Surfing Those Waves of Chaos

Just happened to have looked up a new subscriber's data in the "Strava World" and notice my own 2018 numbers. Strava conveniently offers a column with comparisons, So Let Me Toot My Own Horn Here

286 ----------- Rides
90,574ft  ---- Elevation Gained
3,074 -------- Miles

and

514 miles as of August 1st

And

18.8 miles running on the Blissful Mill after posting a goose egg in July

AND

**** You Might Wanna Stop Reading From Here On Down ****

***** This Is Just For My Records *****

Still Have My Fingers Crossed That I Will Be On Air This Sunday. Hosting A Show With Sound Bites From The Big Bang Theory And Righteous B-Side Classics. We Shall See

This will be the first timed that I have opened up on any kind of Social Media. There are my close friends that I have been regularly updating and I told a few friends just this Summer. And I only really shared with those folks because they could tell that I wasn't my positive upbeat self. Even still, I have told people that I just didn't sleep well or some other excuse as a way of deflecting.

I hope this approach doesn't make me a dickhead for not sharing but thats just the way that I have chosen to allow it all to play out. Other times, its too Phuc-N painful to discuss.

This past winter was rather difficult as Old Grandpa Smokey shuffled off into happy puppy land. During that time, rough times, I noticed that The Boy Dog was frequently constipated during our morning walks.

I would quickly chalk up this behavior as his processing of Ol Gramps, even though I knew better. His appetite was excellent and he was always ready to boogie off in the car. A few weeks after the passing of Grandpa Smokey nothing had improved.

The Vet explained how male dogs have been testing positive for Prostate Cancer and I just figured that would be The Boy Dog's case. I will never forget the look on the Vet's face as he described to me what he could feel. His prostate was just fine but there is a tumor inside the Boy Dog's pelvis that is basically collapsing his colon. That damn mass is attached to his spine.

They gave the option for exploratory surgery over in Colorado Springs and then cycles of chemo. This choice was obviously ruled out within about 2 seconds. At 12 years old, cutting through his abdomen, removing lymph nodes, chemo, and all for an extra 9 months of life?? Quality of Life??

Well, Shadow Boy is now 13 years old this month. He really started slowing down near the end of July and turned up with a Heart Murmur as well. Medication is helping that but earlier this week he started showing me signs that he is impacted again by barfing up his dinner. The rotor rooter trick hasn't helped this time around. Meaning, he hasn't dropped a duce in over three days.

This means that his breakfast bell doesn't go off anymore, his hips are quite loose, the rear legs fail every now and then, he only walks about 10 driveways now before those droopy eyes tell the story, and earlier this week he stumbled off the curb. I sort of caught him we his leash the way it is attach to his backpack but still. He didn't care but I sure broke down during the rest of our walk.

I know if I could just flush out his innards, he has strength in his eyes, he would bounce back for a few more months, and I know he really wants to.He lights up every time I walk in or when we wake up together in the morning.

He has been aging these past few months and the atrophy in his muscles clearly worried me. But he was enjoying his Summer and every recommendation that I received, we tried. I so believed that they were all beneficial this past June/July. Well, I was just fooling myself and doing my best to convince myself that the tumor was shrinking in size.

Been making him comfortable his whole life and I'm not stopping now.

Please Do Not Take It Personally If I Do Not Respond Right Away To Your Comments Like I Normally Do. Thank You. Thank You In Advance.

August Update

The Smoke Filled Valley Has Become So Damn Depressing.

I mean the smoke offers up some brilliant sunrises but come on. It Sucks

Right Ear - Normal 

 And check out this lovely ear hole. Minding my own business, I was attacked my a number of WASP and one tagged me right in the ear.

Left Ear - On Fire

These photos are from the second day after the bite. The weird observations are that my stung ear feels completely clogged as if I was under water but unable to clear them and how I can feel my ear but its damn near numb. I am going to use this word one more time - SUCKS

Went and pre rode the Triathlon course the other day and popped into the State Park Office. Their display table was rather interesting and a picture really IS worth a 1,000 words.

The Birthday Boy Dog Is Always Ready. He says he couldn't give a rats A$$ about all the smoke. Or he thinks he could eat. Not sure but ether way he is game.

Finally!! Some Good News Here:
1) I performed an Ortho session on an advanced practitioner for a feed back documented session - All went well and exceeded my expectation - Opportunities were discussed and I am thankful for the constructive suggestions - Ortho-Bionomy, we do nothing better
2) Crossroads Gym offered an August special of $49 unlimited with a personal trainer - So I jumped on that deal - Focusing on Gluts, Hamstrings, & Core - Been sore through the side oblique & ALL medial quad muscles - Righteousness
3) 14.3 miles of Blissful Mill - Remember, smokey out - 307.9 miles on the bike - Remember, smokey
4) Hosting a radio show on Sunday the 26th of August - The three hours will include Vibe Street, Manic Focus, Sunsquabi, Big Wild, Terravita, The Glitch Mob, and audio clips from The Big Bang Theory




And Here You Are!! The String Cheese Incident For 22 Minutes. This Was The Saturday Night Birdland > Fearless > Freight Train Boogie > Wheel N Hoss > Birdland

If you listen really closely, thats me losing my mind in the crowd,
Cheers

Summer Tour & July Numbers

What a magical run!! This week has been in the making for 15 years now and damn did it live up to its expectations!! Friday the 13th offered a Flash Flood Advisory and all of us campers were excited to party down in the rain. 

Side Note - Due to drought conditions, designated areas were assigned to cigarette smokers. Brilliant idea for a number of reasons!! Non of us are turned on when someone sets up their camp next to ya and starts puffing away. Plus, the smokers enjoyed each others company in these designated areas. Last But Not Least, No Butts Everywhere 

Love This Guy

Saturdays line up was just OK until each performer/band took the stage. Tyler Childers was incredible with companied stories along the way. Larkin Poe sounded much better from a far and thats on the house sound and not the act. Big Something was epic!! Mike Campbell from Petty was righteous and all. Sheryl Crow opened with her happy song and proceed to belt out all of her hits. Then, during The Cheese, the sky opened with with rain and the band blew the valley of Telluride apart. I Mean YES

Corn Fields Galore 

Sunday was an early outing to the ONLY bar that opened at 8:30am for the World Cup Final. A couple other establishments, we heard later, opened at 9:05am. Bastards!! Our watering hole was split down the middle which really made the match even more exciting. I couldn't care ether way and I was stoked with the 6 total goals. 

The music was a little less muddy on Sunday but was piss poor overall. New Respects opened up the venue with a number of decent covers. Quaker City will be a headliner soon. Dhani Harrison ( son to the late George ) went electronic and vibrated the valley floor. Chris Robinson looked so shockingly old. Couldn't believe it was him at first, told myself it isn't him, and lucky for him his voice is still stronger than ever. Grace Potter and Joe Russo's Almost Dead sets were totally robbed by weather, lack of ticket holds, and a horrible muddy PA. 

My M*A*S*H Tribute Radio Show

Again, the sound for The String Cheese Incident wasn't great but damn that light show was unreal. The drummers opened up their set and the full band proceed to jam and improv until the very LAST second before curfew. The members are clearly enjoying each other and jam sessions were perfectly laid out for ALL to enjoy.

GJ Rockies Rookie League - 17 to 19 year olds

The following weekend offer The Cheese at the ever so world famous Red Rocks Amphitheater for a three night run. Friday's show topped Tellurides weekend and there is no way that they will be able to impress me Saturday. Guess What?? Saturdays Opener, Miss Browns Teahouse, 1st song The Cheese played at my first show. From there, WoW. Amazing. Mind Melting. A Grateful Dead cover into a Led Zeppelin cover, and back into a Dead cover. They went deep, they mixed up the tempos, and they haven't played this tight in about 12 -15 years. Haven't Seen A Bad Cheese Show Yet

I took the opportunity to thank and cross pollinate with some of the original rail riders throughout the weekend shows. I expressed my gratitude and/or explained how they influenced me over the years. Or how they taught me the protocol of the Cheese family. Or shared an experience when that certain person that was in attendance during that particular show. Or for inviting me to witness their wedding vows. And to my surprise, all the folks that I really wanted to see were there at Red Rocks. I am telling you, it was an unforgettable week.

Highest I Have Seen The River in Three Months

NUMBERS:

My goal for July was to top the 500 mile mark. Ready for this kick in the  ....... gut?

492 miles on the bike
42 hours

ZERO running

15 Personal Records

Cracked the top 50 on two Strava Segments

Now, I am keeping this in mind. I missed my mark by 8.1 miles BUT with my travels I missed the opportunity to log miles and shatter the elusive 500 miles club. Reflecting for a moment, the rest/recovery was ideal.

Not Sure Why But I Really Like This Photo 

August Goals:
1) I would love to shoot for 609 miles. BUT The Weather Channel just listed all 118 wild fires out west that have consumed 700,000 acres. Our air quality so sucks!!! But Killer Sunsets
2) 100 Running Miles as these legs feel fresh
3) Celebrating The Month With This Birthday ( Beth wished him a happy BARKday Month ) Boy!! He Enjoyed Another Year of Me Cuddling Him, Lifting Him, & Hiding Treats Around The House. Sarcasm There, He Is A BOY Dog After All.

Stay Strong, Keep Yourself Hydrated, & Think Of Others
Cheers