Hi Reader!

I'm writing this newsletter as the evening summer solstice light is fighting its way through storm clouds. This week it has finally felt like summer here in Colorado. There has been more sun, less rain, and the creeks and rivers have started to peak from all of the rain we received this spring.

A few newsletters ago, I wrote about big summer plans and the busyness that often comes with this season in my work life and personal life. And I was ready for it. I had my lists, my schedules, my plans, my motivation. At the top of my list was really getting into my summer bike training for a century ride that I signed up for way back in January. I was hoping to complete the Enchanted Circle ride, which is a 100 mile loop in Red River, New Mexico. It would be a new place and the furthest I have traveled for a bike event. Scheduled for the end of August, it was going to be a delightful bookend the the summer camp season.

But then came an email on June 9:

"It's with heavy hearts we are writing to inform you that we have made the tough decision to cancel the Enchanted Circle Bicycle Tour this August."

Whhhaaaatttt?!?!?!

I. Was. Bummed. Probably the understatement of the summer. I was disappointed for a number of reasons:

• Disappointed to have lost a main motivator for training during the summer - riding my bike is one of the ways I stay sane when life is really busy.
• Disappointed because there were no other century rides I was excited for this season to replace it.
• Disappointed because I do not plan to register for any organized rides in 2024 - I have other big projects that I want the space to focus on next year.
• Disappointed because we basically had a non-refundable place to stay in Red River, NM.

I admit that I wallowed a little bit, which I think is reasonable (to a point), when we are disappointed.

But you know what else I also felt?

Relief.

I was already starting to stress about the lack of cycling miles on my balance sheet, already feeling the crunch of summer pressures, and already wondering how things were going to get done. Perhaps the universe was just throwing me a bone.

I'm still disappointed that the race was cancelled. I know I would have completed my training plan and would have enjoyed the experience. But now that the wallowing has (mostly) passed, I'm excited for what this means for my summer instead...

• I don't have to ride my bike unless I want to. I can go for a run, or a hike, or climb, or do yoga, or any of the other ways I like to move my body.
• My weekends are now free to do other things. Usually Vasya and I have to stick close to home when I have to bike a certain number of miles on the weekends. Now we can go camping, hike together, whatever we want.
• I have a non-refundable vacation to Red River, NM in fancier accommodations than I would normally book that Vasya and I just get to enjoy without a race to worry about. I'm already trying to find some hikes we can do and wondering about day trips to Taos or Santa Fe.
• I have more time to paint, blog, learn, dream.

Those things don't sound too bad. 😎

Life is busy, but I think that the universe sometimes knows what we need even if we don't. I'm not worried about completely losing my biking motivation. I have a bucket list of cycling goals that will make it back to the top of my priority list again at some point, but for this summer, I'm choosing to reframe the disappointment and see the new opportunities that I now have.

How did you spend the solstice?

Do you have any summer goals?

Happy summer solstice to you and yours.

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New on the Blog

Painting Large Read article

Painting After a Break Read article

Living in a small space and working on a budget generally leads to paintings on the smaller side, but I recently got outside of my comfort zone and worked on something large (at least for me). Check out the details in the post Painting Large.

Last newsletter I was talking about the struggle of getting back to painting after a break. I decided to put together some resources that help me. I go back to basics. I try a tutorial, I make color swatches, or I just make an ugly mess. Check out Painting After a Break for some resources to give your creative practice a kickstart.

Photo Inspiration

I can't take credit for either of these photos, but I am excited to paint them! My queue keeps growing. It may be feeling like summer down in the foothills, but the mountains still have quite a bit of snow. The photo of a sheep is from Vasya on a recent climbing outing to Mount Evans. And what can be better than chickens on a beach, which was sent to me by a friend who is currently enjoying some vk in Hawaii.

What I'm Reading

I have a read a few V.E. Schwab books including A Darker Shade of Magic and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, both of which I would highly recommend. Schwab has a way combining fantasy, horror, and gothic noir into her books with undertones of menace. I'm always pulling for her characters, even if they sometimes make questionable decisions. My most recent read of hers, Vicious, left me feeling similar. This is one of her older books, dating back to 2013, but I was instantly pulled into the story of two college friends who play with something they don't truly understand and then seem to be in a battle between evil... and I wouldn't exactly say good. This is the first of duology. I'm looking forward to what twists and turns I find in the next and final book, Vengeful.

What I'm Watching

Working Girl (1988)

Recently, while listening to one of my favorite podcasts Keep It, they were talking about the recent trend of remakes. In this particular episode, they were lamenting the poor quality of some recent remakes and were discussing which of their favorite movies they would love to see updated for 2023. One movie they mentioned was Working Girl. I have a vague memory of watching Working Girl, but I hadn't seen it in a LONG time, and rewatching it didn't disappoint. I think it is hard to dream big, take risks, and to manage other people's opinions (even when deep down you know they shouldn't matter). If you have never seen it or have not seen it in a while, I recommend. 9 to 5 (1980) was also on their list of movies in need of a remake and I've added that to my movie queue as well.

Until next time!

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