My husband is currently on a business trip and I just got off the phone with him a few hours ago. After our usual, "How was your day" chit chat, out discussions these days always turn to one thing -- RAAM. I think he summed it up best when he said, "If I'm not thinking about it (RAAM), I'm talking about it, reading e-mails from people about it, writing e-mails to people about it, planning for it, or figuring out how to solve some logistical problem with it." He followed that sentiment up with, "Thank you Susan."
That's code for, "How in the world did you get me into another one of your hair brained ideas." And while I could hear the smile in his voice, I have to admit he has a point.
As I sit here writing this at 1:07am, with exercise TV infomercials playing in the background, I look around my office (aka: the dining room) and see piles of official RAAM documents, Team Ride Red folders and papers, and a few boxes from my newest technology acquisitions: a cell phone with video capability and a GPS window suction mount that I plan to use for live streaming video (not GPS). Go up into our workout room and you'll see a new bike helmet that needs to be properly fitted, four large poster signs stacked against the wall from our last sponsor fundraiser six days ago, our team banner rolled up, a pile of hardware and pvc pipe that is either on the way back to Home Depot or waiting to be affixed to something in the van to support a flag, flashing lights, emergency vehicle sign, or who knows what. That's next to the four foot stack of plastic drawers that WERE in the van but after last week's training session, have been replaced with two shorter stacks of plastic drawers because the van has since been rewamped for a better, more "efficient" configuration.
And I just came inside a few minutes ago from taking measurements on the side of the leapfrog vehicle (aka: our mini-van which we traded my camaro in for a more practical vehicle for RAAM...I know...I know...) so I can order magnetic signage for the van for our upcoming race in two weeks - the Hill Country 600K. Truth be told, I have never ordered magnetic signs before so quite honestly I have no idea what I'm doing. Is $68.50 for two 24x24 magnetic signs a good deal? Is that in four color print or just one color? Should I hold out for vinyl signs instead because the magnetic ones will look dorky? Good lord.
I have to admit a big part of me loves figuring out all the logistics of an event like RAAM. But there are some days when it's a bit too much. My friend, and team Crew Chief, Fred said last week that he thought he and I alone would exchange no less than 50 e-mails from Tues to Sun as we ramped up for the team's 18 hour training event on Saturday. We hit 48.
Perhaps when my husband returns we can have a meaningful conversation that doesn't include topics like, "How are we going to fasten the orange safety flags to the car" or, "Do you think we can find a coffee maker that is below the power rating for the 1600 watt/amp power inverter booster thingey". Or perhaps we could go out to dinner instead of Home Depot's plumbing department while we try to figure out how to take a drain pipe and turn it into a flag holder (been there, done that). I give us 5 minutes before one of us cracks.
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