December 23, 2005 – Dear Santa, I have tried my best to be good this year. I am blessed by friends and family but I think I need a few other things to show everyone how good I have been.

– One new touring bus with the sharper image massage chairs, drop down T.V. screen, and drink holders (six for my seat because hydration is important). Please separate the music for each chair because my Canadian teammates go crazy over Celine Dion and personally I don’t get it. Maybe you can give Mike and intercom headset (he loves headsets!), which we can or can’t hear from the back. – Two Aros Super Light Cane Creek wheels with my name on them in two places. I love these wheels and you know how hard sharing is for me Santa. Wait scratch that because I am already getting them from Mike.

– Three more NRC races. I have lost the San Francisco Grand Prix and two Redlands stages: Crestline and Oak Glen. Please give them back to me Santa. I really miss them.

– Fourteen endless Starbucks gift cards. These help everyone be good when travell ing like sardines in a can. See, I am sharing!

– A Specialized Pro Duffle Bag. I know I already have one, but sometimes everything I want to bring wont fit in the six cubic foot interior. For example, after I have stuffed my hot pot, coffee mug, and French press, my skinny jeans, my fat jeans, and three pairs of shoes, I can barely fit my kit in there. Lauren Franges only brought one jersey to a four-day race so she could fit her strappy white heels! I know Mike has a silly rule about one bag per girl but who can argue if you gave me another bag? There is no higher authority than you Santa.

– Finally bring peace, love, and happiness. I hope you can fill our hearts with hope, stop all the fighting in the world, end the starvation and disease, and make me the first woman president and veterinarian. Thanks Santa and I promise to visit if you get me that bus.

Kate Sherwin