Utah House Bill 49

Deni and I went on our last "long" bike ride before our race next Saturday. We drove to my parents house in Springville (where we left the kids with my parents) then rode into Provo.

As we left my parents house, they mentioned it was about 16 miles roundtrip from their house to the MTC. So we headed towards the MTC.

As I went down my parents street, I was able to get up to about 35 miles per hour without peddling. It was nice, however I knew I'd have to ride up that same hill at the very end of our ride. I then turned and headed towards my sisters house (which has another huge hill, however this one we had to ride up). According to my sister, I "made" Deni go up the hill. I don't remember making Deni do anything on our ride. We continued on into Provo and had a fairly good ride, however Deni had a close call with a van that refused to change lanes and give her room as we road on the edge of the road (on the white line) on Hwy 89. I wish I would have been able to get their license plate number and reported them. Eariler this year a car drove up along side of a cyclist and hit him on his back, he got the license plate number and called the police to press charges. This will be the first attempt to prosecute using Utah House Bill 49.

Utah House Bill 49
prohibits an operator of a motor vehicle from knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly operating a motor vehicle within three feet of a moving bicycle, unless the operator of the motor vehicle operates the motor vehicle within a reasonable and safe distance of the bicycle.

We continued on to the MTC and then road up and around the Provo Temple. We headed back to South Provo and stopped at Mad Dog Cycles to make a few purchases for our bikes. We then continued back the same way we came and back to my parents house. With our detours, we went about 18 miles, not too bad of a ride.

Sweating Chlorine

As I was doing my daily work out today during lunch and I started to smell Chlorine. Since there isn't a pool at the Novell onsite gym and no one else was around, I knew the chlorine smell was coming from me.

I swam yesterday and no matter how many times I shower, it's impossible to get the chlorine smell off me. The joys of training for Triathlons.

Time is getting near. I have 1.5 weeks until the first big race of the summer.

Running back to work

Ever since I started a vanpool (through Utah Transportation Authority -UTA) 2 months ago, I haven't been able to consistently swim twice I week like I have wanted to. Because we lease a van though UTA for the vanpool, they are pretty strict on the mileage and only give us a few "personal" miles a month. In an attempt to get my swim in today, I had a co-worker drop me off at the Provo pool where I was going to do my swim and then run back to work (which is about 5k away).

I didn't take anything with me other than my shoes and shirt, so I wouldn't have to run carrying anything.

I swam a 1/2 mile, dried off, got my shoes on and 4 minutes after getting out of the pool, I was running back to work. As I started running I got stomach cramps, which is always fun at the beginning of your run. I pushed through it and had a slow run, but it was good.

I ran right back to the Novell onsite gym, showered and then headed back to work.

Exercising is expensive

Time is getting short for our last minute training before the 2008 Spring Salem Triathlon. Deni and I decided to hire a babysitter for this morning so that we could go train together in Salem. We left the house at 9:30am. We were riding by about 9:50am. I planned on riding more up Payson Canyon but the wind was horrible this morning so I just rode the 20k bike route.

Deni left about 5 to 10 minutes before I did and I was attempting to catch her but never was able to. I did pass her, but I still had about a half of a mile to climb up Payson Canyon as she was flying down the canyon. I continued up the hill to the turn around point and started flying down myself. Payson Canyon Road isn't the smoothest road I've ridden, but I was able to stay right around 28-31 mph all the way down the Canyon. I never did catch up to Deni. I finished the ride in just over 42 minutes. Deni had finished a few minutes ahead of me, but had dropped her bike, transitioned to the run and ran the 5k race route while I waited for her. I saw her running across the bridge as I came into the parking lot. Deni finished her run just in time for me to load the bikes and make it home by 11:30am. 2 hrs at 2 bucks per kid per hour, that's $8 bucks for Deni and I to exercise together. $8 bucks may not sound too expensive, but if we do it each week, that's $32 bucks a month just to exercise together. Exercising is expensive! If I went to a movie and spent $8 bucks, I could at least say I spent $8 bucks for a movie. All I can say is I spent $8 to ride my bike up a big hill without my kids. WhooooHoooo.

Actually the time is well spent. One of the biggest reasons I wanted to start doing triathlons was to beat Deni, uh, I mean spend more time with Deni. Yeah spending more time is good. It's always a good feeling to go riding with Deni. I look forward to being able to bike with her into our Golden years, when we can tour around the United States on bikes.

The rest of the day we spent in our yard. A flowerbed on the side of our hose was so overgrown with weeds, I had forgotten that there were actual plants under those weeds. It's amazing how nice it looks now. When Deni and I were about 90% complete, she reminded me that I should have taken before and after pictures. As we were weeding, we found 4 or 5 different bugs that I've never seen before. We gathered them up for Ryan (as he loves bugs, and learning about bugs) and put them in his bug catcher. We also harvest worms (Deni found them but wouldn't touch them) for a potential fishing trip on Monday.

Deni's favorite 6 little words

I took today off. With Monday being a holiday, I decided I should turn a 3 day weekend into a 4 day weekend.

As soon as I woke up Deni said, "Let's go running." My response was "But it's my day off, I don't want to run right now, how about later today." Deni said "But it's gorgeous outside right now, let's go now." It was gorgeous outside, sunny, a little cool, but a perfect day.Apparently I'm more stubborn than Deni, as she gave up and we decided to run later in the afternoon.

We ate lunch around 12:30pm then headed out to Salem to run the race route for our race on June 7th. As we drove to Salem it started raining. On top of the rain, it was already chilly outside, 48 degrees to be exact, but because I was more stubborn this morning, I got what was coming to me. As we left on our 5k run pushing Sydney in the rain, Deni heard her favorite 6 words. "You were right, I was wrong."

The run wasn't too bad but was not great. 28 minutes for 5k. There are a few good hills on the run. Pushing Sydney made the run a little harder, so I'm hoping for a faster time in the race as I won't be pushing her.

Disclaimer: No children were cold or wet during the duration of our 5k run. Sydney was in our jogging stroller which has a cover to keep out the weather. She also had a blanket inside listening to Deni's ipod and singing. (which was fun to listen to, as she couldn't hear herself.)

A really long time

Tonight was Sydney's dance recital. Deni has a running class at UVU, so I was in charge of getting Sydney to the dance recital on time. We got there about 5:45pm and I helped her get into her first outfit. The recital started at 6:30pm and lasted for about an hour. As I sat down and saw other parents holding flowers for their daughters I knew I was in trouble. I remembered last year and feeling like I should have gotten Sydney some flowers, but forgot this year.

Sydney was cute, as usual, and great in the 3 little dances she did. The theme was "The Wizard of Oz".

Here is a quick video clip of Sydney dancing. I was videoing and Ryan was manning our digital camera, so Ryan took this video. Not too bad for a 7 year old. Sydney is on the far left of the video. I love her watching her look over her shoulder then twrilling around.




After the recital, Sydney saw alot of the other girls getting flowers and said to me, "Dad, where's my prize?" Of course I felt bad and quickly said, "Let's go to the store and get you a prize, what do you want?" She said "Bubble gum". So we drove to the grocery store and she got her a pack of bubble gum tape. It looks like I got off easy this year, but next year I won't forget the flowers.

Ryan and Sydney after the dance recital.



Sydney the dancer.




Deni and I usually take turns putting the kids to bed. Ryan normally gravitates to Deni and Sydney to me, however we usually switch every night. I enjoy putting both to bed, however Ryan always thinks that I put him to bed the night before (meaning he really wants Deni to put him to bed most of the time.) In this case, he was right, I did put him to bed the night before, however I put both kids to bed as Deni was gone to her running class.

As I knelt down to say prayers with Ryan we had the following conversation:

Ryan: Dad, It's been a really long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long time since Mom has put me to bed.

Me: Ryan, how many long's was that?

Ryan: About 8 or 9.

Ryan always makes me laugh.

Yard work

I've always struggled keeping weeds out of the flowerbeds in our backyard, especially the flowerbed that sits infront of our back fence. As I was walking to my carpool one morning this past week, I looked over the back fence to see why so many weeds come under the fence and into my yard. Both of the neighbors behind me have grass go right up the fence and it was quite tall. So I decided I was going to go in their backyard, weedeat their side of the fence and then spray some grass/weed killer so that it doesn't come through the fence. I'm brilliant. I wish I would have thought of that 2 years ago when I moved in.

So tonight, armed with a weedeater and grass/weed killer, I knocked on my neighbors doors and asked if I could weedeat and then spray their back fence (its actually my fence, just their side of my fence). It was kind of awkward asking them, however after they agreed that I could do it, I think the 20 minutes I spent in their backyards will help me keep the weeds down in my yard. Who knows, now that I've knocked on their door and done it for them once, maybe they'll keep it up so I don't have to do it again. Either way, I'd rather do it than have to constantly weed the back flowerbed.

I was also able to finish a few other yard things I've been attempting to accomplish for a while but haven't had the time. I finished automating my garden spots. No more watering for me. It's all programed. All 3 garden spots, as well as the 3 raspberry boxes. Now that the garden is planted and the water is automated, all I have to do is wait a few months and I'll have fruits and vegetables.

I was also able to mow and fertilize the lawn. I really enjoy mowing the lawn. I know people think I'm weird for saying that, but I truly enjoy it. I'm not sure why I like mowing lawns so much, but maybe I like mowing lawns because of the successful lawn business I had as a kid, maybe not. I'm pretty picky on lawn mowing. I usually mow my lawn at an angle, today as I mowed, I mowed at an 90 degree angle from the last mowing. When I was finished, my lawn looked like the baseball fields you see on TV. Deni says I won't let her mow the lawn, which is not true. I'll let her mow the lawn, I just want her to mow it a certain way, which is probably why I always mow the lawn. It's like vacuuming, it always looks nice when you have the vacuum lines straight in the carpet. Ok maybe I have OCD.

What a 28 mile bike ride does to you

This is what a 28 mile bike ride does to you when you forget to put on sunblock.



And, yes it hurts.

With 3 weeks until our first triathlon of the season, we took advantage of a Primary activity (that both our kids went to) and Deni and I took a long bike ride today. We left our house and headed into Salem, more specifically to Salem Pond. From there we rode the race route we will be racing in 3 weeks. It starts at Salem Pond and heads into Payson and up Payson canyon. It was a beautiful clear day, not too hot, not too cold, but apparently perfect for getting a sun burn.

All in all we rode 28 miles. 28 miles sounds like a long way, however once you've ridden 28 miles, what's another 10 miles or so. I wanted to keep going, however we had to get back to pick up the kids so we headed back to the church to get them.

I am Ironman

Novell is notorious for taking their employees to movies. In the past, they've even bought out multiple showings of a movie on opening day. Today I worked from 8 until 12:30. My director bought lunch for all of us and then we headed off to watch Ironman as a group. Ryan is quite jealous that I'm going to see Ironman. All he knows of Ironman is what he sees in commercials, which appear to be very persuasive for him.

The movie was really good. But probably not appropriate for a 7 year old, which is why he won't see if for a long time. After the movie, I headed back to work and finalized a few things but didn't get too much work done before I left at 4:30pm to go home. I could learn to enjoy these type of work days. They don't come too often, a few times a year, but they sure are great.

When I got home, I decide that I was going to put on my aero bars on my bike. I ended up putting them on mine and Deni's. I've had my aero bars for months and Deni just recently got a pair for her bike. We hope to go on a long bike ride tomorrow and try them out.

Continuing Education

I got home tonight and I could tell Deni was feeling rushed. I had forgotten she signed up for a running class through Utah Valley University Continuing education and tonight was the first night of the 6 week class.

We ate dinner and then Deni was off. The kids and I planted most of the garden. Around 8pm I put them to bed. Both of them wanted me to read to them, but it was getting dark and I needed to get the rest of the garden planted, so I told them both to read to themselves and turn their lights off when they were finished. I went back out and finished planting and watering the garden. When I came in I fully expected both the kids to either still be awake or for both of them to have their lights on and be asleep holding a book. I was wrong, both of them were a sleep and the lights were out. I felt bad that I didn't take the time to read to them tonight. I'm very blessed to have book worms for kids. Ryan more than Sydney, however once Sydney learns to read, I think she will take off. Usually we try to read to the kids each night at bed time.

Ryan and I are reading a fiction LDS book by C.B. Andersen that his Grandma Bigler bought for him while she was here a few weeks ago. It's fun to read with Ryan.

Since Deni was already up in Orem for her running class, she decided to take advantage of her favorite babysitter (me) and go swimming as well. Which was ok, as the kids were already in bed, I had already worked out during lunch and my favorite TV show (LOST) was on. Deni won't watch LOST with me, so it worked out perfectly, however she didn't get home until after 10pm.