Valerie's 1997 Holiday Letter

Valerie's 1997 Holiday Letter

What a year! I don't remember when I've packed so many activities into twelve months before.

I've been working for the past two years as a Computer Systems Analyst at the Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank. This fall we moved into a beautiful new building downtown that overlooks the Mississippi River. The work is still interesting and challenging and I'm working with a very talented group of people.

Twice this year, friends joined me at Mom's cabin in Northern Minnesota. In February, the women attended Fox Lake Follies XV "Chicks Commingle at the Cabin" where we enjoyed some cross-country skiing. In July, it was number XVI "Wheelsuckers Wahoo" for some road biking. True to past experience, there was never a lack of good food, good fun, and good friends. Thanks Mom!

I'm now in my ninth year of singing with the City of Lakes Chorus. It was another full year of rehearsals, retreats, performances, competitions, and committee work.

We performed at the Minnesota Women's Expo at the Minneapolis Convention Center, at Como Park in St. Paul, at the HarmonyFest flood relief benefit at the Mall of America, at Bethel College for our annual show, at two huge churches for our holiday show, and in the Holidazzle parade in downtown Minneapolis.

In April, we won our regional competition in Fargo, ND. This qualifies us to compete next fall at the Sweet Adelines International Competition in Nashville, TN. This year's championship included a bonus prize of an extra day stranded in our hotel, compliments of the "blizzard of the century."

The evil scheduling trolls decreed that this year's Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival in Cable, WI should be the same day as our biggest chorus show. At 10:00 AM, I began a 16-mile mountain bike race, by noon I was driving four hours back to the Twin Cities. I cleaned up at a friend's house on the east side and arrived at the theater 45 minutes before our first show. Including the race, transport, two shows, and the party after, I changed clothes eleven times that day! I think someone should have made a video documentary out of this day!

This year I became more active with TCBC, the Twin Cities Bicycling Club. With over 1000 members of various skill levels, I found many "challenging" new adventures.

In February, I ventured to Itasca, MN and experienced some awesome cross-country skiing and midnight snowshoeing.

In June, a group headed to Iowa for TOMRV, the Tour Of the Mississippi River Valley. After 200 tough miles in two days, I can now tell you that this is one part of Iowa that certainly is NOT flat.

The next week was WOW, the Weekend on Wheels. Two long days up and down Wisconsin's beautiful hills.

Later in June, I took my first shot at the Paul Bunyan Double Century. From the northern Twin City suburbs, around Lake Mille Lacs, and back... in one day. We battled wind and rain then narrowly missed a tornado. After nearly half the ride in the rain, and darkness closing in early, most of us abandoned the ride. Under the circumstances, I was pleased to complete 150 of the 212 miles and was still feeling good.

In July, I let some of my "friends" convince me that the Minnesota Double Cross would be "fun". 5:00 AM on Saturday (you know how I love mornings), we took off from Stillwater on the Wisconsin border. Some 200+ miles later that same day, we pedaled into Ortonville on the South Dakota border. Sunday morning we mounted up to head back home. After about 100 miles of riding the second day, I'd reached my "fun" threshold and enjoyed the rest of the day in the "comfort cruiser" van. Completing both my first double-century and over 300 miles in two days was beyond my expectations. Maybe next year, I'll be masochistic enough to go for the whole enchilada.

September found another group undertaking the TCBC2DCC2. In other words, the 2nd year TCBC group to bicycle from the Twin Cities "2" the Door County Century in Upper Michigan. A week of great riding with great friends!

Now you know why TCBC considers themselves "an eating club with a biking disorder."

I bicycled over 3000 miles this year with TCBC, the Wheelsuckers Bicycle Club, and other friends... and I'm still going. In Minnesota, we keep riding even in the winter. Just grab some warm gear and hop aboard your mountain bike!

This summer I met the organizers of the Odyssey 2000 trip. I've also been in contact with several of the 250 cyclists that will partake in the "bike ride of the millennium". They're all terrific people and will really make our one-year, around-the-world trip a fantastic experience! Now that the start is just two years away, my excitement and to-do lists are building exponentially. I can't wait, but my savings account still says I have to.

For Thanksgiving, Mom and I drove to Chicago to do some shopping and take in the sights. Christmas will be spent in town with Mom, brother Jerry, and sister Debby's family.

I've enjoyed keeping in contact with many friends this year via e-mail. You can reach me at HarpoVal. I'd love to hear from you!

I wish you all a joyous holiday and peace in the New Year.

Valerie

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Updated Nov 23 2001 by Valerie