Elevator go nowhere

Alright so a few things:

I got stuck in an elevator today. Yay. It was pretty funny actually, though I felt kind of bad for the man i was stuck in there with. He had a bus to catch and was freaking out.

I got to drive a car last night. I met up with a very cool friend I have been in touch with for the past few months and he let me drive his car. It was, umm, different. I didn't kill us but I definitely tried to turn the windshield wipers on instead of the blinker a number of times.

I currently have no place to stay nor a job. I am in touch with a guy from Rotorua and I may try to get over there somehow. He seems very cool and he is involved with cycling. The more i think about things the more i just want to buy a car, but i am afraid of running into problems with it. i also feel pressed for money since i need to buy a new bike after leaving mine at home. sadly that may have to wait a little longer. i'm not too worried about gaining weight or getting out of shape though since all i basically do is walk everywhere and eat two slices of bread a day with pb and j...the guardhouse tradition lives on.

so i'm off today to figure my life out some more. fun fun. it's not so bad actually, i've met some cool people who may be interested in what i'm doing so i'll at least have someone else to travel with.

alright i'm out.

nic

OK then...

Alright so no one panic...except me. But no one worry since this is just a process as I'm told. Here we go.

What the HELL have I gotten myself into!?!

Ok, now that that is out of the way I can move onto a brief statement about what i've been doing then i must eat since well, i don't eat much at all because i'm cheap and one meal costs about as much as three normal meals in anyplace other than a city would. (mom you can pretend i didn't say that, i'm eating and i'm fine.)

so this is nuts. i cannot believe i am sitting here at an internet cafe in downtown auckland. i have met a few cool people but no one interested in doing what i'm doing. everyone wants to stay in the city, or move to another one which i just can't justify in such a beautiful country. it's like 'ok guys, let's stay in the city where the buildings obstruct our view of everything to the point where we wouldn't know the difference between new zealand and LA." lame + o= lame-o. and now i am too for having written that. ah well.

so i am staying with a really cool girl from scotland in the hostel. i wasn't too sure about the whole youth hostel thing at first but it's a lot like your first day of college and it's pretty safe. however we did find a number of odd looking prostitues yesterday sniffing what we thought to be glue from a bag...at 2pm. but they were doing us no harm.

i went to the IEP office today and we had our orientation. another reason i want to get to the south so badly. it was simply breathtaking--and these were pictures. i've been in touch with some cycling people down south who have recommended i just get down there and look for work. that has also been the recommendation of Leah the job office lady who thinks it would be easiest to just go, get a place, get a job and live. yes, let's hop on down to the south with nowhere to stay or work and then we can prance around and be happy little crazy people with no worries. i actually wish that is what i could do. then again the hostels are always a good bet. i still don't know where i want to be in particular so that is also a prob. i kind of want to go to christchurch or queenstown, or dunedin. oh well, maybe i will just work my way down.

i spent much of today walking around auckland, getting a phone to basically text with and have my parents call me on. i don't remember the number but when i do i will put it on here and you can all make expensive calls to me because you love me. i also went and got a bank account and the NZ equivalent of a social security number.

there was definitely a time today somwhere between the rain (yes it has been raining koalas and kangaroos since i've been here) and the glue-sniffing hookers in which i had a small panic inside. i got very scared and wondered why i was here...and then i said to myself, 'self you knew this would happen, relax and let it flow'. so i ran as fast as i could back to the IEP office and stayed there until it was ok to come out again. i realized there are sooo many kids in my position since there were like 20 people in that office looking for jobs. it made me feel, not better bc i hate seeing people in a tough spot, but very un-alone anymore.

i miss home but i don't miss it so much that i am holed up in my room wallowing in misery. i like meeting people, i like this challenge...as you all i know i LOVE a good challenge and this is the biggest one yet. bigger than any swim meet or triathlon or job issues or relationship crap. this is huge and it is amazing that i am facing it with an open mind and a strong will.

i really don't have much more to say. i am hungry and i have to pee if any of you really care. then again you are all asleep as it is 3am in the states right now. hopefully i will have more set plans tomorrow and if not, well, i'll wander the streets and hopefully, if i'm lucky, the glue-sniffing prostitues will take me under their wing and teach me their craft.

-Nicole

Direct from Sydney International Airport

This is what has been running through my mind over the past 24+ hours:

Recorded on the plane in my sweet new journal from Sarah:
9/25 9:45 Eastern Time:
So my luck at computer solitaie is less than extraordinary, plus the little controller can't even compare to Whit's gamecube. Spoiled, I know. So can I just say that I think I was a bit underdressed for our inflight meal tonight. I honestly didn't know this was a five star restaurant and an airplane too. In other words, that was by far the best plane food I have ever had. Delicious beef like mom used to stew with gravy and mashed potatos, green beans, salad, 'gourmet' crackers and cheese, red wine, a tasty roll and of course some random coffee flavored eclair with tea for dessert. Are you serious qantas? I've got to say that my personal bottle of wine has increased my body temp a bit reminding me of Liz Kennedy on our way to and from training trips. I'll miss her overheating sessions.

So far people from down under are amazing. I have not even been to the country and I've made three friends who have all offered me their emails and loads of advice. I am lucky right now to be the sole occupant of a two-seat row on the right side of the plane. Some woman has her foot dangling on one of the armrests that I'm not using preventing me from switching seats if I so desire. I think I will start a conversation with her foot-it will go like this:

Me: "Well hello there, you going to Sydney?"
Foot: Silence but he nods graciously.
Me: "Lovely, are you from Australia?"
Foot: Shakes back and forth indicating "no", extends pinky toe telling me that of course he's from NZ.
Me: "Ahh, yes, please tell me about it."
Foot: Goes on to perform a number of gestures which helps to explain his life story from baby toes up to now.

We become fast friends but have no way of keeping in touch since he has no way of writing down his phone number.

Here are the stats of my trip as read from my personal tv screen that is fixed to the back of the seat in front of me:

Where we are: Over St. Louis
Time we've spent flying: 1 hour; 47 min
Time left flying: 3 hours; 8 min
Current time in LA: 7:10 pm
Time we'll arrive LAX: 10:16 pm
Distance from NYC: 892mi/1435 km
Distance to LA: 1613 mi/ 2594 km
Altitude: 38,000 ft/11,582m
Temp outside plane: -54 F/-49 C

I know you are all very interested to know that. I also know that you care that I'm listening to the Wallflower and it reminds me of our 8th washington trip. Plus Jakob Dylan is hot, hotter than his father, even though I've seen his dad in concert and i haven't seen him. such a dilemma.

-Nic fom Syd
ps more to come but other people are waiting for the computers. peace.

Exit Post

My last post before I leave on my adventure. Not much to say today...everything's packed and I'm ready to get on the plane. I still have a three or so hour car ride, but what's that really? Compared to a whole day on an airplane. That's about all I have to say this morning.

This is Nicole, signing off, from the computer room next to the kitchen.

-NMK

Plan super C

Just got back from some last minute shopping with the fam. Random stuff...a washcloth (no i didn't have one here) and some random shitty earrings to take with me just to keep the holes in my ears open. Dumb, I know, but whatever. Don't want to lose any good jewelry. On our way back I noticed a sign, "Assembly Man Richard M. Miller* Memorial Highway." Answer me this: who would want a highway named after him or her as a way to remember them by? Seriously people, I can understand parks or events or even some buildings (as is the case on most college campuses) but a highway? Did they just run out of things to name in people's memory or what? It got me to thinking, we can do better than highways. What about a club or a bar..."President Richard M. Nixon memorial pub" aka "tricky Dick's". Better yet, we could get just outrageous here and name a memorial cucumber. We could put it under glass and all could come to see it. Of course that's not practical and truthfully I wouldn't want to be commemorated with a cucumber any more than with a highway...I will give this some more thought.

So the most recent turn of events in the "I'm moving to New Zealand" game is as follows:
-Nicole's parents approached her today on the fifty yard line of her bedroom with the suggestion that she travel sans Milo (my bike).
-Nicole, using some fancy footwork, outmanuvered Mom and started running down the sidelines with a decent shot at a victory.
-From out of nowhere Dad came up, causing her to stumble and almost falter her point.
-Mom, having recovered, ran up to join Dad and the two tackled Nicole with their reason, hopes of a victory shattered for the 22 year old traveler.

Long story short, the bike stays. I kind of feel like a dick since I took it down to Chenango Point and Jim packed it up all nice and pretty and safe. I really did appreciate it though. But I guess the rentals are right as usual. I have a lot of shit, and carrying a giant bike box around the airport or from place to place in NZ is just not a sensible way to travel. The good news was that this decision was based on both convenience and finances...and turns out that thanks to the accident I'm coming out of the summer further ahead than I planned. So, although Milo stays, I'm going to spring for a new baby down under. Please don't tell him though, he'd be heartbroken. He's better off not knowing that I'm a player. Anyway, there are tons of bike shops down there and the father of a kid I've been in touch with deals in Giants, so that could be fun. I'll take just about everything else...my shoes, clips, helmet, clothes...All I need is a new ride. And it's kind of fun to think of getting a new bike. Maybe I'll be able to get a lighter one or one more conducive for cyclecross (huge down under).

Just sent out two sweet job apps too: one to be a tour guide abseilling the caves of Waitomo and blackwater rafting (underground white water rafting) and acting as a tour guide Kayaking in the Southlands. Good pay, sweet gigs, I hope I get it. And if not I'll just go beg. I've been very lucky in life as far as jobs are concerned...considering I've really only worked in one place for the past five summers and it has been the best job ever. I think I'm spoiled a bit and way too proud for min. wage. I need to get over that fast.

I just thought of a few more sweet memorials...a memorial movie theater or bowling alley or somewhere where people actually enjoy themselves. Certainly not highways. That's just lame. And I'm sorry for the dead dude who they named the highway after.

-Nic

ps as a follow up on drinking coffee this morning...i feel like crap now that the caffine is out of my system. stupid sexy coffee.

pps just a note to everyone...I won't have my cell on me in NZ. Sprint's international rates are just too high. Instead, my father is taking over ownership of my phone until our plan runs out, so please no drunk dials to that number anymore. I'll keep you all posted on if and when I get a new phone because I just know that expensive calls to a NZ number is the new trend.

*name of highway has been changed because I don't remember the real name.

Fall Mornings

I am drinking coffee which is a huge no-no in my book. I'm scared of getting addicted, but right now I just need it. Lots needs to get done today and I needed some sort of boost. Good times last night with Ash and this random group of people I met. Again, I will reiterate my statements from earlier...sick of meeting cool new people who I'm going to bail on. Came home at 3:30. Nights keep getting later as my time here gets shorter. Weird.

So last night reminded me of a fun story from last year. Well, not so much last night because I remember last night, but this morning...and simply because it is a cool, autumn-esque morning. Share, you say? Alright if you insist. This morning reminds me of last October when I awoke in Sarah FitzPatrick's bed up at Clarkson, fully clothed, with blood on my face and eyeliner running down my eyes. Thanks to her friendly sororiety sisters, I had found my way back to her house, but was unable to find my way into the house itself. The landlord who was residing upstairs appreciated this fully...what was his name? Ahh, I can't remember, but I do remember the lovely tales his tenants told me about him and his threats to call the cops. I don't remember falling down the concrete flight of stairs and slicing open my upper lip or bawling to her roommate about my evening lost in Potsdam (which i was never really lost in the first place, I just assumed that I was). So how does this fall morning remind me of all that? Well, that next morning, after we cleaned oursevles up, she took me to the best pancake place in the the whole state, possibly the whole country. You want to know how good it was? It was so good I don't even remember the name and I think it's because I was just so in awe of the magnitude and deliciousness of the pancakes that their name completely slipped my mind. That being said, I should have had pancakes this morning, but then again I didn't fall down any stairs so I don't know how those two correlate. I could say that I should have pancakes to commemorate the beginning of the autumn chill but then I'd probably be having pancakes everyday to honor any change in the weather pattern. Whatever the case, that weekend will always be remembered as my craziest weekend to date. I think I'm a bit nostalgic too since I leave tomorrow and I will not have a chance to have another weekend like that with Sarah in a very long time. Boo.

Wow it's amazing what coffee will do to you as a non-regular drinker of the stuff. I don't think I have much more to say but I just can't help myself. The sounds of the keys on my laptop are like the notes of an orchestra and I can't bear to turn away. I should go do something productive with this energy I have, maybe record the sounds of keys typing and then listen to them as I clean and pack. Weirdo. Oh, on another note, last night was the farm party up at Hamilton...it was sad not being there for that. That was always a pretty sweet party. Getting dressed up like hicks has always been one of the best times. Maybe I'll show up in NZ dressed in overalls and a farmers hat, chewing on a piece of straw. I could pretend that I'm really out of the time and call the airplane 'that darned flying machine' whenever I talked about it. I could act scared of all the cars and pretend I don't know how to use computers. Then when people ask where I'm from I can tell them 'the United States...the south...the deep south. Yeah the part Bush is from." And then everyone will understand.

-Nic

Friday Night Rambling

It's funny to think that everything I will need for a year fits into this random climbing pack I bought from a local camping store. Ok, so it's not that random as I shopped around for quite a while for it, but whatever. So yeah, everything I am taking for this year abroad fits in this thing and weighs about 30 pounds but feels like 100 when on my back. I didn't think I had become THAT weak. I'll just say that it's awkward. That doesn't include my bike of course, but let's not dwell on the technical side of things. When I said I wanted to simplify my life I don't think I really knew what I was in for. Not that it's a bad thing though...I'm definitely sick of material possessions and high maintenance and what not. I think the last time I wore make-up was...well last week when we went downtown. Ok so that's not a good example, but if you compare that to the last time before that... Whatever..that has been the first time in a very long time and probably the last for a very long time that I have put that crap on my face. I don't quite know where I'm going with this. My mind is very scattered right now...yeah. I like using the three dots...the elipses I believe a lot.......... see look at all of them right in a row.........

So get this...I'm leaving on Sunday and I'll be arriving in Auckland on Tuesday. So basically Monday the 26th of Sept in the year 2005 will not exist for me. Confound you international date line, you befuddle me so. No matter, on my way back I'll get to live the same day twice or arrive back in NY before I left or something weird like that. Rah.

I said goodbye to pretty much the coolest person I know today. He's been like my other half all summer and my voice of reason...not counting that night downtown, but even then he provided me with a plethora of delicious drinks which made the night pass less dramatically. I'll certainly miss staring at the back of his Sol jersey, being pissed that I can't keep up. I am a tank but seriously, the guy's got legs like tree trunks, what am I supposed to do? And what else can I say? He's like my brother, my confidante, and even though I was a little bitch to him when we were kids and he used to stick freshly caught fish in my face, I think everything turned out AOK. Too bad he's not ready to pursue some awesome job in NZ. Ahh well, he can live vicariously through me anytime.

I watched Gangs of New York again today too. Good movie. I think the worst part of the movie for me is in the beginning where one guy gets fish-hooked...except his assailant actually rips his lip open. I can't imagine doing that to someone. I bet you'd have to pull pretty hard to make someone's cheek tear. Ok this is gross, I don't want to think about it anymore.

I think I may be going down to Charlie's tonight...one last hurrah with Ash and some other shady characters. Ah well, I'm probably the shadiest of them all...is "shadiest' a word? If it isn't I just made it up. I'm so sick of people being all grammatically correct and shit. If it gets my point across who cares, right? I bet all of my profs up at the Tech would be just thrilled to hear that. I think it'd be sweet to write an entire book full of wrong grammar, made-up words and poor sentence structure. It'd be a best seller and then I could move to NZ permanently and be a writer/cyclist/triathlete or any other number of enjoyable outdoor activities. Sure, I'll get right on that.

K, rambling's over. I need to make some calls. 2 days kiddies, then I'm out.

-Knappster (for old time's sake)

Thoughts on Flying

It's going to be very funny to watch me carting a giant cardboard box around JFK this Sunday. If you would like some entertainment, come and see. Tickets are free and food is available, though not cheap. The show probably won't be long so be there on time and get good seats. Oh, and my bike is in that box. Poor Milo.

It's almost go-time. Wow. I have been thinking of the flight ahead and how it will be the longest time I've ever spent on a plane in one straight stretch. I hope it's going to be comfortable. I remember the flights we used to take to Hawaii for swimming and they were anything but comfortable, crammed into those seats like the stereotypical sardine. Blech. I think that if you plan to travel any further than six hours on a plane, there should be some prize at the end. Yes, I know that reaching one's destination should be considered the prize but no, it's not. There should be a sweet prize to instill temporary happiness, kind of like on the Price is Right:

"Here Ms. Knapp, thank you for flying with us and good job on making it 25 plus hours without having a meltdown. Please enjoy this new Prius* for your efforts. And please come fly with us again."

That airline would do such great business too. (By the way...Did you know you get a tax write off if you buy a 'green' vehicle? Just another reason to go hybrid.)

Or they could even have competitions, like gameshows to make time pass more quickly. Like who can eat the most peanuts. Or who can drink the most tiny cups of soda without having to pee. They could have a special "quiet child" section of the plane to see which children can keep their mouths shut the longest and then give them lots of candy when they get off the plane. There could be grand prizes and parting gifts. Of course the parting gifts would be things like a year's supply of airline peanuts or a duck.

Duck is a fun word. Not as in "there's a tree, duck!" but as in the animal. I wonder how it got it's name. Maybe because it's so small that it looks like it's always bending over, so they named it after the verb 'to duck'. Or maybe 'to duck' was named after the duck that is always hunched over. Then again, ducks aren't really hunched over so, who knows? Baby ducks are cute, I know that much.

I am rambling tonight. I think it is nerves...good nerves. I am excited. I want to play the peanut game on the plane. Maybe I will ask a flight attendant if we can start a game and everyone will like it so much that I'll get to meet the captain. He'll congratulate me and then let me fly the plane. That would be pretty cool.

-NMK

*Inspired by J.

"Wretched"...Amended

OK so let's look at this:

"I'm going to New Zealand in 4 days and I'm bummed about saying goodbye to people."

Wait for it...Wait for it....

Ohhhh, you mean NEW ZEALAND.

I'm over it.

-NMK

"Wretched"

The word of the day.
Used in a sentence: "Goodbyes are wretched."

I am sick of this. I am sick of saying goodbye to people. I am sick of meeting fantastic new people who I yearn to know more about and then !POOF! I have to leave. Right. It happened in my last years of high school, it happened in college and it's happening again. What good is it to be outgoing and interested in knowing people? What sort of satisfaction is there in meeting someone new and amazing with the knowledge that in just a few short years or months or weeks they will no longer be a staple of one's social agenda, but merely "faraway@etc.com". I am tired of my friends being just screen names and email addresses. I have, as luck would have it, met so many new and fantastic people this summer and I've already had to say goodbye to the majority of them. I love meeting people, I love getting to really know people, but this is just frustrating the hell out of me.

I suppose this isn't the best mindset with which to enter my adventure, and I know that I will be back to my old self the minute I step off that plane in Auckland...I guess I just want it all--an adventure and my friends. I am fighting a losing battle here; I should be grateful for the technology that we have, grateful for the opportunity that lies before me. It is not my time to settle, like most of my friends, so it is no mystery that we are all off on our own adventures. Someday we will all be able to come together and share these adventures. Like my Hilary said "we are all going to come back bigger and better people from when we left." I know that she is right but that doesn't make it any easier tonight.

::Sigh:: That is my ranting for this evening. There have been positive parts of my day...I've found a duffel to put my pack in, I've been enlightened on how to pack my bike, I've got most of my stuff together in a pile upstairs waiting to be packed. Amazing how small of a pile it really is. But I really don't have anything left to do!

I've no more to say tonight. All I can say to those I knew and know and want to know is please keep in touch, for my heart quickly attaches itself to those that I love.

-NMK

Mini Meltdown

Short and sweet but to the point:

I am right now teetering on the brink of a mini-meltdown. Not a complete lack of control or nervous breakdown kind of thing, but just a small spaz attack...because I am a spaz...but I don't have to tell any of you that. It is getting down to the wire, for real this time, and there seems to be a lot of loose ends--things that need to be done, phone calls that need to be made, bills that need paying, people I need to see, worries that are keeping me up at night. Again I will reiterate that I hope this trip teaches me to worry less and enjoy more. One thing I am grateful for is my dear, faithful Milo. He has been a reliever of so much stress I cannot begin to thank him. (I know he's a bike, this whole personification of inanimate objects is part of the mini-meltdown).

Seriously though it is getting really hard to say goodbye to people and even harder knowing that I will not be able to say goodbye to everyone I love. To know that I will not see certain people again for a very long time, to know that I will be very much alone for the first few days of this journey and who knows how many after. Come to think of it, I like to be alone a lot, but I don't know how much I'll like being alone in an airport 8000 miles away. Oh well, you have to get through some tough times to get make it to the good ones, right?

This is just a temporary spaz, however, because a one Dan Jones is going to take me out to a cafe tonight and hopefully get my mind off of things. Funny how life works...you don't see a friend for maybe your entire college career and then through the beauty of modern technology (something I have grown less fond of lately for many reasons) you rediscover a friend.

So I am off to journey through the city streets of Binghamton and JC...I'm sure a Tuesday night will deliver nothing but fantastic wonders and abundant entertainment. (Which means we'll probably just end up hanging out at home.)

-NMK

ps a couple hours later...so we ended up in some bars instead...good times on a tuesday night with dan jones.

The Tour de Shunk

"100 Miles of Endless Mountains"

First of all, that's not entirely true. It was 103 miles of endless mountains. "But who's counting?" you ask. I am, because after 99.9 miles you want to be done once that Odo roles over to the triple digits. Ah well, we're more badass for it, I suppose. I would first like to say that Aaron and I were the youngest people there by far. I am proud to say that I was one of about 5-7 women and the youngest by at least ten years.

So yes, Mr. Hollenbeck and myself completed (quite strongly I must add) our first century ride ever. It is the second hardest century ride in the country behind the "mountains of misery" ride down in Virginia or somewhere. So much for starting small. In all reality it wasn't as bad as one would think. The first 75 miles weren't at least. The rolling hills at the beginning were a nice warm up and then at the 20 mile mark came the "stinker" as they so thoughtfully dubbed it (get it? Shunk rhymes with Skunk...ah nevermind). So we climbed the two miles of nonsense, gaining some 1400 feet, which is like nothing I've ever done around here. It felt beautiful to reach the top (and even better to pass some people on the way up.) I still say it's a damn good thing I live on a hill...it prepared me well. There was one other tough climb of about 1.5 miles which rose to about 800 feet or so. We hit this at the 60 mile mark and by then it was pretty painful. Regardless we each made it up both big 'mountains' and didn't walk once (a lot of the guys who were fast on the flats walked some of the hills). The rest stops, although extremely short, were much appreciated as was the friendly conversation from my savior Randy who rode with me most of the way and helped me change the one flat I got throughout the ride. Rah for CO2 pumps!

As for the last 25 plus miles...I think my inner competitor was trying to emerge. I pushed that last 'stage' so hard I wanted to cry. My legs were screaming, cramping, questioning my sanity. My ass was inquiring as to why I had been sitting on a bike for over six hours. And I couldn't keep my hands in a comfortable position to save my life. But no matter, I was holding 18 mph on the flats and I passed two dudes on some hills. I averaged just under 16 mph the entire race and I finished out strong.

We were treated to a spaghetti dinner and free massages at the end of the race. Definitely worth every pedal.





I have learned some things from this experience:

1) I know why many cyclists walk with a hunched back.
2) One can consume unusually high amounts of calories when one rides for six plus hours.
3) The lowest/easiest gear one can shift into is called the "granny gear" by many...I for one am proud to use said "granny gear" as long as it gets me up the hills.
4) Packs of goo are gross.

--I know there are others but I am tired and not thinking straight tonight, I will add later--

So we kicked butt. I am curious to see how sore I will be tomorrow. It was worth it though. Because of this race, I am even more excited to be taking my bike to New Zealand with me. I hope that something great will come of this newfound love of cycling.


-NMK









ps Oh, I discovered how riding 100 miles for my 22nd birthday was a contribution to society...all the proceeds from the event went to the Livestrong foundation.

Delicious Ambiguity

"some stories don't have a clear beginning, middle, and end. life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what's going to happen next. delicious ambiguity..."
-gilda radner

Fine words delivered to me by a fine woman...my dearest Sarah. Kind of exactly what happened last night. Come to think of it, that's kind of what happens any night her and I party together. No one ever knows what's going to happen next. Of course it's a beautiful quote for my upcoming adventure as well.

So last night, eh? We were in rare form...back to the CVSP summers of old. Tossin' 'em back, no worries mate, painting the town a deep shade of red. It felt good to let go one last time with the Bingo crew...it felt pretty wretched this morning though. Not as wretched as Aaron probably felt, but miserable all the same. I tried some fantastic new brews last night...don't remember most of the names. Purple Haze was one of my choice faves as well as a name I remembered. I highly recommend it. I like drinking good beer. No more of this Keystone crap. We're moving up in the world. All in all though it was a fab way to celebrate numero 22. A little bit of nonsensical running around, but a good time nonetheless. I promise Ron, we won't go down anymore alleyways ever again. God forbid we risk getting stabbed.

So today was a typical hangover day, just another reason as to why I don't drink that much anymore. Well, that heavily at least. Sarah and I made breakfast, laughed about the ridiculous antics of the evening. Laughed pretty hard about them in fact. If you can't laugh at yourself, who can you laugh at?

Aaron and I did a short ride, ran into Mr. Motel from high school and stopped to chat for a while. While I really enjoy biking for sheer nature of the sport, I have found that it is fantastic for meeting new people, running into old friends, seeing the countryside at a slower pace, and just appreciating the world around me so much more. I felt great on the bike, which is good since tomorrow is the big 100 mile ride. I will finish this thing, and I will finish it strong. I've never quit anything in my life and I'm not about to start now. A wise man recently told me "Nicole, you're an athlete. You're a determined, aggressive athlete and you always will be. Don't let anyone, even yourself, make you think otherwise." I think I need to rediscover my inner competitor; that intense girl that never backed down from a challenge and rarely failed to accomplish at least part of her goals.

So that is all for now. Wish me luck for tomorrow...I'll need it. Until then!

-NMK

Welcome to 22...

Please keep your hands and arms inside the ride at all times.

Well I guess it's bound to happen to everyone. We graduate from that incredible age of 21 into a true member of the twentysomething generation. Good ol' 22. There's not much to say about it; every year feels less and less like a birthday and more and more like another regular day.

I spoke with Jackie this past spring about how, as young children, we are typically adorned with gifts and attention on our birthdays. Unfortunately that is what we come to expect as we grow older. Well, I have decided that the day of our birth should not just be a celebration of our existence in society, but also another chance to contribute to society...to do something special. To give purpose to having been born into this world or to overcome the natural limits one sees everyday. Instead of saying, "it's my birthday, what can you do for me?" we should be saying "I was put on this earth, let's see what I can do for it." Yes, very JFK I know.

Now don't read me wrong here...I don't believe that we should wait until our birthdays to do something special for society or this planet or another person or even ourselves, but I definitely feel that doing something more meaningful than sitting around, receiving presents and eating cake would make birthdays much more memorable. Especially now that there really aren't anymore milestone bdays left (for me and most of my friends at least). For example: a typical 21st birthday is one for the memory banks or not, depending on how much one drinks and how well one holds his or her liquor. But 22 will run into 23 and then into 24 and it just won't be special or memorable anymore. How about for number 22 you plant a tree or four; at 23 you run a marathon; 24 you work in a soup kitchen; etc. I have certainly not put this plan into effect this year as I enjoyed a nice night out with the 'rentals and I most definitely plan on partying it up tomorrow upon Sarah and Ron's return, but it has really been on my mind. It was actually my original plan to do something special for my 22nd but this century race that I am going to attempt was unfortunately on the 18th rather than the 15th. So I am reluctantly substituting a little here and there as far as dates are concerned. But no matter. I honestly don't know how much of a social contribution it is to ride 100 miles on a bike, but it will definitely be something I remember about the beginning of my 22nd year of life.

So that is a lot of weird thought, but it is late and I have been very thoughtful all day. Thank you all for your wonderful notes and calls--they mean more than presents or alcohol or cake ever will (yes even cake for those of you who know about my cake obsession). For those of you in the Bing...meet us downtown for a romping good time tomorrow (9/16). And for those of you outside of my little Bingo bubble I miss you all so much and wish you could be here with me!

-NMK

Down to the wire

Alright so 11 days out really isn't down to the wire for most people, but since I've always been that person who needs to have her papers written two weeks in advance, her credit card bills paid nearly a month before their due, and her road trips planned exactly to a t, 11 days really is as close to the wire as I can get...at least the beginning of the wire.

That being said, I've got some fun information for all of you who desperately (or even just slightly) desire to keep in touch with me. I found out that my mailing address is a general address stationed in Auckland and BUNAC (the organization I'm going with) will then forward any mail I get to wherever I am in the country. I've also got the country phone codes for anyone who doesn't care much about the cost of their cell phone bill.

Nicole Knapp
C/O IEP-Work NZ, PO Box 1786
Shortland Street, Auckland, New Zealand

Calling NZ from the US: Dial 011 64 to get through to New Zealand, then the city code, then the phone number. FYI- Auckland city code is 9, Christchurch city code is 3.

And just for fun (and sanity's sake), the time difference between East Coast US and NZ is +16 hours (give or take an hour because of daylight savings). For example: 9am Monday NYC is 1am Tuesday in Auckland. Or, if that example doesn't suit you, 6pm Monday NYC is 10am Tuesday in Auckland. So let's all try not to be calling each other at ungodly hours of the night. Ok? Ok.

So that is all of my fun information. As most of you know my email is still knapp.nicole@gmail.com and that isn't about to change anytime soon since gmail is the best email system ever.

The more I think about it the more excited I get, but that is of course accompanied by my nerves which haven't allowed me to sleep very well lately. In all honesty, I really do hope that this trip helps me to calm down a bit when it comes to planning. I'm not nearly as uptight as I used to be. Back in the day it was a constant struggle to make sure that everything ran smoothly and perfectly; I've found that although everything often turns out exactly as planned, things aren't nearly as fun and my stress level ends up being through the roof. I think a little dose of spontaneous living will do this girl some good. Funny though, how I've still got to plan and arrange very strictly in order to live spontaneously. Oh well.

I'm off to be all organized and in control so I can shirk those responsibilities in just 11 days! Sweet.

-NMK

FIVE HOURS AND FIFTY PHONE CALLS LATER INSPIRES ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS:
p.s. I am really getting fed up with all of this automated menu bullshit. Every time I call anyone I get some intonation-challenged woman telling me to "press 1 for english, press 2 to get another menu, press 3 if you're wearing pants, press 4 if you hate your life, to hear this menu again press the pound key followed by the star key and then do the hokey pokey while we waste some more of your inconsequential time." I love how public relations can't even be considered a necessary skill anymore. I think the automated crap can only be topped by the "experts" you finally reach on the other end who try to answer your questions before you even finish asking them. It reminds me of a game show where your host, Johnny Plastic-Smile (he was one of those hyphenated name people...just can't stand 'em*), begins to ask a question and there is one lame team who always buzzes in before he finishes the question. Then they answer wrong because they aren't even answering the questions he was really going to ask. "No people, I'm not asking about WHEN my loans begin to accrue interest, I'm asking about WHY the interest rate is so much more during the summer solstice than during a leap year. JEEZ."

I promise that is all the bitching for today.
*(Just pickin' J.)

My beloved alma mater

As it is two weeks before I leave for New Zealand I took a trip up to Hamilton this past weekend. As expected it was a fantastic time and being there made my alumni status even more real...as well as my longing for college days more intense. However, my appreciation for having graduated was quickly reinstated Sunday morning when papers, projects and tests became the topic of conversation at Sunday morning brunch. 'Sorry guys, but I've got to get going back to Binghamton, back to the pre-New Zealand world of college degrees and no homework...aka the world of a jobless nomad.'
All kidding aside I really do miss school. Nothing will ever compare to it and for those of you who have yet to experience the wonders of college, know that those four years are really the best years of your life. Sappy? Yes. Cliche? Most definitely. True? Without a doubt. Oh Hamilton, I miss thee so.

I spent a lovely lunch with Profess....I mean Doug (it's going to take some time getting used to this) where I experienced the greatness that is Lebanese food. I must admit that I am a bit disappointed I had never been to the Phonecian in my four years in Clinton. If you haven't been (folks at Ham-tech), you MUST get there asap. Before it's too late! I think that the meal could only have been outdone by the mode of transportation to and from the restaurant (and of course the fabulous conversation and endless knowledge gained over the few hours we spent chatting). (btw, if you want to know you'll have to ask Doug about the new toy sitting in his garage.)

Of course I spent a good amount of time at my second home on the hill, the pool. It's funny how, in just five months, all of the petty bs that you argued about with your coach becomes something to laugh about. Although I was very ready to close the chapter on swimming in my life, it is still a very hard thing to let go of. Sitting in that office, walking on that pool deck, watching videos of meets past (yes we did that, yes we are lame sports geeks) really gave me that "I want to kick someone's ass" feeling. Annnnd then the thousands of yards of butterfly flashed through my head and the feeling was gone. I think I need a few more months, if not a few more years to let my emotions towards swimming revert back to the good old days, so until then "we be bikin'". Not a bad substitute if you ask me. Not a bad replacement either. Who knows what could happen. Without getting too sentimental I will say that I owe a lot to swimming and I am grateful I had the opportunity to flop around in the water all these years. I won't miss the wretched chlorine burn though. Wretched it was.

I also spent some time with a truly exceptional woman who is very near and dear to my heart...padooden (Caitlin Pegnim to the rest of you...and yes call her padooden whenever you get the chance.) I won't go into the intensely fun weekend we had partying in downtown Utica and working the tables at Turning Stone (she even got on stage to sing with this local country cover band) but I will just say that it was wonderful to see her again and that I will miss her like crazy. She is the glue that held me together for much of my college career and I will never be able to thank her enough for it.

Much of my time was spent with my two surrogate families the Murphy's and the Rueckert's. I have been blessed to know these two families and I've had the pleasure to watch their children grow into the brilliant, talented, promising young people they are today.

Nick, with his imaginative mind constantly feeding his maturing acting abilities.

Jack and his sweet, caring nature, always available for a wonderful conversation.

Jacque with her sincere heart and strong personality, aspiring in an array of graceful pursuits.

And Patricia, adorable, tough, endearing...and growing up at an alarming rate.

I can't even begin to discuss John, Marilee, Tracy and Don who have bent over backwards to help me since the day we met. Looking at things in hindsight I consider myself extremely lucky as I met these two families by chance. It's funny how in the plethora of cards that life has put in front of me, I've gotten such a good hand many, many times. Knowing these two families helped me connect with the community around the college. Because of them I became acquainted with Clinton as much as I did with Hamilton, helping me to appreciate my four years on the hill so much more.



So that was, for the most part, my time at Hamilton. I did see a lot of old friends, teammates, professors, etc, but this post is entirely too long already and I am beat. If it bored any of you, well, you should have stopped reading it.

-NMK

Fishy

Yay for sweet new jerseys and my HUUUUGE bike bag. Just got some fun stuff in the mail...so as I already indicated, I got a sweet new jersey with little fishies and stuff on it (blue of course). I also got my bike bag so I can take Milo with me to NZ. It is definitely much bigger than it looked in pictures, but oh well. He's got to get over there somehow.

The ride today was a bit labored. We went out to Whitney Point by 79, then came back 11, down the back of Brotzman and back to Aaron's place on front street. I was hurting quite a bit and the trip up East Brotzman took serious advantage of me (not in a good way). Saw the doc for a follow up today and he told me I would feel very stiff the next few days. Maybe that is the best explanation for my less than stellar performance this morning. If I learned anything from swimming it's that you can't be 100% every single practice.

So I'm sitting here in my sweet new jersey (yes bc i am a loser) planning my upcoming mini-vaca to Hamilton tomorrow. Yay! I know it won't be the same but I still can't wait to see everyone. It's going to be a hectic weekend, but it'll keep me on my toes. I think I'll probably skip the Bundy party Friday night but there's no harm in tossing back a few brews with some friends on Saturday.

On a completely random note, during my ride I got to thinking about celebrities and how lame they are. (This may seem odd but bear with me). I saw cars today with racks to hold lumber, plumber's vans, and all other sorts of useful individuals drive by and I got to thinking "these are the people that drive our society, yet we treat them with such little respect. How is it that we idolize celebrities whose job isn't to keep society functioning efficiently, but to entertain us and often times make us feel bad about ourselves for not being as perfect as they are?" I came to the conclusion that celebrities are, for the most part, useless and something needs to be done about the emphasis placed upon them and their value to society. Any suggestions are welcome.

So there isn't much more going on here in Bingo. I've got lots of little errands to run before I leave so that should keep me nice and busy for two weeks. Until then...

-NMK

Back in business

Today was my first day back on the road since the big saga began and I couldn't have felt better. We didn't ride terribly far and the hills were MIA, but it was a good way to start out. Milo handled fine and I managed to keep my spaz level down considering my newly restored fear of traffic. I tried like crazy to keep up with the asst. today and when he let me, I enjoyed the wonders of drafting. I did manage to pass him in Otsiningo on the straightaway. It was a very short-lived victory, but a victory all the same.

I also met with Donald today, the man who hit me. As I stated before he is quite possibly the nicest old man I have ever met. Seeing his home and speaking with him about his life definitely gave me even more perspective on who he is and what he has been through. Let's put it this way...getting hit by a truck was a party compared to the troubles this man has had to overcome. He gave me a tour of his little farm, which was occupied by ducks and goats, geese and chicken, a few cows, some horses, quite possibly the largest pigs I have ever seen, and the place was simply swarming with bees (as he keeps them for their honey). He cut off some honeycomb for my father and I to try and it was delicious. The honey was better than anything store-bought and the comb was chewy just like gum. He sent me home with some extra for my tea.

Donald lives without electricity, indoor plumbing or electric heat and seems quite content with this lifestyle. I've come to learn that just because someone is without the luxuries that I have grown dependent upon, doesn't mean they are unhappy or underprivileged. On the contrary, I think that if Donald wanted to, he could live in a very fine condo anywhere in the country. He simply chooses not to. All material things set aside, I've realized just how lonely this man is and I hope that somehow this whole incident will change that. I asked him if it would be alright for me to send him letters and he replied enthusiastically that it would give him something to look forward to. I hope that a letter every now and then from New Zealand will help to ease some of the loneliness that he has been living with.

So that was my day with Donald. I also met with the insurance company which was an absolute joy and I have been bombarded by calls from the doctor's office insisting I come in for a follow-up. Funny how one can't ever get an appointment with a doctor, but now they are beating down my door like I'm a celebrity. Ha.

That's the news from the American front...I've got a lot coming up on my agenda within the next few weeks and the 25th is quickly approaching. Until then...

-NMK

ps-I forgot to mention that Donald's truck was filled with loaves of bread the day he hit me (I know it's a really strange thing to notice during an accident like that)...but I basically got run over by a breadtruck. Yeah, I know it's lame, but I laughed and you should too. :-P

Back from Wilson

<---One of the more minor injuries I obtained from my encounter with a truck...





Well it has been about six hours since my last post and I am as AOK if not better than Milo. After a lovely five hour vacation spent with the rentals in the ER (I say vacation because it is the longest period of time my family has spent together all summer), I've been released with a clean bill of health and an order for "no strenuous activity". Right doc, save it for someone else. I've got roads to ride baby. So we're back on for the Tour de Shunk. I have some advice for the ladies of Binghamton NY: if you for whatever reason need to go to the ER, go to Wilson's. I found that in five hours of waiting around in an oversized gown which made the pattern on my low-cut bikinis public knowledge (yet another reason to own cute underwear), that I encountered a decent number of young and quite attractive men. Trust me, the ER isn't as bad when you've got some hotties taking care of you.

So all is well in Knappland...I'll see you kids on the road tomorrow.

-NMK

Milo and Me

<---My baby all better.













Today is my first day off in about 12 days. Technically I am unemployed as of right now, which isn't an entirely bad thing since I really needed the time off. Plus I'm leaving soon and I'll find work down under. It's weird to think of myself as unemployed...not a student, not working, just kind of existing until the next stage of my life. I suppose I'll call myself a world traveller as that sounds more respectable. Then again, some people hear 'world traveller' and think perma-bum. And to those people I say "Your mom's a world traveller...of the street corners." (that was for you Maximus).

So I took Milo into the doctor's today (that would be the bike shop.) Funny that I take him to get fixed before I take myself to get checked out. I think I'll be making a trip to the ER sometime this afternoon or possibly tomorrow morning to check for chipped bones and hairline fractures, so until then I wait. As far as Milo is concerned, he is in pretty decent shape considering the hit we took. I need a new rear wheel, but the frame was in AOK shape. They bent the shifter back into place and everything else looks to be in working condition. This came as a great relief since my bike is basically my new boyfriend and if it weren't for him, I'd have nothing to ride. I got a new helmet since the last one was cracked and as Aaron says "we want to protect what little brain she has left up there." Sad but true.

As badly as I want to get back out there, I'm a little gun-shy. I guess getting hit by a truck will do that. I'm planning on taking today off then getting out early tomorrow for a long but easy stretch. The man who hit me (who is quite possibly the nicest old man on the face of the earth, so nice that I actually feel BAD that he hit me) is going to pay for everything so I think my Pops and I may take a trip up to his house tomorrow. This may sound pretty weird to some people, but I think a lot of good will come of this situation. The guy seems pretty lonely and sad since he lost some of his loved ones, so maybe a few letters from New Zealand will help fill the void in his life. Who knows.

Anyway, I'm off to wait for the insurance company to call and then probably to the ER. And we all know how fun the ER is. I'll send postcards, I promise.

-NMK

1...2...3...CVSP!

So that's it. The summer is technically over, as is my time as a Chenango Valley lifeguard. It was surprisingly easy to say so long to the beach tonight. That may be because of my upcoming move, it may be because this summer has been more than intense, or it may be a bit of both. All I know is that as we packed up the lines and the sun began to set, a sense of relief, not sadness began to set in.

Regardless of my relief, it has been an amazing five years and I can't even begin to explain to those outside of the CVSP culture the plethora of entertaining moments, unbelievable situations and non-stop nonsense that went on. So this is a tribute to my guards. The ones who made me laugh, the ones who helped me learn, Max's mom for being so damn fine, Zajac for being a great training dummy, my doctor in residence, my personal quilt-maker, my Keith Urban groupie, my partner-in-crime the ass (a name that now has two meanings), the f-ing underage all grown up, and all the rest that made up our eclectic little group. I'll miss you assholes and for one more night..."to wine, rape and revolution..." it is. But then again, I think it'll always be that way. Rip-Ho you son's of bitches. All my love and best of luck children. Lights off, doors locked. Peace out.

-NMK

Pick-ups and Goodbyes

So I know this is supposed to be a journal about New Zealand and all that jazz, but come to find out, my life is still somewhat interesting while in the states. Let's examine...

So yesterday I got hit by a car while riding (I think we can call it training now) my bike. And when I say "car" I mean "pickup truck" and when I say "hit" I mean "got t-boned at an intersection" while training for the Tour de Shunk. Thankfully I walked away from it with some decent bruises, some swells on my left shin where I hit the pavement, some swelling/laceration action on my left hand, some pulled neck muscles and traps, and a bit of a headache. I say 'thankfully' because we all know an alternative to bumps and bruises when getting hit by a truck. I actually owe a lot to my helmet and I would like to thank him for all he's done for me. I am now in debt for the rest of my life to a piece of plastic. Milo (my bike for all of you who don't know him) on the other hand is in tough shape. I was still clipped in when I went flying over the car so he hit the pavement pretty hard with me. His left shifter is bent in towards the right one, the front wheel a bit tacoed. I'm still not sure about the deraillers, but somehow he was thrown some 30 feet away from me once I came unclipped. The frame looks to be in pretty good shape so my finger's are crossed--that would make my life exponentially easier when it comes to fixing him. I'm pretty bummed that I won't be able to ride much the next few days while Milo and I recouperate. I've been riding very well lately and it all ends when you get hit by a pickup. Oh well, new leases on life are always a good thing too.


On a completely different note...I've had to start saying my goodbyes to people...my longterm goodbyes. I said goodbye to a very special person this morning and it made this whole trip seem so much more real than it has before. If anything though, I can say that this summer has given me a new perspective on life and has made saying goodbye just a tad bit easier. Put simply...life is short so enjoy the people around you...forgive, forget, move on and you'll be all the happier; know that life goes on and that change is good. Don't fear adventure and letting go of people. If someone is truly special he or she will be there when you return.


Alright, sorry for the heavy nature of this post(we all know the Ice Queen's take on sentimentality). But it has been a difficult weekend. Next time I promise there will be a higher number of inappropriate comments and raunchy humor more my fashion.

-NMK

23 days and counting

Forgive me all if this entry is less than exciting. My creative side is currently a little lame due to a lack of good sleep. The lack of good sleep due to stressing more than I ever should about anything. Maybe living amongst the kiwis will help me to chill out a bit.

That's right. In 23 days I leave for my adventure and right now I am sitting in anticipation of the summer's end. Don't get me wrong, it has been a fantastic three months and being the boss is great, but it is time to move on. I feel hyper inside. Very antsy and ready to pack my bags, disassemble and pack up my bike and get my butt on a plane.

So there isn't much news from the front just yet. But, if you are ever curious as to whether I have become a street bum desperately rattling my tin can or if I'm riding along the coast of ninety mile beach on my sweet new cannondale (thanks mom and dad), you can probably check it out here. No promises though, I may be having such a sweet time down under that writing little entires on a web log is the last thing on my mind. Maybe if I'm really lucky I'll end up tramping the Southern Alps for four months and I won't need to concern myself with computers whatsoever...

But for now, I'll sit patiently and await my departure.

-NMK