A good day

Today has gone better than yesterday.  I’ve had my ups, I’ve had my downs – but you know what, it’s ok.  I’m sure tonight will be interesting.  Trying to guide Max and Derek though their grieving should be different, but we can handle it.

Saturday – we will have a memorial service for Tiger.  It’s a small service planned for our back 40… (behind the fence).  We will bury his collar and remember him a little bit.  All are invited… we will not be providing seating or anything fancy, dress is as you are   You know – come to think of it … Tiger was always happiest IN the backyard – I’m going to do it inside the fence.  There was nothing as funny as seeing a 20 pound cat with his belly swinging side to side running through tall grass thinking his clawless self was some sort of jungle cat!  Yes – Saturday, we will remember our favorite fat cat!

I was reminded, internally, how good a “drug” working out can be.  I don’t know all the exact details – but I know that when you work out, specifically when you work out hard, you release a lot of chemicals into your brain.  Endorphins are part of that chemical cocktail.  All of the stuff releases into your mellon and makes your brain work better, which makes you feel better!  I had a good workout today.  Not my hardest, fastest, longest… just a good session on the Eliptical machine.

Tomorrow will be running – most likely.  I’m enjoying the running as long as I do it every other day.  I’m just too big to slam down on my body over and over again.  I need a break.  I’m pondering trying to re-start MaxFit on Monday.  I really like that program, I just found the doctor to be pretty much a loser.  He may be the greatest in the world, but if you wont reply to emails sent directly to you – you are a loser.

Tomorrow – I weigh in.  Things are going well on that front – I’ve got a long way to go – but I’m ahead of the past couple of years (by a good margin).  I’d like to be a lot lighter for the PeachTree… That will help me pull my extra 5 minutes off the top!

Are you ready for Conficker?

http://www.mcafee.com/us/
http://www.symantec.com/index.jsp

If you cant get to either of those sites, you have a problem.  You have been infected with the W32/Conficker virus due to attack the internet tomorrow.

I don’t claim to have any idea what it will do, i’ve read a little – but I am not an expert.  It’s set up to go bonkers on April first.

Even if you can get to both of those sites, never ever run IE again.  Avoid using IE at all costs.  Here are some other good options:

• http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/personal.html?from=getfirefox
• http://www.apple.com/safari/
• http://www.google.com/chrome

That is in the order I would rate them.  In my opinion, IE is the single biggest security hole online.  It’s nearly criminal!

Today’s a great day to update your virus protection, head over to http://windowsupdated.microsoft.com and get things cleared out!

Of course, if you are one of the people I have convinced you should use a Mac … you have NOTHING to worry about! 

5 wheels + 1 wheel – how many bicycles?

So we decided to make life easier and “ride from home”. We still need a lot of work refining our getting ready routine, but we did it. Rode from our home… a victory in many ways. Sarah’s “lady bits” (my friend called them that) are not enjoying life so much today – but that can be expected. She did really good riding around our area which is hilly. I kind of think she is starting to respect what cyclist do a bit more as she realizes its not “just riding a bike”.

I impressed myself, dragging the kids (Derek on the trail-a-bike, Max in the trailer – 5 wheels) up 2 reasonably large hills (those who have been to my house, we made it to the house…). It was good.

Later, during nap time I took Derek with me and we went for some unicycling. I did really well today… in my down hill unicycling! (yeah, down hill). You see, the hard part for me is keeping the wheel rolling… and going down a slight grade, it helped. I bet I rode 15 feet two or three times!

I’ll get that thing figgered out!

Teamless-in-Training

On Saturday – Sarah embarks on her next Team-in-Training effort.  After the knee issues prevented her from running the Disney dealio – she was still “owed” an event.  Knowing her knees were tender, I suggested she try riding her very nice bike… and she said yes.  So she is planning on doing the Fletcher Flyer in June.  Coming into this – her longest ride on  bicycle (that I know of) is 22 miles, so this will not be an easy task for her.  It is, fortunately, a task that I can help and participate in.  While I am not a member of the Team in Training team… I am teamless … but I am part of Sarah’s team… so that’s good.  I will train with her and ride the century as well.

I am excited, nervous and curious as to what the next 4-5 months hold.  The biggest challenge early on will be the … ahem… “seat issues”.  I can get on a bike and live through the first few weeks of saddle issues.  They suck, but I know it gets better.  Convincing somebody who’s buttock hurts that it will get better … that’s a challenge!  At least when your butt hurts, you can still walk!  When her knee was funky… that wasn’t working out so well!

I look forward to it.  The ride should be a LOT of fun.  My sources tell me the roads are nice, the area is nice, it’s all nice!

Beating up the short-bus driver

Sarah went out running on Saturday and ran a long ways – 6+ miles.  I don’t have the details in my brain cell, but it was 6ish… she then came up with an idea that we go biking and suggested a bicycle configuration I wasn’t really prepared for at the moment, but with 2 cups of coffee and an hours or so – anything can happen.

We packed up the van and headed to the Silver Comet.  I was on the Frankenbike, Derek on the Trail-a-bike and Max in tow.  Sarah was on her chick bike (It’s a chick bike – cuz it’s got little pink bits all over that chicks dig).  We got to the trail, saddled up and off we went.  The first mile or so was rocky … not the trail, just getting everybody in their places so they could have bright shining faces.  Sarah was cruising along at a good pace.  I was suprised.  Doing quite well.  I was well within my comfort zone, but the pace was suprising.

About 11 miles out on the SCT, there is a really neat tunnel.  It’s cool, nice… and 11 miles out.  I like to ride through it.  Sarah knew this and had secretly planned to try to make it there.  That she did… heck, she even dropped us!  I could roll with her on the flats, but there are some LONG false flats and the added 100+ pounds did NOT make it easy to roll up.  I was very impressed at her effort!

On the way back, Sarah got a flat – which kind of sucked, as I hadn’t prepared us for that.  Stupid on my part, but I flagged down a couple of guys and they hooked us up.  We were back on the road quickly.

Sarah beat us back to the car and all were happy to be back.  Sarah flabergasted me with her riding ability yesterday!  She was like a woman on a mission.  All that running has her some aerobic fitness that is paying off.  Good stuff.  Derek was having fun on his trail-a-bike and Max, I think he slept most of the way, but he likes it too.

So yes … As I drove the short bus, I got my keister kicked.  I want a re-match!

Feeling a bit weathered…

What a weekend!  After my post on Saturday, I began a party-a-thon that was really kind of crazy.  Max had a birthday party at jumpits.  Derek went as well.  Let me just say that Max got his money’s worth @ Jumpits.  He was non stop for 2 hours.  Jumping, bouncing, sliding, jumping sliding, bouncing, running… he was crazy!  He had his pizza and cake and went back to jumping, bouncing and being crazy!

Following that, Sarah took the little buggar back to nap (which he almost did) and I took Derek to another birthday party.  This one was at a farm with horses and stuff.  He had a lot of fun playing with the critters and stuff.

Following THAT party … it was off to a neighborhood party.  That was fun too!  The kids played a lot.  The hightlight of the party for our family was the dunk tank.  Derek LOVED getting dunked.  I mean, he was crazy in there!  Max dunked Sarah too – not so much by throwing the ball though.

Sunday we had one of my French Toast breakfasts, I headed to the velodrome for a few laps on my new bike, then it was time for our first day of cub scouts.  Derek had a BLAST!  They learned about the American Flag, they did a teamwork – dexterity thing and a crazy thing where they had to carry a cotton ball in a spoon.  I was over with the parents learning about all of the volunteer opportunities.  (they REALLY want you to volunteer).  While we were there, Sarah mowed the lawn while Max didn’t so much sleep again.

We finished off the day with a trip to REI, Sam’s Club and the world’s greatest bbq house – Williamson Brothers – WOWZA!

It was a good weekend.  I wasn’t so much looking forward to waking up this morning… then instead of hitting snooze, I hit “Alarm Off” so I didn’t get my heavenly 9 minutes of rest.  (I caught the mistake and had to force myself to stay awake no relaxing.

Back to biking

The back thing is over.  I am declaring it OVER!  That’s right, you heard it here.  It’s over.  (Unfortunately, my back MAY or may not agree, but right now, I feel good and I have for serveral days, so let’s move forward with this!)

I finally got my kneeling chair at work.  I can honestly say it REALLY helps your back.  More than I imagined.  It forces you to sit in a nice comfortable position.  Now, if you are a cubicle slouch like myself, you have to sit properly, not rest your arms on the desk and all that… so your shoulders start to hurt, but whateva… it works!  The other thing is… your knees/shins aren’t really used to that – so you end up changing back and forth.  I think, in time I will be able to sit in it for long periods…

Biking – Yup… I am biking again without pain, other than an occassional bee sting!  I will say, the lack of bees in Colorado was a very nice thing.  I have been stung by a bee 4 times in the last year.  I used to be much more allergic than I have been recently, so every time it goes down – I get REALLY nervous … today, I am okay.

Max went with me today.  He was fun.  Pointing out every ORANGE thing he saw.  My bike is orange, I think it got pointed out at least 200 times.  There was a 1mile/5k run going on … on the silver comet trail.  I was polite and shared the trail but the runners all seemed to really believe we shouldn’t be there.  (I think some of the tri-geeks barrelling down the trail in their speedos and aerobars ruffled the runners feathers a bit).

The coolest thing that happened was when we got back in the car, Max got all buckled in and Max goes:
“DADDY!”  I said “MAX!”.  He said “THAT WAS FUN!”  It made me happy.  We stopped at the “Amenities Area”  and Max showed other cyclist his Jungle Book figurines.  He was wearing his little biking shirt and he said “THIS IS MY BIKING SHIRT!  IT’S LIKE DEREK’S BIKING SHIRT!”  He is an excitable little kid!

Tomorrow – Boy Scouts – Day 1!  Not really sure WHAT exactly to expect, but Derek is excited.  I do think we will have fun.

Things are a little better

Just to get you updated – my back is doing much better.  It was much much better until this weekend.  I mowed grass – didn’t cause too much trouble – I carried a big old ladder around the neighborhood – not too bad.  Forgot to take any advil before I went to sleep – oops.  Kind of stiff and sore, but that’s alright.

I got the slick thing – a “TENS Unit” – which is a little electronic stim unit that sends a little electricity into your body and relaxes your muscles.  I love the thing!  I wear it around on my belt and get “treatment” as those in the NFL call it!  It is the bomb digity!

I think – if I feel okay in the morning tomorrow, I may actually take my bike and go for a little ride at lunch.  I wont try to re-start riding on the first day – but I think I may be coming out of my back-induced retirement.

Sarah and Derek went out on a bootylicious run on Saturday.  It was apparently really fun – lots and lots and lots of people running just a stone’s throw from my office.  In CO, Sarah had about 15 people to run with for her Team in Training thing – In the ATL we are looking at 150+  There were other kids there and everything.

Max and I went to the car wash – which is one of Max’s favorite things in life.  The little fella loves the car wash.  Not really sure why – but he does!

That’s about it for this weekend.  We have been to a couple neighborhood parties, had some fun.  As I lay here typing, I see Spanky enjoying her bed… I think she has the right idea! Zzzzzz  Then again, Max isn’t going to allow that.  Funky weather… maybe a trip to Monkey Joe’s will be in order!

ps.  www.sarahpatton.com follow her blog and donate to her cause!  It’s all a tax deduction!

One long night!

So last night started like most any other nights… well, not for Max.  Max was cooking up a storm of poop and dinner loss!  His mood was terrible, he felt terrible and he was giving his mother a run for her money.  It was Wednesday so I was off at the velodrome racing.  I got a call right as I finished and was told I needed to get big-boy diapers and gatorade.  Max has explosive diarrhea.  By the time I got there, it had progressed to vomiting and all that.  Being WIDE AWAKE from racing and rushing home, I was the obvious choice for the trip to the ER.  Mental note…. take ipod next time.

Anyway, we get to the ER at 10:59… the doors to the kids ER closes at 11:00.  We might have made it, but Max lost everything in his little belly right *AFTER* I got him out of the car.  What do you do?  Seriously, you are in a parking lot, you are covered with “Little Man Lunch”… you grab the backpack and walk into the ER.  Look upset, sad and be nice.  They check you in fast, they carry your bag for you and get you a new shirt.  Max’s mood improved REMARKABLY when he threw up.  I later reflected that maybe we should have just left.

We stuck it out, got everything sorted out and he had a stomach virus.  He is doing MUCH better today.  He has eaten, drank, no issues.  Played with is sister (you know, the bulldog).  We have watched Elmo 3 times.  Long night, but ultimately everybody made it through it without too much of an issue.  Max was pretty good at the ER.  No complaints.  The ER is always a good source of people watching stories, but most of the ones from last night are more “run of the mill redneck” type stories… nothing too crazy!

One is the loneliest number…

that you’ll ever know, “Feels like the first time…”, “The longest journey begins with a single step!”, “All good things must come to an end”, “That is a tasty burger!”

Those were all potential subjects for this blog entry.  You see, after calling the streak a “non-issue” in my life any more, I put the streak to rest on Saturday.  Sarah was out of town, my mom was here, the kids were crazy, we had tons of fun but when that was all over, it was raining and 44 degrees outside.   The basement was cold and dark and outside was cold dark and wet.  I just said WTF… and you know what, I was okay with it!  I then, on a semi-calculated “risk” type thing, took sunday off too.  Again, Sarah out of town, mom… we went to the Circus and little-bit (Max) was feisty all day.  You know what, it’s all okay!  It actually renewed my interest in riding today and I rode at lunch.  It was warm, sunny, mildly breezy and fun.  My head still feels a “spot warm” from the ride!  Good stuff.  My only regret is that I did it for52 days, but I didn’t do a “full month”.  I missed January by 1 day, and only 22 days in February.  Oh well, maybe next time.

Now, for the semi good news.  I was feeling frisky today so I turned the screws a bit and really got myself moving.  Not so fast so I scared myself or anything, but fast enough that I felt like maybe I will be able to go fast this season.  That will be fun.  Then again, at this point in life I am oddly obsessed with getting a mountain bike.   I can’t explain it, but a couple of my co-workers have a spare one they want me to ride with them.  Might be fun.

OH… and while I am rambling, we are doing a biggest loser at work.  11 pounds this week!  Now, I did stack the deck a bit, but I had cheeseburgers, bbq and mexican this weekend, so I am pleased.  I was really quite shocked when I saw the number.  Overall, I am really 2 pounds ligher, I think.. we will see tomorrow morning.  Regardless, I worked out, lost weight, ate healthy… it’s a good day.