Jingle Cross is over

The Jingle Cross Weekend is over. I had a great time and learned a lot. Thank you to all the great folks I worked with this weekend - Jeff, Heidi, Carla, Brett, Mark, Steve, Emma, and the rest of the great crew.

Some bullet points:

• Most impressive moment: Being at the top of Mt. Krumpit watching Todd Wells power up the hill and making it look so so easy.
• Most satisfying moment: watching Troy Krause take a well-deserved 4th after a bad luck weekend.
• Wish I could do that moment: Seeing Nate Woodman pick up speed on everyone going through the whirl. Amazing skills.
• Feels like home moment: Seeing all the Nebraska folks working together in the pits helping each other excel.
• The "Wow" of the weekend? The single speed class win by Brian Eppen in a speedo, in 40 degree weather.
• "Wow" #2: eight women riding single speeds in bikinis and knee socks. In 40 degree weather. Then drinking heavily the rest of the day.
• Worst moment of the weekend: Being away from home for 3 days. When I got home my daughter asked if it was worth. Yes and no. Officiating is great fun even if a ton of work. But I'd rather be riding or with my wife and family. Lots of decisions to make in the future. I am refocusing toward riding in 2010 though.

All in all it was a great weekend, and thanks to all, but most of all my wife. I love you.

Another One... (Thanks Sydney)

The Registration Table (NSFW)

This is funny, I don't care who you are. Thanks Megan She is the genius behind this one and promises more.

You go girl. 

Bite me.

We have a daughter who lives in Lincoln. She, as well as my wife and another daughter are big Twilight fans. Big like BIG - read all the books multiple times, own the DVD, etc. And last night was the culmination of several months of waiting for them with the release of the latest Twilight movie "New Moon."

Not only did we all go see the movie, we saw the midnight showing. In Lincoln. We live in Norfolk, 2+ hours from Lincoln. What time did I get home after the movie? La's just say "late."

It was fun but being in a theater with several hundred grown women giggling and squealing like school girls over every contrived move or cheeky comment by the lead actors got old. Quick. Not to mention all the over-stimulated women who sat in the lobby drinking soda for two hours prior to showtime who needed to tramp to the powder room constantly.

Don't even get me started about the dude who came as a werewolf.

The Nebraka Peloton

Swing over to http://nebraskapeloton.blogspot.com the home of the Nebraska Peloton, a new blog for information on riders, teams, and happenings around the cycling scene in Nebraska.

Presto!

I'm a sucker for good rabbit cartoon, and this is the best since Transylvania 6-5000

Uh, What?

Two days ago something jumped up and slapped me in the face. Not usually a good thing but this most certainly was. I can't really say what it is just yet, but I will be able to - sooner or later. Suffice to say, its enough to knock me back on my heels for a bit before propelling me forward into the unknown. Like I said in a previous post: life is funny that way.

On a different subject, I have been making a concerted effort to redirect my energy in different ways lately. I am trying to find a better balance between my love (wife and family) and my passion (cycling). There has to be a way to walk the line between the two and I am determined to find it.

A buddy is buying a golf course, and I am trying to talk my bride into taking this on as a couples pursuit. Lately we have been doing yoga together, and that helps. We can use the stress release and flexibility, and its an opportunity to bond. I hope golf will do that too giving us something completely new to learn together.

Today we discussed a new approach to my cycling. I would train with the goal of some racing, while still backing away from the responsibilities of the cycling community. The idea would be to go to a race as a family, with the intent to do well. Then forget it and be with family.

Given the choice between doing some racing or devoting a crap-load of time to the behind-the-scenes aspects of cycling, I'll take the racing and riding.

Can I get an "Amen"?

Nice Weekend

From all accounts it looks like it will be a gorgeous weekend. I don't think I'll be able to take advantage of it but here's hoping all of you can.

Have a good weekend!

Try not to hate me...

The Impossible Quiz - Answer insanely hard questions

Not Funny "Ha Ha"

"All it takes is one thing to be out of place to throw everything off balance." I wasn't really talking bikes but this is a good illustration of what I mean, and how things have been going lately. If even one thing goes awry it can bring the whole (pick one: organization, career, plan, family) crashing to the ground.

Conversely, its often the minor adjustments that keep things whirling smoothly.

Suffice to say: adjustments have been made. Things are whirling smoothly again.

Life is funny that way. Not funny "ha ha" but more along the lines of "that dead wildebeest smells funny".

Now this is funny "ha ha":