I have just less than two weeks of downtime left before preparations officially get underway for next year. It’s been a nice rest so far but I’m very anxious to get back to full training. I’ve been swimming most days, getting out for runs, and riding a couple times a week, but mostly spending my time getting organized for next year and doing things I don’t normally do when I’m training.

This past weekend was fun going to the Aquarium and then Kelly took me out for dinner for my birthday Saturday night. We went to Hell’s Kitchen. It caught our eye the first day we arrived in Vancouver and we had been wondering ever since whether there was any connection to the TV show. But…there was no sign of chef Ramsay anywhere in the restaurant. It was very good food nonetheless.

Instead of a birthday cake Kelly baked me a batch of cookies and stuck 24 candles in them. They were delicious!

Since the weekend there hasn’t been too much going on. On Tuesday Simon invited me to a VANOC convention where he was speaking to all the major sponsors of the 2010 Games. I got to meet a lot of marketing executives from some big companies so that was cool. Other than that it’s been pretty quiet with the exception of a visit from CCES for an out of competition drug test. I was just about to head out the door when they showed up. I hadn’t drank much at all the day they came so I guzzled back 3 bottles of water and surprisingly got it all done in about an hour.

By the way, to everyone back in Ontario – I hear you got dumped on last night. Enjoy the snow suckers!