Where's Baseball?

Today I learned what I love about baseball.  When it rains, the fields close.

When the fields close, they let you know ahead of time so you don't have to drive an hour for no reason.

For baseball, you don't have bake sales to pay for Nationals when you are positive no one but your team is showing up because it's going to be absolutely raining down cats and dogs and be in the low 50s (and you were right).  That said, we still made $90 somehow.  Locating the sale table under the only cover was pretty smart.

I never left a baseball game totally drenched.  Not even once.

But then he never stood on a podium and got a medal in baseball.  He never had to make a decision on his own about whether to risk a wreck sprinting out over a slick reflector and go for the win or just be content with second and let a teammate have the win (and not crash).  Personally, I think it was the right call, but love that he went through the process of making it.  Most of all?  I am also glad his dad has cycling duty tomorrow when the forecast call for 30s and possible snow.     

Pooped Out

It's been a long couple of days and I have several things I want to catch everybody up on.  My trip was good - I had every intention of snapping a few pics while I was in NY, but it was just entirely too hectic.  I owe Traci an explanation of what I do.  Hmmm.  It's always been kind of hard to explain and it kind of changes from time to time, but here goes.

I'm the Chief Financial Officer for a real estate fund sponsored by a Wall Street bank.  Before the market went to pot it was about a $10 billion dollar fund.  Our investors are mostly pension plans and my day-to-day job changes based on what is currently going on with the fund and what is going on in the market.  Sometimes I travel a whole lot and sometimes not as much.  The last two years travel was awful.  This year my one and only focus is keeping the fund liquid and replacing a line of credit.  Well, that might be a slight exaggeration, but that is primarily what I spend all my time on.  It's a pretty crappy assignment in this environment.  This trip was to meet with a bunch of lenders.  A colleague and I were zig zagging all over Manhattan.  Nothing like getting up it 4am to go and spend the day groveling.  

NY is a very depressing place right now.  It has been hit disproportionately by the recession and the outlook of people I work with is quite negative. It is also very empty right now.  It would be a great time to visit if you want to go when it's not so crowded.

So, after getting home after just a slight delay out of LaGuardia (there's always a delay out of LaGuardia), I wanted to eat a little dinner, maybe do a short trainer ride, and have an early bedtime.  (I'll get to why last night was a semi-late one even after a 4am start.)  James decided he really didn't want to do the 50 tomorrow so he was going to ride 50 miles on the trainer.  I figured I would get on the trainer and do a short ride.  He was 30 minutes into it when I started, and by the time I was ready to stop he still had over an hour to go.  I told him I would stay with him until he finished.  BIG mistake.  Have you ever seen a bike seat on a race bike?  It is a small metal triangle with a piece of leather stretched over it.  After 45 minutes, sitting on that wedge is your behind is very uncomfortable.  After an hour and a half, it's painful.  As you approach two hours, well, you can just imagine.  I cannot imagine what my behind and legs are going to feel like tomorrow.  I asked CBT if he wanted to do a short trainer ride with me tomorrow - James immediately offered that I would be in no shape to ride tomorrow.  Oh, ye of little faith.  My favorite was when he told me this week to watch the riders in the Tour of California and try to do what those of riders were doing.  Right.  He sees no link to that comment and the fact that he constantly tells me that I need to change to a heavier gear.  I do think he feels like he made progress because I did feel like I was going to throw up.

Now, to last night.  I was in the office in NY trying to finish up a few things when I got a phone call from home.  It was James.  He said Daddy had taken his medicine and had fallen asleep.  (The result of the CAT scan was that he has two cracked ribs so he got a muscle relaxer to help keep the muscles from spasming.)  He and Christopher were hungry.  We figured out what James could fix for them.  He was so grown up.  He called a few times to discuss various parts of our nighttime routine.  A friend was coming by to drop something off so I asked him if that would be an issue.  He assured me he could take care of that.  Later, he called to ask me to walk him through setting the alarm.  It was precious, but it also reminded me of how much he has grown up, especially when he told me he would make sure that Christopher would brush his teeth and get in bed on time.  In was worth delaying my schedule a bit.

Hangin' in the Basement

What a weird day.  I came home early to meet some delivery guys and ended up taking half a day off.  See, we got a new laptop and I had a little issue getting to the internet.  I'm relatively technically savvy but we've been having some home networking issues.  While I was waiting for the guys, I decided I'd call Comcast.  That resulted in a call to Vista support, which resulted in an almost 2 hour call to Dell.  Which, of course, ended up in a call to Comcast.  Well, two calls to Comcast.  (Multiple trips through the menu and multiple requests for home networking - why isn't there a menu option for home networking?)  Any way, still no connection.  I know EXACTLY what is wrong, but not how to fix it.

Christopher and I are now hanging out in the basement.  We do that any time there is a tornado warning.  We used to not do that until Keith and I were in a tornado just before James was born.  Train sound, the whole 9 yards.  Very, very freaky.  It's just the two of us because it is winter and it is Wednesday night so it's trainer practice at Bunten Road.  The analysis was that any tornado would be south of Bunten Road.  I hope any tornado is south of any Todds period.  because tornados are not fun.  It's a crazy story...another post another day.

Tomorrow brings a 6:40am flight - guess who's going to be cranky tomorrow now that my packing time is being encringed upon?

Non-productive Monday

I started this Monday (actually this weekend) with a long list of things to get a accomplished.  It is a long weekend, after all.  I was making really good progress until last night.  It seems every few years, technology begins thwarting me.  All our "family" stuff is on Keith's laptop -  Quicken, TurboTax, the excel spreadsheets that support our stuff.  That laptop has begun revolting and last night it just became downright stubborn.  After a 3-hour session that should have taken 30 minutes I went to bed thinking I would just get up this morning and it would all be fine.

Alas this morning, I've met my match.  Long story short  we've decided we need to set up our own home network and cut out Comcast.  That will probably result it in its own post, but I am very, very frustrated and we have to do something.  James has noted that I get very cranky when I am frustrated.  I have noted that I need to work on that.  

Contemplating all of this (and reading Lisa writes' post this morning) I was reminded of how sweet James was yesterday at the bike shop.  He decided he needed to pick out bike socks to match to the 2 long-sleeved jerseys I just purchased.  (I thought they were just long-sleeved tops/light jackets, but they are jerseys.  When I went down to get on the trainer last night, I asked him if I looked like a cyclist.  Of course, his response was "only if you go fast."  Classic James.

The other thing that has helped keep it all in perspective today was a video we've seen at church the past few Sundays.  Yesterday was our Global Outreach Sunday when we focus on the world.  This video has really stuck with me.  Maybe it's the lady's accent or maybe it's the message...you should check it out and see what you think.

The Tundra Time Trial

Finally, the 2009 race season arrived today.  The long awaited race season.  It was drizzly, low 50s.  Miserable.  I almost didn't even get my camera out, but how could I not document the moment.  James was nervous, but he always is.  His goal was to hit 22 mph.  It was going to be close because the course was nasty but we all thought he had a shot.

He was the first junior to have his trainer set up.  He was just ready to get it going.  (For all races except road races, you warm up on your trainer.  This was such a short race - around 4.5 miles - he actually road almost 3x as long on the trainer as he did in the race.)  He was nice and toasty and not real happy about all the cold weather gear.  He does not like wearing it.  Of course, I would have had on 10 layers.  

Once he got out on the course he was glad he had all the layers.  It was nippy.  It was also littered with all the adults who were just finishing.  Check out the guys on the righthand side.  Makes James look like a miniature.  As a reminder, in a time trial each racer starts exactly 30 seconds after the one before.  Today we think the starter may have had a watch that was fast because several guys missed their start times because they weren't there.  It was kind of sad to see these grown men rushing to get to the start line trying to get all clipped in and all.  They were a little stressed out.  

James looked great from the start.  Relaxed, no bobbles, good cadence.  

The adults went out and back.  The kids just went out and all rode back together.  After they had all been gone a while, Coach Kelli touched my arm and said, "James is ok"  (it is never good when they start out "xxxx" is ok) "but his pedal came off."  

I've been learning about this one with your bike thing and being clipped in, but having your pedal come off just cannot be a good thing.  I immediately begin to wonder if it's possible for your pedal to come off and to not crash.  I asked her how far into the race.  She didn't know, but she thought pretty far because he finished pedaling with one leg.  (There's some really bad joke there somewhere, but I won't linger on it.)  

There are several long stories here, like how James was lost for a little while (he wasn't with the team when they rode back), how he actually rode three miles with a malfunctioning/no pedal.  He doesn't really know how it happened other than he felt a jerk, his face almost hit his aero bars and he turned back to see his pedal flying through the air.  There was a race official right there who told him he did a good job not crashing.  I guess that is something after the week the Todds have had on bikes.

He did manage to finish averaging roughly 5 mph.  A 6-year-old beat him.  He did say he thought he could have put an effort and beat him, but why bother.  His dad told him that was a great strategy for Nationals.  When the favorites are evaluating the field, they won't give that James Todd a second thought :)

He did finish with a fabulous attitude and a little birdie told me he was very encouraging to said 6-year-old.  Hopefully, we have no where to go but up.   Oh, by the way, get ready for the whining.  They moved Nationals from Kentucky to Bend, OR.  I just looked at a map.  It looks like it's not close to ANYTHING.  

Friday's Five Fave

I found this from Lisa Writes.  It comes from Susanne's Space.  I always enjoy it when she does it so I figured, why not?  

My favorites from this week:

1.  Keith is OK.  What a scare this week when he had his bike wreck earlier.  You can read more about it here.  Something about hearing the doctor say, "Without that helmet, it very well could have been fatal" was definitely attention grabbing.  What a faithful God we have.

2.  Reading Heidi's "live blogging" in the Wall Street Journal of the bank CEO's testimony before Congress.  I know that sounds like it could/should never, ever be a favorite, but this chick was really funny.  She listened to all that testimony and summarized it in a blog as it was happening, but added her own commentary as she went.  Her sense of humor is quite snarky and dry.  (Ok, she reminds me very much of someone I know.)  But I just kept giggling as I read it - another mom sitting next to me got tickled watching me giggle.  You can read her blog here.

3.  Listening to a guy that I work with in NY tell his story.  He left work today to go to Australia to hang out with God for six months.  He doesn't know if he will have a job when he gets back.  I really enjoyed listening to the conviction in his voice.

4.  Riding bikes with my two boys today.  The weather was beautiful and we just had fun.

5.  Having my 10-year-old doctor my twice-skinned knee from #4.  He was so sweet and sensitive.  It just made me want to cry after having doctored his knee so many times.   

My Crash

Well, I said my first crash with those clips was coming.  I just had no idea it would be so soon.  I practiced last week.  Clipping my left foot out, slowing down and then leaning to the left.  Never an issue when I knew a stop was coming.

This afternoon, all of us went across the street for me to practice more.  We came to a point that the two little boys and I needed to do  U-turn (the big boy was walking) to continue our laps.  We needed to stop because a car was coming.  I clipped out my right foot (contrary to how I had been practicing) and then somehow slightly tipped left.  There's that point of no return - it's a really bad feeling.  You know you're going down and there's not a thing you can do.  You are one with the bike so down you go.  It's really embarrassing when another adult sees you totally wipe out like that.  There's just not a graceful way to act like you weren't just a total and absolute klutz.  I kind of felt sorry for her because she didn't know whether she should stop and check on me or not.  (Of course, she may have wanted to stop, but may not have been able to stop laughing.  She kept hesitating like she didn't know what to do.)  When I stopped laughing, I saw I had a pretty skinned up knee and probably a really nice bruise on my hip, but not so bad so I try again.

We meet Keith way down on the other end.  Of course, James is way ahead of me so he spilled the beans.  My sweet husband is thinking how he can help and as I pass him again he waves me down to slow down and practice.  Guess what.  Of course.  I go down....again.  The exact same way, hitting the exact same spots.  He felt so badly.  I felt so stupid.  I just made those same mistakes.  Barry would remind me that that would be the definition of insane.  (Same actions expecting a different outcome, that is.)  I would proffer, just not coordinated or not able to think fast enough.  That time, I wasn't laughing.  I got back on the bike, but it was more because I knew if I didn't we probably just wasted a lot of money.

All the boys have encouraged me that it won't take many of these incidences until I remember.  I can understand why.  Your body part clearly will start revolting.  Let's pray that the bike wrecks are over for the week year.  (Of course, James has been quick to let me know that mine was not a wreck or a crash....I just fell over.  I think it sounds much better to say I crashed.  It sure felt like I crashed into the asphalt.  Think I'm sticking with that story - would appreciate it if you would tell it like that.  Sounds much more.....tough.)  

Cycling Primer

Here's the long promised cycling primer.  Thanks to James for his expert consultation for this post.

Key definitions:

Spin - pedal very quickly

Cadence - repetitions; spinning typically means keeping a high cadence, ie, 90 rpms

Aero position - a low, hunched over position, which makes one more aerodynamic and, therefore, much faster.  A very difficult position to maintain when one is a woman with a a chest and a gut from child bearing.  The rapid cadence from spinning results in knees banging into things they shouldn't be banging.  See Example.   (Not of the woman, but of the aero position and associate getup.)

Aerobars - additional handlebars (as if one set is not enough) that assists one in maintaining the aero position.  These aero bars stick out in front of the bike like two insect antennae (and also break easily if you crash your bike and are also expensive to replace...not that we've had to do that).

Aero helmet - alien-looking helmet that assists one in maintaining the aerodynamic ride.  This helmet has a long tail and is actually dangerous to wear on any ride, except time trials.  (Also, not a cheap endeavor.  Best thing we every did was to start charging 20% charge for all cycling purchases to one young man.)

Time trial - is a race in which riders start every 30 seconds usually (or at least your time does with or without you).  You typically start on a ramp (and hopefully you go down straight) with someone holding you up because your feet are already clipped in.  This race is all about speed. You don't have to worry about race tactics because you are just racing against the clock.  It's very cool to watch a time trial during the Tour de France.  Occasionally, there are team time trials where the team must reach the finish together.  That is a wicked race.  See Example above - definitely all about aero stuff.

Clipping in - besides some of the strategy, which will come in another segment, this is one of the craziest things in cycling to me.  When you buy a "real" bike, you don't get pedals.  You pay $1,000 for a bike...you would think they could throw in pedals.  Seriously.  Any way, you still have to buy pedals.  In order to know what kind of pedals, you have to know what kind of cleats.  Cleats.  Yes, that's what I said.  Cleats in cycling.  Who knew?  James and I use SPD cleats.  James really wants Speed Play cleats.  I think he just likes the name.  (It gets even more nutty because you have to buy shoes that match the cleats that will match your pedals - it gets quite complicated.)  I know nothing about these (except that they won't work if you put them on upside down - I didn't put them on upside down, but after 10 minutes of trying we figured someone else did).  I have been really afraid of these, but they are kind of cool.  I'm waiting for my first crash.  I know it's coming.  Now,  for the really crazy part.  The pedals for these shoes/cleats that "clip" in are called "clipless" pedals.

The "50" - a 50-mile ride, usually ridden on Saturday (the faster 50) or Sunday (the slower 50) mornings.  No correlation to the day.  Coach has just decided Sunday is slower.

The "20" - a 20-mile ride, usually on Saturdays midday.  Yep, you're catching on.  That's 70 miles by Saturday afternoon....before a skills practice.

Crashing - a common occurrence among bikers.  See Crash #2.   Also, see Original Crash.

Pace line - an insane practice among serious cyclists, which involves riding approximately 3 inches from the person in front of you.  See entry above.

Drafting - When riding in a pace line (see entry above), you are drafting off the person in front or saving approximately 30% of your energy because they are breaking the wind.  (Ok, boys no crude, potty jokes.)  This is true, of course, only if you are not a 200 lb man "drafting" behind a 70 lb child.

Helmet - always, always, always wear one.  See Crashing above.

Trainer ride - indoor practice where you put your bike's back wheel on a contraption to allow you to simulate riding.  A safe way to ease into clipping in.  Also, a prefer method to ride in the cold and the rain.

Throwing up - the point up at which James believes you are adequately pushing yourself while you are on a trainer ride

 

We're saving Strategy, Gears and other more advanced topics for later.  You will notice Budget is not included and will not be included in the future because there is no such thing in this sport.  Feel free to send your questions.

Like Grandfather, Like Grandson?

Or is it the inverse?  We used to make fun of my dad for wearing black coaching shoes with his white athletic socks.

It struck me as funny at one of Christopher's practices that he was exactly opposite of what we grew up with - black socks with white shoes.  Maybe I just have a weird sense of humor.

All's Well

Thanks, everyone, for you notes, calls, and prayers.  Keith is home and doing well except being sore (in new places all the time).  We still need to see an ortho for his shoulder, but the x-rays from the hospital indicate nothing more than strained muscles.  

We are counting our blessings today and reflecting on how precious the lives of those we love are.  James asked last night what we would do if Daddy died.  Hard question, but easier when you feel confident about your eternity.

I promised last night more fun posts - they're coming - I really, really promise.

Update on Keith

Keith got home and he didn't have many marks, but he seemed to be in a lot of pain.  We iced him up and gave him so ibuprofen.

This morning his back was really hurting so he headed to the Emergency Room just to be sure he didn't have any broken bones.  He drove himself so the boys and I could still go to church.

He called between services to tell me the good news was he didn't have any broken bones; the bad news was his lung was partially collapsed.  He hit so hard that his lung effectively had a blowout and filled his chest with air.  I won't get into the really gross details, but they had to get the air out so his lung could re-inflate.

He thinks the folks at Gwinnett Medical have done a great job.  His lung is full of air and he'll come home tomorrow if it is still inflated.  He'll be really glad to get that chest tube out.  Needless to say, he won't be doing next week's race after all.  James is disappointed, but we all just glad he's ok.

If you play, ride, frolic on anything with wheels....WEAR YOUR HELMET!  The doctor said that if he hadn't had on his helmet, he would have sustained a very, very serious injury - perhaps even fatal.  Thanks to his now smashed helmet, his noggin is fine.  If only his shoulder and chest could say the same :)

Happier posts to come -before the race I'll try to follow up on Molly's suggestion of a good cycling primer.

Finally - a Day to Thaw

I can't remember a winter when so many people were so many ready for spring.  It has been so cold for so long.  Finally, today it was nice so we have taken full advantage.  (And, I have refused to be weighed down with a camera so you'll just have to use your imagination.)

James rode the 50 this morning (of course, it's Saturday).  I think this is the first time in weeks and weeks that it started in the 30s so I think that made it more enjoyable - Keith even rode it this time.  

Christopher and I met them at the gym for the 5/6th grade boy's basketball championship.  His team this year was just awesome.  Of course I am prejudiced, but he played great this season.  He's a great little point guard and had some pretty swooshes today.  He's a fiesty little defender, too.  I really appreciated his coaches this year.  They won the championship and we found out afterward that he made the all star team.  We are really struggling with whether that's the right thing for our family given all our other commitments - he wants to play it so badly.  We'll see.

After the game Christopher and I came home and threw the baseball and then rode our bikes.  Yep, I got on the bike outside and practiced clipping in and out.  It wasn't quite as bad as I expected, but of course I had nice slow starts and stops and no surprises.  I was really surprised at much different being clipped in made in the power you have.  It was a little scary being totally "one with the bike" but it was just so good to be outside in shorts and short sleeves (sorry, Traci).

Keith didn't fare as well at bike practice - James just called to say "Daddy crashed and his shoulder and shoulder blade are kind of messed up."  We're waiting for them to get home to find out how badly.  Apparently, coach said to go to the emergency room tomorrow if it's still bad.  The good news according to James?  It wasn't Daddy's fault.

At least I've thawed out so I can be more rational and caring.

____________________________________________________

Of course, I am traveling to San Diego for work tomorrow.  It's supposed to be always perfect weather there.  I was so looking forward to the trip just for the sunshine.  I checked accuweather yesterday.  A high of 56, cloudy and possible rain.  What's up with this weather :( ?

Cool Thing about Homeschooling

There are lots of cool things about homeschooling, but one unintended one is having your day interrupted by cool things.  Yesterday I got a call at work with an urgent question about the "other" lens.  With some questions I learned they were taking a quick break because a hawk hnd planted himself in our backyard.  (They have their school tables set up so they look upon the backyard.)

He flew away before they could zoom in, but isn't that just really neat?

Super Bowl

We had a little Super Bowl party for James's discipleship group last night, but I think CBT had had the most fun.  He came down with a special Steelers mask.  (Keep in mind he was the only one in our family cheering for the Steelers.)

I wanted to get a picture of the two of them together...in front of the TV, loving brothers between the balloons CBT picked.  No big deal right?

It's just the TV kept being a distraction.  I would get them turned around and...

they would get distracted again.

Next thing I know, it's turned into something way beyond a photo op.  I did get one of them facing the camera with decent faces, but I thought this one was....er.....more descriptive.

It did turn out to be fun - I think we may even make it an annual tradition.