My Generation

Gavin has started describing anything that is old, as having happened or been built "way back in the eighties". Of course, being a proud member of the Eighties generation, I take offense to my generation being used as the new, old. Especially when so many great things were brought about during this time. Lets look back, shall we?

I graduated with the Webster High School class of 1989. I have very fond memories of walking the halls of dear old Webster High in my acid washed jeans, Izod shirt, and my Swatch watch (complete with Swatch guard) on my way to band practice. Of course, the band I was in at the time was not playing any of the great songs by the timeless artists Flock of Seagulls, Culture Club, A-Ha, or Falco. I would have to wait until I was back in my car and could pop in a Memorex to listen to these greats.

Once I was home from school, I'd clear my sisters Cabbage Patch and Strawberry Shortcake dolls off the couch so I could catch the latest wisdom being sold by Bartles & James. Once into the latest episode of the A-Team, I would hate the frequent questioning of those wanting to know "where's the beef"?

Friday nights would always be something special, as my friends and I would put on our shiniest pair of parachute pants, comb back the mullet, throw on the Members Only jacket, and head over to the movies to check out what was showing. Ghostbusters, Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller, Caddyshack, and Valley Girl we always big hits.

Then, it would be back to the house to curl up for some quiet time with my Rubiks Cube (check out this cool online version).

With all of these great, lasting contributions from my generation, I still can't figure out how Gavin can think of any of it as old. Maybe I just need to get him some parachute pants....

Favorite Time of Year

Fall is my absolute favorite time of year. The sights, the sounds, the smell, and of course the leaves.

The Morning Ride

The air is still cool and damp with dew as I roll my bike out of the garage. I stop to take a deep breath, and my lungs recoil from the sudden chill. Everything is quiet.

It is hard to get my legs to respond in the chill as I push them up the first grade on Frisbee Hill, and the 28mph descent sends a shiver through my whole body as the air passes through my jersey. My peace is broken by a group of Canadian Geese overhead, and I do my best to keep pace with them as I make the turn onto Manitou Rd. Hearing the rooster already crowing up ahead, I know I am a bit off pace this morning and need to pick it up as I make my way onto Burritt Rd. I make sure to give a hearty "Good Morning" to the girls taking their morning bath in the stream as I zip by.

As I near Zarpentine Farms, I see that the top of the giant tee-pee is already basking in an orange glow, and I shift up to give myself a few extra mph's down the Burritt Rd straight away. Crossing Rt 259 I am still working to stay ahead of my riding partner, but I can tell by the length of the shadow laid out in front of me that he is gaining fast. Up the final rise on Burritt, I can see the left turn for Hill Rd ahead of me. I feel the burn in my legs starting and I notice that the chill is gone from my body.

Once on Hill Rd, I continue the sprint to do everything I can to beat him to the top of the hill even though I can see by the beams breaking through the trees that it is hopeless. Cresting the hill I see that he is already there, and realize that today I will not be the first of us to the top. But, as I sit there a moment, warmed by another amazing fall sunrise, I think about how alive I feel. How everything seems right with the world, and how I cannot think of a better riding partner than the Sun that chases me every morning.

Duct Tape Diapers

Isabelle has entered a phase that I am sure many a child goes through, and many a parent has to learn how to cope with. She hates to wear clothes. Any clothes. Nakey-nakey-nakey is her new battle cry as she pulls her clothing off at free will without any regard for the location we happen to be in. At first we laughed. But it soon took an evil and messy twist during bedtime as she would wait until she was alone and tucked in her crib, and then strip off her jammies and diaper to sleep "au naturale". Donna and I would then be awakened by an upset Isabelle who had "hosed down" (or worse, ew) her crib, blankey, and stuffed animals and was looking for us to make things right.

Being the good parents that we are, Donna and I tried several remedies to this problem. Extra layers of clothes, different jammies, all to no avail as our little Houdini loved escaping from them all.

Finally, like any good man would do, I turned to the only substance on earth that I knew could keep a diaper on, Duct Tape. Problem solved. Izzy now has a new phrase that she whines each night before bed, and I am sure it is one that not every 22 month old has learned yet. Now she politely requests "no tape".

For anyone that may be feeling a little un-easy about this parenting tactic (as Donna and I were), I sought sol ice in the Internet this evening. I was surprised to find a page dedicated specifically to the use of Duct Tape and diapers. I guess we are not the only ones after all.....

Happy Birthday Lance!

Happy 36th Birthday Lance Armstrong! Thank you for all that you continue to do to inspire and improve our world.

LIVESTRONG!

Discovery is gone

I have been addicted to cycling for years. I follow the sport, I participate in the sport, I rely on it to keep me fit and sane. It is the sport of my hero. Today was a rough day for me, as today the Team USPS/Discovery Channel era ended.

Cycling is an amazing sport that is based on the strength of teamwork. No single cyclist can ever succeed without their teammates pulling on the front, blocking, fetching water bottles, chasing down the break, and providing a draft up the hills. For the last nine years, the best demonstration of this teamwork within the professional cycling world was Team USPS/Discovery Channel. The American Team.

Now, due to the uncertain climate surrounding professional cycling, and the inability to guarantee large financial backers a return on their investments, Team Discovery Channel has closed down. The most successful cycling organization in history, with eight Tour de France wins in nine years, ended today. A rough day.

In demonstration of their amazing strength and professionalism, the team received their 39th victory of this season today with their eleven year veteran George Hincapie taking the overall title at the teams final event on US soil, the Tour of Missouri.

Here is the impressive showing for the Discovery Channel boys so far this season:

Tour of California (3 wins): 2 stages and Levi Leipheimer GC triumph

Valencia (1): Alberto Contador stage win

Paris-Nice (4): 3 stages and Contador GC

Castilla Leon (2): 1 stage and Contador GC

DePanne (1): Stijn Devolder TT victory

Georgia (4): 3 stages and Brajkovic GC

Catalunya (1): Allan Davis stage win

Belgium (2): Vladimir Gusev TT and GC wins

Suisse (1): Gusev stage win

Russian Nationals (1): Gusev TT title

Belgian Nationals (1): Devolder RR title

Tour of Austria (3): Meersman stage, Devolder TT and GC

Tour of Qinghai Lake (6): Davis 5 stage wins; Chechu Rubiera stage

Tour de France (3): Contador stage; Leipheimer TT; Contador GC

Tour de l’Ain (1): Brian Vandborg stage win

US Pro Championships (1): Leipheimer RR title

Tour of Missouri (3): George Hincapie, Levi Leipheimer stage wins, Hincapie GC

Vuelta a Espana (1): Jason McCartney stage win

The Tour of Missouri was also an opportunity for the professional cycling world to welcome the next chapter in American cycling, Team Slipstream. Slipstream riders finished second in the overall, took two stage wins, and secured the team classification. With the team already signing several of the Discovery Channel riders to contracts for next season, it appears, with a bold Argyle statement, that American cycling is not dead.

So, welcome Slipstream. As I mourn the loss of the house that my cycling hero built, I welcome you to the street, and I am anxious to join you for all of your rides next season. Please make us proud.

Two days each year

I am sure I am not alone in this world in my utter dread of two specific days of the year. Despite my best efforts, and most creative excuses, these days continue to come with the changing of the seasons and bring with them nothing but pain and frustration. One of these days arrived today. For the uninitiated, I am of course, referring to the days reserved for opening and closing the pool.

I am an individual who has removed a pool from a house, simply to avoid dealing with the yearly maintenance involved. Needless to say, I am not a fan. However, I am a huge fan of my wife and kids, and since they love pools, we have one.

The pool is an oddity to me. I have, on several occasions during the two dreaded days each year, wondered how something that brings so many of my family and friends such joy, could cause me such incredible frustration.

The very thought of a pool to most people is that of a slower pace, relaxation, a cool place on a hot summer day. Me? Nope. I see work. Daily chlorine, vacuum, solar cover, and those two awful days each year fighting with the filter and the winter cover. The pool is a job.

A job that brings family and friends together to share countless smiles. A job that provides hours of enjoyment for all who take a dip. A job that gives my kids and their friends a place to spend hot summer days for many summers to come. A job that I am one very lucky man to have.

And so it begins....

My journey into Blogging has begun. I feel there are so many things to say it is difficult to pick the starting point. Possibly an introduction is in order.
The discussions on this page will be my open forum dialogue on all the things that impact the cadence of my life. Sometimes it will be quick, almost a sprint to the line. Other times it may just hang back, conserving energy for what is to come. Regardless of the cadence life brings each day, it is the joys and learnings, the frustrations and surprises experienced along the way, that I plan to fill these pages with.
So, as I sit alone, with my wonderful kids tucked in their beds, and my wife off enjoying a rare moment of silence, it is hard to chose the starting point. So, I will leave it at "hello".