Changes
Lots of changes taking place - nothing really major - just the cyclical flow of life.
Season changing(or I should say changed)
Fall is in full force - I never know what to expect when i wake up in the morning - a brisk sun shiny morning or a fog filled gloomy morning or rain coming down making me want to sleep late. (no snow to speak of in Boulder proper - but i hit some @ Buffalo Creek on Sunday!)
Here's a pic on my street. I love that about Colorado - the seasons changing. Walking down a wind-blown street with the leaves rustling around. Visual and audio proof - a clear demarcation of time passing.
Leisure time changes.
I just got this from my sister.
12months worth of Sci-fi magazines. I've been reading this magazine for over 25(!) years and it's still as good now as it was then. I love curling up in a quiet house and reading. I rarely do that during biking season because I keep myself so busy. it's nice to slow down.
And of course - I'm practicing my guitar(more later). Guitar practicing is time consuming but relaxing at the same time. Right now my limited repertoire includes butchered versions of : 1) doors/riders on the storm 2) red hot chili peppers/under the bridge 3) tom petty/last dance with mary jane
Also, broke out the speedskates and started skating last week. Tuesday and Thursday mornings @ Boulder Valley Ice in Superior.
Usually there is only 1 other guy there so between us two we have the ice pretty much to ourselves(talked about spoiled, eh?) I was pleased to find I didn't lose much in the 4 months I've been off the ice. My balance is good and my technique hasn't suffered too much. I'm looking forward to hitting the Olympic Oval in SLC 4 or 5 times this season and making some good progress.
House changes
I finally got that tree chopped down in my back yard. When i bought the house in 2001 one of the things the inspector pointed out was the tree was too close to the foundation.
So I waited until summer was over as this tree provided so much shade and helped keep my house cooler. But yesterday and today the guys were working and chopped it up into manageable pieces and carried it away.
Relationship Changes
I've fallen in love with Dave all over again.
As anyone knows if you've been in a long term relationship there's an ebb and flow. Sometimes everything is clicking along on all cylinders and some times the timing is off. You get used to a person and take them for granted or life gets busy and you forget to appreciate your partner as much as you should. Then something will come along and wake you up and then everything is running smoothly again.
When I met Dave - he was way into biking. And he had it all - great fitness, strong road climber, fearless road descending, strong on the flats, great all-around mtn biker - strong technical climbing skills and amazing technical descending skills. Actually, one of the reasons I liked him so much was those great legs/butt. ;) (oh and he had a nice smile too)
Dave taught me how to ride technical terrain.
Now, I don't think I'm an easy person to teach - I'm proud, stubborn and sometimes don't take well to people telling me how to do things. I'm very independent and like to do things on my own. But Dave is such an awesome teacher - he has a great way about him that makes you feel empowered and you have the ability to accomplish anything - even when you yourself are doubtful.
His ability to teach me was one of the reasons I fell for him. He's talented, kind, patient, supportive and encouraging - striking the fine balance of me finding my own way and him guiding the way.
He never made me feel like a chicken (even tho I was). He never made me feel like I *had* to try an obstacle even tho he thought I could do it. He was patient and let me try to ride something for as long as I wanted to. He never rushed me. He did whatever he could to make me feel safe.
We would spend a couple of hours @ Walker Ranch working on steep descending switchbacks. Dave would ride it slowly and show me the right body position. Then he'd draw 'the line' in the dirt so I could follow. Then he would tell me when to turn and when to look down the trail and when to let go of my front brake. On one switchback we must've done this 20(!) times before I got it.
Our conversation would go like this...
me balking @ the turn: "i can't to it - it's too scary!"
dave: "it *is* scary...but you can do it"
me balking @ the turn: "I can't turn - it's too sharp"
dave: "yes - it is a sharp turn - but just turn your head and let the bike roll"
me balking @ the turn: "there's big cliff - if I fall I hurt myself"
dave: "i'll stand there on the edge of the cliff and catch you if you fall - that way you can fall on me."
me balking @ the turn: "NO!!!"
dave: "when you are ready - you'll do it. do you want to keep trying?"
me: "yes"
dave: "ok - i'll do this as long as you want"
me: "aren't you bored just standing there?"
dave: "no - you are making progress and it's fun to watch you getting there"
me balking @ the turn: "I'm gonna fall and hurt myself"
dave: "you might - but that's part of it. I came back bloody on every ride i did my first year"
me-actually making the turn: "whoa! no way that was miracle"
dave - cheering for my when I finally did it: "way to go!! I knew you could do it!!! yay!"
whew! so the whole reason i brought that up is because with Dave teaching me to play guitar reminds me of how special he is...
I'm looking at him with fresh eyes and really admire his skill and finesse with his guitar playing. Damn! he's good!!! I mean really good. I guess I never really paid attention to his guitar playing because it didn't personally interest me - but now that I know a little bit about it and I am interested - it's like my eyes are now opened to a whole different side of him.
And his teaching style is just as good as it was when he taught me to mtn bike. When I'm rushing the notes - he'll play along with me to make sure I have the timing down. If I messing up a chord or take too long switching chords he'll bring up how he had the same trouble. and on and on.
it's kinda of nice to be at this place again...i just got to remember to not take him for granted!
Biking changes
I've recovered a bit from my burn out. I did the Bean FeSSt ride in the snow...brrr.... I'm heading out to ride Indian Creek this Saturday with my crew. Then I'm doing the 50/50 race in Grand Junction on the 27th. I looking at the race as a long ride as my fitness is on the decline - but I'm doing it on a team with Alicia and Melanie so it will be fun.
I'll get out on my mtn bike as much as the season allows - but i'm gonna be taking it easy. :)
My focus is now on skating, yoga, Pilate's and some upper body weight lifting.
Season changing(or I should say changed)
Fall is in full force - I never know what to expect when i wake up in the morning - a brisk sun shiny morning or a fog filled gloomy morning or rain coming down making me want to sleep late. (no snow to speak of in Boulder proper - but i hit some @ Buffalo Creek on Sunday!)
Here's a pic on my street. I love that about Colorado - the seasons changing. Walking down a wind-blown street with the leaves rustling around. Visual and audio proof - a clear demarcation of time passing.
Leisure time changes.
I just got this from my sister.
12months worth of Sci-fi magazines. I've been reading this magazine for over 25(!) years and it's still as good now as it was then. I love curling up in a quiet house and reading. I rarely do that during biking season because I keep myself so busy. it's nice to slow down.And of course - I'm practicing my guitar(more later). Guitar practicing is time consuming but relaxing at the same time. Right now my limited repertoire includes butchered versions of : 1) doors/riders on the storm 2) red hot chili peppers/under the bridge 3) tom petty/last dance with mary jane
Also, broke out the speedskates and started skating last week. Tuesday and Thursday mornings @ Boulder Valley Ice in Superior.
Usually there is only 1 other guy there so between us two we have the ice pretty much to ourselves(talked about spoiled, eh?) I was pleased to find I didn't lose much in the 4 months I've been off the ice. My balance is good and my technique hasn't suffered too much. I'm looking forward to hitting the Olympic Oval in SLC 4 or 5 times this season and making some good progress.House changes
I finally got that tree chopped down in my back yard. When i bought the house in 2001 one of the things the inspector pointed out was the tree was too close to the foundation.
So I waited until summer was over as this tree provided so much shade and helped keep my house cooler. But yesterday and today the guys were working and chopped it up into manageable pieces and carried it away.Relationship Changes
I've fallen in love with Dave all over again.
As anyone knows if you've been in a long term relationship there's an ebb and flow. Sometimes everything is clicking along on all cylinders and some times the timing is off. You get used to a person and take them for granted or life gets busy and you forget to appreciate your partner as much as you should. Then something will come along and wake you up and then everything is running smoothly again.
When I met Dave - he was way into biking. And he had it all - great fitness, strong road climber, fearless road descending, strong on the flats, great all-around mtn biker - strong technical climbing skills and amazing technical descending skills. Actually, one of the reasons I liked him so much was those great legs/butt. ;) (oh and he had a nice smile too)
Dave taught me how to ride technical terrain.
Now, I don't think I'm an easy person to teach - I'm proud, stubborn and sometimes don't take well to people telling me how to do things. I'm very independent and like to do things on my own. But Dave is such an awesome teacher - he has a great way about him that makes you feel empowered and you have the ability to accomplish anything - even when you yourself are doubtful.
His ability to teach me was one of the reasons I fell for him. He's talented, kind, patient, supportive and encouraging - striking the fine balance of me finding my own way and him guiding the way.
He never made me feel like a chicken (even tho I was). He never made me feel like I *had* to try an obstacle even tho he thought I could do it. He was patient and let me try to ride something for as long as I wanted to. He never rushed me. He did whatever he could to make me feel safe.
We would spend a couple of hours @ Walker Ranch working on steep descending switchbacks. Dave would ride it slowly and show me the right body position. Then he'd draw 'the line' in the dirt so I could follow. Then he would tell me when to turn and when to look down the trail and when to let go of my front brake. On one switchback we must've done this 20(!) times before I got it.
Our conversation would go like this...
me balking @ the turn: "i can't to it - it's too scary!"
dave: "it *is* scary...but you can do it"
me balking @ the turn: "I can't turn - it's too sharp"
dave: "yes - it is a sharp turn - but just turn your head and let the bike roll"
me balking @ the turn: "there's big cliff - if I fall I hurt myself"
dave: "i'll stand there on the edge of the cliff and catch you if you fall - that way you can fall on me."
me balking @ the turn: "NO!!!"
dave: "when you are ready - you'll do it. do you want to keep trying?"
me: "yes"
dave: "ok - i'll do this as long as you want"
me: "aren't you bored just standing there?"
dave: "no - you are making progress and it's fun to watch you getting there"
me balking @ the turn: "I'm gonna fall and hurt myself"
dave: "you might - but that's part of it. I came back bloody on every ride i did my first year"
me-actually making the turn: "whoa! no way that was miracle"
dave - cheering for my when I finally did it: "way to go!! I knew you could do it!!! yay!"
whew! so the whole reason i brought that up is because with Dave teaching me to play guitar reminds me of how special he is...
I'm looking at him with fresh eyes and really admire his skill and finesse with his guitar playing. Damn! he's good!!! I mean really good. I guess I never really paid attention to his guitar playing because it didn't personally interest me - but now that I know a little bit about it and I am interested - it's like my eyes are now opened to a whole different side of him.
And his teaching style is just as good as it was when he taught me to mtn bike. When I'm rushing the notes - he'll play along with me to make sure I have the timing down. If I messing up a chord or take too long switching chords he'll bring up how he had the same trouble. and on and on.
it's kinda of nice to be at this place again...i just got to remember to not take him for granted!
Biking changes
I've recovered a bit from my burn out. I did the Bean FeSSt ride in the snow...brrr.... I'm heading out to ride Indian Creek this Saturday with my crew. Then I'm doing the 50/50 race in Grand Junction on the 27th. I looking at the race as a long ride as my fitness is on the decline - but I'm doing it on a team with Alicia and Melanie so it will be fun.
I'll get out on my mtn bike as much as the season allows - but i'm gonna be taking it easy. :)
My focus is now on skating, yoga, Pilate's and some upper body weight lifting.
Comments
Ed
huge hugs!
jj