the big picture

If you don't follow The Big Picture, you should.  This edition is cycling focused, but they have consistently high quality photos on nearly every topic under the sun.  A few comments on specific photos below:

 

#4 - Egoi's got helmet hair!

#14 -  a person's wrist isn't supposed to curve that way

#20 -  great shot!

#25 - the devil has quite a vertical leap!

#27 and 32 - I never get tired of the overwhelming joy on stage winners' faces

 

But all in all, a great set.

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That's a bummer, man

We spent a fair amount of time this past weekend hanging out with other people's parents. Saturday night we had dinner with friends Joel and Alana and Nancy's brother. Joel and I were college roommates, so I had met his folks before. But it's been a number of years since college and it was nice to get to see them again. Then on Sunday we drove up to St. Cloud for a 50th anniversary celebration. The couple celebrating are the parents-in-law of a high school friend of mine, Eric. We went up not as guests but to help with party prep and other tasks. But when the host and hostess are super organized people, and the meal is a fully catered pig roast, there's not a lot to do. Nancy did get some nice family photos, and it was nice to see both Val and Eric's folks. Eric's mom was mt 4th grade teacher.

But the entire weekend was pretty light on the physical activity, and with my time off for the wrist injury I was feeling a little antsy. So I took the lime Suburban out for a short 10 mile ramble just to see how things were feeling. After the first few miles I started feeling each bump a little bit more in the wrist than the previous one. So I probably rode 6 of the remaining 8 or so miles with my injured hand resting on my leg. But it was awfully nice to get out.

I had my follow-up appointment with the doc this morning. New x-rays confirmed that it truly is a fracture, and after a quick consult with the radiologist the doc wrapped my arm in fiberglass. I chose green, to match the Schwinn I'd most recently ridden and probably won't ride again for a while.

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Happy Bastille Day!

It's rough out there

These days it seems like the entire household is banged up. The kids have had skinned knees and elbows since the weather got warm (nothing more serious recently, thank goodness). The Mrs. has been fighting a nasty case of plantar fasciitis for the last couple of months. I broke a bone in my hand. And the dog even got into the act by somehow ripping his dewclaw off.

I talked with my doc, and he says I just cracked the bone and doesn't think a hard cast is needed. So I'm wearing this brace and will have to get it x-rayed again in two weeks.

At least I don't have to wear a cone.

In which you are invited to say 'I told you so'

I had both a dentist and a doctor appointment today.  Such is the fun of being 40.  The dental checkup went well.  The hygenist and I had our semi-annual banter:

 

Her:  How often are you flossing?

Me:  Not as often as I should be.

Both: (forced) Ha ha!

 

It's shameless how we flirt.

 

Then I got bad news at the doctors office:  I've gained 7 pounds since last year!  It's possible it has something to do with my markedly decreased mileage this year.  Here at the midway point of 2009, I'm just barely over 1100 miles.  This time last year, I was just over 2,000.  Hmmm, decreased mileage equals weight gain?  Perhaps.

 

Oh, and the doc mentioned something about a broken wrist.  Gave me a splint, and might give me a cast next week.  He's a good man, and thorough.  Summer bummer!