All work and no play makes Brian a dull boy.....ok, enough of "The Shining". As Brian mentioned, dispite a level 3 emergency, my bosses picked Tuesday and Wednesday of this week to come to town, make me get out of my jammies and actually attend a bunch of work related meetings. So, when you see that news footage showing an ice storm and blizzard with just 3 cars on the road...it was us. Actually, being from "up north", I didn't find the ice or snow that difficult to get around in. It would have been nice to get salt or plows into our neighborhood, but I realize they had some more important issues to deal with. To be honest, I think I was better off, as the other option was being cooped up all day every day for the last 4 days with the neighborhood "snowed in" families and children who were out of school. Not that I don't love family time (I really do), but 96 hours of "family time" in a row, is enough to drive anyone crazy....Just ask my wife. The folks I do know who "couldn't make it to work" might be wishing they'd braved the one bad neighborhood road to get out to civilization.
Having power run underground in our neighborhood pays off again, as we avoided any of the power outage issues that so many in our city are unfortunately experiencing. We have been hosting friends throughout the week to try to help them cope.
As far as the training goes, I'm cruising along. I put in a good 12 miles on the treadmill again, got some good swim distance in, and even made it back to CRIT today for the first time in ages. The shoulder isn't 100%, but it felt pretty good. Surprising (to me), the jumping rope was actually the toughest on the shoulder. The crab walks, bear crawls, and wheelbarrows, and obviously all the sprints, suicides and running were not bad at all. Push ups (especially the "tricep" variety) still give me some pain, but nothing like what it used to be. I'll still take it easy on it, but it is great to be back doing something other than treadmill running and spinning class. Plus, after the lecture I gave Ari about adding sprints to his half-marathon training, I'd better get some interval training back into my own routine.
This weekend is scheduled as a bit of a recovery weekend, and who am I to argue with Hal? 9 miles tomorrow in prep for the big "Chinese New Year" party at Brian and Christon's, then 6 on Sunday to sweat out the bourbon and Fat Tire. Hopefully the downed trees, bad roads, and electrical issues won't interfere with our drinking, eating, and RockBand.
defined as:
Friday, January 30, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Halfwheeler(brian)
I think the little guy's half wheeling me. This was the only way to deal with the horrific weather. A little den-based time trial, followed by wine, chili and the UofL game.
10 minute steady state intervals following 3 hrs of shoveling snow. I earned my red and chili tonight.
But I still think that kids half-wheeling me.
The Weather Outside is Frightful(brian)
We knew we were going to get hit with the white stuff this week but this is ridiculous. I haven't liked snow since I was a kid. I can't work. I can't ride. I can't run> this sucks. We had battened down the hatches for the big storm coming in Monday night. Tuesday we had several inches of white fluffy snow. With no school and no chance of work, we got out and played and had a really good time with the fam.
We woke up to an absolute craziness of limbs everywhere and ice as far as we could see.
I emailed around to see who had power and heard back from the usual suspects. Luck was with us, as no one was hurt or had serious damage. The Web-people had power but no milk for the coffee and the Seilers had milk but no power. Obviously that would work out. The papist was solid and fatty had no power but was able to help co-worker Janeen(his neighbor) out with the generator. Cyclist-hating Ari was without a fully functional heater but was McGuyvering his way thru it.
What a wonderful season. Skiers, explain this garbage to me please. you like being in this why?
Hopefully this is the end of the snow madness. My question was why people bought milk and bread when the power was in danger. Those are the first two things that go bad, right?
Our other entertainment this week was the discovery that there is a facebook group in Oldham county(the next one over) dedicated to hating and hurting cyclists. The vile shit that these people were spewing was amazing. You never realize how bizarre these people can get. Some of them were just High School kids. All the names got turned over to the cops and our local fishwrap. The discussion of how to take out a cyclist makes it premeditated if it comes to pass. One team has stopped riding in that area. I think we should go en mass.
The papist traced one of them and came up with an address and an arrest record(shocking, right?).
We need to pay a visit like Walter and the Dude just to see what the deal is.
Maybe we'll take Curtis with us just in case. He does love a good confrontation.
It could be that the thought of one more day on the trainer has me a little edgy. I'm getting really close to being Jack Nicholson typing away in "the shining". Just keep those creepy little girls away from me. That's gives me the willies.
I even got out the mountain bike to spin around although that was a classically bad idea. It was way past Brookside Cx out there
I communed with some customers and we all agreed that we could get our collective feces stacked vertically on Wednesday. More snow/ice was coming, but you'd assume that the powers that is, here in the village, having tempted fate once would be johnny on the spot with the salt trucks and plows.
I communed with some customers and we all agreed that we could get our collective feces stacked vertically on Wednesday. More snow/ice was coming, but you'd assume that the powers that is, here in the village, having tempted fate once would be johnny on the spot with the salt trucks and plows.
Of course we're all familiar with the penalty for assumption.
What we could see happening by nightfall was an ice storm that was going to give us another non-productive day.
What we could see happening by nightfall was an ice storm that was going to give us another non-productive day.
We spent the night listening to trees cracking and limbs falling. We (pronounced the dom gdess/princess & the pea) decided to get the kids in oour bed as our room is protected from any falling branches. We are surrounded by beautiful trees but don't want a wake up call from one coming thru the window.
We woke up to an absolute craziness of limbs everywhere and ice as far as we could see.
I emailed around to see who had power and heard back from the usual suspects. Luck was with us, as no one was hurt or had serious damage. The Web-people had power but no milk for the coffee and the Seilers had milk but no power. Obviously that would work out. The papist was solid and fatty had no power but was able to help co-worker Janeen(his neighbor) out with the generator. Cyclist-hating Ari was without a fully functional heater but was McGuyvering his way thru it.
The biggest shock was that Doug went to work. Go back and read that sentence again. Apparently the big bosses at ACME cellular came to town and decided they should go against instructions from the Mayor and public safety officials and hold a meeting. Work sucks, why can't we all just be rich and spend the day screwing around and riding?
Stufly is probably coming for the chili that's cooking as are a few others it appears.
What a wonderful season. Skiers, explain this garbage to me please. you like being in this why?
Hopefully this is the end of the snow madness. My question was why people bought milk and bread when the power was in danger. Those are the first two things that go bad, right?
Our other entertainment this week was the discovery that there is a facebook group in Oldham county(the next one over) dedicated to hating and hurting cyclists. The vile shit that these people were spewing was amazing. You never realize how bizarre these people can get. Some of them were just High School kids. All the names got turned over to the cops and our local fishwrap. The discussion of how to take out a cyclist makes it premeditated if it comes to pass. One team has stopped riding in that area. I think we should go en mass.
The papist traced one of them and came up with an address and an arrest record(shocking, right?).
We need to pay a visit like Walter and the Dude just to see what the deal is.
Maybe we'll take Curtis with us just in case. He does love a good confrontation.
It could be that the thought of one more day on the trainer has me a little edgy. I'm getting really close to being Jack Nicholson typing away in "the shining". Just keep those creepy little girls away from me. That's gives me the willies.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
A Disorganized Mind & Training Schedule (brian)
We've had all kinds of crazy weather to deal with, work to do and rides to squeeze in somehow. God knows how. We had 2 really warm days that I was able to take advantage of. First, the papist and I got out for a few intervals and hills. Truth be told I was following his schedule that day more than mine, just happy to be out. I slowed us down w a mechanical issue, odd problems with the front derailleur. I adapted and figured it was back together. The next day I had an occasional dropped chain, but no biggie. We had a great group with the papist, web-dude, Doug(outside even!!! all were shocked but it was damn near 60 soooo), and our tri-geek friend of the day Shane. We try to adopt one every few rides.
We had a short window because the domestic goddess/princess and the pea had ordered a new mattress. With kids sports and all it was my duty to let the delivery dudes do their thing. Two large men show up with a truck to find several spandex clad gents lounging and drinking beer.
I believe it was the papist who tried to get them to "just put it on the floor, we'll be fine" They worked really quickly, maybe the thought of 5 guys in tights and a new mattress was too much for them. Again, my life serves as a cautionary tale for others.
We followed that by drinking a large amount of red wine with the web-people. The dg/p&tp was as always hysterical when intoxicated although I'm still not sure I understood the subtle subtext of her poli sci discussion. Oh well.
disgracefully stolen from schmeckle's blog www.bikeface.blogspot.com
The dreaded p,b&j ride started Sat at 27 degrees. We had a good crew w Aaron Hawkins guest suffering along with Duane, Schmeckle, newlymarried barry, web-dude, MRGARNER(who's now skiing in freaking UTAH), Logan and a few others.
By the time we got to Iroquois(park #1 on the way to the forrest) my chain was dropping every time I went for the little ring. I peeled off, rode home cold and alone and finished the ride on the cx bike. Not something that makes for a cheery mood.
it would take something really special to pull me out of this dark morning. I pulled up to the mailbox as the cx bike/roadbike ride was done and lo and behold CX Magazine had arrived. I announced that our evening plans were now on hold(which fell on deaf and non-plussed ears) and sat down stinky to peruse the mag. Wait, it gets better. Why is Myerson's name on the cover? A 4 page interview with our good friend and advisor on cx and culture Adam Freakin Myerson. About time our boy got some more pub. It's a great article, especially if you only know Adam from his interviews in "transitions". This was around the time he was getting divorced and thinking about quitting racing. He comes off a lot differently in the movie than in real life, as do most people you judge by a snapshot of their life.
I sent Adam a quick note as our cycling-hating friend Ari came over with his son for a play-date/gossip session. We went full yenta about the friends and fam, so I didn't look at the new copy of VeloNews until later that night. The back page has a rant that Adam had posted on his blog as a full pager. It's sort of a call to arms for racers and team mates. I remember when he posted this thinking, wow. Well done.
If you read this blog and don't subscribe to Cx Mag, shame on you. You most likely spend more than the cost of the subscription on red wine that you then bring to my house and is completely gone in an hour or less(I'm looking at you suzanne). Not that I'm knocking the vino, dear god we needed that. But get the magazine that defines the culture. There are a few good publications that really focus in on what we do, CX Magazine and Embrocation magazine are two of the best.
sidebar-on the last mention of Embrocation Magazine, the papist replied "there's a magazine about embrocation? I'm getting a new hobby" empty threats!!!
CX mag handles the day to day news, interviews and how to's, Embrocation is all glossy photos, glamour shots of cx bikes and races and fantastic writing.
And really, I only have so many friends featured in the media for good things. If you see my face in a national magazine, assume something has gone tragically wrong, most likely I have taken vengeance for the butchering of the english language at the hands of local news caster Dawn Gee. She'll win a prize for journalism documenting my snap and.....off track, horribly off track. sorry.
Go crack open that little change purse by your desk and at least get the most recent cyclocross magazine. Schmeckle? do you hear me Schmeckle? I'll even give you the website so you don't have to scroll down the right hand side of this page www.cxmagazine.com
Now go away so I can ride the triangular torture machine and watch Lebowski for the fortyeleven millionth time. Stupid f'ing season, I oughta...........
We had a short window because the domestic goddess/princess and the pea had ordered a new mattress. With kids sports and all it was my duty to let the delivery dudes do their thing. Two large men show up with a truck to find several spandex clad gents lounging and drinking beer.
I believe it was the papist who tried to get them to "just put it on the floor, we'll be fine" They worked really quickly, maybe the thought of 5 guys in tights and a new mattress was too much for them. Again, my life serves as a cautionary tale for others.
We followed that by drinking a large amount of red wine with the web-people. The dg/p&tp was as always hysterical when intoxicated although I'm still not sure I understood the subtle subtext of her poli sci discussion. Oh well.
disgracefully stolen from schmeckle's blog www.bikeface.blogspot.com
The dreaded p,b&j ride started Sat at 27 degrees. We had a good crew w Aaron Hawkins guest suffering along with Duane, Schmeckle, newlymarried barry, web-dude, MRGARNER(who's now skiing in freaking UTAH), Logan and a few others.
By the time we got to Iroquois(park #1 on the way to the forrest) my chain was dropping every time I went for the little ring. I peeled off, rode home cold and alone and finished the ride on the cx bike. Not something that makes for a cheery mood.
it would take something really special to pull me out of this dark morning. I pulled up to the mailbox as the cx bike/roadbike ride was done and lo and behold CX Magazine had arrived. I announced that our evening plans were now on hold(which fell on deaf and non-plussed ears) and sat down stinky to peruse the mag. Wait, it gets better. Why is Myerson's name on the cover? A 4 page interview with our good friend and advisor on cx and culture Adam Freakin Myerson. About time our boy got some more pub. It's a great article, especially if you only know Adam from his interviews in "transitions". This was around the time he was getting divorced and thinking about quitting racing. He comes off a lot differently in the movie than in real life, as do most people you judge by a snapshot of their life.
I sent Adam a quick note as our cycling-hating friend Ari came over with his son for a play-date/gossip session. We went full yenta about the friends and fam, so I didn't look at the new copy of VeloNews until later that night. The back page has a rant that Adam had posted on his blog as a full pager. It's sort of a call to arms for racers and team mates. I remember when he posted this thinking, wow. Well done.
If you read this blog and don't subscribe to Cx Mag, shame on you. You most likely spend more than the cost of the subscription on red wine that you then bring to my house and is completely gone in an hour or less(I'm looking at you suzanne). Not that I'm knocking the vino, dear god we needed that. But get the magazine that defines the culture. There are a few good publications that really focus in on what we do, CX Magazine and Embrocation magazine are two of the best.
sidebar-on the last mention of Embrocation Magazine, the papist replied "there's a magazine about embrocation? I'm getting a new hobby" empty threats!!!
CX mag handles the day to day news, interviews and how to's, Embrocation is all glossy photos, glamour shots of cx bikes and races and fantastic writing.
And really, I only have so many friends featured in the media for good things. If you see my face in a national magazine, assume something has gone tragically wrong, most likely I have taken vengeance for the butchering of the english language at the hands of local news caster Dawn Gee. She'll win a prize for journalism documenting my snap and.....off track, horribly off track. sorry.
Go crack open that little change purse by your desk and at least get the most recent cyclocross magazine. Schmeckle? do you hear me Schmeckle? I'll even give you the website so you don't have to scroll down the right hand side of this page www.cxmagazine.com
Now go away so I can ride the triangular torture machine and watch Lebowski for the fortyeleven millionth time. Stupid f'ing season, I oughta...........
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Go go gadget triathlete... (doug)
I like gadgets. I'll buy just about anything electronic or electronic related...especially if it's on an infomercial. Exercise gadgets, kitchen cooking gadgets, organizer gadgets, PDA's, whatever. I have to have it. I'm also, however, a pretty big bargain shopper. So I've got a heart rate monitor watch from Target, and a cheap bike computer, but I've also been using a Garmin 301 for the last year. I got the 301 from Costco, for a great deal ($119) a year ago, and have actually been pretty thrilled with it. It has it's pitfalls, that are well documented (bad GPS reception in heavy clouds, heavy tree cover, or tall buildings AND hit false heart rate info on occasion). It also is missing the ability to recognize a "lap" at a specific location (as in the start finish of a crit/cx race), so you have to hit the "lap" button if you want separate lap info in a circuit race. Despite these issues, I would have to say it is one of the things that has had the largest influence in my training success/growth in the last year. I also have the iPOD, with the amazing PodRunner tracks on it (if you haven't been to the PodRunner site, you are missing out, in my opinion). My little iPOD shuffle (the second one, since Apple replaced the first one for free, despite what the guy thought was "probably sweat damage") currently holds 7, hour long PodRunner tracks, ranging from 150bpm (hill climbing cycling) to 180bpm (essentially a full sprint). Most of my running is done at 168bpm, which is exactly 7.1 mph for me at normal stride at 1% grade incline.
Anyway, as part of a work promotion/contest, I ended up with $350 worth of Best Buy gift cards, and thought I knew just what to do with them. It was time I made the upgrade to the "new" Garmin 305. It is smaller, and all of the issues mentioned above have allegedly been resolved (based on user reviews). Just as I'm ready to make the purchase, however, I get an ad from Costco (damn them), offering the 305 for $160, including shipping. Well, I simply can't bring myself to spend $299 (Best Buy's price) for this thing, even if it's "fake money", when I can get it for almost half the price somewhere else. But now I HAVE to have it, because I have my heart set on it....you see my dilemma. So, I have to spend real money on the Costco Garmin, and now I still have $350 in Best Buy Bucks. Ugh. More gadgets, but this is where it gets cool. Well, first, I go all "loving dad and hubby". Alison gets her own iPOD and Kyle gets Rock Band 2 (so he can rock out some new songs, since he's mastered all of RockBand and RB Track Pack 1), and Katie gets her own Wii game, which still leaves about $150. Now is where I go super gadget, at least in my mind. Actually I go gadget super accessory, since what I got was just an iPOD accessory. Since I've been swimming, I occasionally have used a swimmers "metronome" type device that clips to your goggle strap and beeps in your ear at a set pace to help you keep your stroke pace. It's a bit annoying, but it helps me, as a novice, MARGINAL, swimmer. But now, I am the proud owner of the H2O Audio, waterPROOF swimmers iPOD armband and Surge Waterproof headphones! I am psyched. I just swam a mile today at lunch (in complete silence b/c it hasn't been delivered yet) and nearly died of bordom. I'm actually not sure if I'll use PodRunner tracks to help with my stroke rate, or if I'll just chill to some actual music (oops, I might need a bigger iPOD) while swimming, but I am looking forward to having the option. I actually still have a few bucks left over, which might go to a new CD to load to the shuffle. All I need now is a swim lap counter (I lose track in the 25m pool after about 8 lengths). I'll have it soon.
And, In case you were wondering, today was the first time I've gone a mile since my swim in Norris Lake in October. It went great (of course it did, it took me 40 minutes). After this weekend's 11 mile run, and today's 1 mile swim (which I did immediately after an hour of vigorous spinning), I feel pretty comfortable with the idea of a half IronMan this summer. I'm not completely there yet, but I'm essentially at the beginning of my training, and I'm already doing the majority of the distances, sometimes even as a brick, and feeling excellent afterwards. It's a good sign. Now if this shoulder would just finish healing, I could get back to CRIT once a week as well. That would be fun, and bring a little more variety into it all.
Anyway, as part of a work promotion/contest, I ended up with $350 worth of Best Buy gift cards, and thought I knew just what to do with them. It was time I made the upgrade to the "new" Garmin 305. It is smaller, and all of the issues mentioned above have allegedly been resolved (based on user reviews). Just as I'm ready to make the purchase, however, I get an ad from Costco (damn them), offering the 305 for $160, including shipping. Well, I simply can't bring myself to spend $299 (Best Buy's price) for this thing, even if it's "fake money", when I can get it for almost half the price somewhere else. But now I HAVE to have it, because I have my heart set on it....you see my dilemma. So, I have to spend real money on the Costco Garmin, and now I still have $350 in Best Buy Bucks. Ugh. More gadgets, but this is where it gets cool. Well, first, I go all "loving dad and hubby". Alison gets her own iPOD and Kyle gets Rock Band 2 (so he can rock out some new songs, since he's mastered all of RockBand and RB Track Pack 1), and Katie gets her own Wii game, which still leaves about $150. Now is where I go super gadget, at least in my mind. Actually I go gadget super accessory, since what I got was just an iPOD accessory. Since I've been swimming, I occasionally have used a swimmers "metronome" type device that clips to your goggle strap and beeps in your ear at a set pace to help you keep your stroke pace. It's a bit annoying, but it helps me, as a novice, MARGINAL, swimmer. But now, I am the proud owner of the H2O Audio, waterPROOF swimmers iPOD armband and Surge Waterproof headphones! I am psyched. I just swam a mile today at lunch (in complete silence b/c it hasn't been delivered yet) and nearly died of bordom. I'm actually not sure if I'll use PodRunner tracks to help with my stroke rate, or if I'll just chill to some actual music (oops, I might need a bigger iPOD) while swimming, but I am looking forward to having the option. I actually still have a few bucks left over, which might go to a new CD to load to the shuffle. All I need now is a swim lap counter (I lose track in the 25m pool after about 8 lengths). I'll have it soon.
And, In case you were wondering, today was the first time I've gone a mile since my swim in Norris Lake in October. It went great (of course it did, it took me 40 minutes). After this weekend's 11 mile run, and today's 1 mile swim (which I did immediately after an hour of vigorous spinning), I feel pretty comfortable with the idea of a half IronMan this summer. I'm not completely there yet, but I'm essentially at the beginning of my training, and I'm already doing the majority of the distances, sometimes even as a brick, and feeling excellent afterwards. It's a good sign. Now if this shoulder would just finish healing, I could get back to CRIT once a week as well. That would be fun, and bring a little more variety into it all.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Kings Of Leroy Review(brian)
After a return performance with the corporate greedheads involving a drive to St Louis and back on subsequent days, and not a moment of the inauguration to be viewed, it was time to get our Leon, on, so to speak. If I couldn't see the most historic inauguration since ....well forever then it was time to blow off some steam.
We (me and the domestic goddess/computer wounder) met up with some of the usual suspects-seiler, tallgirl, k2 and mr k2 at cumberland brews. This was a bad start because it apparently takes a lot longer to drive from St Louis back to the village than I thought> We made it just in time for A beer and a small snack. So without the proper medicinal levels of good beer on board we headed to the Louisville Palace, one of my favorite concert venues. As in many cities the historic old movie house is now a great concert venue.
Possibly the lack of alchohol and the tough day played into it, but we could not stop mocking the band, the crowd and their haircuts. Almost flock of seagullish if you will.
I liked the cadence of the show, one song immediately after another like a Ramones show, but slower and without Dee Dee coming to the mic btw songs to shoout "onetwothreefour" before the assault resumed.
The tunes were great, and I really like the old KOL, but I'm obviously not nearly as plugged in as your average 40 yr old father of 2, because the crowd was going apeshit at times that seemed completely disconnected to what was happening with the band. It was like the crowd from one show was in front of a completely different show. Except for bandanna dude who was either personally and spiritually touched by much of their music or x'ing really hard. Tough to tell, and I'm not judging. I'm not joining either tho.
Also distracting was the lead singers need to go "motown back up singer" by pantomiming the lyrics like a 13 yr old girl. Sings the word eye, points to his eye, you get the picture. It was so funny that we started doing it ourselves> I had a great time at this concert and laughed myself silly, at myself, and the band, and the crowd which conisisted of a mix of young hip trendy kids, the parents of my children's friends. No lie one of them kicked my 9 yr old out of their house today so she could get hoochied up. And did a damn fine job of it. And then there was uncle charlie from "my three sons". Tallgirl is going to get mad at me because he's apparently a very nice guy and a "culture writer/commentator" on Npr and our local entertainment fishwrap. He was a cranky, cranky man. He's gotten to that point that I'm edging towards where you lose your ability to laugh at drunk girls and smelly hippies at concerts. It was like watching someone's great uncle wathc a mosh pit. Darn crazy kids, watch it there punk!!! That sound? Oh, it's your youth slipping away.
I am ashamed to say we all left at the same time, violating a personal rule that I have (and have instilled in both kids) about leaving ballgames or concerts early. It wasn't the KOL, it was me being dog-ass tired (it's a word!!).
I'm just not the stylish party machine that I've been using this blog to convince you that I am.
But, f@#k it was Tuesday.
We (me and the domestic goddess/computer wounder) met up with some of the usual suspects-seiler, tallgirl, k2 and mr k2 at cumberland brews. This was a bad start because it apparently takes a lot longer to drive from St Louis back to the village than I thought> We made it just in time for A beer and a small snack. So without the proper medicinal levels of good beer on board we headed to the Louisville Palace, one of my favorite concert venues. As in many cities the historic old movie house is now a great concert venue.
Possibly the lack of alchohol and the tough day played into it, but we could not stop mocking the band, the crowd and their haircuts. Almost flock of seagullish if you will.
I liked the cadence of the show, one song immediately after another like a Ramones show, but slower and without Dee Dee coming to the mic btw songs to shoout "onetwothreefour" before the assault resumed.
The tunes were great, and I really like the old KOL, but I'm obviously not nearly as plugged in as your average 40 yr old father of 2, because the crowd was going apeshit at times that seemed completely disconnected to what was happening with the band. It was like the crowd from one show was in front of a completely different show. Except for bandanna dude who was either personally and spiritually touched by much of their music or x'ing really hard. Tough to tell, and I'm not judging. I'm not joining either tho.
Also distracting was the lead singers need to go "motown back up singer" by pantomiming the lyrics like a 13 yr old girl. Sings the word eye, points to his eye, you get the picture. It was so funny that we started doing it ourselves> I had a great time at this concert and laughed myself silly, at myself, and the band, and the crowd which conisisted of a mix of young hip trendy kids, the parents of my children's friends. No lie one of them kicked my 9 yr old out of their house today so she could get hoochied up. And did a damn fine job of it. And then there was uncle charlie from "my three sons". Tallgirl is going to get mad at me because he's apparently a very nice guy and a "culture writer/commentator" on Npr and our local entertainment fishwrap. He was a cranky, cranky man. He's gotten to that point that I'm edging towards where you lose your ability to laugh at drunk girls and smelly hippies at concerts. It was like watching someone's great uncle wathc a mosh pit. Darn crazy kids, watch it there punk!!! That sound? Oh, it's your youth slipping away.
I am ashamed to say we all left at the same time, violating a personal rule that I have (and have instilled in both kids) about leaving ballgames or concerts early. It wasn't the KOL, it was me being dog-ass tired (it's a word!!).
I'm just not the stylish party machine that I've been using this blog to convince you that I am.
But, f@#k it was Tuesday.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Divine coaching, or "is Hal Higdon god?" (doug)
So, last I posted I had registered for my marathon, and wasn't sure how well I'd be able to work in the training. In an attempt to keep the Brian:Doug posting ratio below 10:1, I thought I'd post a little update here at LTP between my facebook postings. The training has been going very well. I've modified the Hal Higdon Intermediate 1 training schedule, to allow for a little extra triathlon stuff for me. Instead of 5 running days/wk, I'm only doing 4, but bumping the smaller weekday runs up a bit to compensate for the missed mileage on run day 5. That allows me to get 2 days of "cross training", which entail a spinning class (anywhere from 45-90 mins), some light lifting, and then a swim of moderate distance (800-1600m or so). And on the 7th day, I rest...sometimes. If not, I can do whatever I feel like doing. It might actually be a 5th run, or maybe a 3rd spinning class, or maybe just some additional light lifting and an short stint on the elliptical. Whatever the case, it's been working, and I feel great.
We're essentially on week 4 of the program, so this week I had an 11 mile run on the schedule for the weekend "long run". With plans to go out to a party with some friends of ours -- a party that looked to be a doozie -- I thought I'd skirt the system a bit and do my long run on Saturday, so I wouldn't have to do it Sunday with a hangover. Additionally, I'm thinking 9 or 10 versus 11, b/c I'm just not feeling the whole 11. I don't have a coach, so who's to stop me, right? We'll the divine coach had something to say -- at least that what it sure seemed like. Somebody, somewhere, with a little control over the little things, did NOT want me to alter the system.
The kiddos have swim lessons at 11 on Saturday mornings, so Alison and I have a system. She sleeps until 10, while I hang with the kids. At 10, I head to the gym, where I can get my workout in and be done by 11:45 or so, help get the kids out of the pool, and then I take them home or to lunch while Al stays and gets in her workout. So, I head to the Y at 10, planning on getting in the 11 miler and being done in time to catch the end of swim lessons. Here's where "Hal" steps in. First I wait for 25 minutes for a treadmill. You see, healthclubs in January (evenings and weekends, really) are ridiculous! The membership doubles for that first month, everybody in the city with a "lose weight" resolution floods to the treadmills, ellipticals, and free weights, trying to shed the last 6 years of, well, not resolutioning. Not a good start, but there might still be the possibility of getting 8 or 9 in, if the run goes well. When my name hits the top of the waiting list, and a machine opens up, I jump on. I get situated, get the iPOD going, and start running. 7.1mph, 1% incline. Nice and easy....And I feel like crap. My legs feel like they have 50 lb. weights on them. I can't figure it out, and I can't really can't concentrate over the horrible squeaking that my treadmill is making. It is rattling and screeching so loud I can barely hear the music in my earbuds. So I keep running for a while and finally figure out from looking at the treadmills to either side of me that mine seems to be on a significantly greater incline angle than these other two. I set mine down to zero, but still seem to be running up a decent grade incline. That would explain the weights. I'm not feeling very good about mile 4 when my problem of the screeching and whining treadmill drowning out my iPOD is "solved". My iPOD battery dies, and I'm now running late, uphill, and without music. I don't know if I've mentioned the PodRunner tracks that I run to, but I've kind of become accustomed to them, and but for triathlon races where they are not allowed, I don't really like running without it. I give it a go for another mile, but at that point I do a little math and realize that I'm only going to get about 8.5 miles in, and it's going to suck, so I bail, leaving myself with the long run on Sunday. The "elements" win. Mission accomplished Hal/god. I jump on a spinning bike for 30 or so minutes just to keep sweating, and head over to the pool.
Without detail, the party Saturday was excellent. Saw some good friends, met a few new ones, and drank a lot of bourbon. We did head home a little earlier than I had originally planned, when one of our friends turned green from a combination of bbq, bourbon, beer, and brownies. (yes, those). I believe it was the last element that put said friend over the top, so it was time to go. We'd been out hard, but got to bed at a reasonable hour, so when Sunday came, I didn't know what to expect. I got up, messed around as usual with family stuff, and headed to the Y around 1, hoping I'd feel up to the task. Man did I. With all the NFL stuff going on, it wasn't nearly as crowded. I found a machine right away, got started, and felt great. I ended up talking to a guy next to me who is running a 1/2 IM in New Orleans coming up, and was also running about 90 minutes. The conversation helped pass the time, and before I knew it, the 11 miles were gone. I had the PodRunner in one ear, just to keep the tempo going in the back of my mind, and managed to finish at an 8:30 pace without a thought, and with just water for the whole run (I haven't felt the need for sportsdrink or food at this distance yet, although I think I had plenty of carbs to burn). It couldn't have gone better...Hal knows best.
So, next week is a 12 miler on Sunday, and I've got another party on Saturday night. Sounds like a perfect plan. I just hope I can get enough bourbon in me to make the run as good as this week's.
On a side note, I've also been back in the pool now a number of times, and feel great. Considering I won't have to go more than 800m for quite some time, and most of the early year sprints are only 400m, I feel like the swimming is off to a good start. I did buy "Total Immersion" to read, at the suggestion of some friends, and may actually start working on some technique, now that the fear of drowning is a bit less. I'm also CONSIDERING purchasing a tri specific bike. Just considering right now, but a connection has got me a couple of nice potential deals, tax refund season is just around the corner, and we just refi'd our mortgage and saved $400/month, so I'm tempted. Stay tuned.
Now back to your regularly scheduled programming of 10 daily Brian posts in a row.
We're essentially on week 4 of the program, so this week I had an 11 mile run on the schedule for the weekend "long run". With plans to go out to a party with some friends of ours -- a party that looked to be a doozie -- I thought I'd skirt the system a bit and do my long run on Saturday, so I wouldn't have to do it Sunday with a hangover. Additionally, I'm thinking 9 or 10 versus 11, b/c I'm just not feeling the whole 11. I don't have a coach, so who's to stop me, right? We'll the divine coach had something to say -- at least that what it sure seemed like. Somebody, somewhere, with a little control over the little things, did NOT want me to alter the system.
The kiddos have swim lessons at 11 on Saturday mornings, so Alison and I have a system. She sleeps until 10, while I hang with the kids. At 10, I head to the gym, where I can get my workout in and be done by 11:45 or so, help get the kids out of the pool, and then I take them home or to lunch while Al stays and gets in her workout. So, I head to the Y at 10, planning on getting in the 11 miler and being done in time to catch the end of swim lessons. Here's where "Hal" steps in. First I wait for 25 minutes for a treadmill. You see, healthclubs in January (evenings and weekends, really) are ridiculous! The membership doubles for that first month, everybody in the city with a "lose weight" resolution floods to the treadmills, ellipticals, and free weights, trying to shed the last 6 years of, well, not resolutioning. Not a good start, but there might still be the possibility of getting 8 or 9 in, if the run goes well. When my name hits the top of the waiting list, and a machine opens up, I jump on. I get situated, get the iPOD going, and start running. 7.1mph, 1% incline. Nice and easy....And I feel like crap. My legs feel like they have 50 lb. weights on them. I can't figure it out, and I can't really can't concentrate over the horrible squeaking that my treadmill is making. It is rattling and screeching so loud I can barely hear the music in my earbuds. So I keep running for a while and finally figure out from looking at the treadmills to either side of me that mine seems to be on a significantly greater incline angle than these other two. I set mine down to zero, but still seem to be running up a decent grade incline. That would explain the weights. I'm not feeling very good about mile 4 when my problem of the screeching and whining treadmill drowning out my iPOD is "solved". My iPOD battery dies, and I'm now running late, uphill, and without music. I don't know if I've mentioned the PodRunner tracks that I run to, but I've kind of become accustomed to them, and but for triathlon races where they are not allowed, I don't really like running without it. I give it a go for another mile, but at that point I do a little math and realize that I'm only going to get about 8.5 miles in, and it's going to suck, so I bail, leaving myself with the long run on Sunday. The "elements" win. Mission accomplished Hal/god. I jump on a spinning bike for 30 or so minutes just to keep sweating, and head over to the pool.
Without detail, the party Saturday was excellent. Saw some good friends, met a few new ones, and drank a lot of bourbon. We did head home a little earlier than I had originally planned, when one of our friends turned green from a combination of bbq, bourbon, beer, and brownies. (yes, those). I believe it was the last element that put said friend over the top, so it was time to go. We'd been out hard, but got to bed at a reasonable hour, so when Sunday came, I didn't know what to expect. I got up, messed around as usual with family stuff, and headed to the Y around 1, hoping I'd feel up to the task. Man did I. With all the NFL stuff going on, it wasn't nearly as crowded. I found a machine right away, got started, and felt great. I ended up talking to a guy next to me who is running a 1/2 IM in New Orleans coming up, and was also running about 90 minutes. The conversation helped pass the time, and before I knew it, the 11 miles were gone. I had the PodRunner in one ear, just to keep the tempo going in the back of my mind, and managed to finish at an 8:30 pace without a thought, and with just water for the whole run (I haven't felt the need for sportsdrink or food at this distance yet, although I think I had plenty of carbs to burn). It couldn't have gone better...Hal knows best.
So, next week is a 12 miler on Sunday, and I've got another party on Saturday night. Sounds like a perfect plan. I just hope I can get enough bourbon in me to make the run as good as this week's.
On a side note, I've also been back in the pool now a number of times, and feel great. Considering I won't have to go more than 800m for quite some time, and most of the early year sprints are only 400m, I feel like the swimming is off to a good start. I did buy "Total Immersion" to read, at the suggestion of some friends, and may actually start working on some technique, now that the fear of drowning is a bit less. I'm also CONSIDERING purchasing a tri specific bike. Just considering right now, but a connection has got me a couple of nice potential deals, tax refund season is just around the corner, and we just refi'd our mortgage and saved $400/month, so I'm tempted. Stay tuned.
Now back to your regularly scheduled programming of 10 daily Brian posts in a row.
cycling etiquette from Emily Seatpost(brian)
Funny, but it's usually me railing against the system and the impolite behavior of some dork on a group ride. Today, it's me ranting about me, or at least a mea culpa(sp?).
As I had mentioned, Sundays ride was a race to beat the weather. What I failed to mention was me breaking a cardinal rule about how to ride like a team, or team mate in this case. I got so wrapped up in the time pressure from the weather radar that I really didnt think about having RSVP'd to an 11a team ride. Okay, it crossed my mind, but I thought....well myriad of things but didn't stop to send a txt about my schedule change. Of course I finish my ride, dash into the house, out of the storm and check the bberry. There it sits, message from Mr Webster. Damn, forgot to call. I know how amateur that looks because I would still be talking trash about Johnny No-Show. And in a way I am. As I said before, this was somewhat of a lost weekend. Luckily that's over and I get to go dashing thru the snow, in an un derpowered sleigh to a corporate meeting in St Louis. And you know how much I love that.
As I had mentioned, Sundays ride was a race to beat the weather. What I failed to mention was me breaking a cardinal rule about how to ride like a team, or team mate in this case. I got so wrapped up in the time pressure from the weather radar that I really didnt think about having RSVP'd to an 11a team ride. Okay, it crossed my mind, but I thought....well myriad of things but didn't stop to send a txt about my schedule change. Of course I finish my ride, dash into the house, out of the storm and check the bberry. There it sits, message from Mr Webster. Damn, forgot to call. I know how amateur that looks because I would still be talking trash about Johnny No-Show. And in a way I am. As I said before, this was somewhat of a lost weekend. Luckily that's over and I get to go dashing thru the snow, in an un derpowered sleigh to a corporate meeting in St Louis. And you know how much I love that.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Another Lost Weekend(brian)
I'm starting to feel like a late season Scrooge, but this winter thing is wearing me out. Saturday, being the bachelor for the weekend I was all fired up for our 4 hr P,B &J ride. Then the bottom fell out of the temperature and riding sub-30 degrees just wasn't what I had in mind. Plan B!! Let's do back to back spin classes, this got my workout in and got me home to start painting the house(chores, chores, chores) I passed on a great mtn bike ride w Seiler, Fatty and the Papist because my skills are still really sub-par and I felt not like being "that guy", you know....the ride killer? And the 1pm re-scheduled P.B and J seemed like an iffy possibility.
the problem with my plan was that after class 1 was finished, the line to come in was a mile long. So we got the bum's rush from spin class. No worries, right? Fast paint work and then jump on the trainer, not as good as a real ride, but hey It's january. Of course painting a few walls turns into painting all of them and I just barely finished up in time to make it to the UofL basketball game.
Today was redemption day. I got out early and ran four miles with the dog, who could run 7 minute miles if my fat ass could go faster than 8:30's these days. We both got a good workout and as she ate breakfast, I changed into kit and got out on the road early to do what was on the schedule-form sprints for 2 hrs. I needed the intensity, and wanted to feel like I had actually done something. This caused me to skip the team ride, but was probably the better call. In the park during an extended recovery period I ran into herr schmelzer and shane graff running , and then caught Kelly and Tallgirl out for a spin. I'm an evil bastard because I needed company to make me do the rest of my sprints, so I pressed them into service and did the next set of sprints with the ladies.....yes, I won. But they held their own quite well. We spun off in different directions as I headed for River Rd and the rest of my sprints and the house. As I got closer to the River the temps dropped(as expected) and the wind picked up(ditto), and then the sleet started coming in. I wondered if the web-dude was in the forrest getting pelted with this crap? Surely they would have turned around???? Actually they probably cursed it and kept going as I did. Hey, you've gotta get home somehow. With the Domestic goddess/facebook princess with the rugrats at an indoor waterpark in Knoxville, I didn't have much other choice than to keep the sleet and snow off of my face and soldier it on in.
All in all I should have done the 3 hour tour yesterday and stayed on the trainer this morning. Hindsight's a bitch.
I can't wait for warm weather and the time change. I cleaned so much road muck off the bike after today's ride it was shocking. I wonder what it's like to have a winter training bike like I read about? First I'll need a bigger garage, and money for alimony.......Nah, I'll just keep cleaning this one after the next iditarod training day.
the problem with my plan was that after class 1 was finished, the line to come in was a mile long. So we got the bum's rush from spin class. No worries, right? Fast paint work and then jump on the trainer, not as good as a real ride, but hey It's january. Of course painting a few walls turns into painting all of them and I just barely finished up in time to make it to the UofL basketball game.
Today was redemption day. I got out early and ran four miles with the dog, who could run 7 minute miles if my fat ass could go faster than 8:30's these days. We both got a good workout and as she ate breakfast, I changed into kit and got out on the road early to do what was on the schedule-form sprints for 2 hrs. I needed the intensity, and wanted to feel like I had actually done something. This caused me to skip the team ride, but was probably the better call. In the park during an extended recovery period I ran into herr schmelzer and shane graff running , and then caught Kelly and Tallgirl out for a spin. I'm an evil bastard because I needed company to make me do the rest of my sprints, so I pressed them into service and did the next set of sprints with the ladies.....yes, I won. But they held their own quite well. We spun off in different directions as I headed for River Rd and the rest of my sprints and the house. As I got closer to the River the temps dropped(as expected) and the wind picked up(ditto), and then the sleet started coming in. I wondered if the web-dude was in the forrest getting pelted with this crap? Surely they would have turned around???? Actually they probably cursed it and kept going as I did. Hey, you've gotta get home somehow. With the Domestic goddess/facebook princess with the rugrats at an indoor waterpark in Knoxville, I didn't have much other choice than to keep the sleet and snow off of my face and soldier it on in.
All in all I should have done the 3 hour tour yesterday and stayed on the trainer this morning. Hindsight's a bitch.
I can't wait for warm weather and the time change. I cleaned so much road muck off the bike after today's ride it was shocking. I wonder what it's like to have a winter training bike like I read about? First I'll need a bigger garage, and money for alimony.......Nah, I'll just keep cleaning this one after the next iditarod training day.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Throw Down Goes Big Time(brian)
Thanks to ace reporter Web-Girl aka Mrs Webster aka Zanne aka that chick w the cool socks that did not get girled at the USGP, the Thursday Night Throwdown has gotten some serious pub. No, I mean bigger than the write up here on LTP> She has a full interview with Director Sportif Satan on www.cxmagazine.com
Very well written and really does give the full pbr-tinged flavor of the throw-down. Check it out and leave Zanne some commentary. It's not that often that the village gets singled out for something cool. Okay with the exception of the tasty stuff going on in the sinks at KFC, this is it!!!
Great stuff.
Very well written and really does give the full pbr-tinged flavor of the throw-down. Check it out and leave Zanne some commentary. It's not that often that the village gets singled out for something cool. Okay with the exception of the tasty stuff going on in the sinks at KFC, this is it!!!
Great stuff.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
man from the town that don't dance(brian)
File this under completely random, but as the domestic goddess/facebook queen reconnects with friends on line, I can't help but think about the strange paths that took us to the village. After living in 7 fairly different towns from Philly to Tuscaloosa in order of size and angst w Dallas coming in first for plastic surgery and leased beemers(not by us on either count), I can honestly say that this is the last place I would've bet on us settling. If you had asked me at 18 where I would have turned up, it would have been anywhere but here.
If the facebook thing made me think about the path to get here, refinancing the house for 30 yrs made me think about permanence.
What does this have to do with racing/training/the price of tea in china? Nothing and everything I guess.
I started looking for the common threads thru all of this. The only one I can see that is static from growing up in punk rock clubs in the village like Tewligan's(or the jockey club in newport) to grooving to proto-jam bands at Alabama(someone clean up myerson, I think he may have puked) to the music we listen to and show we go to now, there's one constant.
Still can't dance
If the facebook thing made me think about the path to get here, refinancing the house for 30 yrs made me think about permanence.
What does this have to do with racing/training/the price of tea in china? Nothing and everything I guess.
I started looking for the common threads thru all of this. The only one I can see that is static from growing up in punk rock clubs in the village like Tewligan's(or the jockey club in newport) to grooving to proto-jam bands at Alabama(someone clean up myerson, I think he may have puked) to the music we listen to and show we go to now, there's one constant.
Still can't dance
Monday, January 12, 2009
On The Borderline(brian)
It seems like so many things are right at their break point right now. Weather, training, time. Its all hovering right around that binary decision making level of yes/no.
Sundays ride was right at the breakpoint for cold. I usually dont like to ride below 30 degrees. Above that, and I can enjoy the ride, below that and its just suffering for no reason. I met up w Seiler, Kelly and Fatty for a short(2hr) ride. Truly, i needed to get out and clear the cobwebs. I was a little hungover from too much wine and good food at Basa(great vietnamese joint) the night before and had played a little too much lego batman w child #2. Luckily Fatty only brings the jacklegs. There's no slow roll-out. We hit it fairly hard from the beginning, which was what I needed despite what my legs were saying. We went park to park, and found one really nice climb to the top of Iroqois. Whats funny to me is that I was maintaining higher power numbers Sunday than I did in parts of my field test. Not totally sure why that was, I'll check w Curtis and discuss.
As we left for home the temp really dropped to the mid 20's. We upped the pace because no one wanted to stay that cold that far from home.
Just what I needed. Mentally even more than physically.
With a team ride thru the forrest Friday and a good tempo ride yesterday, I needed a beer and some sleep. I almost didn't make it thru reading Curious George. I love that feeling.
My other quandry is that I really miss running. My schedule doesnt allow much, but I NEED to find a way to add it in. I'm loking at working it into my lifting schedule.....and I apparently need to lose about 10 pounds. Thanks power meter!! Hopefully some running and a small amount of self control on the beer aisle will get me there.
Its all at that breakpoint.
Sundays ride was right at the breakpoint for cold. I usually dont like to ride below 30 degrees. Above that, and I can enjoy the ride, below that and its just suffering for no reason. I met up w Seiler, Kelly and Fatty for a short(2hr) ride. Truly, i needed to get out and clear the cobwebs. I was a little hungover from too much wine and good food at Basa(great vietnamese joint) the night before and had played a little too much lego batman w child #2. Luckily Fatty only brings the jacklegs. There's no slow roll-out. We hit it fairly hard from the beginning, which was what I needed despite what my legs were saying. We went park to park, and found one really nice climb to the top of Iroqois. Whats funny to me is that I was maintaining higher power numbers Sunday than I did in parts of my field test. Not totally sure why that was, I'll check w Curtis and discuss.
As we left for home the temp really dropped to the mid 20's. We upped the pace because no one wanted to stay that cold that far from home.
Just what I needed. Mentally even more than physically.
With a team ride thru the forrest Friday and a good tempo ride yesterday, I needed a beer and some sleep. I almost didn't make it thru reading Curious George. I love that feeling.
My other quandry is that I really miss running. My schedule doesnt allow much, but I NEED to find a way to add it in. I'm loking at working it into my lifting schedule.....and I apparently need to lose about 10 pounds. Thanks power meter!! Hopefully some running and a small amount of self control on the beer aisle will get me there.
Its all at that breakpoint.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Own it (Doug)
Ha. Facebook is crazy funny. People you never thought you'd here from again (good or bad) are back. I think its a silly blast. More reason to keep workin' out...You are the boss! Tell 'em you race cyclocross. You rock!
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Escape from Bitch Mtn(brian)
With the biblical rain we had today, I'm glad I flip flopped my training schedule. Weights today and a good hard team ride yesterday. Back to Jefferson Memorial Forrest we went. It was a good group featuring the papist, both web-people, darrell, hoodie, barry and a few others. We left from close to home and everyone fell in pretty quickly. We worked on the rotating pace lines again, and I kept thinking "this surely comes in handy somewhere, but I'll be damned if I can figure out where".
I got a quick reply to this un-uttered thought when web-dude went off the front as tho Ole Scratch himself was on his tail as we entered the forrest. out of the rotation he drops the hammer. I'm trying to decide quickly between vainly trying to chase him down and saving my strength for the climbs ahead. Of course he's gapping us more and more as the pack hesitates.
At this point Darrell shouts "rotate, rotate!! that's why we do this!!" and it all becomes very real. We pick up the pace and are rotating and spinning after the web-dude as fast as we can.....and gaining. We start to reel him in and the rotation blows apart at exactly the wrong time. We are now individuals sprinting after him instead of an organized being spinning as one unit.
So, I totally get the reason for the drill.
We did one long climb up Mitchell Hill (bitch mtn indeed)and the rode back to civilization. I felt good on the day. I'll admit I was a little worried about getting caught by "the man with the hammer" on the climbs. You know the man, he usual shows up for me at the critical "go or slow moment" and turns my legs into brick and puts my pedals under deep water. Always behind a tree or under an overpass. You don't see him until he sees you. I've run into him in a marathon, cross race, road race and even out drinking. There is one truth, and that is that when the man with the hammer shows up, he will not be denied.
man with the hammer conceptually stolen from Roleur Magazine
He's the reason for the power meter in a way. My largest(but not only) problem racing is sustaining significant wattage. Sounds obvious but if I can train to hold more for longer, then that's the improvement I'm looking for. Obviously dropping a few lbs wouldn't hurt either.
Funny, I think that got said to me this summer while climbing hills in Sleepy Hollow. No reaction like a delayed reaction I guess.
Sometimes it takes a while for a thing like that to sink in. It's a lot like the whole "facebook" thing. It's something that I don't totally get but I understand other people's fascination with it. I'm not exactly hiding out here, blogging away, but I'm not that hungry to be found either. I've been really interested watching the domestic goddess/computer wounder(it got better) go thru starting the whole facebook process. She's gotten found by some people she really didn't realize she'd want to be found by. She, like me left town at 18 and sort of shut the light switch on what she left. When I moved back to the village I turned the switch back on. I didn't expect to find everything as I'd left it. I kind of hoped it would be in better shape. For the most part it was. For her, she's still gone, far away from a past she enjoyed and probably didn't realize she missed. I think a lot of the inertia for her (to go on the site)was removed when we came across a piece of our shared past with the old BSA motorcycle. I don't think either of us had really thought that much about those relationships in that context in a long time. Funny thing is that the first people to respond were the friends we had at that time in our lives.
As for me? I'm not anti-facebook, I just want to let some sleeping dogs lie. I don't object to a random encounter w someone from a long time ago, I'm just not ready to jump into the deep end of that pool. Right now I'm enjoying her rekindling of relationships with old friends and living vicariously thru her experience.
But who knows, right?
I got a quick reply to this un-uttered thought when web-dude went off the front as tho Ole Scratch himself was on his tail as we entered the forrest. out of the rotation he drops the hammer. I'm trying to decide quickly between vainly trying to chase him down and saving my strength for the climbs ahead. Of course he's gapping us more and more as the pack hesitates.
At this point Darrell shouts "rotate, rotate!! that's why we do this!!" and it all becomes very real. We pick up the pace and are rotating and spinning after the web-dude as fast as we can.....and gaining. We start to reel him in and the rotation blows apart at exactly the wrong time. We are now individuals sprinting after him instead of an organized being spinning as one unit.
So, I totally get the reason for the drill.
We did one long climb up Mitchell Hill (bitch mtn indeed)and the rode back to civilization. I felt good on the day. I'll admit I was a little worried about getting caught by "the man with the hammer" on the climbs. You know the man, he usual shows up for me at the critical "go or slow moment" and turns my legs into brick and puts my pedals under deep water. Always behind a tree or under an overpass. You don't see him until he sees you. I've run into him in a marathon, cross race, road race and even out drinking. There is one truth, and that is that when the man with the hammer shows up, he will not be denied.
man with the hammer conceptually stolen from Roleur Magazine
He's the reason for the power meter in a way. My largest(but not only) problem racing is sustaining significant wattage. Sounds obvious but if I can train to hold more for longer, then that's the improvement I'm looking for. Obviously dropping a few lbs wouldn't hurt either.
Funny, I think that got said to me this summer while climbing hills in Sleepy Hollow. No reaction like a delayed reaction I guess.
Sometimes it takes a while for a thing like that to sink in. It's a lot like the whole "facebook" thing. It's something that I don't totally get but I understand other people's fascination with it. I'm not exactly hiding out here, blogging away, but I'm not that hungry to be found either. I've been really interested watching the domestic goddess/computer wounder(it got better) go thru starting the whole facebook process. She's gotten found by some people she really didn't realize she'd want to be found by. She, like me left town at 18 and sort of shut the light switch on what she left. When I moved back to the village I turned the switch back on. I didn't expect to find everything as I'd left it. I kind of hoped it would be in better shape. For the most part it was. For her, she's still gone, far away from a past she enjoyed and probably didn't realize she missed. I think a lot of the inertia for her (to go on the site)was removed when we came across a piece of our shared past with the old BSA motorcycle. I don't think either of us had really thought that much about those relationships in that context in a long time. Funny thing is that the first people to respond were the friends we had at that time in our lives.
As for me? I'm not anti-facebook, I just want to let some sleeping dogs lie. I don't object to a random encounter w someone from a long time ago, I'm just not ready to jump into the deep end of that pool. Right now I'm enjoying her rekindling of relationships with old friends and living vicariously thru her experience.
But who knows, right?
Friday, January 9, 2009
USGP Returns!!!(brian)
Great news from the folks at the USGP. Not only are they returning to the village, they are adding a Wisconsin date. The new 4 race series dates for '09 are
Sept. 26-27: Planet Bike Cup in Madison, Wisconsin.
Oct. 24-25: Louisville, Kentucky.
Nov. 14-15: Mercer Cup in Mercer County, New Jersey.
Dec. 5-6: Portland, Oregon.
I'm glad to see the series thriving and growing!!
Sept. 26-27: Planet Bike Cup in Madison, Wisconsin.
Oct. 24-25: Louisville, Kentucky.
Nov. 14-15: Mercer Cup in Mercer County, New Jersey.
Dec. 5-6: Portland, Oregon.
I'm glad to see the series thriving and growing!!
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Doug's Secret Garden(brian)
Real photos of Doug negotiating at the "indoor garden center"
Now the secret conversation from Doug's hydroponic laboratory. Pay close attention, I hear the "Basil" is going wild!!!
(Soft knocks at the door)
CHONG: Who is it?
CHEECH: It's me, Dave. Open up, man, I got the stuff.
(More knocks)
CHONG: Who is it?
CHEECH: It's me, Dave, man. Open up, I got the stuff.
CHONG: Who?
CHEECH: It's, Dave, man. Open up, I think the cops saw me come in here.
(More knocks)
CHONG: Who is it?
CHEECH: It's, Dave, man. Will you open up, I got the stuff with me.
CHONG: Who?
CHEECH: Dave, man. Open up.
CHONG: Dave?
CHEECH: Yeah, Dave. C'mon, man, open up, I think the cops saw me.
CHONG: Dave's not here.
CHEECH: No, man, I'm Dave, man.
(Sharp knocks at the door)
CHEECH: Hey, c'mon, man.
CHONG: Who is it?
CHEECH: It's Dave, man. Will you open up? I got the stuff with me.
CHONG: Who?
CHEECH: Dave, man. Open up.
CHONG: Dave?
CHEECH: Yeah, Dave.
CHONG: Dave's not here.
CHEECH: What the hell? No, man, I am Dave, man. Will you...
(More knocks)
CHEECH: C'mon! Open up the door, will you? I got the stuff with me, I think the cops
saw me.
CHONG: Who is it?
CHEECH: Oh, what the hell is it...c'mon. Open up the door! It's Dave!
CHONG: Who?
CHEECH: Dave! D-A-V-E! Will you open up the goddam door!
CHONG: Dave?
CHEECH: Yeah, Dave!
CHONG: Dave?
CHEECH: Right, man. Dave. Now will you open up the door?
CHONG: Dave's not here.
This indoor garden is magickal!!!!
I'm a little bit country (doug)
Make it official. Today I registered for the Country Music Marathon in Nashville, TN, on April 25th of this year. As of now, I'm the only person I know doing this particular full marathon, but I will have at least 4 friends running the first 11 or so miles with (or near) me. Alison and 3 of our friends from Cincinnati will be doing the 1/2 marathon that morning, which shares the first 11 miles of the marathon course. There is the possibility that a couple of friends of mine (one from Louisville and one from Michigan) might end up running the long race with me, but if not, I should be just fine. This is a well attended and supported race, with tons of cheering spectators and bands playing music the whole way. It also looks to be relatively flat, which is a bonus. To keep with the theme of posting my goals in writing to force me to live up to them, I will be training (at least initially) for a 3:30-3:45 time (around 8.5-9 minute miles). Yeee Haw!
[Editor's Note: After further review (and some simple math), I notice that a 8.5-9 minute mile actually puts me at 3:45-4:00 for my total time. I'll take anything under 4 hours.]
PS (because I know you're worried): The AeroGarden is on FIRE! In the 10 days that we were gone in Florida, and the few days since, all 6 plants have sprouted and begun to grow quickly. Each is at least 1.5" high, with the largest (the basil) well over 3"tall. Excellent!
[Editor's Note: After further review (and some simple math), I notice that a 8.5-9 minute mile actually puts me at 3:45-4:00 for my total time. I'll take anything under 4 hours.]
PS (because I know you're worried): The AeroGarden is on FIRE! In the 10 days that we were gone in Florida, and the few days since, all 6 plants have sprouted and begun to grow quickly. Each is at least 1.5" high, with the largest (the basil) well over 3"tall. Excellent!
Sunday, January 4, 2009
The Pride-sucking Pain of the P,B &J(brian)
Okay so I'm a sucker for alliteration, sue me. It's the only thing I learned in college that didn't involve achohol, gambling or girls. Money well spent if you think about it.
But that's not what this post is about! Dammit I'm off track in the first stanza. Sh!t. Re-group. Okay.
As I've bemoaned, yesterday was the first of a tough series of training rides known as the P,B and J rides. I had been looking forward to this in a dreading but hopeful kind of way. Now being sick for the days before this didn't help, but I got the bike ready and got to Iroquois park nice and early so as not to be "that guy" that everyone is waiting on. We had a huge turnout from the BC/TL. All the usual suspects with a few exceptions(it was an outdoor ride so Doug was not expected)-the papist was there along w both web-people, cat-down, Nevitt(now known as flash, stay tuned) and a herd of others in the blue, blue and orange. We left the park and got into the requisite double paceline and made our way towards Jefferson Memorial Forrest. Things moved along well with Nevitt providing entertainment by taking his pee break in the second most public possible way. I might have dropped back and chased back on. If I was Nevitt fast I would certainly have done so(I've said numerous times that if chris woke up with my speed he'd jump out a window). Instead, he rolled past the group, sniffed out a spot and whipped(whipped might not be the right word for a cold weather pee, do I have to explain shrinkage to the ladies?) I do admire someone proud enough to wait for the opportunity for the entire team to get to see their schmeckle(like a schmuck but smaller)....(oh for god's sake look it up!)
So we hit some rollers and I'm trying to stay in the draft and in the front third to get away from the whip effect at the back. We hit the first of the 3 climbs Pendleton Hill and I swear I'll tell you what my power meter said as soon as it quits laughing. We climbed and climbed for what seemed like forever. Luckily it's a no drop ride and we re-grouped at the top. I kept thinking that as hard as it looked, that I was struggling but blamed the illness from the previous week. as soon as we took off I realized something more was wrong. 300 watts and 14 mph? that can't be right on a flat!! No it was right WITH a flat. I made it past the first pack of roaming anti-cyclist dogs(really. packs of them) and chased as the group drifted away.
Damn.
All I could do was re-read the description of this ride from the team site. "we will ride like a team, and act like a team". I was grumbling and trying to figure out exactly where I was. You see even if I wanted to quit and get the family to pick me up, I wouldn't have known where to tell them to go. Better that way. Keep going look for them in the distance to keep on track. After a gnarly downhill that was wild with a squirrely mostly flat tire, I see a figure coming towards me.
The web-dude! Now what I've not mentioned should be a cautionary tale for all. I had used my spare tube that morning so I was pretty well screwed up to the return of the web-dude. We got things repaired quickly and along came MRAUBREY, our sweeper. Now I had a group and was looking forward to finishing this beast. This is what I was looking for when I joined a team. People to train with that actually look out for each other.
We took off and soon hit the second climb Jefferson Hill. Not a steep in pitch but long and tough. We summit that and hit an amazing view of the valley below. With just three of us we(steven) decided to work on rotating pace lines. I always struggle with the timing of these when I haven't done it for a while(and even when I have). we drafted and I got some good advice from both on keeping in the draft. the final climb- Mitchell Hill was a lot like Jefferson, long and tough but not scary steep. the weeks dehydration from the flu was cramping my quads pretty badly, but at this point you don't want to be the bitcher. Get up the hill and let's finish strong. We had a sweet corkscrew down the hill that was a nice reward for the work up the hill.
From there it was a spin back to the park EXCEPT- a last short but steep climb as you leave. Kind of a kiss goodbye from the forrest to make sure you remember the horrors within. Fun!
From there it was back to the parking lot where most of our team mates were gathered, hanging out in team matishness, and making sure we returned safely. Very cool. I spent some time in the lot hanging out like we'd just gotten out of last period trying to win a bet w Duane on weather it was harder to manage engineers or teach them sales..I think he won. shit.
Next week? More of the same with a few more items in the seat bag and a better bike prep the night before. I should probably be the guy with the extra tube this week. I need all the good karma I can get these day.
But that's not what this post is about! Dammit I'm off track in the first stanza. Sh!t. Re-group. Okay.
As I've bemoaned, yesterday was the first of a tough series of training rides known as the P,B and J rides. I had been looking forward to this in a dreading but hopeful kind of way. Now being sick for the days before this didn't help, but I got the bike ready and got to Iroquois park nice and early so as not to be "that guy" that everyone is waiting on. We had a huge turnout from the BC/TL. All the usual suspects with a few exceptions(it was an outdoor ride so Doug was not expected)-the papist was there along w both web-people, cat-down, Nevitt(now known as flash, stay tuned) and a herd of others in the blue, blue and orange. We left the park and got into the requisite double paceline and made our way towards Jefferson Memorial Forrest. Things moved along well with Nevitt providing entertainment by taking his pee break in the second most public possible way. I might have dropped back and chased back on. If I was Nevitt fast I would certainly have done so(I've said numerous times that if chris woke up with my speed he'd jump out a window). Instead, he rolled past the group, sniffed out a spot and whipped(whipped might not be the right word for a cold weather pee, do I have to explain shrinkage to the ladies?) I do admire someone proud enough to wait for the opportunity for the entire team to get to see their schmeckle(like a schmuck but smaller)....(oh for god's sake look it up!)
So we hit some rollers and I'm trying to stay in the draft and in the front third to get away from the whip effect at the back. We hit the first of the 3 climbs Pendleton Hill and I swear I'll tell you what my power meter said as soon as it quits laughing. We climbed and climbed for what seemed like forever. Luckily it's a no drop ride and we re-grouped at the top. I kept thinking that as hard as it looked, that I was struggling but blamed the illness from the previous week. as soon as we took off I realized something more was wrong. 300 watts and 14 mph? that can't be right on a flat!! No it was right WITH a flat. I made it past the first pack of roaming anti-cyclist dogs(really. packs of them) and chased as the group drifted away.
Damn.
All I could do was re-read the description of this ride from the team site. "we will ride like a team, and act like a team". I was grumbling and trying to figure out exactly where I was. You see even if I wanted to quit and get the family to pick me up, I wouldn't have known where to tell them to go. Better that way. Keep going look for them in the distance to keep on track. After a gnarly downhill that was wild with a squirrely mostly flat tire, I see a figure coming towards me.
The web-dude! Now what I've not mentioned should be a cautionary tale for all. I had used my spare tube that morning so I was pretty well screwed up to the return of the web-dude. We got things repaired quickly and along came MRAUBREY, our sweeper. Now I had a group and was looking forward to finishing this beast. This is what I was looking for when I joined a team. People to train with that actually look out for each other.
We took off and soon hit the second climb Jefferson Hill. Not a steep in pitch but long and tough. We summit that and hit an amazing view of the valley below. With just three of us we(steven) decided to work on rotating pace lines. I always struggle with the timing of these when I haven't done it for a while(and even when I have). we drafted and I got some good advice from both on keeping in the draft. the final climb- Mitchell Hill was a lot like Jefferson, long and tough but not scary steep. the weeks dehydration from the flu was cramping my quads pretty badly, but at this point you don't want to be the bitcher. Get up the hill and let's finish strong. We had a sweet corkscrew down the hill that was a nice reward for the work up the hill.
From there it was a spin back to the park EXCEPT- a last short but steep climb as you leave. Kind of a kiss goodbye from the forrest to make sure you remember the horrors within. Fun!
From there it was back to the parking lot where most of our team mates were gathered, hanging out in team matishness, and making sure we returned safely. Very cool. I spent some time in the lot hanging out like we'd just gotten out of last period trying to win a bet w Duane on weather it was harder to manage engineers or teach them sales..I think he won. shit.
Next week? More of the same with a few more items in the seat bag and a better bike prep the night before. I should probably be the guy with the extra tube this week. I need all the good karma I can get these day.
Doug Returns from the Tour De Early-Bird(brian)
We're all glad to have Doug back in the village(for an explanation of who Doug is please see earlier posts)
but I had a few problems with the credibility of his "story". So, I had a few of our "people" do some recon while he was away. here's a picture of Doug enjoying family fun time at the beach with the family.
Bygones dude. I should never have doubted you. Welcome home.
but I had a few problems with the credibility of his "story". So, I had a few of our "people" do some recon while he was away. here's a picture of Doug enjoying family fun time at the beach with the family.
Bygones dude. I should never have doubted you. Welcome home.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Cap'n Charlie's Retirement Village
So, that's it. My one "vacation" per year is over, and as I sit on the final leg of our flight home from Palm Beach (with Alison sitting between the kiddos and me alone in the row next to them -- we take turns in the "hell seat"), I've got some time to touch base and check in with LTP via the bberry. I'm sure B has been busy on the boards, so I'll have to catch up reading his posts once I get home, get computer access, read my 600-700 emails, and then can get to my bloglines.
As usual, the annual trip to South Florida was full of family fun, lots of eating, and even a little time among the under 70 crowd. The GrandFolks live on PGA National, but with the shoulder issues I'm having I wasn't able to get any golf in, despite the 4 courses on premises at the resort. We did manage to get to the ocean/Juno Beach twice, to the Resort pool at PGA two days, to the zoo and Science Museum, to Wannado City (a post in itself, it is really cool), and to hang a couple more days at a neighborhood pool in the grandfolks' neighborhood. All great family fun.
We enjoyed some great home cooking from mom-in-law/jewish cook extrordinaire a couple of nights, ate at our old standard local favorites (Duffy's Sports Bar, Anthony's Pizza), got in a scary good Steak at Three Forks, the best steakhouse in the vicinity, compliments of the grandfolks' awesome stock broker, and found a new local dive restaurant that instantly became a favorite -- Captain Charlie's Ocean Reef. The place served amazing seafood dishes in a cool eclectic, almost "short order diner" atmosphere. In addition to the amazing entrees, there were about 40 appetizers to choose from, allowing me, Alison, and my Sister (who stayed with us the first couple days) to eat Tapas style and share all the great dishes, while putting down a handful of Yeungling draughts. Excellent, and fun, too.
Despite the average age of Palm Beach residents being "deceased", we did get out for some more age appropriate (or maybe not) fun a couple nights. After the Cap'n Charlie's dinner, we went out for more drinks at the Tiki Bar/Square Grouper at Jupiter Inlet (that's the little bar you see in the Alan Jackson/Jimmy Buffet "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" video) and then the next night we (the 3 of us again, plus another friend of ours from Louisville who was down visiting her folks here in PGA too) got out for beers galore at the Yard House, and then ended up back at the Grandfolks for hot tubbing and Wii until all hours. I possibly even looked cool at the bar surrounded by the ladies, unless someone knew that it was my sister, my wife, and her friend.
Also, thanks to the perfect weather and the amazing health club at PGA, I managed to stay relatively fit, despite the over eating. I was abe to run 4 days (7mi, 6.5mi,5mi, and 9mi, respectively), spin 3 times (two 60 minute classes and a New Years Morning 90 minute class), and get a couple strenth/pilates classes in. Not bad for a lazy vacation.
Now were on our way home to cold and rainy Louisville, but looking forward to seeing our friends again finally, and getting out with the the under 70's crowd some more. I'm not looking so forward to moving all forms of exercise indoors (treadmills, trainers, and indoor boot camp) for the next 3 months, but that's what happens when you're a warm weather only exerciser like me. Whatever the case, I'll need to do it somewhere, because the vacation is OVER, and marathon 2009 training has officially begun. I have yet to decide whether I'm running the Derby Festival Marathon here in the 'Ville or the Nashville race the same day, but the training is the same, with a series of sprint triathlons and triple crown races mixed in. And They're Off...
Sent from my Sprint Blackberry device.
This e-mail may contain Sprint Nextel Company proprietary information intended for the sole use of the recipient(s). Any use by others is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender and delete all copies of the message.
As usual, the annual trip to South Florida was full of family fun, lots of eating, and even a little time among the under 70 crowd. The GrandFolks live on PGA National, but with the shoulder issues I'm having I wasn't able to get any golf in, despite the 4 courses on premises at the resort. We did manage to get to the ocean/Juno Beach twice, to the Resort pool at PGA two days, to the zoo and Science Museum, to Wannado City (a post in itself, it is really cool), and to hang a couple more days at a neighborhood pool in the grandfolks' neighborhood. All great family fun.
We enjoyed some great home cooking from mom-in-law/jewish cook extrordinaire a couple of nights, ate at our old standard local favorites (Duffy's Sports Bar, Anthony's Pizza), got in a scary good Steak at Three Forks, the best steakhouse in the vicinity, compliments of the grandfolks' awesome stock broker, and found a new local dive restaurant that instantly became a favorite -- Captain Charlie's Ocean Reef. The place served amazing seafood dishes in a cool eclectic, almost "short order diner" atmosphere. In addition to the amazing entrees, there were about 40 appetizers to choose from, allowing me, Alison, and my Sister (who stayed with us the first couple days) to eat Tapas style and share all the great dishes, while putting down a handful of Yeungling draughts. Excellent, and fun, too.
Despite the average age of Palm Beach residents being "deceased", we did get out for some more age appropriate (or maybe not) fun a couple nights. After the Cap'n Charlie's dinner, we went out for more drinks at the Tiki Bar/Square Grouper at Jupiter Inlet (that's the little bar you see in the Alan Jackson/Jimmy Buffet "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" video) and then the next night we (the 3 of us again, plus another friend of ours from Louisville who was down visiting her folks here in PGA too) got out for beers galore at the Yard House, and then ended up back at the Grandfolks for hot tubbing and Wii until all hours. I possibly even looked cool at the bar surrounded by the ladies, unless someone knew that it was my sister, my wife, and her friend.
Also, thanks to the perfect weather and the amazing health club at PGA, I managed to stay relatively fit, despite the over eating. I was abe to run 4 days (7mi, 6.5mi,5mi, and 9mi, respectively), spin 3 times (two 60 minute classes and a New Years Morning 90 minute class), and get a couple strenth/pilates classes in. Not bad for a lazy vacation.
Now were on our way home to cold and rainy Louisville, but looking forward to seeing our friends again finally, and getting out with the the under 70's crowd some more. I'm not looking so forward to moving all forms of exercise indoors (treadmills, trainers, and indoor boot camp) for the next 3 months, but that's what happens when you're a warm weather only exerciser like me. Whatever the case, I'll need to do it somewhere, because the vacation is OVER, and marathon 2009 training has officially begun. I have yet to decide whether I'm running the Derby Festival Marathon here in the 'Ville or the Nashville race the same day, but the training is the same, with a series of sprint triathlons and triple crown races mixed in. And They're Off...
Sent from my Sprint Blackberry device.
This e-mail may contain Sprint Nextel Company proprietary information intended for the sole use of the recipient(s). Any use by others is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender and delete all copies of the message.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Yep, It's a Hat Trick!(brian)
You"ve gotten to share my misfortune over some of the holidays, and really on the Grinch scale I'm a lot more like Max the dog. Hey my heart's not four sizes too small.(no, not the heart) James Earl Jones isn't lurking in wait to narrate my story of awareness with the who's down in whoville, (although I do have to go to the euphemism just now) but this is a new low. Without even trying!
Here's a quick recap. I've been asked by management(the domestic goddess/computer killer) not to be too specific as this is a family program and all, sooo here's my best shot.
I head off to a sales mtg in Phoenix. I get there and it's 56 and raining....and I'm surrounded by people from work. Not exactly my favorite situation. I actually begged out of an evening event by telling my boss that I don't normally associate with people like this. Sadly, he completely understood.
I returned home just in time to field the call from mom lettingt us know that it may not be a good idea to celebrate the first night of Channukah together seeing that she has some stomach borne version of the ebola virus. We all agree(granted my brother put up a fight but hey he's only 42 and loves a good present more than most)
We sh!t-can the family fun-time for Sunday.
A short work week ensues and ends in time to hop in the car for the trip south that was semi-detailed in this space earlier. Nuff said, although that dog did live.
So that takes care of Hannukah and Christmas right? Well we had to re-convene with aged M&P for the Family Fun-Time event last Sunday. channuka redux if you will. Of course the ebola virus was still lurking quietly amongst the latkes.(look it up shiksa's)
Give it sayyyyy 24 hours later and 3 of the four members of my group were bound to the smaller rooms in the house if you know what I mean.
The bigger picture? Go ahead and cancel new years folks. Congrats on rounding the bases for a grand slam!!!
It was officially the earliest I have been asleep on NYE since puberty....not that that was so long ago.
We rang in the new year with snores and other sounds I'm not that proud of having in my arse..nal.
Lovely.
We actually had decent plans this year, and looked forward to bringing in baby new year with some good friends and a lot of good drink. Gatorade was not really what we had in mind, but....
My favorite part? Mom still can't understand where we got this awful virus.
Maybe Chinese New Year will be lucky for us this year.
And my dog now has bronchitis. an innocent bystander.
Team BC/TL's infamous PBJ rides commence this weekend with 3 hours of hills and distance that I would normally enjoy.....as soon as I can trust a fart.
Did I mention that my dog has bronchitis? Somewhere a voodoo doll collection is very messy.
gotta go...really
Here's a quick recap. I've been asked by management(the domestic goddess/computer killer) not to be too specific as this is a family program and all, sooo here's my best shot.
I head off to a sales mtg in Phoenix. I get there and it's 56 and raining....and I'm surrounded by people from work. Not exactly my favorite situation. I actually begged out of an evening event by telling my boss that I don't normally associate with people like this. Sadly, he completely understood.
I returned home just in time to field the call from mom lettingt us know that it may not be a good idea to celebrate the first night of Channukah together seeing that she has some stomach borne version of the ebola virus. We all agree(granted my brother put up a fight but hey he's only 42 and loves a good present more than most)
We sh!t-can the family fun-time for Sunday.
A short work week ensues and ends in time to hop in the car for the trip south that was semi-detailed in this space earlier. Nuff said, although that dog did live.
So that takes care of Hannukah and Christmas right? Well we had to re-convene with aged M&P for the Family Fun-Time event last Sunday. channuka redux if you will. Of course the ebola virus was still lurking quietly amongst the latkes.(look it up shiksa's)
Give it sayyyyy 24 hours later and 3 of the four members of my group were bound to the smaller rooms in the house if you know what I mean.
The bigger picture? Go ahead and cancel new years folks. Congrats on rounding the bases for a grand slam!!!
It was officially the earliest I have been asleep on NYE since puberty....not that that was so long ago.
We rang in the new year with snores and other sounds I'm not that proud of having in my arse..nal.
Lovely.
We actually had decent plans this year, and looked forward to bringing in baby new year with some good friends and a lot of good drink. Gatorade was not really what we had in mind, but....
My favorite part? Mom still can't understand where we got this awful virus.
Maybe Chinese New Year will be lucky for us this year.
And my dog now has bronchitis. an innocent bystander.
Team BC/TL's infamous PBJ rides commence this weekend with 3 hours of hills and distance that I would normally enjoy.....as soon as I can trust a fart.
Did I mention that my dog has bronchitis? Somewhere a voodoo doll collection is very messy.
gotta go...really
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