Oh man, it’s that time again! Fall isn’t here yet, but it’s right around the corner and you know what fall is – CHILI SEASON. And let me tell you, it’s ON this year with a capital “O”.

Last year, I helped to organize a Chili Battle at work and we raised some $500 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and the Light the Night Walk. We had a dozen chilis and 60 eaters compete and we had a ball doing so. I ended up taking 3rd place and Interactive Department colleague Shareen took 2nd. We were both bested by a GE Team-entered white chili! We vowed then to take back the coveted chili trophy!

This year, we have expanded the competition to include 4 categories: Traditional (meat and tomato-based), White (not tomato), Hot and Other (veggie, ethnic, etc). There will still be a Grand Prize winner, which we have termed “the Best of Bowl”. Today at lunch, I made flyer for the 2006 Chili Battle – and I really like it.

As far as my chili this year goes, I’m not sure what I’m going to cook. I’ve flirted with a Thai-style chili as well as a Greek-style chili, but I’m thinking of sticking closer to last year with another dark chicken chili. But this year, after much soul-searching and demographic investigation, I think I have just the thing to sway the Power people into my camp!

Chalk it up to pre-mid-life crises if you will, but I recently have been enjoying biking quite a bit. I bought my first “real” bike a few months back (a Kona Smoke) for commuting purposes, and it has served me very well. Kelly and I rode Mayor Jerry’s Hike & Bike on Labor day and while there I noticed folks in KY Mountain Biking Association jerseys. I guess I never really considered trail riding until that moment. I knew such things existed around town, considering our excellent Metro Parks system, and generally hilly terrain. My bike is essentially a converted mountain bike frame with slicker wheels, but would still be up to the task. Why not?!

Tuesday evening, with no one to play soccer with at the park, I decided to check out the Wilderness Trail Loop, a well-maintained beginner-level trail just south of Seneca Park on Old Cannons Lane. Not really knowing if my bike – or even I were up to it, I climbed up the trailhead and started on my merry way.

If there was a squirrel watching me as I flew down the trail, he’d have seen a man eyes wide with wonderment and a smile to match. It’s been a long time since I had this much fun on a bike.