"Homer" - I'm out to Sinnissippi to check out the new snowfall and to see if there has been some grooming for the Nordic skiers. I pull into the lot and notice and old van parked there. As I step out of my car and older gentelman get out of the van. He's wearing work boots and a camo hoodie. As he approaches me he's shaking his head. "No good" he says. "Just some four-wheeler tracks but no grooming." So who is this ol' guy I think. Shouldn't you be out hunting wabbits. Turns out after we talk a bit he's a xc skier of many many years. He doesn't tell me much about it but turns out he knows Geoff F. and Johnny H. I text Geoff to let him know the course is a no go 'caus I figured he was probably on his way. He calls bac and proceeds to tell me Ol' Homer has done the Birkie 14 times and is in the 4th wave AND he's 70 years old. A mild mannered xc rock star! I love that someone who really knows there shit so theres no need to brag. He does it and is good at it...nough said. Hope to be that guy some day.

As much as it pains me to say this that is one thing I do like about this God for saken town. It's a Rockford thing that there seems to be this 3 degrees of seperation here. Doesn't take much before you find a connection with just about anyone here. BTW once Homer heard my last name he of course knew my brother. Homer is a retired teacher from Boylan High School. The chances are had I run into an old guy in Colorado there either wouldn't have been much talk, or he would have had a onesided conversation about how good he was and all the races he's done.

In Rockford there is a core group of athletes cycling, xc skiers and runners and in one way or another we seem to all know eachother. The midwest produces some serious athletes. Most are a real step above the weekend warrior. We've got guys in Belguim hopefully competing in the CX World Cup this month, CXers competing in the pro's, Pro roadies, Birki skiiers in the elite wave, serious marathon runners and I'm sure a whole lot more. I used to say there's nothing to do in Rockford but eat and drink but I guess I should change that to eat drink and train.

Cycling - good week this week. Lots of variety. Weights, running, trainer, swimming and xc skiing with Geoff tomorrow made up this week. I'll get in touch w/ Brian Conant hopefully for a training schedule to begin in Feb.

This week was consumed by the usual, work, "training", kids etc. Nothing out of the ordinary. Sent the "I can't take the job" letter to MH. Also discussed the big C tonight. So for now the plan is to hang tight see how the economy goes and possibly plan an escape for early 2010. North Carolina or the South also came up so who knows. Still we have to consider whats best for the kids education, our retirement and lifestyle. Sooooo sick of these long winters.



Cycling notes - been getting in some time on the trainer, in the gym and the pool. Basically just trying not to get too fat and lazy. Considering training with Brian Conant this year instead of Cycle-Smart. I think Ben is just too busy with the development team to be taking on old guys.



If dreams come true I'd love to do this . I'll try and watch this years race and see what it's like. Maybe? Still way to early to tell. Cross schedules begining to come out. Should have something put together soon. A wish list of races.

New beginning or return to unfinished business? Who knows. Life seems to be a string of cycles and with each new year I seem to repeat several cycles. As the New Year rolls in and the holidays are finally over I like most people take a moment to reflect on what was and what I hope for the new year.

So returning to my blog since last posting in 2005 I've decided to try and give it another go, A resolution? not really just an effort to perhaps be able to look back at the end of the year and maybe break some of the not so good cycles and move on.

Speaking of cycles the biggest one of my life seems to be the never ending quest to return to Colorado. The positives really outweigh the negatives but it just wasn't in the cards this year. Tonight after blogging I will be sending MHS a letter saying I must un-accept the position there in lieu of the f'd up economy. The timing just isn't there for the family to uproot now. The house just wouldn't get top $ like we need in order to get a decent home in CS. So the plan for now is to hold off for yet another year and possibly try again in 2009.

So what about cycling? Who knows... as of this moment I'm pretty sure I'll go for another cross season. A visit from Jordan last nite almost had me quitting but after thinking about it I realize we're worlds apart with our personal agendas and lifestyles. Cycling gives me time to think and a distraction from stressful everyday life although it does provide some of it's own stress.

Enough rambling for now and hopefully future posts will be less rambling and more interesting. No promises. The "goal" is to try and post weekly for as long as I can. Remember it was 4 years since my last post so no telling where this is going. I changed the title of my blog to "In the Moment" because a man once said "Life is what happens while you're planning" and I think the message there is to live in the moment. BTW that man was John Lennon.