Hello again friends and family. No politics this day. Just updates about me, my hott wife and the ankle biters. In the interest of full (fool?) disclosure, I am working slowly but tirelessly on my second margarita of the evening. I must say, the less I drink the better I feel after fewer drinks. Hey there's a rationalization: Economy in the crapper? Increase your enjoyment of alcohol by drinking less but enjoying it more when you do! So with that said...
Yesterday was the most intense cycling day of my life to date. It was supposed to be a Sunday social ride that split up into two groups after 12 or so miles. The speed freaks would go one way and those that were winding down for the season (the smart people) the other. The roadie ride moved along at a casual pace of about 18 or so MPH with sprints and climbs here there and yon. There were three sprints and one good big climb at the end. I took two of the sprints and the climb. One of the county line sprints I didn't just take by a nose; I took it by several bike lengths. Prior to the sprint I found myself placed at the front by the other sprinters and was smart enough to say, "screw that", and I secured my spot back in 6th or so place. When the sprinters went I was right behind them up until about 33 or so and the moment I sensed lactic acid threshhold setting in on them I dropped the hammer and snuck up close to 37MPH and that was all she wrote. It took a little bit for the group to regroup and I knew as soon as we took the next right someone was going to turn the screws. They did. They got dropped too. I went right back to the front, chased down the folks turning the screws and just chilled. Yes one guy was a HEman that attacked on White Oak, but I meated out my efforts as I knew the big climb at the end is where I was to invest. That would pay off also as I was able to return a smart ass comment IN PASSING to some banana head that wasn't smart enough to understand why you don't wear headphones on a group ride. I've ridden in the A group less than 25 times in my life. Yesterday I knew what it was like at the top. I may not be back there for a while, but damn yesterday was a good day in the saddle.
The wife. What can I say? I've been through the dictionary (yes, I read the dictionary for leisure) and there are simply not words to express how fortunate I am to have her as my partner. Nor are there words that express the luxury her presence represents to our sons. I could have a Porsche, we could have a 2nd house, or a nanny if Karen went back to work. But the other day, unbeknownst to my wife, I watched as she and David rolled around in the grass in our backyard. It was a roux of love, laughter, caring and closeness for which there is no monetary comparison. She is the lighthouse upon the rock which guides this family forward in waters calm and challenge. Of late she has chosen to dive deep into nutritional analysis. We've (when I say we I mean Karen) eliminated dairy from David's diet and early signs indicate this may be helping David with his propensity for impulsive behavior (I have NO clue where he gets that from!!! Yesteray I was Lance Armstrong, tonight I'm Edgar Allen Poe in Baltimore. Again, NO clue.) Karen has the support of her sister, Joy, in this effort as Joy is a registered dietician. Karen has also gotten some input from the mother of one of David's friends who has also done her share of research on the dietary front. So between keeping David in preschool, managing Camden's FIVE therapies a week and keeping this house in fine working order I would not tend towards words like boredom to describe her days. I love her dearly. I so appreciate EVERYTHING she does and she knows this. :-)
Number one son. God help us. I told him tonight that if he'd stop biting his nails and picking his nose, I'd do the same. What the hell was I thinking? I'm gonna miss those two things. Seriously, I have to read the dictionary to feign intellect, but David comes by it honestly. David and I were watching the Giro de Lombardia (a 250k bike race in Italy) the other night when one of the riders had to bunny hop up onto the sidewalk as he'd overshot the exit from a corner. After having witnessed this David commented, "You know it takes a lot of talent to hop up onto the curb like that and keep going." The intellectual extrapolations one can make from this sentence blurted out by a four year old are many. But the furthering of what I'm sure would have been a fascinating conversation was muted by my North Carolinian response made in sheer amazement, "Shur duz". Heyzeus! I've been releagted to the short end of intellectual conversation with a FREAKIN' FOUR YEAR OLD. That's OK. I can crush him on a 1k climb at 14%... for now.
Number two son. God has helped us. Never a day goes by when a smile does not monopolize his beautiful face. He loves his big brother, he owns his mother's love and his father could not be more proud. Of ALL Camden's accomplishments of the last 60 days I will admit to the selfish appreciation of the development of his ability to hug more than all the other accomplishments. The only way I can describe his hugs are that they feel like a conduit through which love flows free of resistance when he pulls you tight. His vocabulary is hovering around ten or so words that we can interpret, but since communication is so much more than words I would say his overall ability to communicate is improving incrementally and daily. Camden can identify words and can identify objects in the real and written world. Intellectually we're impressed and encouraged by Camden's progress and equally so in the physical realm. Camden can stand independently; he simply doesn't know it yet. When the mental confidence is developed, the independent standing will occur much more frequently and confidently. I've said it before and I'll say it again, our family would not be complete without "Little C".
I have two children. I have two living parents of near-sound mind and largely capable body. My good friend Jim has a lake house. You see where this is going? Yes indeed on or about Friday October 17th Karen and I handed off the kiddies to grandma and Pop-Pop and away we went to my friend Jim's lakehouse. 30 hours of sheer bliss. Karen and I arrived at 8:30 or so and checked out the house. Within 10 minutes I knew I had the following at hand for the time being: a pool table, a fridge full of beer, a cabinet with some JD in it, a big screen TV and a hott chick I can prove I'd tricked into sleeping with me at least twice. Thank you God for those 30 hours. Thank you Jim & Phyllis for your graciousness. Thanks Mom and Dad for watching the kids. Thank you Karen for being my wife.
And thank you Sammy Hagar for making this fine Caba Wabo tequila, but alas it is time to retire for tonight. I hope you've all enjoyed this installment of Alright with the Preises and check back soon. Peace.
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