Lets call it...

This year, for all intents is over. Kaput. Shot. Most decidedly it has amounted to the greatest crash and burn of my life... The only thing (chance?) left to do is grab my boot straps and pull. Pull, fucking PULL! I won't say this is it, won't say I'm going to change because the only thing worse than being out of shape is bullshitting about what you're going to do. Actions. Not words.

Happy Holidays,

KPW

Of Mice and Men

"The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry..." Or so the title of John Steinbeck's break-out novel suggests. My English teacher would be so proud, She thought all I did was pass notes to girls and shoot rubber bands during class. This weekend I discovered (again...) that the best-laid plans often aren't planned at all!

Rich drove up on Friday to pick up some of his belongings and take them back home. Home being Pennsylvania near the tri-state border (PA, DE, MD). After helping him and his family load up his half ton Chevy and a U-Haul Trailer I posed this question... "Rich, How are you going to unload all of this stuff when you get home?" To which he replied "I got it under control, blah, blah, blah..." It didn't take me long to realize that he needed a hand and I needed an excuse, any excuse, to get away for awhile. If even only for two or three days. Ironically enough I was standing near his truck before we left and being the funny guy I am, out came this wise crack, "Hey this thing got air conditioning? I knew I should have asked some questions before I signed on for this trip!" Sure enough the air conditioning quit shortly after getting off the New York State Thruway. Once again reaffirming my belief that I can forecast coming events, much like Nostradamus. Sorry Rich. Saturday evening found Rich and Me splitting a twelve pack of Modelo (some Mexican Beer Rich chose) and a delicious chocolate cake that Dolores made. Yes, chocolate cake and Mexican beer... I'll bet that's a short list of people who have enjoyed that culinary delight. Sunday we came up with this bit of engineering genius in order to stack his top box on his rolling base cabinet. I think this is the part where I insert a legal disclaimer stating "Do not try this at home. Death or Injury may occur. Or at least a good hernia..."

This is what it takes when your assembled tool box is as big as a Honda Fit. Seriously





My reward for helping with the "move" (besides a train ticket back home) A short jaunt around FairHill on this...

Carbon GF Superfly 29er. Sweet, sweet ride on even sweeter trails. Thanks to the Delaware Trail Spinners and all the others who help maintain the trails at Fairhill. You really do a fantastic job, making this my favorite place to ride dirt. Epic.

Thanks again to Rich and Dolores for the hospitality and good (if only too short) times. Now if only they would get a pool...

It's been awhile since my last post and I wanted to post some of my favorite photos from Le Tour.






























Does anyone know where I can get this (queer) hat? So I can fill it with my neighbors dog shit, light it on fire and then mail it to Spain.

And... It looks like Kim has her groove back, ALLEZ KIMMY!!!

Out There...

Today I had the strangest feeling... Like a Karmic bolt of lightning. Only this feeling was... pure inspiration. Oddly enough, it stood on it's own. Like a giant granite block of... pure inspiration. A feeling so good, that it was noticeably untarnished by any negative energy. Virgin like. Untouched, waiting for me to reap some yet unknown great reward. It was realll trippy I'm tellin' ya'! So I'm going to take this "charge" of inspiration and apply it... to everything. To the person who sent me this great Karmic energy, Thank You, and may it return back to you ten fold.

For starters, I phoned Mt Sinai and made the connections for transferring my test results and case evaluation to the proper people. This was undoubtedly the most important thing I did today. It felt good to take action in the matters of my health.

Because the world does not run solely on "POP MUSIK" , you need to see this... Incredible bike handling skills set to a good song. Honest, I'm not kidding! The music is good, I promise...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRlETldGhWI

Oh, and on the subject of the TOUR. Levi is out with a broken wrist. Which totally sucks. Boonen didn't do shit. Which totally sucks. Lance probably (unless Contador crashes) won't win. Which totally sucks. And Contador? His stage winning pistol shot totally sucks. I mean seriously, are you five years old dude? Next time maybe he'll pull his cheeks open while sticking out his tongue all the while he yells, "Neener, neener, neener..." as he crosses the finish line. Then he'll probably shoot somebody with his toy gun. Andy Schleck, you better be a man of your word and ATTACK TILL YOU DIE! Does anyone remeber Floyd Landis riding a wheelie across the finish line? That was cool. And no, he didn't win that stage.

I Just Don't Know...

Well, Friday's visit to the Cardiologist didn't bring me any good news... Yet it didn't bring me any bad news either... I'm going to see a "Super Cardiologist" at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York. In the meantime, no elevated heart rates for me. Which I ignored for the last two weekends anyhow. Have you ever been told you can't, or shouldn't do something that you really yearn to do? Have you ever tried to climb hills, weighing 218 lbs. without elevating your HR?! LOL! Don suggested I bring my cleat covers with me and walk up the hills... That's crazy. If I wanted to walk something I'd get a dog, not a bicycle. So I'm determined more now then ever to figure this all out and find a way to be able to ride without limitations. Does anything compare to that single, solitary sense of accomplishment like dragging your ass over a monster hill climb??? And... I just don't feel like handing over a Ben Franklin to Rich, not without a fight.

Because life is not just cycling, dig this... Yeah...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HaAOCGb3bw

I Fell Off...

The Wagon.

Ughhhh! For cryin' out LOUD! Blow out week at both jobs this week, which I turned into a blow out in the diet department. Man, I'm sick of doing this! Lifestyle change, lifestyle change, lifestyle change. There, I feel a little better. Well I don't have to work on Saturday (not yet at least) so it looks like it's a go for the ride I planned last Sunday. Don, McSteel and I are going to pre-ride a race course South of Albany. Don will sit down on every climb, probably smiling all the way. Maybe even humming a merry tune. Oh how I long for the days when people rode with frame pumps. I'd throw mine into his front wheel! Ha! Don climbs like a Tour specialist which makes me proud 'cause I introduced him to this sport. McSteel will climb well and most likely be only a bike length or two behind the "Don". This is usually quite fun to watch as these two drag race uphill as if there's KOM points available. Cool. Me? I'll climb like a constipated old turtle. If I'm lucky. Who cares. It will only make me stronger and that's what I want more than anything. Well, I want to hold on to my hundred dollar bill pretty bad too...

Peace out. Enjoy your friends, family, the Sun, and your ride.

Sometimes life is just...

Life.

Drove to work this morning at 6:30 A.M. Worked from 7:00 A.M. - 9:30 P.M. (Yes 14 1/2 hours) Only time I sat down was during the 22 minute drive to my "other" job. All day, pounding concrete... I don't remember ever thinking "Gee, when I grow up someday I want to be a press operator..."

Pulled in the driveway at 9:50 P.M. and there's the July/August issue of Men's Health in the mailbox. On the cover is Josh Duhamel with a quote-"I want to do good work. But, having a life is important, too." Yeah, what He said...

6 1/2 hours of sleep and I can repeat this tomorrow.

Whew... Done bitchin'.

By the way, Lance gave Alberto a lesson in tactical Tour racing today and Cavendish-Amazing! Viva Le Tour!!!

And They're OFF!

Well it's been a few days since I changed up my diet and I must say... I feel better. Mentally, physically, perhaps just a placebo effect just from controlling something in my life? Who knows? Anyway, RR has a bit of a jump on me out of the gate ( well done Rich ) but I do believe the real battle will begin @ about 205 lbs. +/-.

Saturday morning Cat Six Racing is having a brunch while we watch the opening TT of The Tour. Fresh fruit, egg beaters with spinach 'n mushrooms, whole wheat english muffins, o.j., etc... Followed by a long ride afterwards. Should be kickass !

By the way, I could really go for a chocolate chip muffin, cookie, beer, or pizza right about now. Pray for me Ben Franklin, pray for me...