drinking problems

I think I may have a drinking problem. 4 out of the 5 empty beverage containers on my desk contained some kind of caffeine in them at some point today.

Comfy?

Koppenburg Postponed

The race tomorrow is postponed. For some reason, they think it's un-rideable.

Snow Day Busted

3pm post blizzard

Ok, so there's really no reason to be at home any more... yeah for spring snow! Comes in fast and leaves fast. Let's hope it leaves us with a little green grass too.

The little blizzard that could

8am

I guess I didn't give our little blizzard enough credit. We still didn't get ton of snow downtown, but enough to have a snow day at work today. All that really means for me today is I'll work from home like I have done every other day for the last 4 years until 2 weeks ago. Still nice not to have to go in to the office today.

It's still coming down pretty good in some areas north of town too. I guess our storm was just a late bloomer compared to what Boulder got.

blizzard busted

6pm

This blizzard is officially busted. While some places in the state got snow measured in feet instead of millimeters, my Colorado Springs blizzard watch is officially over. While we did get some snow and got sent home from work early, about the worst thing about today is that it's 14 degrees. I think chances are slim to none for a snow day tomorrow.

BLIZZARD WATCH UPDATE!

2pm

2 hours in and it's starting to pile up. The roads are getting messy. I think it's about time to leave work early...

BLIZZARD WATCH UPDATE!

12pm

...and here it comes. It just started snowing and you can barely see the Wells Fargo building from the office now. This could be the real deal. Stay tuned!

BLIZZARD WATCH UPDATE!

7:00 am.

Weak... so far unimpressed by the Blizzard of '09, although, to be fair, it's not really supposed to start snowing hard until this afternoon. Stay tuned!

Yikes!

Now there's some serious power in those legs. (German sprinters at track worlds http://velonews.com/article/89711 ). It kind of makes me feel like I should go do some squats.

Longest Blog Post, Ever?!

Dear blog readers, I'm sure you've noticed a dearth of blog posts lately, and that is for two reasons. A) I have a real, grown up job now and 2) Blogs are passe and Facebook is where it's at. Not only do I update more often on Facebook, but you can also (nearly) follow minute-ly what I am doing during the day. If you're not already on Facebook, please check it out because I may just give up the blog for it soon.

So this is folks, me at my new/ old job at CTS headquarters. I have worked for CTS as a coach since October of 2001, I have worked part-time, full-time, part-time, and full-time once again. It's kizmet, it's like the rash that won't go away, I'm back working at the home office once again. (please note, the first picture captured of me on my first day and what is on my computer? (yes, it's Facebook)

In part of my transition back in to working with all the facilities available, I have opted for the two monitor, multi-computer functionality. Although, I like the clarity of my new monitor, all the cool kids are making fun of how big it is. Whatever, yo!, I can see what I'm doing without squinting you LCD mointor snobs.

I did try to make lots of friends in my first week back in the home office by brining in muffins from Wooglin's and keeping candy at my desk... By Mike and Adam's reactions, I think it is working.

I've also gotten a lot of new SWAG since being in the office. SWAG, Stuff We All like to Get. I've gotten Smith sunglasses, Pearlizumi jackets, Giro helmets, and the best is our new MBT shoes. Brianna and I got the same pair, actually several of us do, but I have to admit that I think I'm sold on the concept. You can go to the website to check it out. http://www.swissmasaius.com/Default.aspx
The basic idea is that these shoes return your feet to the nature bare foot on an unstable surface form, therefore, activating your core stability muscles more. So, there you go.

In trying on the new shoes, I did discover that the team Vitamin Cottage socks do have a integrity problem.

In the meanwhile, my good friend Gretchan came out to visit for 48 hours of fun. Gretchan and I are old racing buddies and spend some good quality time as housemates in our formative years.

We had a great time and were able to play dress up for a party.

The party, of course, was for our friend Bob. His 40th birthday was last week and we had a great time celebrating it!


Since then it's been back to the norm and hanging out with work friend and dogs after work.

Of course, the best part of coming back to the Office is office pranks. This morning we found Steve's bike hanging from the rafters when we came in. This time Steve got it, I can just imagine what they'll do to me next time.

Today is the first day of the rest of my life, I guess. I started back at my new/ old job today in the main office working full-time today. Old because I used to work in the office full time, new because I am moving from a role of independent contractor for the past 4 years to full-time employee again. All that really means is I have to show up every day at 8am, groomed and dressed, and stay until (at least) 5pm every night. It's the same job I've been doing, I just wear nicer clothes while I do it (rather than my standard of sweats and a hoodie, kackies and a button down ).

After a full morning of emails and phone calls, we went out for a little coaches' practical today. It was just a little time to brush up on our hands on coaching skillz. It sure was nice out today... I am concerned about how dry it has been lately... see that ground underneath us? That is supposed to be grass, not so much now. It's real dry here.

The biggest thing I forgot about in the office was all the meetings and distractions that come up. See, I've been working "full-time" for the last 4 years, just not inside the confines of the office. What that meant for me today was that my regular 8-ish hour day on Monday turned in to an 11 hour day today... and I still have more to catch up on tomorrow. Phew, let's hope day #2 isn't quite so long.

One last day

Saturday was Gretchan's last day in the Springs, so we had to make the most of it.

We went to Wooglin's for muffins, then watched the St. Patty's Day run downtown.

It was a very pretty day.

Then we got all dressed up and headed to Boulder for Bob's 40th birthday bash.

Dinner was at Burnt Toast, it's a cozy little restaurant in Boulder. We had the whole joint to ourselves, there were about 45 people there. The food was great and company was good.

There was plenty of booze too.

And this one guy, Andy, brought some good olive oil pressed at his villa in Italy (and if you don't recognize that guy Andy, it's Andy Hampsten).

Of course the reason we were all there was this guy Bob. Happy 40th Bob!

Gretchanpalooza

Gretchan has come to visit for quick trip to Colorado. Gretchan is my old housemate, teammate, buddy from my early days in Colorado Springs. She's on her way to Kansas, and with a very creative travel itinerary found a way to get a 48 hour layover in Colarado.

Gretchan hasn't been back to Colorado since she moved to Portland 6 years ago, so we have to cram in a lot...
Like taking a drink from every spring fountain in Manitou Springs.

There were some I had never tried before. To be honest I only knew of 3 of the spring fountain, so we found some new ones.

And you can't forget the Indian, which I think has the best tasting water of them all. It's like Gerolsteiner, for free!
Then we had to go over to the Garden of the Gods and see the Kissing Camels.
Close up of the Kissing Camels. 10 years ago last month, Kurt and Gretchan got married at dawn outside underneath the Kissing Camels, and in case you didn't pick up on that, dawn in February in Colorado is pretty damn cold.

Then we walked around all the old stomping grounds downtown in the Springs. She's only here for a day, then we head up to Boulder. So we had to get everything in one day, and we've done pretty well. We did lunch at Wooglins, stopped by her old work at Thomas and Thomas, went to the Garden and Cheyenne Canyon, hung out in Manitou, shopped for books at Poor Richards, and ate at Il Vicinos. Phew! 24 more hours, we've got a lot more to do.

I only have a few more days left of working from the home office. I start back full-time at CTS next week. I wonder if I'll miss getting watched by small furry creatures all day.

Dynamic Duos

Throughout history there have been some memorable dynamic duos.


Of course, there's the original dynamic duo, Batman and Robin.

And who could forget Goose and Maverick.

And, some, we have been inundated with since childhood.

And let's not leave out the ladies.

And some may be of questionable sorts....

Of course, what I'm talking about is the return of my racing better half, the Batman to my Robin, the Cagney to my Lacey, the Salt to my Peppa. After a taking a year off to have her baby, Beth is back and racing again. Woot, Woot!

Today was our first race together in over a year, and it was just her and I from the team at the DU crit. We did our best, but we could not contain the fury that was Amanda Miller. She and Kori took off in a break. Beth and I cleaned up in the field to finish 3rd and 4th with some crafty teamwork in the last corner that allowed me to take the sprint from the chase group.

I can't wait for the next race!

It's new, it's Blue, and a little (SRAM) Red too.

Too noisy to work

I needed to get some work done tonight and wasn't motivated at home so I went out to my favorite office away from the office a the Coffee Exchange. Little did I know that it was Irish folk music night. These guys are actually pretty good; however, it is far to noisy to work here now. That's fo' sho'

Excessive Celebration Fail

Waiting

Every morning when I get up Buddha sits and waits by the food dish to get fed... Please note, there is still food left in the dish from yesterday. However, as you can see, there is a spec of white at the bottom of the bowl, therefore, she thinks she is starving.