Sorry for letting the last few mths slip away, but this boy has been busy! Much has been going on. Since then I raced the BEC finishing 6th after flatting a few miles in and then playing catch up the entire race. Lots of fun though b/c I had to push really hard just to keep on pace and not have tunnel finish over the last 10 miles. Also I've taken some time completely off traveling and have enjoyed some of the benefits of living in the city of Nashville. Feels good to be able to meet 50+ riders on Saturday morning at the airplane fields for a 3+ hr ride. What makes it even better is having a mobile espresso machine that pumps out black gold before the ride. Right now sitting on the couch in Murray enjoying time off work with friends and family during the Thanksgiving gorgefest. I can't believe I did this, but I actually did not bring my road or mtn bike bike to Murray. Yes 6 days w/o a bike is huge!!!! I have the flu and I wouldn't have been able to be tied down if my bikes were here. I can credit a new find today to not having bikes. My great brother, Kevin, and nephew, Dorian, took a few hour hike at Fenton Lake Access today and found some great trails that connect w/Turkey Bay OHV area. Oh yeah; as soon as I'm better the liquid is getting railed on some of those gravity calling runs. Mooooooaaaahhhhh! And I hate to think in reverse but my mind works that way. I can't leave out the events of last weekend. I had to have a celebration for my birthday of Nov 17th over last weekend. Started out great with a few of the MSU crew driving in from Murray and heading to the Yazoo brewery for a tasting and pick up of some primo Dos Perros. It was all we could do to keep from tapping that barrell until Saturday's party. After a Friday night warm-up at Jonathon's, we called it a night just to wake to a 80 mile road ride with the airplane field group ride. What a start? The events of Saturday night are confidential, but I will say the viewing of the secret race footage from nationals wasn't nearly as embarrassing after a few Yazoos. I must say thanks to the 45+ friends, family, and co-workers that showed to celebrate my birthday. Definitely made it super fun and one of the most memorable b-days ever. Well I hope I can kick the sickness so I can start putting in some miles for base starting in December. Results in July start by miles in the cold!!!! So stop reading and go get on the bike or at least knock out some cross training to burn some turkey and pumpkin pie off!!!!

---Daniel