Monthly Archive for January, 2008

Looking for love

Published on January 31, 2008 in Thoughts. 1 Comment Tags: , , , .

Chip and Tim have some thoughts on how relationships are done.  There is Hollywood’s way and God’s way.  Each has four steps.

Hollywood’s Way:

  1. Find the right person
  2. Fall in love
  3. Fix your hopes and dreams on this person for your future fulfillment
  4. If failure occurs, quit, and start over
    • This is the one that bothers me the most…

God’s Way:

  1. Instead of looking for the right person, become the right person.  If you attempt to build intimacy with a person before you’ve done the hard work of becoming a whole and healthy person, every relationship will be an attempt to complete the hole in your heart and the lack of what you don’t have.  That relationship will end in disaster.  So make yourself whole and good first.  Then seek a relationship.  Heck, don’t even seek one, wait for one.
  2. Instead of falling in love, walk in love.  Or just take it slow.
  3. Instead of fixing your hopes and dreams on another person, fix your hope on God and seek to please him through this relationship.
  4. If failure occurs, repeat steps 1-3.  This may sound the same as Hollywood.  But the difference is that you don’t give up.  When it comes to relationships, failure isn’t a question of if, but when.  And when it happens, remember steps 1-3.  Don’t give up and find somebody new, just remember.

Now that’s a lot to think about…

Insuadibilis

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Why do you wear clothes?

Published on January 31, 2008 in Thoughts. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

I’ve been reading this book called Sex180 by Chip Ingram and Tim Walker.  It’s been pretty good.  The last couple chapters have been awesome though, so I figure I better write a post while I have internet.

I like to look good just as much as the next guy.  Sometimes, I really don’t care.  But sometimes I like to look good.  Maybe I don’t really know why.  But what does our culture say we should think?  The current way to attract is via sex appeal, physical attraction, dressing seductively, and focusing on your body.

What you wear may be your own choice and maybe you say it’s not to get attention.  But, the world’s not all about you; what you wear affects other people.  We advertise messages, by the way we dress, like “look at my 6 pack” and “look at my boobs, not my face.”  When you throw those messages around, you attract the kind of person that likes how you look, not who you are.

The book goes on to say that they’re not saying that looking good, working out, and taking care of our bodies is wrong.  There’s nothing wrong with good-looking people or people looking good.  The problems come when we rely on how we look as our primary tool for attracting and impressing others.

Why do you wear clothes?

Insuadibilis

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Venice to Florence

Published on January 30, 2008 in Life. 1 Comment Tags: , , , .

Venice was pretty cool.  There wasn’t a ton to see.  But weimg_5959.jpg walked by some merchants, saw some cool stuff.  We hit St. Mark’s square first.  We went into the Basilica, but we decided Doge’s palace was a little too expensive.  After a quick lunch, we headed through the img_5951.jpgshops and merchants to the Rialto Bridge.  That was pretty cool.  We bought a few things…

We got to be there for the sunset, but we headed home for dinner.  Lido is a little cheaper.

Today, Mom and I made it to Florence without any problems.  The train was pretty fun.  We found a taxi to take us to our hotel for not a bad price and found it pretty easily.  We settled in.  It’s pretty nice.  I think it might be the only hotel room I’ve stayed in with a tile floor though.

We got some clothes ready to wash and headed down to the Lavarapido Wash and Dry.  “It’s part of the adventure” as Mom says.

Then there was a beautiful restaurant right across the street.  Perfect!  And it was really really nice.  Beautiful orange and brown (the colours of my dream kitchen…), cool menus, nice staff, good food.  It was a great night.

I can’t figure out how the restaurants here survive though.  At home, all the restaurants would be at least reasonably full, but I think we were the only people in this restaurant for the whole time we were there… weird…

Now it’s time for bed.  I think we’ll see some good stuff tomorrow!

Insuadibilis

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Reflection

Published on January 30, 2008 in Biking. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , .

The last 6 weeks have been pretty awesome.  It wasn’t as hard being away from home this time.  I feel like I learned a lot more.  And I just feel comfortable being in Belgium and Europe and just travelling.  It has been good.

I would like to thank everybody who helped me on this trip.  Thanks to Marc and Vicki and Jos for taking care of me and being my European parents.  Thanks to everyone who worked on my bikes and worked the pits for me (Marc, Jos, Andy, everybody else).  Thanks Marc for teaching me a lot.  I know a lot of the improvements I made came from you.  Thanks Tim for all your old-school insight.  I may strongly disagree with some of it, but I’ve taken a lot of it to heart and intend to grow with it.  Thanks to everyone who talked to me, kept me company, made me think and learn new things.

Thanks to Norm and Glen for talking to me and teaching me a lot the week of Worlds.  You made me think and grow.  Thanks to all the support “staff” for volunteering your time and money to help out some measly Canadians.  It’s great!  And one day I hope to provide the same service and to show you that your work has helped me a great deal!

I feel like I’ve grown a lot as a person and as a cyclist.  I really do want to come back next year.  I know I’m still in Europe and I’m still on a bit of a high, but I want to come back next year.  I want to learn more and improve and eventually know everything there is to know about cyclocross.

Thanks to those people who listened to my rants and my advice.  Thanks Dave for letting me mother you.  I hope that you can take what I’ve learned and grow with it.  I hope that one day I can pass on my knowledge and experience (assuming I actually have lots…) to help others do it better and more easily.  I can’t wait!

Thanks to everyone who helped me get here.  I could not have done it without you.  Thanks Mom and Dad.  Thanks Brittani.  Thanks Juventus.  Thanks Bruce.  Thanks Transcend.  Thanks EVERYBODY!!!

Insuadibilis

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The Week of Worlds

Published on January 28, 2008 in Biking and Life. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , .

The last week has been another great experience.  I have met some more good people and learned some new things.  I had fun riding a great course.  I had some great conversations.  It was just great.  So thanks to everyone who made it possible.  And if anybody wants to fund my trip next year, just let me know!

The elites had a great day on Sunday.  Wendy tore up the course to finish 7th!  Best finish by a Canadian at Worlds.  Ever.  Kelly had a great ride too.  Mike was a machine, riding to what I’ve been told is the best Canadian elite male finish.  Aaron and Osmond rode really well to hang in there and keep the Canadian team all on the lead lap!  Woohoo!  And technically no Canadians got lapped all weekend!

Sunday night was another celebratory pizza meal from our friends downtown.  Then we hit up the gelato and beer.

Things were packed, but it was a short sleep for Dave and I.  We were up at 4 to go to the airport and wait for his dad.  Thanks John for taking my bikes home!

And thanks a million to everyone who helped all week!  Glen, Norm, Brad, Ian… you guys were amazing!  Thanks for all your support, work, and teaching!  I look forward to spending more time with you guys!

The two of us had some nice travels to make our way to our moms in Lido.  After a quick break and some food, my mom and I hit up the glass blowing mecca of Murano.  It was super cool.  Lots and lots of stores with cool and interesting blown glass and some food (I love Italian food!).  Don’t worry, we didn’t spend too much money though…

Tomorrow we’re off to Venice.  Don’t really know what’s in store, but it should be fun!  Thanks for coming travelling with me Mom!

And sorry for the quick post and lack of photos–we’re paying for internet at a hotel that’s not even ours…

Insuadibilis

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The World Championships!

Published on January 26, 2008 in Biking. 3 Comments Tags: , , , , , , .

Oh man! I just race the World Championships! How cool is that?!?!?

It was a good race. I had a great warm up. Yet again I was torn on tyre selection. I did a lap on rhinos and wasn’t convinced, so I did the slick part of the lap on typhoons. Yup, they were the way to go. So I jumped on the trainer beside__dsc0006.jpg Kyle. We were just building each other up. It was great. Off to the start.

I got called up 27th. First Canadian, but a little further back than usual. Oh well, I had a good start. Two guys missed pedals in front of me, but that’s not an excuse. Apparently I missed a crash off the start too. Wicked. But after the muddy false flat, I was just off a big group. And I couldn’t close it. I knew I had to, and I gave it everything I had. But, nope.

So I just rode and rode and rode. I felt like I was riding really _dsc0036.jpgwell. So that’s definitely a positive. The lap total came to 7. I knew it was going to be tight. But I was riding well and caught a couple guys. And I could see Niels coming up on his last lap. I think that is the hardest I have gone in a long time. But he was about 100m behind me coming into the second last corner, and they pulled me. Dang! But I didn’t actually get lapped…

And despite what the results say, I was 52nd. I was the last guy to get pulled.

He was on fire today though! Holy man! He is the heir apparent. He had at least 10 seconds after one lap. Holy crap!

The other Canadians–Brian had a great ride, finishing 42nd, less than 5 minutes down. Kyle was 50th, on the lead lap. And Ian ended up crashing two laps in, then got called for doping. Eeeshk…

Dinner and dessert tonight! Hopefully pack up a bit. Then cheer on the kids tomorrow! Hoping for some good rides…

Insuadibilis

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AMPED!!!

Published on January 26, 2008 in Biking. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , .

It was the World Championships today.  I’m not gonna lie, I wasn’t too excited all week here.  As soon as we spent a day in Italy, I just wasn’t happy.  It wasn’t Belgium, I didn’t really like the course, it was different, and I just wasn’t happy…

But, day by day, things got better.  I liked the course more, I felt more comfortable, I was just happier.  But I still wasn’t super excited to race.  I was just thinking it was another race, no big deal.

But last night I was getting more excited and more nervous.  I knew I didn’t need to be nervous.  It was just another race.  And this morning I was just shaking with excitement.  On the ride over to the course, I had to keep telling myself to slow down and not wear myself out.

So I guess I was excited to race the World Championships!  Woohoo!

Insuadibilis

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Hi Mom!

Published on January 24, 2008 in Biking and Life. 4 Comments Tags: , , , , , , .

We had a pretty good day today.  Sat around a lot in the morning.  Then we went to go ride the course some more.  It’s getting better.  Nice and fast, with some superhighways forming.  Should be good and hard.

And my mom arrived today.  Safe and sound.  It was very nice to see her.  Then we all went out for pizza again.  Yay!  Italian pizza!

More sitting around and preriding tomorrow.  Last minute prep.  Then we race on Saturday.

Insuadibilis

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Italia

Published on January 23, 2008 in Life. 1 Comment Tags: , , , .

I saw a bit more of Italy today.  I got a bit more comfortable.  It was good.

I went for a ride the other way out of town.  It was much nicer, less cars.  I feel good.  Now I just need to figure out the course.

Our hotel has a bunch of townie bikes that we can ride.  So we rode downtown to go out for dinner last night and tonight.  Restaurants here are pretty cool.  Luckily, most of the people speak good english.  And the people are just so much more laid back.  That’s what I like.

The whole team is here now.  It’s cool.  Growing every year…

And my mom comes tomorrow!  Yay!

Insuadibilis

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I miss Belgium

Published on January 23, 2008 in Life. 1 Comment Tags: , , , , , , .

I had written a lovely post last night about the course and how I miss Belgium.  But I got timed out and when I signed back in, it was gone…

But the course is very interesting.  Much different than anything I’ve ridden.  Kind of pea gravel mixed with water/mud.  A decent amount of running, lots of hard, power-sucking inclines.  It should be friggin’ hard!  But I think it could get faster throughout the week.  I’m excited!  It’s Worlds!

But I think I found another reason why I had a lot more fun and enjoyable time in Belgium this year.  There were a lot less barriers.  I’m realizing them all over again here in Italy.  Things work differently.  The scenery is different.  There is another language barrier.  I’m just in a new place…

It’s not quite as nice as I expected (except for this hotel, which is ridiculous!).  There are a lots of cars.  Aaahh.  The sky is blue.  The grass is green.  It doesn’t feel like I should be racing cyclocross…

Insuadibilis

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