Great day in Arkansas for Audiology -- Hands and Voices

WE ARE HANDS AND VOICES!
Well the board anyway.
(Not just one fruitcake! HA! You had to be there)

Kelly Phonaks's booth

If you are an Advanced Bionic person then you know these famous monkeys!

Fun 2 days! Yesterday after work I went over to the UALR Audiology & Speech department and we had a pizza supper and board meeting for Arkansas Hands and Voices. (www.arhandsandvoices.org ) Met lots of new folks who are on there own journeys into the world of Audiology stuff. Some have kids who are deaf or hard of hearing. Some are educators and some are hearing /speech professionals.

One of the national Hands and Voices folks spoke and helped us to form our guide. I'll admit when it comes to all this bylaws and legislation sort of stuff, I'm not to sharp. I shy away form politics. But that was just a small part of it.

Today the conference started and it was a packed room at the Hilton! Lots of folks from all sorts of area, both sign and vocal groups were there. I've not met a person I didn't like yet!

The exhibits include two of my favorites! Advanced Bionics and Phonak. I spoke with Kelly for a while today. She is the Phonak rep. Super nice lady! We were talking about a new Phonak product coming out and I'm going to test drive one! Maybe the zebra striped one! I'll catch up with Joann (Advanced Bionics) tomorrow.

There has been so much discussion today about different areas and issues of hearing. It's sort of like when I went to Dallas to Echo. This is going into overload mode! It's been great to hear the parents stories and the educators. Some of them I just really can't imagine. And some of them I just want to call a few schools and say, "Hey, you know that money you got because there is a kid with hearing troubles in your school? Show me what you've done with it!" I think some of the schools have some explaining to do but no one seems to regulate it much.

Tonight we had a parents meeting/dinner and while I wished we had had more there it was a nice mix and got to meet even more folks. I met a guy who trains service dogs and that was fun! I asked him what was the most interesting thing he had to train a dog to do and he told me about one dog that when owner sneezed the dog give them a kleenex.

One of the reps showed me a very very VERY cool thing that is FREE where you make a call and it goes through your computer and it captions everything you and the other person says! I'll give out more info after I try it this weekend.

Speaking of weekend... man I've got to get some riding in! Whew!

I gotta tell you... I'm ready for the weekend!

Life is good!

At Hands and Voices meeting

I'm at the Hands and Voices meeting.... big crowd! I spotted Kelly from Phonak and Joann from Advanced Bionics in the crowd.

Justa bike blowin' in tha wind...

Justa bike blowin' in tha wind.... that's what it was this afternoon. Terri and I headed over to the river and she walked and I rode. We said one hour and we'd meet back at the car. We started at the dog park and she walked toward the bridge and I rode toward the arena.

Going toward the arena was pure joy! That translates into tailwind. Big ring cranking and it was as simple and easy as it could be. Looped the boat club and then headed back to the dog park. Yes that would be into the headwind. I told myself that this needs to be a true training ride son stop ya whining and head down, focus and crank it out. Keep that average up. I looked down once and thought, this has GOT to be because they tuned the bike. This is some strong headwind and I am not drafting a wheel and I can not be goin 19mph. No way no how.... it's got to be the tune up. Whatever it is, oh baby I'm loving this!

By the way, yes the tropical Storm Ike did come to town last night. No one seems to know when but there was plenty of evidence this morning. Our yard is covered in leaves... green leaves. We've seen several trees down. Last I heard there was 108,000 folks without power around today. The spooky thing was last night there was a tornado warning and the spinning circle on TV was right were my folks live. I was not breathing for a few minutes. Soon after it was in a nearby town where one of my best friends from the hospital lives. I'll be interested to hear how her and husband did.

Well... as I always say... life is good... even with the wind.

Yabba Dabba do!

Well yabba dabba do! I woke this morning to find NO RAIN! Standing in the kitchen the sun was starting to come over the hill! I was tail wagging excited. Eat a very light breakfast and was out the door. I could not wait to ride this morning since I had gotten a tune up. I was ready to see if I could tell the diffence. Oh man oh man oh man oh man could I ever. Have I been riding with my brakes on all summer or something? Yes, it was that much of a difference. Even in the head wind, and we have it today, the bike was doing magical things.

Well full day ahead. Got to finish up the media for tomorrow and then it's jail time in the garage. Someone call one of those "your garage is a mess and we'll clean it all up and stock it with new Sears products" shows! I'll even act all excited when they uncover my eyes... well unless they glue fake flowers all over the wall.

Life is good.... it's yabba dabba do good!

Oh she's lookin' all fine!

It was pick-up-my-bike day after work. Of course another hurricane is messing up the weekend. I just wanna turn IKE into BIKE.

I know, that was good.... buh ha ha ha

So Dan and the guys have the bike looking good. Serious. When I started rolling it out to the car I could already tell. They really dug in deep and cleaned and lubed anything moving. New cables, new bar tape, new chain, new back tire and tube. Oh how I wish I would have done this just before MS150. The bike just feels tighter again and I'm a very happy camper. Arkansas Cycle and Fitness... oh yeah buddy, those guys rock!

I hope really bad that when I wake in the morning that the tropical rains haven;t started yet and I can get even just a quick down and back on the river.

Man I'm happy it's Friday evening!

Life is oh so good....with a fine tuned up bike!

The first 5 buck a gallon gas has appeared

The first 5 buck a gallon gas has appeared in Arkansas! The Attorney General is going after them too! Go get 'em Dustin!!!!!

Someone slap those fools!!!!

Serious! Someone has got to slap the snot out of these gas guys! Gas was 3.41 when I left the house and now my daughter called and said it's 3.95.

I heard one story a few minutes ago that there was no gas in Camden last night because everyone was filling up.

Insane what gas guys can do and get away with it.... pure insane... no that would be robbery.

Life is good... well except for gas....sigh....

That's a lot

Just a quick hit. Y'all know that band I saw on MTV that I liked? Tokio Hotel. Will I headed over to Youtube to check out what they were like in concert and the first video up is Monsoon. Cool, so I watched it and while I was watching it a number caught my eye... the number of times the video had been veiwed... over 25 ... that's as in over 25 MILLION!! It has me curious what the most watched video ever is/has been on Youtube.

MS150 photos

Here are a few MS150 photos. Like so many other times I wish I was more like Yale and kept my camera out taking 50 million photos. Maybe that should be my new years resolution.

Chainwheel dude at the rest stop. This guy gave me the big thumbs up as he was driving by when he saw I had made it up the mountain. Thanks Chainwheel dude. The lady is the mom of the girl who spoke at the dinner on Saturday night. Talk about a proud mom!

This was one of the rest stops in the middle of nowhere but the cool thing was was that it was at a Church of Christ. (How many times can yo use was in a single sentence?)

Fast Girls Slow Guys biggest rival! The Megasoreasses.

Rhonda! You are looking at one of the Arkansas State champs!

Ironmaiden, Ironman, and JBar

"Well little mister, I hear you have Ipod contraband!"
Ironmaiden was one of the ride troopers.
She would even yell at the snakes.... "Hey you there... slither back over there and wait for us to ride by. You don't want to hear Geo scream like a little girl do you?"

Thanks to everyone for riding like it hurts for MS.

9.11

It's 9.11 ... there will never be words to express this date. To this day it still is hard to believe.

1,2,3...1,2,3....1,2,3...1,2,3...1,2.3...

Like a bad LSD trip from Dragnet back in the 70's my hearing aid went all ghost-in-machine! Mike and I were loading the desk for the control center and I got really hot and sweaty and no air to dry the sweat like when I'm on the bike. So I think the sweat got into the circuits of the aid. Suddenly it's changing programs from regular to soft to phone (silent without a phone to your ear). It repeating this over and over and over. I tried everything but no luck. Today it seeme fine after it spent the night in the dehumidifier. I stopped by Audio and they gave me the same aid as a loaner and sent ghost-in-machine in for a fixing.

I dropped the bike off to Dan and the gang at the bike shop for a tuning. First thing Eric said was man, you've been riding...need a new back tire. Chain was a tad stretched too so I'll be getting one of those as well. White handlebars will now be back. White is great for pro's who don't have to do anything but get on and ride but for commoners who have to fix their own chain and flats... white bar tape is a pain.

Ya hear Lance is coming out of retirement? There was a collective groan across France. HA!

Tyler Hamilton is doing great with the Rock Racing team this year. Big win! Rashaan is pushing the limits (and pain) in London.

The computer system that drives the media is acting all crashy and isn't coming back to life. I'll get some of the guys who had this job before me to look it over and see if I'm missing something. If not... there will be a new computer up there Sunday but that's not what I want for now.

By the way... I feel asleep during the MTV video awards. Serious... it was boring. Too much of the try to shock you stuff. But I do have to say that ex-American Idol Jordan S. stood up for a good fight. The emcee was poking fun of the Jonas Brothers about their no sex before marriage promise rings. Then Jordan came out to present an award and said that the rings are a good thing and that not everyone wants their boyfriend or girlfriend to be a slut. I know, tacky word to say, but it was a major league hit! Way to go Jordan for standing up for the good in people.

I got to talk to a couple of folks about to get implants. They were in the clinic. Super nice folks. One wanted to know about hearing in public places like church and I told her about my first live public experience was in church the Sunday before Christmas and how I heard people turning the pages in their bibles. A sound I hadn't heard since I was a kid. Yep, this CI continues...still... to amaze me... 9 months later!!

Note to nephew Jim.... hey man, zip your lip and stop bashing our Hogs. (Melissa...stop laughing... ok, go tell Ryan I just said that) On a serious note...Jim, please tell Trae we are so proud of her marathon career! Running in 102 degree heat is endurance of the pro's!

Life is good...seriously, it's just plain all out good!

Whoo Hooo!!

New control center going in for the media team! We got it for the most part set up tonight. I'll go back tomorrow night to do some tweaking! But oh my goodness was it hot up there. I had to drop the air and push the turbo fans to get it cooling down. Should have seen us taking the desk up the stairs. It was like moving in to a 2nd story condo!

Hey, shout out to Rebecca for riding with me for a bit Saturday. Thanks friend! I was able to ask all sorts of trainer type questions while we rode together and she didn't even charge me.

I grabbed a new tune today from a band I saw on MTV last night. Tokio Hotel. Ok, before y'all go bashing me... they have a song called Monsoon that is really good.


Life is good.... but boy am I pooped tonight... good night John boy... good night Mary Ellen...

Awesome weekend! Just awesome!

Woke at 4:30 on Saturday all excited about the MS150 ride. I took my time and that was the problem. I took too much time and got there just early enough to sign, suit up and get to the start line. I'll write more later on the ride. It was a great ride. Slow, steady and got the job done while having fun. One of the best supported if not the best supported rides I've ever been on.

Church today was out of the park! We changed up EVERYTHING! New program, new media look, new order of service, one jam packed service. So full there were folks in the balcony behind the control center where I sit. Hasn't been like that in a long time. Nothing but positive feedback all around. The team just nailed it today!

Changing gears... no hate awright... I'm right now watching the MTV pre-awards show. I watch it just so I know what is going on in the pop culture. Som band called Tokio Hotel came rolling up to the red carpet in a monster truck. Dude looks like someone from Motley Crue. Something tells me the technical part of the shw (which I'm interested in) is going to be the best so far. I heard Pink is going to blo up building and they set some things on fire.

Friday morning quick hit

Take a look at the new South Wing of the hospital! They had ground breaking yesterday. I'm loving the cool waves that run across the top!

It was like Wal-Mart at 6am on the Friday after Thanksgiving

It was like Wal-Mart at 6am on the Friday after Thanksgiving! I kid you not! Seriously!

Someone spotted a spot of sunshine coming through the lobby window and everyone busted down the hall to see it.

Gustav really messed with us huh?

OK, MS150 coming up Saturday. I'm excited to get to see some friends I've not seen in a few. I'll be riding slow but that's fine and dandy with me. I want to enjoy the ride while I look at the horses and smell the country air (except for around the chicken houses). Wonder how many dead snakes there will be? Wonder if I will ride by one that I think is dead and it's not?

I'll be working on Sunday media stuff tonight so I will have a clear calendar for the rest of the weekend. They are starting a new series and changing everything up. Remember a week or so ago how I was on my soapbox abut church? Man was that prayer ever answered! I will be using a lot more art to help folks visualize. The services have also been put in a bowl, stirred up and pored out in a whole new format! No more 3 songs, prayer, song.... I'll have a couple of videos in the mix too. Will I sleep well Saturday night... not at all. Will I drink coffee at 5:30 on Sunday morning... lots with Cinnabon creamer (oh man that is good stuff!). We return to a single service (fall & winter) this week. Can you say packed house?! I love it when everyone's together in one service.

Well time to jump over the pond and listen to whatever Rodney is talking about on the Aussie radio. So fun to listen to but so strange to think he is talking tomorrow morning... yep, it's Friday morning in Perth.

Life is good...really really good now that the rain stopped for a bit. Makes me feel like I need to put an olive branch in my mouth and ride my bike around the neighborhood.

Wednesday afternoon quick hit

Wednesday afternoon quick hit... uh... still pouring down rain. I'm about to call Noah's Boat Depot.

GUSTav get on outta here

This is the scene behind my building today. The wind just ripped more than enough umbrellas. Ok, we actually enjoyed watching some (can you say employees with attitudes?!) folks trying to walk across the parking lot with umbrellas and the wind would just flip them inside out. Most flipped out so hard they would break. The entrance to the hospital was nothing but broken umbrellas. Serious the trash can at the main entrance must have had 20 umbrellas overflowing the trash can.

Well New Orleans survived for the most part and now we are sitting in a swirl of rain and wind. The rain we can handle but when you put the wind and the rain together you get a lot of cranky folks.

The rain is supposed to continue for the next couple of days then the sun will come out and say hello to the humidity! At least the temp will only be 87 for Saturday's MS 150 kick off. If I can just get up the mountain by 2pm then I'll survive. I plan to take it easy until the mountain... then I'll take it even easier so I can climb that bad boy.

My pal Brandon is coming to town for the BDB 100 in a few weeks and I'll be heading to J'Boro where he lives to ride the Better Life Ride. He has a screaming fast new bike so he'll be dropping my butt right out of the cage but that's alright. I am old enough to be his dad. Serious... I'm actually friends with his dad for years but Brandon and I became biking pals. He is married to the sweetest girl, Hannah and has those little guys named Will and Ben. It will be great to catch up with him.

Life is good even in the wind and rain.

Sunday night mind dump

Fun day today. Lots of work and coordinating but was nothing but good. I did the art and songs merge today and so far it was 100% positive. My mind is completely blown over it. When folks told me today and tonight how much they liked it and that I did such a good job I was quick to say it wasn't me. It was a gift given to me. We have an amazing team that work together.

Now the evening service was a riot right up until the start. We were using some different lighting effects tonight during a prayer service. Certain lights were to be left off on purpose to give the auditorium a den or coffeehouse type lighting effect. But different guys would come into the auditorium and do their good deed and flip the other lights on. I would have to run down and turn them back off. It was really funny. We finally stationed a guy by the lights and told him to not let anyone touch the lights.

We put together a Prayers of Confession presentation that was actually only seen by a very few. There was a 2 and a half minute silent prayer time and the lights were shut completely down except for the screen and it was a fade in and fade out of different confession type statements. You only saw it if you weren't with your head bowed and praying and... that was the whole purpose. Folks who didn't feel like they could pray and just sat it the pew in the dark could read different prayers and maybe one had an affect on them. We'll never really know.

I've had several people ask me if we had all of the controls together if I would put together a team to work it. The keep saying stuff like lighting control, visual and audio. AUDIO?! Who would have ever thought they would ask a guy with a CI to handle audio?!

I know I haven't written much about my CI lately but that's because it's just a part of me now like my hearing aid. Both products are amazingly awesome and sure I still pick up a new sound here and there but like I said, it's just part of my everyday life. Hey, I do get to meet the Untiron hearing aid rep in a couple of weeks. That will be exciting for me. Just for, if nothing else, to say thanks for a great product.

Em and I ran down to the folks house today and on the way back we noticed several cars for Louisiana. All the hotels here are sold out and we've spotted more LA cars around town later. New Orleans for those who don't know is 6 hours south of here. I just hope they are spared what happened during hurricane Katrina.

Well, happy Labor day friends!

Always lovin' it!

I set out this morning to jump in a training ride group for our upcoming Big Dam Bridge 100 ( www.bigdambridge.com ). So I got up, ate and had the car all loaded and ready to leave and kes... where are my keys??? I look and I look and I think ugly words and I look... oh there they are... in my jersey pocket ... I have my jersey on. Whadda dork!

Oh crud, it's 7:19 and the ride starts at 7:30. I can do this. No cops hiding on North Hills Blvd on Saturday mornings. But oh no baby, e.v.e.r.y stinking light has to change to red. UGH! Burning tires and pushing the nitrous button I'm screaming at 120 down through the neighborhood. Ok that's a lie, but you get the picture. I want to be there.

Finally, last red light changes to green but wha???? A cop is standing in the road just up ahead. Oh man, a 5K is about to start and they have closed the roads. Nice guy cop allows me to jump the road and into the Alltel Arena parking lot so I can get my bike ready and jump in after the runners pass. Oh crud again! I see them leaving on the other side and down the street. No problems, I'll ride hard and catch up in a moment. runners, runners, more runners. OK I see a break coming up. Wha? Mister slow that pace down you are messing up the break I need to get across. Runner, runners, and more runners. Blocker cop says to me I can jump over as soon as I want. Bikers are gone. That's OK, I will ride a even harder. Runner, runners, and s.t.i.l.l. more runners. When is that break coming?

Break comes and off I go. up to 23mph right off the bat. Not a smart riding thing to do, for me anyway.

I hang a right onto Washington and I don't see them. They can't be that far ahead. I drop to the bars and head down and get it going. Pace is good. Still don't see them. Ugh!

Turn to the farmland road and over the train track that I still have issues with. Ok it's flat and straight and there is no sight of these friends. Oh man this is going to taking some work to get caught up.

I never see them the whole ride. I finally stopped on the way back in at Scott. Out to Keo, looping back to Scott nonstop made this ole boy a bit tired. I shot a lemon flavored gel. Eric from The Ride bike shop in Conway gave me these and they are the bomb!! After about 10 minutes maybe I hop back on the bike and head on back to town. Road a little on the river trail and called it a morning.

I'm keep wondering if that was not the group I was going to ride with that I saw leaving.

Funny story... I accidentally drug some old Go-Go's tunes into my training IPod tunes. I was riding along and their song came on.... I'm out on a country road, no one for miles and I'm laughing myself silly. Just keep your "lips sealed" about this ok?!

Life is good... even when you've got a Go-Go's song stuck in your head.

Sunday

This was so funny but oh boy is someone gonna get in trouble! If you are in central Arkansas and get the Democrat newspaper then go look again at the Wal-Mart insert. Look really close. Did they r.e.a.l.l.y mean to send Arkies an insert that was all LSU team gear? Someone is gonna be in the principals office tomorrow morning. You just don't insert the rivals team game gear into an Razorbacks Sunday paper.

Meanwhile at church today...

E #1: Geo, what do you need?
Geo: Huh?
E: What do you need? Is your computer (at church) what you need?
G: I'm making it work but for what I want to raise the bar to before the next Echo conference. Well, I could use some new equipment.
E: Ok, and this time we're not buying the cheap stuff. You get what you pay for, you know? Start looking and give me your list. OK?
(I'm sleeping right... I'll wake up in a moment and it will be a Commador 64)

E#2: Hey Geo, are you all set up and comfortable?
Geo: Huh? (note to readers... no this isn't a Huh? like my hearing aid and CI are turned down)
E#2: Do you have what you need?
G: You mean the system? One of the other E's already asked me but thanks, I appreciate you!
E#2: No, I mean do you have the set up such as desk and stuff up there?
G: Well, there are some exposed wires and a couple of switch boxes on the floor that guys step on. I need to build a small cover for them.
E#2: Let's get a new control center for you.
(I've gotta really be sleeping huh??? Really!)

I'm looking around for the joke cam. Ok I go to Echo and then I'm asked if I want new equipment. The honest truth, I need new equipment in the control (crows nest) booth bad. The set up goes way back... leave to Beaver back.... but I've made it work for a whole year next month. The system is really about 5 years old.

It's hard to believe I've been doing the media in services for a year next month. It's been a good year. Some services I'd be so wrapped up in the song or message that I'd almost forget to advance. I sat through the transition back in the spring that caused a lot of heartache but turned out to be a blessing after all. Some folks left and others grew stronger.

Our team has built sets that we've never had before. I still love the rock that rolled away from the tomb on Easter. That was the MOST nerve racking service I've ever sat through. It (rock) was bottom heavy to hold it in place and once it started to roll we could only pray (and boy did we ever) that the rock was not going to roll off the stage and take out the whole deaf ministry section of the audience.

I've been asked over and over if I'm recouped from Echo yet. My answer is close to the same each time... I'll never come down off of that trip! It pushed me and pushed hard to make me step out of my comfort zone box and be bold but it couldn't be a "me" media or it doesn't count.

I injected a little into the services today. The Welcome was more of a modern look rather than the usual flower of the week type photo. Those are nice, don't get me wrong, but I've been using that type format since last year. The communion service was actually a motion loop. A cross with moving clouds behind it. Folks loved that one.

Next week is going to be a great service. It will be about prayer and I'm going to do some lighting effects and motion graphics in one part. It will be broken up into different areas of prayer where different folks will get up and pray about a certain thing then in the middle of the service the lights will go down and I will play a mini movie of people praying. It really cool because it's all shot at real modern angles and in black and white. It's different people praying or maybe a shot of their hands and it very subtly fades in and out. This will be a 2.5 minute confession, individual (silent) prayer. Afterwards they were talking about the lights coming back on. I said, no, let's leave them off and have only the light from the song on the screen and have the song be some very personal "is your heart right" type song. Then we'll bring the lights up slowly. The E's loved the idea!!! I was so excited that they are letting my team do this!

It's been a good year in media ministry! It real good year.

This afternoon our small group went to River City to cookout for the homeless. I'm telling you what, American Idol has nothing on some of these ladies and men who are homeless and can sing. They usually have one or two of them sing and it's that soulful bluesy sort of singing that only a black person can do. That's not a racial statement by any means. It's a true statement that means they have a gift from all their pain and suffering. There was a huge crowd that came out today so I was glad we had extra help on hand. I think we get to do it through October. If you've never gone to a homeless shelter and worked a little, try it. It makes you look at things in a whole different light.


Awwright, I'm done yapping....

Life is good!

Saturday quick hit

i.rode
i.rode.long
i.rode.in.the.rain
i.rode.faster.after.the.rain.to.dry.out
i.am.happy

Twitter me and Thanks Mark Batterson!

So I went to Dallas last weekend and everyone is Twittering.... except me. I set up an account while I was there and changed it a couple of times. It's really a lot of fun. So set up a Twitter account and feel free to add me as a "follow on Twitter". It's cobbgeo

I been fighting with myself a lot this week. I really had an awaking in several ways while I was in Dallas. Friday night I spent a lot of time thinking and praying. It was a good thing. A needed thing. I had just spent two days talking God and how to reach people through our gift, which was art. I try so hard to slowly inject a little pop culture if you will into the art I do. I struggle with how do I use my art gift for God and reach the younger set? Everything is entertainment and I know most Church of Christ folks will say, "Well we're not here to entertain." Well, OK... but how are you planning on holding the attention of the upcoming generations? It won't be with the 2 songs, prayer, song, communion, song, sermon, announcement, song, by-by. Well at least not when there's nothing but a song leader not open enough to try new songs because the brethren want the stuff from the 60's. The preacher is telling you that you are going to hell every week or at least threatening. Is there anything to hold your attention? Several weeks ago there was dialog about whether the "c" in Church of Christ was capitalized or not. Honestly, does it matter? Think the big picture..... the person driving down the road who sees your sign could really care less. Serious. They want whats inside the building. They want what's inside the building to be outside the building. They want to be a part of something they are moved by. The "c" doesn't mean a thing to people...really.

I told one of the song leaders I was thinking about putting the songs on art backgrounds such as photos and graphic art to help illustrate the song and to help focus your mind on the meaning of the song rather than looking at the white 4-part-harmony pages. He said, I'm not really into that. Hmmm, might take a little coaching. I might just do it and say sorry later. We know these songs and don't need sheet music... most folks can't read music anyway. They know what the song sounds like and they sing it.

Tonight, I've decided to go in a pit with a lion on a snowy day. (thanks Mark -- this is your fault! HA!)

Protecting Dad

Em: "Dad, I was in an accident but it wasn't my fault!"

Me: You ok?

E; Yea, it was in a parking lot.

M: Ok then we'll talk about it when i get home.

This was the phone call I got when I stopped at my parents house on the way home from Dallas.

Now... here's the what I perceived as a parking lot dent....


Ohhhh the Black Pearl!!! Yes, the passenger window was blown out and the back seat is even bent up. Em had glass all over her and is sore but will be ok. She is just heartbroken. We called the insurance and no rental car until they decide to except the liability. Will probably be a couple days. She will be driving my Explorer and I'll be driving the Yugo or whatever rental car we luck into.

The truck that hit her? Hardly a scratch. Em did say she was nice to the girl because she had been in the same situation, but thank goodness not anywhere nearly as bad, just a few weeks ago.

Tim Stevens, Mattew Turner, and Blue Mesa

Full day here at Echo!

Heard a guy named Jack O'Neil this morning. He was good enough that I bought his CD. Ever heard of Jackopierce? Here's the link http://www.myspace.com/jackopierce

Got to see a side by side demo of the big 3 worship software then got to spend some time with the head of Easy Worship and he showed me a couple of great tricks. Get ready guys, I'm gonna unleash them in a couple of weeks!

This afternoon I got to hear Tim Stevens present how they get their services together. He had lots of great video examples. Man, this guy had my head filling up with great ideas!

Just before dinner we heard from Matthew Paul Turner. Oh man oh man, I haven't laughed that hard in months! He caught the crowd off guard so many times with the wild and funny stories he told.

Dinner was a Blue Mesa buffet. It was great! I ate too much.

Mark Batterson was awesome

I got over to the auditorium and got a great seat right in the center about 10 rows from the front. The graphics they used for the opening were really good. The crowd was a bit subdued but warmed up quick.

The Johnny and Chachie (sp?) came out. They, I think, are regulars from around here but they were great. Really funny. Did a spoof of 80 tunes.

Mark Batterson capped off the evening with a great motivation talk. He was as down to earth as it gets. Afterwards he hung around in the back and signed books and talked. Now I know why he is so successful. He took time with each person. I mean really took time. His new book Wild Goose Chase comes out Tuesday. I picked up In a pit with a lion on a snowy day. I've already read it but didn't have a signed copy. Now I do! It's been a while since I read it and so I'll probably reread it.

After the 4:15 wake up time this morning... I'm pooped!

@ echo

Yep! I'm at ECHO!

Left the house around 4:45 this morning and arrived right about 10. This included a stop for gas (just topping off 1/2 tank before Dallas) and a stop in Texarkana for Starbucks. I remembered right were it was from when I did the state bike tour. Isn't that a trip??? Remembering where a Starbucks is after 4 years. I have to tell you though it was just what I needed! That driving before sunrise was tough but the sunrise itself was really nice.

I had lunch with some guys from West Virginia. Their church is 3,000 members. Nice guys. One stayed in the lunch room (which looks like an upscale Starbucks) and we listened to the CEO of MediaShout. That's some nice software. The WV guys are still using PowerPoint stright up but hey it works for them. They did have some funny stories though. We all did.

Before lunch we got a behind the scenes tour of Watermark Church. The auditorium seats 2200 (which they pack for 2 services and have added a 3rd) and they are building the new one next door that seats 3500. It's a beautiful building! Top of the line visual and sound system. The "other" building is 6 floors tall! It's the class rooms and offices.

Heading out for dinner then to hear Mark Batterson tonight.

Life is good... in the Big D

Less than 12

Less than 2 hours and I'll be heading to BIG D for some brain (creative) food! Man oh man do I need the break too! I'm so excited about meeting a lot of this folks I've read about and lurked around on their blogs.

I'm looking forward to the brain draining drive to Dallas.

I'm looking forward to seeing what Cameron Ware does!

I'm looking forward to hearing what Mark Batterson says!

Same for Phil Cooke!

Same for Time Stevens!

Thanks to "The E's" for footing the bill for the trip! Love you guys! Thanks for believing in me!

Life is good... really good!!!!

i.did.not.ride

Monday morning...

Spent Friday evening, like most, watching the jaw dropping opening ceremonies of the Olympics. Like I heard them say, the trophy needs to be retired now. I doubt anyone will touch that. Sure there is controversy surrounding the cost vs. the need to help their people.

Saturday was spent at my folks house painting.

Sunday it rained and I'm not going to complain even if that was the day I scheduled to ride all afternoon. It's looking like rain will start up again about 9 this morning. We needed it. If all goes well I will do my best to ride after work.

3 days til ECHO! I suspect the opening will be a knock off of the opening of the Olympics since this is a media conference. And I suspect it will be a hoot!

off to work we go....

Life is good... even in the rain.

i.rode

i.rode
Is that not catchy or what? I'm gong to start a company called i.rode
I'm not sure what it will be or what it will sale but it will be cool.... i.rode

Awwright, I really did ride tonight! I got down to the river and prepared to ride along just to say howdy to the Jabba legs but just as I was about to start my ride here came the gang. What's a middle aged fat guy to do? Yep, ya get up and dance on the pedals right out of the cage and catch up and ride!! I catch the tail end on the hill and Dr. Shawkitty-I-love-to-leave-you-in-blog-suspense-about-my-Iowa-ride is smoking back up to the group and I'm lucky just to hang there. We catch up with a new rider and lo and behold we set up for a nice little 23mph cruise along the river. Gotta turn and climb Ft Roots to get to the regroup point at the top. Several of us split off after the regroup and take a different route over to Burns Park. The other (much younger, much crazier) riders run over to Valley View (Puke View) for some serious fast climbing. We spot them swinging around the back side of Burns. Several of us ride on around and spot several of the fast gang. One has a bit of a deal with his back wheel. We get everyone back to Cook's either by bike or my sag-a-mobile. Hung out in the parking lot a moment then heading to the house. It was a good ride!

Funny sidebar: I took my old MP3 player that I used before I bought the Ipod. I told Terri to take the Ipod with her to the fitness center tonight. So I get to the ride and I get all wired up and turn on the Mp3 player. Nah, don't want to hear this song... next... no, don't want to hear that one either.. next... no that was the first song I didn't want to hear.... next... well pooey, that's 2 the second I didn't want to hear either... next... oh no... there are only 2 songs loaded on this old thing and I don't like either one! I think I'm renaming my Ipod "Crackpod" I can't do without it anymore! HA!

I had so much tape on my CI tonight it took forever to get it all off. I think I'm just going to wrap my head with a couple rounds of duct tape! You know that manly silver tape that fixes everything.

CI moment: Good lord! I was sitting in the den watching CSI eating my stinkin low carb dinner and the cadedids (sp?) were soooo loud outside (windows and doors closed too) that I had to turn up the TV. Is this Advanced Bionic CI not the coolest gizmo on the face of the earth! I'm telling ya!

I can't wait to get to ECHO next week when all the guys are all messing with their G3's.... I'm going to tell them they are sooo two thousand eight! Then I'll show off my CI and tell them this is the future... get with it.

Remember how I was talking about being a target earlier this week. Person who had me in their scope really apologized today. My response. Don't worry about it, water under the bridge.

I won't bore you but tomorrow's Friday. Get up right now and do your best moon walk dance. Go on... get up! Go on I really double dig dog dare you! It will be really funny... do it... get up where ever you are a dance for a second then sit back down. Live life to the fullest! Have fun!!

Life is good...even when you act like a looney tune!

If you don't get up...

Self: If you don't get up...

Me: If I don't get up what?

Self: Lemme just draw a picture for you...


It's sad how I can sit down to "just check my email for a sec" and it's 2 hours later.

I can hear my stupid inner voice saying... come...come to the great Jabba....

As guest writer DeeDee (Wes's wife) says as a guest writer on Wes' blog: I just want to go to a 24 hour McDonald's and buy some french fries and poke Jabba's eye out. Well, she was talking about something else but you get the picture... no, not THAT picture up there.... **sigh**

I will ride after work tomorrow and I will ride hard and long. I will not think about cheesecake while I am riding. I will picture Paris Hilton saying, "You know for an old dude you are hot!" Then I will picture Sandra Bullock (oh so fine!) telling me if I would drop some more of that tire around my waist I would be hotter. Then I will feel Terri (my wife) pop me in the back of the head and tell me to snap out of it!

By the way I meant to tell y'all... I almost dropped my CI in a bucket of paint Saturday. Towards the end of the day I was really tired and sweaty and I reached down to drip the paintbrush and the ci started sliding off my ear. I would have hated to use my 1 time replacement because of something dumb like that!

Meant to tell y'all too I was asked to be on the board of Hands and Voices! It's a very good group that does a lot for kids and family dealing with deaf or hard of hearing. The questions were pretty thought provoking such as something like, "If a deaf person who could have a CI decided against it and chose to remain deaf, would I oppose?" Why would I oppose? In my book everyone has a right to live with whatever and however. I'm not the hearing police nor do I plan on being one. I know several deaf people and they are wonderful folks living their lives to the fullest just like anyone else. Everyone does things differently. For me, the CI was the best choice, and for others it may not be.... and that's OK. Being deaf or hard of hearing is not a good excuse for not doing and being what you want to be. By the way there will be a Hands and Voices Summit in Little Rock in Sept. I think it's the 14 and 15th. More on this later. www.handsandvoices.org

Life is good...even when being called a Jabba HA!

Then a few minutes later...

Ok, I didn't go to bed and read. I decided to check several local friends blogs and see what the gang has been up to. Well much to my surprise I think they have been all out riding every stinking hot day because they ALL (except Sarah) seems to have the "Syndrome".

Note to my blog-slacking-friends.... y'all stop lurking on my blog and reading every detail of my boring life and update yours. I won't call names but y'all know who you are! Yeah, I love y'all too, blah blah blah....

Note to Sarah: DO GOOD in Leakville. You've trained hard... this ride is yours my friend!

Life is good...especially when you update your stinkin' blog HA!!!

All things midweek

Ok, so tomorrow is trash-to-the-curb day which is the officeal start to the other side of the week but I've had a hard week so far and I really need it to harry up and get all weekend-ish.

Monday right off the bat I got hit with an issue whee I thought I did the right thing but someone else thought otherwise and came at me with both guns up and loaded. All I could do is state my case to the boss and see if there would be a hard impact. I count my blessings that I have superiors who believe me. The problem and the way it got flipped around still train wrecked me.

Tuesday's drama... an employee wanted to transfer and two different departments loved her and she accepted a job then decided she wanted the other and by mid day I wasn't sure what was going on. I had her current boss, the boss she took the job and turned down and the other boss all calling me and all of us wondering what on earth was going on.

Wacky stuff I tell you!

Remember me telling you I went down to my parents to paint their house? Well, somehow I got into what I think were those chiggers and now I have these very itchy bites. It has been a mental contest to keep from scratching. I still have to do a lot more painting but this time I'll have my legs coated in insect repellent.

I have to admit I haven't rode my bike in about a week. Now that sad but it's been about 100 degrees everyday and there is a cut off for me. Weather models show the heat wave breaking and the temps only getting to 91 this weekend.

I have a mentor guy at work I sometimes call on when things get totally out of tune. Today he told me something that really stuck. He said , "Geo, the more influence your carry, the bigger the target you wear." I just thought about that for a moment and smiled. Back to the first part of my post. Yes someone was acting as I was their target. The way my mentor, who will always remain a shadow in the background at his wishes, told me that I have a lot of influence in this life and that some people will target me. He told me to look at how I have helped the hospital, to look at how I am loved by the departments I recruit for and to look at how I can say what I think in a meeting of upper management and it's actually considered. He continued on to say look at how you are being asked to serve on boards now. He pointed out how one day when we walked down the hall together I called coworkers by name, even housekeeping, and asked something specific about their day. I told him I was just being myself. It's not something I trying to do to get ahead in life or be somebody. He said, And that's exactly what I mean. By you being yourself and people enjoying being around you makes you a huge target. But the more influence you carry, the bigger the target you will wear." I was honestly floored by him saying that to me. You mean because I'm just being plain ole me, someone doesn't like that? Come on, how retarded is that? Serious!

Ok let's change gears here... I had a CI mapping on Monday and a hearing test. The hearing aid ear had dropped 10dbs over the year and that bummed me but the CI was rocking it's happy little electrodes off. Jordan talked me into trying "S" which makes a different type sound than what I have programmed which is "P", I think. Something tells me I have it all wrong but stay with me here. Ok, when I got the CI activated there are two different types of ways that you can get sound. One is all the electrodes fire at once which is what I use and at times it came seem harsh when the volume is up. Now the other is more like a wave where the electrodes fire more like a wave. We had turned that on in the clinic but I had never listened with it for an extended amount of time. We kept my program 1 and 2 the same but changed my music program to this "S" program. I used it all afternoon and really changed my mind and liked it. It's a more gentle sort of sound coming in. It's really hard to describe. Jordan said a lot more CI users like that than what I normally have programmed. Well, I'll be... I'm becoming like the rest of them! HA! I know what you're thinking... well if I turned off the music program how do I hear music now. Well, it's like I do most of the time and that's through my hearing aid. I just can't run the IPOD and the hearing aid with direct connect at the same time now.

Well I think I'm going to go dive on the bed and read a book for a bit and fall asleep!

Life is good.... even if you are a target! Be a target!!!

I turned 600 tonight

I was about to log off and noticed that I had just posted my 600th blog post. Now I'm old as Moses!

Doing for others -- BIKE MS

I kept putting it off but I signed the dotted line tonight! I'm riding with the most awesome team in Arkansas for the MS150!!!! Fast Girls Slow Guys!!!

Sept 5th I'll ride the first day of Pedal the Peaks and if I can arrange it, which I think I can then I'll return for the Sunday ride as well.

Pedal the Peaks/MS 150 is an awesome ride and for a very good cause. I have a couple of friends at the hospital who have sisters that have this mean disease. I've heard some stories about MS and it hurts me just thinking of these ladies and what they go through. So that's all the more reason to get out there and take a couple days of pain to help them a little. Most of the time you are in a group riding but there are times when you look up and find yourself alone. That strange unsettling feeling of being somewhere that is unfamiliar. You are not real sure where you are going, how long you have or how much it's going to really hurt. That my friends is a very very small taste of what these girls go through when dx'd. I remember a coworker talking about when her sis first was dx'd with MS and how everything just spun. She said it was like waking up in a cave without a light. They didn't know anything about it but the MS Society helped them through.

The end of the first day has a climb up the backside of Petit Jean Mountain. It's not a hard mountain to climb as far as the grade but when it's at the end of your day and it can sometimes be really warm well, simply put, it hurts. But as you climb you get into this mental fix that you can do it. One foot, the other foot, one foot, the other foot. Slowly cranking the pedals until you get to the peak. Your mind sometimes goes into the "Why?" mode. Why am I blessed to be riding? Why can't there be a cure? Why does it have to hurt these ladies? In the 2 years I've ridden this, sadly those answers never come. So come on out and ride with us and make a difference! Help us to help them in a very small way... FIGHT MS!

One of my favorite things to do is leaving messages when there is a ride or a run. I enjoy going really early out to the mountain before daylight and leave a few text messages on the road. Since I'm riding rather than standing on the side of the road cheering riders, it's a way to cheer them in spirit. I found a way to make the chalk "stick" to the road. Hey, if you do it enough you learn tricks from graffiti artist. Time to go to Toys-r-us and buy some mega sidewalk chalk.

If there is a MS150 ride anywhere near you, please start a team or join a team!
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/get-involved/events/bike-ms/index.aspx

Life is good... when you help others!

Ready and go....

I always love it when big things start to happen. So far this summer I have trained a little here and there, tried to drop a little weight (that's been hills and valleys) and just generally work behind the scenes to start to put together the new ride for next May.

The name is now public:

Arkansas Children's Hospital

GEARS FOR EARS

I'm really charged up now... more later... you'll love it ... trust me!

Oh it's Thursday already?

The week has flown by even with this headache that is not going away. I kind you not... I got it on Sunday and it's still coming and going. When I comes it feels like I just bumped my head on something. It's weird awright. Ok, enough of the whah whah whah stuff.

I didn't ride tonight because when I left my office it was lightening and thundering so I passed. Well wouldn't you know it did hit here and the temps felt like late spring. By that was a missed opportunity there.

I'll miss the riding until Sunday evening at the earliest. I plan to go down to the folks early and start painting their house. Lucky for me they have a brick house so it's just the trim I need to paint.

well I'm not going to bore you with a bunch of fluff.

Busy Monday

It's been a busy day both at the office and home.

It was just too hot to ride this afternoon. News was saying 103. I did some indoor chores and washed the pooch outside. She acts all uppity after her bath and drying. Serious, you can tell she feels a lot better.

I got my new CD in the mail today. It is Compliments of Gus CD titled "If this is end". It's really good! I had to order it from Australia because they're not on ITunes yet but suspect them to be before long. There is a song called "Rain Down" that is awesome! I'll be listening to it a lot. I found this band listening to Sonshine 95 which is Rodney Olsen who rides and is a DJ for their morning show.

Finding all these folks were completely by accident. I listen to Rodney at night here which is the NEXT morning there. It's really a good station. Sort of like K-Love is here but to me a LOT better mix.

One HOT pig!

I was one hot pig and not h-o-t as in Paris Hilton saying it.... no hot as in on the side of the road watching the buzzards circling sort of hot!

Ok in all serious... it really was not that bad. The first half of the Tour de Oink had trees for shade so it as very do-able. The part just past Adkins and my favorite 4H rest stop... well that's when the road turns to that chip and seal type road. Yes, that kind that makes you have religious moments.

My strategy worked very well. I told myself do not gun it from the start and blow all the energy on the first half hills. Save it for the fields. I've been to this ride 3 times and that field always gets me. Usually headwind. One year myself and JBar blew out on the field. He was talking about rolling at 12mph. That guy hasn't rolled that slow since he was an infant rolling over.

As usual the ones that shot out of the cannon were really feeling the love by about Adkins. I left the tunes off until I knew I was going to need a mental pick-me-up and that worked too. I put my head down and just watched the road for a while with the tunes playing. At times when no one was around I was just happy as a loon riding my bike through the country singing my songs. Life just wasn't getting much better.

It was funny how I remember different things during the ride. I remembered, Oh yeah, I'm about to pass a beauty shop that's out in the middle of no where. Or I remember there is a place along the side of the field where the river runs along and there is a big pile of old toilets. It was just funny stuff like that.

I rolled into town and went through the finish. I propped my bike up against the wall and got a piece of watermelon. then headed to the car. I was due in Benton to hang out with Dad for the afternoon. He's doing really good by the way. Thanks for the kind emails you guys! I appreciate you!

Here's the strange thing about the ride... I didn't know a single person. I spotted a lady I've seen on the river trail but other than that... no one. That was the strangest feeling. I did jump in on a couple of small groups but they seemed to be fast then really slow then fast again. Folks would fly past me then go 5 mph on top of the hill so I would end up passing them then they would blow past me again.

All in all... I had a good solid ride. I'm happy.

Normally I get a Monday ride in but we'll have to wait and see about tomorrow... they are calling for 102 degrees. It might just be a sub to bridge and back and that's it.

Life is good.... even if the bacon is burning.

Thursday PM quick hit

Good ride this afternoon. Parked under the I-30 bridge in the shade! I headed out and was riding a nice 20mph and a guy I've not seen before came riding up we said howdy and he rode on. Yes, rode on with me going 20. I was planning on Ft Roots and he had turned too. I kept him on my scope then when I turned the 2nd switch back and looked up he was gone! I kid you not! The kid must have eaten the section from switch back to switch back for a late afternoon snack. He had on a red & white kit that had the words CAPPO on it. Whoever you are... man you're good!

I rode through the soccer area and boy, it's a big tourney coming. It's the US kids national! It's going to be a hot hot one for those players.

My dad fell backwards the other day which he never does... he stumbles forward some but never a flat out backwards fall. He hit a small decorative table and broke it. Also bruised his hip really bad but thank goodness it's not broke! Seems like we seniors break a hip then it's a long journey to any recovery. He can't put weight on it so we are taking turns being at the house. My turn is the next 2 Saturdays. My sister urged me to go to my Oink ride Saturday and then come afterwards so that's my plan. Next Saturday I will just go on down in the morning and stay all day. There are plenty of chores I can do down there anyway.

Yes, I've been watching the tour off and on... I still have fingers crossed for Cadel Evans.

Oh get this... someone killed a guy and dumped him on the I-30 river bridge at 3:45 this morning. Not off the bridge but on it. They never said if anyone ran over the body. Man, that's ike something from a movie.

Life is good... as long as it's in the shade.

Thursday AM quick hit

Busy and hot day here in the rock! No dogs will chase any cyclist today.

Favorite quote I read this morning:
That stuff is slippery-er than greased moose poop

Richard Machycek (owns Arkansas Cycling and Fitness) was interviewed by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in April about the effect that river flooding can have on biking.

Plan to grab a ride after work today over on the river... sub to Cook's to 'round Burns to Ft Ruts to car... anything left then I'll ride along the river a bit more. Ahh, just remembered there is a huge soccer tourney in Burn's... may change course.

Heading to Morrilton Saturday for the Tour de Oink. It's a fun 40 miler through country and rolling hills. The deal is... Saturday is supposed to be a triple digit day. Got a couple of notable climbs nothing big but climbs none the less.


Life is good... in the shade.

Good evening ride

I hit the river from the sub at 6 and had a good ride. Rode the north side and then looped Burns Park for my hill work. There were more bikes out this evening than I remember for most Sunday's. Looks like a big soccer tourney is about to come in. There are festival tents and portable buildings up and all the goals are in the parking lot and they are doing some heavy watering.

Just saw Weather Channel a second ago and the high tomorrow is a big sunny 99 degrees.

What? On a Sunday afternoon!?

I just woke up! I kid you not! I fell asleep on the sofa while watching Tour de France. Oh y'all forgive me... it was a moment of weakness. Ahhhh! I've blown afternoon!

Plan "B"... hit either the river for a ride around 6-ish or ride the hood and maybe slip over to Batesville Pike.

I NEVER take naps... not even as a kid... Momma can I get up now?!

Thanks DWonn

DWonn is an Ironman... a local guy.. big heart, big smile, everyone loves him.
So why am I thanking him? Because he is a great POSITIVE influence.
He had a little trouble on his last Ironman and I read where someone made a comment something like, "All that training and then this happens. Got to be disappointed." You know what his answer was? "Not at all. I got in great shape and trained with some outstanding people and made a lot of new friends" Ok, it's not a quote but it is the idea and it was something like that. He says, and this is a quote, "All rides are good!"

There is one other piece I picked up from him. He was training and once sent out an email about, "I will not be drafting today. It's an all effort ride." I've used that the passed two Saturday's now. Oh trust me I draft with the best of them and why not but if you are going to train then it needs to be you either doing the pulling for the group or grabbing a solo ride. David has me thinking different these days.

Thanks David... I appreciate you!

I got in a 42 miler today and it was a good ride! I rode the river then out to the farmlands and tried to get lost so I would have to ride until I found my way back. It's a way to make myself ride more miles. Crazy, I know! I didn't stop until I got back around the bike rental shop. It was a continuous effort ride until that. After I stopped for a moment I started heading back to the car at the soccer fields in Burns Park but suddenly I turned and found myself climbing Ft Roots. It wasn't a fast climb or my best by any means but it was a good climb after the farmlands.

By the time I got back to the car it was around 10 and man oh man were there a LOT of people on the trail. Lots of bikes...lots! I waved and said howdy to folks along the way. It's funny how when my friends put on helmets and shades they all look alike.

The rest of the day was spent out in the heat working on my house. My grass is growing! We cut that tree down in the front and the wave petunias have gone insane... growing everywhere and really looking nice. I go over to the lock and dam and get unwashed river sand and pour it lightly in my yard and the grass loves it! Free sand! But don't get it for your kids sandbox like I did years and years ago. It's so fine that you never get it all off the kiddos.

Got a couple of new tunes added to my training Ipod play list... Green Grass and High Tides by the Outlaws. I loved this song in high school and it's still a great tune.

Life is good,,, hey it's the weekend!

Great ride

Just a quick hit... It's Friday!!

Had a great ride after work yesterday. I got over to the sub then headed over and ended up with FGSG group. I really had planned to work on hills as a solo but decided at the last minute to ride on over to their start point. Got to see several of the old school. It was great to see JBar back out there and staying with the fast group even after being off the bike for a few. Jen Shaw was there as well as her fast as lightening husband Chris. Jen leaves today for RAGBAI (not sure if I said that right). It's called "rag-by". It's the big multi day ride across Iowa. It's also a big fundraiser for Liverstrong.

I sat on the back of the group (as usual...ha!) and even wasn't the last one up Ft Roots. After we came down the fast group has already circled the parking lot and was heading out. I broke off at that point and headed back to the car... so I thought. I ended up riding back to Ft Roots to climb some more. I can really tell the difference when I ride with the Ipod going. I really climb better with the music distraction... then the battery died. Bummer! All I could hear after that was my heavy breathing... sounded like an prank phone call.

Yes I am riding early tomorrow. I'm thinking from the house down North Hills then River Trail then the back way buy Camp Robinson to the house. Everyone will be riding early tomorrow due to the heat.

Life is good... even in the heat.

Aww man... a BAD CI moment!

It was a bad CI moment but it wasn't anyone's fault but my own.

I head out to meet the guys and see if I could at least keep up. My warm up ride to the ride was rocking along at 20mph. I felt good and strong.

Got to the ride start point and talked to Yale and Rebecca for a few then over to see how skinny Chris (Ironman) has gotten over th past few weeks. 17 lbs off! Awesome. JMar came up and I was thinking man this guy has dropped a few too. Come to find out he has dropped 25lbs.

We grouped all up and started out and we rolled nice along the way then finally hit the road and the pace picked up. I was in the back but was holding steady with them. We climbed a short hill and I was still there. Then I felt it... on no... come on CI stay in place. The on and off connection can make a CI user go insane. It's like a transmitter buzzing in and out. I reached up and the thing was hanging on my helmet strap. I had to pull out and fix it. Finally got it half good and thought maybe just maybe I can catch the job if some had slowed up a tad. As I was riding along a long lost stranger named Keith Hill came buzzing by and I jumped on his back wheel and we cranked it out at 23mph for a while. Then it happened again. OK, I'm ticked now!

There is a small piece of CI tape that wasn't sticking tonight and because of that I had to abandon. It's really funny how a very small piece of tape can change a man's whole attitude from rider to whinny little pig! HA! I just didn't as much tape these time and I paid for it.

But all in all it was a GREAT ride with the gang. I think there were 35 of us at the start. I got to see lots of friends I've not seen in awhile as well as a lot of people I've never seen before. When you can keep up with those kids, even in the back, then you know you are riding stronger! It was just what I needed!

Oh yeah, before I forget... very very happy anniversary wishes to Chris and Rebecca Irons! I cracked up when Chris said he was going home and having a nutri-shake by candle light tonight. That's the spirit!

Life is good... especially when friends celebrate anniversaries!

Climbing( gasp) up(gasp) Batesville( gasp) Pike (gasp)

OK, I confess, I day dreamed in church. It was just one of those Sundays. Pouring down rain and where I sit in the crows nest the rain is just above my head and good ole CI picks up that sound really well... even turned all the way down! Oh y'all don't act like it's never happened to you. HA!

We grabbed a quick bite at Applebee's then home. Terri is in post-convention mod so that means be quite and don't mess with her nap. I've learned over the years. See wives, can teach husbands a few things. I know I know dear... don't put that stoneware thing-a-ma-gig in the dishwasher... I'm learning.

So after an hour my food seemed settled and I headed out. Batesville Pike here I come! It was Sunday afternoon "we need to go to WalMart" time on the back road but as usual folks were very good to me. As busy as that one stretch is they have always been good drivers.

I tried to save all the energy I could for the climb but I do have a climb to get there as well. But then this is my hood so either to are climbing or coasting... that's the city of Sherwood and North Little Rock. HA!

When I stood to climb my chain slipped a couple of times but I figured the problem and was able to correct while riding. It's always so funny when people pass me climbing back there. If there is a passenger they will almost always turn completely around to see if they really saw someone riding a bike up that hill. I was so glad there was no headwind climbing today. Seems there always is and there have been times it almost made me get off and push.... usually in the early spring. You know, those gusty 25mph winds.

You know how I talk about when my heart rate is up and I seem to hear better? Boy, was I hearing on that ride! Whoa!

I've got to fine something that will keep the sweat out of my eyes!! I don't really want to wear a headband but I may have to.

I read my emails late this afternoon and found out I missed the "Plan B" for the PoP ride that was scheduled this morning. I could have rode with my buds and ate afterwards. I'm missing the guy pretty bad this days. But I keep telling myself, I'm training good on these hills and it will help me to ride much better when I do get to ride with those juvenile delinquents. Oh heck yeah, they are all younger than me. Serious I think there are only a couple that are older.

Training and Echo Conference

Rolled out this morning but too late to catch most of the group rides. I spotted a training ride for the BDB 100 I think that was grouping up about the time I rode past the sub. There was the River City 5K finishing up and what a crowd! That run seems to get bigger every year.


I knew I really wanted to return to the farmlands so I did... solo. I have been experimenting with this New Zealand drink called Honet Juice. I got a couple free samples and tried it out a few evenings ago. Jimmy-the-cricket! When the ride was finished my legs felt fine. Here I was with sweat stinging my eyes and so much dried on my sunglasses and I had repeated Ft Root 4 times and rode the trail and I still felt this good? Gimme another hit! I will be the first to say that I will have to cut it with some juice our something. It's a tad strong but boy did it rock!

Back to the solo ride. As I was heading out I spotted the Hotter than Hell training ride coming back in. They had a nice group. Then there were small groups of 4-5 riders coming in. I just cranked it out and was thrilled to look down and see 20mph almost every time.

Coming back in I had some headwind but just dropped down on the bars and kept it going. I felt stronger today than almost any ride this year. It's great to be back out there!

When the ride came to a complete stop... I was over by the dog park. The first thing I noticed was the ski dock out in the middle of the competitive water ski park. Man did I ever want to go dive in and swim out to it but swimming is not allowed in this part of the Arkansas River.

Spent the rest of the day working around the house. I get to play chef tonight in our kitchen!
Now ya start with a stick of budd-ah...

Hey I'm all registered for the Echo Conference (www.echoconference.com) in Dallas! I'm really getting excited about this! Some of the best worship media and marketing people in the country are going to be speaking or conducting breakouts and labs. I had planned to fly but by the time I go to the airport, wait the customary 2 hours, fly an hour, spend 30 minutes trying to get off, another 30-45 minutes renting a car, finding the car then finding the hotel... shoot I could have driven and been there by then. There is a Watermark studio tour as part of the pre-conference perks. I love Watermarks media. The afternoon has Media Shout lab which I will probably go to. I use Easy Worship but hear a lot of good things about Media Shout. Lunch and Dinner are both part of the package. Then at 7 one of my favorites will speak... Mark Batterson. I've been a lurking to his blog for almost a year now. Other guys I can't wait to see are Phil Cooke, Tim Stevens and Cameron Ware! Check out Cameron's church! It's mind blowing fantastic!! http://www.visualworshiper.com/ Cameron is to me the greatest in church visual worship graphics.

Life is good... especially with a thundershower so I don't have to turn on the sprinklers!

Blog changes

Be watching for some blog changes coming up. One thing I'm going to do is get all those tags going so folks that log in who just want to see CI or hearing entries can or if they just want to see bike.... Stay tuned!

Boyz night out

So Terri at convention, Em babysitting and yes Tyler and I hit the movie after work! I had a health screening last week and part of it for getting 'er done by July 18th was a 10 dollar Rave movie card. So Tyler and I both wanted to see Wanted and we did. Yes, it's rated R and yes they say some bad things and there is a couple of very racy scenes but if you can get past that... it is an AWESOME fun movie! Tyler's bosses son was in Chicago and helped a bit on the movie. It's a nerd turns Jame Bond movie.

There was a sound in the movie theater and I kept thinking, "What is wrong with my hearing aid?! No it's my CI! No it's neither! It's really a cricket talking very loud in the room! It was crazy. After the movie Ty thought he was going to have to leave it got so loud. It was a CI moment... in a good & bad way.

Tomorrow is Friday... life is good so get up and dance! Come on everyone!!!

Workin' for the weekend!

Workin' for the weekend! Love that song... still!

There are several rides up for grabs for the weekend! There is Miss Vick's Century which is a fun ride through the country. It's also a great mix of folks. Starts Saturday morning at 7 over at Willow Park.

There is a dandy 60 miler heading out from the sub about 7. These folks are building up for the ride over in Texas (Hotter than Hell 100 in August). Been there done that and almost dies out in the middle of no where! It was record high temps that year and was 100 degrees by 11 that morning.

Sunday has the Lolli-POP. This is one of the funnest rides around! Everyones best pal Robb heads up this puppy and you get to climb a mountain. Since it's on Sunday and it's my month to do media at church services I have to pass. Bummer! I could use the training so bad. It's also a "no drop" ride so that means you aren't left out along some country road all hot and sweating while the bears and panthers and wolves stalk you. The end of the ride goes into a lake. Oh but let me tell you about the end of the ride... you turn off of the smooth road on to this grainy paved road. It's just enough to mess with you mentally but the road seems to go on forever! Many of us have had "Come to Jesus" moments there at the end. Yes, it's crazy insane. But then Robb has this great saying... The faster you pedal the sooner the pain stops.

I ordered a CD for the land downunder. It's a great band called Compliments of Gus. They aren't on ITunes yet but said they should be there in about a month. Ok, guess what the price of a CD is when the currency changes from US dollars to AUS? 24.95!!! Yikes. Makes me miss my 9.99 ITune CD downloads. But hey, they are a new band and I enjoy the tunes. I had actually heard them while listening to Rodney Olsen on Sonshine 95 over in AUS. He played the tune and they have it set up where you can click on the band that is playing or had just played and get website info and such. I emailed o the contact us link and within minutes I got a reply. Holy smokes... it was one of the band. He even sent me "Your Eyes" tune with his email. Thanks Jared!

Terri is at convention this week and Em is babysitting so I'm meeting Tyler over at his office and we're going to see Wanted and then grab some food afterwards. Nice to have an adult son to do stuff like this with. Since he is a video motion graphics pro he will probably talk all the way through the flick telling me how they did all the effects. HA!

We got one of those hot afternoon thunder storms that kicked the lights out in several downtown areas this afternoon. It's going to feel like the Amazon when I leave in a moment.

Life is good...even when you can't figure out what ride to do!

Hey big CI buddy!

Shout out to my ACH hall way CI buddy!

I was walking through the Audio clinic the other day and spotted one of our pro's working with a CI guy. I could tell what was going on due to the therapist with her dry erase board. Krista did the same to me when I was having my speech sessions right after I was activated.

At first I walked by because she was having a session and I didn't want to disrupt it. I went on in the clinic and when I came out a few minutes later they were right by the door. I just smiled and started headed down the hall back to my office again not wanting to mess with the session. Then it hit me... you know, you could be coming across as snobby. Oh no... not me! I stopped and turned and walked back to my CI friend. He just looked at me for a moment not knowing why this man was looking at him. Then I turned my head and pointed to my CI. His face lit up and he smiled real big. We did a great high five and I gave him thumbs up. That just made my day!

Also shout out to ACH Abby! Hope your new "stereo" is working great for you!

Life is good thanks to Advanced Bionics and Unitron!

Monday madness

Aww crud, I didn't get to ride today. Actually I was on the bike and heading out and then it was such bad mojo I turned around and went back to the car and loaded back up. Emmy had had a wreck in her car a little while before. It was very minor but it really upset her. I taught her how to file an insurance claim this evening. Ah, teaching a life lesson...

Not much else...

Life is still good, even with a bumper blump

Training my wheels off!

Now that life has settled down a moment for me I got in some good riding! I headed out July 4th morning and had a great ride. Well after I stopped acting a fool and fixed my bike while riding. I do the dumbest things sometime. My front brake was a tad too tight so it was like riding with my brake on for 7 miles. Actually, it was good that I did that since it made for a more intense training session and man after I release the brake I was moving along good. It was like turned from headwind to a strong tailwind.

On the way back I just was having too good of a time and turned opposite from where my car was and took one like hill. I rode the backside of Burn's. I was not attacking the hill at all and had my tunes playing in one ear and listening for cars in the other. I kept thinking I was hearing a clicking noise. Sure enough a couple of Carve riders smoked my tuna on the climb. I busted out laughing when they passed. Now here's the nice part... I caught up with them at the top of the hill and it was one of the guys who work at the crit races, Chris S. He has something to do with video but I've never asked him what he does or who he works for. He is a really nice guy. Always friendly. Super rider. As I got to the top of the hill I saw a group down a little way but never saw them catch up. I'm sure they had been hammering it out there and were taking it easy. These guys don't know what slow means!

Back over to the river and it was wall to wall people. Everyone out having a good time for the 4th.

This morning I headed out about 7:30 and enjoyed another great ride. Legs were not tight like I expected so I give them a run at it. I did some repeats of Ft Roots and some sprint drills. My first climb up Roots was pathetic! I was gasping for air at a stinking 6mph in places. Wha?! The next 2 climbs were much better! I got a thumbs up from a rider who I passed going down as he was climbing then as he was coming down I was climbing back up again and it was a nice little perk.

I wanted to head out west and ride but I'm being a real snot with my gas these days. That's sad.

Well, I'm excited to have time tomorrow to go out and ride yet again! I keep thinking... farmlands! But then I feel like I need the climbing work to get my legs back.

I'm doing better on my eating, thanks to Chris! You are an inspiration my man! A real inspiration! Terri did pick up some homemade cookies from the Farmers Market today by the Amish. We found them last year. I did eat one so I have to work that nasty thing off tomorrow.

Hey the Tour de France started today! Oh yeah! I whole month of bike racing on TV everyday!

Life is good... even with a cookie in my mouth!

I have air!

The good folks were here and working all day. I have a new air system that blows so hard it moves my gelled up hair!

Now you ready for my "I got a new toy and got carried away photo?"

My neighbor actually did most of this for me. He is a crackerjack with a chainsaw! He could say right where it would land. Unbelievable skill. I thought one time it would hit the house but he knew it was going to swing and not touch it. After it was all over, he laughed and said , "Hey that was fun. Thanks for letting me do it!" Would not take any money or anything. Now that's a neighbor!

Here are a couple other photos I meant to post after our Destin trip. My bike was on top of the van and these are bugs from the Arkansas Delta. You should have seen our car!

I'm sorry but our crew is short and we can't get there today

I'm sorry but our crew is short and we can't get there today... Mr Cobb?
WHAT!!!!!!!!!
We can't get there today.
Yeah, I heard you. Are you going to be here tomorrow?
Yes sir. They will be there by 8:30. Maybe even 8.
Ok fine... if they are not here and working tomorrow I will unleash my 2 girls on you and they are hot and tired and getting a but cranky. Do you understand.
More than you realize!
Good.
Again, I do apologize for the inconvenience.

Guess what... my backyard neighbor is having the same thing done but by a different company.

It has been a fun day off though! Lots of stuff got done outside! My list is so long!

Ok, CI Moment... on advantage of having no air is hat the windows are open and the birds having been singing all day. What a great sound! My side yard neighbor has little water fountains and about 20 bird feeders. Always birds!

Life is good...even in the heat...well sort of.

And even more trouble

I kid you not!!! What I thought was some melted ice in the ice chest leaking out really was a hot water heater leak! Thank goodness it was out in the garage! Turns out it was the little faucet gizmo and just needed to be tightened up more. Who tightened it in the first place??

I told a coworker, "You better put me on your prayer list because I'm going down the money pit really fast these days!" OK, now you are not going to believe what happens....
1) The air was only $7,419 rather than the 10-12K horror stories folks have been telling me!
2) I fixed the hot water heater myself being the techno genius I am!
3) We caved and got a hotel room for Saturday night.... I got the cheapest in North Little Rock I got find. It turns out to be a beautiful suite that was very comfortable and quite and the free breakfast included fresh waffles made there! I didn't eat one since I'm trying to lose weight but by did that surprise! Waffles at a free hotel breakfast?!
4) The weather has been cooler than normal! Tonight it's supposed to be 65 degrees and right now I'm in the den with the windows open and the fans going and it's just 80. Not much humidity at all so it's really nice.
The things a prayer can fix!!!

I started a new home project today and it's limbing up my trees. I'm actually going to cut a couple down that have just gotten too big and sort of leans toward the house. When we moved in back in 1988 these were little trees.

Hey the TOUR DE FRANCE starts on July 5th! Oh yeah baby! The tour! There is a lot of tv spots about a "new page", "A new tour". I'm looking forward to Stage 17... the big mountain! Huez! Who's gonna wear the yellow? Oh man, I don't know this year.

Last Friday night I toyed with the idea of getting up Saturday morning and driving over to Tour De Oink. It's abut 45 minutes or so up the road and a fun ride but as I got up I looked at the radar and there was big rain moving into that area. I stayed parked on the sofa and watched my niece Shannon on the morning show talking about water safety. She always does a great job on TV.

Life is good... since a friend prayed and got me out of financial meltdown!

Thursday morning quick hits

Weekend is fast approaching... get up and dance! Go ahead... get up right now and dance!
If you don't send an email to 12 friends in the next five minutes telling them to get up and dance ... HA! I know this works because my cousins uncle's best friends 6th grade teachers son's girlfriend received 500 dollars.... HA!!!

Here's everything since last post...
I did train in the hood Tuesday and oh man was it hot! When I got to the house I crashed on the front porch looking out over the neighborhood for a few and tried to cool down. Finally went in the house to shower and saw my face in the mirror and WHOA! Between the beach tan and the redness of being so hot after training I looked like I could have played a part of the Indians on Dances with Wolves! Or one of the outback guys who live in the dessert.

Oh speaking of outback. Here's a GREAT link! http://sonshinefm.ws/
It's a radio station in Perth, Australia. In the US listen to it at night... it's morning there and you'll hear a guy named Rodney Olsen. He is really good. Sometimes he has the best guest on his show. Ok, I know... how do I know about this guy? He rides a bike of course! Trust me, click the link and listen to the station sometime. Yes, they all have the accent we Americans love to listen to. By the way, going to Perth is on my list of things to do.

Oh speaking of things to do... I think I'm going to be broke awhile...
You ready for this???
3 weeks ago: car repair $900.

2 weeks ago the fridge went out -- another huge chunk of change

Vacation last week

The garage door went out just as we were getting ready to leave for vacation: $297 to replace

The air conditioner went out Tuesday night -- last year it went out and they said I might get another year out of it... guess what... it's been a year! I'm hearing horror stories about friends having to replace theirs and it's between $7,500 and $10,000.

Then this morning... I thought it was a melted bag of ice in the ice chest in the garage but I think I may have a small leak in the hot water heater.

Well at least the weather was really nice this morning and I was able to cool the house down with fans. See life's not all bad!

Life is good... even when I'm beyond broke!

The famous tat

Here's the tat photo... Yes, it's an A with a razorback... it was just a temp. Go ahead an call me a wuss but look close at that photo kids because this is one tough cookie! Buh ha ha ha!!!

A real tat... are you kidding me?????