2006 Summary

all in all, 2006 has been good to me. sure it had its low points, but the high points made up for it.. here is a summary of my year:

+ Last winter i spent more time on my trainer than i ever thought possible.
+ I joined a new team & met some really cool people.
+ The season started well, with some of my best results.
+ In May, I crashed hard, fracturing 4 vertebrae in my neck, dislocated my right shoulder, and broke my left collarbone in 2 places (type 2 distal), requiring surgery - a plate & 7 screws to get things back to normal. The docs said i couldn't ride again for 6 months.
+ It was amazing how many people visited me in the hospital. People from my new team that i had barely just met (mike, marvin, hannah, josef)came to see me... as well as people that i only knew from 'cross races (pierre, yash). This meant more to me than they will know.
+ I took the next 2 months off from work & lived with my parents during that time. I got closer to my parents during this time, then in the past 32 years. My mom was an angel and catered to me day & night. Allie showed her true colors and did more for me than i could have ever asked for. She really is the most caring person I know.
+ After 2 months I got back on the trainer (granted it was only for 15mins). After 3 months, I was training up to 2hrs/day (with my arm in a sling). After 4 months, i was back on the road (with some serious pain). After 5 months I did my first 'cross race :)
+ Mark moved up to Manch for the summer & we got to chill a few times. He is a cool dude.
+ Allie got a job in Manch & moved up here in August. She now lives 1.5 miles away from me!!
+ My position as President of my Condo Association sucks & after 3 years, i will not be running again (come january)
+ Mark got me to buy a rice/veggie steamer. This was probably the best purchase I have ever made.
+ Me & Paul spent waaaay too much time sending stupid emails to each other.
+ My sister is starting to get better & its great to see her when she comes to visit.
+ I traded my SAAB in for a Toyota Yaris - lots of people make fun of me for this decision - but my gas bill is cut in half with my 40mpg.
+ I have got into countless arguments about my vegan believes with a certain co-worker that just loves to egg me on. (i can only ignore him for so long).
+ Sucker Brook Cross was a huge success.
+ I gave up waiting for my Pegoretti cross frame & bought a Ridley instead.
+ Cross season came & went. While I had pretty lousy results, I did get to compete in ab out 20 races. not bad, eh?
+ Thanksgiving was a good time with my family. It is always good to spend time with the ones you love.
+ Christmas came & went much too fast this year. I say this every year, but NEXT year, I want to be in the Christmas spirit alot sooner :)
+ After a couple weeks off, me & allie started hitting the gym. I want to do some running & compete in a few races before i start riding my bike again.
+ Despite making more money, I owe almost exactly the same on my credit card as I did last year. ugh. (in my defense, i DID have to take 2 months off from work, plus those pesky medical/therapy bills).
+ I got my picture in a Ridley Add.
+ I went to NYC with allie for the day on one of her business trips. For the first time - the crowds in times square really annoyed me. But on the plus side, I met one of her good friends & had some good food :)
+ I didnt do 1/2 the things I wanted to do on this weeks vacation. Oh well. There's always next year, right?