To Do

There's a To Do List about a mile long, sitting right here next to the computer.

First on the list: Find a Job.

I'm learning first-hand the meaning of balance.

The Quintuple Iron is over, and I'm confronted by the harsh reality of "What now?"
I spent most of 2010 focusing on the race and making it my top priority.
Now that it's over and done with, I'm a little lost to be honest.
Moving up to the Deca for next year is a no-brainer, but unfortunately solely racing doesn't pay the bills.

I've been in the retail machine long enough to know that I won't be doing that anymore. No more salary jobs that require 60+ hour weeks, phone calls at home on days off, and bosses that frown on having a life outside of work.

The goal then, I guess, is to find a job that let's me punch the clock, and leave work at work. I show up, work hard, and go about my life when the shift is over.
Again with the keeping life simple.

As far as the TentMan life....due to the Maine winters, I won't be spending a lot of time in a tent the next couple of months. I do, however anticipate many a night in my rustic camp in the western mountains of Maine. The amount of hiking, trail running, snowshoeing, and skiing to be done there is ridiculous.
Stay posted!

krp

The Farewell

Well, folks, this is it.
The end of Tentman, Aroostook County edition.

On November 6th, this saturday, I will be leaving The County for the big race in Mexico.
I will not be returning...at least to live anyways.

The Life of Kale R Poland continues on its long, strange trip.

I moved here on a leap of faith. Tired of big box retail and corporate nonsense, I came here, knowing that anything I happened upon for a job would be better than what I was doing.

It was pure fate that I landed a job at a store which thrived on the sports that I was active in. Immediately I was introduced to the amazing community of people and athletes that surround Mojo and the Nordic Heritage Sport Club.

Tons of memories.
-Mountain biking for the first time on singletrack, at night, with Chad, Mike, Chris, and Eileen.
-Brent's Slo Mo Triathlon, hungover. Mike and Von and I decide to do it the night before during a night of drinking.
-Morning swims at Gentile with Erika and Kim
-Running on sunday mornings with Mel, Kyle, Lee, Kim, and Georgina(who has fattened me up!!!); and The Christmas Run on the sunday before the big Holiday, when we spent the morning running to people houses to wish them a merry christmas.
-Big St Patty's Party at the Caverhills.
-Good Times Rides then beers with the whole gang...sometimes having to have the afterparty at the store!
-Mornings BSing with the Northern PT crew
-Nights in Mel's or Penny's Backyard, and the great food both cooked for me.
-Penny's BackPorch Nights, solving the world's problems..heck LIVING at Penny's. She let me shower, do laundry, and fed me so many times. My life would have been a lot more difficult without her the last couple of months.
-Running with Mortland and Barb to Houlton...and running through the night on treadmill with Mortland.
-Lifting with Kate Hanes
-New Years Party, and dancing "wax on, wax off" with Kate and Ralph
-Dinners with Kate and Ralph Knowles
-Aroostook Dirty 30

So much more. I had some of the best times of my life here.
Never will I know a place with friends like I have here. REAL people, who ride, run, swim, LIVE, and still aren't afraid to let loose and have a good time.
The level of support I have received as an athlete from everyone I know in Aroostook County is mindboggling, and it will be repaid in one way or another.

While I hate to leave the people, the reasons I leave aren't secret. People who know me know that I've been striving to remove myself from the retail profession for a long time.
It's opportunity downstate, and lack of it here that forces me to pull up my roots once again and find a new location.

No smooth way of saying it...I will miss seeing all of my friends here in Aroostook County.

krp