Doyne cross

Today was the My Wife Inc cross race at Doyne park.  I have to say that these guys know how to put on a great race.  Note toed the line in the jr race and took the win today.  He decided not to race the cat 3 race as his back was still stiff from a combination of a cold and building the bmx track.  But more racing tomorrow and then he gets to go to work after the race.  Later..

That was a first for sure

Well I took the day off to get a few things done.  I got alot done but I still had a few things I wanted to do but I just ran out of time.  But in short I got the Volvo into the shop and for a check up and then ran to the bank before getting home around 9:30 for a quick cup of coffee.  As I was finishing the coffee I heard a fire truck pull up in the street right in front of my house.  I was thinking that there are about 6 out of 7 houses right around me have people that are at least 80 plus and I was thinking that maybe one of my neighbors may have needed some help.  But it was my next door neighbors that did.  Well their house did.  they both teach with Cece and  Amondo was at school and Rebecca was with the kids at the store ( they kids had a day off today ).  But the firemen got off the truck as I walked out the front door and were walking around their house looking in the windows.  Then they got the axes out and were looking at the doors and I asked what they were going to do.  They said that they had a fire alarm and were going to get into the house by breaking the doors down.  I said that I had a set of keys and that I would rather they got in their house that way instead of ruining some doors and costing them a bunch of money.  It worked and once I opened the back door you could smell the smoke from inside the house.  But in short they walked out in about 5 seconds with a toaster oven that Isabella had left a few waffles in before they ran to the store.  That was were the smoke was from as the waffles were about 2 minutes away from starting a fire in the kitchen causing a real big issue.  But as I was turning the alarm off Rebecca and the kids got home in tears and the firemen told them that all was OK.  The firemen and Rebecca were happy that I was home to save the doors and some money.

After the fun next door it was time to hit the chore list.  I got the ladder out and cleaned the gutters, seen the roof and I have to get on that fast before winter as many areas are to close to failure and I need to gt a new roof up there asap.  Then it was get the leaf blower out and clear the leaves, cut some old flowers and other garden things cleared up.  Then it was wash the cars and truck before Nate and I went for a spin on the mtn bikes.  After that it was a nice dinner with Cece, Nate and Jessica as Maddie is out with some friends at a haunted house some where.  After dinner is was go over Nate's cross bikes for this weekends races and finally now I get to sit down.  Well time for some sleep as I feel a cold coming on and I am hoping to try to keep it away.  Later..

Our Little Fish

Last night was another night of watching the St Francis/St Thomas More girls swim team.  The girls are all awesome swimmers and they are doing well.  Maddie had a good night as her 400 yard melody relay took a 3rd place and then her 200 yard freestyle relay took a 3rd place.  Then she swam her 50 yard freestyle and took a 2nd place, the timers tried to pull a fast one by timing one of their swimmers touching the wall first but the officials and coach Shannon caught the error and Maddie got her hard earned 2nd place.  Then Maddie had her 100 yard backstroke and to make sure that the timers did not try pull a fast one again she won the 100 yard backstroke by 8 seconds and was out of the water by the time the last few finished the race.  She is looking good and enjoying herself which is awesome.  I hope to make a few more swim meets and see her win a few more races.  Later..

All Gone

I got the news form the cancer Dr that the biopsy report form the procedure that he performed last Wednesday got 100% of the Melanoma.  I was pretty sure that when he was talking to me after the procedure that he got it all and so was he, but you still have to hear it to believe it.  I am just glad that I went in and asked my primary Dr about a spot on my forehead and that I was worried that a spot on my shoulder was beginning to show a irregular shape lately too.  So I got a appointment with a dermatologist and he looked at both and was concerned with the spot on the shoulder not the head.  But instead of a biopsy he removed it on a Monday and sent it in for a test and that is when we found out it was Melanoma cancer on Tuesday and then on Wednesday the cancer Dr removed a larger area to ensure all the Melanoma was removed all done with in 3 days and today was the news that it all was gone.  Now that is news that I can live with.  So in short watch any moles or spots and if they change in shape or color get them looked at ASAP.  The spot I had has not seen sun other then a few minutes a year in 30 years and it turned out to be Melanoma not the light colored dry skin spot that got sun for repeated hours a day.  Take care of yourself as I was just lucky that I caught it early as it is the highest mortality rate type of cancer. 100% GONE, OH YEAH......Later...

New trail

Here is the new trail left on the shoulder after the Melanoma Surgery the other day.  I guess the Dr said that he like to make sure that the area taken along with the Melanoma is at least 1+ cm.  He looked at the area marked from the surgery Monday and he was not confident that enough was taken along with the Melanoma.  So he didn't even take the stitches out before he removed a a larger area as he cut them out along with the larger area.  I think that it is healing fine and looking pretty good so far.  I didn't get the lab report form the surgery on Wednesday yet and was told to call Monday if had not heard anything, but I am thinking that if it were any concerns that the Dr's office would had contacted me by know.  So no news is good news right?  Nothing else really new except that Nate and I were out in Elkhorn and helped build the new indoor track Friday and Saturday.  Nate helped alot as I was the go for this and that guys.  I pushed a few mounds of dirt around but I did not get to help near as much in the past because of the surgery on Wednesday.   But I have to say that the track is nice and it should be another fun indoor race season.  Can't wait to get out on the track as it looked fun.  Plus now Rays will have to wait a little as the would take a toll on my shoulder for sure but I have all winter to gt there.  Well back to work tomorrow but I have some restrictions for a few weeks or longer till the wound heals, oh well.  Later..

Clicking along

The shoulder is feeling good and just changed the dressing and the stitches and  wound area are looking good. So all I have to do is behave and keep the area clean so no infection and all should be good.  The pain has been a comfortable numb and I have been able to deal with by only taking a few pain pills so that is a good sign.

Maddie had her swim meet yesterday and she had a good night as she won her 50 yard freestyle and her 100 yard backstroke.  She has also knocked a few more seconds off her times and looks like she is getting stronger each meet so that is a good sign.  Just happy that she is enjoying so much and that she is doing so well.  Nothing else going on so now i just need to get my butt in bed and rest my shoulder.  Later..

Healing

I have to say that healing is a pain.  Well the pain is from the fact that a chunk of my shoulder is missing but again it is a pain that I can live with knowing that it means that the Melanoma is gone.  But the good thing is that the pain means that the process of healing has started and I hope that I don't need to go back for anymore.  I will have a bunch of follow ups with the Dr's and they will keep me posted on the results but as of now I am cancer free and that is fine with me.  All I have to say is that day time tv is not good and I will have to have Jessie show me how to order NetFix on the tv so the day will go by better as I sit here.  Tonight Maddie has a swim meet and I am going to try to go and watch her as long as the pain is good.  Well maybe I will take a few extra pain meds and then the swim meet might even be more fun.  Well here is to healing.  Later..

Clear sailing

My new bigger longer scar from the nice Dr today that he left me after removing the rest of the Melanoma.  This is a scar that I can live with, thanks Doc.  

I had a appointment today with a cancer specialist to go over options for my Melanoma.  He said that the pathology report stated that the Melanoma was only 2.1 mm deep meaning that we caught it in the early stages and that he was able to cut more skin and muscle away in the medical center and remove all of the Melanoma.  Since it was still between the 2 - 4 mm we did not have to have the lymph nodes tested or any of the scans to see if it spread as he said there was less then a 1% chance that it did spread.  So the Dr asked if I minded if he did right away and we got it over with.  I said lets do it and we did and now I am relaxing as I know that the pain is going to kick in soon and Cece is at her haircut and the prescription for pain meds is at Walgreens till she gets home.  I can wait and who knows as I may not even take any if the pain starts anyhow.  The other good thing is I have off from work till Monday and I also have a lot of restrictions for lifting things, no raking, lawn mowing, no vacuuming, oh the fun that  am getting out of.  But the good thing is that I am now cancer free again.  Later..

Fork in the road

 Mole that was removed and found to be Melanoma.

What it looked like after I was sliced to remove it.

So I went the Dr the other day as I was concerned about a spot on my fore head that had gotten darker and a little bigger then I had liked.  Cece and I had also become alittle concerned about a mole on my shoulder that was becoming irregular in shape.  So I went in on Friday and the dermatologist looked at the spot on the fore head and said that was just a spot that the sun made stand out mire and the treatment was to freeze it and that would take care of it.  But the one on the shoulder was causing him some concern and he said at first that he wanted to do a biopsy and can back to the room 2 minutes later saying no biopsy that he wanted to remove the spot.  So Monday I went back and the Dr froze the spot on the fore head and then cut out the spot on the shoulder and sent it in for a check asap on the results.  Well yesterday I got the results and it was Melanoma and now I have to see some specialist Dr's to first get the rest of the area removed and then check to see if the cancer has spread to any other places.  Just hope that it is localized and that I only have to have more of the area removed but I guess I will do what ever they say and go from there.  I will keep you posted.  Later..

Cam Rock cross'n

 Start of the Jr race this morning.

 Nate and Garrett going for the hole shot.

 Nate in the lead with Garrett on his wheel.

 Nate and Garrett climbing the back side hill.

 Nate and Garrett coming through the finish area with a few laps to go.

 Nate and Garrett coming out of the woods to the barriers.

 Nate on the gas through the play ground.

 Nate and Garrett over the barriers for the last time.

 Nate for the win.

 Max of in the woods.

 Sam climbing the back side hill.

 Max coming through the play ground area.

 Max going out for the last lap.

 Max through the pines.

Max coming in through the finish line for the 3rd place finish.

It was another great day for a cross race.  Perfect temps at about 70 degrees at the start and sunny.  Nate took to the line and when the race was off he took the hole shot with Garrett on his wheel.  That is the way it was for the rest of the race as Nate kept the pace at a high enough tempo that he and Garrett just rode away from the rest of the field.  At the end Nate jumped the last straight and took the win with Garrett in 2nd and Max in 3rd.  Then it was load the bikes so we could get home so Cece could cut Nate's hair and he could have a early dinner and get to work at Rays.  I got the cana lilies cut yesterday and I dug the bulbs out today with the help of Jessie.  Maddie went to Pulaski pool and did a swim work out with a few of her team mates.    Oh well time to get a few other chores done and relax for the night.  Later..

Grafton Cross

 Nate on the front after the 1st lap.

 Nate over the barrier and up the hill.

 Nate going through the water.

Max going over the barrier.

 Garrett going over the barrier.

 Max through the water.

 Garrett going through the water.

My scene on my ride along Lake Michigan.

Today was the cross race in Grafton and Nate decided to just ride the Jr race as we have been in recovery mode for the last few weeks until we start to amp it up before the last few big races.  But in short Nate got the hole shot and stayed in the front till the end and took the win today.  Tonight Nate is staying with Max at their family place in Lake Mills.  So I have to just get to the Cam Rock race in time for Nate's race.  He has everything for the race but I do have to wash his kit so he has it at the race.  He does have a spare with him but he left his race numbers on his dirty kit so I have to get there with those for sure.  I watched the USGP race in Colorado as it looked like the USGP race here a few weeks ago.  Rain, cold and mud.  I am glad that I don't have to replace more stuff after another mud race.  Oh well time to relax as no one is home as Cece is still gone from her ride with some of her teacher friends, Maddie is at a bin fire, and Jessie is at a friends house.  I love the quiet house.  Later..

Catch up time

 Nate taking the hole shot on Sunday before fading away later to 11th place.

 Nate taking a off camber turn down the hill.

 Nate running up the big hill before he started to ride it and found it faster riding then running it.

 Nate riding the hill later in the race.

 John showing me all the trails at Lowes Creek in Eau Claire.  Man was that a blast riding Monday.

 John showing me some new trail called Northwest Park in Eau Claire on Tuesday.

 John again leading me on some sweet trails Tuesday.

Maddie at here swim meet yesterday.

So after sitting on my butt all day on Monday and Tuesday John showed me some extra trails at Lowes Creek park.  That was a blast to ride the trails that we race on and then ride so many other ones and the race course in the opposite direction.  Those trails are I think great in the other direction then the race direction.  Then on the Tuesday we went to a new park called Northwest Park and rode around there for a few hours.  Thanks John for the great riding.

Then on Wednesday I got home in time to watch Maddie swim at New Berlin West.  She was on the Medley relay race and was first with the back stroke, she was leading and then kicking off the wall her feet slipped and she lost a little bit of the time but held her own.  Then in the 100 meter back she won her race by 7 plus seconds, she was flying and looked strong through out her race. And then her last race was the 100 meter fly and she was the anchor leg and she made up most of the time that some of her team mates lost to finish 3rd.  I am really happy that she is enjoying swimming and so glad that she went out for the swim team, just wish she did 2 years ago.  But better late then never.

Tonight was a great night for a night ride with a bunch of great people.  I just wish I had a few more minutes to get there and get ready as traffic getting there had me just a few minutes before the ride took off.  But I got there and only had them wait a few minutes and then it was riding.  The trails were perfect and the temps made the ride so enjoyable that I could have ridden all night.  Have to try and fit a few more night rides in before the weather changes.  Later..

After the crash in the Jr race the day before Nate decided to just race the cat 3 race as his hand was still hurting.  He had a good start and hand the hole shot and on the hill run up he ran and Tim rode it.  Nate was able to hold the lead but slowly fell back in the field as the course a lot of punchy efforts and they took a tool on him. He slid back to 11th at the end.  He had a good race and the said he was still tired from the 2 races on the day before.  Thanks go out to the teams that put on 2 great races over the weekend as both were well run and both courses were fun to watch and race.

After the race it was off to Rays for Nate to work and me to ride for 6 hours. I have to say after standing for 2 days that my body was tired but the riding at Rays was fun and the changes were cool.  A few finishing touches when done should Make the riding more enjoyable when done.  Now I am on my way to Eau Claire for work and as always 3 days away put me a week worth of work behind at work and home.  Oh well just have to roll with it I guess.  The bad thing is I miss Maddie's swim meet tonight and hopefully I get home in time to make the swim meet on Wednesday night.  Oh well I hope the Teresa gets me there safe today and doesn't get a speeding ticket as we cruise along at 80mph on the way there.  Later..

Cross Domes

 Nate taking the lead on the Jr start.

                                     Chris doing his magic to a racers bike at the race.

 Nate at the start of the cat 3 race.

 Nate coming past the pits in the cat 3 race.

 Nate wishing the race was over.

 Nate on a cruise thru the park.

 Nate coming around the tree along the pit.

Coming into the last lap.

Nate Had a good start in the jr race and then going into the 2nd turn he rolled his tubular off his front tire and hit the ground hard.  He got up and ran about half a lap to the pits and got his pit bike and started the chase. He was dead last of all the jrs including the 10-14 year olds.  He worked his way through all of them and then chased to about 10 seconds behind Gage in 4th to end up 5th.  He was banged up and hurt his hand pretty good to the point that his pinkie is starting to swell up and is hard to bend.  But he did toe the line for the cat 3 race and had a good race ending up 9th after burning a lot of matches to chase in the jr race.  Now it is time to recover and get some rest and get ready to race tomorrow.  After that it is of toe work for Nate at Rays and play time for me at Rays.  But after the race I got home and had to cut the grass and wash the truck and cars.  But the good thing was Cece had a great dinner ready once Nate and I got done with the car and truck washing. Later..