This year, I’ve blogged daily, a commitment both challenging and enlightening. I’ve realized the burden of daily blogging is more than I want to shoulder. Pushing limits teaches valuable lessons, and this experience has taught me that rigid ‘streaks’ aren’t always beneficial. Going forward, I’ll blog at my own pace, starting with a break. For 2013, I’m thinking of shifting to a purely visual format – no words, just expressions through photos and videos. It’s an exciting new way to communicate. See you in 2013!
Year: 2012
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Reflection time
Well well well. This just about does it. Tomorrow is New Years eve. 2012 will be in the books. And we will spend it with friends in Seeley lake. So off the top of my head here is my 2012 most notable moments (of course we all know I will go “doh, I forgot so and so”):
- Finding out that my dream life, to have an adventure partner to share experiences with, has come true …. ahhhhhhh!
- Last year’s murder ball and snow bike festivities on day 1.
- First ever relationship to go over one year … and beyond.
- First time in like 10 years to … do that one thing … with marmuts … nevermind.
- First ever biathalon … shooting and skiing, can not beat that combo.
- Chief Joseph Pass ski hut and snow bike to Hogan’s Cabin.
- First ever snow bike race.
- First ever S N O W B I K E … what have I been waisting my time with all my life?
- Another Grizzlyman Race win with Dave C.
- Rattlesnake bike-pack-a-thon with the Fatty.
- 24 hour wins at Spokane and Rapeljie, the streak continues.
- First ever “skipping” of a 24 hour race win defense.
- First ever bike packing, starting with Flatehead Pass “stay all night in a truck during a blizzard” and coninuing with the bike pack from Bozeman to Toll Mountain and back.
- Experiencing Ed’s trip into PBS stardom.
- The Fitzy Barn … being so sick and finishing anyway and my first ever bike packing “race” / fast effort.
- My first ever titanium 29er bike ….o/o
- The Beartooth Expadition once again on the Fatty.
- New camera after blog readers express concern over a new “no image” blog format.
- 5th Butte 100
- First ever trip to California an finding a new favorite city … San Fran.
- First ever bike packing the RMVQ and seeing the first ever “non bill” finisher do it too.
- Mo … trying to tuck this one in here so I dont get into hot water with exposing her 😉
- blogging 364 times and counting …
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Helmet Pass
Through Helmet Pass, the colors wind, A digital path, uniquely designed. Shadows and light, in harmony cast, Echoes of stories, in pixels amassed. -
Whispers of Love
In the quiet morning glow,
Mom’s gentle touch, soft and slow,
Her laughter, a melody that flows,
In every hug, her warmth she shows.
Dad’s wisdom like the ancient trees,
Strong and deep, it sets us free,
His stories, a sail on life’s seas,
Guiding us to what we can be.
Together, they’re our guiding star,
Near or far, they light our path,
In their love, we travel far,
Their lessons, our treasured hearth.
In every step, in every stride,
Mom and Dad, our constant guide,
With hearts so vast, love so wide,
In their embrace, we forever reside. -
Foul Play in the Frosty Air
So I had a dream …
Picture this: a chilly December morning, frost clinging to the windows, and me, armed with nothing but a steaming cup of coffee and a sense of impending doom. Why the doom, you ask? Well, let me tell you about the great cookie heist that unfolded right in my own kitchen.
It started like any other holiday season. I was knee-deep in flour, sugar, and a questionable amount of sprinkles. My mission: to create the ultimate batch of Christmas cookies. These weren’t just any cookies; they were the stuff of legend in my family, passed down from generation to generation. I had the sacred recipe, a mix of secrecy and magic, and I was ready to bake my way into holiday history.
But then, disaster struck. Just as I was about to put the first batch into the oven, I realized something was amiss. The dough – half of it was gone! Vanished! I looked around, half expecting to see a trail of crumbs leading to the culprit, but there was nothing. Just the silent, mocking kitchen.
Now, I’m no detective, but I knew this had to be the work of someone in the house. The usual suspects? My two kids and our overly curious dog, Rufus. The kids were conveniently engrossed in a cartoon marathon, their alibis airtight. Rufus, on the other hand, was looking a bit too innocent, lounging by the fireplace.
I turned my attention back to the scene of the crime. There, on the counter, lay the only clue – a tiny red sprinkle. Aha! The game was afoot. I followed the trail of rogue sprinkles, each one a breadcrumb leading me closer to the truth.
The trail ended at the most unexpected of places – the laundry room. And there, amidst a pile of freshly washed towels, was the missing dough, now a sorry, squished mess. The culprit? Not Rufus, but my robotic vacuum cleaner, which had somehow managed to scoop up the dough in its daily cleaning spree.
The mystery solved, I couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it all. The great cookie heist, foiled by technology. I salvaged what I could, and in the end, the cookies turned out a bit lopsided but still delicious.
As I sat down with my family, munching on our slightly misshapen treats, I realized that sometimes, the best holiday memories come from the most unexpected foul plays.
Resources to Enhance Your Slumber
- Cookie Calm: A delightful selection of cookie-themed bedtime stories to sweeten your dreams. Cookie Tales for Sweet Dreams
- Baking Bliss: Soft, soothing background music inspired by the sounds of a kitchen. Perfect for drifting off to sleep. Baking Melodies
- The Doughy Pillow: A comfortable, dough-shaped pillow to snuggle with, bringing comfort and warmth to your slumber. Cuddle with Dough
- Sprinkle Sounds: An app offering a range of gentle, sprinkle-inspired white noise tracks to help you relax. Sleep with Sprinkles
- Laundry Lullabies: Guided meditations set to the rhythm of a washing machine, for a unique and relaxing bedtime experience. Wash Away Worries
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Computer bonk
December 10, 2The RMVQ finished over a month or two ago, and I’m still blogging about it. What gives? Well, we shot a lot of footage, and I’ve been trying to make some movies of our exploits. I’ve endured about four computer crashes, one hard drive failure, and right now, I’m borrowing a computer to post this blog. It’s like some omen has descended upon me. So, I push on… posting teaser photos as I battle to get a computer set up for use. Anyone got a line on a used Mac?
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Getting back in the saddle
The sun was setting only because I procrastinated way to long. But enough is enough and I needed to finally get out. It has been over a week since I got outside. Was I sick … well no. I did have to take sick days off at work to make up work. Well not make up … more like keep up. Struggling at work and working a full 80+ hours on this project that is due by the end fo the month. Struggling. I am used to struggle though so that is nothing new. But working is not my style. So I am striking out and now after thrashing through the snow fo a hour I feel much better. I will never work that much again. Never. -
Ride your ass off
Life’s path is full of different elements: love, laughter, hard times, and happy times. Ripping down the Beargrass Highway, I look at the path ahead. After all, looking far ahead is the key to speed. Red and yellow grasses, black scree, red dirt, brown dirt, sparkling blue streams, dark green pines—life and what is in front of me. The same, always the same. Treat it as a trail and ride your ass off.
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Room with a view
Marcy posting at Snow Bowl -
A-frame
The climb took its toll on Mo. Just as it had in years past to me. Every year I start the climb feeling great and optimistic. And then by the time I arrive at the A-frame I feel out of sorts and cracks in my optimism start to show. This year Mo climbed the stairs and went inside to plop down on the bench. “Whew, that was a tough climb”.
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Why worry
Sometimes the sun shines and sometimes not. Sometimes the sun shines at just the right time. Like when a looming storm has darkened the skies in the far distance. The sun can break through and illuminate the beautiful things in our path. I think this speaks to life. At times it seems the future is dark. But just focusing on what is in front of you might just be enough to get you through. It is beautiful right now. Why worry about something in the distance. Would it change the future to worry about it now? It is good to just play the next record in the jukebox and enjoy the time at hand.
My fat tires crackled on the gravel as I rolled along. Around cliffs of red tinted sandstone. And the yellow larches giving into winter cast a bright contrast to the dark skies. My bike heavy. Loaded down with camping gear. Maybe it weighs around 80 pounds … I am not sure. The yellow grass surely burned from last summers heat flowing in the breeze. A cold breeze.
I hope the storm holds out. I hope. But no matter. I will just put on my gear and move forward. It will be uncomfortable but why worry now. I look back, where is Mo?
Then I see her, coming around the bend and looking up the trail towards me. With a big grin of course. And I continue. Into the future.
Boneshakerbike 