It was 85 degrees in Topeka yesterday. I love that part about living here in Kansas. It can be super warm virtually any month. Today the high is supposed to be about half of that, in the mid 40’s. It just gives us all a glimpse of what to look forward to in the very near future.

Yesterday, Bob Sanner from the Lawrence Sports Commission, drove over to Topeka to discuss ways to improve the Tour of Lawrence race that is usually held around July 4th. Man, that guy is an advocate of the sport. He and he alone does this whole weekend of racing. And just because. He likes to ride his bike and thinks that Lawrence is a town that should have a bike race. Next year, July 4th is on a Friday and he is going to put on a Twilight Criterium on Mass. St. before the fireworks display, which is downtown. He thinks, and I agree, that exposing so many people to the sport might be enough to start something big. Anyway, he is one of those out of the spot light guys allow us all to race bikes.

Tomorrow is St. Patrick’s Day. Here in Topeka, they do a parade downtown. I went over there last year and will probably mosey over there again this year. I spend more time watching the spectators than the parade itself, but I do that a lot at many events.

My Tradewind Energy team mates went down to Arkansas to ride and then race the Hell’s Kitchen Road Race. Just another local race I’m feeling blue about missing. It is a very good course and always hard, but a really good time. They moved the finish to the top of the climb last year, which switches up the dynamics of the race. I wish I was there.

I caught another non-fixed cat yesterday, so I’m going to take it to the vet this morning and trade it for my two fixed cats to release outside. They will be very happy to get back to their places. I had the vet give them shots, etc., so they should be better off than they were before. At least that is what I’m telling myself.

KU and K-State both won yesterday in the semi finals of the Big 12 basketball tournament, so they are playing in the finals today at 5. I’m routing for KU and it’s not going to be nearly as fun watching without Bill around. I’m not sure it really matters that much. I don’t think that KU will get a number 1 seed in the NCAA tournament even if they win, but you never know.

Then, Milan-San Remo is tomorrow. I have to go with Sagan. How can you not. I can’t see him not getting over the top of the Poggio in the front. And he can descend better than nearly anyone in the race. Especially if it is wet. Plus, he can outsprint about anyone he is with. But, it’s a bike race, so anything can happen.

Okay, I’d better get going. I have cats to attend to.

The Tour of Lawrence Flyer for 2013.

It was so warm yesterday here in Eastern Kansas that the bike cops were riding around in shorts.

This is my newest acquaintance. She/he seems very cute.

Trudi wore here KU cycling socks for the game last night.

And made a KU color dessert to celebrate the victory.

A big reason I decided to do this shoulder surgery has nothing to do with bike racing. It was that there are a lot of things to do in life that are impossible to do if you can’t lift your right arm above your shoulder. One of those is climbing trees.

The last time I saw anyone in a tree is three or four years ago in Lake Geneva, Wis., during Tour of America’s Dairyland. The kid looked just like me and my friends did when we were young. Skinny, as in concentration camp shinny, a little sunburned and barefoot.

I can’t decide why kids aren’t in trees now. They must have the same inquisitive nature and want to get up in them. I think it must be the parents that have decided that it is too dangerous. Maybe their parents didn’t climb trees?

I can’t say I’ve know anyone that has died from climbing trees. I’m not saying it can’t be dangerous. I fell out of trees multiple times. I’ve actually had organs removed because of it. And broken bones. But, I was the exception in my area. I can’t remember anyone else in my block every getting hurt falling out of a tree. Not hurt enough to go to the emergency room. And all of us climbed trees everyday pretty much.

This climbing tree thing is reflective in a lot of things our society has deemed unacceptable for our kids. Playing outside is nearly in that category now. It is some places. This generation of parents seem to think that our children are in more danger than the previous generation of parents. At least they are more attentive, which translates into more restrictive. I couldn’t tell you if that works. To me, as an outside observer, it seems like the kids are getting much less “kid experience”. Here is an article addressing our children not doing things.

Our adults are blaming video games, computers and fast food as the reasons that our children are fat. Maybe we should blame ourselved, the adults, for being so overly protective and selfish, that we don’t allow our children to learn about what is right and wrong, unmonitored by us, the adults. Some of the most important things that I learned didn’t come from an adult lecturing me about it. I learned it by personal experience, by myself or with a bunch of friends.

Maybe I’m just getting old, but on Easter Sunday, it was a delight seeing families outside, having picnics and playing outside games. It was probably more because it was close to 70 degrees, than because it was Easter, but whatever the reason, it was nice seeing people outside doing stuff. I hate to think that we need a religious holiday to encourage us all to do what we should be doing on our own.

Anyway, I plan to climb more trees this year when my shoulder get better. Barefoot.