OK, so maybe I'll give it a shot

So, a couple of weeks ago I sent a mass e-mail to my cycling friends. Told them that I wasn't going to do any road or track racing this year. No shock, I did one criterium and one track race at the end of last year....and those were my first races since hanging up the shoes in '97. Cyclocross was a blast, but I just didn't hold on to the fitness after that.

Finally, I'm starting to feel OK on the bike. I may try and do the Festival of Speed at the good old Dick Lane Velodrome in May. Problem is, I'm still at Category 1 on the track. I'll probably just pick and choose which races I want to do that weekend. Track racing usually involves about 5 different races in a night and most people do them all for the "Omnium", which is an overall score (and usually pays the most) from all events.

I'm in no shape to do a points race against a Pro 1/2 field, but I may be able to get lucky in a scratch race or miss & out. If I can get some sprint work in, there's a chance I could squeak out something in the keirin. This is all assuming I can keep feeling OK, and I don't have to work that weekend.

I don't know who these people are, but it's part of the reason I can't get totally psyched about psychling again...

A day in the life of a Professional Cyclist

The last two years I raced bicycles I filed a W-2 that included the job of "Professional bicycle racer". I held a Pro license and had a couple of contracts with sponsors. By no means did I ever "make" money racing a bicycle. As a pro you are entitled to claim losses, which I did. Sure, there were a few weekends where my winnings outweighed my expenses, but it was certainly the exception and not the norm.

Today I made $150 riding my bike for two hours. A customer who happens to own a very successful commercial real estate investment company wanted someone to ride with him this weekend. I volunteered. He simply needed the encouragement of an experienced rider to take care of the logistics of planning the ride, route and pace.

We rode at a relatively leisurely pace until I suggested some intervals, to which he wholeheartedly agreed to. After our two hour ride, he took me to lunch and handed me $150 cash for "gas money"....uh, we drove HIS Lexus.

Long story short, he wants to ride again on Monday or Tuesday. I think I'll make the time!

While riding, we discussed his desire to implement a fitness program to his employees (roughly 8 or 9 people). These people are NOT athletes. He just thinks they'd benefit from some sort of individualized plan. On the way home I thought "why not me?". I just finished writing a proposal for his company and hatched Brookshire Fitness Solutions. It took all of 2 hours to write the proposal and design the logo. If it pays off, it will be time well spent. I'll let you know if anything comes from it. In the meantime, I'm enjoying my return to professional cycling!

The new dog

Here's a pic of Olivia and Bear from this past weekend.

Spring is here

Spring can't get here quick enough for me this year. I was cold all winter. Unfortunately, I've been feeling the affects of spring in the way of allergies all week. It seems to get worse each year. I may also be fighting a cold.

I went with three first round upsets in the NCAA tournament - only one of them pulled through. I've got Kansas winning it all. Sounds like most experts like UCLA. I'm really hoping for a Tennessee - UNC matchup in the Final 8. I only wish Dean Smith was still at the helm as the Volunteers sodomize the Tarheels in Charlotte.


Turkey bacon has less than half the calories of real bacon...and if you eat it often enough you'll forget how good real bacon tastes. Not a bad substitute.

Since I really don't have a mountain bike anymore, I borrowed one that we rent from work. It fits terribly and made for a most miserable ride yesterday. I rode with a friend that does long distance mountain bike races. She drilled me. I couldn't keep up on the hills at all. The allergies or the cold (if I've got one) have left me exhausted.

My phone is AWOL right now. Why do I have such a hard time keeping up with something that most people can't live without?

Next weekend Olivia has two birthday parties and a soccer game on Saturday, then another birthday party on Sunday. Her social calender is very busy.

I still prefer reading a newspaper or magazine over reading something on the internet.

If I put down some weed killer on my lawn this year I'm afraid all I'll have left is dirt.

Music for the 21st century

If you haven't checked out the Music Genome Project at Pandora radio, you need to: www.pandora.com. You can type in your favorite artist and it will continuously play songs by artists similar to yours. You can add other artists and the site will evolve and become more specific. The best part is it's FREE!

I was trying to figure out a way to channel the music to my receiver so I could enjoy it over my better speakers, and my ones outside. I thought about a sound card or a digital-to-analog converter.....then I just bought an iPod headphone adaptor for $6 at Target. I plug it into the headphone jack on my computer then splice the seperate (L & R) audio cables into a traditional audio cable, plug it into the auxilary inputs and VIOLA! I may lose 1 or 2% in sound quality, but it's hardly noticeable. Sounds awesome!

I have about 7 different stations that I created. I love that I can get a consistent type of music with different artists and it plays forever. The artist, album and song title are there if you hear someone you like and want to go out and buy their album or download it from a music service. Sometimes I loathe the internet, but it definitely has its advantages.

Odds & Ends

Might as well start calling this the "Olivia Bus". Had our parent/teacher conference yesterday as Olivia completed her third semester at school. She is doing great. Her teacher couldn't stop talking about how well she is doing. She said that Olivia is a perfectionist. She doesn't get that from her dad! It's funny, there are some things in my life that I am absolutely obsessive about....and other things that just "get done".

"Bear", as he's now been named, is doing well adapting to his new surroundings. Olivia loves that she has a dog. He's having some difficult with house training, but is a very sweet dog.

It's gonna rain like crazy again today, but I'm riding my bike to work.



Went to the Banff Film Festival on Monday night with a friend. It was phenomenal. It is a travelling show of 10 short adventure films from the week-long festival held in November. They had a drawing and I won a titanium camping cookset. Very nice. There was a film about some guys attempting to climb a natural stone arch in a bay somewhere off the Italian coast. The guy was attempting a very difficult move over an over, each time falling the 50 ft. into the water. When he finally pulled it off the crowd went nuts. Very breathtaking cinematography.

Everyone knows that I'll die a Republican, but I have noticed a real shift in my views on the environment the last decade or so. Watching films like the ones at the festival make me realize how valuable saving our natural resources is to enjoying life. Not yet ready to wear hemp sandals and turn vegan, but I think twice about how some of my actions affect the earth.

I work Saturday. Gonna go mountain bike riding on Easter for the first time in about 10 years.

Dog....Poop

Highlights from the weekend:

Olivia's mom got her a dog yesterday. It is actually quite cute. They don't know exactly how old he is, but he's somewhere between 8 months and a year and a half. Looks like a small lab. He's brown - Olivia has decided to call him Hershey...or Chip....or Hot Chocolate....or Bear. He's very skinny under his full coat of hair. Pretty timid, but very loveable.

While I was working on teaching Olivia how to wipe her butt, she commented that one of her poops looked like a pickle.

Was supposed to go to the CDC Career Fair today, but it has been postponed due to damage to the Georgia World Congress Center from Friday's tornado. It's too bad - there were some good jobs I was looking forward to learning more about. I've discovered that I have a few contacts there that I didn't know about. I'm going to spend today trying to find out more about how I might get an early lead on something there.

I'm officially under 185lbs for the first time in about 5 years. I ran into a friend of mine I used to work with at the Chamber of Commerce at the grocery store last night. She is not under 185lbs....

Olivia for President

Apparently, Olivia’s kindergarten class is learning a little about elections. They were assigned to make a campaign poster with a promise that they would keep.

Most kids wrote that they would promise to treat people nicely, give money to the poor or make recess last for 3 hours each day. My daughter, never one to mince words and get right to the point, wrote this:

As her campaign manager, I can tell you that she will definitely keep her promises....

Random shiznit

This little blog o' mine is in danger of becoming stagnet. My certification in CPR expired years ago, but I'll give it an attempt:

Olivia started soccer again this week. I was happy to see her really charge the goal - she was a little timid last year. Now, if I can just teach her to throw some elbows and land some headbutts we'll be in business.

Our bike shop has to have a sitcom or docudrama in it to make us all millions. 5 full-time employees. Three of us are single dads with daughters. I can't decide whether it's funny or pathetic...

I'm ready for Spring, dammit.

Two people in the last month have told me I look like Kelly Slater (the surfer)...Uh, yeah, we both shave our head and have blue eyes. The similarities end there.

Cold pizza? Seriously, I don't get it. Might as well eat cold oatmeal.

Did you check out that couple that won the Lottery from Georgia last week? Holy shit! I'm reminded that people like that WIN the lottery because people like that PLAY the lottery. "As soon as we get Ethel's gout taken care of we're going on a Royal Carribean cruise. Then we're buying Bert that little Asian whore he's had his eye on at the strip club next to the truck stop..."

I don't like much music being made these days, but I do like Jack Johnson. I bought his latest album a couple of weeks ago and it's like Valium. C'mon, Jack, I didn't illegally download it, I BOUGHT it! You can do better than that.

On the way to school the other day, Olivia asked me if "God is naked?". How do you answer that? "No, honey, he usually rolls in an Armani suit. Now, Jesus, on the other hand, has no style at all. Birkenstock wearing hippie..."

A friend of mine is getting married for the second time next weekend. I thought I had something clever to write about that, but I don't.

My parents tried to call me from Mexican prison the other night. I told the guard I had never heard of them. My mom had apparently run nude through the streets of a local town during Siesta. My dad was behind her in a bull outfit. I guess they thought they were in Spain.

That last paragraph was a joke....I just need some spice today.

My brother once shaved his crack. Said he couldn't fart for a week....That's not a joke.....no matter how you look at it.

Peace out, bitches

Done before I started

Didn't mean to write two negative posts in a row, but I'm done with my attempt to try and race a bike again. I'm giving the bike I've been loaned back and stopping the attempts to train when I know I just can't make the time or muster the enthusiasm.

I won't quit riding all together, but I'm just setting myself up to be disappointed if I try to race. I'm still a category 2 rider, which means I'd have to race with Pros most of the time. I could race masters, but I just don't think it will give me the rush I need. Cyclocross was different and new, but I've been a successful road racer and I just can't seem to adjust. My dad can probably relate to it. He was a National Champion in car racing, and I'm sure no matter how old you get it would be hard to go back to regional racing.

I was sick for two weeks and didn't pedal a stroke. Now, I just don't have the energy. I've ridden twice in 3 weeks and the season starts in a month. Riding, I had hoped, would be therapeutic. To a point it has been, but I need to compete to be happy.

I've got some serious issues I need to deal with in my life. Cycling will just have to wait.

Feeling pretty low

Did you ever feel like you were the only person in the world dealing with the trials and tribulations of life? Surely it's selfish to believe that you are unique enough to be any different than anyone else.

Right now, I question whether I'm the person I think I am or want to be. I think everyone wants to think they are an honest, decent, intelligent, caring, friendly, successful, and driven person. I'm too confused and angry to know anymore.

I feel like a Robbie Williams lyric:

And you know and you know
Cause my life's a mess
And I'm trying to grow
so beforeI'm old I'll confess
You think that I'm strong
you're wrong
You're wrong

Pray for me Thursday at 5:15

Olivia and I are finally going to the Hannah Montana 3D spectacular! OH MY GOD, I'M SO EXCITED!!!!!!!

So, for those of you that don't have kids, this thing is just a taped concert, essentially a movie....oh, yeah, in 3D. Her mom paid $32 for the tickets. No, the three of us aren't going, just me and Olivia. Seriously, I'm pretty sure I payed less for my first LIVE concert, and I doubt I'll even get a contact buzz. Of course, this is HANNAH MONTANA, not Loverboy.

I ventured to the other prepubescent girl craze this weekend - the American Girl store. Amazing. I had the typical "why didn't I think of this" thoughts, but I don't think my feeble mind is capable of the marketing ideas this place has. Unfortunately, we didn't have 4 hours (not kidding) to wait for a table at the Bistro, where they would serve a mini meal just like your daughter's (or gay son's) to your American Girl doll.

We also didn't have time to wait in line to dole out $20 to have her doll's hair styled. There are adult women who put your child's doll in a mini salon chair and style their hair to your liking. I'm sure tips are accepted.

One bonus (although I'm not in the market for one) was the droves of hot moms walking around in their hip "I want to be like my daughter" clothes. I don't venture to Alpharetta much, but there are distinctly two different types of moms walking around with their kids. You've got the Snoopy sweatshirt, hair stuck in the 80's, Keds-wearing moms and the "there's a chance I might get laid at the mall" moms - no inbetween. I put my blinders on, paid 100% attention to my daughter, gave the nice cashier all my money and left after a trip to the merry-go-round.

The missing tooth and los americanos terrible...

This pic is for my mom and dad, who are currently getting their tan on and rolling tortillas south of the border. My dad has probably befriended the local Mexican engineer, helping him translate some of Newton's laws into his native tongue (and, of course, pointing out where Newton might have been wrong.) Meanwhile, my mom has already been branded "La Risa" or, loosely translated, "The Laugher". They probably have no idea what she's trying to say as she thumbs through her dog-eared copy of Spanish for Idiots, but they know she is the Happy American.

My mom left me a cryptic voicemail last week. Apparently, they were about to enter Mexico. I could have sworn she was calling from the launchpad of the Space Shuttle. "We're heading off into the unknown territory. We'll be out of contact for quite some time...." Elton John sounded less fearful when he sang Rocket Man. I thought I could hear my dad talking to the Border Patrol in the background..."La senorita es loco...." then "Our gross vehicular weight is 28,654 libras. How many pesos do you need, Senor?" Aye, caramba!

The Canadians are currently digging a 3000 mile trench across their border from my parents' visit last summer. The USA will probably be an island in short order after their current trip....

Love you, mom and dad!

High School Hannah Montana Musical

I give up. I'm so High School Musicaled - Hannah Montanaed out that I swear they are one in the same. Now my kid is convinced that TODAY is the only day that she can watch the new Hannah Montana concert/movie thingy. She literally freaked out last night when she saw the commercial: "Ohhhhhhh my goooooshhhhh! It's tomorrow!!!!" You'd think the Beatles had come back and were playing in our backyard.

I don't get it. Both phenomenons are not horrible entertainment, but they have certainly gripped every single little girl I know. That, coupled with the American Girl craze, makes being a parent in 2008 a very expensive and annoying venture. It's all the ancillary shit that just drives you nuts. You can't go anywhere without getting the High School Musical balloon, or the Hannah Montana hairbrush set or the American Girl doll storybook. I'm "mean dad" and can say NO, but I'm tired of having to say no all the time. I'm barraged by all this crap.

Is it wrong for a 40 year old dad to watch High School Musical for the 30th time and think about which of those peppy little high school girls is the hottest? Is it wrong for me to want to wring the neck of the Hollywood dick that ever thought Billy Ray Cyrus was worthy of putting on ANY show? I don't give a damn how talented his daughter is - that guy is the shittiest actor in the history of acting (with the possible exception of Keanu Reeves, who is deplorable.). Is it wrong for me to think that it is below me to don a pair of 3D glasses to watch the Jonas Brothers and Hannah Montana Concert with my daughter this weekend?....'cause you know I'm going to friggin' do it with all the other pathetic, slave-to-their-daughter dads across this country.

Tooth Fairy visits Marietta....News at 11:00

DATELINE: Marietta, GA (Reuters)
This just in: Olivia Brookshire has lost her first baby tooth. The evacuation took place during "snack time" at the Wood Acres School yesterday at approximately 11:15 a.m. The tooth was saved in a napkin and placed under Brookshire's pillow at 8:25 p.m. Authorities estimate that sometime between 9:17 p.m and 3:00 a.m. a hagard winged fairy stole the tooth and replaced it with $1.50 in U.S. currency. Pictures to follow....