I know I repeat this every month, but WOW I can't believe it's already March!!! 'Cross season is not that far away (to quote an old favorite Ren and Stimpy "happy happy joy joy...")...
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Riding/training is going well it seems (but until the wheels are rolling in competition you never know) as I am getting a nice mix of road, gravel, and single track with varying degrees of length and intensity. I feel a tad better than where I was this time last year and still 8-10lbs lighter. This weekend is the Frozen Waffles Training Race in SGF and for the most part that's what it is, a training event and not so much a race. Who knows who will show up and how folks will want to ride, but for me in the Masters 40+ race I am hoping to get a couple others with myself to steadily take pulls from the gun for the 44 miles and simply maintain a steady effort going seeing where the chips fall at the end. I have no misconception of winning anything, but do want a solid workout for the entire event. Guess I should renew my license today...
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Other than that I am looking forward to either God's Country (Lawrence, KS) or Lost Valley (STL) mtb races toward the end of the month, Bone Bender, OMBA (both mtb races), and Joe Martin (mini stage road race) in Fayetteville, AR in April. Haven't really looked much past that, but figure on a couple more mtb races in May before shutting it down to crit racing the summer.
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On the home front we have put our house on the market for sale as we have outgrown it (with the addition of the little guy). No telling how long it will take to sell as we aren't 'fire selling' it and when/if it happens it will. Not looking at other homes as until our sells I don't want to know what's out there. We did meet with a builder to cost construction prices and unlike the appraisal's of property/homes the materials/construction prices have continued to increase with inflation and it's more realistic to buy a nice used one than to build.
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A couple weekends ago I took the little boys (and a friend) to a fun little, but long, cave out north of town right above the Pomme de Tarre River. We all had headlamps and we were all shocked that little 6 yr old 'D' led the way back into the darkness. The only thing that freaked him out was the bats hanging here and there. After the cave it was to the river for some fun.
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Basketball ball season for Ian has been an interesting one (solidly good, but interesting). He's played up on a 6th grade Bolivar team who had a pretty nice year: 1st Courts session they were 9-1, the second 7-3, Rock Solid league undefeated, Champs of the Fair Play tourney, and 3rd of a tourney at the Courts earlier this year. He was a strong contributor and had a blast. This was the serious team. Then there was the 5th grade team (first year I didn't coach them) that was not good at all and it was very frustrating for E. Early on we decided to take the 5th grade as practice sessions and work on specific things each game and not worry about the overall outcome (his team was just that bad, but these are his friends and wanted to help them out). I have no idea what their record is, but with three games to go they don't have a chance to get near .500. The kid has kept to his deal of maintaining straight A's in studies and getting enough rest although that is starting to take it's toll (he's looking tired from time to time). 6th grade finished up, 5th grade has a handful of games in the session remaining and then it's a fresh start. He opted to skip competitive baseball this year (mixed feelings from Deb and I) and keep playing some basketball (his overwhelming passion) so I put together a couple guys from Bolivar, Stockton, and Ozark for the next session at the Courts. We are keeping it pretty low key with just a couple practices at the beginning then it pretty much show up and play 10 games and maybe a couple tourney's. The kids on this composite team and all pretty much solid players so it should be fun for the boys not to have a 'weak link' (or two or three) on a team.
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Jake is hitting some 'freshman blues' it appears as his 18 hr class load is taking it's toll along with his Dairy Queen job has gone from a couple days a week to four days. Deb and I have told him that's too much and he is missing out on 'college' fun and stuff by working that much, but it's his choice and we'll see how he handles it (growing up = figuring it out = stinks sometimes). He is running quite a bit for fun and long boarding a ton. He picked up Ian a sweet nickle board for E's B-day and both are enjoying getting out together. He is popping by the house more and more these days and am not sure what that's all about (his mom loves it, but I think he needs to stick to campus more...)???
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The little man is still in (constant, it seems) hold in the Foster system. We are told they are moving him toward adoption, but the evidence of this is yet seen (sigh). We fully understand there is a process to follow and agree with it, but it seems to be taking longer than it should. Anyways, he is growing into our family day by day (and visa versa for us) as he's been with us over 9 months now. All of us (to include the boys) couldn't imagine him not with us as he's just one of the Jones'. Will be fun to share video and pics once he is openly ours.
