As much as I would like to say I've been doing a secret training plan in the Swiss Alps, the truth is less exciting - I've been at work! The last few months have been a challenge of a different sort. One of our office staff members had a sudden health crisis, and was unable to work. In our hopes that she could return, we chose to wait several weeks before hiring someone. The charity sports auction, of which I am a committee member, was also fast approaching April 14; there were final meetings to attend, posters to hang, and a music playlist I was in charge of compiling. This and pulling double duty at the office, was leaving little gym time, but such as most of life - shit happens.
At the time Derrick had not found a job yet, so I put him to work Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8-1 at the front desk. He was impressive greeting and scheduling patients, entering the schedule into the computer, taking co-pays, and sending faxes. I was happy to know first hand that wherever he got a job, they would be lucky to have Derrick. A job interview in Richmond the week before Easter proved fruitful, as he was offered a position the same day. The company owners went out of town for a week, giving him time to think about the offer and the prospect of being in "the real world". He visited a few apartment complexes on the way home from Virginia. I wished I could be there with him, but I needed to be at the office and after all, this was going to be his decision.
That Thursday, the stress and long hours had their effect - I came down with bronchitis, dashing any hope of getting caught up (or going to the gym) over the long Easter weekend. Good Friday, Saturday and Easter Sunday were spent at the office but didn't get as much done as I had hoped. Saturday Derrick accepted the job, and we made a deposit on a nice apartment in a gated community. There was a lot of organizing to be done - and despite antibiotics I was still hacking and miserable. Dad came to the rescue with his cargo trailer, and on Sunday picked up furniture from our storage unit. The week was crazy as usual with an overbooked schedule of patients. Derrick worked at the office and packed while also arranging utilities at his new place. Saturday was the sports auction, Sunday I drove to Richmond and back to help move Derrick into his place as he would start work the next day. Monday I thought I would finally catch my breath, when mid afternoon I learned that the sports auction founder's house was burning down! Tuesday I had planned gym time, but helping our friends was more important - they had 3 daughters, a dog, and no house. I stopped by what was left of the house, and found myself choking back tears at the devastation my friend must have been feeling to see his house in ruins. It was a new house, and they had just moved there in January. The house was a total loss, as were most of their belongings. When people are faced with such tragedy and you ask them, "what can I do?" they are so overwhelmed there is no answer. So I chose more specific questions and came up with some things I could get immediately that would help.
My swimming partner had told me about a "master's swim class" Thursday nights, and was begging me to come. I was still coughing, and agreed to go if she agreed to give me CPR - should I sink to the bottom of the deep end. After coughing and hacking my way through the workout (my first in 3 weeks) I did feel better and announced my comeback! It has been a slow return to the nice base I had built up earlier in the year, but I'm starting to feel good on the bike again. I haven't done half of the training I did last year, and might as well be doing a TWT. But I feel confident I will survive, just not sure about improving on my times of last year. The only good thing is that I haven't gotten injured because I haven't been doing much. As opposed to Cathy's new fancy bike and her fitting guru, I have opted to ride one of the kids' road bikes which is lighter than mine, with a shorter top tube that suits me better. Hopefully May will offer no new emergencies and I'll be in good enough shape to put in respectable times for the Quakertown Tri early June. On a lighter note, I got carded while ordering a glass of wine at the Macaroni Grill this weekend. My husband quipped that our waitress must have been drunk, but still - Go Me!
At the time Derrick had not found a job yet, so I put him to work Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8-1 at the front desk. He was impressive greeting and scheduling patients, entering the schedule into the computer, taking co-pays, and sending faxes. I was happy to know first hand that wherever he got a job, they would be lucky to have Derrick. A job interview in Richmond the week before Easter proved fruitful, as he was offered a position the same day. The company owners went out of town for a week, giving him time to think about the offer and the prospect of being in "the real world". He visited a few apartment complexes on the way home from Virginia. I wished I could be there with him, but I needed to be at the office and after all, this was going to be his decision.
That Thursday, the stress and long hours had their effect - I came down with bronchitis, dashing any hope of getting caught up (or going to the gym) over the long Easter weekend. Good Friday, Saturday and Easter Sunday were spent at the office but didn't get as much done as I had hoped. Saturday Derrick accepted the job, and we made a deposit on a nice apartment in a gated community. There was a lot of organizing to be done - and despite antibiotics I was still hacking and miserable. Dad came to the rescue with his cargo trailer, and on Sunday picked up furniture from our storage unit. The week was crazy as usual with an overbooked schedule of patients. Derrick worked at the office and packed while also arranging utilities at his new place. Saturday was the sports auction, Sunday I drove to Richmond and back to help move Derrick into his place as he would start work the next day. Monday I thought I would finally catch my breath, when mid afternoon I learned that the sports auction founder's house was burning down! Tuesday I had planned gym time, but helping our friends was more important - they had 3 daughters, a dog, and no house. I stopped by what was left of the house, and found myself choking back tears at the devastation my friend must have been feeling to see his house in ruins. It was a new house, and they had just moved there in January. The house was a total loss, as were most of their belongings. When people are faced with such tragedy and you ask them, "what can I do?" they are so overwhelmed there is no answer. So I chose more specific questions and came up with some things I could get immediately that would help.
My swimming partner had told me about a "master's swim class" Thursday nights, and was begging me to come. I was still coughing, and agreed to go if she agreed to give me CPR - should I sink to the bottom of the deep end. After coughing and hacking my way through the workout (my first in 3 weeks) I did feel better and announced my comeback! It has been a slow return to the nice base I had built up earlier in the year, but I'm starting to feel good on the bike again. I haven't done half of the training I did last year, and might as well be doing a TWT. But I feel confident I will survive, just not sure about improving on my times of last year. The only good thing is that I haven't gotten injured because I haven't been doing much. As opposed to Cathy's new fancy bike and her fitting guru, I have opted to ride one of the kids' road bikes which is lighter than mine, with a shorter top tube that suits me better. Hopefully May will offer no new emergencies and I'll be in good enough shape to put in respectable times for the Quakertown Tri early June. On a lighter note, I got carded while ordering a glass of wine at the Macaroni Grill this weekend. My husband quipped that our waitress must have been drunk, but still - Go Me! 
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