This riding stuff is fun... again

I got it a whopping 42 miles yesterday afternoon. I was off half the day and got out to ride about 3 and loved having the trail mostly to myself for awhile. I could tell when folks were getting off from work because it was a slow steady build of riders and runners.

I felt like me again. By that I mean it used to take me about 15 miles just to feel warmed up when I was on the bike daily. It felt like that yesterday. I did down and back on the north side and when I finished that I felt as if I was finally ready to ride so I did. This past spring I would do down and back and say that was it for the day.

I do have a "major concert announcement" (love it when the radio stations do that).
I'm going to do an epic ride again... in 2009. I started plotting and planning several weeks ago and it's beginning to become more and more public so here you go... the details...
May 1st 2009 I plan to ride the NLR/LR River Trail for 24 hours as a fundraiser for the kids of Arkansas Children's Hospital. The funds will go to the Audiology and Speech department. I'm meeting the the PR/Marketing/Audiology Team for stategy planning soon!

Here's the FAQ (Frequent asked questions) so far:
What made you decide? I knew I was not in shape this year and I will not fail this event. Not having an event to train for was making me nuts!

Will you have a jersey for the event? Oh yeah! Jon has already agreed to design it. He is the guy who designed the River-2-River one. It will have a River Trail theme. If you go to Destin this summer chances are if you buy a really cool t-shirt then you just purchased his work.

How much? How much what... oh money? I don't know... more than my last two put together! I'm pushing for this one.

But it's at the first of the spring... what about training through the winter? That my friend is going to take some serious dedication! I'm moving the trainer to the den so that I can never watch TV unless I'm on the bike. I will be ready... trust me!

Who's your coach and what is he making you do? Rance is my coach for this ride. Since he works here at the hospital as the director of the fitness center it just makes sense. I also have several friends I plan to beg for advice. Rance already has me on core training which he hammered me on for my "Round the state" ride. If I don't train, he will call me on it.

Why May 1st... that's on a Thursday. Yep, it's a special Thursday. My 50th birthday and I wanted to make it memorable. None of this black balloon and getting old crap. I mean what better way to celebrate an epic birthday than with an epic ride!

Why the River Trail? Because it's local. This will be by far the easiest to put together. Anyone can jump in an ride as much or as little as they want to. If you want to donate great and if you can't, I'm more than happy that you would take the time just to come ride in support of the hospital.

I can't wait... y'all come on and ride with me!
Life is good... on the bike!

The transformation of Chris

Chris has been a pal of mine for several years now. You've heard me talk about him. Nice guy with a big heart of gold. Actually both Chris and his wife Rebecca are two of the most kind and generous folks you'd ever meet. No, nothing bad happened to them... Chris has branched out and started a blog. Oh I just realized... look at my entry about Killer Buzz and the black t-shirt guy is Chris.

Check out his blog... ** Note to fellow blogger Wes.... you'll love this one! Yes, it's an Ironman blog**

Y'all jump over there and read up:
http://cheeseburgertriathlete.blogspot.com/

*************************************************************
Now on a different note... what's up with the weather? Oh I forgot, it's Arkansas... you know the tag line... Don't like the weather, well stick around and it changes. I got ready to ride yesterday and walked out to hear it thunder. Back in the house I go. I won't ride thunderstorm rides. Today I have a half day off (it came with winning that award). It keeps getting dark then light so I'm going to make a run for it here in about 30 minutes.


Life is good... especially when you have a 1/2 day off!

Paula Deen Show in Tunica

Terri and I drove over to Tunica for the afternoon to Harrahs where we dashed through the smoke filled casino into the event center to see Paula Deen. I had bought Terri tickets and gave them to her for mothers day. We had great seats on the fifth roll almost center aisle. It was really really funny. She had her husband, brother, aunt, her business guy and another guy. They really just sat around telling family stories but it was tummy hurting funny. She tells it like it is.

Aferwards we went upstairs to the new Paula Deen restaurant and had to stand in line to get a ticket to come back and stand in line again. The show got out about 3:15 and we got in to eat about 4:30. It was worth the wait! There are 5 different stations and it's huge. There is Lady and Sons, Uncle Bubba (her brother), Paul's Garden (Her grandmother named Pauline I think), A smokehouse and a dessert station which I tried to put out of business! Peanut butter pie like I've never had before! I will be riding a long way tomorrow to get rid of this damage! HA! I also had a piece of the fried chicken she is famous for.

All in all it's been a fun day!

Life is good y'all!

River Trail video

This make a take a moment to load... sort of long.

Enjoy a little sample of the River Trail
I'm not sure what this section of forest is called.
I've always called it the Emerald Forest due to the Emerald Trail coming off of it.

Killer Buzz -- Go buy some!

I worked the registration table this morning for the Carve Crit series. It was great to be back out there socializing with the big dogs. These guys are super nice and always appreciative of the little dogs like me who work behind the scenes.

I did get to see an awesome sprint to the finish by Robert Mooney. It was one that would have been a great video to put on youtube. Smokin' I tell you!

While we were watching the top racers Killer Buzz (www.killerbuzz.com) energy drink folks came around giving out free ice cold samples. Good stuff! I thought it would be fun to make a little homemade video so here you go! After you watch it go buy some... yeah, a case would be good!

Wanna be Buzz models!
(Note to Chris (black shirt) -- GOOD LUCK in the 1/2 Ironman in a couple of weeks!)

Cat 1, 2, 3 racers creating a buzz!


Justin and ___I'll think of it in a sec *sorry!*___ from Killer Buzz.
Super nice folks and great reps for the product.
Great vehicle and product packaging. Very cool logo!

I made it back to the house and got busy with the honey-do list. Tyler came over and got us all hooked up to a wireless network. I know, I'm 20 years behind on this. The funny part was that when he was hooking us up he was telling me that we have a lot of wireless signals showing. OK so I'm the last in the hood to go wireless... sigh.

Spoke to the folks and everyone is getting more exciting about the big family trip to Destin this year. Man, I am ready to park my tail under the umbrella and soak up the sun. Oh and yes, I am going to take some Killer Buzz with me. Serious, I really like this stuff. I've felt great all afternoon.

The pop up t-storm has moved on now so I've got to get back with it.

Congrats again to all the Carve crit series racers!

Life is good!

Check back later for some cool stuff!

I have a really fun video I shot while riding last evening. It's sort of ends like Cloverfield meets bike riding.

Ride of Silence was nice the other night. Lots of folks came out to support. I rode for "Michael 1993".

Last night I met up with the Fast Girls Slow Guys group and oh my goodness!!! These kids are in smoking form right now. I got dropped and expected as much but thought they they were going on down the road and then coming back to climb the hill but oh no as I rounded the corner at the top there they sat. Oh the shame to be the less man up. And as always when that poor soul gets to the top the rest are ready to head back down the hill at complete insane speeds.

I caught up at the bottom since I didn't cruise at 55mph down the hill and rode along. I was having fun and enjoying just keeping up once again then it got faster and faster. Last time I looked down it was 22mph. These kids were chatting like they were sitting still... I was coughing up my lungs.

Speaking of coughing, a bug flew right in my mouth not 5 minutes into the ride and I had to stay with the group and couldn't hardly drink or cough.

More later...

Misspelt...misspelled... whatever it is I do it well

Everyone knows I misspell words. I type fast to "get 'er done" and most of the time push the post button and go on with life.

Ok, so I have a tagline "Life is good". I put this on my blogs and even letters and emails.
So here is a little laugh for you this afternoon...
I have sent out different versions of Life is good due to not reading before sending...
Welcome to Geo's world of typos!
1) Lie is good
2) Lie if good
3) Life is goo
and my favorite typo...
4) Life is god

My most embarassing typo when to a VP who is also a friend with a sense of humor...
Ready for this? It's really tacky...
It should have said "I don't have any open slots"
It came out as (PG13)
"I don't have any open sluts"
She called my office laughing and laughing.
I wanted to crawl under my desk for a week....

If you can't laugh at yourself... who can you laugh at... actually a name came to mind but...

Life is good!
HA!!!

Always a team effort

I always surround myself with good folks. I like folks with a sense of humor and can laugh at themselves as much as I can laugh at them! I like friends good enough to push me to do better and call me on it when I foul. I like friends who I could tell something in confidence to and know it's sealed and I like knowing that my friends feel the same with me. Sometimes it's hard to keep quite about something when someone comes and ask but it's part of the trust bond.

Sorry, I got off the subject... you know... surrounding yourself with good people. OK, so anyway, I went to this lunch deal a couple of days ago and was awarded the highest honor given out at the hospital. I would not have written about this but someone I live with threatened me if I didn't blog it. I prefer backstage to limelight. The Care, Love and Hope award was presented to me by deal friends and coworkers. They cried when they told their stories about things I had done. It was embarrassing. After they got finished and called my name everyone was on their feet clapping and clapping and clapping. Dr. Bates (hospital CEO) came up to me and talked a few and I told him that this was an "us" award not a "me" award. I told him many people get me to where I am and he firmly said this was a "Geo" award and well deserved. It was all surreal.

Ok, so I got the award but it is really an "us" award... all of you get me to where I am... yes even you lurkers who read this. HA!

My little sister also got an award much bigger than mine. She is a school nurse and was awarded School Nurse of the Year for the state of Arkansas. WAY TO GO BARB! She deals with little kids barf, cuts and snot all day long and smiles about it... get real! HA!

Tonight is the Ride of Silence at 7 honoring all the cyclist who have been killed or seriously injured in wrecks with autos. We ride 2 up and keep it at about 10-12 mph and no one says a word. It's a moving event (no pun intended).

Destin is only 23 days away! I am so looking forward to a huge family vacation!

Life is good!
Geo.

Riding once again!

Oh that felt good! I knocked out the meeting I had this morning and was on the bike by 1 and just finished up. It felt great to be back out there on the bike! This was the first time I got to use my new IPod. I had an MP3 player but now I have the real deal.

There was a new bike bridge that opened down by the sub and it was PACKED down there. I think there was also a BBQ fest going on at the end of the boat ramp area.

I paced myself behind a guy I didn't know but it wasn't a draft type ride. I stayed back far enough to have to work myself in the headwinds but having someone up ahead kept me focused on a fitness type ride rather than a look at the pretty flowers ride.

**CI Moment** I finally used the wig tape on my CI to hold everything in place. My helmet seems to bump the mag connection so the problem is now solved! By the way I always take my CI and hearing aid off after my rides and disconnect the battery on the CI and open the case on the Unitron and most of the time I ride home with the windows down (10 minute drive). The air helps dry them a bit and with the hearing aid it helps air out my ear as well preventing infections.

I always put a fun slide at the end of the church services and tomorrow for the second service it has "Have a great afternoon" which all of them say that but tomorrow is a shot of the bike trail with a few bikes on it. There are several roadies in the crowd so I suspect they will turn around and give me a smirk or a smile. Just taking care of the buds, what can I say?! HA!

It's way to nice to be in the house on a computer so I'm outta here!

Life is good!

Thanks Disney!

It's been a little over a week since my return from Disney but I'm still on the clouds. I have worked better this week and had a better thought process. Just looking at the way I did things verses need to do things.



OK the "Thanks Disney" part. Like everything they do they think ahead. They have these FM type systems so when we would go to the parks for class Chris or Pam could talk and we could all still hear them over all the other noise. I was able to plug my Unitron hearing aid directly in. I could have plugged in the CI but I forgot the chord I needed. I was able to hear everything from the class and the instructors took time to be sure I could hear without pointing me out (even though it was all coworkers). They were just a class act!



Today was/is National Bike To Work day and I missed it! I thought about the guys all the way to work and hoped that I would get to see the massive group of bikes coming down the road in the downtown area. I just has stuff booked from the moment I walked in until just now.

I'm eating chips and drinking a Dr Pepper for lunch and blogging. As soon I I knock this out my afternoon is just as insane.

Weather this weekend is going to be awesome or as I sometimes say "wesome". As soon as I finish my meeting tomorrow I plan a good long ride. I need it really bad. Serious... really bad.

Indiana Jones comes out next week!! OH YEAH!

It's Friday afternoon so life is soooooo good! Have a great weekend y'all!

Media and church

Oh this title perked up a few ears.... I have a meeting Saturday morning (I'll ride afterwards) and what's cool about this meeting is that all the different leaders are coming together. I get to been under one of my favorite guys and someone I really look up to, Winston Horton. Media and sound and other parts of the Church service will be grouped. I've been encouraged a lot to have more video in services. The bar is raising!! They want to know what I think so I'll tell them if you want this church to grow the market to the community. You have a massive crowd out there of 20, 30 and 40 somethings but the service has got to be moving. I admit we are getting there as far as progressive goes and I'm as happy as a loon! We have a visually exciting service, our sound is good for the most part... we're still working on it. We installed flat screens in the back so the back pews can see a crisp screen of whats on the large screen in the front. We have since Easter had stage props. It works! A couple of weeks ago Kevin, our youth guy, spoke about "Get out of the boat" and guess what was on the stage? You got it... a boat. The thing was leaned up against the wall. It got the crowds curiosity and interest up! Greg and I put together a great baseball set which sadly will be coming to an end this month. We have had members bringing their cameras to church to take pictures of the props! I seat in the crows nest and laugh when this happens. Even the senior members are loving it. It was thinking outside the box...
Can't wait for Saturday!

Sylvan Hills are heading to Fayettville this Saturday to claim ANOTHER state championship against Watson Chapel. Emmy is heading up that way for the game. We have too much other stuff going on and that's a bummer because I really world like to see this game.

My guys from Rock Racing had a last minute schedule change and didn't make it over to race last weekend so I was glad I didn't go up. I was going to stay with my neice but her twins got sick as dogs so i'm glad I missed out! HA!

Rain is leaving us again...finally! Weekend is looking wesome! Thinking about a ride to Keo (the farmland). They've been hit with tornados... but then where in Arkansas hasn't been hit?!

Life is good!

Disney -- the rest of the story

Some of this I'm really writing for myself just so I don't forget.

The rest of the Disney trip-- I got to see the Disney laundry which for ALL of those resorts they only have 9 washers. I kid you not. Of course they are the size of a city bus. I saw the place where all the employees get their uniforms. They check them out like in a super center.
I had to analyze an area and chose the Tower of Terror. I can feel you it is safe and the cast members are great.

The flight home was along the Fl east coast which surprised me. A beautiful flight. We arrived in LR just as the storms got here. We have some friends who where flying in from Denver and finally got to LR at 3am. They were supposed to be here at 7pm.

**CI Moment** I did not have to remove the hearing aid or the CI at security check in. The AB Ci and Unitron HA did not make the alerts go off. Of course my Christmas ornimate that was clear glass with a castle inside about shut down the line. It's not a snow globe guys... let me go. My package ended up having to be a training item for several screeners. They like me take it but they all had to look to see what a ornament without water looks like on the xray. Better safe than sorry. Always glad to help out the Feds out keeping our skies safe. I know... that's a stretch huh?!

Ok...up to present day... Car broke down. Bummer! I hate car trouble and I'm not a mechanically inclined person at all when it comes to motors. Terri and Em left church to meet Ty for Mothers Day lunch after church and I had to turn off the computer equipment that runs the service so I was a few minutes behind them. As I was going down the road my car went into slo-mo. The harder I pushed on the gas the slower I would go. I ended up leaving it and having it towed in today. They have just started working on it this afternoon. OK, y'all who pray... do it now please. It have a feeling it's going to take my June family vacation money. Is that the way thinks always happen? I come across extra money and try and save it up and something out of the ordinary happens. Oh well... who needs to eat in Destin anyway huh?! HA! 34 days until depart!

Today's CI Moment***
I had the pestering pain at my CI mag site and it bothered me last night. I don't really ever remember having any pain around the mag site other than a tad while healing. I stopped by Jordan the audio guru's office on the way back from a meeting and she removed a mag. I had the overloaded version because of my "fat head" (thick scalp). I actually had one mag more than recommended but hey, I had to have to stick...right? It has severed me well since activation day back in December. I'm not sure if it's a mental thing but I would almost swear this is lighter without the extra mag. The thing is the size of a tick so it couldn't weigh much. (How was that for a visual?! HA!) The CI is staying put and I even did yard work after dinner and it never moved.

So this past weekend was the Pro bike race in Fayettville. I was so bummed out that I didn't get to go then today I noticed no one was talking about Rock Racing on the boards. Hmmm. I found out they pulled out at the last minute and stayed in CA racing. Boy was I glad I didn't drive up 3 hours for that. I was really looking forward to seeing the bad boys of bike racing in action in my home state. They have their company store opening a week from today! I'm thinking new bike jersey! I've not bought a new jersey in a while.

Oh yesterday after lunch I got my son Tyler hooked on Meekat Manor! Love that show. I didn't know that Flower had been bitten on the head by a viper and died. I bet the folks who film that cried. She was the leader for four years. It was funny how they gave her such a personality. Thanks for making us laugh Flower... we'll miss you!

Hey you other blogspot bloggers... question... do you have a option to add old posting links? I can see it in the options but there is not icon to activate it. I was wanting to have a CI section so folks can bypass all my yakking and get straight to the days on first having my CI.

Life is so good!
Geo.

Disney Institute -- Day 2

What a breakfast spread! Even had Mickey Mouse waffles if you wanted.

After a great breakfast with fresh orange juice we got busy with presentations and then got to see the backstage areas and tunnels at the Magic Kingdom. Chris did an awesome job showing us some of the unique business practices and pointing out the attention to detail that makes a trip to the Magic Kingdom magical.

Everything is so coordinated that it was mind blowing. No, I'm serious. Did you know that on Main Street that a horse poops and they call in a "house dump" on Main Street and they wait 8 minutes then clean it up? It has to do with the smell is part of a smell you would expect on a turn of the century Main Street. They don't let people step in it or anything.

We spent the rest of the day at our conference area at the Boardwalk and was released to go play at 3:30. Everyone met in the lobby and we headed over to Epcot. After riding a couple of rides we got to eat at Marackka (sp?). It was Morocco food and really good! I really liked the "rice stuff" that came with my chicken kabobs. I also had some Morocco mint tea which was good and cold.

Afterwards several of us headed over to Hollywood Studios where they were open until 1am! We rode the Rocking Roller Coaster (the Areosmith one). Sort of like Space Mountain but with a loop. I still like Space Mountain better. We also rode Tower of Terror. Awwright, no one told me about these insane ride. I knew it took you 13 stories up and then dropped you in an elevator shaft but NO ONE EVER told me it goes back up and does it again! I screamed like a little girl and grabbed a coworkers arm (I really thought it was the arm rest). The poor guy has claw marks on his arm now! HA! They all laughed and laughed at me. Man, when you don't know it's going to do that, gee whiz!

**CI MOMENT*** Remember to remove your CI when dropping free fall in a hauted elevator shift for 13 stories! I almost forgot.

I walked in my room at 12:45 and had to be up and in place for my conference at 7:30. Of course I was so high strung from all the wild rides I couldn't fall right to sleep. Several of us looked like death warmed over the next morning....

Stay tuned... more to come.

Heading to Disney Institute -- Day 1

Flip and flop pretty much describes my sleep the night before departure. I woke at 2:30 rather than 3:30 and just laid there thinking and waiting for time to get up. I think I finally said enough already at 3:15 and got up.

Terri was kind enough to drive me to the airport and drop me at check in. I walked over to the Delta area and there was a line but no agent's. This goes on for about 30 minutes. Folks were getting sort of antsy about missing their flights as I was but sure enough we all seemed to have had plenty of time.

**CI MOMENT** OK, Advanced Bionics CI can fly through the airport without removing and it didn't set off the alarm... well not in Orlando but in Little Rock something did. They did ask me to put the hearing aid and CI in the bucket so I did. When I walked through the nice lady smiled and I asked her if it went off? She said it did... of course I was reading her lips without any hearing equipment on. HA! I'm wondering if it was my belt buckle that triggered it? Anyway, I got my gear out of the bucket and no problems at all. So if you are about to travel for the first time using airlines with a CI, don't worry like I did. You'll be just fine!

They called us to board the flight and I was so excited to get to bypass the line and go on in due to me getting lucky enough to score a first class flight. Man, that's the way to travel! There was "someone" sitting in the front seat of first class because several passengers noticed him. He was rock star looking but I have no clue who it was.

Got to Atlanta -- nice place!! I had to go from A concourse to T but it's not as long as you think. They don't have all the alphabet. While getting to my gate I got to see and really nice African art exhibit.

We board the flight to Orlando... holy smokes this is a big jet! First class on this was even better! I had a recliner, wrapped pack of headphones, pillow and blanket and the staff was waiting on us hand and foot! Wonder why they weren't like this on the flight from LR? Anyway the seat next to me is empty until just before takeoff. A guy comes in and sits down and we talk a few moments being pleasant and he was on his way home from a round of golf with friends up north. Yep, he flew up Friday evening, played a round a golf in CT and then flew home Sunday morning. He was talking about his kids driving him crazy...but in a nice way. Then he orders a gin and rum!! 8:30 in the morning! Not Rum and coke or gin and tonic... gin and rum! Whoa!

Land in Orlando and head to the Disney Welcome Center and check in. If you go to Disney this is the way to go! I got my pass for the Magical Express which took me straight to the front door of my resort. They handle your luggage and get it to the room.... if you have the yellow Disney tag on your luggage. Mine was lost in the hospital somewhere in inner office mail or something. But I was told to no worry they know I'm coming and they will bring my luggage.

So John and I head down the Boardwalk and grab a late lunch at ESPN! Good grub!

Luggage still not in the room but I was told not to worry about it. OK...
5pm all 30 of us are now here and we go into this beautiful convention area and dine. Very nice! Chris and Pam introduce us to what we will be experiencing over the next 3 days and at 8 they turn us loose for the evening. I check my room... no luggage. My Dry & Store and my CI battery charger are in the checked in luggage as well as my back CI. I know I know... put it in your carry on you goob!! So I stop by the bell station and the guys tell me that my luggage is still at the airport and they apologize and assure me I will get it tonight. I told them what was in it and how important it was for me to get it. So I leave with the crew and we go walk along the boardwalk and act all touristy.

We stopped by a bar and get bar food and the noise level is that of a bar! Loud! I finally left and walked back to my room. The others left just after me. I was just about to spaz over the suitcase. I walked in and sure enough there it was! I felt 200 pounds lifted off my shoulders! I knew now that I would be having a great trip! By the way, John did have the yellow tag on his luggage and his came the same time mine did.

When I fell asleep I didn't wake until the next morning. I think I was still in the same position even.

Up and excited to see what the day had in store!!

Day 2 coming soon........

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.