September 9, 2005 Life as a civilian Workin', ridin', readin', cookin', eatin'... Work? Yes, I did use the "W" word! Despite what most of you think, I do actually work. Some of the work I do doesn't seem like work to you, which is why you think I just have fun all the time (well, I do have fun all the time!). But, I do work! (Am I convincing you yet? Didn't think so.) So, I'm getting a few days a week at Local Ride, a cool new bike store in Maple Ridge. I'm also busy doing the writing thing for Pedal and some other publications. And, of course, I'm always making upgrades to my site. I just finished updating my racing résumé, so if you know of anyone who's interested in giving me money for riding my bike fast (and endorsing their product), let me know. New race reports I've also added a few new race reports, so check those out, if you're interested. I still have three more to do. Yeah, yeah, I'll get them done... eventually. My crazy folks My parents are away from home again. They're just having way too much fun with this retirement thing! They're at our cottage in Naramata right now and they're planning on doing a backpacking trip in Cathedral Lakes Park. After all, they have to start training for their trekking trip in South America! Yup, that's right. They've booked their flights and they're getting geared up. My Mom is learning Spanish (I labelled everything in the entire kitchen in Spanish). They'll be gone for 2.5 months and they'll be spending Christmas and New Year's down there. There's been talk of a very special Christmas gift for my brother and me. Yes, there have been grumblings of my parents giving us tickets to South America for Christmas! Woohoo! Mexico: Arriba! I went to Victoria last week for Melissa's bridal shower. For a day or two we were really excited because Melissa said she'd ride her bike to Mexico with me -- to her wedding! But reality set in (believe it or not, her fiancé, Hector, was fully supportive of the idea) and she realized how much stuff she still had to do in preparation for the wedding and with the business. That's okay, we'll do it some other time. However, there may be an adventure involved anyway. I was just about to book my flight, when my Dad stopped me. Melissa and Hector graciously invited my parents to their wedding and it sounds like we're gonna roll on down there together. Road trip!!!! Reading of late The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende In the Skin of a Lion by Michael Ondatjee Pickin' up the baton I dropped... Okay Alistair, here's the musical baton you handed to me in June. Total volume of music filse on my computer(s): Lots. I'd have to sift through four hard drives to figure it out. Don't feel like doing that right now.... The last CD I bought was: Hot Fuss by The Killers Song playing right now: There is no such thing as love -- The Dears Five bands I listen to a lot lately - The Killers - Buena Vista Social Club - Franz Ferdinand - Gomez - Snow Patrol People to whom I'm passing the baton: Uh... I don't know other people with web sites, so... whoever wants to can just write me an e-mail about their music habits of late. I'm really curious, as I'm on a 'new sounds' kick, so I'd appreciate your contributions! And yes, one day I will redo my site so people can actually post comments. P.S. Lisa, I noticed you dropped the baton as well, so... do it, okay? Bikin' in Whistler -- Yeeha! Last weekend Jeanine, Tanya, Ryan and I headed to Whistler for some good, clean (well, not really) bikin'. After a rainy Sunday morning, it finally cleared up enough for us to go for a ride. Since it was a long weekend, we went for another off-road adventure on Monday. Jeanine riding a bridge on one of the coolest trails: A River Runs Through it; Ryan riding a teeter totter on the same trail. Tanya having a moment of enlightenment....