20JAN08
It's a nogo

Here's a funny little story...so I accept this job back in November with the Army Corps of Engineers to go spend 13 months working in Kabul right? I turned down a couple other offers for jobs here in ATL so I could take this one, btw. My first deployment was scheduled for 06JAN then it got pushed back to 21JAN (tomorrow) because of the holidays. This last week they played a wicked game of tug o' war -- you're cancelled. No, you're going. No, you're cancelled. No, you're going. Finally on Thursday afternoon I was advised that the folks in Kabul rescinded the offer and my deployment was cancelled.

Here I am, got rid of my TV, mattress, box spring, dishes, pots and pans, etc because the plan was to buy new ones when I got back in a year. The remainder of my stuff is in storage and I have no job. Pretty funny huh?! At least now I still have time to salvage some time for training for a few races this season!

Well....maybe. I still have a couple options with contractors -- not the US gov't -- to work in Kabul again. Meanwhile, I'm just leaving it up in God's hands to take me where I'm supposed to go. I mean, what better time than now to start something new right? We'll see what happens. I had an interview on Friday that went pretty well and I'll hear back from that firm by Tuesday. I'd be working in the ATL metro area with little travel outside of it for work. Plus, they're building a new office like 2 minutes from where I was living so YIPPEE!!!! Of course, I'd have to find a new place to live but I'd stay in that area. I needed to get out of that old house anyway.

In the meantime, I think I'll go ride tomorrow...or take the dog for a hike...in the middle of the day....just because I can!

03JAN08
Deployment Delayed

So it appears that for whatever reason, I am not leaving next week. Something came up and I've been pushed back two weeks. I'm actually good with this but now I must review the IRS regulations on my time allowed in country and such. I may have to do my trip "home" to the UK, Bahamas, or someplace else. Drats! I'd hate to come home and have to spend a couple weeks in the Bahamas for holiday. Who wants to join me?!! That's what I thought ;)

Things fell into place with getting packed up in Pensacola and Marietta. I'm officially unemployed until I report so I'm going to take advantage and get some riding and running in. I've been a slug since I got back from Pensacola and I need to work out. At least this delay gives me time to burn off a couple pounds before I weigh in for my new clothes.

Right O' then. I'm off. Much more slouching to do today.

12DEC07
Phone Calls

As I mentioned earlier, one phone call can change your life. A relative passes. You get a new job. An old friend calls to say hello. All of these open a new chapter in our lives while closing a previous one. Some calls we look forward to. Others we dread. Some are freeing, taking a weight off our shoulders. I had a call like this the other day. It took awhile for everything to process in my head but by the time I left work the next day, it was all pretty clear. I went for the most freeing run of the year last night. Words like stronger and liberated have defined the last couple days. I've slept better than I have in probably two months. I've had this neverending pain in my left shoulder....and it's gone - literally overnight. My phone has been ringing with texts and messages and calls from friends. I've gotten emails from old friends this week. I'm not sure if they know how much the calls and messages mean.

It's just nice to know that certain people in your life want to be there. I hope you have friends who let you know that you're important. And don't forget to let them know it as well.

07NOV07 Trying something new I think I have a better internet connection this morning so I'm going to try and post up a video from Saturday's Swayback ride. If this works, we may have something new and exciting to work with!!

04NOV07
Swayback Bridge Trail

Instead of driving 10 hours to Charlotte for the 2nd annual Treeshaker 12 hour race, I met up with a couple friends, Charlie and Chris, for a ride at Swayback Bridge in Montgomery. The weather was perfect at 74 degrees and sunny. We got in about 20 miles (18.6 on Chris' computer but I think he shorted the trail somewhere ;). Swayback has a good mix of everything except BIG hills. There's some climbing, some great downhill runs, rocks, roots, fast swooping hardpack dirt, and well, lots of good places to stop and chat with friends. I got a couple of videos too and I'll try to get 'em posted up with the pictures. It felt great to be on the bike, since this was my first ride in about 3 weeks. It was very much worth the drive up there and getting to spend some time with the guys.

18OCT07

Ever notice how just a simple telephone call can make the world seem different? Well, in the midst of severe thunderstorms and a tornado here in Pensacola today, one phone call made things seem a lot less cloudy. Sorry, but that's all I'm going to say about it right now except that I'm really excited about what that one call meant.

24SEP07
Dauset Quick Brief

I met up with Dean and some other friends in Jackson, GA on Saturday for the 12 Hours of Dauset race. The weather was perfect (mid 80's with no rain). The comraderie was excellant! And well, it was simply a great day to ride a bike. I got to catch up with old friends like Steve J and Gary H while making new ones like Charlie from Elba, AL (down near Dothan). This guy shows up for his first ever enduro with a rigid single speed......God bless his lil' heart! I don't think Charlie will be making that mistake again anytime soon! He did a great job completing 6 laps (I believe). As for myself, I got in the same 6 laps and a whole bunch of friendship time. My parents stopped by so I hung with them for a bit while also chatting it up with Duckman, Bruce D, and Tucker. Given that I've not done much mountain biking this year and this was my first solo attempt on the year, I'm happy with how the day went. And hey, with a picture like this, who can complain?! Thanks to Carl for this sweet jump shot.





This 2nd photo taken by Al. pretty much sums up the feeling of the day....

18SEP07

Another boring day at work. We finally got out office set up on the jobsite and well, apparently we'll be getting weekly airshows from these guys. What a way to start the day! Enjoy!

23AUG07

Dean recommended that I come to the 13 Hours of Santos on Labor Day weekend….well Dean, you’ve got a race my man! I’d already planned to come over for it and I’ve been planning a few races for September. Since I missed the Granny Gear race at Conyers in May due to my deployment, I was really hoping to catch the Dirty Spokes Productions 6 hour race on 08SEP since I won’t support Stu-Rat. Well, I found out today that the Dirty Spokes gang is only running the Steeplechase side of the Conyers course so I’m reevaluating my attendance there. I’m not interested in racing Conyers unless I can race the full course. Right now, it’s looking like my coming month looks like this:

02SEP: 13 Hours of Santos
22SEP: 12 Hours of Dausset
29SEP: Double Dare in Pisgah (tentative)
06OCT: Santa Rose Tri
TBD: Three Shaker 12 hour

Yes, I said those scary three letters together….T-R-I. The Santa Rosa is a sprint – 500m open water swim, 12.5 mile bike, and a 5k run. I’ve been swimming twice a week, running two to three times, and riding some road and mountain. As my time in Florida continues, I’ll be doing some climbing at Wetherford’s, about 3 min from the house. I’m looking to find a sea kayak so I can drop it in the water on a Sunday afternoon and go catch some rays on the water! I guess what I’m trying to say is that in order to avoid boredom in the flatlands, I plan to keep the workouts mixed up.

I’ve had a lot of folks ask me how I’m doing in Pensacola. Well, I’ve not had much time to get out and find my favorite new hangouts or really get to know the area as work has kept us pretty busy. I’ve gotten into a new apartment, we’re getting the office trailer set up next week, and are pretty much spending our time taking care of some of the upfront paperwork needed to get a new construction project up and running. Overall things are going fine but it still ain’t home. I’ve been home at my house in Marietta, GA about 8 weeks this year. Mollie, my dog, is doing well considering she’s been bounced about quite a bit. She’s settling into Florida nicely, especially with her new haircut – I need to keep her trimmed down in this climate!

So that’s it for now. Sorry for the delayed entry but as I’ve said, getting settled in has been a chore. I hope you’re all doing well and Dean, I’ll see next weekend friend! Drop me an email so we can meet up (cmyrickjr@mindspring.com).

07AUG07

I'm not sure if I've actually explained why I'm in Pensacola but I'm here as the construction manager for a project for 18 months. The project is an expansion of the Barrancas National Cemetary at NAS Pensacola. So far, this has been interesting and exciting already and I count myself blessed to be a part of this undertaking. The national cemetary program was established in 1865 by President Lincoln in order "to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan." It's amazing to speak with folks here and as a result of the press this project has received, almost everyone I speak with knows about it and speaks highly of it's importance.

I wish I could tell you all there is to know about Barrancas but I'm still learning it. All the details can be found at http://www.cem.va.gov/CEM/cems/nchp/barrancas.asp.

So I figure that while I'm here in the flatlands I might as well make the most of it for my sporting life. There's a triathlon coming up on 06OCT that I'm going to race in. It's the Santa Rosa Tri and the distances are 500m ocean swim, 18 mile bike, 5K run. I'm not worried about the bike or run but I did a swim workout tonight and I'm really worried about that! I know I can get back into swim shape quickly but WOW it kicked my butt tonight!! I found an outdoor pool with lane swimming open each night and the water felt so nice. Hopefully if I do three (3) swim workouts a week I can be ready for the race. I'll keep ya posted on the progress and the race results, obviously.

I want to get some pictures of the area and the cemetary to you and hopefully you can understand the greatness of this project. Have a great week!