Dennis B Murphy >>>>>>>>>>

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April 2007

4.25.07: Raced the MilkJug race last night- was the LAST one in on three laps (14 miles). Jeez the hills kill. When I get back from vacation I am doing hills at least three or four times a week to build my climbing skills. The Cannonsburg Ski Area trail is the best trail in the metro Grand Rapids area. The new re-routes the MMBA cut in last summer are tricky and challenging- the trail there is so skinny that if you drift to the left your bike will slide out underneath you downhill. But riding too close inside you risk hitting the right pedal on the hillside, it's that skinny and tight. On lap two I had a guy on my wheel, I think he was trying to keep with me on this tricky technical section but I was flying pretty good there and just after I went through an especially tricky section, I heard a crash. He'd done just that- sliding his front wheel out, apparently, just as I described above.

Only two more work days til vacation- Cannot wait! I haven't had a vacation for a couple years so it will be a welcomed break.

4.19.07: Biggest news!! We go to Ireland April 30 for a week for vacation. I am not actively looking for a new job as I like what I am doing at JCI and like the unit I work in- great group. BUT.. I couldn't pass up the opportunity- I've always wanted to work in Europe so I sent my resume to some placement companies and asked what was involved in working in Ireland. I found that I need a work permit ($500EU) which sometimes is paid by the companies hiring. Well- one placement company got me an interview! May 2nd I interview with a manufacturing company in Galway. Should I get hired, it will mean a relocation to the Emerald Isle. Stay tuned.

4.18.07: Got to ride a bit of road and a small trail in a city Park in Ann Arbor with my friend Steve Tuesday. I had to go to the Detroit area for work and thus missed the first MilkJug race that night, though I paid for the whole series. Brenden went and raced, endo-ing twice apparently.

Only four more days to the Yankee Springs Time Trial- the chapter has put in a lot of time to make this event go well. We had a good race committee with Martin performing a lot of project manager type organization, Sue handling money, Jason working on sponsor swag, Tim coordinating some free stuff like bagels and managing the trail. I spent most time working with the chip timing company, Gault Race Management, and BikeReg.com to get registrations organized. I spent many hours this week stuffing nearly 600 swag bags, then getting BIB numbers organized. Mostly all that's left now is to download the pre-registered racer list Friday at midnight, sort by category and date registered, assign numbers- then print (as well as email to Gault).

Found this comic funny- I am not a big Dilbert fan but this one was good.

4.16.07: Long time between posts- busy busy busy. Yankee Springs race details are coming together and nearing a close. I have only to organize the race numbers and assign numbers this coming Saturday. After that, all activity is trailside. I haven't gotten much riding in- a lap at Yankee last Sunday. I will try to get a couple rides in this week, three or four next week- then vacation.

4.3.07: WOW April already. So I brought my bike down to Marysville Ohio for a work trip Sunday night. I thought maybe Monday I'd get a chance to at least road-ride a bit. The weather was great. But work obligations threw a wrench and I found I would not have the evening off after 5pm like I'd planned. So I zoomed to the hotel and geared up and went for a quick 50 minute ride from the hotel into the Ohio countryside. Five minutes from the hotel and you are in cow country here.

After I got back, showered and returned to work at 5pm- working on various issues, I finally left for the evening about 7pm. I found a chinese takeout and ordered a vegetable/tofu spicy dish and went to the hotel. I was looking forward to the Harp beer I'd picked up from the party store (a drive through party store, incidently. They seem common here but not in Michigan). I get to the hotel, change out of work clothes, pop the DVD James Bond movie into the computer, get my dinner ready, then turn around to the hotel fridge to grab a beer..... NO BEER! Apparently, housekeeping took it, thinking the room was checked out. I complained to second shift at the desk but they were of little help. So I run back to the party store to get another six pack and return to the room to watch video and eat dinner. The hotel manager was cool the next morning, refunding my ten bucks.