FRENCH BIKE RACING LEGEND LAURENT FIGNON DIES AT AGE 50

By Debbie Bulloch



Laurent Fignon, a French bike racing legend died Tuesday after a long battle with cancer. Fignon was only 50 years old.

Fignon twice won the Tour de France but was defeated by American rival Greg LeMond in arguably the event's greatest race. The gargantuan battle between Fignon and LeMond in the 1989 Tour de France produced the narrowest winning result in the history of the world's most famous cycling race: 8 seconds.

David Lappartient, president of the French Cycling Federation said that Fignon , “…was a great champion who used a combination of talent and will to win the Tour de France twice." David added that Fignon, “…had an iron will, and was also a very intelligent man."

Lance Armstrong, the seven-time Tour champion who himself battled cancer, wrote "Allez Laurent!!!" (Let's Go Laurent!!!) on his Twitter feed late Monday -- a sign that he was aware of Fignon's condition.

Born Aug. 12, 1960, the blond, bespectacled Fignon excelled at sports as a child and took up cycling because his friends did -- initially against the wishes of his parents, who disliked the fact that amateur cycling races took place on Sundays, which they considered to be a day for family activities.

Despite his reputation for being well-read and his nickname "The Professor," Fignon dropped out of college. He competed in cycle races while completing his army service.
Fignon won the Tour on his first attempt in 1983 in just his second year as a professional, seizing the opportunity presented by the absence of four-time winner and defending champion Bernard Hinault. He also won in 1984.

In 2006, Fignon opened a hotel complex in the foothills of the Pyrenees as the Centre Laurent Fignon, offering enthusiastic amateur cyclists guided rides up the Col du Tourmalet and other famed Tour de France climbs.

Fignon – The Legend - Part 1 (From a French television documentary shown in the 2007 tour de France)



Fignon – The Legend – Part 2



Historical Note:

The final stage of the 1989 Tour de France was a time-trial. In a time-trial, the bike riders race individually against the clock. In the final stage of the 1989 Tour, the riders had to complete a 25-mile course from Versailles to Paris.

In the closest Tour in history, American Greg LeMond was behind by 50 seconds on the final ride into Paris. In that time trial LeMond put his bike in a huge 55 x 12 gear (that is a 52 tooth front chainring and a 12 tooth rear cog) and rode it 54.545 km/h (34.52 mph), the second fastest time trial ever ridden in the Tour de France. LeMond also used what was, at that time, a new invention: the time-trial (or aerodynamic) handlebars. He made up 58 seconds on Laurent Fignon, ultimately winning the race by 8 seconds. Since 1989, there has not been another individual time trial to finish the Tour de France.

Here is a video clip from the last stage of the 1989 Tour:

1989 TdF final stage



Allez Fignon. Merci infiniment des mémoires merveilleuses!

1980's WEDNESDAY MUSIC

By Debbie Bulloch





















To ALL the lovers in the world, here are three of my favorite love songs from the 1980’s.

Enjoy!

ASIA – It Was the Heat of the Moment



REO SPEEDWAGON _ I’ll Keep Loving You



BERLIN – Take my Breath Away

SUNDAY NIGHT MUSIC - ELTON JOHN & OTHERS

By Debbie Bulloch






















ELTON JOHN – Your Song



HEART – Alone



YES – Owner of a Lonely Heart

WEDNESDAY EVENING MUSIC - ELVIS THE KING OF ROCK

By Debbie Bulloch



















From the King of Rock, one of his sweetest love songs...

ELVIS PRESLEY – The Wonder of You



(With lyrics)



Another love song...sort of.

ELVIS PRESLEY - Suspicious Mind



And finally...

ELVIS PRESLEY - You Were Always In My Mind

HOMELESS WOMAN FINDS A PLACE TO STAY AFTER 34 YEARS ON THE STREETS

By Debbie Bulloch



Not every story about the homeless has an unhappy ending. Take for instance, the story of June Don.

For more than three decades, June lived in the streets of Ventura County. Until recently, June was a fixture in the Conejo Valley (Thousand Oaks). She was often seen at her makeshift home at a bus shelter at Lakeview Canyon and Townsgate Road or pushing around a shopping cart filled with her belongings.

An act of kindness by one person, however, turned June’s life around. Enter into the scene Michelle Munyon, a Thousand Oaks resident.

The first two times Michelle drove past the homeless woman sitting on a bench at a Thousand Oaks intersection, her heart went out to the older woman with the distinctive long, blond wig and shopping cart. The third time, Michelle pulled over and invited the woman to lunch at a nearby Carrows Restaurant.

Out of that small kindness, a friendship began. Michelle eventually coaxed June off the bus bench and into an assisted-living facility – after 34 years living on the streets June, who was born in New Orleans, finally had a soft bed to sleep on and a roof over her head.

At a recent event, people gathered to celebrate June’s 74’s birthday. A steady stream of guests came up to wish her a happy birthday and present her with gifts including beauty supplies, toiletries and flowers. June, in her trademark long blond wig and a new dress, greeted them all.

“I feel so blessed, so blessed, to see the community coming and just sharing in this day of love for June,” Michelle said.

Michelle’s friend Sally Tulao, a hairdresser from Sherman Oaks, gave June a dress to wear for her party and helped her with her makeup. “I put the makeup on today and I put the wig on for her and she’s just such a sweet lady and my hat just goes off to her,” Sally said.

“Michelle made a difference in June’s life. It’s like a little ripple and now it’s making a big wave,” Tulao said.

Guests at the party were invited to take part in a silent auction and raffle to raise money for a new non-profit organization set up by Michelle’s son Wes. Wes said The Centurion Center aims to spread what he calls “The Love Revolution” and help others in need in the local community.

Karol Schulkin, homeless services coordinator for Ventura County, said it is that first point of contact — whether it be talking to a homeless person on the streets or at a meal site — that is often the first step toward placing the chronically homeless, many of whom have disabilities, in housing.

“By necessity, a person has to adapt their life to less-than-appropriate circumstances,” Schulkin said. “In doing that, I think over a period of time regular indoor living isn’t attainable for them. It becomes hard for them to even imagine walking into a door. For others, it’s an economic reality.”

The money homeless people scrape together might be used for a meal or a place to stay for a night. But gathering money for a rental deposit on a home or apartment is insurmountable, Schulkin said.

“It’s kind of like tumbling down a cliff,” she said. “You pick up different challenges along the way.”

Mother Theresa once remarked that, "If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one." The story of June and Michelle’s remarkable friendship points out what miracles one person can achieve, just by feeding one person. Their story also points out that people do not need big government to solve their problems – we can do a far better job helping each other out on a one to one basis.

Mother Theresa also said, "At the end of life we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made, how many great things we have done. We will be judged by 'I was hungry and you gave me to eat, I was naked and you clothed me, I was homeless and you took me in.' Hungry not only for bread - but hungry for love. Naked not only for clothing - but naked for human dignity and respect. Homeless not only for want of a room of bricks - but homeless because of rejection."

Think about it...I challenge you!