Different Directions

Well, well, well. I'm not going to start with excuses but I have to. I wrote this fabulous piece on how I was going to put more time and energy into writing bound hard back Pulitzer Prize winning blogs but I bailed on it. I have had literally zero time to even read the blogs that I follow. Although I do follow a lot of blogs...

Anyway, here's to having me back. Thanks for the applause. A couple of things to go over first. One, I'm trying to develop a way to keep me on a better schedule for writing these damn things. Although I am known to bitch and moan I do actually enjoy writing and it's one of those things that if you do more of it the better you will become. I spend much of my days pouring over training files full of squiggly lines and wading through excuses of missed intervals and forgotten items that would prevent said persons from completing tasks laid before them. I have to be careful of who reads this blog now, since the days of people not having computers and never hearing the words "surf the web" are very distant. Man those last few sentences got a little crazy, 'cuse me. I spend most, if not all of my working day sitting in front of a computer so when I have a chance not to do that I try not to. Thus, blog writing has taken a back seat.

If I'm not very careful this post will last forever. Let me do a quick recap of the year so far. I decided to race bike again. And not just mountain bikes but road and cyclocross bikes too. I set out to compete in several national level races and came away with some solid results. Don't get me wrong I'm proud of what I did this year but I know the level of commitment and dedication you have to have in order to get "good" results. I have not done this....yet. Once I see a direct correlation from what I'm putting into the racing to the finishes I'm getting out of it I'll be a happy man. However, on the flip side, I'm probably having way more fun racing my bike than I ever have before. The pressure of performing good enough to be on a big team is off and now I can just focus on having clean races.

Right now I'm gearing up for cyclocross season and while training and preparing myself for that I'm trying to think of ways to market myself better. I've done the whole twitter thing and that's pretty fun as silly as it can be but I really want to show people I care. That's kind of where this whole blog writing thing came back. If I can sit down long enough to get some musings and comments down on paper, or in this case electronic letters, then I can start to build something that actually carries some weight behind it. I know I usually drop you off on the edge of a cliff for several months but this might actually trigger something in me to keep going.

Sorry I'll have to keep you waiting till then. Too sleepy right now.

Ketchup

Yep. Not going to talk about how long it's been. Much too long.

You know when I was growing up,  I never thought I would sit down and type out these blogs. I hated writing, absolutely hated it. I'd rather Mom run her finger nails down the chalk board than have to sit down and actually compose something. Well, that is if you consider this writing. It is in a sense but at the same time since our world is so revolved around technology I feel like I should pick up a paper and blow the dust off a pen and sit down and write it out. But then who would really read it? Would I actually take the time to sit down and type out what I have written, would I keep a diary so that when I grow old someone could see what thoughts were running through my head, or would I just keep my thoughts to myself as man I had some crazy ideas.

But I digress, let's cut to the chase. What is the purpose of this blog? To be perfectly honest, I have no idea. That's probably why I haven't written anything on it for quite some time. I first started it as a way to tell people about my racing. Not sure who that would be since I called my parents every weekend. For a long time I didn't talk about training or what I was doing because I didn't want other to gain an advantage over me so I switched to talking about day to day life. When I traveled overseas and raced it was an easy way to hit a bunch of people with the same story saving me bottles and bottles of Bengay for my fingers. Then the stimulus stopped, I quit racing bikes and vowed never to return. The blog pretty much dropped off the deep end after that. Save for one or two quick posts. But again, why was I even writing about my day to day life? I don't think it's much more interesting than an average person.

So sorry about all that soppy history stuff, just had to get that off my chest. I'm slowly developing a new theme to the blog. Well, not so much as a theme but a purpose. There are several types of mass communication these days. I needn't tell you which ones I'm talking about. The sad thing is that all of these communications are taking away from good old description. Twitter is great and all for measuring the amount of people you can reach with a simple blurb but there is something to be said for sitting down and composing a story or a jumble of thoughts or a bloggg.

Which leads me into my next comment. I got to thinking the other day and discovered that I have been handed a golden opportunity. I am going to pick up that mountain bike and start riding it around in circles with other people as fast as I can. I have slowly been adding supporters to my list and hopefully will announce that soon. But for now know that I'm going to continue writing as if I was by myself and that I'm back in more ways than one.

Enjoy some moto vids.  

Blues Day

Well, that's the theme here at the office this morning. Applesauce is listening to some good ol' hoochie coochie man. As I was warned, the past few weeks have been full on pinned. I'm so glad to (mostly) put that behind me.

Dano spear headed another Ally Cat that's going off tonight. If you happen to see this today, come on down to the 828 and join in. Five buck cover and entertainment that's priceless.

I spent most of last weekend helping out the college cycling team crush at Mars Hills. It was a long weekend but pretty fun. There was some good results across the board. It's funny, seems like I should start racing again just because that will make me quit talking smack on people....haha.

I hope I'm still trying to catch up on sleep from the weekend as my motivation is pretty low, any bike I have is not that appealing to me. Hopefully it will come around.

Funny, who thought that a full time job is actually full time? I love working at CTS but it's a little different than going to class and just kickin' it for the rest of the day.

Seems like I'm getting writer's block worse and worse, I used to be able to just go off on something and spend a whole blog about it. Haha, it's transformed into more of a stream of thoughts, none of it really good. I could talk about bikes or work or things that happened to me today but do people really like reading that? I guess  I do since I do it all the time. I swear I spend more time thinking about the audience that reads (or could read) my blog than actually writing anything useful.  

Two more thoughts before I leave for another long period. Andy sighted the McRib. Be warned.

Beach House

Jjjjusttt kickin it! Hanging out in Panama City in a sick beach house. Wish I was on va ka instead of working but just being here is pretty cool. I'm in Florida for a Carmichael Training Camp for the Ironman Panama City. Looks like a pretty cool course, went out and drove the running course this morning and found a suitable place for a field test. Something where we can take the athletes out and test them to get a baseline measurement of fitness.

The athletes don't get here until mid day tomorrow and it will be full on from there. Three days of intense training to help these people prepare for the Ironman.

But anyway, I'm getting some good hang out time at the house. And some thinking time too. I know I'll sound like a broken record that's been drinking some kool aid but different sports are interesting. Different sets of challenges.

Also been thinking about next year...

That's all for now I guess. Apparently I do this a lot but I mostly wrote this post to add this movie. If James Stewart ever needs a second job I think he could be a mail man cause he's hauling it.

http://motocross.transworld.net/1000115432/news/james-stewarts-new-ride/

10-4
T

Turning Leaves

Hello all,

So as usual, I said I was going to write sooner rather than later. Anyway, here I am. Let's start with a quick recap. The coffee is still working through my veins so I'll probably have more than normal typos.

Since I last wrote, I have worked at the bike shop, applied for several jobs, attempted riding my bike again, met new and interesting people and finally ended up where I am now. Now is working at CTS trying to avoid going to the Bakery too much.

I've actually started riding my bike again, so that has improved my mood tremendously.

Some people have said that all I do is write a few words and then add a movie to excuse me from saying anything else but this one was too good to pass up. I think Matt Hunter and I should hang out, I think we'd get along just fine.

This past weekend was spent taking care of the Brevard College Cycling team at their first race. I think they did very well considering the first race back into school. Some solid results from all members of the team, including that Smiling Guy and our ladies.

I'm still trying to catch up from the (probably overestimated) ten hours of sleep I got over the weekend, but it's all good as long as results come out of it. My activities during the race included: complementing Brad on all the weight he has lost, filling H2O bottles, pushing bikes to the top of the slalom hill, teaching the finer points of cornering, pushing more bikes to the top, calling out Peter for terrible coaching, pushing more bikes, teaching the kiddos how to chop vegetables and how to take out the trash, swimming in the condo pool, and talking to lots and lots of people. All was enjoyable and made for a satisfying two days.

The week? Hmmm nothing too much going on this week, just working and figuring out how to save money so I can buy more stuff. Probably going to hangout at the Hendo Apple festival this weekend so if you have nothing to do come on over and chill. Next week will be pretty busy, I'm working till Wednesday before going to Florida for a few days for a CTS camp then it's back up to BVD for another CTS climbing camp. Two days off and it's helping out with the downhill national championships. That will be a very good time. Another long weekend of assisting my friends and athletes but I'm pretty confident that this one will really pay off. It better...or some people will be pushing their own bikes up the hill if you know what I mean.

Few more days to chilax and then it's back on it for the Pisgah Stage Race, sorry guys no racing for me, but lots of working and volunteer time. And thennn.....it's break time. Well until my plans change which will definitely happen. Seems like I need some personal va ka.

Anyway, I should probably get back to looking like I'm actually working instead of pursing the internets. Hope all is well and I do have some secret plans in the works that I'll come out soon about....

Keep things TAC'ed out,

T

Slowing Down to Go Fast

Sometimes you have to.

The past few weeks have been pinned but good. I've been trying to write another post but lately I haven't had the motivation to. After some prodding from other writers though I have reluctantly placed my fingers on the keys.

Right now, I'm hanging with some good friends listening and smelling bacon cook. Bacon is amazing. Just saying. If you don't believe me: http://www.mybadpad.com/fun-stuff/the-baconcyclopedia-the-ultimate-bacon-reference-of-baconic-proportions.

Try that on for size.

A few weekends ago I had the pleasure of competing at the 24Hours of Burn. Not my favorite race but there were some good times had by all I think. Outlandish oufits, fast laps, yogurt, laughter, frustration, and some BBQ rounded out the weekend.

Out of our three co-ed teams. Wes D's got the top spot. Dano, C-Banner, Erika and Aaron all enjoyed the ride. My awesome team of KB, Derek, Kym Schoph-kpojonoin-kia, and Michael pulled off a third, just a few "impossible" seconds behind second and the Goolia, Tamer, Bergemark and somebody who started the round of beer before the race started swung into fourth just behind us.

I managed to horribly lose a bet for the fastest lap. Missed out for the fastest by two seconds (probably my sneeze at the start) and had to make some dinner. In other words, got schooled.

I also had the great idea of doing three back-to-back night laps during the midnight hours. That's all I'm going to say about that...

Hmmm....I'm thinking I should get back to the stuff I actually sat down to type. So I'm out, but (I know I say this every time ) I think I'll do another post soon. Once you see a voluntary post, it will be about the time that West Wing starts it's eighth season.

Keep it TAC'ed.

Midday Musings

Apparently I need to stay on top of my blogging. Things have been pretty crazy the past few weeks. I'm in the process of graduating college. Notice I said in the process of, haven't finished yet.

I finished up my internship at Carmichael Training Systems and I applied for a job as a cycling coach. Pretty fun stuff, I spent three days last week in Colorado Springs as part of the interviewing process.

Glad to have that behind me I've turned my attention to finishing school and hangout seshes. Things have been good, I've finally been able get out on the bike a time or two and there might be a possibility that I come out of retirement this weekend. So if you're in the 828 you should swing by...

I really should add some sweet pics to this post but I'm typing on my iPod which is proving to be more than difficult than it looks. And I just lost the Internet soo yeah.