Oops!

Ok we forgot to not turn on the outside lights this evening. We live at the end of the neighborhood and no kids ever venture down the hill to our house for trick or treating. Just to far off the trail. Well tonight I was coming home and telling Terri no one has their porch lights on. Ate dinner and tinkering around on the low key evening and the dog goes nuts. We forgot and had he porch light on so it was fair game for the kids. We didn't have any candy here so Terri gave them a squeeze thing of mustard. Should have seen their faces!

Life is good ... with mustard on it!

Ok, it's a joke... we gave them treats but I told Terri to give them mustard... so much for leadership in the home! HA!

Layered Dip

Oh man it was a chilly ride after work. I hit the neighborhood streets for some lovely hill training. Just love those hills some days... just love them I tell you! HA! Ok, if you have not gotten out to ride in the cold yet then don't forget that chap stick! I needed it tonight. Also this is a gel called Stinger and it's a honey based gel and it's awesome for that dried out winter throat. Of course I had neither of those and my blinky light was dead. Oh yeah, I was prepared for this ride!

I had to dress in layers for the first time since last spring. It felt like that little kid on the Christmas Story so bungled up if I fell over I wouldn't be able to get back up. You know the little brother who will only eat when his mom says where's my little piggy and the kid gobbles his food up. Great Movie! I was a layered "dip".

I can tell the LR Marathon training has begun. My neighbors are all running. Seems when fall comes the runners all start there training for the LR Marathon in March. Before long you will see them late in the evening are very very early in the morning. Pals Chris and Rebecca ran a sub-2 hour half marathon last weekend in Conway!! They are so elite now they will probably have their on line of triathlon clothes and bikes before long. Some way with blogger pal Wes. Man these folks have shot straight to the top and it has been a blast trying to keep up with their stories of training. Then there is Dwonn, Mariann, and Jo... gee whizzz.

I did get my schedule for training for next May's 24 hour ride. It's a 6 day a week plan that actually kicks off THIS Saturday with a 50-70 mile ride and Sunday has a 30-50 miler. Not bad really. I'll do the low end this week but have to add 5% more each week. Tuesday and Thursday have me on the bike for 2 hours. It's a moderate pace on the trainer but if I get to ride outside in the cold I ride for 1 hour. I'm hoping to find a big parking lot where I can ride nights. 2 hours on the trainer 2x a week would make me insane by the end of the winter. Yoga is even in the mix at the first of the year. March will find me doing some intense stuff that I've never pushed to. April is INSANE crazy then it tapers. I had an awesome discussion able all of this with my coach. He made sure... and I mean positive sure that I was really to rock. He asked questions about my family, my emotional and mental health. Made sure my family was behind me... they are... I asked already.

Life is good... even when it's cold outside.

Big & little

I got all computer-ish this afternoon. Headed over to C. City to get a ram upgrade to 2gig in order to handle more graphics (video). All I can say is the tech guy didn't know what he was doing. When he gave up he said, "Maybe Best Buy can help you". Wha?? Do you not realize Best Buy is your biggest competitor and their parking lot on the other side of the interstate is packed and you have what, 5 cars over here? Well, guess what, I was waited on the minute I walked in I had to ask one of the 5 people standing around talking for help at C. City) and the Geek Squad was awesome! I had 2 gigs of ram installed on my laptop AND a 320 gig external hard drive (which I was going to get anyway) in 30 minutes. I'm just blown away how much you can store in a very small space. I have moved a massive amount of media to it and it barely even made a dent.

I was so excited I hit Starbucks for a veni Cinnamon dolce latte skinny on rocks! Sucked it down in celebration so fast I got a headache.... then a massive coffee buzz.

OK, big news... I got a title at church today. I was asked to be a deacon. I know, that's a trip ain't it? Serious, it's a huge honor and I was inducted with an awesome group of guys. At first I really didn't want the title. I enjoy doing all he visual media and setting up the look of the service ad would keep doing it with or without the title. But after seeing the names of the other guys I knew we could really help make a difference. Most of the time when folks think of Church of Christ they seem to think sort of stand off-ish. We are breaking that mold! I'm happy as a loon to say I have friends from every end of the spectrum... I do mean every end too. I'll go visit them at their churchs and they can come visit me at mine if they want too. We're all a big family. Oh gee, let's just break out and hold hands and sing kum-by-ya why don't we! HA!

I have to go get a ride in after work tomorrow the weather is going to be... well... weather! 56 degrees for a high with wind of 10-20mph. That's almost winter sort of riding. I'll pack a lot of clothes then have to decide in the office what I'll end up layering up to. And if you ride in the cold weather you know what that means.... yep, that wonderful running nose. I'll leave it at that. Nah, no I won't...snotrockets! Bu ha ha ha!!! I know, ewwww, gross!

We had small group over here tonight and it was the last one held here. We rotate each month and it's gotten funny because the girls have gotten crazy with the snacks! Tonight we had fresh cut apples with hot caramel dribbled all over them. You would have thought it was fresh meat in front of a group of hyenas! HA! Love my small group and would step out in front of a car for any of them.

Life is good.... when carmel is dribbled all over it!

Weekend hit list

Crappy photo I know... I'm in a hurry but wanted to put something out there.
I've gotta finish church media, plant some fall flowers, take the media platform to the building and set up and of course ride my bike really fast!

I don't have to really do anything in the morning! Actually I have a massive amount to do tomorrow but first thing in the morning is all mine! Fancy coffee and all.

Here is the new Welcome motion loop as you walk in to the auditorium. It's sort of a long video so it might take a minute to load and start. I've gotten several emails asking me to post some more of my art work and video so here you go. I keep waiting for one of those Mekrats (sp?) from Mekrat Manor to pop up on the video. HA!



Life is good!! It's the weekend!

Building stuff

Sorry not much blogging... I've been busy working on a building project with my pal Mike, plus I got a last minute request to help a guy do a presentation. Anthony's presentation turned out really well. He was nervous about it but pulled it off like a charm.

Let's see... gas is going back down! $2.11 a gallon and with a Kroger card you get it for $2.01. We are going to see $1.99 a gallon gas again before long. Yep, just in time for the elections.

No, I refuse to talk elections. Heard a discussion between office friends today and it could turn ugly fast. I will say this much... I don't vote party, ethnic, or sex. I vote for the person(s) who I feel will honestly take care of my family.

Rain is coming then a big drop in temps. We will be using the fireplace by the end of the weekend maybe. A chilly 38 degrees is on tap for the low on Monday night. Brr-weee.

I turned the Phonak hearing aid demo back in to the clinic. I loved it. Serious. It had a good sound range and I really liked the bass it could pull in. I was secretly hoping for the high notes like my CI but didn't get there.

My boss is in Kansas City for the rest of the week and I saw on the weather channel that ice and snow is about it hit there. Oh gee, he's going to come back crappy... he HATES cold. He lived in FL and Hawaii. Great boss, just hates cold.

Hoping the rain will be gone by the time work is over tomorrow. Fat boy here needs to ride.

New tunes on the Ipod... Fireproof I-Mix (go see the movie!).

Life is good... it's mid week already! yaaba-daaba-do!

Training ride ten-twenty-oh-eight

Funny how sometimes things just happen to be in the right place! After my ride this evening I was sitting on the back of the Explorer and pulled off my shoes and dropped them onto the pavement. When I looked down it was a great little setting for a photo to start tonight's blog. Yes, the leaf was really right there too. None of that is staged.

Stayed focused at work today in hopes that the day would pass quick and I could be out riding. All in all it was a good day. I passed up the donuts and the cake that someone brought in. That's a first! It really felt good knowing I could really pass that stuff up.

By the way, my weekend was so crazy busy I didn't get a ride in all weekend! Gasp! Shock! Banned in 36 countries! Yep, you heard right... no ride. I honestly can't remember a time when I went without riding at all for a whole weekend. Life happens.

I did get to spend a little time with my family at the 4H Center where my niece Shannon works. It's a beautiful place and we have Dad's birthday lunch out there most years. He was 84 the other day. It was good to be out there with them.

We had 5 couples over to the house for Mexican food last night so by the time to go to bed Terri and I was worn out from the busy weekend. But it was a fun weekend.


I headed out on my bike after work this afternoon and I can certainly tell fall is here. The days are getting shorter. The backside of Burn's Park where the hill is was already getting almost too dark to safely ride. It's woods so the shade made it dark there quicker that the open roads. I didn't even get to climb Ft Roots because I forgot to replace the batteries in my rear blinky light and it just gets too dangerous to ride without one. The temperature was perfect for riding though. 73 degrees!

After the ride I got to see the guys out in their boat. I know it's not called a canoe when you have 6 or so guys rowing. But that group was out on the river this evening and it was just a cool shot.

Funny hearing story: I use double sided tape to hold my cochlear implant in place. We this afternoon I was in such a hurry to get out there and burn some energy off that I put way to much tape on it. It was like super glued on! OWWWW.... momma it hurts...you're pulling my hair! HA!

Life is good... it's beautiful sunset after a good ride kind of good!

The end of a perfect day

I know, it looks like a murder mystery book cover. I actually took the photo tonight as I was leaving after my ride. I park under the interstate bridge and I looked up and thought, hey cool, this would be a nifty little shot. I decided I would now start all my blogs with a photo and title.

Got a lot done in the office today but the pace was so stinking fast! It was Hire-o-rama at the hospital starting about mid morning. Some of the spots were new positions for the new fiscal year which started in July. I also closed a couple of positions that we had been recruiting hard and heavy on. Let's just say email and the Internet are beautiful things. HA!

Ok, the real stuff... the after work stuff... I had the curse of the blinking lights this evening. I did my usual loop of Arena, Bridge, Burn's Park backside, Ft roots repeats. On my 2nd trip down I spotted a guy who was just attacking the hill. I mean smoke off the back tire sort of attack. So I get down to the bottom and turn to do my third climb up. I'm enjoying the tunes and just pedaling my happy over sized butt right on up the hill and I look over my shoulder to be sure no cars were coming and what do I see??? Oh no, that guy has a blinking headlight and is climbing up fast again. Up and at 'em cowboy.... pedal pedal... there's a swarm of bees chasing you.... no pedal faster, your hair's on fire... no, there's a herd of zombies chasing you! Just pedal goofus pedal!!! Don't you DARE let him chase you down. 10mph, 12mph...15mph!!!!!! Hurry hurry hurry to the top... not much more... go you fat fool go!!!! MADE IT!!!!! Yes yes yes, I beat you you young skinny punk! OK, just barely but then Michael Phelps just barely won too but look where it got him. OK, truth... no...let me finish... I did beat the guy to the top but he would have whipped me over and over on that hill. I did spot a Colorado flag on his jersey. Oh yeah, now you're with me huh? Colorado guys live in the mountains and train with NO AIR. When they come here they don't even breathe hard unless it's a hot summer day.

I flew down to the bottom and was cranking along and got almost to the crack house and here he comes. We look at each other and bust out laughing! I told him thanks for make me train hard and he told me the same. Seems when he saw me spot him and I stood and gave it my all it gave him a reason to push harder too. It was just one of those great times on a bike!

I got back to the car and opened the hatch and sat there watching the sky with it's beautiful sunset changing the clouds to shade of blue and pink watercolors. A couple of mountain bikers getting ready for a night ride. A couple having their photos made... bet it was for their engagement. I listened for all the sounds I could pick out. Cars overhead on the bridge, birds, people laughing down the parking lot, the thump of an urban hip-hop tune from a homeys ride. It was one of those times you just sit on the back of the car, smile real big, and be thankful for the end of a perfect day!


Life is good ... when a stranger pushes you to do better!

Banned

Oh man, the hospital has blocked blogs again. Bummer... that includes this one. I have to ask them again to unblock this one and the Gear for Ears blog that I'm just now putting together.

Rain coming in and behind it is real fall weather! Saturday is only supposed to be around 67 for the high. Now that's prime biking weather.

Got to talk to Matt for a few moments this morning after his daughters surgery which went well. He is going to look at the jersey project and maybe come up with something cool. Fingers crossed.

After he left our receptionist told me I always have the coolest looking friends who come by. Yep, I do and to be lumped in the same group is even cooler. Some look like artist, some are elite athletes, some are top dog business folks. I'm just lucky as far as that goes.

Life is good... when you surround yourself in coolness...

Ringing wet was a good thing

No chocolate today! I ain't lying either. There is halloween candy around the office already but I passed it up. I took my sandwich and yogurt and stopped at that for lunch. I think keeping that bottle of water on the desk and drinking when I want to get up and go get "a little something to take the edge off".

After work I headed over to the river for a down and back but I went down then added a loop on the backside of Burns Park (a hill) then challenged myself to keep a high pace and get on the road with traffic from the baseball field to the golf course. I was sucking air by the end. A soccer game was coming up so cars were coming in and they were in a hurry so I had o ride fast. I took a slower pace for a few moments then spotted a rider up ahead that was going a good speed so I told myself I had to stay at this distance from him and keep it there. If he sped up I had to. I was about 30 yards back so he didn't even notice. I turned at Ft Roots and climbed. I felt good at the top and my climb wasn't too bad so down the hill I go. I seem to be regaining my love of fast thrill of downhill riding once again. So I got to the bottom of the hill and the bike had a mind of it's on and turned around... a repeat? So up we go again... down we go again. Bike, stop, this isn't funny! U turn and up we go again (hey, this is feeling better)... and down we go again. U turn and 4th repeat and the speed was up and my legs we saying, "Well, Ok, I remember riding like this". I was actually smiling and singing along and the pace was faster than the first time I went up today.

Hey for you praying types... Matt and Mandy's tot is going to get tubes in her ears tomorrow. Yes, it's a simple outpt surgery but still when it's your baby it's still stressful.

Life is good... even the up hill climbs!

Just thinking about it makes me ill.

Nah, this isn't going to be a depressing post, just one to make us think.

The other day I was on the way to my parents house and at the stop light a girl in a beat up old car with plastic duct taped over one of the windows car died. She got out of the car and started to push it when someone in a truck got out across the intersection and ran over to help. I was across the intersection too but I drove on thinking, someone else is helping her.

I saw a car on the side of the road with a flat tire and a lady talking on the cell phone with her hand on her head like folks do when they stress out. Someone was going to be there in a moment to help her right?

I saw a family driving around our hospital parking lot trying t find a parking place which they could have parked right against my building even though it says Applicant parking only, all other will be ticketed. It was late in the day and there were n more interviews going on. Besides, they would not have gotten a ticket anyway. Why didn't I flag them down to let them know this and ease their troubles.

A woman dropped help belongings in a cross walk downtown the other day... someone else was going to help her.

It's starting to bug me that I am more worried about, "Oh they may get spooked if you walk up to help them" rather than reaching out to help someone in need.

Next time you see someone in need... reach out and help them. I'm going to.

Life is good... especially when you help others.

The day I became a Baptist (sort of)

Terri and I wen over to visit Matt and Mady in Conway where Matt is the Creative Minister for the 2nd Baptist Church ( www.sbcconway.org ) I know Mandy from the Hands and Voices Board we both serve on. I had heard Matt was a church creative guy and Mandy invited us up. How could I say no. This was stop one of the "Geo is getting church ideas tour". HA!

We got up there just in time for service to start and folks were very friendly and welcoming. We were about to sit and Mandy came up and invited us to sit with them. Cool... the VIP section! Services started and Matt was actually leading the service today. The band and choir were really good and let me tell you the motion graphic behind the songs was perfect. Very smooth motion graphic that didn't interfere with the words at all. Yes I was comparing everything of theirs verse ours. Matt won hands down!

The crowd was mostly UCA students and they all had their UCA purple on and had won their game last night. Big cook out for anyone in the community was going on after services. That was one thing that really stood out to me about them... they were VERY community friendly. Their Trunk or Treat was going to be at the Best Buy parking lot rather than at their church. Their goal HALF A MILLION pieces of candy to give away!

The lesson series was based around the movie Fireproof ( www.fireproofthemovie.com ). Again these guys sent it out of the park! They gave tickets to all first responders in Conway! All fire fighters, Police, EMT's and their spouses could see the movie for free. Now that my friends is outreach! The lesson was very good. Mark Dance was the speaker and he held the attention across the board. With a room full of college students with a mix of middle and senior aged it just worked. The stage set was great too. It was all fire fighter equipment and a lot of it too. Made me start thinking of stage sets again. My last good one was the baseball series with the dug out bench and all the bats and gloves and water cooler, etc etc. And their program, bulletin, News & Notes or what ever you may call it was very nice. Yes, I'm showing it to our folks. I told Terri after lunch, "I wonder if they (our church) would hand over the bulletin to me to work on?" Terri sort of had that deer in headlights look of "Oh no, he's taking on another project".

Church and hearing: I kept thinking I wasn't hearing the music like I should during church so during the prayer I turned up the equipment. Did it again during the next prayer. Come to find out the music was not that loud. Of course I didn't know this until Terri told me at lunch.

After we got home I headed out for a ride. Had a good ride but I think I'm going to have to ride some place else on Sunday afternoons under it gets cold. A lot of families were out today, which is good, but they were in herds today and taking up the whole trail wide. Several times I had to slow way down and ease around. I just pray one of those cute little tots don't pull away from parent someday and get hit by a bike. Some times I see cyclist just buzz families. Not a good thing.

I had an idea while I was riding... I wonder if Matt would consider designing the Gears for Ears jersey. Since he has a hearing impaired child and is creative he might enjoy designing something completely different from his normal sort of projects. Think I'll email him and see.

Speak of riding and the event. I think I'm going to have to check in to the fat farm. I need to drop about 20 by May. I think I'm going to have to find someone who will wrap my head in silver duct tape so I can't eat. I think chips are of the devil.

Note to Jim... Hogs won!! Say something nice on your blog. Come on man, give us a little love. By the way, Mark Batterson has the same addiction as you to Chik-fil-a. He is in Washington and got all excited when he spotted on in Atlanta. You preacher types and your Chikfila addictions! HA!

Life is good... no reason... it's just good!

Phonak Naída -- rocks!

I'm playing guinea pig! I got to test drive a Phonak Nadia this weekend! Oh man does it sound good! Small slick looking little guy is putting out some serious power! It's been one of those afternoons and evenings where I'm getting to hear a lot of things out of my hearing aid ear that I've not heard in a while. Plan to wear it while riding tomorrow morning and test Ipod-ness on it.

I went down to Hot Springs with a couple of Audiology buds (Lisa and Patti) to the Arkansas Speech and Hearing convention reception and was lucky enough to be in a very nice crowd of winners! I was awarded the Adult Ambassador for Arkansas! Dr Lisa Christenman (sp?) fom the hospital was also awarded a very nice Audiologist award and so was Dr. Nan Nicholson. It was a huge honor to be awarded in the same program as them!

Afters we walked down to Bella Ati for an awesome dinner. Lobster raviolli with baby shrimp. Some sort of strawberry salad with roasted chestnuts and cheese I couldn't pronounce on top of baby greens. And yes it was an Itilian place so I got something to go that I shouldn't have. Oh come on folks, if you've read this blog long enough you know I don't leave without ultra-super fattening Tarimusu (sp?).

Been a long week and ready to chill my jets.

I'll write more later.

Life is good... so was desert!

Monday thoughts

Drove to work in my car so I could ride after work. Eric came by about 4:45 and pointed to the window. It was dark! They've already started issuing t-storm warnings so I voted against the ride. Bummer. But I will be on the training bike here in a few. I think I may drag it through the house and in the den and ride and watch Monday night tube.

Yesterday was really weird! It was the first time in months that I actually sat in the crowd at church. This is Scott's month to push buttons. I still put it all together but then sit with everyone else. Scott did a flawless service!

We ate a quick meal afterward and I headed out on the bike for the afternoon. Good steady paced ride except for here and there on the river. Lots of folks out and lots of families with little people. I climbed Ft Roots and the backside of Burns Park. There was a soccer tourney going on so way too many cars on that back side.

I've got to change my tunes. There are songs I like and I've worn them out. I don't want to hear any Coldplay for several weeks. I flipped the Ipod into shuffle mode but hated it because it had other songs that I don't like in the mix. You can't exactly reach back there in your back jersey pocket and change tunes.

Think we are going to have to take puppy to the vet. She is scratching and scratching. I'm feeling really sorry for her. She went to the groomer last week so I know she doesn't have fleas or ticks. She didn't have them before she went either.

I'm starting to have bicycle friend withdrawals these days. I can't seem to match up schedules with riding buds. I keep hearing of new groups forming here and there and thought about jumping in with some of those as well. My old group, God love 'em, all became real fast and stepped over into the dark side (triathlons). HA! No serious, they are very good at the tri's.

I'm thinking of visiting a few other churches while I'm off this month. I have a couple in mind. Mercy's Cross which is over here close to the house and the New Life Church over by Maumelle. Emmy's best friend and her family go there and it's a new building. It's right over by the bike trail and I rode up to it the other day and it's really nice. There are a couple of water fountains in front and one was dedicated to Paul Ells. I stopped for a few moments to pay respects. It's just strange that he is passed on. For those no in my area, Paul Ells was the best sports caster. Everyone loved him. Just had one of those voices you enjoyed listening to. He was killed in a auto accident a year or so ago. Anyway back to visiting churches. It's not that I'm wanting to leave my own, I just wanted to visit for a refresh or different view if you will. I know New Life has a Saturday evening service and thought I may drop in on that.


I got lots of razzing today about eating at Panera this weekend. Several asked if I was one of the first ones through the door. No but I thought about it! I suspect I will hit it up one day this week. I think Wednesday's looking good! HA! No I have NOT had a cinnamon crunch bagel with hazelnut cream cheese. I've been strong! (Note to Melissa... stop rolling your eyes!)

Meant to tell you too that the other day (have I said this already??) that when I was riding the Specialized demo truck was down on the river and Dan was there and I told him about still dropping my chain and he tweaked it and it rides like a dream now! Woot! Dan rocks!

Well time to do other things...

Life is good ... now that Panera is open!

Satuday 10.04.08

I'll be back a write more later. About to go ride.
Seeing Eagle Eye late this afternoon.
NEW PANARA OPENED!!!!!! I'm eating there before or after the movie -- got a hot date with wife. Woot!
Meeting Ty to begin shooting teaser video stuff for Gears for Ears ride. Needed some footage while the leaves were still green. Of course I will be 20 lbs lighter by the time the ride rolls around next May. Oh well, I guess we can laugh at the fat boy version of the video when it comes out.

Had a great day off yesterday taking my parents and sister (Cathy) to Hot Springs to eat lunch. We ate down on the water at a waterside eat joint! Then came back to town and got to see my other sisters house add on! Holy smokes it's awesome! Very relaxing!

I'm outta here!

Life is good.... well, d'uh... it's Saturday!