Endless Things to Write About

My guess as to what's going on here: Max and Hanna found a washing machine that fell off of a delivery truck. M is deciding whether he can time his jump just right to skip across the top of the machine and clear the fence. Kevin is telling them to lift with their legs and the weight is all in their minds. Katie is wondering if all of the kids laundry will fit in one load. Or, everyone is helping deliver a new washing machine to Hanna's apartment. Can't really figure it out.

Before the washer antics ever got under way, M was on flashing his 3rd place podium style with the other South Side kids at the Queeny cyclocross race.

I was in no danger of tripping over a podium step, that's for sure. But I did have a great race, at least I thought so. It was hilly. It was hard. I dropped my chain, although it didn't effect my placing in any way. And I had a victory though: I didn't wear any base layers, tights, or other cold-weather wear. I raced naked, if you will. We all know I could've done a race on a day like today dressed like the Michelin man. Or that kid in A Christmas Story.

I did mention that it was hilly, right?

Remi came along. As a bonus for the kids who know and love him, he played the "drag a kid around the cyclocross course" game. Fun for kids of all ages!

Birthday Delicacies and my other Peeps

 

The Beautiful Mrs. K turned 29 again this year, and with that momentous event came the goods. Cake-style goods. First up was the Black Forest cake from Kishia. Oh, let me tell you. There was chocolate. And some kinda alcohol was used, like, Rum or something? Anyway, it was something else.

Normally, I brag about the cupcakes that Flannery whips up for us. This time, she brought cheese cake. But again, there was chocolate. Game changing chocolate. I didn't mean to, but somehow I ate more than my fair share of Mrs. K's cheese cake. I actually ate the last few pieces. Definitely a party foul. But maybe Flannery will make more?

I joke with Hanna that she only works out in the finest gyms. We have a good laugh about it. But yesterday I got a text with this photo. I mean, does this look like a gym that Rocky Balboa would work out in?? No, it doesn't. It looks like a gym that Apollo Creed would wear his American Flag boxer shorts to work out in.

Brett and Lauren moved to Bentonville this past summer and left a big hole in the South Side empire. Good for them, as that place is a bike rider's paradise. But it sure was nice to see them today while they were in town for a bike polo tournament. I have the best time goofing with these two. Hoping to get down to visit them in Arkansas soon.

I got a great Facetime call this afternoon from Eli. He was riding up Beech Mountain in North Carolina. His goal was to climb a vertical mile (5280 feet). In his neck of the woods, That comes in 30-ish miles. While we were talking and he was pedaling, he asked me what my maximum climbing in one day was. I told him roughly 5800 feet, the day I climbed Mt. Lemon in Arizona in 2016. A little while later, he sent me this gorgeous photo of the sun setting, as he had reached the top of Beech. And, he ended his day with 6080 feet, in 36 miles.

Summer is Kinda Still Here

The warm temps just keep rolling here in the 314. That's the St. Louis area for you outta towners. We've seen 70's and 80's to go along with our fall colored trees. And it finally rained after a month of dry, scaring some people into thinking the party is over. But nope. In the 70's again today. Hanna celebrated by flashing us the bicep. 

And to prove that it can't rain all the time (despite some very bizarre flooding), my favorite rainbow appeared opposite the shop. It happens often over there. Must be a pot of gold. I'll look into that.

Before any of the rain hit, we raced Cyclocross at one of my favorite venues, St. Vincent County Park. Loved the course. Loved it! But I was a little off the pace, really just my last lap. I had a bad hip day and it just got me. However, I'm still pretty happy with it. Thanks to Carrie Zukoski for the lovely photo. 

And Eli was still here for St. Vincent. He raced his mountain bike, and did two races. His South Side skin suit is much, much more flattering than mine. Again, a Carrie Zukoski photo.

And then I drove Eli to Memphis to meet his room mate so they could travel back to North Carolina to school. They only have a short time left there, so it did seem pretty silly to me for them to have to travel back. But, it's almost over. Now I have absolutely no business (nor interest) in a Bass Pro Shop. Especially one housed in a faux glass pyramid. But I did go in after the boys left. I had to use the bathroom.

And lastly, someone who truly enjoys cyclocross, my nephew. He's getting really good on a bike, having just finished his NICA mountain bike season. He raced Faust Park today and braved the mud and soft grass that I blessedly avoided by riding on the road. I'm not even going to mention that if he had a cyclocross bike, he wouldn't have to lift it like a sack of potatoes over the barriers.....

...but that ain't none of my business. :)