Chewed Up and Spat Out the Back of the Pack!

Okay, so you remember that chest/head cold I was telling you about earlier this week? The one that kept me from school on Monday and that I was still dealing with when I had my colonoscopy? Well, I still had it with me today which totally sucked because I was really looking forward to today's group ride. I finally got it worked out so I could go on a ride with the Open/AA group and I did everything right. I got a good night's sleep, I packed the night before, I hydrated, I did it all - except get over my cold.

My habit lately (okay the three times a year I've been riding with these guys - the last ride I had with the group was two months ago) has been to ride to the departure point to loosen up my legs. Only today, I knew from the get go that I didn't have the legs - I just didnt' have the snap in my legs that I normally have.

Then once I got there I saw some very impressive looking riders getting ready. Of course I had my usual preride bicycle envy but I realize that I have to just make do with what I have and focus on stamina, technique and tactics instead of carbon fiber and 10/11 cogs on the back. Now the plan was for the "Open" group (the really fast hammerheads) and the "AA" group (designated as those riders who maintain a 17 to 18 mph average) to begin riding in a parallel fashion - think of it sort of like parallel play with toddlers; only at 18-25 miles per hour!

Well, we started out well enough and I was able to stay right in the mix until we got to the Dix Hills area. At that point we started getting strung out as the "Open" riders took off over the rollers and the "AA" crew were staying together and trying to keep them in sight which ultimately didn't happen. So we labored along for a while knowing well that they were going to turn around and we'd see them again. There were five of us AA guys at that point with Mel as our fearless leader.

I was able to hang with the pack through most of the Dix Hills rollers but on the way back the Open boys took off again and I was driving at the front of the AA contingent with Mel on my wheel when I was almost the victim of a "Drive By Chipmunking"! Its similar to a "Drive By Squirreling" (http://www.bentrideronline.com/messageboard/showthread.php?t=36480 ) which looks like this at the end only involving chipmunks: (unfortunately, I think a squirrel was harmed in the making of this photo)

Lucky for me they were only "playing" (or so we euphamistically call it in front of the wee ones)and chased each other out on the road, rolled around a bit and then took off when I was about 18" from squishing them. This is the view I got right before they darted back into the trees:

From there it was a pull to try to get back onto the path with the Open riders. I'm really not sure why we were trying to catch up with them again as I thought the entire point was for us to eventually split off when the group broke up.

Anyway, to make a long story short, I kept up with the group until we got back to Northport, 25+ mph sprints and all. Its just that I was coughing up stuff most of the time and I just didn't have any "snap" in my legs. I could hold on but I couldn't accelerate as quickly as I usually do. It was then that I decided to cut my losses and just drop off and head for home. This is pretty much the view I had as I watched them slowly pull away from me along the road towards Fort Solonga.

Could I have pushed hard and sprinted and latched onto someone's wheel? Probably, but in the end I went home, cut the grass and played with my kids - overall a good day - I had a great bike ride, got my "chores" done and still had time (and energy) left to play with the kids! I guess sometimes getting chewed up and spat out isn't such a bad thing!

Stay well my friends and even a bad ride is better than no ride at all! Even if you're covered in mucus from having been chewed up and spat out!

Jose Say Can You See?

So tonight was my second annual outing as the conductor for the Ocean Avenue Elementary Traveling Youth Choir (OAETYC). Okay, so it's not really an official group but its fun to say it. It really is a fun experience despite all the child wrangling - actually, that's the biggest part of the experience, aside from learning what key the kids will sing in (this year it's the key of D) so that the low notes aren't too low for the girls and the high notes aren't too high for the boys.


But its a great experience for the kids, they all gather around the microphone like an old time bluegrass band (only with 24 members);

Now granted, except for last year and this year I haven't conducted since the class I had to take in High School in Ansbach but some of the skills I've picked up from the various choirs and shows I've been in came in handy in reminding me how to conduct. It may not have had the effect on the audience that it had on Danny Glover in Angels in the Outfield;



But it's always a great experience for the kids as they sounded great and they were broadcast live up on the jumbotron television out in right center field! (and no, nobody ACTUALLY said "Jose can you see?" and yes, if you look closely, that's Adrian Brody playing the befuddled baseball player). The kids then went on to have a great time as we all enjoyed the ball park fare and watched the ducks pull out a 3-2 win. The top of the ninth inning was great as we were all up on our feet watching the Ducks get the Maryland Bluecrabs out 1-2-3!

We then went home and dragged the kids up to bed. Me? I'm going to go prepare for my first ride with the Open/AA ride in two months! Wish me luck. Its not a matter of WILL I get dropped - it's a matter of WHEN!

Stay well and if you're on the road tomorrow - HONK! Or better yet, QUACK real loud!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Okay, so for a boy who although not raised in Texas, still considers himself FROM Texas last night was an incredible birthday meal. You see, its been almost 16 years since I've been back to my parent's house and I haven't had decent Texas fare since then. Sooooo, when Amy decided to take me out for dinner and I found myself at one of the best BBQ places on the Island I was ecstatic. If you've never been there - you need to go. Although the spicy sauce could have been spicier, the brisket and sausage were out of this world - so tender, so juicy, so flavorful, so - excuse me, I need to go wipe the drool off my chin!

I'm back! For your own edification, check out their menu - http://www.smokinals.com/ordereze/Menu/MenuItems.aspx. Good stuff, Maynard! Unfortunately, my insides were still acting up from the MyLax concoction so I couldn't completely savor it all. That's okay, there was so much left over I had it again on my actual birthday - WOOHOOO!

Today I want to thank all my students who wished me well - especially all of you my facebook friends! It made me feel really special - especially since I haven't been feeling that way for a while now - BECAUSE NONE OF YOU HAVE OFFICIALLY SIGNED UP TO FOLLOW MY BLOG (Yeah, you Jason Lederman and all the others who say you read my blog!)! So there.

No, actually I've been feeling pretty much as if I'm just coasting through life right now and despite all the wonderful things my students said on Saturday night (and trust me, the tears I shed at your words were SOOOOOO genuine - I was completely blown away by some of your words) I still don't feel like I've done much with my life. Yes, I know Amy would argue with me over that but its not really a question of someone telling me, its what I feel - I don't FEEL like I've done enough to help my fellow human beings, I don't really FEEL like I'm all that good of a person. But I guess that's just in my makeup - I'm probably never going to think I'm good enough and I don't really know how to resolve that.

But enough of the pity party for one. This blog is really about the fact that I am so grateful for my family - both immediate, distant and "adoptive". You really have supported me through so much this year, heck these last two months and I know I couldn't have gotten through without you.

So, I got a great birthday present in that my admin classes are over for a month, my family gave me a gift certificate for a one-hour message and I got to eat some REALLY good barbeque! Life really does have its ups! Tomorrow we go to the Ducks game and sing the "Star Spangled Banner" - wish us luck!

Stay well, y'all!

Are Those Aliens Back There?

So, a few months ago I had a medical issue which caused my doctor to be a bit concerned so she sent me to a GI specialist (gastrointestinal) to investigate further. He looked me over and said that even though I would normally not have to worry about a colonoscopy for quite a few years he wanted me to have one because he wasn't too happy with what he was seeing, considering I was so (relatively), young.

Well, today was the day of the "probing". I had started to come down with something on Sunday and when I woke up Monday morning I realized that if I didn't nip this chest cold/coughing seizure fit in the bud it would probably negate my procedure. Considering the fact I had to book it two months in advance as it was, I was not too happy at the prospect at having to put it off - especially if the doctor was concerned enough to have me go through this procedure about five years earlier than I normally would. So, I stayed home. I wasn't too proud about it but I had to get better because I needed to find out what he was so concerned about.

Then yesterday was one of the worst "healthy" days I've had in a while. Now you always hear people joking about the stuff you have to take for the colonoscopy and the results of the concoction but you think its just a joke, that they're not serious - YES THEY ARE! The original plan was to go into school for a half day and then come home and finish the process. However, the instructions called for starting with a jump start pill combo at 10:00 - by 11:00 I was feeling the effects to put it mildly. An hour later I started drinking the Mylax/Gatorade combo and pretty much the rest of the day it was like using a liquid toilet snake on my insides. Nothing stayed in, not even jello! It wasn't fun! I got to have a milkshake for dinner but that was the only high point. Add to that the fact I still had a chest cold/runny nose/headache going on and I was miserable.

Then there was today. Granted I didn't have anything to eat since midnight so I was a bit light headed anyway. Sarah's harp needed to be taken up to the school becuase she had round two of "Ocean's Got Talent" (she was a first round winner - woohoo!) coming up and her harp needed to be there so she could play 'Sally Gardens". I took it up and then waited for Amy to walk up with the kids so we could go to the 'facility".

We got there and it was a little surreal. To say I was the youngest patient in the waiting room by a good 20 years (not counting Amy) is probably not an exaggeration. I kept thinking, "why am I here? I can't have as much going on inside as them." Finally they called my name, took my vitals and got me all comfortable in my bed. I was ready for a nap! Then they brought out the needle for the IV!

Now I have donated blood in the past, even on one occasion to get out of jury duty - long story - and I know Amy gave so much blood when trying to have the kids that she is so used to needles. However, I still get skeeved out by them and this was no exception - it was made doubly worse by the fact that due to my dehydrated state my veins weren't popping up in their usual healthy manner! Thank goodness the nurse was REALLY good and got me on the first try.

Since the place they were holding me was also where patients were recovering from their "procedures" so I got to hear what the doctor was telling them about what was seen and prognoses and when they needed to come back - more on that later.

Eventually they came to get me and wheel me into the room. Now, it has to be said here that I am scared to death of "going under" when it comes to anesthesia. When I had my ankle reconstruction I had a spinal and I was conscious for the entire operation. This time that wasn't an option and I had to do it by going under - @$$*&%@! It was a little surreal as I watched them inject a thick white fluid into the IV. I remember thinking, "wow, that's awfully thick stuff. I wonder how long it takes to zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz." I was out! It was at that point that I think the little green men with almond eyes came in the room!

I woke up later and I felt fine! I wasn't woozy and I could move all of my limbs and digits! I waited until they told me I could get dressed and go to the "recovery" part of the room. As I was finishing my juice and pretzels Dr. Suh came in and said he wanted me to go to the front room to talk to him and go over my results. This is/was very disconcerting as everyone else he had spoken too he had conversations with right there in the recovery room. Why did he want me up front?

He then said he wanted to call Amy in and inside I freaked out even more. He went over the results (they had two remove a few polyps and there was something else going on with the lining of my colon at one spot) and then said he would want to see me again in a year! Now everyone else he had spoken to (some who looked in their 70's) he said he would see in three to five years and yet he wanted me back in a year! So to put it midly, Amy and I have been a bit freaked out all day. We don't know what to expect. Now, I'm sure part of it is due to the family history with the various forms of cancer has something to do with it but still, its a bit disconcerting - hopefully I'll find out in a week that all is well.

And now I'm home and I'm still feeling the effects of the anesthesia and the MyLax cocktail. One of the things I find most amusing is the the warnings and things I'm procribed AGAINST doing - no vigorous exercise, no alchohol (damn), no driving (duh!) and my favorite NO OPERATING HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES! Sorry sweetheart, can't load the dishwasher - it might tip over on me.

And so now I'm recuperating nicely, and getting ready to pick up the kids from school so I can conduct "The Star Spangled Banner" to the 24 combined 4th and 5th graders who will be singing at the Ducks game on Friday! No worries, all we have to do is figure out the right key to sing it in and I need to stay away from any appliances in the process!

Stay well and I'll see you on the road (as soon as I'm allowed to operate my bike!)!

38.53 or 19.5

	Chicago - 25 or 6 to 4 .mp3
	Found at bee mp3 search engine

Okay, so its not exactly the hit song from the group Chicago but today was a great day in the annuls of Connor's Armydom!

You see, it was THE official RIDE YOUR BIKE TO WORK DAY as previously seen in an earlier post. Today was the day we were all to get off our kiesters and ride our bikes to work, trying for the life of us not to look like this;

Of course, if we can all get out a little more often on our bicycles, we won't look like that, we could look more like this;

Or, if you're in a particularly crazy/silly/sociopathic/off your medication mood, you could get the family pets involved and it would look somthing like this;

or even this;

(to the best of my knowledge, no pets were harmed in the making of these)

Well, considering the day, I guess all this silliness is to be expected. It's been an interesting two days (my guilt at not riding more than twice on Bike to Work Week notwithstanding) at the Syosset Association of Creative Thespians home theater!

You see, for those of you who don't know (and where have you been, hmmmm) this week we're presenting our production of The Merchant of Venice set in Italy in 1938. Things have been going roughly and our lead actress has been battling illness all week running anywhere from 100 to 104 degree temperatures. But she's a trooper and she was trying to make the run happen. She made it through the first act and then she couldn't make it any more. I went backstage at intermission and found her hanging over a bucket. But being the fighter she is, she wanted to keep going. I had to go get her parents to get her and take her home.

Fortunately, the actress who had been playing the Duchess (yes, a little gender bending is always part of the action here when we put Shakespeare on stage) had been prepped earlier in the day and was ready to step forward script in hand. Another young actress who had been playing the part of "Stephanie" the messenger took over the Duchess role and with scripts in hand they attacked the parts. I made an announcement before the second half and the show went on! It was a great effort, the kids all pulled together beautifully and opening night was saved. It was the first time in 13 years and 38 productions this had happened but we got through!

Tonight was another testimony to the fortitude of our young actors as the ladies who took over the roles last night had to go on again. The production wasn't as sharp as last night (partly due to exhaustion) but the ladies were much stronger in their roles and the young lady taking over for Portia brought tears to my eyes (she knows who she is) - these kids never cease to amaze me.

So, tomorrow is the last time on the main stage for many of my young senior actors and they will never know how much I will miss them. Its the same every year, the faces of my actors change and I'm always here being the same. It's like that song by the Weepies, "And the World Spins Madly On".

	The Weepies - World Spins Madly On .mp3
	Found at bee mp3 search engine

It's the way I feel every year when my students graduate, I feel like they all pass me by and I'm standing still - ahh, such is the life of the teacher!

Oh, and the cryptic heading to this post? This morning on my commute in it took me 38.53 minutes and I averaged 19.5 milese per hour - how's that for Ride(ing) Your Bike to Work Day?

Stay well and I will see you out there!