Sunday, December 28, 2008

Christmas Sucks, Part II

As I type this I'm doing my best not to vomit. Apparently Christmas was determined as the appropriate time for a norovirus to tear through the family. Wife, 9 month old, myself and my mother in law all feeling the effects. Seems the the wife is better, daughter is recovering and the mother in law and myself are moving towards health.

But what a night last night was.

And that is all the typing I have the energy for right now.

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Oh My

It's been a few days of "Oh, my" moments. As is "Oh, my" I've put on five pounds in two weeks. Guess two weeks off the bike will do that. Have to get back on the trainer. Especially with my father coming down this week.

And "Oh, my" that's a lot of vomit that just came out of my child. Vomit isn't the right word here. Neither is spit-up. This wasn't a little ladylike urp onto the bib. She puked. I was holding her and I needed a shower, it was that bad. Impressive really, just another demonstration on her part as to who is really running this show right now. Parent's may think they are in charge, but rlly we're all just delusional from lack of sleep. The kids are running the show and the sooner you admit that, to noone other than yourself obviously, the happier you will be.

And "oh, my", I haven't started Christmas shopping for my wife yet. I mean we are trying to downsize, but that's a little stupid. At least most of the presents are easy to get, based more on sentimentality and an idea that rarity and difficulty to get.

And I have a couple of days till Christmas. Still more time to procrastinate.

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Christmas Sucks.



No, really it does. Stress, money, logistics of family and friend visits. It can really stress a guy out. And ooohhhh, does it stress me out. I mean, what doesn't stress me out? How many times can my mother call before she is going to realize that no, I don't have any ideas this year. And I apologize to my wife who The wife's job situation doesn't help, but she is doing everything she can to find one and I'm proud of the way she is handling it. But overall we are scaling back, which is a good thing.

There are the friendships. The holidays are a time when some friendships are up for annual review. There are many people in our lives that move on, move out or simply drift away. Every year at the holidays there is that one relationship. The one that you have held dear for a long time, that for reasons we can all relate to, is suddenly reevaluated. We take pause and think about the past and potential future, making major decisions without pause and maybe take steps to renew and reconnect. Or another name is added to the Christmas card list that will be thought of briefly as a short message of good hope and cheer is written early the next winter.

It sounds cliche to complain about the commercialization of the holidays, but it's really true for me this year. I look forward to gifts I will inevitably get, and to the smiles that what we can give will hopefully bring. But more than that this year, I look forward to family and the smiles of my children. I'm sure it is due in no small part to our financial position, but whatever the reason I see it as a blessing. And we can all use a few more of those right now.

Saturday, December 6, 2008

DCCofD

So I had been training with a good group of people for the last few weeks. Unfortunately the training for the season has come to an end, as with the exception of the kid, our season's have come to a close. But I took the oppurtunity to go out after the final training ride with a group of the guys, and I have to say it was fun.

Now, I'll be the first to tell you that I am not the most social person. Actually, my wife would probably be the first to say it as I would be off in a corner by myself. But anyway, the folks from the DCCofD are a group that I already feel comfortable hanging out with.

I'm currently the ssslllloooowwww guy. Like really slow. The group ranges from me to steady B podium finishers, to the kid and even a few elite types. If the efforts we did were more than two laps, I'd be a lapped rider every night. But everyone is still welcoming and I appreciate that. And I thank everyone for their patience, encouragement and the remedial lessons.

You see, I think that one of the reasons, actually I know that one of the reaons I got involved in bikes and endurance sports is the community. With few exceptions the cycling community is filled with wonderful people. I have ridden with Tour de Frnace winners, had yellow jersey wearers and world champs in my house and I have had top riders stop and talk to me for no reason other than I was a fellow cyclist.

When does that happen in baseball?

And one of the things that I will remember from the dinner with the DCCofD the other night is the discussion about the pros we all have encountered. The talk revolved around world and national champs, known riders and up and comers. And without fail they were all recognized for being just another rider. Approachable, friendly, even stopping of their own choice to have a discussion with some stranger on the side of the course. They recognize what is truly important in their sport and perhaps beyond, and so I recognize the value that they provide to our community.

And that is why I ride. That is why I stand in the mud to hand off fresh bikes and why I ride through secret locations on freezing cold nights. To be part of something. Something that I did not create, but something that I can continue and introduce to others. I'm not the type of father to force my children into this or that activity, at least I don't think so but time will tell, but I hope more than anything that can find a community that encourages them to be part of something bigger than themselves.

So to all the folks of the Delaware Cyclocross Coalition of Delaware, I say thank you. Thank you for accepting a slow, fat rider looking for something to be a part of.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Nothing, Really...

Don't really have anything exciting to post about today. Just home early with a "sick" kid. I use the term loosely, because while there is no doubt he has a cold, he's also begging for cookies. So I don't think we are dealing with a long term illness here. Unless school counts as an illness.

So since I don't really have anything from today, maybe a flashback is in order.

Raced the Granogue Cross race in October. I sucked. Completely. Got lapped in a C race. Not Good. But cross, oh my. I am hooked. Already looking forward to next season. The suffering, the weather, the pain, the mud. The friends, the atmosphere, the competition. I can't wait.

Second race was better...

I volunteered to help with the Fair Hill race, hoping to get a comped entry. The comped entry came, as did the gift of a front row start. Thanks, Jan. Nothing like being an obstacle. I started better than at Granogue, meaning that I hadn't lost contact with the field by the end of the first straight. I fought through, thanks in no small part to the cheers from FSVS and DCCofDer's around the course. It took over two laps for the women to start passing me! Small victories are all I have to hope for at this point.

Third race I had looked forward to all year...

US Grand Prix of Cyclocross at Mercer County Park. I was actually riding with ither racers through most of the first half a lap. Even passing some. Then it happened. The chain twisted, it didn;t break, but warped just enough to wander off the chain rings each time around. Race over. But not the day.

Found the DCCofD headquarters in a nearby parking lot and was treated to familiar faces, encouragement and a shower. And I was happy to work the pits for the guys in the B race. That Bahnson kid is something, hopefully Tom McD and L-Web will look out for him like I know they will.

And that's a lot about nothing.