The Ice is Getting Thinner

Okay. That was quick. Was that actually two full days off? Not sure that it was. I am actually considering asking for a recount. Felt a little light to me.

So, is everyone still reeling from their post-Oscar party buzz? I’m sure more than a few of you are sleeping off that last round of shots from the Best Picture awards! Wow. Was that exciting or what? Came right down to the wire with an amazing hail-Mary surprise ending! Who could have seen that coming, am I right?

Speaking of finishes, I was a bit disappointed by the lack of effort by Highroad and Garmin in the final stage of the T of CA yesterday. Given that both had a rider within less than a minute of the leader, why they didn’t stage a coup and go for it is a little surprising to me. I know Dave Zabriskie is not the strongest rider in the peleton, especially going up hill but I would have thought Highroad could have challenged Astana had they worked like a team. Instead, Hincapie went up the road and was trying to contest for a stage victory and all but conceded the Tour by not helping Rogers. That was one of the hardest, last stages in a Tour I have seen in awhile and one where the outcome could have been changed with a great performance. I can understand in the TdF when all the teams make a pact to not contest for the win after 3 weeks of hard racing but I am not sure that a group-hug was warranted here. It almost seemed like the outcome was pre-destined and no one really wanted it bad enough to challenge the script. I know it is early in the season and teams are still sorting out who is going to be the leader and how hard do we push now vs. later. But come on. Other than winning the Solvag time-trial by 3 seconds, Levi was never dominating. Hell, yesterday, he looked like a little kid riding on the back of one of those clamp on half bikes pedaling like crazy to just keep up with his dad! I like Levi and am not trying to bash on him specifically, but it would have been nice to see the race finish with a bit more of a bang and not a whimper. Nuff said. Regardless, it still was nice to watch cycling every night last week!

Saturday was our final (though we didn’t know it beforehand) cheerleading competition. The District semi-finals which included 12 teams from the local area. Well, 11 local and one from the U.P.! Escanaba which is at the midpoint of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and a good 8 hour bus ride from Grand Rapids. You have to ask; how are they in our district? I am not complaining, just questioning the logistics of a district that includes 11 teams within 30 miles of each other and one that is 366 miles away (checked Google maps)! They are closer to Green Bay (113 miles!) then Grand Rapids! The Eskimos (seriously, that is their team moniker!) came in last place and regardless of the journey, seemed to have a great time down south. I just thought it was odd that they would make such a long trip to compete. If they had finished in the top 4, they would have had to come back the next weekend and do it all over again!

We were hit with an amazing snowstorm during the afternoon that eventually dumped about 5 inches of new snow. My daughter had left her car at school and when she got back to pick it up, the battery was dead. So, Dad had to drive up there Sunday morning, jump it and drive it home as the Ladies where head out Prom dress shopping! Silver lining in a dead battery after all, I guess!

On the way back to the house, I took a longer route to give the battery time to charge and ended up hitting the gravel roads down to the park near our house. The river has crested and then some, with huge ice dams forming and breaking and the lower portion of the park (bike trail) is underwater. Pretty dramatic stuff and destined to get worse before it gets better. The forecast for Thursday is near 40 degree temperatures and rain. Makes me glad I built my house on the high ground!

My son came home that afternoon for the first time in two days, I think because he needed oil for his sled. He and his buddy have been hitting the snow hard, riding their sleds constantly all weekend to get as many miles in before the rain comes and spoils their party.

Must be nice to be unemployed and spending your time snowmobiling and ice fishing. The kid ran for the hills when I told him I was planning to paint the basement later that day too!
Yes, Sunday was painting day. I have needed to “touch it up” for some time. It takes lots of abuse from the kids, the dogs and my bikes. So, Sunday was a good day to get that done. But before conceding to a work day, I quick ran out with the cross country skis and schussed down to the park to take some pictures.

Great day with some sunshine for a change and the snow was great for skiing. If only I didn’t have that pesky painting project waiting for me back at the house! Well, that was the weekend in a nut shell. Busy but productive. And the T of CA is over now, so I have no more excuses to not get the rest of the projects down around here! Maybe I should check the Versus schedule one more time . . . .

Is it Always this Dark?

Once again, winter has returned to our sleepy land among the lakes. We woke up to 2+ inches of snow on Saturday morning after a week that almost seemed like Spring.

So, its back to beer and crying again, I guess. Extra Special Beer. And whimpering.

It turns out, the God’s were just taunting us. But, the Tour of “Col-e-forn-e-ah” has started so it feels a little warmer. And tradition has it, if Dave Zabriske see’s his shadow during the prologue, there are only 6 more weeks of winter. He didn’t! Damn.

Regardless, this was our second to last “cheer” competition weekend. One more to go and the season will be over. It has been fun to watch our daughter be a part of this team and compete. She is not the competitive type, but she takes it very seriously. I have to say, these things are a day-killer though. I thought my son’s soccer tournaments were long! Wow.

My sister-in-law's daughter (my neice) scored her 1,000 college career point this past week. This isn't it, but a fair representation of her skill shooting the pill. Congratulations Sara!

Saturday night we went out for dinner for the first time since our trip to Asheville (New Years), so it was a special evening. Special, meaning a nice looooong wait in the bar. Because we forgot to get a reservation. Oops. Is today something special or what? Why are all these people here? Regardless, we had a great dinner and enjoyed playing who is the bigger bullsh_tter with the Owner (sort of a friend of ours). He won hands down. According to him, he lived most of his 4 years at State (MSU) outside a frat house on a couch (“No kidding; I sh_t you not!”). And had to mow his parent’s 25 acre lawn with a push mower when he was a kid (“I never got any handouts!”). And was an executive chef on a company CEO’s yacht, parked next to other company CEO’s yachts like Larry Ellison (“Not like those guys who just cater events; I lived on board!”). Chatting with him is worth the 10 dollar Cosmopolitan’s!

More house projects; starting a little repair and painting in the basement. Walking the dogs on a chilly, sort of sunny Sunday. Watching the First stage of the Tour. Sort of. Rain delay for most of it. But, an excellent finish by Mancebo. Nice to see someone make a break and hold it all the way for the win. Lance seems to be playing Domestique this ToCA; can’t wait to see photos of him back at the team car taking on bottles for Levi! Should be a great week to watch bike racing.

Not much else. Life is in a state of non-flux these days. One pretty much runs into the next. Boring might be another word to describe it. But, we’re still pretty happy here in our little corner of the world.

So, there’s that!
Have a great week!

People of the Sun

To say it has been a difficult winter so far, is an understatement. A visual clue to the level of our confinement, I present my beer remnants out in the garage.




So, to fill the many hours of no sunshine and indoor tedium, I spent some time making changes to the CX bike. Paul Component brakes, some old purple anodized straddle hangers and new bar tape to name a few. I also installed an old cycle-computer that was collecting dust in the basement.

And then, it happened. On Saturday, the sun came out. And our tiny corner of the world didn't seem quite so barren and bleak. The ice on the river started to melt and with it go the deer trails.

Further up river, the ice was melting quickly and open water starting to appear. I was finally able to dislodge the canoe from it's icy grip and after clearing out the snow, returned it safely to the dock.

Sunday was even sunny-er, so we decided to hit the road and walk the dogs. The future looked so bright, Rene had to wear shades. Sorry!

The clear pavement meant I didn't need to give them both a bath afterwards. Sweet!

And to top it all off, after the walk, I even broke out the CX bike and took a short spin. Only 5 miles, out to the park and back. I stay on road; the trails are still too deep with snow. And I didn't feel like spending a hour afterwards cleaning the bike!

This was a bonus weekend. It is amazing what a little brightness can do to a guys disposition. I think I could get used to it! Tuesday is supposed to be in the 50's! If that holds, I will be skipping out of work and getting out on the road again.

Winter isn't over yet. But for 2 days, it sure felt like it!

Doctor, doctor please!

"oh, the mess I'm in."

Life has been a bit of a pain of late. Sickness has found its way into my body and is raising havoc right now. I started feeling it on Monday and today, I am really feeling it. And the worse part; I have a free ticket to a Red Wings game tonight. Box seats, food, beer and the Phoenix Coyotes in town. Someone up there hates me.

I haven't been sick in some time and this just comes at a bad time. Work has been difficult of late, with project issues and even layoffs. One was my buddy ex-XTERRA Matt. It was a bit of a shock given that we have been busy. But, he has always been an outspoken and independent employee in an office that requires group compliance, so I am sure this decision wasn't completely "economically" driven. He has been dealing with it well, but there are few opportunities out there for him locally. We have the highest unemployment numbers in the nation. Higher than the numbers the experts are predicting for the nation at the END of the year!  So, he has put his house up for sale and is making plans to leave town. And the state. I support him, but I will miss him. And I wish him the best.

Regardless of the turmoil, the world keeps spinning and we all have to spin with it.  Once and awhile, we can coast. Guess that is where I am now. Coasting. But realizing that some tough pedaling is ahead. I am not much of a sprinter, so I had better make an effort to catch the break. Cause' the broom wagon is looming.

So, I am sitting here on the couch watching new "Flight of the Conchords" episodes and trying to figure out how to get my canoe out of the river. 

And working on my taxes. Hope your out there and enjoying the ride. Keep pedaling!