Ben made a bet with dea that if she didn't cry when she was having that line put in her neck that he would buy her a pair of shoes. well she obviously didn't cry because here she is with her shoes. I'm really glad I was able to get up here. I think ben, dea and her mom (wanda) are finally settling into more of goove. it's pretty clear that dea isn't going to get better overnnight. Everyone seems to be on the same page with being "cautiously optomstic" about the next 7-10 days. Since I've been here I've gotten to see dea pretty much at her lowest only to find her rebounded, mobile and smiling the next day. there will be more peaks and valleys to come but she has really proven to be trooper through everything. thanks for letting me come visit!!

this is the walkway to his house, it really give you the urge to say "ahoy matee" as you are pretty much walking on a pier.

and this is the view from his deck.

Problems

My e-mail server has been down for most of the day and it seems that I've haven't been recieving messages since last night. If you're desperate to send me an e-mail try using my t_ton1@hotmail.com account. It sounds like they will get the server back online by Sat AM. If you sent me an e-mail anytime on Friday the 13th (coincidence?!?) please try resending it to ensure I get a copy of the message.

It's been a big week for me with trying to catch up on work from last weeks illness. I was also trying to cram in a decent block of training. Things have gone well on both fronts other than getting shut out on my ride today.

In other news it has been anything but a normal week for good friends Ben and Dea (see blog link on the right). I made a hasty decision today to get a last minute cheap flight to go visit them in Seattle next week. I'll be leaving Tuesday morning and returning Thursday night. I should be able to keep up on e-mail while I'm there. Ahhh, a pilgrimage to the birth place of Starbucks.

Want Some $$$

I'm still filling spaces for my week long camps in Santa Barbara. If you refer someone to me who identifies you as their reference and they sign up for a camp I'll give you, my blog reader, $75. For more info on the camps either go to my website or visit the following link:

Dang

Not the greatest start to the new year. Some gnarly bug had me down for the past two days and probably contributed to sending me on brief trip to the ER with an asthma attack. I'll be trying to get my self to sit in front of the computer for a while today and hopefully get on my bike again.

Today is the Anniversary of Beth and I's engagement. It's been a roller coaster of a trip since then. I'm very happy that we're finally able to settle down a bit.

To Infinity and Beyond!

This what Buzz Light Year says on regular basis and thus what I heard a lot of while in Texas. Good Old Griffin Fisk is a big Buzz fan.

We're back from Texas and we had a wonerful time. I wasn't feeling so hot travelling yesterday and have a full blown case of the flu today. Needless to say I will be abit slow getting back on my feet. I've already slept a good 14 hrs since 8 last night and am feeling another nap coming on.

In other bike riding news I rode at the ranch while we were in Texas. It was a new experience hitting dirt roads in the sometimes inhospitiable south texas brush. Why is it interesting? Well for one it was 91 on January 1st. That's toasty. Next, I got a book containing all the plants and shrubs of south texas. It was divided into two parts, thorned plants and thorned plats. Basically, if you leave the packed dirt or even cross over from one tire track to the next you'll flat on a 3" thorn.

Now it's back to the gym, bike riding in 50mph winds and a little skate skiing.

Look for updates on what I'm up to. Right now it's R&R until I can stop feeling aches and pains in spots I never knew I had.