21 October 2008

A Lost Day

Not sure how I feel today.  Recovery has been tougher than I thought it would be.  Jet lag, the ride, the heat, the sense that the whole thing is done...I'm not sure what is causing it.

Haven't eaten much since Saturday night.  Ate almost nothing on Sunday...a biscuit for breakfast, shared a bag of snack mix with Spooner on the plane, and had some subway on Sunday night.  

No breafast, no lunch on Monday...went out to dinner with family on Monday evening to Carrabas (a place where I can generally be counted upon to stuff myself!) and ate almost nothing.  Half a bowl of soup and some bread.  Brought my pasta home.

Still not hungry today...no food yet.  I figure I've eaten about 1000 calories since Sunday morning.  That is a trend that is distinctly in contrast to my normal, glutonous, habits.

Plus, I just feel weird.  Not too sore.  Not too stiff.  More like sad, I guess.  My head was really loopy all day yesterday.  Felt like I had a bad case of medicine head.  Sort of a slow motion type of a day.

Today is similar.  My head feels clearer, but hardly clear. I'm still feeling sort of lost.  I'll probably feel better after the ride tonight...I need to get some cool air in my lungs, get some miles in my legs, and try to clear my head.

I'm not whining, mind you.  Or, at least, I'm not trying to...you may disagree.  I suppose I'm just not sure what to do.  I have the day off.  Karin and the kids are gone.  I have the house to myself.  Sounds like a great time for a nap...but, I'm not tired.  Not hungry.  And, not the least bit motivated to do anything.

I need to ride tonight!

19 October 2008

Bloggin from Death Valley

Well...it's over.  I'm done.  I quit.  feh.

Death Valley is an astonishing place.  Alien in a way that defies my ability to describe...and, thus, a totally unique riding experience.  A vast expanse of sand, gravel and rocks.  A concrete ribbon winding across the salt, the scrub, and the vast, unexplainable expanse.

The ride was brutal...the length, the climb at the end, the utterly oppressive unending heat.  I was tired at the end in a way that I've never been before.  I was totally, completely, fully spent.  The road hurt, the checkpoints healed.  Each checkpoint along the way was an opportunity to return to some level of humanity.  Then, it was back to the road and back to being a machine...unthinking, unending, pedaling machine...with a broken radiator! Overheating wasn't a momentary problem to be fixed.  It was a way of life.  It was the primary feature of my existence for about 8 hours.

Why keep going?  Because I said I would.  Because my wife, my kids, my family, and my friends were pulling for me.  Because of that little picture of Katie's daughters on my handlebars.  Because DiD, Rick, and Spooner were there, suffering with me...as a team.  Looking out for one another.  Pulling for one another.  Because there were people on that course who were going to be out there a lot longer than me...and they weren't going to quit.  Because the coaches were out there, in force, helping people pedal...a lot...making multiple trips up Jubilee pass...and, if they weren't quiting, how could I?

In the end, it was another team mate, Ted, who got me home.  He finished his ride, turned around, and went back on the course to help people out.  He found me with about 4 miles to go...and, helped drag me home.  He had a cold bottle of water...a rare treat on the course.  He broke the wind in front of me.  He talked to me. He made me think about things other than how much I hurt.  He was, in short, awesome.  Yet, he is typical of the type of people on this team.

DiD, made multiple trips up Jubilee pas in order to help some people out.  Jasker?  Same deal.  Ted went back out again after he helped me.

So, why would I ever do this again?  Because it would be an injustice to the team that helped me if I didn't help someone next year.

See you then!

17 October 2008

Death Valley

What an astonishing place this is...what a day, what a great group of people, what an experience.

Up early this morning, I was already excited.  Slept light last night because I had so much on my mind...a long day of travel didn't help that.  Thinking too much is what I do...like its my JOB.  Grand Rapids to Chicago, Chicago to Las Vegas, on the bus from Vegas to Death Valley.  All told, it was a good 12 hours of traveling.

I listened to some music, watched a movie, and started on a book I borrowed from a friend (thanks Erin!).  I was able to keep myself from going nuts...but, I wouldn't say it was a fun day.

But, with all that said, getting here this afternoon made it worth while.  Unpacked, got my bike and set it up, tossed on my swimsuit and hopped in the pool.  Hung out with the gang, laughed, traded some jokes and some barbs...had a great dinner and then watched the moon come up over the mountains.  The sky is so dark and so clear...I'm watching the stars as I type this and it is simply breath taking.

Thanks, MC, for talking me in to this.  I know you didn't have to twist my arm too badly...I was a pretty willing participant.  But, still, if you hadn't asked I wouldn't be here enjoying this evening.  And, I'm damn glad to be here.  What a place!

11 October 2008

Busy Week...

This coming week is going to be a busy one...so, if I'm tough to get ahold of...my apologies.

Sunday I'm heading in for about 4 hours of work early in the morning.  Then, straight to VCC to do a little ride with MC, Linda, and hopefully DID, Keith, J2, etc.  Then, straight home to catch a movie on Dove Films with Karin and the kids.

Monday I'm getting up early (4AM) and grabbing a rental car from the airport.  On the road by 6AM to Toledo. Toledo by 9AM to help with some training, inventory prep, merchandising, D2 conference call, etc.  Work until about 6 or 7PM, then hit the road for Akron...in Akron by about 10PM.

Tuesday I'm up early to do an all day troubleshooting session in Akron.  Inventory prep, receiving, etc...probably be there all day.  Crash there Tuesday night.

Wednesday morning I'm up early again and heading for Cleveland.  Short day doing training there...then, home to Grand Rapids.  Work a few hours in my store, then home.

Thursday...up early again.  Drop off the rental at the airport and hop on a plane to Vegas.  Bus to Death Valley.

Friday, up early for safety seminar and a tune-up ride.  Hike through the canyons in teh afternoon and the banquet in the evening.

Saturday up early for 100+ miles of cycling across Death Valley.  Dehydration?  Yes, please.  Can I have that with a side of fries?

Sunday, up early to hop back on a plane to Grand Rapids.

Whew...should be an interesting week.  Somewhere in there I should try to find some time to eat, sleep, and pack.  Yikes.

08 October 2008

Need some help

I really need some help...Karin was installing the MS Vista SP1 update on her computer when it failed to reboot.  Now the computer will no longer boot in to the operating system.  And, therefore, is useless.

I've now spent two evenings on the phone with MS technical support...and, they have been awesome.  They've really tried just about EVERYTHING to get this thing up and running.  But, we are just plain out of options.  What I really need is a copy of the operating system so that we can replace some of the files that were corrupted.

Unfortunately, neither mine nor Karin's notebook came with a copy of Vista on DVD.  All we have is "restoration" cds...not the actual operating system.  If I had a copy of the DVD, they could have the whole thing fixed in about 15 minutes.  But, I don't.  Bleh.

I called the computer manufacturer to get them to send me a copy of the OEM Vista DVD...but, they were less than helpful.  So, now I've called MS again.  And, they have been exceedingly helpful right up to the point where I ask them to send me a copy of the OS on DVD.  That, they will not do.  Anything else, they are very willing to help me out with...bummer.

They gave me specific permission to borrow the DVD from a friend...for this circumstance it won't matter, apparently, whether it is actually my DVD.  So...if anyone out there is reading this note, please let me know if you've got that OS on DVD.  I'd only need to borrow it for an afternoon to let MS finish fixing the computer they broke.

Anyone?  Bueller?