I'm back!

WOW! That's all I can say since the rest is sworn to secrect

No, really the trip to the Disney Institute was awesome! There was a lot of wow's throughout the days though.

I got to visit "backstage" at Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studio. I got to see the costuming area at Epcot. I got to see where all the dirty laundry comes through and although that sounds gross it was incredible as well as the story behind it.

65,000 employees with another 20,000 vendor/contract staff and I couldn't find a bad one. One on my assignments was to go and analyze an area. I choose Tower of Terror! HA! Serious, I did.

I'll write more later...

Again and again

What a day to take off!

First of all I had the Bug Man come out for the annual termite inspection. All systems go and looks great. But I also started a pest control program today but a different guy from the same company came out at the same time as the termite guy. I thought one guy was going to do both. Anyway, we had seen a few ants here and there and then Terri unplugged a plug from an electrical outlet and there were a bunch of ants. Strange that we hadn't had a problem with them there. So pest control guy takes off the electrical outlet cover and geebie heebie geebie!!! It was like something from a horror movie. Ants in massive groves! It was so bad that the electrical outlet box was dirt! Talk about feeling dumb! Serious we had NO idea they were like that. When he opened the cover he darted out to his truck and came back in and sprayed the wall then took this gizmo and poked in into the small opening by the socket and filled the wall with smoke. He said, they're all dead now. He then treated all around the house and said there were 3 places where they were trailing in on the back wall (the wall behind our bed). Talk about a creepy feeling! Well they're gone now!

So I was watching TV for a moment while he was treating around the house and those stinking tornado's were back. AGAIN AND AGAIN. Almost the same area as a few weeks ago. This time these nasty little snots are going for serious. By the time lunch rolled around that had hit at least half a dozen places. There are some really sad stories.

While I was watching TV they said that there had been 708 twisters this spring compared to 591 by this time last year. That's insane!

I'm listening to One Republic through the CI and it sounds good.

Life is good!
Geo.

R&R and wired for sound

I took a couple of days off to work around our house and as well as paint my parents house but as usual I got sidetracked. Today was supposed to be a beautiful day and it's got that just before a thunderstorm look to it all day and the wind is whipping. I'm staying off the latter.

I'm going down to the folks house tomorrow just to visit since it's now 70% chance of t-storms. It will be good to see them.

I did do a few things around the house then started playing with all the ways I can sup up my hearing equipment. I guess I should have called the posting "Pimp my CI and HA". I worked with the Ipod and CI getting used to CI only Ipod. Sometimes I listen through my HA (Hearing aid) and others through my CI. Like to keep my brain guessing. I worked with my Fm system on my HA to be sure it's charged and working great so I will get every word of the meetings in FL next week.

I'm so excited about the trip to Disney next week. I have wanted to go to these classes for over 4 years and I finally have my day. There are some really good coworkers from different areas of the hospital going as well. I have been told over and over that it's mind blowing how Disney operates. I have heard about what the reaction is when you go into the Casting building (human resources).

Still have butterflies about the CI and the airport. Don't ask why. Guess because this will be the first travel experience with the CI. I do like the fact that my flight leaves at 6am so there will be no line at the airport so if I do have to take the sideline security check it wouldn't slow down the line. I heard it several ways now. Some folks simply leave theirs on and walk through and point at their ear. Others put it in the buck and it goes through the conveyor belt scanner and still others do the sideline security check. I don't expect any problems at all it that thought is still in the back of my mind.

I do plan to get out on the bike and ride Saturday morning. I would love to do the ride in Russellville of the wine country which is actually a fundraiser for the hospital but I don't have enough time.

Next weekend is the Joe Martin Stage races and Rock Racing will be there and I would get to hang with Rashann and even met Tyler Hamilton and see them race but just not sure that's going to work out either. I've waited all year long for them to return to Arkansas. Why am I not going? Well, price of gas is one reason, then I would have been back from Disney 2 days and I know I'm going to blow a wad of cash down there (at least that's my plan!) and then there is our summer vacation which is expensive enough but add the possibility of 4 dollar a gallon gas buy summer and that really is going to tighten my belt.

Terri flew out to Denver this morning on business and she called me and I said, "So is it cold?" and she just laughs and said, "Geo, it's snowing really big and hard and it's freezing!" Yuck!

The kids are taking me to Texas Roadhouse for a birthday dinner tonight. Prime rib here I come!

Life is good!
Geo.

Kaki King and CI's

Finally music to my ears! It's Kaki King! I get it with my CI!!!!

I came in and Terri had August Rush DVD playing and the music was awesome through my CI. I kept turning it up more and more and it was clear! This was the first time I had seen August Rush and it's an awesome movie. So far music just hasn't been a strong point with my CI. But tonight it was right on. I was listening and thinking to myself am I really hearing it this clear? I turned down my hearing aid and just enjoyed the movie and music with CI only. I came back to the laptop and listened to several sample cuts and ended up downloading the whole Kaki King CD called Dreaming of Revenge. So far it's awesome! I have always been a fan of guitar and this really made me believe the CI can handle music.

Got in a late afternoon ride on the river yesterday and Edgefest, a music festival named after a radio station was an hour out for starting. This is a head bangers ball. A mass of black t-shirts and mascara. The kids are alright.

I spent the afternoon with my house church at River City cooking hot dogs for the low income and some homeless folks in that area. Since it was a cloudy and sprinkle sort of afternoon there was a lighter crowd. Still good though.

I bought an IPOD for the family to use yesterday but guess what, the plug is a tad different than my hearing aid jack. It goes in and I can here music but it doesn't have that connecting click that you normally feel. Working with the CI fine. Got to make a play list for my flight next week.

Saw the list of hospital folks going to Disney Institute next Sunday. Wow! I'm way out of my league here! VP's, Directors and docs. Can you say n.e.t.w.o.r.k.???? HA!

Life is good!
Geo.

Weekend! Yaba-daba-do!

Terri and I got ordered out pizza, salads and crashed on the sofa and watched a movie. We normally go out on Friday nights to dinner but we were both peopled out from the week.

I've got a long list for the weekend... plant flowers in the pots for the patio and front porch, church media stuff, got to get an afternoon ride in tomorrow, house chores, maybe buy a real IPod. buy clothes for trip, haircut...on and on...

CI readers: Any tips on airport security and CI's? This is my first flight since getting this.

Any airplane reading suggestions? Need light hearted stuff.

Life is good... it's the weekend...go have fun!
Geo.

PANERA is coming!

FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We will be getting a Panera.
No more driving over 2 hours to get a cinnamon crunch bagel with hazelnut cream cheese.

http://www.panerabread.com/

Is that screwed in your head? Cochlear Implant story

"Is that screwed in your head?"



No, look (I take the CI off and stick it to a metal food rack)



OMG!!! That's sick!



I'm now laughing...



Geo, everyone thinks that is screwed in your head.



Let them think that man! If they're gonna mess with my head, let's mess with theirs!



Does it bother you?



No, not at all. I suspect it hurts as much as putting on a pair of glasses.



Serious?



There's nothing to it.



Can you feel the magnet under your skin?



Not really. Not any more. I can feel when the magnet connects with it but it's the same feeling as sticking a magnet on the frig. You feel it pull together then you hear it coming in. I wish I could tune in a radio with it. That would be great for meetings. Actually I bet in a couple years I can program it to open the garage door as I drive up!



ARE YOU SERIOUS?!



Sure, why not?



Man, you are so lucky. You always get the coolest equipment.



(Note to CI friends... do you have that new program that opens the garage door yet?!)

*********************************************************



Well I got home yesterday and the streets were dry and the air was so southern (that translates to humid). I stopped by the bike shop and picked up some new gear. Ok bike bud's brace yourselves.. I didn't realize I was this bad... I bought some new riding shorts. Specialized! I realized the other day that my favorite shorts were... OLD! I bought them before I did the ride-around-the-state-tour! I kid you not! No wonder I'd been having "issues" (Ironman & Ironmaiden, stop laughing, it's not funny! HA!). I haven't changed my shorts since 2005?!!

HA!



I also am looking at a new seat but y'all already know that. So I'm talking to Dan (I think is his name). He's the new manager at the Bike shop just down the road from the house. I love this shop but now that Dan is running it and plans to make some great changes it will pump life back into it. This guy was some knowledgeable and helpful. Anyway I was talking about the new seat. Nope, he was not going to sell me just any ole seat... they now have a cushion thing you sit on and the seat you need comes in a certain size. (Ok OK... fat butt... I know!). So the seats come in in a couple of weeks and I'll get fitted and get a new one. I plan to leave the bike at the shop while I'm in Orlando on business for the spring tune up.



Got home and rode around the neighborhood. Hills and hills. Either up or down. Going training though. It was a good ride... lots of sweat.



Oh, when with a bud to lunch yesterday to a place downtown called Luvah. Oh man! It's awesome. They have these mini burgers that you can get 3 of any kind you want. I ordered 3 funky but oh so good ones. A hamburger with crab meat... who would have thought?



Life is so good!

Geo.

Ka-BOOM!

Was over in the main hospital and was about to leave and Ka-BOOM! Flash of lightening and clap of thunder and CI crackled. Yikes! It's working fine though.

Fingers crossed the wind will continue to blow and dry the road for the evening training ride.

Disney, Dry & Store, Specialized Pro

The rain stopped and that meant do all the things I need to do around the house.

Got to play in the yard a lot over the weekend and that's always good therapy for me. I went to several plant places and plotted and planned my new landscape project for the front yard.

Took the bike out for a run. Heebie geebie that last flood was way higher than any other I've ever seen. Remember those photos I posted? They were nothing compared to the last flood. There are river wash lines (piles of sticks and logs) mashed into fence lines. It's going down really fast so hopefully the whole trail will be reopened soon. Thank goodness they invested in a detour higher ground section last year so at least we can ride. The river left a lot of fine sand in places. I felt my back tire slip once and thought I was either going do or pulling off a cool power slide on a road bike.

Oh the big new... I'm heading down to the Disney Institute on the company ticket! I get to see how their Human Resources department runs and get to go into the tunnels to see all the behind the scenes stuff. Since I was flexible allowing them to book my flight that when they booked it the travel agent said I just happened to be in the right place at the right time and there was a sale on first class seats so it was cheaper to book me in first class rather than business. Oh yeah, me strolling into the airport and hopping a 6am on Sunday morning flight over to ATL then down to ORL. I want to go buy so Dolce and Gabbana (sp?) sunglasses to wear so I'll look like the other rock stars ...buh ha haha... right.... I'm excited that the director of Audiology & Speech (Patti) is going on this trip as well. She's a riot anyway plus it will be good to pick her brain about all things audiology.

Speaking of audiology stuff... I got a slight ear infection right after I got my new ear mold. I usually don't go nuts over a product but this Dry & Store unit is really on target! Serious. My ear infection was gone as fast as it came. I like the Dry & Store too because every morning my CI and hearing aid come out smelling new. That's the best feeling... sort of like a fresh just of the dryer towel... smells and feels good. I did have some email talk with one of the Dry & Store folks. Nice lady... gave me tips to keep my ear mold from drying out. One is to wipe it off before I put it in the dehumidifier. I think that may have been part of the reason my ear mold was getting whacked out. If you don't have one, order one. They're a good investment.

I had to drive today since Terri had an eye appointment so I took the bike and the plan was to ride right after work and meet some friends on the Little Rock side but as I pulled my bike out the front tire was flat. Bummer. Pulled the tire off (Specialized Pro) and the tube out. I've done this a bizillion times. Tug and pull and nothing. Is this thing glued on!? I worked with it for a while then decided to head over to the house instead. I was floored that I was losing patience over a flat. Never been a prob before. Got to the house and worked a few minutes and had it right back ready to roll. I had already changed back into street clothes so I used the time for some spring bike maintenance. She's all cleaned up and looking pretty. Tomorrow Terri and I will ride together so I'll probably just ride around the hood. My hood is the best for hill training anyway. Another thought I had was that I hadn't had a flat with thse tires at all last year! This was my first flat with the ride. Way to make a great product Specialized!

I spent lunch on the fitness center with my coach. We laughed and had a good time while he cracked a whip. While I was between sets on one of the leg machines I was talking to another guy and he changed the weight up a bit. I wasn't expecting it then ugh...u.g.h...oh man! When I finished he said, Geo, you broke a sweat," I just laughed and said, "Yep, us fat boys do that." He said at least 3 times a week I had to have my rear in there for training. Yes he is training me for something big for 2009. I will be in the best shape I will ever be in by this time next year. I'm having to pull back on the sugar for starters. On the weekend I can do what I want and don't worry about it since I'll be riding more that will take care of it.

By the way, I will be biking to work if this gas keeps going. How high will it get before most folks change their habits? They were doing the gloom and doom report on the way to work this morning and I just thought it was funny (sort of) because I'm stuck in a traffic jam.

Life is really good!!!!

Update coming tonight

Sorry... update coming tonight! Big and funny news will be posted.

Well Noah set sail again...

Well Noah set sail again... no it's not raining but from the massive rain last week the river is way up. Where I rode my bike last week... remember those photos? Well it's ALL under water now. What's not under water is nasty slick mud.

Tonight is supposed to be the cold night but it warmed up pretty nice by getting off from work time.

Not much really going on so I want bore you.

Life is good!
Geo.

Brrr wee it's chilly!

For the life of me I can't figure out why it's always chilly and cloudy on Sunday's these days. Where's that little orange spiky ball they were showing on the weather updates?

Oh man am I having a Ci moment!!!! There is a bird ACROSS the street on the wire and I can hear it like it's on the front porch! I kept telling myself it could not be that bird I am hearing but every time I would hear the singing the bird would have it's beak open and sort of bouncing. When it would be still the singing stopped.

I finally got my own copy of my favorite movie... yep, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. It's just a funny movie to me and Em was heading over to Michael's for scrap book stuff and Best Buy is right beside it so I gave her money and asked her to look. She called and said now what is it? She then started reading off all the movies she was looking at with "Midnight" then she found it. Yep, dad here it is the with girl holding the 2 bowls. That happens to be a statue called "Bird Girl". Google it why don't ya.

The movie is set in Savannah, GA and there is a senior (as in old folks) group going on a road trip and that's one of the cities they will stop in and eat at Paula Deen's Lady & Son's restaurant. I wanted to mess with the 49er's today and actually sent an email requesting permission to use a Paula Deen photo. I get a personal email back from one of her staff giving approval. One of the things I'm a pest about is copyrights. I don't like stealing art.

Speaking of Paula Deen, Terri and I got tickets to see her in May at the Grand in Tunica. It's a Sunday afternoon show so I checked out the tickets and we hit 5th row center. I bought them then told Terri happy mother's day... early. She was excited. I just like to hear her say "butter" (pronounced bud-ah). Something tells me fellow blogger Wes says it the same way since that's his state.

I'm actually working on reports this afternoon. I got some wrong numbers in so I'm correcting before turning the thing in tomorrow. Thank goodness it's only once a quarter! It's a monster report.

Note to Jennifer: Sorry, I don't know why I thought you were in KY. But you did miss the TN tornado's right?

Life is good!!

The dove with the olive branch

I could almost sense a dove with an olive branch flying up to the front porch. The rain is OVER!!! Noah's Arc is settling on a hill in Sherwood! As the sun set this evening to the east was the tail end of the storm. Everyone was on pins and needles today because there was talk of a repeat of last Thursday nights wicked weather. When I let the pup out this morning it was real warm and muggy so I was starting to wonder. At around 11 this morning the storm rolls in and tornado sirens start blaring... oh great I thought. But to every one's relief, the storms headed out at sundown.

Note to fellow blogger and CI guru Jennifer over in KY: Hope you folks are safe tonight. This storms are nasty little snots.

So the weather has this little spiky looking orange ball for the next 7 days. I think it's called a sun but not sure. I will say this much for the rain that is everything deep dark lush green!

At noon I took off and headed to Benton to hang out with Dad while mom went to the eye doc. She got great news and doesn't have to go back!! We talked about our summer vacation plans for FL! The whole family is going! Boy do I look forward to some down time and with my sisters there it will be a riot! It's very rare that me and my sisters have "just us" time except when we take vacations together. One of my favorite FL (Destin) memories is walking on the beach with a couple of my sisters. We laughed and cut up and would have all been grounded if mom and dad knew what we were up to. They were talking about everyone having a dinner together just once and when the count was down it was 35 people!!!!!

I've gotten to go over to the clinic and talk to folks consider CI's. It's really an honor to get to do this. Actually I don't really do anything but let them know I enjoy mine and then answer any questions they may have. I still have days where I'm hearing something new. Hearing the birds is still my favorite. I can crack my window in my office and the birds sit on the telephone wires and sing all day long.

I was having is problems with my hearing aid ear mold and got a new one. WOW! The sound and clarity is so much better now. I was also putting the whole thing in my Dry & Store each night and found out I wasn't supposed to put the mold in there. I think I may have dried out the other mold too much to the point that it didn't fit correct.

It's Friday eve!!!

Life is good!

It's back....again...

More rain...

Life is... wet....

Sunday sunset and tornado tales

Well the tales of the tornado are in full circulation right now. Em's high school was hit hard and so the kids have to go to 3 different places. Em will be going over to 1st Assembly church and what more could a girl in distress ask for??? It's right by the mall. Just trying to make like of a bad ending to a senior year. One of her close friends (JT) house got hit and they will have to tear it down. It's a new house and a beauty. They have moved into an apartment until they rebuild.

I shot a few photos of the river trail at Burn's Park.

I shot the photo above just for fellow blogger Wes. Yep, it's the soccer fields.

The last time we flood like this there were fish that had gotten over into these parts when it was all under water. When the water dries up there will be dead, smelly fish here.
More flooding along the Arkansas River.

A bit blurred but it struck me as a solitude shot.

Sometimes I'm awarded being in the right place at the right time. I got to see a beautiful sunset. Oh you want to watch... the video is below... enjoy!

I headed out for a slow "look at the pretty flowers" ride this evening. I really didn't even realize the tornado hit the park until I got there. These couple of trees are nothing compared to what I saw on the way home. I took the back road that goes behind our house and that was where the twister crossed. Man, there is stuff everywhere. Our pastor, Greg lives right on the edge of where it came through and it picked up he boys trampoline and threw it over the fence and wrapped it around a pole a ways off!

One of the weird stories is that it hit the press box but everything under it was still perfectly stacked!

Life is still good... it really is...

We are OK... no damage

Just a quick hit. We are all ok and no damage. It starts several blocks from our house. some folks who used to go to our church said they have a swing set in their backyard that's not theirs. Also on Remont Road the giant black cow that's on top of that meat packaging company is missing.... anyone seen an 8 foot black angus statue laying around.

More later

Thursday... or as I call it "Friday Eve"!

Several friends and blog lurkers have asked if we are ok. Everyone seems to be hearing Arkansas and the word flood in the same sentence a lot these days. Here are a few photos along the bike trail this evening and this is *after* the water has gone down quite a bit. Of course tonight a new storm is coming through and I heard 3-6 inches of rain with large hail and gusty winds. I let the girls park their cars in the garage so just mine with get hailed on. Maybe it won't be so bad.

All of this used to be under water. That's actually the river trail that's right beside the water.Here's where the trail goes in the water
Can you imagine flying down this to look up and see you are heading for the water? Lucky though it turns and the trail is completely out of the water but it looks very "OMG!"

As promised I added photos back to the blog.

I got home this afternoon and Terri pulled in right behind me. Both of us changed into active clothes...me in my bike get up and her in her walk/running gear. She walk/runs with a group of ladies every Monday and Thursday. I ride with a group of ladies every Tuesday and Thursday. (HA! The guys will kill me for that remark).

Tonight I actually rode solo because I took the camera for flood photos. I really had a good ride just enjoying being outdoors. I had some good thoughts too. I thought about Jen Shaw (ShawKitty) and how all these years she has maintained that good spirited attitude towards riding. She can go fast but if she falls off the back, no be deal at all, just enjoy the ride. Me, I freak out when I fall off the back. I think several guys I know are like that. Sort of that oh man up and catch back up. No...just enjoy being healthy and riding!

Note to Jen (aka: chopped liver). Thanks for the pull into the headwind the other night but it wasn't me behind you. Dan and I where coughing up our lungs trying to keep up with you! Don't you have some Dr. homework to do or something?! HA!

Oh, and on the ride tonight... the Travs baseball had it's season opener and I could smell ball park food. Ugh! Gimme a dog and some BBQ nachos! (Don't knock BBQ nachos until you've had them at the ball park!)

So I get home and again, Terri pulls up behind me. When I get out of the shower I can smell olive oil something... ohhhh that smell!!! We had some sort of fish on the George Foreman thingy and doctored up green beans. Dang, she can cook and it was healthy.

Funny story: I just got my riding shorts out of the washer and I told Terri I was getting some new ones this weekend. The ones I had on tonight were the first ones I ever bought years ago! The ones I had on the other night were from when I rode around the state 3 years ago. Think it's time for some new padding! HA!

Oh here is a photo from Easter at church. Each week we added something all month. The first were the big palm trees, then the columns (temple), then the Jar and bow, then the last supper table then the cross for good Friday, then the tomb which the rock was rolled away during the service. It was a lot of fun... a lot of work... but a lot of fun! I forgot to turn on the Stained glass light at the top so it was sort of dark. This is my view from the crows nest where we do media and sound.

Just a fun day! Life is good!!

Quick lunch post

Weather says 3-6 inches of rain heading this way.... Hey Noah, ya got that boat ready?!

I did have my "regroup session" yesterday. No more sugar and I have to keep a journal of everything eat & drink for the next week. Core training starts next Monday. So I'm asked, what do you want to train for? The answer was that I have some unfinished business to ride. No date and I won't be doing it as a fund raiser unless someone else decides to pick up that ball. it's just too much to work, train, fundraiser and have any home life.

Congrats go out to TriBoomer on being selected for an elite Tri team. Congrats!!

I rode the trainer Monday night. Rode with the slow part of the Fast Girls Slow Guys ride last night. Ok, the slow group was rolling along at 21-22 most of the time. So much for slow. We climbed Ft Roots. Jen, JBar and myself stopped for a moment at the top to talk. Haven't seen JBar in a while. Was great as always to see him.

More later...back to work...

Lunch time quick hit

One of the things I plan to get back in the habit of is a daily or almost daily blog entry. There will be some changes and I hope more photos like my old blogging used to be. I think a bunch of plain old text is boring too.

It has been another wet day. Not so much rain though it is predicted 70% t-storms tonight but it's just wet and heavy out. The girls have their walk/run class tonight so if it's too wet to ride then I'm making myself get on the trainer and ride while they are at their class.

I also have an appt tomorrow for a what I call "regroup" session with a coach. Ever since the River 2 River ride I have had this weird mental thing going on. I need to get past it and get back to being the rider I was. We will be talking about training times and plans, diet, stress and life in general.

I have decided that as much as I want to do an ACH ride I will pass this year. There is a ride that benefits the hospital on May 3rd and it's the north central Arkansas tour of wine country. I love this logo for them.

Yep, there really is a wine country in Arkansas. Post Familie is one of the big ones.

Well back to work....

Life is good!

Geo.

Oh wow...really?

Oh wow...has it really been since March 10th since I blogged? Sorry y'all.

Let's see... a summary... It has rained and flooded and just as the poor folks start to get out of the flood waters guess what? It's been raining most of the day. I plan to have tunes and indoor cycling later today.

Spring break was this week and Terri and Em headed off to Dallas for a girly shopping trip. They asked me to go but they only did it to be nice. They knew I wouldn't go to Dallas on a chick shopping trip. Shop all day long? Not me pal! They got home Tuesday night and boy was I glad! I was bored and lonely. I would never make a good single person. I love my home and down time but I'm sort of like our dog... I need to be near something else that breathes. HA!

And get this, our dog sleeps on Emmys bed and I tried to get her to sleep on our bed while the girls were gone but oh no, she stayed a few minutes then would jump down and go to Em's bed. One night I laughed when she jumped down and she got back up there. My first thought was when I used to have to lay down with the kids when they were little to get them to go to sleep. I think Sayde was doing the same with me. "Ok, I think he's asleep. I'll leave the room now." "Awww, no he's not asleep yet." HA! I used to hang half way off the bed when trying to sneak out when Em was little. Picture one of those movies where the red laser beams are guarding something. I think that was what was on Em's floor. If I dared touch the floor she would scoot closer. HA!

So the girls get home and Wednesday Terri was washing a load of clothes and then next think they know the back of the house is flooded! Something under the washer (gasket or something) broke and all the water came out. We had the carpet pulled up and drying and got lucky that it dried quickly and didn't mold or stink!

We headed down to Benton today to see my nephew who has a church in Fresno, CA preach. He was good. It didn't hit me until we were at my parents that I didn't even get to say howdy. They had a pot luck afterwards so he really had to stay. The rest of the family lucked out and my mom cooked a huge lunch. Oh my gosh! It was soooo good! There is a guy at my parents church who is a Youth pastor I think and he is a riot! His name is Jimmy and my mom calls him "Smiling Jimmy".

Another observation was that we (family) had the back two rows on one side and everyone who came by hugged my mom. I'm not joking...everyone. I could ony smile seeing the love they show her. I got to see several old friends (Hey LaNell!!). It's always funny when I see the number of hits on my blog and I'm always wondering who all these folks are. I would have never guessed long time friend LaNell was one of them. Her and her husband Roy are a hoot! Always keep us cracking up when we lived there. I got to see Brenda and Phil who seriously raised me in my teen years. They were the house where a lot of the youth hung out. I could tell them anything and if it wasn't right, Momma Brenda would let me know about it. Don't get me wrong, my home life was great. There were some great memories flooding back!

CI stuff: I had heard that folks who wear CI's and hearing aids soon come to realize that the hearing aid is more to balance sound out and that before long the hearing aid is just noise and you rely on your CI. That seems to be becoming the case with me. It seems the hearing aid is just noise. I have spazzed out a couple of times when I didn't have my CI extra battery and the CI would go out. It's crazy!

I bought a new book yesterday called Branding Faith. by Phil Cooke It's a book about marketing and church. So far I'm loving it. To my religious readers... It's not branding God but your church. So many folks think Church of Christ are boring. Not ours! We have an awesome pastor, a couple of song leaders that can rock the rafters a couple of pro's in the sound booth and then I use my creative gift on the graphics but even though my slides and videos are plastered up on the screen, I prefer to use say I just help tell the story, not entertain... even though I've come close to the edge. Hey, we have a generation coming in that needs visual to hold their attention. It's here so either you get it or you don't. Most seem to be getting it.

I know this was a long post... I had to catch you up.

Life is good!
Geo.

What happened at the demo stays at the demo...

Shawdawg and the new Tricross bike he picked up at the demo.

Oh, so Jenn does not know about this yet? Ooops...my bad!

Ironman and Ironmaiden looking on in complete shock that Shawdawg

picked up a high end bike without telling his wife (Shawkitty).

JMar

I'll have to get a photo of his bike... sharpest bike in town!

One of the time trial bikes at the Specialized demo.

After Friday's snow we had a good melt down on Saturday and Sunday afternoon we were smiled upon with temps in the mid 50's and lots of sun. Everyone came out to play! I lucked out and spotted the Carti training ride coming towards me and whipped around and chased 'em down and then played sissy and tucked in and rode in the back of the group with no headwind! I stayed with them to the regroup point and got to see a lot of folks I've missed since last summer. Many were the core group of the folks I started riding with a few years ago. Man, it was great seeing everyone. Even talked to Dr. Brent for a few. This guy knows how to dress for riding. Looking sharp as a tack! Meant to get a photo but was having too much fun listening to all the bike talk. Yep, you heard me right...LISTENING! I heard all the conversations going on and it was just too awesome for me.

On the way back to the start point we stopped at the Specialized demo trailer. Oh sweet jelly beans! After eyeing some of those bikes I needed to sit back and light a smoke! HA! Richard (bike shop owner) had the nerve to ask me to trade up. HA! Man, I'm still in the honeymoon stage with my bike. But I tell ya, I'm getting rid of the seat. Hate the thing! I rarely had problems with rubbing spots with my Allez seat but this has a couple of material patches and it seems to have caused me grief since day one.

This afternoon (Monday) I got over to the boat ramp and rode a down and back solo. Very quite out there. I was smart enough to take the tunes but man, I've got to get some new ones. Sometimes I wonder to myself why I would have downloaded some of the cheesy songs I do. HA!

(Note to Ironmaiden: remember our conversation about me being domestic this summer... forget the yard, I'm riding! Buh ha ha ha!)

Everyone keeps asking (trust me, they really do) about what big ride I'm planning for the year. I have a wild idea and it would be easy to pull it off... real easy but do I really have time to do the fundraising part again? I sort of got sandbagged last year with it and sort of thought about putting together a list and just send it out... just do it. There are so many things these days that folks are being hit up for donations. All are good projects and causes but you just can't give to them all. But in the back of my mind I'm wanting to do something for the Audiology group at Children's again this year. I almost feel like I h.a.v.e to because they have changed my life! Serious there are days I just stand in awe for the things I hear and I wouldn't have gotten to do that without them. Patti, Jordan, Krista, Steve, Mary Martha, Brenda, Dr. D, Dr. Bower and even Anna (she gave me a pre-cochlear implant test that I'm still going to therapy over! HA!). These wonderful folks are the best in their field and changing peoples life is just something they do everyday. The whole Audio/Speech team over there is like that.

Fast Girls Slow Guys has a 6pm ride tomorrow night. Can't wait! Two groups... the racers and the fat kids like me. Yep, I'll take the camera!

Oh and by the way... if you look and paid attention, Shawdawg really did "pick up a tricross bike", but bless his heart, that's all he did. Just picked it up... not buy it. I kind of wondered if Jen (his wife) even finished reading this blog or if she ran out to the garage yelling, "Chreee-us!!!"

Life is good... I mean r.e.a.l.l.y good!

Ok the "event" was a little later than forecasted

NOOOO, not the flowers!

Well we went to work like any other Friday and you talking about a sour mood among the coworkers! Then folks started talking about the weather again and how they are saing it's regrouoing for a snowstorm. Sure enough about 11 the snow really started coming down and by 12:45 Terri and I were heading home. I expected a gridlock traffic jam but I think for once we were smart and got ahead of it. The roads really didn't look that bad at the hospital but the closer we got to home the whiter the roads became.

More photos and stuff later...

A non-event

Can you believe this? It's like waking up with no toys under the Christmas tree! It's too warm (36 degrees) and the snow that is coming down is melting. I had put the chains on the Explorer and everything.

Bummer.... but life is still good!!!

Hit me again...

ANOTHER snow storm heading this way and they say it's a BIG one. Using words like 4 to 8 inches. I can log on from home!

Picture me sitting in boxer shorts with peace-frogs all over them, big bunny house shoes, a worn out robe ... no never mind... don't picture that! HA!!!

Watch for snow storm photos tomorrow....

Aww crap... I had a CI moment and it was a really good one but I forgot what it was...

You woke up to what?!!!

Yep folks, it was summer on Sunday and winter on Tuesday. We had a nice pretty heavy snow fall but it was the good kind where here in central Arkansas we were able to go on about our business day. About an hour north of here (the same places the tornados hit) they got 12 inches!

Most was gone here about noon or so.

Emily got the tummy flu and it's nasty! Ohhhh does that mean I can drive her hot rod to work tomorrow? Can I please! HA!

Sunday marks the return of daylight savings and he forecast is in the mid to upper 60's next week! Oh yeah baby! Countdown to those Tuesday/Thursday rides with friends.

I am still hearing new sounds! I was sitting on the patio in our new chairs and I could hear something pat pat pat pat and for the life of me I couldn't figure out what it was so like all the other times I had to get up and walk around until I figured it out and it was someone out for a run. Ok, I'm blown away that I could hear that. I still think it's funny to hear Terri and Emily in the den talking when I'm at the other end of the house. Fun to sit still and turn the CI up and listen in! Like the fly on the wall sort of thing. Yes, girls, I know more than you give me credit for... much more! HA!

Life is good!!!

What's been up???

I've been sort of busy lately. The Little Rockers Kids Marathon is over now so I can breath. We had a great time and the weather was perfect this weekend!

But yes, I have been riding my bike as you can see below as I was the "rabbit" the kids chased in the marathon.

This kid never went under 9mph for the mile they run.

Check the shirt

"Are you kid enough?"

It was for the kids... what can I say? HA!

Been sick...back very soon!

Been sick as I've been in a looooong time folks. It was nasty to say the least. From Tuesday night until Sunday night I was toast....burnt toast....

On the good side... I lost the 10 pounds I needed to loose.

I could nvever be a supermodel... I hate to throw up!

Getting a little antsy

I'm starting to get a little antsy these days. I dressed out for spin class and noticed after Juli (spin instructor) tried her very best to kill us all that it was still daylight outside and it was 6:15! I was happy as a loon! I checked email and noticed a few friends got spring fever and ducked out of their offices to grab an afternoon ride. But at least I got in a spin class today. Stu, one of the new instructors is heading over to Tulsa for his spin certification and then he will jump on board the "let's kill the students" wagon. Rance, my first coach, was tough on spins then we lucked out and had Melissa and she was easy on us most of the time. Now we have Juli and she runs the spin class like she runs the boot camp class she teaches just before the spin class. But even though she is trying to whip us she is still by far the best spin coach I've had. Always motivating the class to take it up a level when she drills us with sprints.

Not a lot of CI stuff going on right now. I still love the way it sounds in spin classes because the music is so loud and my hearing aid picks up part and the CI picks up part so I get a really nice stereo effect. I just hope I don't fry the things from sweating like I do in spins.

I haven't looked at the weather for tomorrow but I'm thinking a quick after work ride would be nice. I can get dressed in my office and to the start point by 5 and on the bike by 5:15 and the ride down and back will hit right at 45 minutes if the wind doesn't blow headways. Tuesday nights are usually big nights on the river once the weather and daylight are good.

Oh we have our reservations for Florida vacation! The whole family, almost, is going! I hope I can take the bike and get some early morning rides in before traffic picks up. I'll have to wait and see if the bike fits or not.

Man, life is so good these days... really it is!

Cochlear Implant stuff

Brrr weee it's cold outside! In the summer we have heat then we have the humidity which makes the heat worse. Today we have cold then it's a wet cold from the thunderstorms that came through last night and it's a wet cold tonight!

We just got in for a banquet honoring the PTA presidents and volunteers. Our school district smoked the awards! Every other award given was to "Sylvan Hills". Terri won Volunteer of the Year! WAY TO GO TERRI! She works so hard for that school.

Ok, the CI stuff. The music is still not where it should be. ITune music through the laptop just doesn't cut it. I'm planning to return the jack to get a different one. It's lose and I have to get it just right but it shorts and it's going to bite my computer. I just use my Unitron cord to my hearing aid. If you are considering a hearing, Unitron is the way to go. Love those things! If it's a CI you are after, consider Advanced Bionics.

Saturday night Dan was at the building working on the sound system for the auditorium at church while I loaded and ran through the visuals. He installed a different sound board and needed some sound to come through so I rolled over a countdown that had music in the background. I was blown away how crisp the sound was and I was only receiving it through the CI. The speakers are Frazier. Unbelievable!!!! I hope I can find some of these someday. I had crank it up and down really soft. I was in awe! It was the first time I had heard sound through a electronic format that clear!

I turn off my hearing aid and listen just through the CI on the way to and from work so I will say the radio is getting better. I try and listen to stations where I don't know the songs so I can work on listening better. To me when you know what the words and the tune is then it's sort of cheating because you already know. With songs you don't know, it's a learn a new song lesson.

I did have a mapping the other day. I pushed a few more mid tones. I seemed to have freaked out my Audio (Jordan) because I love the program where both mics are on because I hear in surround sound. They advise to have the CI set at the 12 o'clock setting and I usually have mine at 8 or 9 o'clock. 12 was too loud. So now it's set for my 9 o'clock to be the 12 o'clock. They say it's to be able to turn it down. Ok CI guys, what do y'all do when something is too loud... yep, me too... we reach up and push the magnet off and no sound. (Jordan and Krista are rolling their eyes right now... money is on that one!) HA!

They did give me a test in the booth with the sentences. Aced that puppy! 100% Then she gave me one with one syllable words and wind noise. Hated it and bombed! She told me beforehand that it would be hard and it was. Sort of driving with the windows down. Ticked me off to no end but then she explained that she had to make it really hard so when I come back in 3 months we can see how that has improved.

To me it's so hard to believe that it continues to get better. Better than this? Cricket!!!

There are so many times a day that I am still blown away by this Advanced Bionics product. One of the favorite sounds is a walk in the rain and listening to the rain hitting the umbrella. It's a magic sound. And anything with a high pitch I love! I've missed those sounds for over 5 years and it's so nice to hear them again. Still in awe over being able to hearing birds while riding at bike at 18 mph.

Oh yeah, speaking of bikes, actually helmets, does any of my CI blog readers have any suggestions on how to keep the mag in place with a helmet? Does that toupee tape really work? I'm good to go when I wear a cap or toboggan but if I wear just the helmet it's a pain. I heard it go off the other day while riding and when I finally stopped the thing was hanging on the chin strap. Gee whiz, I could have lost it then would have had to retrace 7 miles.

Well, I've bored you enough tonight....

Life is soooo good!!

The big secret

Don't you hate it when you have to keep a big secret and keep quite a week? We had to do that this week. Emmy found a car she fell in love with on Sunday while we were out looking. The car lot was closed so no chance of a test drive. On Monday I drove over to the lot during lunch and drove it, looked it over, talked price and bought it. The hard part was that when I walked back into my office Emmy called and asked if we could go test drive the car. I told her," Oh I'm sorry sweetie but they have aleady taken it off the lot. Someone bought it." I didn't lie... they had taken it off the lot and someone had bought it...me! I could really hear the diappointment in her voice. She looked for others on line all week and I told her we could go looking today after her ACT test. Little did she know! HA!

Then we had to wait until today to give it to her. She had ACT test and we knew she would not continue to study if we gave it to her before. The orignal plan was to give it to her next Sunday when she returns from a trip but she isn't supposed to get in until about 8 so she would only have 2 hours of night time driving. Today was a beautiful day here with temps in the low 60's so it was the perfect day to give our daughter her Honda Accord. It's a used one but looks close to showroom nice and is loaded to to brim with leather, sunroof, seat warmers, etc etc.

So Terri and I drove over to the lot this morning and brought it back to the house and parked it crooked in the drive and a coworker had made a big red bow for it. It was really funny because neighbors would drive by and slow way down to see who was getting the new car. Emmy was just about a couple miles down the road at school and I called and left her a voice mail telling her that I was running errands and to call me. It was really just to find out where she was so we could watch for her....

She came down our street then she totally malfunctioned. She was driving 2 mph and looking at us then she stopped IN THE ROAD and got out. She was freaking out. We laughed and laughed. She was not expecting it at all. She was shaking and laughing and kept saying over and over, "I don't know what to do". It was a classic moment that will be in our memory forever.

After a little while I told her and Ty to take off and go for a drive. It was nice knowing her big brother was with her for the maiden journey. She came back and we all hung out a bit then off she went with her pal Melissa. Sean her friend who happens to be a boy was a complete jerk to her. He was saying now that she got a new phone and now that she got a new car to match (I kid you not... both a black pearl) and she is tanning so now guys will start hitting on her. The way he has treated her the past months... I don't mind if they part ways. He is a good kid but just not to her. Just watching out for my girl!

On a lighter note, I did get to go for a ride today! Short sleeve jersey and shorts! Had a BLAST! Lots and lots of runners and cyclist and tons of families. We had an awesome wind. Well awesome going one way but not the other. There were several families that had riden with tail wind for a long time then when it was time to go back they had to fight the headwind. Kids don't usually do really well in that stuff.

WOW! What a great day!!

The morning after

A sad day around Arkansas. The tornados really did a number about 30 minutes north of here. As daylight broke is was one of those things you sit and look at the TV wondering if this really happened. A few minutes ago we heard that one of the employee just found out a family member had been killed last night. Last I heard it was 13 passed away in last nights storms.

On the strange but positive side I did have a stormy CI moment last night. I had not heard the howl of the wind coming from far away nor the thunder from far off in a long time. I stood on our front porch... it's the Arkansas thing to do... they say tornado and everyone goes to the front porch to listen for the train. Anyway, I really did go out there but we didn't have tornado warnings at the time. I could heard a howl and just sort of stood there like a curious puppy. I could HEAR the wind but not feel it. Very bizarre! Then a moment later I felt it! I love this CI!

When the wall came it was like a 2 minute hurricane. Winds topped 67 mph according to TV. Our lights went out for a moment and it was really funny because Emmy was acting all excited and I said yep, I want to hear that same excitment when they are still off 24 hours from now. Then I walked to the restroom to get a candle and lighter and wasn't thinking about the lights being off and I reached up and flipped on the lights and they all came back on. We all just laughed.

Oh, my pal Brandon and his wife Hannah had a baby boy. Ben arrived and the family looks great in all the photos. If you've read my blog for long you know Brandon is a great guy and super cyclist. His whole family is a super group of folks.

My heart goes out to everyone who lost family and possions last night.

Life is sort of good...

Tornados

In Arkansas it's now being called Super Cell Tuesday. Tornados are at this moment touching down in several places. I-40 has CLOSED due to the overturned trucks and cars. Several cities and town have been hit. It hit one of the hospitals. Terri came back here and said it will be over and passing us in 45 minutes. Never have I wanted time to pass quick. I love the thrill of a tornado but hate what it does. Several people have been killed. More later.

Missed us again

The winter storm missed us again. Drats! I was sort of in the mood for the landscape to be covered in whipped cream today.

Speaking of whipped cream... I had my fitness assessment today and fat boy here has got to lay of the whipped cream and everything else for that matter. It was really sad folks... really sad!

Last night at spin I was sweating like a pig in Helena in August. But then the class was upped a notch too. there is a drill they we do that has always blown me and that's a sit sprint, then stand recovery for 1 minute then a stand sprint then a sit recovery for one minute then repeat. That is followed by as much tension as you can handle and still make the pedal turn. To me it feels like sprint then climb Overlook (the road that goes up from the Big Bridge to the Heights). The drill makes me HATE chocalte, Coke and doritos! HA!

I have to give credit where credit is due... You know that theory of the blood flow, oxygen and my bike riding causing me to hear better? Dr. Jordan King, my Audiologist guru came up with that. She'll end up rich dicovering my syndrome! HA! No really, she is smart as it gets. Glad she is the one who cranked my CI.

Life is good!

Dropping it

Oh man! The wind is w.i.l.d!!!!!! North AR dropped from 71 to 29 in 4 hours and it's in the middle of doing that here. The wind is 43 mph with gust of up to 50. It's roaring outside. Sounds like the building is creaking. This is insane stuff.

Then the sun came out!

Knocked out media at 2 services this am, had lunch with the girls then spent the afternoon on the bike. That weather guys was just wrong this weekend! Saturday was supposed to be sun at 48 and today was supposed to be sunny and almost 60. Instead we woke to dense fog. I mean really dense.

When we came out of church is was still foggy and chilly. I was getting bummed. While we were eating lunch Emmy said, "Look! The sun came out!" When we walked out it was a beautiful clear blue sky!

Now today's riding was a lot different. Well, still mostly winter gear but the lighter weight stuff. The difference was that there were folks walking, running, in line skating and biking everywhere. I stayed on the roadside bike paths rather than the river trail due to the families. I'm very glad they are out there enjoying the nice afternoon and don't mind riding in a different area at all for them. I spotted JBar and Diane but like so many winter rides, everyone is so covered up you don't know who is who. Well, I knew which was Jbar and which was his wife but other folks would wave and say Hey Geo and I couldn't make out who that were. I'd wave and say howdy anyway. Also spotted the Arkansas Bike Club out for their Sunday afternoon ride.

Sorry, no photos today. I wished I had take the camera because there was a section off area of one of the unused soccer fields and there were small orange cones everywhere. Then i saw what it was for... there were a bunch of adults who were racing these hopped up mini motorcycles. It was funny to watch. I sort of secretly hopped to spot one of the Arkansas Psychos but no luck. These are the guys to see on the cool motorcycles riding wheelies at 70mph down the interstate around here. Insane stuff. One day I was going home for the hospital and two of them rode by on wheelies in rush hour traffic. It was one of those things you just sort of wonder if you really saw what you think you saw. I know, it's wrong and I shouldn't be glamorizing them.

CI Moment #1: Have I mentioned hearing birds while riding? Now that is a trip! I've never heard birds while riding along. When the CI is covered a tad it allows you to hear all sorts of stuff really clear. Sometimes I change gears just to listen to the click. I've caught myself breathing hard and just laughed.

CI Moment#2: OK, now I'm sure there is relation between oxygen, blood flow and hearing during exercise. No question about it. It will happen to me each time at around 20 miles out. I really caught it today. I was not listening for it or had even realized what my mileage was when it happened. But when it did it was very noticeable. I'm pushing our audiology department to look into it. Maybe it's some unknown syndrome and they would name it after me! HA! Wouldn't you like a syndrome named after you?!

Tomorrow is spin class! Will be interesting to see how the legs feel after logging over 55 miles in 2 afternoons of riding. I know cycling buds, 55 miles is cheesecake stuff....

Life is good (and fun!)

Full winter gear today

No one around today

Got the tunes, got the bike... happy camper!


It was a good day. I had the whole river trail to myself except for 2 other bikes and a hand full of folks training for the upcoming Little Rock Marathon.

It was freezing rain yesterday and caused complete chaos on the roadways. So bad just outside of my hometown that they had to detour I-30 traffic. I think when it started sleeting and lots of folks freaked and took off for home and grid locked traffic. If you waited until about 3 the road crews had had a chance to work the roads and I drove home like it was just a normal rainy day.

I got out to ride today and it was supposed to be sunny and 48 but it was just breaking through the clouds as I was finishing up this afternoon. I had a great ride for this early in the year and coming back from slack-o-rama. I was surprised to see a 17.3 average for 24.67 miles.

There was a huge soccer game going on so I stopped for a moment to watch towards the end of my ride but I got cold and rode on in.

I used my hearing aid for tunes and the CI for hearing. It worked out great!

I really liked this shot due to the reflection on the water

It's freezing over

Friday at noon and the roads around town are bumper to bumper due to sleet. Schools are starting to get out and it's going to be a messy afternoon.

It was good

Got to the gym and was a few minutes early so i climbed up on the spin bike and started warming up. Before I knew it the class was about full. Julie came in and got the class going and before I knew it, time was up and I was a bucket of sweat. It felt great to do that again! And yes, I feel fine and can walk today! HA!

I wish someone would do a study of hearing and sports. Serious, when I am sweating like the over weight pig I am and i have my hearing aid and my CI on, I hear even better. I always said this about my hearing aid. Dr. D said maybe the sweat causes a vacuum seal. The heat pulls it in tighter. But last night it seemed as though my CI was kicking in even more as well. That's sound is not going through my ear drum.

Life is good!

Hell's Gate opens at 5:30 tomorrow

That's right, you heard me! Hell's Gate opens at 5:30pm tomorrow.
I return to the fitness center for training. All that slacking has come to an end. The demons will greet me at the entrance tomorrow holding billy clubs and whips. They will roll their eyes if I even mention pain or shake. They are evil but I love them and they make me a better man. I will sweat so bad that I'll fry my hearing aid and CI... and then I'll smile because I have coverage!

I've got that Coldplay song "Clocks" stuck in my head again... goes right along with the feeling of the night before training starts...
Lights go out and I can't be saved
Tides that I tried to swim against
You've put me down upon my knees
Oh I beg, I beg and plead (singing)
Come out of things unsaid, shoot an apple off my head (and a)
Trouble that can't be named, a tiger's waiting to be tamed (singing)
You are, you are

First order of business is a spin class at 5:30 tomorrow. Those will be Monday and Wednesday afternoons. Tuesday and Thurs and maybe Fridays will be core training. I will be told to walk around with a bottle of water and cut the crap food. You know that stuff I've been eating for the past 3 months. I will be the first to admit I did not train as I should have last year for my cycling. Don't get me wrong at all here... I had an awesome coach (Mark)last year and he pushed me but I should have stayed on the core training as I did when I looped the state tour. Man, I wish I had time to pull another one off those tours.

Saturday may find me heading back to the farmlands for a building base miles ride. Temps are going to nose dive then come back to normal by the weekend. Of course Friday they are using that "freezing rain" word. In my mind, I tell myself to use the word "commitment" again and again and again.

Big news.... Arkansas Children's Hospital made the Forbes TOP 100 Employers in the US to work for! As a recruiter that's like the gold card! By the way, we had almost 10K applicants apply last year. Gee after this I wonder how much that will jump?

Life is good... r.e.a.l good

Just too cold

Just too cold to do anything right now. **BUT** The weather for Sunday is 60!!
Thinking about watching the weather for a bit and taking a day off when it is going to be 60 or higher with a light wind and go out and spend the day on the bike. I need to do at least a 50 miler. I'm planning to grab my first century of the year in April so I better get on the stick.

The Rock Racing crew are all out at camp this week. Rashann has some great photos of the team including Tyler Hamilton. Can't wait to see these guys in May! Fun spring coming!

CI stuff: We had a "songbook" service at church and I was actually sitting in the crowd since it was Sunday night and I had set it up to work on auto pilot. The song leader said the numbers of the song and I heard and understood all but one. Usually I flip pages real slow and peak to see what age the person sitting on either side of me turned to then I turn to that page. You would not believe what all tricks hearing impaired folks know to do to make it look less painful than what it is.

Emmy is sick with that stomach stuff... n.a.s.t.y

Other than that... life is good.

Midweek... snow? No Snow?

It's midweek... that's right kids... I took out the trash this morning to the curb so that means only one thing... the weekend is coming!

First off congrats to Wes and his wife DeeDee for conquering the Disney Marathon last weekend. Those two ran 26.2 miles around Disney with hundreds of others. What to read the write up? Click over to your right on the link for Code Geeks Tail. It's a great write up.

Rumor has it there could be some snow during the night. I hope it plays nice and no ice. I can work from home so that part is not a big deal. Since Emmy is a senior, they don't have t make up any snow days so she is hoping for a blizzard. HA!

Dad is scheduled to FINALLY be released to go home from the hospital Saturday! I had a guy go to their house today and flip the doors on the bathroom to open out rather than in. That way if Dad ever gets in a jam in the restroom someone can get him out. Peace of mind. I drove down and hung out with him after work last night and had to to myself (rare!). We laughed a lot and had a good time.

Not much else going on. CI is doing great and I'm used to it now. I got to speak with a guy who is a big time water skier today in the Audiology center and he is considering a CI. Super nice guy. He and his wife asked questions and the wife said she didn't even notice mine! Mine is dark gray to match my hair. Fashionable man that I am! HA! Still need to work with the music program more. Practice practice.

Life is good!

Saturday

Had a blast today! Rode 24 miles and even snuck in the back of DWonn's noon ride and rode with them from the sub to the golf course. I dropped off and did my own thing when they turned I knew I couldn't keep up with a group in mostly Carve jerseys on the hills. Spotted JBar on his bike and also spotted Mike Mitchell out getting a run in.

After that I cleaned the garage. All Christmas junk is finally back in the attic. Oh geez, only about 10 months and it comes back down.

We then went to see National Treasure. Movie was supposed to start at 4:20 but after all the trailers then a stupid Goofy movie we finally got to see the feature. It was a good movie but to me not as good as the first.

Then we drove down to see Dad in the hospital a little bit. He was doing really well and seemed to be having a good day.

Then we went to Colton's for dinner. Prime Rib was some of the best I've ever had.

Busy day and more of the same tomorrow...

Life is good!

Maps and rides

I go in for my CI mapping tomorrow. I think I'm going to see if I can get Jordan, my audio guru to play music and map to that some. It's weird, I can hear radio/CD music and the bass is one thing then the high pitches are like a completely separate thing. Got to figure this out. Sort of like part is far away and part is in my ear. I did a speech exercise tonight and it was easy at first then I moved on to listening to answering machines and had to understand and answer questions at the end. Details details... there are words like shutter and shoulder and shimmer. Serious. It's crazy but fun at the same time.... solve the puzzle!

I'm really still having moments everyday where I just stop in awe and listen. So far one of my favorites have been cracking my office window and hearing the birds. Yesterday I had to walk across the parking lot to the main hospital and it was raining and I asked a coworker if the rain was always this loud. She just laughed and said this was a quite rain. We have a lot of construction going on and I have finally learned to tune out the beep beep beep of the heavy equipment backing up. And how many car alarms go off everyday? Geez louise!

Tomorrow I think it's going for a warm 58 degrees so I'm thinking an afterwork ride might be in the picture. It will turn dark on my while I'm riding but I'll be on a bike trail with no cars really to worry with.

Speaking of bikes get this... Rock Racing has invited Landis to come hang out at camp starting the 18th. The director has left the building. I liked Frankie. He was really a personable and approachable guy. I jut hope Ball doesn't think they are too good for the Joe Martin Stage races in Fayetteville this May and not show. Makes me think, I wonder what is going on with Healthnet and United-Toyota teams these days? All are in the hills of CA getting whipped and ready for the spring racing season.

I'm planning to head down to Ridgeland, MS on April 12th for a ride on the Natchez Trace Parkway. I'm going to try some new rides this year. I saw one the first week of Feb in Longview TX called "Freeze Your Fanny" ride. Bet the t-shirts are funny!
May be missing the Carti Tour de Rock this year since I'll be in FL in mid June. Bummer.

Yep, everyone has begun to ask me what "epic" ride will I do this year. Honestly I don't know. I would love to do a fundraiser for the Audiology group of the hospital again this year but it takes so much time to train ...plus... do the fundraising. I was a bit bummed last year when I started because I had a good base of corporations in the NW part of Arkansas but the Foundation worked them for another event so I couldn't approach. I came in short for what I really wanted. There is one piece of equipment they need down there and it's a newborn hearing analyzer. Price tag is about $28,000. My fundraising for them has been in the 10-12 thousand dollar range. I had a crazy idea about riding the river trail loop for 24 hours and that would be such and easy gig to set up... not to ride... to set up. I wouldn't have to worry with driving and hotels and the hospital is just a few blocks from the river trail. Oh well, we'll see. I'm just getting back out to ride and have a good time right now.

Oh yeah, I will add photos back to the blog. I didn't realize you guys liked those that much. Guess it does make it more interesting than just a bunch of text.

Well I'm outta here folks... life is good!

Monday

Yep, just plain ole Monday.

Yesterday I did get out and ride in yet again windy conditions. the nice part was that the temps felt like spring! It's been so warm the past couple of days that a neighbor down the street has a forsythia bush starting to bloom! Next weekend it will be back to winter I hear.

Speaking of hear... I wanted to wear the CI and helmet without a cap but my helmet knocked off the connection magnet several times before I even got started so I just wore the hearing aid. Oh yeah, love that deafening roar! The CI is so much quieter with the wind roar. I'm going to have to find some sort of headband to wear to hold the mag in place.

I did spot the club and rode to their regroup area and got caught up on some friendships. It was good to see the guys. There were several others out I hear but never spotted them. Saw DWonn doing his run. He rode the day before. Yep, he is one of the Ironmen guys. Super nice.

I got on the scale and I'm down 2lbs. Need about 14 more to get where I really want.

Oh I did the media at church and it was fine. We had several things going on but everything went like clockwork and I sat there enjoying the service.

life is good....

I thinking I'm having an affair... again!

That's right folks. I thinking I am getting dangerously close to falling in love again. She's one fast chick. Yep, I rode my bike again today! It was one of those Arkansas sort of days where you didn't know what to wear on the ride. You don't want to dress to warm but then I'm not one to ride if I'm too cold. Today was one of those rare days I got it just right and I enjoyed the ride along the river like none other. I knocked off a tad over 25 miles of pure enjoyment. Saw a couple of folks and said howdy. If all goes well I'll get to go back out there tomorrow afternoon and see a bunch of the gang. There is a ride at 1 tomorrow. Of course they will drop my lard butt but just riding with the Fast Girls Slow Guys for a few will be fun.

Thanks to everyone for the comments and the emails regarding Dad. He is doing a lot better and will more than likely be moved to rehab tomorrow. Last year he was in rehab and it did him wonders. He was able to walk a lot better with his walker and he just had a better quality of life. I'm hoping for that again.

Tomorrow starts my month back in the media control tower at church. I'm looking forward to being back. I put the program together but stayed out of the controls except for one evening while I was getting used to the implant. It's going so much better than I ever expected! I kept hearing this "3 to 6 months". If it's that much better in 3-6 months then man oh man... Jordan told me that some folks are making progress up to two years. I will say I had a CI Moment today while riding. I kept hearing something buzzing and kept thinking it was a car far off but none around. Come to find out it was the golf cart on the course I was riding by. I love hearing the gears clicking and he whiz of the tires on the road. Love it love it love it!! Also hear a funny CI story the other day. Man was on his front porch and he realized his CI wasn't working and then realized it was gone!! He and his wife were sitting on the front porch and come to find out when he sat down he got too close to a wind chime and the magnet jumped and stuck the the chimes!!! I laughed when I heard that.

Well, I'm done with this computer today... by y'all

Thursday night thoughts

Just got back from visiting my dad at the hospital. Seems to be doing better but he's going to be there awhile. My mom, bless heart heart, insists on staying there every night. Dad is in a semi-private room but there's not another patient in there so they have given mom the other bed to sleep on at night and they have brought in nicer more comfortable chairs. He said four good looking nurses came in today and gave him a bath. Oh the thoughts of turning older... HA!

I had mapping number 3 on the CI today. Jordan gave me more mid and high ranges. At first I really couldn't tell that much but I can tonight. I'm still bummed that I'm not getting the radio music in good yet. I did figure out that the car heater fan blocks a lot of the radio sound so if I turn down the fan then I can hear the radio a lot better. I have to not try to listen to the music so much and that's when I can hear it best. I've also noticed that the bass and the high notes seem like they are be processed by 2 different processors. Strange.

Sunny and 62 for Saturday and Sunday has a whooping 68 degrees... and it's about 30 out there right now. This much temp swing is going to continue to cause folks to get bad colds. Terri is feeling better by the way! She went to the doc and Bryon gave her a shot and meds.

As promised here are some more folks who have inspired me:
Huck (Yes, The Huckabee -- yes the Iowa caucus guy) He was our Gov and he got into running and lost a massive amount of weight. Vote for him. He really is a good normal ole guy.
Paul Creel -- always fun to ride with. Best hand therapist in the state.
Kyle, Doug, Rick and Mike -- they got me back on the back a couple of years. They are good as gold.
Paul Britt, Michael Mitchell, Jon Van Pay, Robb Carr -- Still cherish our long ride that day! HA!
Jason Gates -- Awesome rider, true gentleman, kick butt US soldier
Jason Ketcher -- He tells me like it really is. Makes me laugh so hard my tummy hurts.
Charlie Woods -- knocked out over 10K miles on the bike the past 2 years.
Many more to come!

Not much else going on. Speech therapy tomorrow. Counting down to the weekend!

Quick hit Wednesday

Got to do this fast... I'm at work and it's not lunch...

I did ride yesterday! It was crazy stuff! The temp was 39 with 19mph wind and 32 mph gust and all of that along a river! No wind blockage hardly at all.

... but it felt REALLY good to be back out there riding. I mean r.e.a.l.l.y good!

Had a CI moment. When I was riding back to the car with the wind to my back it was like the day I got my new hearing aid and I could her the whizz of the tires on the pavement and the gears clicking but with the CI the wind noise to me is much less! I could hear something behind me that sounded like a wave and it was a gust of wind coming across the field toward me. Unbelievable how cool that was to hear.

Saturday forecast is showing 62 for the high that afternoon with sun! I'm am so gonna be there riding! Yea-izzzz!

Funny story right quick: Ok, who all said no eating in 2008? Well we had a meeting this morning and some fool brought donuts! I passed... ohhhh weee, that's serious!

Card on the table true confession moment: Terri bought some fancy schmizing Weight Watchers scale and I got on it. Poor digital thing didn't know what to do with me. Told me to get off and come back in a couple of weeks. Y'all wanna hear something really sad... 10 lb gain since the CI surgery. Yes, that's why I rode in a freezing hurricane yesterday. I'm sure in the docs notes it prescribed for me to sit on the sofa and eat holiday foods for 3 weeks... I know i saw that somewhere... didn't I?

Hope you are off to a great 2008!

...and then it becomes Oh-Eight

What a year! It ended quite but you know that's OK. My dad has been in the hospital since Friday night. ICU at first but got to downgrade to a regular room. He has blood clots in both lungs. Doc says his body is going to have to dissolve them on their own because the meds didn't work. He was in good spirits yesterday when I when down to sit with him while the others went home to rest. He should be able to go home in several days.

Terri has the crud so that's not a lot of fun either. We did manage to eat out last night, drove around a little bit then back home for the evening. We had a nice fire in the fireplace and watched TV. The new year was sort of,"Happy (cough cough cough) I'm sorry (cough) New Year (cough cough)". Some years are like that.

It's been funny reading Aussie Rodney's blog lately. Downunder is having summer right now so it's summer temps and they are talking shorts and sweating. That sounds nice right now.

I pulled all of my bike gear out and plan to head back to the river for a ride. It's in the upper 40's with some stiff wind but you have to start somewhere. My daughter asked if I wanted anything from Sonic and when I said no she sort of looked at me like one of those curious puppies. I told her I was planning to skip Sonic as much as I could this year. Just not the best stuff for someone trying to hold down weight and save a little dough.

CI stuff: Just getting a little better each day. Nothing really new to say except I have gone dining 2 times and did fine with the CI only.

Well, happy oh Eight y'all!!