Stuck

I woke up this a.m. prepared and ready to go back to work. Although I don't feel what I would call "peppy", it's time to get the heck out of the house. That said, at about 6.15 or so, when I'm getting dressed and going forward, poor Z it up, barfing in the big red bowl and heading for the lavatory. Usually this wouldn't be reason for my presence b/c the good wife could stay home with him, but this a.m. she has her yearly check-up, one of those that has to be scheduled 12 years in advance and with a signature in blood. So, at home I am again, at least for the time being. Morning activities while stuck include:

• cleaning up puke
• continually rinsing out puke bowl.
• disinfecting toilet, sink and TV remote controls
• choosing movie for grumpy, ill 11 yr-old
• loading various Radiohead albums (discs, as it were) in to iTunes
• doing laundry

And finally, I've been checking up on Doug at the Arrowhead. Incredibly, after a mild winter up there in near-Canada, they've been hit this week with an incredible forecast, one that is resonating here in the 'Ville with temps never rising above freezing. I lifted this table, without graphics, showing the crazy, crazy temps the riders have faced in the run-up.

High	6°F	12°F	2°F	-1°F	-13°F	-10°F	-6°F
Low	-13°F	-7°F	-15°F	-17°F	-26°F	-30°F	-30°F
Date	Tue 30	Wed 31	Thu 1	Fri 2	Sat 3	Sun 4	Mon 5

They left yesterday the 5th with temps at a low of -30F. In-freakin-credible. Today's racing temp, the 2nd leg mind you, of racing, -25F. In reading the race blog, what struck me was the "wolves sighted" comment. I think to my bitching about a dog or two nipping at my heels. I then think about hungry-ass wolves in the friggin' woods in the dead of winter. Shit! SHIT! Doug isn't mentioned as having gone through or as officially having dropped out. He's a "competitor in the woods". Most of my readers- all 2 or 3 of them- are already following him, but let's keep our thoughts, prayers, and energies towards his efforts and towards his safe finish, whatever that may entail.