"Leave the gun, take the cannoli"

In between studying for finals and writing research papers, I have been trying to sneak in what I hope is productive procrastination.  Today's afternoon procrastination endeavor was getting feedback from past participants about what to bring, what not to bring, what to do, and what not to do.  Basically, what did their two months biking across the United States teach them about how they might do things differently in the future?  

Here is what Bike & Build advises: 

And here is what some past riders had to say: 

• "I would have assigned someone to be in charge of making sure the pots & pans made it in the trailer every morning...as you know we went through quite a few of those" 
• "I wish I'd taken more pictures, preferably of each host and location" 
• "I would have taken that skull I found in FL instead of waiting for Marco to get me one in AZ" - this gentleman is referring to an animal skull so don't fret 
• "Write every day in your journal.  The summer was a blur..."
• "More chalking.  There is no such thing as too much chalking" 
• "Make a journal entry every day, even if its just a list of notes about the day, every moment is worth remembering" 
• "I wish I brought a headlamp with me.  It makes camping and packing the trailer in the dark way easier" 
• "Keep a blog or journal.  I missed one day and am bummed about it to this day" - are we sensing a trend? 
• "Spend more time talking with locals and hosts; yes, you are exhausted some days and just want to fall asleep eating that second helping of dinner, but they have some AMAZING stories" 
• "Before and after pictures of tan lines.  Before and after measurements of calfs, quads and glutes" 
• "External hard drive to grab everyone's videos/pics before the end of the trip" 
• "I'm glad someone brought a solar powered radio.  It made lunch so much better" 
• "Only take two t-shirts max.  You'll have six new ones by the end of your trip" 

and finally.......

• "remind yourself as often as you can that you are biking across the country!!!  Sometimes I got so caught up in the sore muscles and the long, hard days that I temporarily lost sight of the AMAZING adventure that my fellow riders and I were on each day.  Tell yourself each day how epic this opportunity is, and live it up.  Most of us will never have another summer to do something as awesome as this again.  Don't lose a single moment of it doubting yourself" 

So on that note, I should probably return to my studying and paper writing so that I can finish out my school year on a strong note.  But it really is a challenge to focus when I know that such an amazing summer awaits...

Let the Countdown Begin!

The countdown has begun!  

There are only 26 days until I will get to meet up with all my fellow riders in Jacksonville, Florida and prepare to embark on the journey of a lifetime.  

There are only 27 days until my teammates and I will tackle our first build day and make a physical impact on the affordable housing outlook in our country. 

There are only 43 days until thirty three other young adults and I will take on a 5-day long build project in New Orleans, Louisiana.  

And finally, there are only 105 days until Southern US 2014 (SUS14) will reach the west coast in Monterey, California.  

The next 105 days are going to be a one-in-a-lifetime experience.  And just in case you aren't as pumped about this ride for affordable housing as what I am, here is a video to get you excited! 

Procrastination-Station

Alright so it is first thing in the morning and I should really be studying for the two exams I have in the next three hours but instead I am posting an update for all of the lovely viewers of my blog!  (a demonstration of my appreciation perhaps?) 

News: 

1. I will be building this Friday in Cornelius with Habitat for Humanity!  Please join me if you are looking for something meaningful to do this Friday from 8am - 1pm.  You can sign up here! (after you create a profile - super easy, I promise) 
   
2. My family and I are hosting a cookout on May 10th for all my lovely donors.  By this point, I hope that everyone has received an email about the get-together.  
• If not, maybe check your spam folder?  
• Everyone is invited so if you can't find the info, comment on this post or send me an email and I will be happy to get you more details.  Please just let me know if you are coming and how many you plan to bring, for food-amount purposes.  
3. I reached my $4500 goal!!!  Yes, I am officially going to be biking across the southern US with Bike & Build this summer because all of you wonderful folks helped me reach my fundraising goal of $4500!  
• Caveat: if you would still like to donate, please do.  Contributions are going to a wonderful cause and just because I have reached my goal doesn't mean that the fight for affordable housing is over.  Or maybe, you can navigate to one of my fellow-riders' pages and give to one of my SUS14 teammates that hasn't yet reached their $4500 goal?  

Much love and thanks until the next post folks <3 (: 

Blitz Build with the Broski

Weekend before last, UNC Habitat for Humanity put on an awesome fundraising weekend called Blitz Build.  We had more than 60 students building at Phoenix Place in Chapel Hill and made tremendous progress on two different homes.  There was also a dedication ceremony for a mother and her two daughters whose home had just been completed.

My fundraising co-chair, Teresa, and I were able get food donations from local restaurants for the entire weekend so all our lovely volunteers could enjoy breakfast and lunch while working.  

My brother and I had the great pleasure of joining other students to work on these homes and promote affordable housing in Orange County, NC.  

Energize & Philosophize

As I get more and more excited for the wonderful summer that awaits and all the amazing ways my 33 fellow riders and I will be able to have a meaningful impact on the lives of the less fortunate, I grow equally excited for the biking aspect of my ride for affordable housing.  Here is a humorous and worthwhile list of 40 of the Best Biking Quotes of All-Time

Top three favorites:

1. "The best rides are the ones where you bite off much more than you can chew, and live through it." ~ Doug Bradbury 
2. "Every time I see an adult on a bicycle I no longer despair for the future of the human race." ~ H.G. Wells 
3. "A mountain bike is like your buddy.  A road bike is your love." ~ Sean Coffey 

List of honorable mentions: 

• "When my legs hurt, I say: "Shut up legs!  Do what I tell you to do!"" ~ Jens Voigt 
• "Bicycles are almost as good as guitars for meeting girls." ~ Bob Weir, Grateful Dead
• "The bicycle has done more for the emancipation of women than anything else in the world." ~ Susan B. Anthony
• "Never use your face as a brake pad." ~ Jake Watson 
• "A bicycle ride is a flight from sadness." ~ James E. Starrs 
• "It never gets easier, you just go faster." ~ Greg LeMond 

Food, Friends, Brownies and Bikes!

Lots of updates because the last two weeks have been a little hectic and I have fallen off of my regular blog updates. 


Restaurant X Benefit Night 

First, a huge thanks to Restaurant X of Davidson, NC and owners Chris and Christine Phillips.  We had a lovely benefit night and lots of patrons were able to enjoy their evening out on the porch with a nice breeze to accompany the scrumptious food.  Thanks to everyone that came out and supported my ride and this wonderful establishment.  A special congratulations to Connie and Edwin Saint Sing who won the raffle for a $30 gift certificate to Restaurant X.  

Blue Harbor Bank "Brownies for Biking" 

Second, gratitude is owed to the wonderful employees of Blue Harbor Bank in Mooresville who generously held a two day fundraising event they nicknamed "Brownies for Biking".  Their kindness and dedication to my ride for affordable housing astounds me.  

Personal News

Finally, this past week my Giant bike arrived.  With the gorgeous weather of this past weekend, I was able to log 45 miles on the new bike and am steadily tweaking different measurements and geometries so that by the time I arrive in Jacksonville, my bike fits me like a mold.  

If you are so inclined, feel free to take a look at the bike's specs.  For those of you that are more visually inclined, here is a picture :) 

I am working on naming the bike and have a couple ideas of my own but please comment if you have any thoughts.  


Thanks so much for your patience with the delay in my posting and as always, I encourage you to donate to my ride across the Souther US for affordable housing.  I am within $1000 of my $4500 goal! 

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