I find myself in Houston at my brother's house for a few days for the holidays. And I find myself with some free time tonight since Emma is at the Nutcracker with her cousin, 2 of her Aunts, and her Grandma.... so an update.

Last weekend, I managed to get one half-way decent ride in on Saturday. I say half-way decent because our ride down in Franklin State Forest was cut short by a hunter who thought shooting his rifle in our direction would be an effective way to scare us out of the woods so that we wouldn't scare the deer out. Unfortunately, he was right. At least we made it out alive and uninjured. A bullet hole was not the holiday accessory I was wanting for the holidays. And most Tennessee rednecks do not seem capable of reasoning beyond that which involves loading, aiming, and shooting a gun of some sort. So we cut out off of the trail halfway through our planned 20-mile loop. This means I am even less prepared for a 34-mile climbfest next week in North Georgia. Maybe the first one will kick my butt enough to make me decide that more 'training' is needed before the February installment or before the Iowa deathmarch.

So I am thinking I was a good boy this year. This Christmas I find Emma moving back to Nashville as well as a new helmet for my head. I have been mountain biking for about 16 years, and this is prettymuch my 3rd helmet. (I also have a 'road riding' helmet I sometimes use for mountain biking - but i'm not counting that since I have had it less than my now-previous primary mtn biking helmet. For the first 6-7 yeas of mountain biking I used an old trek styrofoam helmet from the 80's. It was the kind that had a lycra and netting over that went over the plain white styrofoam. The last 5 years it went without the over and I used to collect the larger thorns and suh that would cause me flats by pressing them into the helmet. My next helmet, which I was using until now (and may continue to use for polo and such) was a Giro switchblade that had a removable face guard. (I should say attachable because I never used it - and i'm not sure what ever happened to it.) I actually bought that helmet used and it has had a crack in it for the last 6 or so years. So now I have a new helmet. My mom got me a nice new black Giro Xen for christmas this year. I am pretty excited to have a helmet that is light, nicely shaped (for a bike helmet), not cracked, and fits well. I hope this doesn't mean I have a bad crash coming up in the near future. (Disclaimer: this may not be completely true. I remember ordering one helmet online that I didn't like and so never used it. I also may have had one more in the line-up, but I don't remember one. I know I have used my old Giro Switchblade for at least 6-7 years, and I got a crack in the front of it when I first got it. I ran into a tree.)

So my trip to Houston ends on Sunday when I fly back to Nashville. Tomorrow, on my last full day here, I am hoping to make it to check out a brewery, in Troy traveling tradition. The Saint Arnold's Brewery is not far from my brother's house, so I am hoping to make it there for the tour at 1. Wondering who I can get to go with me (or drive me there). Otherwise most of the rest of my time here will probably consist of games of "Go Fish" as well as playing in the sandbox and escorting a couple of 4 yr old girls as they ride bikes around the block.

Not sure yet what New Years holds, but should be a good time.

Cheers.