Summer in Erie

An update for all of our faithful readers :-). There is some big news to report...but first a quick note on where we are and what we're up to...

Lynnsey and I came back to the US of A on 5 August a couple of weeks in advance of Lynnsey's planned return (today 8/20 :-), now 9/29 :-)...see Lynnsey's blogs on our trip home). I needed to be Stateside in order to apply for my extended stay visa at the British Consulate in New York so we decided to come back together. It turned out to be a fortuitous decision as I was subsequently drafted to co-manage a project at the "Mother Ship." Its a cool project and August in Erie has been a big step up from summer in England (believe it or not :-)). More importantly it's meant that I got a couple of extra weeks at home with Lynns which has been GRRrreat.

I was in the mix for the annual MS Regatta which landed on my dad's birthday this year. We won, again :-). Not bad considering its the only race we contest all year. Funny story a couple of days after the regatta my dad's buddy, Doug Beers, heard some fellow competitors on a boat in a neighboring slip commenting on our performance. Seems there were some sour grapes to the effect that "either their rating (sailing handicap) is wrong or the timer on the committee boat is wrong because there is no way that PEDESTRIAN CREW could have gone that fast." :-) Just to set the record straight our crew is VETERAN, not pedestrian, and has never finished worse than 3rd :-) Kudos again to Gary, Greg, Mike and Vance for another superior performance.

Being back has also meant mornings at Greg's torture cell aghhem! I mean Peak Personal Fitness studio :-). I'm getting close to fighting form again after I was ruined by my fight with Toblerone addiction and the Brit Bitters. I had my bike rebuilt over the weekend and hit the 'ninsula for 40K on Sunday...let's just say I could feel the 3 bikeless months on my way back home up Sterretania Rd :-). But hey as Greg would say: "suck it up, pepper." Looking forward to the Presque Isle Tri this weekend (especially the run :-)) and to a couple of late season races in the UK (stay tuned to the blog for more).

Well now that I'm getting back to this post at the end of September (argh) I can update you on the Presque Isle Tri. For those of you not familiar with triathlon its really a competition that alternates between 4 timed events: swimming (700yds)--clothes changing--biking(13mi)--clothes changing--running(3.5mi). The tri starts with the swim and transition (clothes changing) area at Beach 6 at PI.

With all the craziness of setting up camp in the UK I hadn't seen a pool for 4 months (let alone dipped my toes in open water) and hadn't seen my bike for 3. So opening the door of Lynnsey's Pathfinder to the sound of roaring surf gave me a bit of the butterflies...but you tell yourself its never as bad as it sounds.... We got my gear all set up in transition (I'm not the best triathlete by a long shot but Lynnsey is definitely the best Pit Chief in the business) and I decided to stroll over the dunes to take a look. You tell yourself its never as bad as it sounds...until you see it...6 ft waves...rrruuhh ro...and tell yourself it isn't as bad as it looks...until the head life guard (who swam across the lake), Bob North, gets on the megaphone and tells you it IS as bad and pleads with you not to get in the water. I must admit I probably should have listened to the little voice telling me it was possible to surrender with honor...but I'm glad I didn't. Somehow I dog paddled my way through and actually had a great run at 19:26 5k pace (my PR was 18:36 as a 17 year old harrier). It was a great time and I vowed to come back next year as an improved swimmer to compete for my age group :-).

Lynnsey does a better job of telling the story of how we met and fell in love than I do (she's a much better writer among other things - see her blog on Uncle Bob about the greatest aviator of our times :-)) but I do want to say a quick word. One of the big reasons we are still together in spite of the long geographic distance between us is the very short distance between who we are and want to be together. Most important, Lynnsey understands the creative nutcase side of me most people never see. And she shows her love with actions (instead of just words) by investing everything she has, is and does into our relationship. Those of you who have had the privilege of checking out her blogs on Uncle Bob and her crafting blog http://whichcrafty.blogspot.com have seen a glimpse of what I'm blabbering about :-).

So without any further ado...the big news you've all been waiting for...drum roll...I know, I'm a cheese head...drum roll...bombs away...Lynnsey and I are ENGAGED!!! The big hitching is set for June 21, 2008 at my parent's place in Fairview. Anyone reading this will be invited so mark your calendars!

Jim, if you read this, many thanks again from both of us for your engagement gift and for all that you've done.