Happy Halloween!!

I thought I would celebrate Halloween with some pictures of everyone in their costumes.


L to R: Brendan M., Ben M., Chris "I'm engaged" Fisher, and Myself.

My newly baptised niece.

J-No (Since 2000), attempting to win the "Sexiest Costume" award for the third year in a row.

L to R: Deb L. (Queen Bee), Tiffany W. (T-bone), and Becky (My Baby's Momma) representing the WOW contingent.

Matt H (Big Head) and Linda H (Mrs. Big Head) getting ready to score some rad candy.

I hope everyone has a good Halloween. Watch out for the Snickers with razor blades in'em.

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Back to work!

But it's a Schwinn!

I am not sure what it is, but one of our favorite customers at the shop are the Schwinn men (read with sarcasim). They expect you to know exactly what they need for there 25 year old Schwinn without having seeing it, or knowing what the customer is describing. When you say you need to see the bike the response is ALWAYS, "but it's a Schwinn"!

Here is a sample conversation. First you must picture a man in his late fifties or later (yes, they are ALL like that) by himself. Sometimes he'll be carrying parts in a coffe can/rag/plastic baggie:

Me: Hi, what can I help you with?

Customer: Yeah, I need a bolt/nut/part.

Me: Where on the bike do you need that bolt (trying to narrow it down).

Customer: Well, it is near the wheel. It is about 5/8" round and has threads on it.

Me: O.K., there are several different sizes that that bolt could be. I would have to see the old bolt or the bike to get you the right one.

(Here it comes)
Customer: But it' a Schwinn!

Me: Yes, but it still could be several different sizes.

(I swear they all say this too)
Customer: Well, I bought it here 15-20 years ago. It still runs great. It is in mint condition. Do you guys take in trade-ins?

Me: We don't take in trade-ins on old Scwinn road bikes because no one wants them.

Customer: Well, that is too bad. It is in really good shape....

(Fast forward 10 minutes later after the old guy gets done telling me about the history of the bike, what he is doing to it, his wife's bike, how he does all of his own work, what the shop used to look like, and the last mechanic he had spoken too 5 years ago.)

Me: Alright, I'll see you later.


Later they bring in the bike. Every customer that thinks they are going to trade in their bike describes it as being in MINT condition, by the way. This is how these bikes look when they actually bring them in. Note the crooked seat, brake levers, bent handlebars, velcro water bottle holder, and poor bar tape. That is not counting the fact that it probably needs a ton of work.


Time to ride then work.

Looking at and riding like a child.

Wake up Sat morning. Try to figure out if that was a mouse in the bathroom, or crap in my eyes. Go to store, buy traps, set said traps, and off we go to WI for a baptism..

I became an uncle for the second time (technically). My first niece is closely guarded by my brother and his wife who have decided to lock us out of their lives (and most of the rest of the family). Watch the movie "Saving Silverman" and you will understand what has happened. So, this feels like the first time I have become an uncle.

Becky's sis and husband (in pic) took the proper steps to conceive a child (ask your parents), and now here we are. This picture is just before the priest tries to drown Kaydance. I think Alysia and Chris (mom and dad) just were doing this so they didn't have to give her a bath that day.




With Halloween being so close they decided to dress Kaydance up as an Amish child for the ceremony.



Me, the baby's momma, and a baby (not ours).

The next day I decided to embarrass myself at a cross race in Milwaukee. With it being my second cross race in years and the fact my bikes have been sadly alone since July, I suited up for the "B" or Cat 3 race. I started in the back, shot to third at the start, and moved to first through the barriers. A couple of turns later and I was picking myself up after sliding out in a corner. That took the wind out of my sails, and backwards I went. It seems that on that first lap everyone else was faster as I came through the finish in 24th or DFL, ouch. My plan was just to be steady and not bring up the rear. The whole race I could only keep my 5-speed transmission in 4th gear, but I was able to keep it there the entire time. I spent the rest of the race working my way forward as others slowed. The top 5 had a massive gap, but I finished ninth with 6th, 7th, and 8th within spitting distance.

This week I'll actually try to ride my bike and see if I am able to find my 5th gear for this Sunday.

Me running the barriers, or as Becky calls them, "the jumps".

Yo, yo!

Sunday night I found a mouse in one of the traps. It had clamped down on his face and I let it free outside to invade another house. Through this process I found out that Becky is deathly afraid of those four legged rodents.

Less bloggy, bloggy. More worky, worky.

Running, and not from the cops.

This is the reason I am going to do a half marathon this January. Gotta go run 5 miles now. I am not a fan of running.

Get working.

Marathons with the Careys, A week behind

Welcome to the town of Ashland, WI; home of the Whistle Stop Marathon. Once again, the Tri's and Carey's joined forces to battle the elements and hotel prices of a marathon.

Becky (my baby's momma) and Erin (Mark's baby's momma) would be supported by there evil counterparts, the men.


It was a chilly morning as Mark and I rode the course backwards in hopes of finding our women. Here we had to stop for the 5K to start. There was a 5k, 10K, half, and full marathon going on at the same time on different parts of the same course.

Erin is only a couple of miles into the half marathon and she thinks she already won.

This is what happens when you take a triathlete onto a smooth dirt path.

Becky owning #261.

Look!! Becky is coming to the finish!!!

Here she is. 3:49.04, a new personnal record. Knocking over 12 minutes off of her old time. 8 minutes and 5 seconds from a Boston qualifying time.

Erin thinks she looks ugly in every picture, except this one.

Mark attacking my wife. Maybe I should do something about that. Hmmm, maybe not.

Becky rarely enjoys a Micky-D's burger. I think she likes it.

I took two extra days off from work to get last minute projects done around the houses before it starts to snow. Windows have been put in, block has been taken out, branches have been cut, gravel has been layed, and dirt has been delivered. I am not even half done with the projects that need to be done this 4 day weekend.

I got to go to work now.

Unexpected baby news.

I was pumped for my across the midwest adventure. My baby's momma's momma and daddy are very sick though. Trip is postponed. Charly's big adventure is cancelled. So sad, so sad.

Now, I try to go finish one of the duplexes projects this weekend. Hmmm, work on the house, or ride my bike a ton. Which is more fun?

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By the way, there seems to be a lot of baby news:

-Cory "Put a rock in your jersey" Gross and Sabrina are about ready to pop with #1.

-Richard "Local Schmo #1" Bennet and Diane just pumped out #3 this wed.

-Jason "J-No since 2000" Novak knocked up his wife. Now they found out there is 2 creatures in her belly, not one. This would make #3 and #4.

-Our old neighbors Maren and Steve "old neighbors" Rudzik are ready to pop soon as well.

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In other baby news. ***Drum roll please*** After trying for a long time, Becky and I are proud to announce that she is not pregnant!! This is very exciting news for us. We have been trying for this since we got married. We just found out recently and I am bubbling over with excitement. I also notice that Becky has that "glow". I have heard of the non expectant mother glow, but had never thought it was real.

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Congrats to everyone, and I guess that includes us!!!!

Doing it for 20 hours.

For the last 2 years I have been dreaming about riding to my in-laws in Oconomowoc, WI. This weekend we are traveling to see my new niece.

I plan to ride there. I leave Friday night. My planned route is 1/2 paved and 1/2 crushed rock.

It is 250 miles total.

I don't plan on sleeping, or stopping for considerable lengths. I hope to be done in under 20 hours.

What do you have planned for 2am Saturday morning? I plan on being on my bike somewhere in WI.