No school today, so we carved pumpkins.  Lots and lots of pumpkins.  When we were done, I counted 39.  I think I purchased over 120 pounds of pumpkins this year.  Tips:

• WinCo has the cheapest pumpkins at .18/lb (a small pumpkin weighs about 6 lbs)
• A jigsaw is essential for fast pumpkin carving
• A metal ice cream scoop (without that push button thing) is the best tool for removing the guts

I took a few pictures.  Click on the photo below to see a small album:

11:00, sleep was not coming, so I took off and got a bunch of pumpkins.  Did you know WinCo is open 24 hours a day?  It is. 

While in the checkout line, I met a nice woman shopping with her two kids.  She reminded me how to say pumpkin in Spanish: calabaza.  Say it.  It rolls of the tongue and will make you smile. 

So I payed for my pumpkins, and gave a couple to those cute kids out shopping with their mom at midnight in their PJs.

Gracias.

De nada.

We're going to need many more pumpkins, but this should be enough to keep the kids occupied for a few hours in the morning.  I have a feeling I'm going to want to sleep in a little. 

Melanie Rathe and Sharon Cartwright have gotten things rolling on a memorial fund for Wilma Sanders.  In the interest of speed, we're going to do it this way:

If you'd like to make a donation, send a check payable to Phil Sanders and mail it to Sharon Cartwright:

Sharon Cartwright
52500 NW Sunset Hwy
Buxton, OR 97109

Sharon will present the funds to Phil.  Contributions will first go towards a nice floral arrangement at Wilma's service this Saturday.  Additional funds will go to Phil, as we know he wants to set something up in the future in Wilma's name.

Thanks for reading.

I didn't make it to the Cross Crusade double header in Astoria this weekend, but it looks like it was pretty cool. Lots of costumes, lots of fun.

This weekend - my favorite course, Barton. I hear they're putting some stiff uphill running in this year. Yuck.

Services for Wilma Sanders will be this Saturday at 1PM at Springer & Son Aloha Funeral Home.

4150 SW 185th
Aloha, OR 97007

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If you'd like to send Phil a card, his address is:

18045 SW Pheasant Ln
Beaverton, OR 97006

I found a personal mechanic willing to help me out from time to time, mainly with bike cleaning. 

 
if she bends my derailleur, no gummy bears. 

 

 
Her cleaning agent of choice: Lemon Pledge with clean paper towels.

Edit: I already went back to the "regular" method, as I was worried it'd fall apart in a race...but you can read anyway:

By current 'cross bike has down tube cable routing, which I really don't like.  I decided to try putting one long piece of housing on instead to keep the dirt out.  The rear seat stays are carbon with a cool shape that didn't work well with zip ties, so I went another route.

I'll probably change my mind tomorrow but here it is:

 
What?  Hey, it works pretty good.

zip tied under the down tube

 

under the down tube.  I should snug that up to the frame.

 

 
And across the chainstay.

I've been on my bike racing team for a very long time.  Just a year out of school, I needed a sport to transition from four years of collegiate rowing.  The guy responsible for getting me out there was Phil Sanders. 

In the beginning, I was very strong but had a lot to learn about racing bikes.  It seemed every week I broke something, be it another taco'd wheel, broken axle, whatever.  Phil always helped me out.  I just came to his house, he'd dig around and get me rolling again.

My constant trips to Phil's house soon led me to meet his wife, Wilma.  Wilma was always the nicest person to talk to.  Always had a smile to share.  Always in good spirits.  When I showed up at their door with something broken in my hand, she'd greet me with a pleasant smile and say "oh hello, Erik.  What have you broken this time?" 

On Friday, Wilma Sanders passed away after a long fight with cancer.  Ironically, I was at a cancer relief charity banquet just last night, not aware of this.  As the night went on, I started thinking about Wilma.  I started thinking about how wonderful a person she was, and what an ass I was to not go and pay her a visit yet.  There was always something I had to do, and I just kept procrastinating my visit. 

I decided that night that I'd swing by on Monday with flowers to give her a smile.  Turns out I'm too late.  I'll miss Wilma; she was a special woman.  I'm glad she's in a better place now.  I wish I'd taken the time to see her again.

If you've ever been involved with the BBC or coach Phil Sanders, please send your warm wishes his way.  I know there are a lot of you out there.  I'll release info on the memorial service when I get it.

Can't touch this.