I can't think of any catchy titles right now. Just read it, okay?

This Friday is the beginning of several days of UCI racing. I'm stoked! The big girls are coming back to T-town. It's funny, a couple of months ago the "big girls" (i.e. Liz Reap - Carlson - okay, so 1 big girl) lived in T-town. But now I train with her and it's different that way. And she's great, as a person. Still kicks my a**, though - daily.

I'm not really in a chatting mood, but somehow I feel guilty because Chris and Carrie blog with religious ferver. Hmmmm...........guilt. religion. ..................Hmmmm. Am I on to something? Girls, are you sending me vibes?

Let's see, what happening in my life? I drink too much coffee, train double sessions three times a week, ride every day, work some, drink a beer now and again, sleep as much as possible. Acquaintances are becoming friends. I frequent he perfect bike shop/coffee shop hangout at South Mountain Cycles in Emmaus. I went to the water park for a day. It's just about the perfect life.

The nursing job wasn't turning up much $$. They hadn't called me in three weeks, so I went in and plead my case. Whether is was the tone of desperation or dumb luck, I got some work the next day. I'm thinking about something more permanent in the near future, with regular hours and such. In the best interest of my future patients I went to Borders Books today and bought three intimidatingly thick nursing references. Light reading for the next few months, and hopefully, it'll set me into nursing in the 21st century.

I'm winning races now on Friday nights. I guess that's legitimate cycling blog news, but it makes me uncomfortable (or un*com*for*TE*ble, if you're from the Islands) to talk about it. I got interviewed on Cyclingnews.com. It was pretty awesome except for the way I, apparently, since it was a direct quote, changed tenses three times in the same sentence. I blame it on hypoxia. You can blame it on my education if you like.

Training is draining

Hi everyone. Hope you are all well. Estoy muy consada (I'm very tired. But learning a bit of Spanish from the Argentines. Not sure about that whole spelling thing, though). Training has picked up to full speed since I got well. It's not uncommon to have double training sessions several days a week. I'm racing every Tuesday and Friday. So far I've only won little stuff, but I got an especially ugly pic on cyclingnew.com! And the front page of the Lehigh Valley Velodrome website (thevelodrome.com). My time is precious and limited right now. Sorry. Off to do some core work and then go to bed. It would be so handy if I only needed six or seven hours a night, but no such luck. It's more like nine or ten. Adios, amigas. Until later............

Perogies and the Appalachian Trail

Greetings to you from the green state of Pennsylvania! For those of you with whom I haven't maintained contact (and that would be most of you), let me first apologize. It's been an adventure and then some the last month. I left Stl on the brink personal disaster. Stayed in Indianapolis for a few days to race and generally take a breather. My friends Kelly and Chris were kind enough to provide the floor of their spare room and allow me to avoid the inevitable tent experience for a day or two. Driving across Ohio was borderline depressing. About half way into that state I began to wonder about my own state, and seriously contemplated turning around and going home. Then I hit the half way point. And no way was I going back because I'd have to face Ohio all over again!

It rains a lot in Pennsylvania. My tent still stays dry after ten years of use and love. I have pictures - of me camping in the rain, in a blue rain slicker, and my underwear (everything else was wet) - to prove it. Oh, and I slept with a gun. You never know.

I got to the velodrome on a rainy Sunday afternoon, or was it Monday? I can't remember now. No one was around anyhow. And there weren't any campgrounds anywhere nearby. There was one person - Ray Ignosh - the savior who sent me to Walmart for a PA Gazetteer, which did have campgrounds listed relatively nearby. Another really rainy night, luckily the camp host put me on high ground. For $25 a night it sure as heck SHOULD have been on high ground. At that time I didn't have further housing plans other than the ones I was acting out, and it didn't take much math to figure out that at that rate a night I wasn't going to make it more than a few weeks on the money I brought with.

Enter, the Stempa Family. There are some people in this world who deserve higher people points than others, and the Stempas, they are some of those. John, Linda, and Little John invited me into their home on the back side of Blue Mountain. They gave me a bed. They gave me pizza. Ohhh, the pizza! I hadn't been eating too well for while. It may have been the first time in my life I actually knew what "voracious" meant. Best pizza I ever ate.

The Stempas had a friend Michael who lived on the other side of the mountain. Michael must not have thought John was serious when he (John) asked if a homeless cyclist could stay at his place for the summer, because when we showed up at Michael's house day after the pizza............introductions didn't go too well. Back to the Stempa's. One more night with the comforts of Thomas the Tank Engine sheets. Somewhere in the night Michael had a change of heart, th0ugh. I think it had something to do with John calling him and lamenting that I was doomed to live in tent in the rain if he didn't help.

I now live with Michael, and Scott his son. Not only do I have a great abode at the base of Blue Mountain, but neither one of them is ever home and I clean the house once a week in leiu of rent. Not a bad gig at all. Michael is a retired professional motocross racer. He feels the same joy as I do in riding fast. Difference is, he leaves the ground in his pursuit of happiness. I like to keep both wheels connected to the earth. Scott is quiet. He rides a stunt bike (no motor) and is planning a permanent adventure to California here in the next few weeks.

Perogies - balls of mashed potatoes and cheese deep fried until golden brown. Sold at all festival events in this state, including carnivals (I've been to one so far. Every town has one, apparently) and Friday Night Racing at the velodrome.

Appalachian Trail - runs from Springer Mountain, Georgia to Mount Katahdin, Maine - 2,175 miles of single track isolation. It also runs through the Stempa's back yard, practically. They are a designated watering hole in the Thru-hiker Handbook. Strangers shower naked in their back yard and sleep in their garage. Been doing that for eighteen years now. They have a registration book to prove it.

More on Pennsylvania later. And, eventually, I'll get to the track racing.

Out!
Mindi

We have moved!

We decided it was more intuitive to make a blog that shared the characteristics of our website address (www.stlrevolution.com).
So the new blog is located at:
stlrevolution.blogspot.com

Join us there from now on....

See you soon!
-c

Hey MOM, Hey DAD--Heather & Scott Hill-Congratulations!!

Look who's talking!!!
Heather and Scott Hill are proud parents of Zachary Joseph Conrad Hill, born December 8th at 9:39 pm. At 20.5 inches and 8 Lbs, one healthy baby.
Give a round and a cigar everyone!!!
The Hammerfest Hills have to be on cloud nine
Congratulations you two.
C-

Better Late than Never!

Here are the pics from last weekend's trail escapades! Hope to see you all this Sunday, too!
-c

Post Turkey Day Rides

Friday. Some girls want to ride mountain bikes at SIUE campus Edwardsville. Let us know if you are interested, this is a good beginner and intermediate trail!!
314.581.8818
Saturday 11/25-seems to be a grand day to do a long road ride. We will be doing a 50 mile road ride leaving from Augusta at 9 am. There are optional 20 and 30 mile routes for those of you wanting to build up your endurance and time on the bike. Easy, endurance pace, conversation recommended!!! Visit the website for a downloadable map. Start is at Main and Public in Augusta, Mo.

Sunday 11/26-We will be riding at Castlewood at 10 am-call if you have questions or will be running late

Saturday 11/18 & Sunday 11/19

Okay, this is the "fat" for the weekend.

Mountain Bike ride Sunday 11/18 at Castlewood, 9 am.
Weather looks to be around 40-50's, just right for the woods. There will probably be 4-5 of us anyway, so come join us.
For those of you who emailed me and cannot come this weekend, catch us another time and keep checking this blog.
If you are a roadie or want to stay warm, don't forget the spin class this Sunday at the Trek store at 10:30, or catch up on pre-Turkey spin at the Alpine Shop on Tuesdays at 7pm.

Let's get rollin'!!!.

Oh,- we are unofficially riding on Saturday at Chubb, so if you are heading out give us a call.
314.581.8818
Later
C-