Excuses or reasons? You make the call.

So you may (or may not) have noticed my lack of blogging lately. My thought was that I should use whatever free time I have to work on marketing my screenplay -- which is done, completed, ready to be sold -- rather than spend that time blogging.

So, how's that plan working out for me? Well, not so good. Turns out free time is hard to come by this summer. Joey has decided that rather than stay at his daycare in the afternoons to swim he would rather come home with me after work and play with the neighborhood kids. This usually results in anywhere between three and eight kids in our yard running around screaming, yelling and causing general mayhem, and then asking for Kool-Aid. I find it just a tad distracting.

In addition, we have been training as a family for RAGBRAI. Susan, Rick and I plan to ride our bikes across Iowa for the entire week. Since Joey knew Susan was going, he didn't want to be left out, and we've arranged for him to ride the last two days with us. This has required lots of miles (and hours) on the bike.

And what do I predict that the outcome of all this training will be for me? Pain. (I believe I am borrowing that line from one of the Rocky movies. Maybe the one with Mr. T.)

Let me explain. I have been riding a lot of miles with Joey at an average speed of around 10 or 11 miles per hour. Rick recently had two solo rides (no drafting) where he averaged 20 mph. Susan came back from a solo 26 mile ride last night where she averaged 18.3 mph (again, no drafting). Even sucking wheel the whole time, there is no possible way I can ride that fast. I am in serious trouble.

If I live through the first five days of RAGBRAI, then Joey will come and I can ride with him ... maybe. Rick took him out for a 27 mile ride last night and they averaged 12.7 mph. Please, just let me be faster than my 9-year-old.

Maybe my goal should be to market my screenplay after RAGBRAI, assuming I survive.