Time...

I've come to the conclusion that some people are definitely better time managers than others. I am not. I have found myself dumbfounded when I think about CEO's of major companies and how they manage to do all they do. Granted, I've also come to realize that a lot of "successful" people are getting successful while neglecting their spouses, children, friends, health, etc., but I'm still amazed.

I am on a schedule where I am working (albeit not always 8 hours a day) every 12 out of 14 days. I feel like I just don't have time to do anything. Between work, spending time with Olivia, trying to exercise, chores around the house, and a sliver of a social life, I just don't get some things done. My "to do" list (if I wasn't scared to make one) would be two full pages.

I'm not really working out as much as I'd like, but I still seem to be losing weight. Maybe it's stress, maybe it's just being on the go all the time. Maybe it's because I'm not eating as much because even though I'm working more, I still dont' have any money! It's not a bad problem to have, I guess.

Time to spend some time researching time management...

Tour De Georgia

Went to Road Atlanta yesterday for the Team Time Trial stage of the Tour De Georgia. It was good fun. I took my camera, but as is the norm lately, something wasn't working quite right and I got exactly two pictures. The first one is of the Rock Racing Team Provost motorhome - taken for my parents. This was one sweet rig:

For those that don't know about Rock Racing, here's a very short synopsis: Michael Ball owns Rock N' Republic jeans - think 300 bones+ for a pair o' jeans. He's a prick, but a marketing genius. He supposedly raced bikes in the late 80's. He decided last year that he needed to start a pro team. He hired a few riders that have either failed drug tests in the past or are under suspicion for using drugs. He spend large amounts of dough buying team vehicles like the one above and an outlandish uniform for his team. He has since publicly "dissed" promotors, riders, his OWN sponsors, etc. In the meantime, creating more publicity for his team than Lance Armstrong could.

He has umbrella girls, an enormous "posse" of mechanics and hangers-on. He had a large merchandise booth pumping techno music and plasma TV's hyping a very well done video of the team. While I'm pissed that he's chosen to hire known cheaters, I can't help but respect the sheer genius of it all. He's ensuring that cycling will continue to be the farce it has become over the past two decades. Oh, well.

Here's a pic of the Jelly Belly team. My friend Thomas is their team mechanic and I spent quite a bit of time yesterday hanging out with him and the team.

I'm pressed for time, but I'll post again later this weekend some pics of a project bike I've been working on.

Bear on the catwalk

There are some strange things that excite a 5 year old girl. A couple of weeks ago Olivia and I put her Hannah Montana nightshirt on her new dog, Bear.... We also added her ballet tutu. Admittedly, it was pretty damn funny:

This morning, while at her mom's trying to get her dressed, I put her "hoodie" sweatshirt on him. I pulled the hood over his head and he was one dope dog. Olivia laughed until she almost peed herself. Her mom gave me the disappointed look that I'm very used to and said "she's definitely your daughter".

On the way to school all she could talk about was how we need to have a fashion show with Bear. We'll put him in her two piece swimsuit, her robe, a tank top, a sweater, flip flops, sunglasses....the list went on and on. I'm going to have to chronicle it with photos.

The dog is so docile and has no idea what she has planned for his furry ass.

Back in the saddle again...

Made it through my first race of the year with most of myself intact. I actually rode very well. I got involved in a crash about half way through. Fortunately, I fell on top of one of the guys that started the wreck. I messed up my bike a bit and now I have a strange piece of bone drifting around my elbow. I feel like someone hit my elbow with a hammer. Nothing much I can do about it though.

Got back in the race after getting a new rear wheel from the pits. I rode at the front most of the race. There were at least 4 other wrecks and I was nervous. I had planned on putting in a good sprint at the end, but with 4 laps to go I attacked. I stayed off the front for about a lap and a half before getting reeled back in. I was in the top 10 coming out of the last corner, but just didn't have much left. All in all, not bad for as little training as I've been able to do.

It felt good to talk to a lot of guys I haven't seen in a while. The only criterium I did last year, I rode in the ProAm race. Glad I raced the Masters category yesterday. The pros were just hauling ass, and I'm positive I just couldn't hang with them. The best part of the weekend was that several people told me how strong I looked and rode. I think that anyone that competes, no matter the age or sport, likes to hear compliments like that.

I'm pretty sure that part of the reason for my rise in fitness, despite little training, is that I've mysteriously lost about 10lbs the last month and a half. I'm not sure I can attribute it to one thing. Hope it's not a tapeworm or something!

Random shizzle

Gonna race my bike this weekend in Chattanooga. I got a little confidence by finishing second at the "Tuesday Night World Championship" - also know as the practice criterium here in Marietta. Granted, a few of the really good guys sit out the sprint at the end because there's no point in getting killed when you're just racing for pride, but I still felt pretty good considering I'm only riding a couple of time a week.

I'm dog sitting my daughter's new dog while she is at Sea World. He chewed through the cable to my TV. I hope she wasn't too attached to him.

The Tennessee women's basketball team just won their 8th NCAA title. That's domination, even if it is "just" a women's team.

I've started writing a book. I may never finish it. Doesn't matter - I've sworn I'd one day write one.

How and who decides what my horoscope is each day? I need that freakin' job....

Started working for Bavarian Soundwerks yesterday. I'll only be there a couple of days a week. My friend and racing partner, Jason, owns the company. They do high end car audio components primarily for BMW. It will bring in some much needed extra cash right now.

Kyle sent me this e-mail this morning: "Bored. Check out cockbrutality.com". I'm considering an intervention. The guy is clearly disturbed.

Happy Birthday, Jodi! Happy Anniversary, Mom & Dad! Love you all.

underwear

ME: "Hello"

OLIVIA'S MOM: "Olivia has a question that I think you should probably answer"

ME: "OK, put her on."

OLIVIA: "Daddy, this is a question about your privates."

ME: "Uh, my privates? OK."

OLIVIA: "You know how boys' penises are long and stick out? How come when you're wearing pants it doesn't stick out?"

ME: "Well, boys wear underwear just like you and it keeps their penis close to their body so it doesn't stick out."

OLIVIA: "Ohhhhhhhh! Underwear! I didn't think of that." (as though I had just demystified Euclidean geometry)

I smiled, thinking how well I had diverted a possible cornicopea of sex questions....Until I hung up. Then I started thinking...Why is my five year old concerned about penises sticking out? More so, why is my five year old even thinking about penises at ALL? Why does my five year old think penises are "long" (Well, she has seen me getting out of the shower...so that answer is obvious)

I've said it since she was born; I love my little girl, but I want her to morph into a little boy at about 10 years of age. Maybe I'm wrong....Let the metamorphasis begin NOW, while I'm relatively sane.