Blog:
3/29/2009
Hello from Hillsboro! I thought I would throw this blog-thing up as it seemed like a cool form of communication. OK. Traci gave me the idea. First and foremost, I must apologize for the proverbial hide and seek. Things have been so busy, I have not even had the time to hike, and that, to me, is taboo.
Some specific friends I would like to synch up with (in no special order) are:
Cam, I will meet up with you soon and I hope all is
well with you and the family.
Meeech, you are a friend of utmost quality, and I thank God for you in my life.
Kelly, I miss you and hope all is well.
Starr, where the hell are you? I miss you like you don't know.
Speaking of hide and seek... Looks like July may be the time I head down
there! Say hi to Sade and Sam for me, k?
J.T. Lord knows how I pray for you and your kiddos Jim. Hope all is
well with you.
Melissa, I love you and we will hook up soon!
Uncle Bobby, I miss you buddy and I pray all is well with you, Jan, and the
kids.
Jeff, ya, you! I hope all is well with you and the family. The
workplace isn't the same without you and the rest of the clan.
Carol, damn girl, I need to get to CO and do some hiking as an excuse to hang
out! Hope all is well with you! I miss you!
It has been one busy freakin' year so far. I have climbed two mountains (read: checked off the new year's goal list) and recently hiked with Amber in the desert. It was fantastic with epic discoveries sporting images that should stay burned into our memories for some time. I also got the kitchen floor tiled with only a little touch-up to go. (read: another goal checked off) I painted the kitchen, repaired all the water damage from the fridge, and finished all the trim work.
OK, so now it is time to play. Today I rode for about an hour. Ya, first time back in the saddle in who-knows how long. Unbelievably, I felt great the whole ride. I miss riding with my team and plan to again in a couple weeks. Plus, it will keep me in shape for my true love. Next week is the last hurrah for snowshoeing. Anna, please, be gentle.
Once again, things did not go as planned. My little man fell very ill and I had to take care of him all weekend. A thank you to my friends that kept him in their prayers. I did manage to get some work done around the house, albeit now the sun is out, many new projects are popping up with the daffodils.
Things just keep getting busier. Projects at work, projects at home, and yet more projects in my personal life, at times, simply overwhelm me. Amber's birthday party was a smashing success and I should have picks up soon, albeit, my camera did not cooperate with me the entire evening and most of the pictures are a blurry mess. Many dates jotted to get back into shape for upcoming hikes and rides. Books to read, places to hike, people to see, and yet still, there is not enough time in a day.
A quick update: With some days off of work, I am trying to catch up with some badly needed chores, but finding there is more than I bargained for. I also have recently gotten back into cycling, but not sure if I am going to race again. I did manage to ride the Bald Peak Road loop and felt pretty good during the climb. I cannot wait to see what I can do with 30 more pounds off of me.
Because of all that is going on, I am going to have to postpone my Loowit Trail return, but will try to do a loop I have been wanting to do again for some time. It's probably a good thing since it would have been a bit dangerous given the recent thunderstorms and the snow still up there.
As some of you may know, I had a cat named Cannondale (long story on the name). She passed away recently and will be missed. I had her for a hard 18 years of my life and moved, I think, around 14 times with her. To cheer my daughter up, I got her a cat from CAT (Cat Adoption Team) as he is working into our family well. Jake is his name and is not Cannondale's replacement, but rather simply another member of the family.
So it's been two weeks since my last update? Damn that seems weird. Much has happened, but not much has happened, see? Weird.
The house and yard work are never ending and it seems the more I do the more that has to be done, che sarà, sarà.
The miles are becoming easier as I hammer my ass out on the rollers at five in the morning (thanks Paul). Albeit painful, it forces me to improve my line rather quickly. As I have not had a good solo hike in while, I think I forgot what the heck to do, but not really. At the very least, I am heading towards my goal racing weight while building my aerobic base.
I think it is time to flaunt my team colors once again because I know how much you loved laughing at this picture, Starr.
The Loowit is calling my name as I plan to hit the trail up early next month, just a week before a longer trip in the Olympics with Fossil. Oh, for those of you not in the hiking community, Amber's trail name is now Fossil. I have yet to attain one, but a few more trips with some hiking partners may resolve the dilemma as all it takes is one good spill over a root and viola!
Man! Where did the last two months go? Not too much to update.
Work has been hard, but the integration is finally done. I recently got an award from a customer whose two-year problem I apparently resolved in fifteen minutes. Although it was nothing more than a typical day here for anybody, it was nice to pick out some new ($160.00) cycling glasses on the house.
Yard is slowly getting in the shape I would like it to be, and, hopefully, before everything dies for winter; just the pathway and flowerbeds to go!
A close friend stopped in from California this month as I enjoyed her company.
Cycling has gotten easier, finally, as I get in better shape and the pounds melt off.
Of course, hiking has taken a dive due to lack of time. Trying to maintain trail shape has been hard as I only get out every now and then.
Waking up early is getting harder in my old age, especially when there aren't grumpy children to tickle before dressing, a howling cat to feed, and a mountain of work to drive to; but not this morning. This morning I awoke with a feeling that I have not had in some years. Many years, actually. Life is beautiful and I hadn't been this happy in my life since I was 19. I wanted to ride.
Glancing outside my bedroom window brought a smile to my face as it looked as though, for today, the weather would co-operate. I quickly donned my riding apparel. The plan was to ride for about an hour until the kids arrived, but, of course, my reliability lacked solidity. Taking advantage, I ended up taking a beautiful two hour ride into the west hills.
The morning was crisp and rather cool to start. The Dark veil of clouds still offered narrow openings of light-blue that allowed the sun to warm my back as I pedaled my way towards Old Cornelius Pass. Traffic was non existent as the climbing came into view. Up I climbed, never once in the danger zone, breathing in the clean morning air not yet riddled with exhaust fumes. At the top, I practiced some spinning. My cadence was 100, 110, then 120 revolutions per minute as it felt most natural. I took a left at the second Rock Creek Road junction and practiced some downhill. My corners were fluid and sure, a thing I had not felt for twenty years. The road was positively serene as I wove my two wheels through thick forests divided by a thin strip of blacktop. There was not a car to be seen before reappearing at Old Cornelius Pass. Making my way home, I watched as the miles piled up. I thought I could have ridden another 20, maybe 30, miles. One last sprint, uphill in the big ring, reassured me what I was thinking. I was back.