The Nose Knows

I guess this might be the turn-around week, it feels like things are starting to heal up and clear up.

Yesterday there was a lot of tingly feeling, kind of like a sensitive tooth. Today, and specifically right now both sides feel very open.
Mostly I can tell because of the cooling sensation I get when breathing in through my nose, and the feeling like I just drank a bunch of coffee.
Who knew that oxygen had so much energy giving properties?

Even if I don't get any faster on the bike, I have already experienced quality of life improvements...and it's only been two weeks since the removal of the splints. Dr. Zeme said it would continue to get better for several months.
Holy Crap! If this is only the beginning, I may not even need to sleep ever again.

Double post day.

You know that feeling you get when you lean back too far in a chair and you are about to fall?


That's how I feel for several hours after a race.
Too tired to focus, too wired to sleep.

Two 1st places for the Spideys

Nathan wins both road races this weekend.

I had the pleasure of witnessing both the deciding move and the victory solute today at University.

For my first race back after going under the knife I was very happy to have made 5 or 6 laps (to tired to remember) with the main field. On my last lap with what was already a pretty small group I witnessed Super Dave Loogman and Harlan at the front shredding the field with Nathan in tow. It was all red and black at the front, and fireworks at the back as riders exploded one by one.
It was about 3/4s up the climb on this lap when I had put in my last effort to stay in contact. But what a site to see. Amazing team effort, and with three road race wins and a 3rd, Nathan has a nice lead for the Cal Cup.

With 2 to go I called it a day for the pleasure of watching the finally with Nathan putting about 5 bike lengths on Chris Phipps in the last 150 - 200 meters.

With all the hard work of building this team for the last 4 years, it brings great pleasure to see our colors fly the Victory solute, and to see it done as a team effort is even better.

Ready to Rock!

Here it is fresh off the bike stand and ready for it's first ride.



Groovy T and I went our to Shadow Cliffs and the BMX park for our first practices and to try the new ride. T got some Cross upgrades for her mountain bike. We found a very nice rigid carbon fork and canned the suspension seat post. Add in my old SPOX wheel set and her ride is super light.

We had such a blast, and this bike is so fun that it's probably illegal.
I always love the look on the kids faces at the BMX park when you show up and ride the whoopty doos on a rig like this.
I can't wait to race this thing, and I can actually even shoulder it...but not for very long. I must have bony shoulders because even with the flat top tube, it still hurts.

Maybe Gianni will have some tips at his cross clinic in a few weeks, until then there are some trails up at Pleasanton Ridge that need some tearing up, and this is the go anywhere bike to do it.
Again, so much fun, it's probably illegal!

It's being built

Postage is lacking due to the building of the new Cross Bike.
It's almost done, postage and pictures to follow.

It's looking bad ass!

"It kicks more ass than anything has ever kicked ass before"
-Beavis and Butthead

I can breath!!!!!

Yippee Skippee, Dr. Zeme pulled out the splints this morning.

The ports are open now!

Doc says it will continue to get clearer over the next couple of months.

I am getting brain freeze from all the oxygen!

More Tired than Ti-erd

Tried to ride yesterday. Got beat up by the whole bunch and never even really pulled.
Getting through work the rest of the day was the biggest endurance event I have participated in this year.

Today, I am taking a nap at lunch.

DO NOT DISTURB!

Dunnigan? Not likely at this point.

Day 5 ater the Roto Rooter treatment

It's Monday and I am back at work...sort of.
The nose is healing but it does actually feel like day 5 after a roto-rooter treatment. Everything is a bit raw and I a little plugged from the scabbing.

I giving today a try without the pain meds, it's not bad other than the slight spinning sensation.

Started using Airborne, it seems to help clear things up a little. At the very least I want my immune system to be strong so that I don't get an infection.

Never underestimate how much your sinuses effect your whole body. About every 2 to 3 hours I hit a wall and have to just stop everything I am doing to take a cat nap.

Ooh, here comes the wall...gotta go.

Relief

Today the Doc pulled the packing out of my nose. Man was that a weird sensation, a lot like having a 3" long bugger [edit] booger (Pab says two Gs, but I am not so sure, it seems more like bug ger than booger. But than again I am no expert in 5th grade humor.) being yanked out with giant tweezers. It sort of felt like they were pulling part of my brain out.

The passages are clear, but there is still a little bleeding. The stints come out next Friday.

The doctor doesn't recommend me doing LOTOJA and said that I could end up with some nose bleeds. That ship has already sailed and I am committed.
If I have to bail, so be it, but I will start.

Reh ra reh...It's a boy...reh ra reh

On Wednesday Dr. Zeme with the aid of Dremel tools, drills, files, and other emblements of destruction proceed up my nose to fix a deviated septum and shrink my turbinates.
Once up there it was reported that the deviation was much worse than found during the initial inspection.
My nose gave birth to 3 pound baby boy.

Chimera?
Well at least that is what it feels like right now with the 8 lbs of gauze shoved up there.
When the pain meds ware off it starts to feel like someone took a cheese grader to my nose.

Why do all this? I have never been able to breath through my nose, and my sense of smell is very weak. (You mean my shit really does stink?)
If it helps my cycling, great, if there is no change, that's OK too. The improvement to the life experience is what it is all about.

But, just using the Flonaise for the last month and learning to breath through my nose has improved my on the bike experience. I was out of Flonaise for a week and noticed a change or drop in performance.

Admittedly there is a little anticipation for when I am fully healed.

Moving it down and Shasta.

The Mt. Shasta ride with Gianni was kick-ass. It's my first time up it on a bike, and I want more.

135 miles, 16K of climbing, and 9 hours in the saddle.

But the ride didn't kick my ass, it was the friggen drive home.

Made it to Alamo, almost home, and the tread on one of the trailer tires gives out...at 1:30 in the morning...after 9 hours in the saddle and a 5 hour drive.

Changed tire and creped home arriving at the door at 2:30. Straight to bed. At work by 9:00, but not much here.

I am so tired that my brain can't even comprehend it's own stupidity.

Ufah!

Warning Label

Contents under pressure may explode.



Yeah, that would about explain the feeling this morning. Hope it settles down. Maybe I'll skip the coffee this morning.