spring is in the air

It was great to get out this weekend and ride in warm weather, although tyler "the robot" drilled it up emigration yesterday and i had to do all i could just to hold on, then DC sprinted every incline i rode with him today and now my legs are toast. But i feel good cuz i've been riding some of the small canyons this week, which is nice because i was really starting to get bored doing laps around the valley floor.
This morning i also rode a bit with my "anonymous friend," who you may remember from a previous post. Anyway, i was surprised when we met up with her this morning that she had cotton stuffed in her ears. I know in the past she has been known to ride with ear buds, even if she wasn't listening to music, just to keep the bugs out of her ears. Despite the warmer weather, however, it's still not warm enough for bugs. Turns out she's not only afraid of bugs, she's also afraid of the wind. Yes, she stuffed cotton in her ears because when she rides down hill it gets so loud and scary, you know, that big "whoooshy" sound. I tried to take a picture, but she quickly covered her ears so i couldn't get a good shot. She may or may not be in one of the pictures below, however.

This weekend many dear, good friends also helped me celebrate my graduation. My nieces came to the party too. I love them a lot despite what this photo may convey.



Many, many thanks to Cait and Marti for hosting and organizing the party. Thank you!!

Spring Training

Congrats to T-dub!! She went down to AZ for her first stage race this weekend and came away with 2nd in the TT, 1st in the RR, and 3rd in the crit for the first place GC podium spot. Nice work for someone who only started riding at the end of last summer.


While T-dub was enjoying the warm weather and sunshine, we got another set of storms. After waking up to 2 inches of snow on the roads saturday i decided to take the cross bike out rather than spend another mind-numbing workout on the trainer.


Today i did get up the canyon for some skiing too before i came down and put in a few more hours on the bike. It was blue sky and trying to get warm, so i can't complain.


I do love living in a place where i can get to world-class skiing 20 minutes from my house and some exceptional riding from my front door (even if it is a little cold in feb) and ski and bike all in the same day.

year in review (2008 that is)

I know, it's already February, but over the holiday break i wanted to do a little year-in-review post. i never got around to it, but i thought i'd do it now before half the year is over and i have to start thinking about 2009. So here it is: 2008 in pictures.

I totaled this car
I grew some things in the garden


Some things grew in my yard



sand sage lit up by the evening light

indian paintbrush finally started to reseed and get established







Caitydid's blossoming heart opuntia


Leti learned to cook


My dogs got muddy
Judith had a quinceX2 on my newly finished (almost) back porch


I got to play cowboy with Trigger



I raced and rode my bike a lot


including Lotoja for the 4x.



T-dub got over being mad at me for making her race. She ended up winning "rookie of the year" for the CX season (she even got a little trophy).


I had a birthday


After 6 years of not skiing because i was spending my winter breaks and weekends procrastinating my dissertation, i finally started to ski again.


And i finally did defend and finish my dissertation and get to wear a big gown and funny hood for graduation.


On my bike i got to see some great sunrises

some nice sunsetsand some just plain funny stuff



The bush admin is finally gone


But there's plenty to still lament including election of these two clowns

it's a new day!!

by will.i.am

I WENT TO SLEEP LAST NIGHT
TIRED FROM THE FIGHT
I’VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR TOMORROW ALL MY LIFE
YEAH I WOKE UP THIS MORNING FEELING BRAND NEW
‘CAUSE THE DREAMS THAT I’VE BEEN DREAMING HAS FINALLY CAME TRUE
IT’S A NEW DAY (5X)

IT’S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING
UP THE MOUNTAIN KEPT RUNNING
SONGS OF FREEDOM KEPT HUMMING
CHANNELING HARRIET TUBMAN
KENNEDY LINCOLN AND KING
WE GOTTA MANIFEST THAT DREAM
IT FEELS LIKE I’M SWIMMING UPSTREAM
IT FEELS LIKE I’M STUCK IN BETWEEN
A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE WE’VE BEEN THROUGH THE HEARTACHES
AND LIVED THROUGH THE DARKEST DAYS
IF YOU AND I MADE IT THIS FAR WELL THEN HEY WE CAN MAKE IT ALL THE WAY
AND THEY SAID NO WE CAN’T
AND WE SAID YES WE CAN
REMEMBER IT’S YOU AND ME TOGETHER

CHORUS I WOKE UP THIS MORNING FEELING ALRIGHT
I’VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR TOMORROW ALL MY LIFE
YEAH I WOKE UP THIS MORNING FEELING BRAND NEW
‘CAUSE THE DREAMS THAT I’VE BEEN DREAMING HAS FINALLY COME TRUE
IT’S A NEW DAY (5X)

IT’S BEEN A LONG TIME WAITING
WAITING FOR THIS MOMENT
IT’S BEEN A LONG TIME PRAYING
PRAYING FOR THIS MOMENT
AND HOPE FOR THIS MOMENT
AND NOW THAT WE OWN IT
CLOSER I’MA HOLD IT
AND I WON’T LET IT GO
THIS IS FOR OUR FATHERS, OUR BROTHERS,
OUR FRIENDS WHO FOUGHT FOR FREEDOM, OUR SISTERS OUR MOTHERS,
WHO DIED FOR US TO BE IN THIS MOMENT
STOP AND CHERISH THIS MOMENT
STOP AND CHERISH THIS TIME
IT’S BEAUTIFUL AIN’T IT
WE DID IT FOR HER AND HIM
AND HE AND SHE AND YOU
AND ME TOGETHER

CHORUS YEAH I WOKE UP THIS MORNING FEELING BRAND NEW
‘CAUSE THE DREAMS THAT I’VE BEEN DREAMING FINALLY COME TRUE
YEAH I WOKE UP THIS MORNING FEELING ALRIGHT
‘CAUSE WE WASN’T FIGHTING FOR NOTHING
AND MALCOLM WASN’T FIGHTING FOR NOTHING
AND MARTIN WASN’T DREAMING FOR NOTHING
AND LINCOLN WASN’T TRYING FOR NOTHING
AND CHILDREN WASN’T CRYING FOR NOTHING IT’S A NEW DAY

will.i.am

it's official, just like that

Yes, it's 2:08 in the morning and in another three hours i've got to go to the airport to fly to Indiana for my commencement. but what's more exciting (and a tad bit anticlimatic as i sit here tired as hell all by myself) is that i just submitted my dissertation in all of it's complete, revised, approved glory.

Clicking the mouse to submit.

Confirmation that it was in fact submitted (and my credit card was charged).

Yup, with this new, fancy internet thing, submitting a dissertation is as easy as clicking a mouse (and entering your CC number for the various charges). All 12 years it took me to get here brought to an end with a mouse click. damn!

Now what am i going to do with myself? And what am i going to do with this blog. It's raison d'etre is now nonexistent.