Blue Skies

Yesterday morning's rain ushered in a mild cool front and this morning we are treated to clear blue skies and the promise of three days of 0% rain probability. With lows in the 40s and highs in the 50s and 60s, what more could you ask of a December weekend? As I look out from my rooftop office window, there is a huge U.S. flag flying atop the Entergy Tower building, held taught by a brisk North wind.

The Friday morning training ride is usually sparcely attended. There are typically only two or three of us. This morning was a bit different, though, as a number of riders who had been feeling mileage deprived because of the recent rains showed up. Jeff, Rob and Matt headed out a bit faster than normal from the start, and when we met up with a few of the riders who had parked at the Jefferson Playground, they didn't ease up to let them turn around and catch. I backed off with Robin and eventually Jeff backed off as well, but we never saw Rob and Matt again. Got in a nice ride, though, although maybe a little easier than I should have been riding. At least The Tooth seems to be calming down and isn't bothering me much any more.

Tonight is the Christmas party for the Psychiatry department, which is tied in with a meeting they are having all weekend, so I'll hit the party, scarf up some free food and wine, and then get to spend the night at the hotel before heading out before dawn so I can make the Saturday Giro ride, which I predict will be fast. Sunday we have a long slow endurance ride scheduled across the lake. It'll be over an hour's drive to get to the start, so I hope we have a decent turnout. Being one of Bob Hodges' typical circuitous routes, I should probably check my brake pads before the ride because there's a turn about every three miles. He is promising that there are some nice little hills, though, so hopefully it will be worth the drive. The weather should be nothing less than spectacular.

The Daughter starts exams next week, and then heads home on Friday for her first visit back here since early August, but with the gymnastics cometitive season starting the first week of January, she'll be back on the road for Iowa the day after christmas. What's she want for christmas? Heart-rate monitor. (Well, hear-rate monitor and a CAR.) She'll get one of those, although for now christmas shopping is on hold until I get reimbursed for that root-canal!