush about our fabulous ride on Tuesday night!  Monday was super nice, but Tuesday was a good, long, hill-ish ride.

We rode down to Wingfield Park and then to Idlewild (which, by the way, is my new favorite park) from there.  We then rode up Hunter Lake to Plumb and home again.  I may have just learned to weeks ago to ride again, but I am feeling really comfortable!

I rode again to work this morning.  This time, by myself.  I think I did pretty well!  Will probably skip tomorrow because it’s supposed to be cold, but I think I could definitely ride to work three or so times a week.  I’m loving it!

I guess that’s all for now.