2:29am

as i write this i sit, luckily able enough to steal wireless internet on my newly revived laptop, at the barracks on a sunday night, in my 20th and 1/2 hour of my CQ shift. THIS JOB IS KILLING ME!!!! i havent had an actual break in what feels like months. years really. but the fact of the matter is that i work close to 80 hours a week, and i hardly have time to keep myself sane and healthy, much less take care of the important things i need to in order to help with billing, our soon to come move, house hold chours, or even just take care of sam. let alone attempt to train and build a new fitness level. its the most frustrating thing ive ever gone through. i constantly have to do what i hate, in which drives me from doing what i must and love. the perfect sucky situation. and we only have to go through it for 2 years, 11 months, 24 more days! wow.

other than that rant, i have been trying to go to the gym as much as possible. i guess i can credit some lack of not working out enough to lack of motivation, but either way i have a lot of gains that i need to make, and none of which are going to come with out me busting my but to make that happen. im gonna start tomorrow hitting it harder than i have been. i want to purposly loose my car keys so that i have to commute to work on bike every day. i guess 12 miles a day to and from work is better than not getting any in at all.

sam and i are thinking about gettting a husky, as an addition to our family. fun huh? well i guess i am gonna sign off for now, and this entry offically took me ten minutes closer to 6am when i get off work.
dc

its been a long long time

it has been a while since i have wrote anything. however life has been pretty busy the past few weeks. i am preparing to go to the promotion board in less than 3 weeks, so i have been studying for that. trips to and from storage getting our winter wear back out. trying to figure out where we will be living come february. stay as active on the bike and keep up with off season training. and balance a semi normal life with the wife, job, and everything else while having discovered Madden 2010.

I have made a new friend, Matt. he works with me in Alpha Company...better known to us who work there as "Alpha-traz." but this guy has gotten into cycling with me.. and is a natural. the dude is raw power and after two rides EVER has already shown me and a few others that he has what it takes to be pure awesome. the guy went on a 54 mile ride with me and flexy his FIRST ride. turned around and did a 48 miler the day after with me, Flex, and Andrew. These were not easy rides either, while they we're incredibly difficult either, they had some decent challenges in them with a couple long climbs (long for the tri-state region i mean), a few fast descents, and when ever you get me josh and andrew together, we boe our feathers up a bit and attack each other as fiercly and often as possible; so there was a lot of stomping on the pedals at high speed. he held up really well. he gets out of the army in april, but is considering going to school in dc, and if so is wanting to race for cyclelife. yea buddy.

anyways, its 530am right now, i just had some waffles, and im finishing up the last of my coffee. i need to leave for work tho. day 2 of primary. gym after. groceries after that. home by 830pm maybe. possibly in bed by 915. we'll see.

Oktober

This has been a crazy month. upon coming back from SOA ive been introduced to firing party, in which i am a part of a full honors team that conducts 21 gun salutes in Arlington for funerals. we start that next week...

other than that at work ive started fairly moderately in the gym, trying to build a base to do some hardcore strength and power workouts in the coming winter. ive tapered off the bike a bit just to try to relax, and knowing what a busy season i will have next year ill be thankful ive had the rest now rather than try to make up for it later. my bike makes the weirdest noises... i keep tuning and cleaning it, but it still persists to make annoying sounds. i dont know what it is.

oh i failed to mention that i bought a new car too.. a 2008 toyota 4runner. its pretty sweet, it was a total random move and its gonna make money so tight, but i think it will pay off in the long run by how helpful it will be to have 2 cars. made some pumpkin pie tonight with sam so im pretty anxious for that to come out of the oven. and getting ready for a long ride tomorrow with flexy and a guy matt who im getting into cycling. so thats an update.

later on

dc

In Real Life

In fairy tales typically the hero always wins, the princess finds her prince, the cute talking animal turns into a beautiful person, or the bad guys falls or realizes his own demise and changes from antagonist to pro. id like to say that real life is the same way. But in all reality the only constant that we have is that God is the Hero that wins, He is the prince of peace, the true beauty in every living creature, and is the only on capable of turning bad into good. I am none of these things, but am redeemed by the blood of the lamb.

I learned a very valuable lesson this past weekend, and am still taking notes on what it is that i learned. Forgiveness, mercy, and the ability to see someone through eyes of love.

I wont get into any details, but my wife has shown so much compassion to me the past few days. I had put a lot on the line for us, and despite how much i had messed up and how very upset and hurt she was with me, she swallowed sadness and showed me love and mercy and forgiveness and in doing so we have started to grow closer together. again, i wont get into it, but i love her with so much ferocity and intensity and i will never forget who she is and what she deeply means to me. i owe my life to take care of hers.

Anyways, the lesson i have learned have been taken to heart and will not be forgotten. i had stepped aside briefly and she found me and brought me back to her, despite the hurt, despite the heartache, with prevailing love and kindness. she fought through the suffering to see the good in me and love me for who she knows me to be; sounds a little familiar to Jesus does it not? Samantha, you mean the world to me. i will never forget what you mean to me and what you have shown me the past few days. I will love you for all of time.

lazy day

so i literally sat inside all day except to take zoey out once or twice, the rest of the time i watched the veulta, then just now stage one of tour of Missouri. Cav one, and i got excited to start racing again. something about seeing circut races gets me fired up.

my riding wasnt what i thought itd be. i got about 40 miles in on me day off; 35 in on my planned 80; 64 in on my planned sprint interval day, and then 56 on me planned century. and today where i figured a group ride, i didnt nothing but sat in my pajamas all day.

so i still got about 280 miles in, but not in what i wanted to do. so now i am super tired and glad that i stayed in today. but it was rainy, so i didnt use "im tired" as an excuse, but rather the rain.

i dont have to be at work until 10 tomorrow morning. which is really awesome, but at the same time makes me wonder what time im gonna get off work... i am amping myself up for a really long and painful week.

i started looking at routes and cabins for the feb-march cycling training camp trip thing that andrew and i are planning... its gonna be relatively cheap and a lot of really good riding. im so super excited about it... really, im so anxious.

last race weekend is coming up on sunday, so i am excited about that, but the first weekend of spirit of america is this weekend...so ya.. hopefully im not too tired for it.

much love

derek

long weekend

well after a short 3 day week at work, capped with a 24 hour shift on wednesday, i am enjoying a 5 day weekend. much i believe is well earned. yesterday i slept pretty much all but 5 hours of the day, and today sam and i have hung out a lot and ive been wandering around thinking its saturday all day. i got out and road about 20 miles today, mostly pretty big hills, so, 1hr 45min of hills, pretty decent.

Tomorrow through monday im gonna hit it hard, hopefully with 80 miles tomorrow, some sprint intervals on sunday, and then a century on monday. My last ditch fitness effort before next sundays turkey day race.

Sam works all weekend so ill be mostly alone and on the bike. Im still bummed my PS3 is busted, so im trying to work that. um other than that, there are no other updates.....

well there is one, but i cant talk about it until next week. let the suspense build.

lata

d

blah

Well yesterday was a really fun day. Sam and i hung out with andrew and alyssa again, had some chili's, which is always amazing, but earlier that morning i went on a ride with andrews team, 540.

those are some pretty chill guys, and i like all of their attitudes. i really want to race with him, but this tiger still doesnt know which strips he is gonna wear next year. anyways, yea, its gonna be a huge season next year, and i plan on doing really really well, but its where, when, and how that is the question.

This week isnt gonna be so bad. i worked today, off at 5; work tomorrow, probably the same thing; i have a neurology appointment on wednesday afternoon, but am doing CQ wednesday night, then i go on a recovery day thursday, straight into a 4 day weekend. so i am off thursday through monday. pretty amazing. that gives me a lot of time to work for and train up for the turkey day race on the 13th, being that the tues-saturday prior i may get to ride once or twice.

but as for now, im gonna lay on the couch and watch stage 3 of the Vuelta. peace and love.

the ER

So thursday night I had a relapse of my brain injury from iraq and Sam took me to the ER. they did some test and decided that i need to go see a neurologist. i guess these things DONT go away on their on. in an odd occurrence, my sister had a relapse of her stroke as well. she is actually still in the hospital, so all my thoughts and prayers are with her.

other than that, andrew and alyssa came over last night and hung out. Sam and i are looking for a new apartment today, and my PlayStation 3 has died.

jello

Finally had a day where i got off work before the 14 hour mark. in a way it is funny cause i was gonna do the last greenbelt race tonight, but this morning i thought to myself that it would be a late day, and i shouldnt bother riding my bike, so i didnt take it, and to my dismay, i get off at 445... suck

so i decided to head over to CL and work out and see Sam, i change and realize that all i have is my crocs.. but then re-realized... that all i have is my crocs... so i forgave them for under estimating their true potential; if you are curious, yes you can do leg work outs, to include spin bikes with crocs on in slipper mode..... pretty much the best shoes ever!

well, i did about an hours work of squats, lunges, presses, more lunges, and a bunch of other stuff, then finished it up with 10 minutes all out on the bike, average 436 watts, and then 5 mins on a climbing machine.

end result: my legs wont move them selves, and im tired but feel great. tomorrows commute to work is gonna be a nice recovery spin, then ill do about 2 hours after work.

andrew got in a fight with a semi truck tonight. sadly, but expectedly, he lost, as the truck put him on his back at 30+mph. sorry andrew... you live to fight another day... (he is okay).

off to bed...

lata

things the world should know

i feel like i should update everyone on what has been happening lately. with photos. i dont feel much like typing right now, and im kinda making dinner, thus typing this means im leaving the stove un attended and increasing the likely hood of burning down the house. so ya... just mostly pictures...

first off... check out the new team Samantha is riding for!!! heck ya!! so awesome.. and check out that sexy booty!!!! WOAHH baby!

she is number one

NOW, that im done bragging.. just some random stuff.

Me and Sam about to go for a ride... loving the nice weather that we having since the humidity has left

Me and, wait who is that in the R1V kit? ANDREW BRIDGES!!!?? Wow, he is really showing his true colors!

Me and Sam at the Washington Nationals game last Saturday. it was raining, hints the ponchos.

thats really about it... if you were wondering, yea, my beard is crazy, and its itchy. um i worked 13 hours today... talk about mondays...only its like that every day. sooo.. yea loving the old guard.... NOT. um... other than that... andrew and are are planning on going to see a movie soon, samantha and i are looking at apartments this weekend.

peace and love

dc

my week

this past week has been crazy. im glad i took it easy as far as training goes, ive hardly had time to breathe much less train. typically sam and i have both been getting home around 730 or 8 and eating really quickly then going to bed. its been needed, going to bed at 830 or 9 every night, we feel rested, but still only get an hour together every day. sucks. i hate my job, i never see why anyone wants to STAY in the army... its the worst. i guess if you hate your life at home its not a bad deal, but for those like me who actually enjoy their time with their wives and like their personal life, it really really sucks.

yesterday was really fun. we went a a ride, super easy, with matt and sams friend Cara. it was her very first ride, but is already keen with the idea of racing with sam next year. then it stormed like crazy on us, so dinner was next, then we sat in the rain at the Washington Nationals baseball game. it got delayed for over an hour, but they finally played. we had front row seats in the center field. like 30 feet from the center fielder. perfect for me, being that we can shout at the opposing teams players. which was awesome. convinced him to give us a ball for the little kid behind us...made his life.

now that we are up and around, i think im gonna have a bike cleaning party and go get some miles in with sam. i love that she is training, cause she is getting super strong and able to ride a hard tempo and do back to back rides of 50 plus. this girl is fast, all should be aware of her next year!!

Back at it

This week has already been long. not really stressful, but just long days with the reheasals for SOA and sweating in the armory. Havent decided if i am gonna ride tonight, guess it depends on what time i get off work, and if my buddy matt wants to go or not. its nice not having to worry about races and just taking time off. I may just take this whole week off of the bike and start working out next week.
Ive been trying to go to bed earlier than i have been every night. it has been nice so far.
peace and love
dc

Tour De Millersburg

just got back from tour de millersburg.

first off, the weekend as a whole wasnt bad. it was out in the middle of now where, and our hotel didnt allow dogs, so zoey was in ninja mode, and did relatively well compared to the last time she was in that situation. there was nice scenery and lots of fog every morning. sam and i got to chill out all evening after saturdays races, which was nice, but anyhow, to the race itself.

it was a very well community supported even. people sat on there porches and came out to watch. even all the local businesses closed down and came to watch. so on that aspect it was nice. lots of racers, but i only have 2 complaints. 1st of all... all the parking provided was inside the crit course. and they wouldnt let anyone out of them. so we had to sit and watch like 4 more races after we were ready to go. secondly, dont say the crit course is fast and flat when the entire backside is a huge long climb. it really should have been circuit race.

saturdays morning time trial was nice. i woke up sick and completely sleep deprived. i puked during my warm up, and just felt plain awful. i rode the TT pretty well for being on a road bike. i think my time in that aspect was respectable. but i can defiantly see the benefits of having a TT bike. i really think that i would have shaved a decent amount of time off.

the crit was brutal. i think i got shed off the back the 3rd trip up that insane climb. i just dont have the power at this late in the season to be attacking hills that hard. i chased off and on for a few laps with others that got blown up. but when it came to the end we were relegated with 6 laps to go. fine by me, i was hurting bad. only 16 people out of the 60 or so that started actually finished.

todays road race was more my flare, i felt strong and even bridged up to a break away and worked in it for a bit. we were off the front with a 40 or so gap for a while, but got caught eventually. the course was really fun. super fast with big rollers. the finishing straight was picture perfect with wide lanes and lots of fans. i came around the 2nd to last turn in about 16th wheel. felt strong but it was already too strung out for anything to happen, so i just grabbed a wheel and rode into the finish in the bunch. ending up placing 35th in the overall GC. which isnt anything special, but being that i road and road bike in the TT, got relegated in the Crit, and did some work as a solo represented team rider, and that it was my first real experience in a 3-4 category race, ill take it with pride and learn from what mistakes i made.

as of now im done racing. im burnt out from this summer. i dont feel like i have the energy to keep competing. we'll see about turkey hill.

im off to rest and get ready for another "exciting" week of work.

peace and love

dc

recovery...not really, or is it?

I just came off of CQ. for those of you who dont know what that is, it is Charge of Quarters...meaning, an NCO (sergeant), has to stay in the barracks for 24 hour shifts to manage the building, monitor who is where, and be there in case anything happens. well i have to do these shifts every now and again, typically 2-3 times a month. and they suck. bad.

i had it thursday morning, and got home about 630 friday morning. today i guess that is. i slept all day, and now i am just finishing cleaning the house and waiting for sam to get home.

in reality... i need a break. i need to sit on my butt, watch tv, start to ween myself onto a new smaller diet, and rest before i start working out in the off season. its been such a long summer with work and racing, and traveling, and just life... i need to recover...

but.. i cant. a few days ago i decided to race in PA this weekend. Its a stage race with a ITT, followed by a crit, then a RR on sunday. its 3 hours away, and our hotel is another hour from the race. so when i should be resting, ill be traveling and racing... weird.

i am actually really excited about it. PA is beautiful if you've never been there, and i get to go on a road trip with Sam. some guys hate this...but i actually like being in the car with my wife... where as some think they are stuck and forced to talk, or listen, for x amount of time, i am humbled and glad that we get to just share with each other and ...well, talk. it seems like with our schedules as they are we never really get to just be together. it will be nice to just spend time with her. despite that we are going to race, and i dont think she minds cause she get to practice her passion for photography and experience different places, i think that these events have actually brought us closer together.

with how much dedication and passion that goes into to training and racing, and how much patients and love she gives by supporting me emotionally and financially, we really have had to work together to make it through the year.

so i guess in a way i am thankful for our crazy schedules and our busy lifestyle... we have to fight a lot of obstacles to accomplish most of what we do... but at lease its worth fighting for, and im glad i can say that about my marriage and relationship with Sam... its worth the stress and frustration of our jobs and daily menial tasks... cause i like taking my recovery time, and investing it into something that i really truly care about... her, and that things that matter most to us.

peace and love

dc

the armory

Today was the first day we rehearsed for SOA on the big stage at the DC Armory. a huge air port like hanger, indoor stadium, with no AC. it was super muggy in there, not to mention that the directors decided to completely re-write all my lines. so i had to re memorize all of them. other than that it was such a boring day with nothing going on.

After i got off work at 530, i went on a group ride through arlington, and hit some hills. it was an awesome work out.

after i got home, sam made a nice chicken and rice dinner and we sat on the couch and enjoyed our time together. we are going to bed now tho.

peace and love

Hottest day ever

I had the day off today and after a few hour stint of laziness at home i decided to get on the bike and ride to cyclelife to work-out. it was about 97 degrees when i left the house at 3pm, and i swear you could literally bottle the moisture out of the air it was so thick. i have never felt humidity like that before, not even in Oklahoma...(andrew). it wouldn't have been so bad if i hadn't had a bad tube, and had to re-pump it over and over again the way out there. oh well.

i just decided that i am gonna race the Tour De Millsbrook in PA this weekend. its a 3-4 three stage race over two days. pretty typical, but the first ive seen run ITT then crit on day one, and the RR on day two. this will probably be my last race of the season and hopefully one more opportunity to get more points for my upgrade. it should be fun and a nice retreat for me and sam to see some country side.

Sam is officially teaching 2 indoor cycling sessions a week now. im so excited for her; it will be the first time she gets to use her certification, which helped her get this job. so that should be an exciting new adventure for her at work. im looking forward to the off season, not only will i get to improve some weaknesses and train for next year, but i get so see her so much more than i normally do because of work. exciting times.

tomorrow i have to go back to work. i really hate my job, but i guess it pays the bills, and it is only 3 more years. oh well.. i am still blessed, and im sure ill look back at some point and learn something out of all of this. peace and love

derek

back at it

This past weekend I hung out with andrew, commonly referred to as mark, a lot. His company inspired me to start writing and/or blogging again. So thanks mark.

On a tangent, he also now has a mullet. and its stellar.

Things have been going just dandy really. Work is work. Racing has been good, haven't gotten all the results i would have wanted, but I'm getting faster and looking forward to a lot of improvements this offseason. And things at home are swell with Sam and I. OH!, and Zoey looks like a scottish terrier now thanks to my artistic dog grooming abilities! thats really about it.

im just about to come off a 4 day weekend from work, where i am in a production called Spirit of America, in which i am playing the part of a crusty old civil war vet; and i get to grow my hair and beard for 2 months. that is exciting, so'll i;ll be mountain-ish for a while.

race season is pretty much wrapped up. i have nearly half my upgrade points needed to go to category 3, so with some work this winter i;ll come back strong in the spring and move up early and start working for some fast guys, maybe andrew.....who knows. some think i look good in black and red... im still partial to green myself, but sometimes tigers strips change...

i love ya'll and ill be updating this much more often now. peace and love. blessings

Tysons Corner

Race on sunday went well. i sat in the pack the whole race except for one lap where i had a teammate dan go off the front solo to try to get a break going. i went to the front for that one and tried to block for him, but he lost the strenght and got swallowed up soon after. it looked like a good effort, but just didnt have the legs. coming in for the bell lap i moved back up to the front half of the group to get in position for the sprint. there wasnt too much organization near the last turn, so i knew it was gonna be a brawl sprint. coming around the last corner i was about 20 riders deep, and by the time i got back up to speed the first ten guys has already jumped for the line, but cause the last 800m to the line were uphill, they all died early, leaving us more patient ones open lanes to go for the win. i cruized by some of them, and made my jump at 200m to go, put a few more riders behind me and came in 7th at the line. wasnt a bad race. i felt happy with my result, but wonder that if i had gone with dan with 3 laps to go, if we could have held it off for a 1 and 2 win. that would have been awesome. maybe at syn-fit we can get another chance. they dont come that often.

went back to work today. not a bad day, its been raining off and on here. tomorrow is supposed to be cold. sam walked zoey and i went for a short recovery ride at hains point, and did a couple intervals.
oh, im gonna be starting college again soon, this summer probably. most likely physical therapy. merle maybe you can give me a job when sam and i move back. just know that i have to race a lot, so you may have to find someone to cover for me. lol
keeping my fingers crossed that we have a 4 day weekend this weekend.
not much else going on here. we made buffalo burgers and fries tonight, im full. ready for bedtime.
i love you all
dcarleton

race results

friday was sam's birthday. she got her hair re-cut to a shorter and newer style as so its not so the same hair cut she's always had. it turned out really good. we got some cupcakes from cake love and had dinner at some hippy place... weird atmosphere, but interesting. good pininis.

had a race today in walkersville, md. it was 5 laps of an 8.3 mile loop of rolling hills. 1 somewhat difficult climb, an uphill kicker at the finish, but mostly stead rolling. 35mph wind. it was crazy. its not a tough course by any means, but the wind was insane. the second you loose your spot in the group your day is done. you cant get back on because it was so intense.
well right at the neutral start my chain pops off, so i have to jump off the bike, fix it, and burn a few matches sprinting back to the group. one the race started i was at the back of the pack because of the chain. had i not had that problem i think i would have had a different race. i worked my way through the pack to about 20-25 riders deep. i was sitting behind 3 other riders from my team, and feeling good. after 2 laps there was an established 5 man break with a 3 man chase, then the peleton, and riders coming off the back every minute or so. we had Jason in the 3 man chase, who eventually went on to bridge the gap, and turned the 8 men group into 2, and eventually went on to win the race. once we knew he had a shot as the gap opened, R1V slowed the pace of the group down, so we all tried to push to the front on the start of the 3rd lap. i made a bad decision and came out into the wind trying to get to the front. this was it for me. i came off the back of the group and the next 2 and a half laps i suffered in the wind, but eventually a large group of 20 or so riders that had come off the group had formed. i sat in this group and on the final lap made a good jump about 800meters away from the line and won the bunch sprint for the second group. not really for anything else but bragging rights and some fun. overall i didnt place too well, but rode well. when they post the placings for the cat 4 and cat 5 riders it may be different being that we were together but scored separately. ill let you know when that comes up.

got another race tomorrow morning at 8. so tonight just resting and watching a movie with the bride. jen, brett, mom, and dad, thanks for the bday gifts for sam and i. we got them and appreciate your love.
love you all
dcarleton

Volun-told

Voluntold (Vol-uun-told) N. ADV. V. - 1)To be unwillingly or unknowingly forced to volunteer to participate or take part in any certain activity. this means the person has no choice other than to accept this service as their own. 2) to inquire if a person would be interested in participating in said activity. despite the individuals approval or disapproval or the activity, participation is required regardless.

today at work i was approached and "voluntold" that i was going to the armys air assault school because we needed guys to fill slots. lets back up a minute. the army offers its soldiers a wide selection of schools, courses, and classes to do a number of things ranging from giving them points to help with promotion, of just bragging rights to wear a particular skill badge.
well most of these schools are OPTIONAL. meaning you only go to them if you wish to. there is rarely a situation where a soldier is given a school date against his will..... unless you are in the old guard..... until today.

they tried to send me to air assault school, just cause they need bodies to fill slots. no way jose'. i dont wanna go to an army school, esp. with only 2 weeks notice! they are out of their minds. this just add one more thing to the list of things i hate about the army. blah.
i could go on for days about it. but rather not rant.

sam got her hair cut today, looks cute, but i think she wants something shorter and more wild. so i believe she is going to go back tomorrow and have them do what she really wants.
i had a decent 25 miles ride tonight, couple sprints, couple intervals. gotta get ready for this weekend. have like an 8 man squad for saturdays race. so hopefully we get some of that podium.
sam and i went out to eat at this fancy Italian place tonight. it was pretty yum. scallops, grilled calamari, celery soup, and pulled chicken salad with bread and dry martinis. it was a nice quite evening meal to which we got to talk and gaze into each others eyes. good food, pretty girl, what more could i want huh?
im off to bed. peace and love
dcarleton

April Fools!

Its a notorious day for pranks and jokes. fortunately none were played on me, therefore i am happy. but had an okay day. work wasnt terrible, got off around 430, Sam got home 2 hours early, and we had a nice dinner and got to relax for a bit. good stuff.

My mother in law got a ten speed. how crazy is that. the woman who use to call us crazy for riding those things so far has now jumped on the ban-wagon. she says no now, but i give it 6months before she owns lyrca. even less than that before she has at least 2 jerseys. ive turned my wifes whole family into cyclist. i would give credit to aaron, but he knew all of them long before i, and he rode-and non of them did. and since i came along, 3 years, 4 new cyclists. sorry aaron, i love you, but the credit is all mine.

took the day off from training. yesterdays ride took its toll on my legs. hanging with cat 1 and 2 riders for 40+ miles is mad hard. so taking it easy was good tonight. i'll have a hard ride tomorrow, and easy spinning friday cause i have a race saturday and sunday. oh that reminds me. i need new tires. and ive seemed to miss-placed my money tree plant, so any donations are greatly appreciated.

sam's birthday is on friday! so if you havent gotten her something, start planning. (listen basquez family....by SAMANTHA i mean Sam, NOT ZOEY!! Zo has enough clothes and toys. )
peace and love
derek

long day

505am: wake up
515am: back in bed
535am: out of bed in the car headed to work
550am: get to work, cry a little, and part of me dies inside
630am: heading home...wondering why i had to go in at all?
650am: back in bed
750am: out of bed, down a bowl of cereal
810am: leave for work early enough to get ready
840am: work starts
1140am: lunch break
1240pm: back to work
330pm: training done at fort myer, head home to let the dog out
345pm: drive back to fort mcnair to do...what?
440pm: finally get released from mcnair for the day. (i didnt do a single thing there).
445pm: change in the car on the way to the rock park ride (its more a race) ((super fast))
515pm: ride starts
745pm: 48miles and some sore legs later, ride is over. i swear-above 30mph the whole time
750pm: back in the car to head home
815pm: still stuck in traffic
835pm: home finally. eating frenzy begins
845pm: fet. alfrado, chk nuggets, rice, nachos, and southwest chkn. im full
850pm: sam gets home. heart felt hug.
856pm: OH CRAP WE"RE MISSING AMERICAN IDOL
900pm: check email
920pm: write this post
next: shower, chug water, bedtime.
nuff said.... long day. 500am is gonna come too early
peace and love
dcarleton

Home Early

Amazingly i was able to get home before 4 o'clock today. WOOP! this was good, especially after a day of rifle manual at work, its good to be free of that torture. besides who wants to be at work all day when they have a lovely wife waiting at home for them...? well even if she is out walking the dog when you get home, so you don't see her for another half hour, but that's besides the point, and your picking up what i'm putting down.

the legs feel good today after yesterdays race. probably not going to brave the 25+ mph winds despite the 60 degree sunshine we are having. most likely going to hop on the trainer for a good 90 minutes and do some hill workouts. but really its just good to be home and have the afternoon off with the wife.

Nathan is 22 today, so if you know him wish him a happy birthday.
im outz
peace and love
dcarleton

There is always a first

As of now, I am officially a blogger. i never thought id see the day, but here it is. perhaps i am like my father after all. i dont really care who reads it, or what their reactions are to my thoughts and words, but it is something for me to help recap what is going on in my life; whether it be me job, relationship with my wife, my on-going attempts at competitive cycling, or just random rants and raves (for instance the batteries in my compute mouse keep dying, and its really annoying; we all know how expensive dumb little batteries are, and you never have new ones when you need them). who knows, maybe i'll even post pictures from time to time. i'll try to write something everyday. starting today:

Today had 2nd race of the season today, out at Jeffersons Cup. there were some tricky rolling hills, and some fun decents. i about lost it on a corner when somebody cut into my line. all in all though, not too bad. some guys took a nasty spill in the bunch sprint. luckily i was able to avoid it and finish with the bunch. not the postion i wanted, but hey, its still early in the season.
now i have to get ready for another long week at work. unfortunatly weekends are only 48hours. someone should change that for everyone. they are even shorter when you dread going to your place of occupation every week....... sigh. well..... thanks for stopping by.
peace and love
dcarleton