When it rains it pours

There has been so much going on right now its insane. First off finals are next week mon-thursday. Second, John Thompson is still in the hospital fighting extreme pain. He had 3 plasma transfusions. They put a direct line in the carotid artery and hook him up to a machine that looks like a transmission fluid changer. They centrifuge the plasma out and put donor plasma back in. It's odd because he can move his feet and legs in bed but he can hardly walk. Its like he has no strength and the pain is still severe. The nerve coatings were damaged so its like having open nerves when you get road rash or a burn, only its on the inside. He should be rounding the corner soon and be on the road to recovery. Sam and I have been helping out with his business of making skijor lines the best we can. We visited him yesterday. Its hard to see someone who was so fit and active get tired so quick just from walking out of the room and back. Maria Stewart came in when we left. He is getting a lot of encouragement from the cycling community and he is great full for it. He's fighting and staying optimistic that he will be back on the bike. The third and last thing that happened is my grandma passed away this afternoon. We saw it coming the last few days so it didn't really take us by surprise. She died at peace in bed at home which is the way she wanted it and everyone else wanted it. It is going to be a busy Christmas vacation for me. I just want finals over with so I can get going on what needs to be done.

I'll end with some good racing news. Sam took 18th in a short 11km preseason xc-ski race today at Theo-Wirth. He plans on racing most of the big ski events in MN this year to feed the racing bug. The little guy never gets out of shape.


photo: skinnyski.com