The Soiled Chamois: Blahhhhh, But I'll Take It. Thanks.

What a crap week. After an amazing summer and hardly any rain whatsoever, we had a week of cold, COLD rain (I swear I thought it was going to snow!!). I got out to ride gravel on Tuesday but the rest of my "training" was done indoors this week. I still burned a crap load of calories and watched what I ate and to tell you the truth, right now that is all I am concerned about right now; getting my lard(ish) ass thin(ish) again.

Having said that, I think I am forgoing the gym this year. I mean it's nice to get out of the house and see real people now and then (especially if that real person is that 21 year old thick assed fit chick on the treadmill in front of me) , but not sure it's worth the cash. I hate lifting weights (dumb), the stair master helps burn calories, but it's NOT a bike, and if I'm being honest, it's f*cking stupid (even though it sometimes is nice to do). I think I would rather just invest some money that I don't have in some new XC skis, maybe some snowshoes, and/or if the planets align and I fudge the family books enough (shhhhh!!!!! keep your mouth shut!!) a Mukluk and gear so as to embrace the winter and all it's snowy vile, wretched.... goodness, all it's snowy goodness... Winter's great.... I love it.... really.... I do, I swear.

It only took until about October 19th before I couldn't leave the house without a winter jacket, but I am happy. In fact this week marks my family's one year anniversary as Michiganders and marks one of the happiest years of my life. I shit you not. I know, that is freaking sssssstrange considering I was ready to take a rope to the attic (props to Jules) over moving here, but Mount Pleasant and central Michigan has stepped up and really given me everything I ever wanted... A small town that isn't TOO small, nice people, lots of racing (all within 2 hours max of MP), endless dirt and gravel roads to ride, low traffic pavement, a town that it's not uncommon to go just a few blocks and count more than 10+ folks riding bikes to work, the store, the bar, etc., (not that I did that recently) no matter what time of year or what the conditions. THAT is cool. Not to mention B-Man loves his school and Wifey LOVES her job here. Me? I can adapt and rock it no prob.

Will we stay here forever? We might, but I doubt it, but if we move again the place better have endless miles of low traffic pavement and dirt roads out my back door, lots of racing, good restaurants and bars within walking distance, friendly people, no traffic and be bike friendly. So why would I move again? The winter? Maybe. But I doubt.

Sure I miss my dad and I hate to leave my brother and sister towing the family line back in PA/WV on their own, but they have enough going on and we're different enough that I'm sure they could give an eph about what happens up here and with me. So thank you Mount Pleasant, and thank you Michigan for a great year. I hope year #2 is as good or better. Sorry I doubted you.