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| Jeff, a crazy guy on a bike. |
Jeff has biked more than 70,000 miles! And that doesn't count the numerous trips he's done without an odometer on his handlebars.
Monday, January 13, 2014
The Guy Who Is Living My Dream
Meet Jeff Kruys. He is, without a doubt, a crazy guy on a bike.
Jeff has biked more than 70,000 miles! And that doesn't count the numerous trips he's done without an odometer on his handlebars.
Jeff has biked more than 70,000 miles! And that doesn't count the numerous trips he's done without an odometer on his handlebars.
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Panning for Gold
You need to pan to find the gold.
When I first quit my job, I made a mind map of interests I wanted to pursue.
Once I started investing large chunks of time tackling these interests, I noticed that exploring my interests led to even more interests. The panning led to riches, and so my mind map grew.
But the explorations revealed that some of my supposed interests weren't really interests after all. In these cases, the panning yielded pebbles, and these pebbles were tossed by the wayside.
When I first quit my job, I made a mind map of interests I wanted to pursue.
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| A skinnied down version of my mind map. (Some of the map is not for public consumption; refer to "Guarding My Intentions.") |
Once I started investing large chunks of time tackling these interests, I noticed that exploring my interests led to even more interests. The panning led to riches, and so my mind map grew.
But the explorations revealed that some of my supposed interests weren't really interests after all. In these cases, the panning yielded pebbles, and these pebbles were tossed by the wayside.
Saturday, January 11, 2014
A Fun Job: Not An Oxymoron
I have been enjoying semi-retirement for 14 months now. What exactly, you ask, is "semi-retirement"?
The "retirement" part means that I left my job, and I no longer need to work. (I am using the word "work" to refer to a paid job.)
The "semi" part means that while I don't need to work, I may decide to work. If I do work, it will be by choice and not out of necessity. It will be on my own terms.
My days of having to work are over. This means no more unrelenting stress. No more endless adrenaline rushes. No more days of back-to-back meetings when I can't get any real work done. No more days of a backlog of emails in my inbox, every one needing a response yesterday.
Quoth the raven: "Nevermore."
The "retirement" part means that I left my job, and I no longer need to work. (I am using the word "work" to refer to a paid job.)
The "semi" part means that while I don't need to work, I may decide to work. If I do work, it will be by choice and not out of necessity. It will be on my own terms.
My days of having to work are over. This means no more unrelenting stress. No more endless adrenaline rushes. No more days of back-to-back meetings when I can't get any real work done. No more days of a backlog of emails in my inbox, every one needing a response yesterday.
Quoth the raven: "Nevermore."
Friday, January 10, 2014
Nine Lives
Cats in the United States have nine lives. Cats in Italy, Germany, and Spain are said to have seven lives. And cats in the Turkish and Arabic regions of the world are said to have only six lives.
Update 10/16/2014: The above information was gleaned from the Wiki article called "Cat." Having traveled to Turkey and surveyed a number of locals about cats, it seems as though Turkish cats actually have seven lives -- not six.
Meet Russell and Mitzy. These kitties are American kitties, so they are fortunate to have nine lives.
I adopted these two furr balls nine years ago. They were the children that I was never going to have.
Update 10/16/2014: The above information was gleaned from the Wiki article called "Cat." Having traveled to Turkey and surveyed a number of locals about cats, it seems as though Turkish cats actually have seven lives -- not six.
Meet Russell and Mitzy. These kitties are American kitties, so they are fortunate to have nine lives.
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| Mitzy & Russell. |
I adopted these two furr balls nine years ago. They were the children that I was never going to have.
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Marrying Passions: Bicycles & Teaching
I wear my passion for bicycling on my sleeve. But, my passion for teaching is lesser-known. For me, marrying these passions is bliss. Biking + Teaching = <3.
And so it goes without saying that I am super-duper pumped to be teaching a class on bicycle touring!
When I was a little kid, I wanted to be a teacher. Like many other girls, I taught a class of invisible students. I'd make handouts, discipline the unruly children, and keep a grade book. I loved teaching.
And so it goes without saying that I am super-duper pumped to be teaching a class on bicycle touring!
When I was a little kid, I wanted to be a teacher. Like many other girls, I taught a class of invisible students. I'd make handouts, discipline the unruly children, and keep a grade book. I loved teaching.
The Nomad Sits Atop Houses
When I moved back to Seattle last fall, I needed a place to live. I wanted a place that was inexpensive and that wouldn't lock me into a long-term time commitment, in case I wanted to travel or take advantage of other opportunities that might arise.
I had read that housesitting was a great way for nomadic types to enjoy creature comforts and to be exposed to new surroundings. I thought I'd give it a try!
I had read that housesitting was a great way for nomadic types to enjoy creature comforts and to be exposed to new surroundings. I thought I'd give it a try!
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