AB

The Sienna Development/Goble Knee Clinic will be enjoying a quiet ride with family and friends on Sunday at noon up Emigration Canyon to honor our brother Allan Butler. A lot of Allan’s family will be on hand for the ride. Given the construction we ask that people ride up at their own leisure and meet at the top for some thoughts and reflection. Everyone is welcome to join us and does so of their own accord and liability. Donations can be made to the fund set up for Allan’s daughter Odessa at anytime. See you there!

Up, down and around

Well we were supposed to fly east today, but it got bumped to Thursday for reasons I won't get into. The Red Sux dropped to 3rd last night. Other than that it is a bright sunny day here!

I raced cyclocross on Sunday and got some great support from my out-laws. Anna's sister Kari successfully handed up a bottle to me on every lap. Thanks! I would have done even worse with out it. Seriously it was a lot of fun and I had some gusto near the beginning that didn't last as long as I would have liked. Overall , I see some areas to improve my training and had fun. Sam put on a great race and managed to come in 3rd too!

Chris Waddell has a Quickie!

I used to have a pin that said "Nothing beats a Quickie". I was reminded of this pin when I ran into a fellow SOX fan, long-time acquaintance Chris Waddell. Notice the people magazine bit in the link. Anyway, he was at the birthday party of our friend Liz on Sunday evening and broke out of a conversation with not 1 or 2, but 3 women to chat with me. Considering the admiration I have for Chris not only as a ski racer but as a human being, I was pretty honored. I was also reminded why Gardie has long hair.

In other news, I have begun establishing contacts in the snow mechanics and avalanche dynamics world to possibly get a PhD. Then I could be: Jared W. Nelson, PhD--wow!. I will learn more in a couple weeks when I go to the ISSW. This is a pretty exciting field for me and while I don't see it being extremely lucrative, I am pretty sure that Anna and I could live in a place we really wanted to. Speaking of Anna, she turned 25 for the second year in a row yesterday! Both years I said to her, "You only turn 25 once!" Apparently, I can integrate over an area, but have trouble with simple addition.

First cross race in many years is on Sunday. I am sure a report with ensue.

Oh yeah--I wish I were there too Tbird. Thanks for thinking of me!

weather in my neck of the woods

To no one's surprise my favorite season is winter. Summer is out right away--the heat is uncomfortable and I end up retaining water--good times. Spring is great and I love to see things starting to grow. Fall is great too but it is just "a chilly breeze that blows my thoughts to what's to come." (A firm pat on the back to anyone that can name that tune!)

Anway I just awoke to find this:

Things have definitely changed with the arrival of the cold front yesterday afternoon. Looks like they are going to stay cooler.

In other news, there are a muckle of birthdays in coming weeks: Liz and Who is Gardie?!? share a day, Nellie, Mom and Anna. Yes, that is her Mini in the picture.

Newsflash!!

Sent to my by my aunt:

Roxbury MA (AP) - A seven-year-old boy was at the center of a Boston courtroom drama yesterday when he challenged a court ruling over who should have custody of him. The boy has a history of being beaten by his parents and the judge initially awarded custody to his aunt, in keeping with child custody law and regulations requiring that family unity be maintained to the degree possible.

The boy surprised the court when he proclaimed that his aunt beat him more than his parents and he adamantly refused to live with her.

When the judge then suggested that he live with his grandparents, the boy cried out that they also beat him. After considering the remainder of the immediate family and learning that domestic violence was apparently a way of life among them, the judge took the unprecedented step of allowing the boy to propose who should have custody of him.

After two recesses to check legal references and confer with child welfare officials, the judge granted temporary custody to the Boston Red Sox, whom the boy firmly believes is not capable of beating anyone.

what really happened?

First off props to my man Eck for winning LOTOJA. Gary--I will have to show you his nutrition during the race at some point; it is pretty impressive.

Second, Dupree seems to have gone on a couple of dates. Luckily that have been no incidents involving butter! Let's keep our fingers crossed.

But the real question at hand--other than why does no one wave to me when I ride up Emigration--is what happened to the Red Sox? ESPN and the like will say that it has to do with injuries, not making trades before the deadline, a bit of mismanagement, injuries and some more key injuries. Little known is that there was a game on Aug. 2 at Fenway that involved an extra body on the field. Youk tried to steal second and was called out, but this "player" ran the bases each of the last innings. The crowd even cheered when he successfully stole second and then third. Unfortunately, he didn't help the Sox and he didn't making it out of the park alive, literally. Thus, the real reason the Sox suck is the Curse of the Crow! But at least we will always have the greatest comeback ever to remember:

Everyone else does it...

so I figure I will too.

First off, props to Sandy who has gotten not one but TWO interviews so far. Way to go, we like it when the interviews outnumber the rejections!

OK so the purpose of this whole thing is for me to communicate a bit of my life to anyone who is remotely interested. Cycling, skiing, school, snow science, dogs, my mood, married life and the like are all fair game. I am pretty sure I will do us all a favor and leave discussing politics and religous to FOX News!

So the fun of riding over 200 miles in one sitting is this weekend. I am hoping that this guy will put me out of misery should the need arise:


I know a lot of people get excited for this race, but really this distance with a group of only 16 guys? I am sure that the Bonneville Cutthroats will be calling my name.