Hildegard Berner 1922-2012

My mom peacefully passed away last night. She was into her 90th year. I will miss you mom!

You did a great job raising 5 kids and grandmothering 8 grandchildren and seeing 1 great granddaughter. You taught me families should eat dinner together and a balanced meal should include vegetables. As a boy I felt safe. I remember when you would come into my bedroom to close the windows during summer lightning storms and make sure I was tucked in. You were part of the "greatest generation" that experienced the effects of the depression and saw a victory in WWII. The dream of a picket fence and healthy family was fullfilled. You kept me on track and involved yourself in my early days of school. When little boys still like having their moms come to the classroom, you were the elder and experienced mom other mom's look to for suggestions. When you took me to McDonalds on lunch dates that was always special. Just you and me. Trips "downtown" for new school clothes was special too. Popcorn, hotdogs, and hobo pies always tasted better around the campfire. Boyhood Christmas will never be better than how you decorated the house and trimmed the tree. I fondly remember you and I on the edge of our seats watching all the 1980 olympic hockey games and the "Miracle On Ice". Thanks for the iced-tea in summer and warm cookies in the winter. You weren't very good at hiding chocolate candy from me though. Thanks for being there and supporting me even though I boggled your mind with my passions and path through life. It was your time to go and now you are in a better place. Say hello to Dad for me.

Peace,

2011 in pictures

Oh great! New Year's Eve is tonight. It's my least favorite thing to participate in because as long as I can remember I'm that guy at midnight with no one to kiss. I end up being like the character Cyril in the movie "Breaking Away'. After the Cutters win the big race, Cyril has no family or girlfriend to celebrate with in the crowd of well wishers so he is left to celebrate in lonely awkwardness.

So, I'm highlighting a few moments from 2011 and sharing them with you in awesome awkwardness

I don't know if anyone has noticed how crappy my SONY camera has become over the year. It has a focusing issue or something in addition to that dirt spec on the inside of the lens. I will not buy another SONY camera. i really liked the Olympus camera I had before. Hopefully I can get a new camera sometime in 2012 for some better photos.

Cheers and Happy New Year.

Two wheels

Root, Rock, Reggae a success!

ROOTS, ROCK, REGGAE was a blast. It's always good when a group actually gets together for a little hi-jinks in the dirt.



I'm not sure what T-Brown was thinking when Linsey dared him to ride a blue sled down the embankment.


When he is not managing the dark side, my friend Darth like to unwind on the weekend with a little riding now and then.




Why? Because it was there!

WYE OAK

Music lives! I'm a fan after two songs. WYE OAK! Turn up the amp until the tubes crunch. Sprinkle with reverb and delay. Play with feeling and controlled unpredictability and you get the band Wye Oak.

More end of summer

Here's some more stuff from British Columbia and Nevada and points in between while traveling to Ironman Canada and 70.3 World Championships.



The mtb trails in Penticton are one of the best kept secrets.


kvr trail. Parts of it are open to motorized traffic. While its nothing diffilcult its interesting to imagine how they built a railroad bed in such rugged country.


Taking a nap in Montana.


Okanagon Lake in the background from the kvr trail.



Penticton's water reservoir. Would have never know it was there. Beautiful ride to get there.


We should get Rachel back on the team. She makes me look good.


I had to turn around which makes me crazy because I want to know where it goes.


I get excited when riding sweet trails.


Anyone know where this is?


Commuting to the Vegas race expo in 103 degree heat, Why was the expo 14 miles away from the race hotel????


Lake Las Vegas and the desert.


Athlete's hanging out at the truck. Just like the good old days (aka the Keith Meyer days!). it rarely happens anymore for some reason.


Roll out of bed to see the swim start.






Watching the Colorado flow by.




I love when the land's hugeness is right in your face.


LaSal mountain loop road where Kokopelli trail crosses the road. I decided to jump on Sand Flats road which is just a little bit further down.


Rest stop on I-70.

I'm off to Hawaii for another Kona World Championships. Not sure if my POS computer and disappointing camera will survive the trip but I will try and post at least on sunset picture at least. Thanks for reading even though it took forever for me to post something. Post a comment to let me know someone is still checking my blog. HA!