Economics

I was such a cute blonde baby.  I did not turn ugly until later in life.

When I was in the 9th grade, my parents were giving a lesson to us children about budgeting and what it cost for our family to live month to month.  We divided up the money into the appropriate piles from our piles of money.  At the end of the discussion, the point was to show there was not enough money for all the bills.  To my parents surprise there was a larger deficit than was planned.  Further investigation found the missing money in my pockets.  To this day I don't know how the money got in my pockets.  Yeah, I know.

My father further tried to illustrate that things, in general, were more expensive than when he was a child.   He told us when he was born the doctor only charged $25.00 for the procedure.   My father compared the cost to the $2000 he paid for my birth. 

Reportedly I said, "Well, I guess you get what you pay for..."  Luckily my father found that humorous, everyone had a good laugh, and I did not have to run for my life.  At least that time.

I guess that's why I have a B.S. in Economics.  Yeah, I know.

Eddy Merckx Corsa Extra

This is my all time favorite Eddy Merckx model and colorway.  It is the Panasonic Team Bike made for Aussie Phil Anderson and the Panasonic team in the 80's.  Of course, it is built with Campagnolo components.  I tried to buy a frameset at the time but they were elusive and I am still chasing that unicorn.

Le Blaireau

Bernard Hinault was nicknamed Le Blaireau (the Badger) because the animal has the reputation of not letting go of his prey. Throughout his career, he's been known for his personality: independent, outspoken, quick to take offense and quick with a riposte. In an interview in the French magazine, Vélo, however, Hinault said the nickname had nothing to do with the animal. He said it was a local cyclists' way of saying "mate" or "buddy" in his youth - "How's it going, badger?" - and that it came to refer to him personally.

I don't know about that.  He surely raced like the above described badger.  I loved the way he made Greg LeMond cry during the Tour de France in 1986.  Greg had helped Hinault win his final Tour de France in 1985 and Hinault had allegedly promised to help Greg do the same in 1986.  Bernard Hinault did his best to win the '86 Tour but was held back by his injured knee.  Greg sure did call the Waaa Waaa  Wambulance.

Hinault was a boss of the peloton or "le Patron". He was prominent in a riders' strike at Valence d'Agen in the 1978 Tour to protest against split stages, in which the riders had to ride a stage in the morning and another in the afternoon. He also imposed discipline and often cooperation among riders, once decreeing that "there will be no attacks today because tomorrow's stage will be difficult". He was respected by riders but feared by many for his temperament. If he felt slighted by another rider he would use his strength to humiliate the offender. To the public, Hinault was often arrogant, remote, and shy of publicity. When an interviewer suggested he devote more attention to fans, Hinault replied, “ "I race to win, not to please people ".

He is one of only five cyclists to have won all three Grand Tours, and the only cyclist to have won each more than once.  He won the Tour de France five times.

Hinault has lost none of his fire in recent years: upon seeing a protester jump onto the podium at the end of stage 3 of 2008's Tour de France, in front of the winner - Samuel Dumoulin -, Hinault leapt forward without hesitation and shoved the protester off the podium.  Cool.

He began cycling in 1974.   Eddy Merckx won his last Tour de France in 1975.  It is fitting that their careers overlapped that way. 

I miss that generation.  Number one and number two of all time in my book.

Rusty Wiener Dog

When my wife and I were juniors in high school, Jeannelle spotted a little red dog hanging around her neighbor's house. It was clear the little dog was lost and was trying to find sanctuary. She rescued the little long haired dachshund and somehow he became the Walker family pet.

Rusty was a fearless little dog and protected hearth and home with all his might. There was a path around the house in Buhl made by his "rounds". Rusty would follow my mother around the house like a shadow.

Rusy could only make it up the stairs from the basement with a head of steam. One day, my friend Dan White halted Rusty's progress halfway up to give Rusty a pat on the head. Rusty glared at Dan balefully and never really forgave him for the mistep.

At one point, the original alleged owners dognapped the little dog for ransom. They said they would sell the dog back along with the official papers. My father paid the ransom but we never received the papers.

When my parents moved to American Falls, Rusty moved with them. One day, he was injured fatally and my father used his .22 pistol to put Rusty out of his misery. My father was so shaken by the event he dropped the pistol chipping the wooden grip. The pistol still sports the chip.

I really loved that little dog.

LIVESTRONG DAY

On 10.02.10 the LIVESTRONG community will come together to raise awareness of the 28 million people living with cancer worldwide.

Lance Armstrong was diagnosed with cancer on 10.02.96.

The yellow wristband has become a universally recognized symbol of the fight against cancer. I have worn a yellow wristband since May of 2004 when they were first available. I wear mine in memory of my father.

This October 2nd, turn some heads and join the fight against cancer by wearing yellow on LIVESTRONG Day.

Wear yellow on October 2nd.

Funeral Planning and Doo Doo

A couple of days after my Dad died, in 1998, a group of us went to the funeral home to make service and burial arrangements. The gaggle included my my mother Verna, Lorin, Charlotte, Jeanie and myself . We met with Mordecai the Mortician. That was not his real name but it was after I proclaimed it so. (My mother still corrects me about his name but I insist.) We sat down in a conference room with a long table. Mordecai sat at the head of the table with my mother on his right and Lorin on his left. Charlotte was next to Verna and Jeanie and I sat facing each other at the other end of the table.

Mordecai began to tell us of the options available to us but with a twist. He would say, "There are several programs and options but if you do do the supreme package, you get this list of features. And if you do do the moderate package you get this list of features. But if you do do the basic package you only get these features."

No, Charlotte, the "do do"s are not typos. Mordecai kept the "do do"s coming hot and heavy. Jeanie and I were trying extremely hard not to laugh as the "doo doo"s kept rolling off of Mordecai's tongue. The only thing that was saving our loss of control of reverant demeanor was we were working very hard not to look at each other.

Suddenly, after several more "doo doo"s, Jeanie and I looked at each other. That was all she wrote and we burst into raucous laughter and I almost blew snot out my nose. The reactions of the others were textbook for each person. Charlotte looked over at us, startled, and said, "What...What...!?!?" Lorin looked at us with a knowing and tolerant nod. Mother looked at us, then at Mordecai, and said, "Oh never mind, they will tell me later." Jeanie and I leapt from our chairs, flew through the foyer of the funeral home and out into the fresh air.

Our deep grief and sorrow could take no more "doo doo" assaults from Mordecai and the laughter released our tears and anguish into the light, sunny air. I am sure my Dad could hear us laughing and I still imagine him smiling and understanding.

Thanks Mordecai...

The Beat Goes On...

Labor day brought about another epic game of basketball in the City of Trees. We started quite earlier to make space for the remainder of events of the day.

Early morning found Sam, Lorin, Mickerson, Davis, Alex and myself on the hardwood. We played about 5 or six games switching up the teams so everyone could play with different relatives. Okay, actually we mixed it up so Davis could beat up on everyone more or less equally. Gus was a no show, not only in the morning, but for the whole day. I hope he isn't AWOL. Chris and Art were missed also.

Andrew recorded the entirety of the exquisite roundball ballet on video in his usual excellent manner.

I felt very bereft as my trash talking did not come easily or often. Usually the trash talk is what I enjoy the most. Mine was pretty weak this day. The success of my left hand shots sort of made up for it, I guess.

Mike wore his Space Jams. I did pull mine out of the box and then I put them back. I then pulled out my green Ray Ray Icons but put them back. Too pretty and too new. I did take my new white/black/red Air Jordan IXs to the gym but they stayed in the bag. At least they made it to the gym. I am not handling loss right now and wearing them would have entailed loss. I wore my shoemergency XX3s and they were great. Lorin wore his classic Air Jordan Carolina 13s that we got in Twin Falls in 1997. They still rock. Mike....it is the shoes...!

We finished the day with Mike and I doing our required and epic free throw contest, followed by a three point shoot out. We tied on the free throws (8 of 10) and I barely beat him in three points shots (I shot 2 of 3 and he shot 1 of 3). This was opposite of our shoot out last month. Except then he beat me badly in free throws.

I announced that the loser would again buy extra large Boston shakes at the Fanci Freeze. This announcement was met with groans of agony and much gnashing of teeth. Hence, no brain freeze or sugar overdoses were experienced. Bummer.

I was trying to think of the last time I had a lousy time playing ball. Unsuccessful. There are only two other experiences in life that come close to playing ball.

Yeah, I know...

Just For The Hal Of It

A straight does beat three of a kind but not in this instance.

To Ride Far

These are some of the cats I ride with. I am usually the youngster in the group. I guess that is why I am sitting in the chair. Gotta ride...!