After 30-plus years of dysfunctionality...

Last weekend was a mini-family reunion, and it was actually, surprisingly very enjoyable.   It's not always automatically the case when talking about family events, but seeing so many of the cousins, and now their generation of kids was a great time.  I saw cousin Jamie, who I believe was seven years old last time I saw her and looked like a seven-year old boy.  Now, she's a very pretty nineteen year old young woman (?!?).  I can't say these things to her face - she'll just plick my ear again (after forty-five or fifty ear plicks, it starts to hurt a little).

I saw cousin Vanessa (Jamie's sister) who was patient enough to let my two-year old nephew Cameron roam around the house taking pictures with her digital camera.  She ended up with over seven hundred pictures in one day.  I bet at least six hundred and eighty of them are of knees, butts, ankles, coffee tables and Cameron's thumb (hey he's two after all).

I saw Kelly and Kerry and all the rest of their kids, and Jenn and Pam and Trevor, and my brother and sister and all the rest.

The stinkeye goes out to the cousins who didn't make it, even those with four daughters.  Yes, you know who you are.

Not so much training info in this post.  This weekend was more about mental health training. Everything is now A-okay on that.

More training info tomorrow, after I finish my taxes.  Yes, it's that time of year - BOHICA.

Peace

Once again....

I didn't win the lottery.  No Kona for me this year.

I mean, come on, how could my tear-jerking, made-for-NBC-and-Al-Trautwig-story have been any better?  Okay, so granted I'm not recovering from any terminal disease (that I know of).  I haven't fought in any wars, foreign or otherwise.  I have all my original limbs and appendages.  All my direct family members are still alive, and I'm not going to push any of them in a float/jogging stroller/tandem bike or anything like that.  I've never been a famous professional athlete in any other sport.

Sheesh, is it too much to ask for one little birthday present?

Guess so.  I guess now I'll just have to work for it like any other whacko in this sport.  Oh well, by the time it rolls around to land on my birthdate again, I might just......

....yeah, sure.  Never mind.

Peace.

The humble inner tube, or getting tied up

So I've finally managed to get back into the pool semi-regularly.  That statement may not on the surface have anything to do with the title of this post, but it does.  I have learned of a use for the pile of flat inner tubes in my garage.  They are great swimming aids, if cut to the right length.  A 1-to-2 foot length, tied in a loop and looped around the ankles is a great support for pull sets.

This is not new.  I've read this advice before, and I'm sure others have as well, but until you try it you have no idea how much of a difference this makes in swimming.  Before this, I am ashamed to say, I was a cheater!!!  I must have been.  It's the only explanation for the sudden lack of flotation in my, ahem, posterior.  Cheater!  Cheater!  Cheater!  Now, no more.  I must pull harder to keep the junk in the trunk near the surface.

Getting back to the actual cycling role for the inner tube, check out the seven deadly spins.  Another beauty brought to you by your friendly neighborhood Chuckie.  These look like beauties.  They'll be getting worked into my schedule.

Now, back to the pool.

Peace.

Return

Well, it's been some time since I last posted anything. The tri scene has been a little scrambly, but I'm happy to report the plans for the year have more or less been ironed out. Of course, there's always room for a little tweaking here and there, but the end goal for the seasons is the Canadian Iron in September. Now of course you may recall that I had entered the lottery for IM Hawaii. I do believe the draw is this week. Realistically, I'm not holding my breath so Ottawa it is. Between now and then there'll be Peterborough for the half and probably a few sprints or Olympic sprinkled in. The newest job seems to have settled down (somewhat) although just by saying that I'm sure I've jinxed it.

More news? In the meantime I've joined the Fighting Koalas Tri team. This should make for a slightly different year in terms of training and race day so we'll see.

Not much else to say right now, even with all the time passed since last we posted. Delays, yes, but look on the bright side. It's not Chinese Democracy-like delays.

Peace.