Post Thanksgiving Ride...

Yesterday morning my Dad and I got out fairly early to go for a bike ride; something nice that he and I could do together! Well, it wasn't long and Dad turned to head back home. I thought "hmmm its cold but I've ridden in colder" so I decided to take off through some back streets of my hometown to a friends house. I really didn't know how far I would travel, but I had not ridden in a couple weeks so needless to say I was ready! About 3 miles in I was hitting the proverbial wall and thought "I'm halfway, so do I keep going or turn back"...I kept going and boy was my friend's wife surprised to see me show up in my riding gear!

Funny story...I asked where her husband was and she told me fishing. I said isn't it a little cold to be fishing? She said yes and asked what I was doing. Of course my response was riding my bike (as I stood there in my biking shorts)! Her response? Isn't it a little cold to be riding your bike? She made her point...

...however, I've been following another friends blog (La Belle Vie) and several weeks ago Lindsey made a very good point when it comes to getting outside in the cold to exercise. Whether one is riding or running you experience the sights, sounds and smells of nature that you just do not get in a vehicle. Lindsey made the observation that the cold air hitting her lungs felt so good! She's right...the cold air in my lungs, the smell of a wood stove burning and anticipating what the next mile would entail was such a great feeling!

"Change"...Really?

Over the past several weeks since President-elect Obama was elected his transition from US Senator and Presidential candidate to the White House has appeared to take a drastic turn from the premise of his entire campaign..."Change". He campaigned so strongly on "Change" and how things would be different in Washington and in the White House...even how we would like to have the most diverse, non-partisan cabinet ever. Well, we now know the latter is most definitely not true...never was true even when the words came out of his mouth! Evidence below...these are only a few appoints our President-elect has made or will soon make.

• Napolitano, strong Democratic Senator for Secretary of Homeland Security,
• Top Obama adviser Washington lawyer Eric Holder as Attorney General,
• Former Senate Majority Leader Daschle as DHHS Secretary,
• Sen. Hillary Clinton likely to be Secretary of State,
• Chicago businesswoman Pritzker, Obama's campaign finance chair, probable Sec. of Commerce and the other leading candidate, Laura D'Andrea Tyson, former chair of Council on Economic Advisers under President Clinton,
• a lawyer that was on President Clinton's team during his impeachment,
• even his transition chief was a top aide under President Clinton and
• the most staunch non-partisan of them all, Rahm Emanuel, top Clinton aide 8 years ago; who by the way is also from Chicago.

Hmmm...do you see the same pattern I do? Democrats and President Clinton...that's change alright...right back to where we were 8 years ago! Here are some comments from what is most of the time a liberal Associated Press..."Obama appears to be assembling a team that includes a mix of longtime aides, Washington insiders"...."significant departure from the soft-spoken, low-key aides that "No-Drama Obama" surrounded himself with during his campaign".

However, he will be our President and I hope he proves me wrong and turns this country around, but this is not "Change" as he so promised. Just another politician saying what he wants people to hear in order to get elected.

Halloween 100

Going back a couple weeks to Sat Nov 1st I had trained and prepared well...exercise, nutrition, clothing, etc. The week preceeding had been very chilly so I was expecting a cold ride that morning at 9:00am. Habitat for Humanity in Durham, NC has several charity cycling rides each year. This ride consisted of about 530 riders that would travel 100, 62 or 31 miles...for me it was the latter (maybe I'll shoot for the 62 and 100 later).

On with the story...the night before, I got all my stuff together so at 7:00am Saturday morning I could pick up and be gone. I got to the DBAP (Durham Bulls Athletic Park) in plenty of time to get ready. Got registered and headed back to my vehicle. Put all my gear on, pinned my number to the back of my sweatshirt and reached for the last, most important piece of gear...my helmet. Then I panicked...I had forgotten my helmet! Yeap, left it laying right on my bed. I thought how am I going to get my freaking helmet? The DBAP is 30 miles from Cary. Luckily my great uncle brought my helmet to me and off I went on my 31 mile ride...I was 15 minutes behind the pack, but I was off!

Blog in progress

This is my first attempt at blogging so bare with me as I get going!