July 20, 2010 The Birth Day

Summer ripened like a mango bursting with sweet juices

The Golden Rain Drop Tree summoned pollen collectors for miles around

The tepid weather with its beaming sun rays surrendered to pleasant wafts of air

A bloom in yellow the rain drops to be, start a blaze in flame

The roar of bees humming from nectar to nectar dropping pedals like rain

A house calmly waiting for its new arrival; the sparrows approving the nest

A Father and Mothers loving embrace followed by an entire family

Emotions bordering on the other worldly, deep in the soul and profound

Time stops, a singularity is reached

Awe, pure and absolute wonder shakes the mind at its core

The minds reason impedes the moment and cascades to a quiet place

Now, one becomes centered as the essence of the soul

We’ve come through on the other side; breathe in the world fresh and newborn

We meet for the first time?  But we’ve always known you

Waltzing with us amongst the universe for millennia

Welcome Lola Annabelle Everett to the human race

Little Lola weighed in at 8.6 lbs and 21 in long and is the sweetest angel….Mom and Dad are thrilled!

Hortense and I acquired a new Ironman T3 Recovery Mattress and have been enjoying the benefits of enhanced sleep ever since.  We had a high-quality mattress and we both considered ourselves great sleepers.  However, since sleeping on the T3 Recovery Mattress we have noticed undeniable changes in our sleep.  We sleep sounder and deeper awaking with a more refreshed body and mind.

Hortense is pregnant with our first child and I am a professional triathlete so sleep is important for us as it is for anyone.  Being pregnant Hortense assumed the restless nights and sore hips were part of the process.  Not so, sleeping on the T3 Recovery Mattress has eliminated those symptoms.  Her hips are no longer sore, she only awakes once a night (to go to the bathroom) and is sleeping sounder while awaking to the day feeling recharged.  As a professional triathlete I swim, bike, and run almost every day, so getting the most out of my sleep helps me recover and absorb my daily training; making me a stronger athlete.

Apart from the beds supreme comfort, what sets this mattress apart from any other product is the Celliant fiber woven into it. Celliant is clinically proven to increase our body’s oxygen levels.  This will speed up the body’s natural healing process!  We’ve noticed.  We are more comfortable; less fatigued and have more endurance.  Our bedroom is now a healing chamber!

I used to take naps where ever I lay; on the couch, in a chair.  Now, I make a point to take those naps in the supreme comfort and healing that the T3 Recovery Mattress provides.  There is one problem though; being interrupted during your nap from a perfect slumber makes it hard to get up! J

As much time as we spend in our lifetime sleeping, we feel fortunate to now have this exceptional opportunity to make the most out of every minute of our sleep.

Thank you T3 Recovery for enriching our lives!

Here are a few more benefits to gain from an exceptional sleep:

1. Sleep Keeps Your Heart Healthy

Heart attacks and strokes are more common during the early morning hours. This fact may be explained by the way sleep interacts with the blood vessels. Lack of sleep has been associated with worsening of blood pressure and cholesterol, all risk factors for heart disease and stroke. Your heart will be healthier if you get between 7 and 9 hours of sleep each night.

2. Sleep May Prevent Cancer

People working the late shift have a higher risk for breast and colon cancer. Researchers believe this link is caused by differing levels of melatonin in people who are exposed to light at night. Light exposure reduces the level of melatonin, a hormone that both makes us sleepy and is thought to protect against cancer. Melatonin appears to suppress the growth of tumors. Be sure that your bedroom is dark to help your body produce the melatonin it needs.

3. Sleep Reduces Stress

When your body is sleep deficient, it goes into a state of stress. The body’s functions are put on high alert which causes an increase in blood pressure and a production of stress hormones. Higher blood pressure increases your risk for heart attacks and strokes. The stress hormones also, unfortunately, make it harder for you to sleep. Learn relaxation techniques to counter the effects of stress. There are also stress reduction techniques for sleep.

4. Sleep Reduces Inflammation

The increase in stress hormones raises the level of inflammation in your body, also creating more risk for heart-related conditions, as well as cancer and diabetes. Inflammation is thought to one of the causes of the deterioration of your body as you age.

5. Sleep Makes You More Alert

Of course, a good night’s sleep makes you feel energized and alert the next day. Being engaged and active not only feels great, it increases your chances for another good night’s sleep. When you wake up feeling refreshed, use that energy to get out into the daylight, do active things, and be engaged in your world. You’ll sleep better the next night and increase your daily energy level.

6. Sleep Bolsters Your Memory

Researchers do not fully understand why we sleep and dream, but a process called memory consolidation occurs during sleep. While your body may be resting, your brain is busy processing your day, making connections between events, sensory input, feelings and memories. Your dreams and deep sleep are an important time for your brain to make memories and links. Getting more quality sleep will help you remember and process things better.

7. Sleep May Help You Lose Weight

Researchers have also found that people who sleep less than seven hours per night are more likely to be overweight or obese. It is thought that the lack of sleep impacts the balance of hormones in the body that affect appetite. The hormones ghrelin and leptin, important for the regulation of appetite, have been found to be disrupted by lack of sleep. So if you are interested in controlling or losing weight, don’t forget to pay attention to getting a good night’s sleep.

8. Naps Make You Smarter

Napping during the day is not only an effective and refreshing alternative to caffeine, it can also protect your health and make you more productive. A study of 24,000 Greek adults showed that people who napped several times a week had a lower risk for dying from heart disease. People who nap at work have much lower levels of stress. Napping also improves memory, cognitive function and mood.

9. Sleep May Reduce Your Risk for Depression

Sleep impacts many of the chemicals in your body, including serotonin. People with a deficiency in serotonin are more likely to suffer from depression. You can help to prevent depression by making sure you are getting the right amount of sleep, between 7 and 9 hours each night.

10. Sleep Helps the Body Make Repairs

Sleep is a time for your body to repair damage caused by stress, ultraviolet rays and other harmful exposures. Your cells produce more protein while you are sleeping. These protein molecules form the building blocks for cells, allowing them to repair damage.

Aeronautical Marvel

The SCOTT Plasma II is a modern marvel in the science of aerospace engineering.  The engineers over at SCOTT must be former top secret members of creative teams for advancing aircraft design.  Whoever they are, it is clear that some of the smartest minds in the business were given resources to conceive and construct an aeronautical phenomenon. 

Aeronautical engineering is the design, construction and science of aircraft that stay within the earth’s atmosphere.  Yes, this ‘craft’ that is one of the finest time trial bikes created to date deserves it’s status among man’s greatest crafts.  A few of the engineering topics this beast of a machine excels in:

Fluid Mechanics - the study of fluid flow around objects. Specifically aerodynamics concerning the flow of air over bodies such as wings or through objects such as wind tunnels.

Statics & Dynamics - (engineering mechanics) - the study of movement, forces, moments in mechanical systems.

Aircraft structures - design of the physical configuration of the craft to withstand the forces encountered during flight. Aerospace engineering aims to keep structures lightweight.

Materials science - related to structures, aerospace engineering also studies the materials of which the aerospace structures are to be built. New materials with very specific properties are invented, or existing ones are modified to improve their performance.

Solid mechanics - Closely related to material science is solid mechanics which deals with stress and strain analysis of the components of the vehicle.

Aeroelasticity - the interaction of aerodynamic forces and structural flexibility, potentially causing flutter, divergence, etc.

The Plasma II is no ordinary bike.  Riding in the cockpit is a sensation to be enjoyed by all.  That sensation is speed. 

I’ve had this re-occurring daydream.  I’m given the chance to travel back in time to make a difference.  So I go back to 1907 with my Scott Plasma II and meet with Henry Ford, convincing him to create the first assembly line, not for cars but for bikes.  To cement the deal we bet that I will be unable to hold the speed of the Tin Lizzie (top speed is 40 – 45mph).  The event takes place on one of the smoother paved roads just south of Detroit and while drafting the Flivver I’m able to stay with it for an hour; winning the bet.  Mr. Ford ear marks his assembly lines for these amazing bikes. 

Using the technology from 2010 to create bikes in 1908 changes the course of history is such a positive way the results are undeniable.  Roads are created all over the US specifically for bikes, almost everyone rides and the impact to the environment is astonishing less compared to what we have currently.  The obesity epidemic of today never happens; in fact the general health from people biking everywhere saves the economy billions in health care costs ranging from mental health to cholesterol.  People are happier.  Communities are more livable, the air is cleaner.  There’s no such thing as a 3-car garage, but one of the most popular magazines of the day is a design magazine for Bike Garages.  And the bike races, wow, it’s a passion that has the world holding its collective breath when these spectacles push the limits of human endurance.

Yes, this bike is that awesome.  I’m lucky enough to have my father buy my previous SCOTT Plasma.  It’s a good thing to keep in the family and a big improvement over the 12 year old road bike he was racing triathlons on.  With his new weapon we might serve up a good match as one of the better Father /Son triathlon teams around…especially with a combined age of 92.

Running in the spirit, with the spirit…