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The grandma

 

While in sweden, we went to visit the grandmother. She is getting to be old, but she is always very happy when we come visit.

 

Among other things, she has a good collection of before and after photographs.

 

If any serious cooking is to be done, knifes will have to be sharpened. The knife grinder packaging (which was without blemish, and still looked like it was new) proudly stated that it was a quality product manufactured in east germany.

It's raining

 

 

 

It's official. It has started raining. From now on until april it is going to rain more often than not, and we are just going to have to suck it up. In exchange for this, we will get a beautiful and dry summer, and not very many winter days that are too cold for biking. Or at least that is how it is supposed to work. We'll have to see.

Vespa guard

 

Here is an interesting way of protecting your vespa from people trying to steal it: Let a blue elephant man sleep on its saddle.

Training

 

We are back in training again! This year we do not have to run around on a soccer field in the rain for general fitness preparation, instead we are doing workouts inside at Theurapeutic Associates. They are nice so go to them to get a massage or physical therapy! I myself got my first real massage ever from the awesome Kurt Marrion this week, and he helped me with a bunch of issues that this years heavy lifting had revealed as weak areas for me. He knows bicyclists---he used to be a resident athlete at the olympic training center in Colorado Springs.

Anyway, here is Charbie doing ring pullups on maladjusted rings after having made friends with the Tabata protocol.

 

We have started grass tracking too of course, and after a muddy session of knocking each other off bikes with head butts there is just nothing quite like a soy latte with a skull foam mark. An important part of preparing for the next season!

 

Well, everything has not been work. We have also tried to enjoy the sun when it has been around (which is not very often). But you do what you can.

Trifecta

 

This year was the year of the triple birthday party. We first had a bash when visiting my parents, and had some very excellent princess cake.

 

Susann decided that she would step up to the plate with some cupcakes for the GBG branch party. And cupcakes she made.

 

Not only were the cupcakes were tasty, they were very beautiful. Earlier the same week, Johan had given us some of his famous peanut cupcakes. They were also very good. (This said, I have yet to meet a really bad cupcake.)

 

Of course there was presents too. Here a back brush. It has been used vigourously after several wet bike rides already. The GBG birthday party took place on our last night in Sweden so it did not end up being very wild. But a lot of the swedish friends was there so it was nice to see them before we took off.