I committed to do the Rouge-Roubaix bike race on March 13th down in St. Francisville. As I signed up online I was wondering if this was smart...still not sure but I've paid the money and I guess I gotta go. The Rouge is in its 13th year and I've done three of the races with the last one being in 2004. It wasn't a very good race then because I wasn't in shape for it and really shouldn't have been there. So I've wanted to go back and try to redeem myself but most of the time it didn't work out. So now I'm going to do it and, like the the marathon, it'll be a matter of getting into shape. The Rouge-Roubaix itself is a 100+ mile bicycle race with about 24 miles of the course on country backroads on dirt and gravel surfaces. It's a hard race and considered to be one of the toughest in these here United States. If you're not in position to contend then you're in a position hoping to just survive. Then when you finish...after swearing you'll never do this race again...you start thinking about how you could do it better next year.
So, yesterday, I went out on my first official training ride for the Rouge. That means a long ride...in this case, about 70 miles...and I went with a few guys who took me on a 265-minute journey thru parts of Caddo and DeSoto Parishes that I'd never been on before. More than half of that ride was on country backroads to simulate some of the sections of the race. They were on mountain bikes and I was the only one on a road bike which means I have no suspension to soften the pounding I would take as I went around, over, and through potholes, bumps, mud, and whatever else you don't normally see on a smooth road. It was actually an enjoyable ride although I did get shook up quite a bit and joked that I thought I had loosen up any blood clots that I might have had, if any. My bike seemed to survive okay but it'll need some cleaning. Here's the LINK to photos of the route that someone else had taken a couple of years earlier. When we rode it, the roads were drier and well packed but we did come across a number of rocky areas including a 1/2 mile of fresh dropped white gravel rock that I had to struggle with to keep upright. Basically you have to keep pedaling the bike...if you stop at any point you'll either fall over or will have to dismount. You won't be able to get back on and ride again, you can only walk out of the mess. I managed to stay on the bike but it took lots of concentration to keep myself from falling on those rocks!
So, yeah, my legs are tired but I'll give them an easy spin late this afternoon before I give the Centenary kids a time trial fitness test. They have a busy semester ahead of them if they want to do the races and they'll have to train. Oh, yeah, and study for their classes, too!
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Wednesday, January 05, 2011
My Step-Mother is a Thief
Wow, it's been a long time since I last posted here, hasn't it? The master bath is finished and it looks great! I'll post a photo sometime later. The holidays and most of this month is all about spending money...and I've reached a point in my life where I hate to spend money. It's a necessary evil but I don't have to like it. The obvious for December is the holidays and getting gifts, going to parties, and such. In January it's all about my truck repairs, dog bi-yearly exams, getting the first flight reservations for our trip to Oz a year from now, getting racing licenses, and buying new racing uniforms. Yuk.....
Anyway, more to come on all that later. As to the headline for this entry, it's true. My step-mother is a thief. I don't say that lightly but with all seriousness. Right now, until she issues a proper apology and offers reparations, I don't intend to have anything more to do with her the rest of my life. It is genuinely all about the principle of the thing.
We had gone to my Dad's house Christmas Eve to spend some time with him and the step-in-laws, most of whom I like and enjoy seeing. I had brought most of the presents, my computer, and other things in a plastic tub so it'd be easier to carry them. The laptop computer was so Jonnene and I could see her family open presents...via Skype...down in Australia on their Christmas morning. After emptying out the plastic tub I noticed that I had included two small packages that I had not meant to bring along...presents, for a couple of other people, of chocolate that I had ordered from a place representing a company in New Zealand. I had gotten Jonnene a whole bunch of the stuff as a present for her. I put them back in the tub to bring back home.
Thing was, I forgot to bring the tub home. At least I didn't forget the computer! I decided that I would get the tub later when the Christmas holiday was past and there was no hurry to get the small packages, wrapped but with no name tags, to the folks I intended for them. I had to go back to Dad's anyway since I had unfortunately duplicated a present he had already received and I would substitute something else for him instead.
So...Monday morning I'm on my way to Dad's and I called while driving to make sure everyone was home. The step-mother answered the call and, after a short chat, I mentioned that I was also going to pick up the tub with the two small presents in it that I'd left in Dad's office last Friday night. Then she said, with surprise, that she didn't know those were presents! She wasn't sure who they belonged to, so she had opened them and consumed the contents! She had eaten two large bars of chocolate in two days not knowing why the chocolate was there or who they were intended for. She had made no attempt to find out who they belonged to, didn't call anybody to inquire. She told me that she was sorry about that, but that the deed was done. She said, "I wish I could take it back but I can't." And she said it very abruptly with no sound of remorse in her voice. Not even an offer to make up for it. I was stunned and just said I'd be there in a little while to get the tub and drop off Dad's gift.
As I drove up to the house, I was getting more angry about what happened. The packages were wrapped in gift paper...there were no name tags...they were found in a plastic tub, not under the tree or in a place where a "secret Santa" might have left them as obvious presents to her. She had taken it upon herself to open them and eat them. Did she think for a minute that somebody might be calling to ask about them? I couldn't believe the height of arrogance displayed here.
I came into the house and gave Dad his present, which he appreciated, and we talked for a bit about other things. The step-mother came in during that time with a small holiday-styled sack that contained some of her home-made fudge and something else that was wrapped up. She said that she hoped I would accept it as a substitute for the other packages. I told her that it wouldn't (this was fudge that was already in her house, that she could have eaten instead of wolving down the New Zealand chocs...I found it a weak substitute, totally inadequate). She replied as she walked down the hall that that I could take it or leave it. It was up to me. I decided to leave it and put it on a table in Dad's office. If I had accepted it then I would have been giving her a pass and forgiveness for taking something that didn't belong to her. She had offered a poor substitute as compensation plus no offer of money to replace what she had eaten.
It was the principle of the thing and I couldn't forgive that unless she was willing to admit that she did the wrong thing and was truly sorry. I wasn't getting that from her at all. In fact, her tone was such that it felt like she was trying to make me the villain for leaving the chocolate which "tempted" her to open and consume it! I felt no guilt and I knew who was at fault. If I had left anything else, would that mean she was free to take it, too? Did it matter if it was an item of small value or did it mean more if it was an expensive item?
No. It doesn't matter the value. She stole. She made no resonable attempt to compensate or try to realize what she had done. She didn't even ask the nature of the gift....as far as she was concerned it was just some chocolate I probably bought at Wal-Mart or Target. It was much more than that but I'm not going to bother telling her unless I have to. I've never trusted her that much in all the time I've known her but this was the final straw. I do not intend to do anything that involves her if it's within my ability to do. If I ever do have to deal with her it'll be because I have to and can't avoid it. But, essentially, I'm done with her.
Eventually I'll have to explain this to Dad when a future situation calls for it. I don't know what he'll think of that. If he defends her I'll understand. I won't be upset at him for doing that. I'd defend Jonnene in an instant if she were accused of something, false or not. In this case, I just hope Dad and I will be okay with each other.
Anyway, more to come on all that later. As to the headline for this entry, it's true. My step-mother is a thief. I don't say that lightly but with all seriousness. Right now, until she issues a proper apology and offers reparations, I don't intend to have anything more to do with her the rest of my life. It is genuinely all about the principle of the thing.
We had gone to my Dad's house Christmas Eve to spend some time with him and the step-in-laws, most of whom I like and enjoy seeing. I had brought most of the presents, my computer, and other things in a plastic tub so it'd be easier to carry them. The laptop computer was so Jonnene and I could see her family open presents...via Skype...down in Australia on their Christmas morning. After emptying out the plastic tub I noticed that I had included two small packages that I had not meant to bring along...presents, for a couple of other people, of chocolate that I had ordered from a place representing a company in New Zealand. I had gotten Jonnene a whole bunch of the stuff as a present for her. I put them back in the tub to bring back home.
Thing was, I forgot to bring the tub home. At least I didn't forget the computer! I decided that I would get the tub later when the Christmas holiday was past and there was no hurry to get the small packages, wrapped but with no name tags, to the folks I intended for them. I had to go back to Dad's anyway since I had unfortunately duplicated a present he had already received and I would substitute something else for him instead.
So...Monday morning I'm on my way to Dad's and I called while driving to make sure everyone was home. The step-mother answered the call and, after a short chat, I mentioned that I was also going to pick up the tub with the two small presents in it that I'd left in Dad's office last Friday night. Then she said, with surprise, that she didn't know those were presents! She wasn't sure who they belonged to, so she had opened them and consumed the contents! She had eaten two large bars of chocolate in two days not knowing why the chocolate was there or who they were intended for. She had made no attempt to find out who they belonged to, didn't call anybody to inquire. She told me that she was sorry about that, but that the deed was done. She said, "I wish I could take it back but I can't." And she said it very abruptly with no sound of remorse in her voice. Not even an offer to make up for it. I was stunned and just said I'd be there in a little while to get the tub and drop off Dad's gift.
As I drove up to the house, I was getting more angry about what happened. The packages were wrapped in gift paper...there were no name tags...they were found in a plastic tub, not under the tree or in a place where a "secret Santa" might have left them as obvious presents to her. She had taken it upon herself to open them and eat them. Did she think for a minute that somebody might be calling to ask about them? I couldn't believe the height of arrogance displayed here.
I came into the house and gave Dad his present, which he appreciated, and we talked for a bit about other things. The step-mother came in during that time with a small holiday-styled sack that contained some of her home-made fudge and something else that was wrapped up. She said that she hoped I would accept it as a substitute for the other packages. I told her that it wouldn't (this was fudge that was already in her house, that she could have eaten instead of wolving down the New Zealand chocs...I found it a weak substitute, totally inadequate). She replied as she walked down the hall that that I could take it or leave it. It was up to me. I decided to leave it and put it on a table in Dad's office. If I had accepted it then I would have been giving her a pass and forgiveness for taking something that didn't belong to her. She had offered a poor substitute as compensation plus no offer of money to replace what she had eaten.
It was the principle of the thing and I couldn't forgive that unless she was willing to admit that she did the wrong thing and was truly sorry. I wasn't getting that from her at all. In fact, her tone was such that it felt like she was trying to make me the villain for leaving the chocolate which "tempted" her to open and consume it! I felt no guilt and I knew who was at fault. If I had left anything else, would that mean she was free to take it, too? Did it matter if it was an item of small value or did it mean more if it was an expensive item?
No. It doesn't matter the value. She stole. She made no resonable attempt to compensate or try to realize what she had done. She didn't even ask the nature of the gift....as far as she was concerned it was just some chocolate I probably bought at Wal-Mart or Target. It was much more than that but I'm not going to bother telling her unless I have to. I've never trusted her that much in all the time I've known her but this was the final straw. I do not intend to do anything that involves her if it's within my ability to do. If I ever do have to deal with her it'll be because I have to and can't avoid it. But, essentially, I'm done with her.
Eventually I'll have to explain this to Dad when a future situation calls for it. I don't know what he'll think of that. If he defends her I'll understand. I won't be upset at him for doing that. I'd defend Jonnene in an instant if she were accused of something, false or not. In this case, I just hope Dad and I will be okay with each other.
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