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August 19, 2000

We just got home from the track..what a great day for Matt and Kirk to practice. The weather in Colorado Springs is absolutely beautiful today, sunny and a whopping  85 degrees. Pretty incredible compared to last week's weather, cold and rainy. 

Today, while Kirk and Matt practiced, I spent my time helping Bobbie and John paint the rails at the track. I just love events..I could feel the excitement of competition in the air as race promoters and volunteers were busy running around cleaning and setting-up the venue while track cyclists from throughout the United States began to arrive in Colorado Springs to compete in the EDS Elite National Championships, August 22 - 26 at the 7-Eleven Velodrome. 

It was so exciting to watch Kirk and Matt practice and prepare for their big race which will take place in one week...August 26. Men's tandem qualifications will be at 10:00 am and if all goes well they will race in the finals at 7:00 pm.

August 26, is a very exciting day for us. Amy, Matt's younger sister, will marry Uri Robinson in Washington. And, Christy, my sister, is due to have a baby! We are going to have a new brother-in-law and a new niece or nephew!!

And, today marks the 60th day until the Opening Ceremonies of the 2000 Paralympic Games. Many things still need to be done in getting ready to go to Sydney..picking up our airline tickets, taking care of passports and visas, and making time to get more tires glued, fitting cycling shoes, etc. This is all part of the preparation, but I wouldn't change a thing.

Hearty Update:  Hearty, the guide dog puppy that we volunteered to raise, is now on level 4 and is still on breeder watch! We are so excited! Hearty went to Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc.'s school in Boring, Oregon, on May 20.  (If you are interested, please read more about how to become a volunteer guide dog puppy raiser). If all goes well...Hearty will advance through five more levels and graduate and help a blind individual lead a more independent and fulfilling life or be selected as a breeder. Even though, we miss her tremendously, volunteering to raise Hearty was one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of our lives. (You can see a photo of Hearty below). If you live in the eastern United States you can also raise a guide dog puppy through Guiding Eyes for the Blind, for more information contact Guiding Eyes for the Blind at www.guiding-eyes.org