Baseball winding down

The Huguenot Heat lost to a tough Atlee team last night, likely the team to beat in the 16-team tournament. What's tough is that Atlee played the same infield the entire game. However, it's not against the rules. Perhaps just a bit irresponsible given that these kids are 8 year-olds. Colin had another good day hitting: 2 for 2 with a double and a single. 4 for 5 for the 2 games in this tournament to date. The Heat are knocked out of the semi-finals with the loss with 1 came to play tonight. Then, the team finishes up with consolation game on Thursday. It's been a great experience for Colin and his dad couldn't be prouder!

Colin at 2B

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Got it in

The bike came off the wall a 2nd time today to get it's full ride in.

Rain Ride?

Started out thinking I might just get some sprinkles and then headed back before I got too far as it started to come down with no bright spots further on. I don't mind the rain too much, it's just that Richmond isn't terribly bike friendly,for same reason they save money by not building shoulders, and rain and work commutes don't mix well here. Perhaps lunch time if the some heat comes out.

Wisconsin WORS Wacers, we'll try to keep this weather down here past Saturday. No sense having a 24/9 mud festival. Prep Well!

"WE CAN EASILY FORGIVE A CHILD WHO IS AFRAID OF THE DARK; THE REAL TRAGEDY OF LIFE IS WHEN ADULTS ARE AFRAID OF THE LIGHT."

Plato

A good week of riding

Six days of riding has been the most I could offer in a long time, 110 miles. A few of you have do most of that in a single day. It's what I have to give right now. I'm working on a 4-week plan for a possible English Century in August. I've seen a few Carmichael plans and will close on one shortly. I'll decide on the "entry" shortly.

More Baseball

Colin behind the plate
No hit this time, a nice shot up the middle if the Pitcher wasn't a Hoover.

The Huguenot Heat drew the top seed for the semi-finals starting tomorrow, after winning their 3 pool games this week. The icing was a 4-2 win over their sister National League team from Huguenot. A great game. So it's likely 2 ball games tomorrow and a repeat of this game. Colin is doing well and having a blast. He's also worn out from 4 days of baseball camp that ended yesterday.

Another Funny Thing...

An old guy cut in front of me coming out of his driveway this morning. Never looked, never saw me. I yelled "you gotta stop". He drove off. While I was never really in jeopardy (I saw him coming) I've often wondered why people that darn near run somebody over just keep going and never stop.

I thought nothing of it until I saw him again 2-3 miles later. He turned around and went looking for me in the neighborhood. Due to my Duck experience a few weekends ago I'm a bit leery now of anybody that pulls up next to me with sheet metal. He stopped and rolled down his window. He sincerely apologized, several times, for almost hitting me. I finally stopped spinning around him (I don't unclip for most people) and thanked him for apologizing and coming to find me. We shook hands and he was on his way.

I'm still convinced that it's not often the things that happen to you in this life time. It's your response to what happens that makes the difference. This guy responded. At first I felt a little remorseful for being a bit rough on him initially. Upon reflection I shaked that off. My life is important to me and I'll speak out to anyone that puts it harms way needlessly. This guy responded well. Something to remember next time I screw up.

a funny thing happened on the way to the ride....

I don't ride much with others. Not for lack of desire, just haven't met a whole lot of aficionados and haven't tried the sponsored rides yet (soon). Well, I started my 6am ride this morning and my triathlete neighbor across the street steps on my wheel about a third of the way through. He and I ride for a bit and then 2 of his other triathlete female friends pass us going the other and double back. Now four of us are riding together and it was enjoyable (No evil thoughts guys). That ended when they said "Sorry to hijack your ride, but let's do James River Hill". I wasn't ready for that as I've been putting in more "foundation miles" in the last 2 weeks. Now I won't get invited to ride with others very often shouting "next time" so I went. It's not a terrible hill, just gets the blood boiling if you haven't been doing hill climbs and are in less than "optimal" shape like I am.

To make a long story short, my legs are shot right now. The feel like the front wheel of the guy who hit the dog yesterday during Stage 9 (was it 9?) . It won't always be like this.

iPod....i like!

Based upon the advice of a friend (Thanks mdc) I picked up an iPod shuffle a few months ago. Now, how do I get it back from my 4 year old? She loves music. It sure makes the ride appear to go much faster. Always, just curb-side earpiece in to hear the traffic. The size is awesome as I hardly know it's there.

My niece showed me an on-line tool for downloading and now I'm hooked finding every song I ever liked. Right now the shuffle has quite a collection of different stuff, a lot of it from the 80's admittedly. I picked up quickly that it helps to have something with a reasonable cadence (sharp as a bowling ball I am). At the risk of moronic exposure I'll provide a taste:

• Alan Parson's Project
• Pink Floyd
• Earth, Wind and Fire
• Kool & the Gang
• eiffel 65 - I'm Blue (kids love it)
• Rascal Flatts (Highway - again for the kids, even the 40+ ones)
• Eminem - Lose Yourself

Hard to believe the last one myself, but loved 8-mile and MI will always be in my blood. MDC, I've glanced down your play list a few times and have to admit that I don't recognize the tunes. My ignorance. However, it's nice to know I can find them and check it out. If I had to throw one song out there that maybe most would not think of it's the following. Pink Floyd (The Wall) "Run Like Hell" Disc 2

Done with Mr. Mom

After a long weekend being a single parent, the Mrs. is back and the kids are happy. I hold off on the riding when she's out of town. I feel a bit funny having someone else watch the kids while I ride and the wife's not local.

Some new purchases: Giro Atmos Helment and a Specialized Rider's Club Jersey. The Giro was selected after looking at the Bell Sweep R, Specialized Decibel and the Atmos. After getting advice about the Bell (thanks Scott) and not being able to find many Decibels, the Atmos seemed obvious and I found a nice price on E-bay. I used it yesterday afternoon during my 96 degree ride. The cooling was very noticeable compared to my old cheapo. I still have my pre-historic Bell Biker out in the garage (and I think I'll leave it there).

Thunderstorm Season

Muggy and hot Monday through today. It's been a standard clear morning followed by afternoon thunderstorms. The 6am rides at least provide less humidity. Already 80 degrees out by 9am. Good reason to pound the H2O.

My oldest turned 9 today. It seems like just yesterday....He's getting so tall! He's not beyond hugs and snuggling up to dad yet. That will be a sad day.

Gotta Love NC Rednecks

Two Fridays ago I made the ride from Duck mile post 4 down to the Kittyhawk bypass and back. On the return and heading into the town of Duck, a pickup truck with NC plates pulls up along side and shouts "the trail path costs a million dollars a mile, use it a$$hole". Sidebar: I don't ride on the one-side-only trail path that extends up and down North 12. I've nearly bought the farm twice from cars that pull out onto the cross walks at connecting streets. So me and my other cycling comrades are out on the small shoulder of N12.

Back to the story: I yelled out a very precisely honed and well-thought out "fox you" (forgetting that a 1/2 ton wins a chicken fight with 2-wheeler every time). The driver pulls in front of me straddling the shoulder onto the grass. I take the left side out into the highway. He passes again, honks his horn along side me and starts gradually moving over to force me off. I hit the brakes, he drives off, our brief dance is over. No, "fox you" was not worth my life, but I stopped at the Duck Police office and gave a report anyway.

This was a first (and hopefully) a last.

York Muscle Car Madness

Here's a link to the York Annual Muscle Car Nostalgia Event and Drag Race put on by Jodi's dad:

http://www.yorkus30.com/

July Already?

After a nice week at the beach and sending the folks off back to MI I daresay it's a tad quieter here.

Good news and bad news. The good news: Colin made his 8U all star team. The bad news: Colin made his 8U all star team. Practices start next week and will take him through the tournament at the beginning of August, with side tournament that starts next weekend. That means' he'll miss his grandpa's car show next weekend up in York, PA. He's ecstatic, just changes a few plans, AND that's what it's all about. I'm Colin's dad!

A parent was nice enough to send along some post-season pictures (We're all there).

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