So Much Going On

So it's been 10 days since my, admittedly, rather weird post. First, let me say that the purpose of the below post was not to intentionally be off the wall. I was having some serious feelings running around in my head and I wanted to get them out without having to listen to anyone ask me questions, give me advice or opinions. Even though it all looks random, it follows a tight timeline depicting my feelings during a series of events at said time... but whatever. If you want to try to figure it out, go ahead. Amos got some of them.

So, Tara and Maya and AJ are in Everett right now. I was told that Maya and Tara took a nice long 3-hour nap yesterday. That is one of the best pieces of news have had lately. I am really grateful to Joe and Cheryl for providing the environment that the two (soon to be 3) of them can relax enough to do that in. I'll have to do something nice for them. Everyone comes back on Tuesday. It's now all up to me. Saddle up, boys.... Here we go! We now have less than 2 months until the arrival of AJ. Tara thinks it will be sooner. And what with her freaky number fetish, she is hoping for the 26th. I don't really care as long as he continues to be a good boy and sleeps thru the night. If he's born on my birthday, it will be an actual reason to celebrate that day. Check him out!

Cycling.... where to start. I suck. There I said it. If any of the competition is out there reading this, fear not. I am not the same rider I was a few weeks back. I don't know if I slimmed up too much, am doing the wrong training, or just really, really stressed out. But whatever, I have no power and no sustainable power at all. And guess what??? States is in a week and Nats only a month out! Great timing, Shawn. I went to Colorado Springs with Brent Kay 2 weeks ago to get a PR in the 4K and for him to set an age-group National record in the Kilo. VERY nice facility, wickedly hard track to ride. Excellent officiating. We both put on a miserable show. Sure, I did a PR of 4:51, but I was hoping for 4:49 or better at such a fast track. BK was flat for the Kilo and a puncture a mere half hour prior to his start did nothing to help. The altitude really killed me on the last K or so. Also, 2 hours of sleep and bronchitis zapped it all away. I took third and was beaten by a dude on Toykyo Joes and a U23 National MTB Team rider. (I went to Colorado Cyclist while in town and was really disappointed. Good catalog, bad shop.)

So, with that miserable performance in my pocket, I skipped the Olympic Talent Pool selection race the following Tuesday. That was won by Ben Jaques-Maynes. Being an Olympic year, tons of people are crawling out of the woodwork to throw their hats into the ring for Beijing. Everyone from Slipstream to Jaques-Maynes to Taylor Phinney to DZ (rumored). Yeah, with that in mind and my poorly timed valley I am currently in, I am about ready to give up the ghost. I will try my best at Nats, but the Olympics are gone for me. Now to go and win Valley of the Sun next season.

This next weekend, we have the Fiesta Island TTT on Saturday. We put the best SOCAL Cup TT guys on a superteam and are hoping to win it. Gary Tingley, Brent Kay, Matt Ford and myself will be out there looking to take down super squads from SDBC, 5-Star Fish (Bordine, Johnson, Vinson and co.), and a team being created by Sean Burke with Chris Daggs, Neil Shirley, I hear someone from Successful Living and a 4th I can't recall right now. We'll see. Sal from Leader Bikes just hooked me up with the new 735 TT frame for 2008. For anyone looking for a cutting-edge, fast, and affordable TT bike, GET A FRIGGIN' LEADER!!

Let me finish by thanking some people out there. First, Tara. Your patience, forgiveness and "old school" glimpses are awesome. Cheryl, for all your help the past couple of weeks. Joe, for letting Cheryl come and help Tara and the Stinker Toot out. My advisory committee (Ed, Tom, Fred, Cody, and Adam). Thanks for all the insight, listening and advice... solicited or otherwise. Amos for simply being you and understanding and acting normal. Means a lot, dude. Brent Kay: dude TOTALLY hooked my ass up for the trip to Colorado... sorry it wasn't a better trip. Ted and Gary for rasin' da roof fo' me. Tara's friends. Without you guys, we'd all be fucked. The Blu Box for a sanctuary and sanity check. Thanks everyone!