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!

Beat Me with a Wet Noodle!

Well all I have to say is mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa. Here it is the Wednesday of "Bike to Work Week" and I'm just now riding my bike to school. To be honest, Monday wasn't practical because this is the week of the show (at long last The Merchant of Venice appears at good old SHS!) and I was at school until 9:00 at night. Now while that isn't normally a problem, with it being pitch black and me knowing I would be dog tired, I wimped out and decided to drive. My wife heartily approved that message.

On Tuesday it rained like cats and dogs so riding that day was out of the question as well. Again, riding on the bike at 9:00 at night while it is pouring outside is not the ideal situation for a safe commute - especially when I'm tired from my usual 14 hour day and not at my best with reaction time.

So that brings me to today - MY FIRST DAY RIDING TO WORK! it was not my best ride in and I knew I wasn't going to be riding home but I had a great time. Just to be able to stretch my legs and climb the hills - even if it was on the Frankenbike!

Actually I've come to realize that the Frankenbike is a great one for a straight commute there and back. It takes up the shock of the road really well, it's stable and more forgiving on the bumpy Long Island roads. Its a bit heavier on the climbs but on the straight aways, once I get my momentum up my average mph is about the same! So I think Pearl (that's what I call her, for she's old but fast and, well, she's black) is becoming my commuting bike of habit while Betty (again, she's newer, faster and, well, black) is more for riding with the club, charity events and centuries.

But I digress, what else is new? So, Bike to Work Week is not going as swimmingly as I originally had hoped and after all that build up I deserve to be beaten with a wet noodle (hence the title and fun photo - NO CHILDREN WERE HARMED IN THE MAKING OF THE VISUAL ART). However, the show is going amazingly well and I plan to ride a lot more this week so come see the show and witness for yourself the fact that Shakespeare is alive and well in Syosset, NY!

Stay well and I'll see you on the road!

This Sucks!!!!!!!

Okay, on top of the fact that I needed to get over the fact that David's birthday was yesterday, I also got the bad news that the video my dream team (again, for those of you who didn't read the earlier post that would be Dan Incalcaterra, Dan Kahn, and Phil Rosenberg) created for the Win Any Bike contest from Bicycling Magazine did not make the finals. What the heck. On top of the other news it just left me feeling like this; Well, I guess since I didn't win, I can actually post it on my site. So here goes;

So, it didn't happen. I'm not bitter, the guys did a great job. I'm just real bummed out because I really wanted the chance to get a new bike for the cross country ride. I don't need a carbon frame, I don't need a Pinarello Prince (or similar "race" bike) but I do need to get something that's going to make it 3,000 miles without breaking down.

So, my next option is to start saving money and see if Chuck can still help me with the Trek Cyclocross bike. Granted, I'm so much better off with my bike collection (A Scattante that I built up myself with Ultegra/105/Bontrager components, my Diamondback "Frankenbike", and my GT mountain bike) but to be honest none of them will make the long haul over the mountains and the plains between San Diego and Wheatley Heights, NY.

I am thinking of writing some letters to various bike manufacturers and seeing if one of them will take pity on me. We were going to write to BP and see if they would give us a gas card - I don't think that's happening anymore, unless they want the good press.

So, we're going to start planning the logistics for the trip in earnest now. We're going to redo the website to reflect the new fundraising efforts and hopefully we'll get some people to donate to that effort and send some kids to camp!

Okay, writing to you I feel better - but only slightly! It's still National Bike Month and I'm going to ride my bike and make myself feel better!

Stay well!

A Rough Day

Again, I am casting my bottles on the waves in the hopes that someone will find them and read them. I'm not sure why since I don't have the Victory Ride to encourage people to join. To a large extent writing is cathartic for me and allows me to express some of the things I feel on a (somewhat) regular basis. I'm certain that today's posting will be in bits in pieces throughout the day so bare with me.

Today is a rough day and to be honest I didn't think it would be. I guess it all started last night with the lack of sleep. I woke up at 2:00 and couldn't get back to sleep. I know my restlessness was disturbing to Amy and I hate keeping her up since she gets so little sleep as it is. After a half hour I finally took myself downstairs and read for a while before falling asleep on the couch.

When I woke up I had an epiphany of what was bothering me, at least partly. Today is David's birthday. I have been thinking about this day for a few weeks now and about an hour ago my watch alarm went off to remind me of that fact. I have to say that it's been on my mind all day long and since I rolled off the line to start my ride to school I've been thinking about David - mainly about my family in TN and how they are coping today. As I've written, due to the circumstances of life I didn't get to spend as much time with my brother as I had wished. Nevertheless, through Tamara I felt connected with David as she always let me know what was going on with him. The news about his riding his bike to work was hard for me to hear because it showed that no matter what, I had an effect on him. And now that connection is gone. The day has been rough because I know no matter how hard the day has been on me, it has been ten times worse for everyone in Knoxville.

My prayers are with you guys - David, I will ride with you one day, just keep your bike ready.

Okay, its time to get on the road and ride home - stay well my friends.

Happy Tuba (and No Pants) Day!

For those of you who don't know, there was a time in my life when I played the tuba (sousaphone during marching band season) - primarily during my senior year of high school. I had started as an euphonium player and then switched to also playing trombone, electric bass and then the director told me he needed me to play tuba for concert band. Then during my last fall in Germany I didn't play football because we would be transferring mid-season so instead I joined my friend Ed Trevarrow as the other sousaphonist in the marching band. Now remember, I was 4'11" tall at this point and the sousaphone was almost as tall as me. Ed, on the other hand was 6'5" - it was a sight to behold.

When I moved to Killeen, TX and had to audition for the various bands at Ellison High School, they already had enough trombonage in the jazz band so I ended up playing electric tuba (a transducer was added somehow) for stage band - I think the highlight of my career there was being in the stage band when we opened for Maynard Ferguson;

I then proceeded to graduate from high school and I haven't played a brass instrument since.

However, I have continued with one of the other passions that I found in high school and that Ed and I used to do together - cycling. So the opening shot could be considered a trip down my memory lane of things that Connor used to do in high school!

What else is today? Aparently its National Child Care Provider Day, Children's Mental Health Awareness Day, World Asthma Day, and No Pants Day! Really? We have to have a national decree telling us its alright to not wear pants? I think my good friend The Bikesnob (okay, he's not my good friend but I do read his blog a lot) would relish the opportunity to celebrate this day - as I'm sure nudists everywhere are doing. I would post some pictures of people vigourously and joyously celebrating this holiday but I don't want to lose my PG rating. So Instead, I'll include this posting of an article from a website entitled "We Hate Pants". You can visit them at http://www.wehatepants.com/index.php/Home

Does wearing bike shorts today count as no pants? Hmmmm......

Also, for those of you who have been following this (I realy wish I knew if I had any followers - IF THERE ARE ANY OF YOU OUT THERE, CLICK ON THE LINK TO THE RIGHT AND BECOME A FOLLOWER! Tell your friends to follow it - if I know people are following me and commenting maybe I'll come up with more interesting introspection) you'd know that today is the day that Bicycling Magazine is supposed to list the semi-finalists of the "Win Any Bike" contest. Well they have a posting saying its not going to be announced until May 11. So, go on to their site and view my video and make some comments, rate it, tell them its good and maybe I'll make it to the semis!

But I digress. The IMPORTANT thing is that its still National Bike Month and its a gorgeous day out there so tuba or no tuba find a good time today to enjoy the weather, put your two wheels in motion and try not to run into a parked car!

That's all for now peeps (to quote High School Musical),

Stay well and I'll see you on the road.

Doing Your Part to Save the World

Okay, so today I'm riding my bike to work and I'm having a great ride (despite the killer crosswind) and I'm thinking about how incredible it is to be able to do this. It really is one of my favorite parts of the day and it does clear my head of all the crazy things running through it.

Then I go onto CNN.com and I see that I should be proud because I am doing my part to help John Lequizamo save the world:

I mean, c'mon - Sid the Sloth needs our help and who are we to deny him in his time of need?

Yes, I'm being facetious if you haven't already figured that out. Why is it that the only time places like CNN think it is worthwhile to cover something as important as biking as a way of life is if a celebrity does it? What about all the other commuters out there who've been doing it for years? The same thing annoys me about Bicycling Magazine. In the latest issue (I think we're up to June on the stands now) they profile Laird Hamilton. Now while I think he's the gnarliest surfer ever why is it that they don't profile a more normal person - like the ones I pass all the time on my way to work? Or Dhani James, linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals;

http://www.bicycling.com/article/0,6610,s1-3-12-22441-1,00.html

Its the same all over, a cause isn't worthy of consideration unless a celebrity does it. You can raise a ton of money if someone famous endorses you. Its enough to make you want to get someone like Justin Bieber to promote Soft Toilet Tissue Awareness Month to see if people will get up in arms about the quality of their toilet tissue. Or even better, perhaps he can be a spokesperson for the Perils of Lactose Intolerance;

Forget about meeting him - unless it is YOUR opportunity to stand next to him and help People with Lactose Intolerance everywhere!!!!

What is it about our society? No wonder charities are having such a hard time meeting their operating costs and being able to give aid to those in need.

Yes, its National Bike Month but go out there and ride your bike because YOU want to, because YOU want to make the environment better - but not because a famous person tells you to be like them.

So, I will see YOU on the road!

Ride YOUR Bike to Work Month

Okay, its out of hand! Did you know that the merry month of May is full of all sorts of fun celebrations? http://www.brownielocks.com/may.html

It makes one want to cavort in a meadow and happily celebrate Beltaine!

(yes, the above is from an actual Beltaine Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland)

And yet, for those of us who don't find ourselves in a Celtic based environment, this seasonal celebration found many of us doing other things. Fortunately for me, it was still spent joyously celebrating nature as I mowed my lawn and reseeded the front! But I did get to experience the excitement of Sarah coming in as the winning run (see previous post) in her softball game.

May seems to be the month for many interesting National (United States, that is) observations and celebrations. Did you know that this week is Bread Pudding Recipe exchange week? Here's my favorite: http://www.momswhothink.com/easy-recipes/bread-pudding-recipe.html from an old Amish recipe. Its also Teacher Appreciation week, National Anxiety & Depression Awareness Week, National Hug Holiday Wek, Kids Win Week, National Wildflower Week, Update Your References Week and Intimate Apparel Market Week (also observed in February 1-4, August 2-5 and November 1-4, apparently you can't have enough). Its also Dating and Life Coach Recognition Week. So, if you have a dating coach that has helped you up your supply of intimate apparel, you should definitely recognize them appreciate all they've done for you.

But what really gets me excited about this month is that it is NATIONAL BIKE MONTH!!!!!!! May 17-21 is National Bike to Work Week and May 21 is NATIONAL BIKE TO WORK DAY!!!!!! I love this month. Not only because of the fact that May 20 marks the day I became married to my lovely bride Amy, my birthday is on the 27th. In terms of gifts, I like gift cards to Performancebike.com - in case you were wondering.

But its also when you need to get out and bike!!!!!! Enjoy it, whether its your first time on a bike (and please be advised, the following has happened to me many times - well, not recently, but I did once run into a parked car);

(I honestly can't tell you if any children were harmed in the making of this video)

or, if you are a seasoned pro whose been riding for many years;

I think the point is to get out on your bike, find a reason to ride and do it!!!! Dust off that bike that's been collecting rust for far too long and clean it up, lube it up and go for it - even if its a for a ride around the block! Or racing a sports car

I for one have many reasons to ride - my sisters, my mother, the kids at Sunrise Day Camp, my brother David and for all of those who fight against cancer! I'm riding in the rain these days, I'm riding in the heat and I'm riding in the cold! Do you have to be as insane? No, but just tell yourself you'll look for every opportunity to get out and get on your bike - to go to the grocery store, to rund various other errands, ride to work, ride to practice, ride to school - just ride. And as you do it, remember there are so many others who can't ride right now, and then pedal just a little bit harder for them.

Stay well and I WILL see you out there!

It's the Bottom of the Sixth....

I haven't really mentioned much about the athletic pursuits of my children. As a kid and a teenager I personally tried very hard (much to my father's chagrin) to be an athlete. I was okay but never anything exceptional. I sort of got close in High School (good old Ansbach High School - http://www.ansb-hs.eu.dodea.edu/) with wrestling because it was something that small people could potentially do well. I suppose if my high school would have had more of a male gymnastics program I would have gotten into that. Instead, wrestling was the sport I came the closest to being really good at and I trained hard to do well at it. I would get up and run every morning before school and I trained in the off-season. Hey, when you're 4'10" (yes, I can hear the song from A Chorus Line running in my head even now) you've got to do something that takes advantage of your size.


Of course, I still got picked on (even by my own team mates) and in the spring I tried my hand at baseball. I played in the outfield (mainly center) because I could catch and I had a strong arm so I could throw really well but I was terrible at infield (a bouncing ball to the face left me a little skittish about grounders) and I couldn't hit very well at all. It wasn't until years later that I found out the main reason was because I had needed glasses - my astigmatism just wasn't letting me see the ball clearly enough to hit it! I really have to hand it to my father and his patience with his marginally athletic son. He even coached my little leauge team back when we were in California (I was about 10) because no one else wanted to coach and even though he was a master sargeant (and had a good degree of responsibility) working another job in the evenings and raising me by himself he found time to coach my team. If I couldn't hit in high school, I was even more dismal in elementary school but my dad had a good sense of humor about it.

So, it is only fitting that in the circle of life I now find myself an assistant coach of my boys' little league team. Its very cute as its only a step up from t-ball. The coaches pitch to the players on their own team while the other team is in the field. We pitch until the kid gets a hit and then they advance one base (two if they get it over the fence), the last batter knocks in everyone who is still on base. Its a step up from the shark like feeding frenzy of t-ball when all the kids go after every ball. Now we're teaching them about skills and positions and they can make catches and tag the other players out if they tag the runner or the base so in that way its also a step up from t-ball.

Sarah has been on the fringes of wanting to play baseball for a while. She has been the only girl in the "Fall Ball" clinics in her age group and she was the only girl in the 5th to 7th grade level Winter Skills clinic. Towards the end of the clinic she had made up her mind that she wanted to try her hand at baseball. However it became clear to Amy and me that she didn't have the arm strength (or the bat strength) to compete with the boys and she would probably end up batting last and/or sitting on the bench. As someone who did that his first year of high school baseball I didn't want the same thing to happen to her. Sooooooo, we used our powers of persuasion (Amy's really good at it) to convince her to give softball a go. She now plays for the "Epic Red Hots" (a name she's not all that thrilled about, our little environmentalist wanted "Red Hawks") and she's one of three fifth grade girls on the team. She's a good player, not a standout but she's smart and she's getting better all the time.

Well, last night we had an "Epic" game. It was going pretty well at the beginning and Sarah was making some good plays. Her friend Gabby (another fifth grader) was at short stop and Sarah was in left field. She's smart and she knows to cover third base but her attention wanders. Things were going well through the fourth inning as our starting pitcher kept the other team to four runs and we were up by six. However, in the next two innings they scored seven runs and we only scored two more. I have to preface what happened next by saying that I've been at all of Sarah's games and some of her practices and I wanted to help out. Not that I want to coach another team mind you but I offered to keep the score book so the assistant coach Kathy could focus on coaching.

Well, we get to the bottom of the sixth inning and its 7:20 and we think the game is over - we won by one run, 12 - 11. WRONG! In the confusion of the fifth inning (it was a little crazy as they were scoring a bunch of runs and we got a double play) I missed a run - THE OTHER TEAM HAD 12! So here it was, tied up and Sarah was first up to bat.

Now you have to understand, Sarah is not a power hitter. She has a few things going her way, she's fast and she's a lefty. Her coaches have been trying to get her to bunt because if she lays it down to the left side she'll be almost to first base before they even get the ball, thats how fast she is. Earlier in the game she had a single, a strike out, and a strike out. She's not an agressive hitter and she sometimes lets pitches go by. However, AND HERE'S WHERE THE STORY TAKES OFF, its the bottom of the sixth, the last inning, the score is tied, no outs and Sarah is up to bat!

Well, she fouled one off, got a ball and then swung and missed. At this point I'm praying and crossing my fingers ("just let her get on base, just let her get on base") when she gives a hard swing and the ball catches the bottom of the bat and thuds down hard into the soft dirt two feet from home plate - and just sits there. Sarah takes off like a shot and before they can get the throw out she's on first base!

Next up is Sarah's team mate Bridget. She takes a ball and then one of the pitches gets away from the catcher - and Sarah's off like a shot. She's usually hesitant to steal bases but this time she listens to the first base coach and she's off!!!!!! She makes it safe to second. Here we are, no outs, Sarah is the winning run on second base and Bridget's up. After Bridget is the strongest part of our lineup so its only a matter of time.

Bridget hits the ball and it goes to the second baseman who then proceeds to throw Bridget out at first. In the meantime Sarah runs to third and the first baseman throws to third but is too late and in the meantime, OVERTHROWS THE BASE!!!! At this point we are all yelling at Sarah to run home, run home, run home! She rounds third and rushes into home and we're all holding our breath hoping she's fast enough and that she won't be thrown out! Sarah jumps onto home plate with both feet and gives her "rocker hands" salute! RRRREEEEEDDDDD HOOOOOTTTTSSSSSS WIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!

The best part was seeing all her teammates give her hugs and high fives and after they lined up and congratulated each other on the game the team did a victory lap of the bases and Sarah led them all!!!!! At the end of the game Coach Burke awarded Sarah the game ball! She has not let go of it since.

My eyes still have tears in them as I think about what just happened. I don't know if Jeff understands just how imortant his small gesture was to Sarah. She has had an up and down year and it has had far too many downs. She needed this little bit of self affirmation to remind her that she has so many wonderful attributes and that she is an incredible little girl. Yes, her environmental work is great and she received an award that has never been given to someone her age - and yet, to be the winning run and have her team mates think she is awesome, even for just one day makes such a difference in her confidence.

It doesn't matter what they do for their day job - coaches are teachers and they can make as big a difference to our children as we classroom teachers do every day. They can build up our children's confidence or they can tear it down. Jeff just reminded me so powerfully that the support we give our young charges - whether they are the best and the brightest, the stars, the natural borns or the neophytes - is so important and makes all the difference. I only hope I can remember this lesson as I work with the children of others.

So, sorry its not about cycling this time, but a lesson for us all nevertheless - our words, our gestures, our shows of kindness make all the difference - pass it on!

Stay well and I'll see you on the road!