Fall rewind

The holidays are behind us and a new year is just beginning. October, November and December are my favorite months of the year and I am really sorry to see them go. Words can't express the feelings that come over me during the fall. There are loads of sights, smells and things to do that capture me every year. I love it, enough said.

With the Tour de Tucson under my belt there's another thing that lights my fire in November. I tackled the 85 mile route and punched it in the mouth with a 5 hour and 8 minute time. There was still some gas in the tank too! Not bad for my first road race. This year I'm not sure what to do, thinking beat 07' results or go full out and do 109!

There are couple of events that are coming up in April that I would like to do. The Tour de Phoenix (April 5) and The Tour of the Tucson Mountains (April 27). They're both 70ish mile events and should make for a couple nice jolts into these soft legs.

Five days and counting

Everything is coming together nicely. The big race is only five days away and I'm feeling good, on and off the bike. Today I completed a great little 60 mile ride and not once did I experience any major knee discomfort. The last few rides I've been tweaking the seat height and saddle position to alleviate some of the knee discomfort I've been experiencing. I think I've finally got it dialed in! The bike is running like a champ, I found a sweet jersey and my ol' bones are holding up.

On Saturday the GABA (Greater Arizona Bicycling Association) group held its annual bike swap meet. It's the biggest and best bike swap in the entire state. They close down 4th avenue and allow hundreds of vendors to sell anything and everything that is bike related.

Saturday morning my son and I got up extra early so we'd have enough time to hit a Starbucks for some warm cocoa and a couple pastries. After getting our snacks we were off and trolling 4th ave. by 8:00 am. We weren't but 10 minutes into our walk when my three year old tells me he had a tummy ache and wanted me to hold him. This was definitely not the experience I wanted to have. I had a purpose and it did not include carrying around a 35 pound cocoa grenade.

It was either climb back into the car, drive 25 minutes back home to drop him off with mom or make like a sherpa and forge on. We've come this far so let's keep going. We abandoned the snacks, I loaded everyone up (horsey, Eedle Dee and the boy) and hiked on. It was a good thing we stayed, because I ended up getting a new Assos jersey ($150 retail) for $30 bucks!

With everything that happened I still ending up having a nice time. I spent quality time with my son, got in a great upper body work-out and sniped a great looking jersey.

ma bicyclette

The boys and I just returned from my new favorite bike shop www.milesaheadcyclery.com. What's cool about this little shop, in addition to the high-end road bikes, is that its between an art gallery and an Irish pub. If the Pinarello and Pegoretti frames don't sweep you off your feet the gallery or pub will definitely do the trick.

When I first saw my bike I knew it was the one. The "jet black w/patriot blue hyper-highlight" frame had its forks in me. I've owned the bike for little over a year and I wanted to freshen it up before the tour. So, in an attempt to pull off the "PRO" look I dig so much, I've changed out the saddle and bar tape to highlight the white Cannondale logos. The guys at Miles Ahead did a fantastic job, not only with the upgrades but the free derailleur adjustment was a great finishing touch!

El Tour de Tucson

I have finally decided to register for the El Tour de Tucson. On Saturday, November 17th my bike and I will be participating in the 80-mile event. Today I wrote out the $85 check and will be mailing it tomorrow. This feels awesome!

Husband-1st, Dad-2nd, Golf Pro-123rd

My wife and I enjoy taking special little weekend road trips. Since we have been together we have mountain biked the Red Rock in Sedona, fly-fished in Greer, survived a hale storm camp-out at the Grand Canyon, surfed the buffets in Vegas, strolled the beaches of San Diego and steamed with Colin Farrell in Scottsdale (this happened to only me but my wife would probably have enjoyed it more). When time is an issue we head for the Valley of the Sun. There's a lot of fun things to do in Scottsdale. The number of restaurants to check out is overwhelming but once you do its very cool and exciting. Shopping, fughedaboutit! There's a mall or shopping center on every other corner. Lots of sporting events, the three major ones with the Diamond Backs, Suns (insane, we saw Michael Jordan play his last season with the Wizards), and the Cardinals (promising, but grew up on the Cowboys) offer a great time. For you golf fanatics this is mecca. Loads of courses all over the place, I've got to play the Karsten ASU home golf course and hopefully visit the Ping manufacturing plant.
My wife had a couple of days off last week so we decided to run up to Scottsdale and celebrate the great news. Friday morning I shoot down to Benson where my folks live to drop off our eldest son, Bailey. He has been a part of my life since October 1996, he was just 6 weeks old when I purchased him. He is absolutely the best!

Aidan and I are doing a little shopping at Hooper's Store

Now that we have a sitter for Bailey we can hit the road. I arrive back at the house to a bustle of activity. Julie is finishing the last of the packing and Aidan is topped off. We load up the 4-Runner, hit a Starbucks and we're off cruising I-10 by 10:00am. We have an exciting day planned, our first stop is the Arizona Science Center to visit the traveling Sesame Street exhibit "The Body". We've had the advertisement taped to the fridge for the past month or so. Its an interactive exhibition all about the human body. There's Elmo's World, the Count, Hooper's store and other cool stuff for kids to play on. Here's Aidan and mom hanging out in Elmo's World. The place looked so real that you felt like you were one of the characters.

After about three hours of the digestive system, exercise, and hygiene not to mention all the other exhibits the center offered we're off to the hotel to check-in. Its a brief commute from downtown Phoenix to north Scottsdale just enough time for Aidan to take a power nap. Julie and I haven't eaten since, oh wait we didn't eat, unless you count the Americanos and the cinnamon scone we shared in Tucson. Needless to say we're starved and we dare not wake Aidan, so what do we do? Like a beacon in the fog the yellow arrow pointed us to nutritional delight, In-n-Out Burger. Julie barrels her way in and orders a couple cheeseburgers with grilled onions, not just good but damn good. With the burger in one hand and a fist full of fries in the other we enjoy our meal in the air conditioned cockpit of the 4. No less than 2 bites and half a dozen fries later Aidan wakes up saying "fren fry" and pointing. The sweet smell of fried potatoes must have rattled his little receptors.

After our quickie at the burger joint we finally check into the hotel. With its free happy hour, all you can eat made to order breakfasts, pool and golf course you can see why this is one of our favorites. We eagerly make our way up to the room to check out our "room with a view". Strolling in we are greeted by a gush of cold air and a cluster of cumulus clouds. The room is on the sixth floor and is overlooking the pool and entire golf course. I'm already making plans to sip a cool beverage with my mate and enjoy the night summer breeze on the balcony. But first I have to tackle the Stonecreek golf course before the day is over.

I'm on the course at four with John, he's a club member I've been paired with for the afternoon, and have made plans for Julie, Aidan and a couple tequila sunrise's to meet me at the turn. The round is going great, its the first time I've played from the tips and doing pretty well if I say so myself. John is doing pretty well too, we're right there par for par and bogey for bogey. Its nice playing with someone that doesn't slow you up or rush you to the next hole, just right. I could sure use one of those tequila's right about now. Sure enough as I'm heading to 10 my babydoll and babyboy are waiting for me with snacks and drinks. John decides to replay the front nine which leaves the entire back nine to my little family and I.
I've been playing golf for many years now and not once have I had as much fun as I did on this particular day. We're all in the golf cart together cruising from shot to shot and hole to hole. Aidan couldn't get enough air in his face, everytime we stopped he would give us the "more" sign. I'm not sure what he enjoyed more the cart rides, collecting pine cones, the lakes, or running the greens. Once at the green we'd all jump out and let loose. I would putt, Julie would tend the flag pole and Aidan would grab the ball, what a team!

Aidan is keeping a close watch on dad's ball so it doesn't get buried in the long grass. We finished the round with a scrambling par save and a great smiling huggie for dad. What an awesome ending to a delightful afternoon.

After a quick clean up we set off to find a family friendly restaurant. Aidan's bedtime was coming fast so we opted for a Chili's that was right around the corner from the hotel. Pre Aidan Julie and I would explore some of Scottsdale's hotspots without time limitations now we try to be in by nine as to not disrupt Aidan's schedule. Honestly, it can be frustrating at times. Our impulsive decisions need to be planned out and our activities choreographed but when he laughs all those concerns just melt away. One thing that still frustrates us is Aidan's appetite or lack thereof. He has a great breakfast a pretty good lunch but a shallow dinner. He'll have a snack or two between meals, a pudding cup or fruit. Maybe I'm too focused on the "three squares a day" routine. I'm still tweaking the eating schedules, we'll see if something sticks.

After a lackluster dinner of grilled cheese and corn on the cob we moseyed back to the hotel. Aidan got prepped for nite nite and I set up the playpen. After a little storytime and snuggling he went down. It had been a long day so there wasn't much of a fight. A drive to Benson, a drive to Scottsdale, the Arizona Science Center, burgers, golf and dinner, this was a great day to be a dad, husband and golf pro. Julie and I finally settled in for the night with showers, a little relaxing conversation and the quite breeze of the desert air. Dog gone it, I forgot the cocktails oh well maybe next time.