23.42 MPH

I found another one of these from a binder of cycling memorabilia.  From one of those time trials we used to do in Telo Avenue in Torrance when we belonged to Southbay Wheelmen.  Her time is usually in the top 5 amongst all categories, including Senior Men's.  This one is also gear-limited to a max gear of 42x15.  Unrestricted, Maura's individual time-trials during races are typically around 25 mph.

In this Pasadena Athletic Association newsletter from 1996, Maura's average speed was 24.76 mph and  was enough to earn the title of Time Trial Champion for the State of California.  She was proud of that accomplishment, racing just days after competing in the 1996 Olympic Trials in Pittsburgh and West Virginia.

With The Kids in Kauai

I cannot remember which beach this was taken at but you can almost make out the lava rock just behind the trees where the ocean is.  I'm guessing Lydgate Park or Poipu but not really sure.  All I know is after our second time in Kauai in December 2007, we needed to return.

Maura in Kapaa

I found this photo in a folder titled "Kid's Camera" along with several photos from our 2005 trip to Kauai -- our first time there.  I distinctly recognize the door as that of Ono Family Restaurant in Kapaa. I think JJ snapped the pic.

Christmas In July

I first heard the music at the Sam Goody store at the corner of National and Sepulveda when Maura and I were still living in West LA.  That was 1990, a year after we got married.  Ottmar Liebert's CD "Poets & Angels" had been an annual Christmas favorite of ours for the last 20 years.  She liked this CD so much that she would play it in July, a good 5 months before the holiday season.  Hearing Ottmar's flamenco guitar brought her so much joy anytime of the year.  This Christmas, as in every one for the past 20 years, this music fills our house.  (The last 3 years, I do find myself playing a couple songs occasionally throughout the year just when I need a lift.)

A Week In The Life, 1995

This is a snapshot week from Maura's 1995 training log.  This week is typical during the early-to-mid part of the racing season.  I cannot imagine doing these kind of miles back then and certainly not now.  Back in 1995, I think I was putting in about 150 a week and Maura doing 250 on a random week.  This week from April 3rd-9th was a 260 mile-week.  The next several weeks were at 245, 122, 204, 319, 212, 245 miles per week!  If I remember right, the intent is to build up the miles and most of these were racing miles.  The 319 was a monster week at the stage race in Bisbee, Arizona and her average speed for that week was 19.4 mph!  For anyone who knew her, when she set out to go after a goal, she certainly does not mess around.

Beloved Toonses

Toonses as the cat who can drive.  Toonces was a standard Saturday Night Live sketch in the late 80s/early 90s so she named the tabby after the character (with a slightly different spelling).  We all thought Toonses was dumber than a doorknob but Maura loved her anyway.  Toonses was Maura's cat.  Maura wrote the poem above when Toona Kat (as she would call her) passed away after a full 15 years of life.  In a eulogy for Toonses that Maura wrote, she finished by saying "I do not doubt that many...too many to count...years from now when our season has ended, Toonses will be there to greet us once again."  I, for one, am sure that Maura and Toonses found each other again.  Miss you both.

Sam and Maura, 2006

Mother and son.  This was taken in the living room in Duarte at my parents' house.  I asked both of them to look my way as I was about to snap the photo.  Maura obliged but obviously, Sam didn't.  What most likely happened is that Sam's eyes are glued on the TV, given the angle from the couch, he's not gonna turn his head.