Are You Living It?

Live Your Passion Gear made a donation today to our friends Jason and Heather Hooten’s participation in the CT Jamboree, which is an 80 mile mtb ride on the Colorado Trail. Proceeds from the event go to provide support for individuals suffering from the disease.

This is a major ride… quite a bit of it is over 12,000 feet, and the weather can make you re-think your definition of a summer thunderstorm. Our best wishes to all the participants and support crew. Nice job, guys!

Check out the announcement April made on her home blog today.

Very cool!!

My eyelids had descended halfway, almost completely shuttering out the light coming from the television in our rental studio apartment … it was all meaningless flash and noise, a good reminder of why we don’t have cable at home. That’s when Laurel elbowed me. It was for two reasons: first, to tell me I had begun to snore (which I denied like I always do) and secondly to tell me to wake up and “look at this.” She dropped an open magazine in my lap.

I slept 10 hours last night. I didn’t even bother setting the alarm this morning - in hopes I would be able to sleep in - something that I haven’t been able to do in over a month. Usually my mind wakes me up before 8 - with racing thoughts dancing through my brain and my body ready to get up and get at ‘em. Well today was like opening a big bow topped present - totally unnecessary but absolutely amazing. And I slept like a baby.

I posted a bunch of Photos from B.C. Super Week taken by Photographer Greg Descantes. www.descantes.com. Check them out on the flickr page or on my photos page.

We hung around for a little while before the second session started up which included a Keirin and points race. Phil Miller, the chief ref, did a great job of informing the athletes their duties (making it a show) and playing fairly. Dave Mann, the promoter, also thanked everyone for coming out - he did an amazing job!

As I wait outside the operating room I am reminded, that of all the activities and sports I thoroughly enjoy, none brings the inner peace and fulfillment of sharing each day with my wife. Whether  I am paddling a river, riding my bike, skiing that perfect line, she is always there. Sometimes she is there in person, other times I think of how much she would enjoy what I am seeing when we are not able to see it together.

The crape myrtles are spectacular in central North Carolina this year. They remind me of fireworks, the tips of each branch bursting into jewel-toned color. I never really noticed them before, but this week they are everywhere, and beautiful. It’s like the phenomenon where you buy a new car and suddenly see the same model everywhere; I am attuned to the crape myrtle.

Little did I know how lucky I would be this weekend thanks to my early morning wake up call Friday from Ryan.

The Search Inside feature for my book is now online at Amazon.com. You can (virtually) page through it there. If you weren’t sure whether you wanted to buy it, just have a look and now you’ll know you should! The design won an award, and rightfully so; it’s really beautiful.