Winner #2 - Random Holiday Giveaway

Thank you to those of you who participated in the second holiday giveaway this year. The winner of the second round is:

Congratulations Bike Nut! Drop me an email (endlessvelolove {at} gmail.com) with your mailing info and I'll get the bike light off to you ASAP.

Happy Holidays to all. I hope you're enjoying the season!

A Heart to Heart

First, I just want to say thanks to those of you who have participated thus far in the giveaways. Giveaway #2 is still up and running, so if you'd like a chance to win, please get your responses in soon (You'll have until Monday morning - Dec. 15 - to get your name in the hat pull).

On that note, I have decided to end the giveaways with that second round. There doesn't quite seem to be the interest that there has in the past (and that's completely okay) but I still want to do something with the items I had ready to go. I'm debating what to do, but I'll either donate them to a local bicycle group that can give the items to those less fortunate, or I may store them for a bit and decide what to do after we're through the holidays. Either way, the items will find a way into the hands of someone who will use them and/or enjoy them.

*Image found here

If this blog is still up and functioning, I may simply do one-at-a-time giveaways over the next year. It's difficult to say at this point.

Which brings me to my next point for this post: The blog itself. The last several months I have been debating whether or not to continue the blog. It's not the first time I've questioned why I continue to write here, and if the blog continues to exist, I'm sure it won't be the last, but I have seriously pondered walking away. I have been writing here about bicycles and related topics for the last nearly seven years and it's difficult to think about giving up on it.

I started writing as a way to document my own experiences and to use this platform more as a journal type of spot and it has remained a great location for me to get out my frustrations, ideas, and it has grown into a place to get input from others who may or may not agree with my thoughts.

Right now, I think it's possible that I am clinging to a lost form of communication (It's a bit sad when even blogging seems antiquated). I know that many prefer to get information via Twitter, and while I have an account, I frankly don't use it as much as I should. Twitter is an easy way to get small tidbits of information out without having to sit and think more thoroughly, edit, attach photos, edit the photos as needed, and so on. However, as someone who doesn't sit at a desk a good chunk of the day, it's a bit more challenging to use it regularly.

Even with that, there are so many different ways that people are communicating. Twitter is a big one, Facebook, Tumblr, Instagram, Google+, and on the list could go. It's challenging to keep up with all of the different possible forms of communication in this day.

I wish that I had the time to be active on all of these sites, but the reality is, it can be challenging to choose even one and remain a valid participant. It is really why I have clung more to blogging over the years. It simply made sense to me to have one location to share ideas and then link to the thought via other outlets on the web. I don't know how valid much of this has been, but it's been a lot of fun for me to get feedback from others and to talk with people via e-mail about various happenings with bicycles in their own lives. I wouldn't trade that for anything.

From the beginning, I never sought out a means to be a superstar blogger. I never worried about how many people were reading or whether or not I hit a list of the web's greatest. I know I'm not the best writer and I have never pretended to be. There are those who have found a way to remain relevant, funny and insightful, and I enjoy reading their blogs (and will continue to do so) as well, regardless of what takes place here.

Perhaps in my passiveness with blogging it has prevented me from remaining of interest to others. It's difficult to say as I know there is an ebb and flow to many things in life.

Much of my motivation with the blog has been simply to share my experiences and to get thoughts from others who may have their own opinions. It can be challenging to continue when I'm not sure I should further spout the thoughts in my head or the things that take place every day on a bike. We all have our own experiences and perhaps this space is simply no longer needed or even a source of information -- or perhaps there are just better places to get the information.

While I could go on about reasons for thinking perhaps it's time to give up the blog, there is no point in further boring anyone who does read here. I suppose I have simply reached a juncture at which I must make a decision whether to continue on in this same manner, to move on to other possibilities, or to give up on any/all of it, and I thought it was only fair to share this with those of you who have remained and/or continue to offer your responses.

If I do choose to continue blogging, I know that posts will be sporadic for quite some time. Our family is preparing for yet another move (It's a local move, but it's time to move out of our rental... and, hopefully, we can stay settled a bit longer this time, as moving is getting quite old). With this impending move comes a substantial amount of renovation which is going to keep us busy for some time. I'm expecting long days of labor for many months, so I am already aware that posts will likely be more sparse than even the norm for this space if the blog continues on.

As always, your thoughts are welcome on any/all of this. Perhaps there is a better way to communicate and I should seek it out, or maybe you think blogs are still relevant? While your ideas may or may not influence my decision, I am always open to opinions so feel free to comment here or even drop me an e-mail if that is more comfortable for you.

Thank you to all who have continued to support my sometimes crazy and more often than not erratic posts, and particularly I am grateful to those who have offered your own thoughts along the way. We will see where this journey takes us, but no matter what I am grateful to have had the opportunity to chat with some really amazing individuals along the way. I will keep you posted! {Ha! No pun intended} :O)

Winner #1 - Random Holiday Giveaway

The winner of the first random holiday giveaway is...

Congratulations, Corny! Please drop me an email at endlessvelolove {at} gmail.com with your full mailing information and I will get your gift off to you as soon as possible. Thanks to those who participated and don't forget to enter giveaway #2!

I look forward to more giveaways this holiday season.

Happy Holiday's Random Giveaway #2 - Anonymous Gifting

Before we get started with giveaway #2, a quick reminder that you have until Wednesday, December 3 @ 1:00pm MST to enter giveaway #1, so go and check that one out too!

The holiday season seems to bring out the best in many people. One of the things I enjoy the most this time of year is hearing or reading stories of inspiration or recollections of a moment when a person went out of his/her way to help out someone in need or to make someones day a little more special. The list of tales is quite long and often I am amazed at humanity and our ability to do the right thing when it is most needed, or simply to bring a smile to someones face without expecting anything in return. Stories of mysterious or anonymous gift-givers appear frequently in December and it truly warms my heart.

Personally, there are a lot of stories that have touched me, but there is one in particular that makes me smile (and tear up a bit) each time I watch it.

I encourage you to watch the video, if you haven't seen it, because it really is one of those instances in which no one was expecting to have exactly what they asked for sitting at their destination.

I cannot think of much that is more rewarding than giving without expecting something in return. Some of my favorite memories involve giving a gift to someone I knew was in need and never revealing who the "mystery Santa" was that provided the gift. It's a great feeling, certainly! I always wish that we could all keep the spirit of giving and generosity alive throughout the year.

For this giveaway, I'd love to hear about a time (or more than one, if you choose) that you gave something to a person in need. Did the person know that you were the gift-giver? What was his/her reaction? If you've never had a memorable gift-giving moment with someone, I encourage you to go out and do so and post your response here. It could be something simple like paying for coffee for the person behind you in line, donating to a local organization, or even offering kindness to someone such as opening a door for a person with his/her hands full. There are really so many opportunities every day that I will leave that up to you to decide.

The gift for this round of giveaways is a MonkeyLectric M204 light set.

If you missed my post (or just want more information) about the MonkeyLectric lights, you can find it here. I have really enjoyed using this light so much already this season, and I'm sure I will continue to. Hopefully, one of you will enjoy your own wheel light set very soon.

All entries for this giveaway must be time/date marked no later than Monday, December 15, 2014 at 10:00am MST. Your reply will serve as the date/time stamp, so please check to make sure your response goes through (There have been some issues with Blogger sending comments into a black hole, never to be seen again). I highly recommend copying your response before clicking the reply button. If you don't see that your "comment will be visible after approval," then it probably didn't go through. I'd prefer to delete duplicates than have someone miss out, so please don't be afraid to send something twice if you're unsure. I will do my best to be quick with approving comments/replies to help facilitate the process as best I can.

The winner will be announced no later than Wednesday, December 17, 2014, so check back here to see if you're the winner.

Graduation Gift? The VW Beetle Saga

A few weeks ago I got on a kick about finding a classic VW Beetle. Why? Well, that requires some back story. When I was almost 16, I wanted a convertible Beetle so badly. Despite the fact that my parents kept telling me I wasn't going to have a car for my 16th birthday, I was convinced they were trying to keep it a secret and had actually bought me the turquoise convertible I'd been eyeing. My birthday came and went, and I didn't have the convertible. Determined to get my way, I decided that I would get that Beetle, regardless. A couple of months later my parents decided they'd go in "halvsies" with me so that I could buy a regular sedan Beetle, but they weren't going to go for the convertible. Bummer.

Never in my life have I had so much fun (at least in a car) as I had in that vehicle. I had more adventures than I can count, and always remember it fondly as my first car. As I was preparing to go away to college, my parents thought it was best that I sell it and get something more appropriate for long-distance driving. I remember protesting vehemently and all but begging to keep it...even as a stored car, but I didn't have the funds to own two cars and it seemed ridiculous to everyone for me to store a vehicle indefinitely. I literally cried the day I watched her drive away with her new owner. It was far too emotional for me, especially for something that I logically shouldn't have been so attached to.

Several years ago, I bought a new Beetle. It was a few years old, but it reminded me of the fun I once had as a teenager - you know, getting into trouble wherever I went. It wasn't quite the same though as that old VW - and how could it be? The new one had modern "conveniences" like operational windshield wipers, a warm heater (it even had heated seats), and the like. For anyone who's owned a classic Beetle, I'm sure you have similar stories, but I always remember some piece of it being inoperable - yet, I still loved having and driving it. The new Beetle just wasn't the same as the hunk of metal that I used to roll around in. I enjoyed it, but eventually it was sold and life moved forward.

On a whim a few weeks ago, I started looking at old VW's on Craigslist. Of course, I naturally went right to the convertibles; but I learned quickly that all of the old Beetles - whether convertible or not - have become quite pricey. I found several needing major repairs, an engine, body work, etc, and the owners wanted in the thousands (sometimes in the 10's of thousands) for these cars. Has everyone gone insane? Wasn't this the "car of the people?" The affordable option? Apparently, not any longer.

As I kept checking out ads and sending links to Sam with titles such as "the perfect graduation/Christmas gift," I couldn't help but giggle knowing full well that we can't afford this sort of thing with my school loan payments beginning the day after I finish classes (in just a couple of days - yay!). No amount of pleading or wishing was going to make money suddenly appear.

A few days later, Sam came home from work and paid me a visit out in the studio. He asks what I'm working on, I ask him how the day went at work, and he responds with a half-hearted, inaudible response. He then informs me that he left work early in the morning, and then hands me a piece of paper. I ask what it is that he's handing me, and he tells me it's the title to my new car. Huh? I look at it - it says it's a VW Beetle. As I'm perplexed by all of this, Sam proceeds to fill in the blanks telling me that he left work this morning to go and check out this Beetle and that it's now sitting at his dad's house. The next piece of paper handed to me helped me understand why it wasn't sitting out in front of the house with a shiny new bow.

My "graduation gift" - a lovely, rusty, hunk of metal

Yeah. Um, I don't think that's exactly drive-able, is it? I see the photo and am informed soon thereafter that it's going to be a project for us to work on together. Scratching my head, I can't help but wonder what would possess my husband of nearly ten years to suddenly think I have some sort of mechanical/automotive aptitude or capability. I can barely handle changing the tube on my bike tire - what would make him think I'd want to engage in such a project?

But alas, I knew that this was the only type of car we can afford for the time being... and during the winter months, there are days (sometimes weeks) when having transportation other than a bicycle is going to be an imperative (for me - as I'm not skilled in the winter commute by bike). We have actually set about work on the beast. This past weekend we spent a good 8-10 hours sanding and grinding, trying to get the pieces to a point that they can be prepped for painting. Who knew so much work went in to a paint job, let alone all the mechanical work that still needs to be completed?

The weekend past was absolutely freezing, so I had about four layers on as Sam's dad "instructs"
me on how to remove paint from the car parts that still had some small bit of paint left on them.

We've also started sourcing parts for the project. An engine was secured (running even, surprisingly) and various other parts are slowly being picked up as we find the right pieces to the puzzle. As odd as it sounds, I'm actually excited about this project (more excited about it being over, but excited nonetheless) and I'm anxious to see what it will end up being. I'm supposed to be picking a paint color, but my chosen color seems to change on a near-hourly basis. Because I didn't get the convertible I wanted, I still think we need to install a ragtop as well... but, fighting with the "boys" about this will be my biggest battle, I'm sure.

In the end, I'm excited to be re-living a bit of my own personal history, and having the opportunity to work on a project from the ground up. Perhaps it will help increase my confidence when it comes to mechanical projects? Or, it will turn into a giant disaster and a year from now I'll be wondering why we even started this endeavor in the first place. Until then, I'm trying to just live in the moment and get as much done as possible.