I am Leopard-Trek

George Clark gave me a book many, many years ago, called "The Snow Leopard". Along with the book came some wise words: Go seek your snow leopard.

Last night, Sheryl and I went to see one of my uncles. He was the only member of my family to be in Vietnam, and I remember like it was yesterday when he came home, and came to our house to visit. I was your typical excited kid, demanding his attention, showing him all the crazy things kids think of when they are trying to keep a special someone's attention.

I am now twice the age at which he came to visit us those many years ago. And this uncle had recently had a heart attack, and as I think about it now, I am elated to my core that he survived.

Survival is a big part of my own story. And I tie survival to bicycling - for some strange reason.

And then there's my cycling guru, whom I have recently heard that he's got a new struggle on his hands. And as happy as I am for my uncle Vietnam, I am crushed about my cycling guru.

My cycling guru and I love the amazing talent of Fabian Cancellara - who is now riding for the Leopard-Trek team. I can't wait to watch this team ride in the Tour de France.

But the only thing I think I would enjoy more is to be with my cycling guru and watch them race.

It's a strange life.

My new job is a new trail that I've never been down before while following the scent of the Snow Leopard.

My uncle and my cycling guru are the yin and the yang of life that happen.

Leopard-Trek is exciting, yet ultimately minimally meaningful.

And I can't wait to see what comes next on the trail.

Seek your own Snow Leopard.

Sometimes you're the bat, sometimes you're the ball...

No shit... It's been a rough week. Really rough, in fact. My poor wife has had to deal with a bear every night that she's seen me. I guess that's what angels do...:)

So this rough week, I think, spawned a night last night of fantastic dreams - but not necessarily good ones.

The earliest part of the dream that I remember had me at a party - much like a frat party. The room was all in black and blue and gray hues. Except for the blood. Someone was stabbed, and although I saw it happen, I was in a bad place, and had to pretend that I was cool with it (although I was horrified!).

I was free of blood on my hands and clothes, but my right shoe was splattered with it. I tried to kick the bloodied black shoe aside, but there was no escaping it. I needed to reclaim it before we torched the building down. Fortunately, I had the presence of mind to ensure I left no prints behind...

My gang drove our badly battered cars to the headquarters, where we entered huge wooden doors and walked into a large, expansive ballroom with wood floors. Wandering the ballroom was a lion and a mini Phil Collins (think "petite giraffes").

We went to the bar and ordered whiskeys, talking about the kill. I knew I was clean, and the rest of them were going down...

And I turned around, and dreamt about being outside in an English-type garden. Talking to a school marm looking woman, I suddenly became aware of a central theme during the dream - a phrase that came up often...

A phrase I woke up repeating as a mantra because I knew it was going to be important to my real life.

When I got out of bed I wrote it down:

"This is your rewrite - the story will become whatever you make it."

Wrapped around a tough week such as this, that dream mantra helps keep things in perspective.

We all have the power to rewrite the story that is occurring around us. It is up to us to decide how it's going to end.

My wife, she's blazing
So freaking amazing
She's my blood and my breath
I truly am blessed.
She's the yin to my yang
I'm the pop, she's the bang
She's the yang to my yin
The sword to my pin
I am the talk
She is the walk
I am the bed
And she is the spread
Without her, I'm a flag
With no pole, I'm just dragged
She gives me flap
A flag with some snap
On my salad, she's my dressing
She's my greatest blessing
I'm grateful to have met her
To have kissed her, and wed her.
My blazing wife.

What inspires you?

Who inspires you?

With a world full of Charlie Sheen and Lindsay Lohan news, it's easy to forget that there is more in the world that can inspire us to be better people.

Today was a sad day for me, but for all the right reasons. It was my last day at my "old" job. I start my new job in a couple of days.

Days like today, though, are good days to learn how much you have meant to others.

I have tried to inspire others to become bigger than themselves, and I was fortunate to see that come to fruition with a former co-worker. I inspired him to cycle, and now he inspires others while teaching spinning classes.

How cool is that?

It was a good day that included a stop at one of my favorite wine shops - Cloverleaf.

But most importantly, I love how my wife keeps me grounded.

Who can you inspire?

How much effort are you willing to put into it?