Drew's Blank Blog

Lookee Here!

2010-02-04T12:11:00.003-05:00

Welp, I'm back!

Hmmm....

Nope, still got nothin' to say.

See ya in another couple o'years!

Something New if you're tired of MTBR

2008-03-16T13:56:00.001-04:00

Check it out: f88me.com

If a tree falls in the forest...

2007-01-12T23:58:00.000-05:00

I doubt I'll be back. See ya.

Move Along, Nothing To See Here...

2006-11-27T13:25:00.000-05:00

Oh yeah, the blog! Hit by a twinge of needless guilt (and looking for an excuse to avoid doing something more constructive), here I am, happily hunt'n'pecking away!

So I took an extra day off specifically to go riding. Yet here I sit, accruing lard and coming ever closer to surgically grafting the desk chair to my ass. Pathetic. I can't seem to get motivated to go out and ride on my own or set up a ride with friends apart from the announced club rides lately. If I'm to be honest with myself, I think it's because it's easier to blow the club rides off. If I make separate plans with riding buddies, then I'm obligated, and God forbid I let that happen! Maybe if every time I swung my leg over the top tube I wasn't treated like I was screwing the neighbor and disavowing my children... God, what I wouldn't give for just a little forbearance in that regard!

Bald Gaz has dropped off the face of the planet. Never posts up on the MORE boards anymore, doesn't update his blog (yeah, I'm one to talk - er, write), no reply to my last email. Whimper, whine. Mr. Pete's in hibernation too, doing his own thing and not coming out to play anymore, tho' he and the lovely Laura did come out to a recent dinner party put on by Babs, and joined us to see Borat the following week. At least Babs is still communicado, and Mo's actually made contact a little too!

Thanksgiving is traditionally a time to think of friends and family, and I'm no exception. Although I'm all but an Atheist, I'm thankful for the people in my life and I hope they're, if not thankful, at least not cursing the day they met me.

And so ends another aggregation of words from Drew.

No Surprises Here

2006-09-27T13:34:00.000-04:00

As predicted way back in March, maintenance of this here blogitty blog blog appears to be waning. Honestly, I don't have a lot to say and when I do, it's really not of such earth-shaking profundity that I can even begin to imagine it being worth posting. So fuck it. Don't come here looking for the latest and greatest from the keyboard of Drew, OK? OK!

That said, here's the latest and greatest from the keyboard of Drew:

All my good intentions and hard work have, as usual, fallen victim to Life. I haven't been to the gym in at least a couple of weeks, and I bet I don't go back anytime soon. I got thrown off my routine back in August and that was that! I can't say I'm too surprised - this is the usual outcome of my forays into weight training - but I am a little more disappointed than usual. I was showing real results, for once. Sigh. Maybe I'll make one last push to get back into the habit.

At least I'm still bike commuting, which is nice (although to be honest, it's also one of the reasons I've fallen off my gym routine). However, a month into it, and I've reached an impasse vis-a-vis weight loss! I just sit there, hovering at 23 lbs. overweight. WTF?!? Besides the fun, and money saved, the whole point was to shed some pounds AND IT'S NOT HAPPENING!!! Fuck that shit!

Even worse, speaking of fun, commuting has drained my desire to mountain bike! By the time the weekend rolls around, I want nothing to do with bikes. I was hoping this would pass, but it doesn't seem to be doing so. I don't know what I'll do if, by being a virtuous bike commuter, I end up hating riding!

I think my friend Pete might have the right idea. Maybe sometimes you've just got to put the bikes away for a while and give yourself time to rediscover other aspects of life and, by doing so, rediscover bikes.

All I know is, right now the only things I have to show for bike commuting are sore legs, no progress on my gut, and a bad attitude. And that's no good at all.

ARRR!!!

2006-09-12T08:30:00.000-04:00

http://www.piratequiz.com/

My pirate name:
Bloody Davy Rackham

Every pirate lives for something different. For some, it's the open sea. For others (the masochists), it's the food. For you, it's definitely the fighting. You have the good fortune of having a good name, since Rackham (pronounced RACKem, not rack-ham) is one of the coolest sounding surnames for a pirate. Arr!

Reflections On A Nemesis

2006-08-06T22:55:00.000-04:00

It’s been a couple of months since I hit the ‘head, so I say to myself, I say: Fountainhead is the plan this weekend! It’s a good workout, I get to test out the Dos on something a little gnarlier than Rosaryville and Wake-O-Tink, and it’s an all-around nice place to be.

By the time I get to that nasty steep climb right before the descent to the base of Shockabilly, I’m starting to realize that as always, I’ve underestimated Fountainhead. I don’t know why I do this; perhaps it’s the fact that it’s not particularly technical terrain. Perhaps it’s the fun descents, dodging trees while weaving back and forth on the singletrack. Maybe it's 'cause I just don't make it out this way all that often. Whatever the reason, I never seem to remember how capable Fountainhead is of administering a good old-fashioned ass-whooping.

The climbs leave me literally wheezing, and my jersey’s quickly soaked through with sweat. I’ve entered a vicious spiral, with each stall and dab leading me to curse and spit, each blow to my morale making me lose focus and make mistakes, leading me to more cursing, and less focus, and more mistakes, and more cursing, and…

By the time I climb out and enter the main body of trails beyond the picnic table, I’m not even trying to do more than just keep the pedals moving. Plod plod plod plod plod. A small second wind bouys my spirits for a time, and I start to pick up a little speed. I hear a derailleur clatter behind me, and even though I usually prefer to let folks pass, I start pushing a little harder for some reason. It turns out to be a couple of dudes who look to be in as sorry condition as me. They’re not passing me anytime soon, any more than I would be passing them were our positions reversed.

I start losing energy again, and now I’m heading into bonk territory. Again, it’s a matter of underestimating Fountainhead; in spite of knowing full well I don’t do well unless I eat properly, dinner last night was popcorn and a Cherry Coke at the movie theater. We were out of eggs, so my usual bagel-and-egg ride day breakfast was supplanted by a couple of pop tarts. I’m paying for it now; even by the now fully-remembered standards of Fountainhead punishment, I’m sucking big time! I’m dismounting and pushing the bike up even shallow inclines, shame filling my belly and heating the back of my neck. Descents are a comedy of hitting all the wrong lines and holding on for dear life. I just don’t have it in me. Self-pity is starting to seep in.

I reach the picnic table, and stop to eat a Clif Bar and shoot the breeze with a couple guys taking a break. We ooh and aah over each other’s bikes, and jabber meaninglessly about gear for a while until their third shows up and they move on. I session the skinny a few times, but my heart’s not in it. I just want to finish. Grimly, I move on.

The rest of the ride is a dull blur punctuated by gasps. I negotiate Shockabilly without my heart moving too far into my throat (thanks again Mr. Wallace!), and start the last leg. I force myself up the final climb to the parking lot, throw the Dos onto the rack and head for home, disgusted with myself and wondering why I even bother. Once again, Fountainhead has taught me a humiliating lesson.

As I turn out of the driveway onto Hampton Road, I catch myself thinking about when I’ll make it back. I guess some lessons just don’t stick.

The End of an Era

2006-07-27T22:11:00.000-04:00

Today was The Boy's last day of daycare. Kindergarten orientation is tomorrow, and school starts Monday. Except for an interruption of about a year shortly after TB was born, we've had a child at Capital Kids for almost nine years! I'm still in denial about this. It's been part of our routine for so long, it'll be really weird not to have it in our lives anymore.

Criminey, it's Only Been a Freakin' Week!

2006-07-27T21:53:00.000-04:00

Between my mom being in town and me working nights on the Lebanon Task Force, I haven't been on the bike since the 19th, and I haven't worked out since about then either. Actually, skipping workouts was mostly sheer blowing it off, but it was probably a good thing since my shoulder was still bothering me; I think I was exacerbating it by putting the stress of weight training on it.

S'winnyway, I have today and tomorrow off. I dropped the Jinn off at her day camp and took a spin around Wakefield. My God, you'd think I just got off the couch after months of inactivity! I was awful! I was sucking wind within 15 minutes, couldn't maintain a pace for shyte, and by the end of the ride was making errors in judgement and focus that I've recently only been making after rides about twice as long. It was humiliating. If I'd known getting in shape required continual , non-stop maintenance, I'm not so sure I wouldn't have chosen being a couch potato!

The good news is, I weighed myself after the ride and was down to 182. True, a chunk of that was probably water loss from the ride, but still! Plus, the regular bike commute starts next week, probably Tuesday. Almost 19 miles a day, 4 days a week (I'm gonna Metro in on Thursdays to replenish underwear, etc. and keep myself fresh for the MORE evening rides). If I can stick to the diet I've been following recently, I should be well into the 170s (and dare I say below?) pretty quickly. Fingers crossed.

Hear, Hear!

2006-07-21T10:40:00.000-04:00

And yes, I do recognize the irony of putting this on my blog:

http://www.internetisshit.org/index.html

Oh, The Humanity!

2006-07-19T21:32:00.000-04:00

So I'm slogging along on the 5th or 6th mile of my 9-mile, mostly uphill commute home from work on the WOD. 60 - 70 lbs or so of trailer, Boy and assorted other crap hitched to the rear skewer of my old, heavy hardtail with the oversized pogo-stick fork. According to Yahoo weather right before I logged off my workstation, it's 91 degrees out, with a heat index of 95. The ice packs in my jersey pockets have long since thawed to ambient temperature.

I'm at the point where the chamois starts to chafe, my butt's getting numb, and I'm on the verge of bonking in spite of my best efforts to hydrate and eat properly throughout the day. I'm taking it easy, spinning where I usually hammer, doing my best to make sure I don't succumb to the heat. I'm passing no-one else on wheels, and that's just fine.

Suddenly, a woman with a kid in a trailer goes barreling past me. On the uphill slope. In the direct sun. She's riding a road bike, her kid's maybe half the Boy's age (and weight), and she's obviously fresh - not a drop of sweat on her.

And as she passes, fast enough for me to feel her breeze, she calls out to me:

C'MON C'MON, LET'S GO! SHOW ME WHAT'CHA GOT! SHOW ME WHAT"CHA GOT! C'MON!

For the rest of the ride, The Boy asks me why I didn't pass her, why I don't pass anybody, why I don't go faster.

Bitch.

Nice Day For a Ride

2006-07-17T15:36:00.000-04:00

Went for a loop around Rosaryville yesterday with Bald Gaz and BuKit. I had a great time, despite (because of?) the intense, muggy heat. I do like hot weather.

Gaz acquitted himself well, trudging right along even though he hadn't ridden in two months, was hung over, and (like sane people/unlike me) was not loving the heat. If our positions were reversed, I'd have probably given up and turned around. I received instructions from at least two people to obtain photographic evidence of Gaz actually riding his mountain bike on dirt. Here's the best I ended up getting:

We saw a turtle in the path - BuKit was kind enough to lift it over to the side before someone ran it over. Unfortunately, not before Gaz had his way with the poor thing.

A while later, we found our path blocked by a pair of Turkey Vultures (I think). Unfortunately, they flew up into the trees before I could get my camera out for a close-up, so I just got boring old "birds in a tree" shots instead.

I'd never ridden with BuKit before, except as part of a very large group last weekend. I hope to ride with him again, as he is a good rider and a nice guy. Unless he's just biding his time, waiting for that perfect moment when he can bring out the machete. Uh-oh... Anyway, here's a bad shot of him, shortly after clearing a log.

The best part was getting back to the parking lot. Gaz had two 12-packs of beer in a cooler for me (in trade for a Jersey) and BuKit (for whatever reasons they had). We cracked some open and had a nice post-ride cold one! MMMmmmmm - PLBs!

I brought my mom and my daughter along to go hiking while I rode. They seemed to have a good time. After due whining and complaining about being dragged away from her cartoons, Emma apparently really enjoyed herself. I thought she would, given how enthused she was about our little hike along the Wakefield creek trail a few weeks ago. I think I may have hit on a good father-daughter activity for us.

So to sum up: Went riding, had fun, Gaz did well, saw critters, drank beer, kid had fun too.

Whew!

2006-07-08T16:10:00.000-04:00

I finally managed to be in town for one of Herr Doktor Beers' weekend rides. Black Hill to Shaeffer and back. A nice ride, but it appears I'm still not quite ready for prime time; I may be in better shape than I've been since I started riding but boy, I've still got a ways to go. Fortunately, I wasn't the only one gassed out after the BH - Schaeffer leg, and I was able to get a lift back to the BH parking lot to load up the Dos and go limping home with my tail between my legs.

On the other hand, I did my first commute with Alex in the trailer yesterday. A little over 9 miles each way, mostly uphill in the evening when I'm nice and burned-out from work. If I can keep that up through the end of the month when kindergarten starts, I'll be making the local racer crowd think they dropped a chain, I'll be smoking them so bad. (Not really, but hey - it's my Blog, Dammit!)

3... 2... 1... Vacation!

2006-06-22T14:51:00.000-04:00

Just this afternoon and tomorrow then I'm OUTTA HERE 'til 7/05!

I'm So Tired...

2006-06-20T10:05:00.000-04:00

I haven't slept a wink
I'm so tired
My mind is on the brink...
- The Beatles, White Album

I've really got to learn to stay away from the computer and the teevee after the kids are in bed. Up 'til 1:00, clicking away at ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! No new comments in my usual websites, nothing interesting on the teevee. And yet, there I sat - clicking away on the mouse and the remote. Click, click, clickity click. Dirty dishes still in the sink. Papers and crap still piled up on the dining room table. Toys still scattered all over the family room. Laundry still unfolded. And of course I'm dragging ass today, accomplishing absolutely nothing.

Last night's ride got rained out and I can't go out tonight, so I'm hoping to get a lunch hour spin in. Maybe that'll wake me up a little.

Click.

Click.

Click.

Another Dry Spell

2006-06-14T09:53:00.000-04:00

Honestly, I don't see how people keep it up, this blogging thing. When I have nothing to say, I tend not to say it. Unfortunately for my loyal minions (all none of them), that would be most of the time. I tend not to be a reflective person. Nor am I particularly self-absorbed. Two personality traits - one positive, one negative - that lend themselves quite well to maintaining a blog. The Yin and the Yang of baring your soul to strangers on the Internet, if you will...

There, I'm glad I got that off my chest. I know the world is better off for my having posted it for all to see. Because after all, isn't every itty-bitty little bit of my life and my psyche what sustains the world through what would otherwise be an unspeakably grim existence? Is it not true that I am what it's really all about?

I.

Me.

Mine.

Me.

I.

A Dose of Dos

2006-05-31T15:26:00.000-04:00

Well it took long enough, but I finally got my new toy out on the trails last Thursday. There's still a bit of tweaking to be done, but I think I've got it pretty much dialed in. My initial concerns about feeling cramped in the cockpit turned out to be unfounded after adjusting the handlebar and seat positions a little, and there is no toe overlap.

First impression: This thing moves! Going for the lightweight build was a good idea, I think. I haven't actually weighed it, but I think it came in well under 25 lbs. I am not a fast rider at all ("pokey" would be a fair description of my riding style). That said, I felt like I was C-R-U-I-S-I-N-G!

Initial results indicate when I return Ricky's Karate Monkey fork, it'll only be to replace it with a rigid fork to call my very own! I had no problems whatsoever moving from the 100mm on the Stumpy to the KM. My initial impression, that rigid on a 29er feels the same to me as an 80mm suspension fork on a 26er, remains unchanged after this maiden voyage. I really see no need for a suspension fork for the type of riding I do, especially with the softtail taking the edge off on the back end. I'm already starting to look for good deals on a Pace, a fork I think is thimply thexthy!

Similarly, I think I'm keeping the Mary bar. If Jason won't sell his, I'll pick up one of my own.

I see no need to drop the SS setup either, at least not yet. I had no real problems handling the steep, rooty, rocky (but short) climbs where I was, and even though I hadn't been on a bike in several days, I didn't feel any more gassed-out than usual. It wasn't 'til the end of the ride when I was starting get tired that I found myself reaching for non-existent shifters (and even then, about half the time I was trying to shift up to stop spinning). Admittedly, 32-20 isn't the toughest gear in the universe, but it seems to work well for local conditions.

I do need to get used to the higher BB when going over logpiles, etc, especially coming off a Stumpjumper. There were a couple of times when my balance was a little off due to that. I also learned just how much I use my suspension fork as a crutch when lofting the front end.

The only disappointing part of the ride was tearing out the Ignitor's sidewall just as I was starting a second lap. Just bad luck, I suppose.

Bottom line, I don't think you'll be seeing this bike on eBay anytime soon!

Wednesday's Banal Post

2006-05-31T10:45:00.000-04:00

Well, well, well! It's been a while, and I wish I could say life's been just Oh! So! Eventful! that I haven't had time to waste on vomiting into the ether, but it hasn't really.

Or has it?

MemDay Weekend saw the family in NYC, staying at my sister's house on City Island and overeating/overdrinking per SOP. Mine is a family that likes to drink. With a couple of exceptions (shhh! We don't talk about them!) , we keep it well under control, but when we get together - well, let's just say our social intercourse is well-lubricated! That sounds dirtier than it is, which is why I wrote it.

Anyway, Sunday we left The Boy in the care of Sis' handyman/tenant/houseboy and headed into Manhattan. We went to a matinee showing of Spamalot, the Monty Python Broadway musical. Very, very funny. The Jinn seemed to enjoy it thoroughly, even if large segments of the plot (such as it is) went right over her head.

After the show, we ate dinner at Smith & Wollensky Steakhouse, which was very nice but very, very, very expensive. $530.00 for six of us, including tip! Jayzus Aightch Kee-Ryst!!! I'm sorry, but there is no way in hell my $45.00 ribeye (ala carte!) didn't include $25.00 of pure profit for the restaurant - it just didn't!

But, I suppose that's the price you pay for Dinner and a Show in Manhattan! All in all, a highly enjoyable weekend.

Oh What a Beautiful MOOOOOORNING!

2006-05-19T09:48:00.000-04:00

Today is National Bike to Work Day, so I took advantage of Mom's visit to leave Alex at home and ride in on the MUT. This was a shakedown cruise in preparation for the daily bike commute to start sometime in July.

I managed to get out the door at about 6:40, only ten minutes later than planned (not bad, for me!). The ground was wet - it must have rained last night - but not enough to make me wish I'd worn rain gear or had fenders. It was cool, not chilly, and the sun was shining off the wet pavement. All the hallmarks of a gorgous Spring day.

Once again, the weights and the swimming paid off. The ride in has never been a real tough one, but there are a couple of spots that always seem to make me wheeze. Not today - it really was an effortless trip, and I was crossing the Potomac almost before I knew it. I only hope the same applies on the (uphill) return trip tonight after a full day's work.

I rolled into the parking garage at 7:30; showered, changed and was at my desk by 7:50. Five minutes later than I'd hoped, but within an acceptable margin of error. Nothing a slightly more efficient locker room routine won't take care of.

I'm really looking forward to making this my routine - I've been wanting to bike commute ever since we moved into our house. Erica's work schedule and Alex's daycare made the logistics impossible. Now that Alex is about to start Kindergarten, I no longer have to drive him downtown to drop off at daycare, and I can start working on trimming back the roll of lard I've been carrying around my waist for several years now!

Gleeful Pagans Licking Ice Cream From the Nipples of the Devil!

2006-05-12T20:13:00.000-04:00

That's really all I have to say right now.

No Maiden Voyage for The Dos After All!

2006-05-11T22:05:00.000-04:00

Rain today, means the Thursday night MORE ride is cancelled and my new baby has to stay shiny for another few days.

Oh well, at least maybe this will break my string of consecutive Thursday night Wakefield crashes...

The Dos - She LIVES!!!

2006-05-09T22:31:00.000-04:00

Ready to ride!

AAAAAAARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!!

2006-05-05T20:50:00.000-04:00

I was so close! All I needed was the cog and spacers, which were on track to arrive today.

I get home, I get out of the car, I run to the porch... YES!!!! THE BOX HAS ARRIVED!!!

Pull the bike out of the shed, pull off the rear tire; line up the cog and slap on the spacers! Oh yeah, Baby! Nothin' left to do now but -

No. Oh, HELL No!

I FORGOT TO GET A LOCKRING!!!!!

So much for tomorrow's shakedown ride. I hope the shop has a lockring lying around.

Dammit.

Like, What the HELL?!?

2006-05-05T00:02:00.000-04:00

Three Thursday rides, three bullshit, avoidable crashes. Pete took over the group after Craig's chainring started shooting shrapnel. Nice, mellow pace with a good group of folks. I had a great ride, with MTBGod Pete even pointing my technique out to the Newbies.

So, we're approaching the parking lot at the end of the ride, and I drop into the little dip at the edge of the lot, like I do every time I'm there. It's a simple little drop I've done a zillion times before - no obstacles aside from some exposed taproots, and a nice runout to the pavement. Piece o' proverbial cake.

I don't know what happened, or how, but my front wheel stopped dead, causing me to slowly rise in an arc over the bars. Down I go - endoed on an easy-peasy move at the local beginner-friendly course, at the end of an otherwise excellent ride. Gave myself a nice charlie horse right on my thigh, too, which bodes for a painful day in the gym tomorrow!

Sheesh - frickin' Wakefield, of all places! It's after me. It's out for blood, and it won't stop 'til I'm in a cast - I can tell! Mark my words, this won't end well...

Time Draaaaags On!

2006-05-03T11:57:00.000-04:00

I built up the Dos as much as I could Sunday. It's a beautiful machine. And light! Soooo, so light!

Cog and spacers are en route from Webcyclery after a restock delay, and waiting for the final bits is turning out to be a painful experience. ETA is Friday, and I'm having a real hard time!

I wanna ride my new bikey!!!!

WAAAAAAHHHH!!!

A Matching Set

2006-04-27T22:10:00.000-04:00

Last week at Wakefield I cased the first jump on the Whoop-di-dos, piledriving into the dirt and essentially "dragging" my entire body across my handlebars enroute to landing chest-first on the ground, immediately followed by said bike flipping over and landing directly on top of me. Fortunately, I emerged unscathed other than a scraped shin and several bruises, including a really nice, deep, dark bruise on my right Asscheek.

Tonight I was riding along, approaching the big log at the entrance to Phase 1. I always go around this log - I just never have the guts to go for it, even though I know I can do it. So anyway, tonight I said to myself, I said: "what the hell - let's try going over the log! I'm sick of that thing making me back down all the time."

So, rolling towards the log, I decided to pop a practice wheelie to get the "feel" of what I'll need to do to make it over. I pull the bars back. I keep pedaling. The rear wheel, under my own power, continues forward under me. S-L-A-MMM!!! Down to the ground I go, right on - you guessed it - my left Asscheek!

I figure by Saturday I'll have a matched set of ass bruises. WOO HOO!

(Epilogue: along with my pride, I left my confidence on the ground where I fell. I spent the rest of the ride picking my way along like a blind man in a minefield. That sucked worse than the fall.)

Whee Hee Hee! Whoo!!

2006-04-25T22:41:00.000-04:00

Every itty bitty little last bit of the Dos' is here or en route!

Crankset? Check.
Headset? Check.
Fork? Check.
Spacers to Add to Ricky's Freaky-Long Steer Tube? Check.
Stem? Check.
Handlebars? Check.
Bottom bracket? En Route.
Tires/Tubes? En Route.
Seatpost? Check.
Wheels? Check.
Skewers? En Route.
Saddle? En Route.
Chain? Check.
Grips? Check.
Brakes? Check.
Cog? En Route.
Bashguard? En Route.
Cassette Spacers? Check.
Oh Yeah - Frame? Check!

All hail the Tax Man!

Now to strategize breaking the news to Erica.

Hmmm... Anybody got space on their couch?

Oh Well...

2006-04-24T21:39:00.000-04:00

The problem with a blog is, sometimes you feel obligated to post, even when you don't have anything to say.

So.

Save the (pre) Date before the Save Date before the Invite!

2006-04-16T20:24:00.000-04:00

I received a "Save the Date" card from Bald Gaz and his vict- uh, fiancee Tracee the other day. A very kind and generous act and yes, the date is saved (unless this entry gets me banned).

It got me thinking though: what an odd concept! "This isn't an invitation, mind you - just putting you on notice." When did these pre-invitations come into existence? I know when Erica and I Did the Deed in 1997, we'd never heard of the phenomenon. And what purpose do they serve? Isn't "saving the date" the whole point of invitations? Does the lack of an RSVP request somehow necessitate a whole extra layer of communication? Perhaps it's meant to give the recipient a good head start on making other plans? Or to give the happy couple one last chance to cull the list before sending out the "real" invitatons?

Will we someday find a "Keep an Eye Out for the Save The Date Card" announcements in our mailbox?

I remain increasingly puzzled by the culture in which I live.

Weak. Weak, Weak, Weak!

2006-04-11T10:18:00.000-04:00

It was a simple plan, calling only for a small dab of self-control. Start putting aside $100.00 per paycheck, and by Spring '07 I'd have a pile of cash to buy a 29er.

Well, the '06 Dos Niner frames were released and I said to myself, I said: "If I put the frame on the credit card, that should be OK as long as I purchase all the components according to plan." Out came the credit card.

So, I put aside my dough for a few weeks, and picked up a few parts - headset, seatpost, grips, cranks.

Well, I spotted the brakes I wanted for $170.00 less than MSRP for the pair and I said to myself, I said: "I can't pass up that deal!" So I got out the credit card.

By this time, the Spousal Unit has noticed I'm ordering all these parts, and is getting a wee tad testy about it. Something about needing to buy Spring clothes for the kids or something. Whatever.

Well, I was in the neighborhood the other day and I said to myself, I said: "Spacers and a chain aren't really worth ordering online, and they're cheap - I'll just duck into the shop and pick 'em up, as long as I'm here anyway" I was a bit short, so out came the credit card.

Mother's Day is on the way, and the Better Half has been pointedly remarking on her iPod's rapidly degrading battery performance. So I went on Amazon.com and ordered her a fancy new iPod for Mother's Day.

Well, I realized that the wheelset I want is so expensive it'll be nearly Winter again before I can get it and that's no fun at all, so I said to myself, I said: "If the Light of My Life can get an iPod for Mother's Day, I think a wheelset for Father's Day is only fair!" Speedgoat has my card number on file now - no need to physically bring out the card. How's that for convenience?

So I figure I should be ready to ride by June, with a borrowed fork and, hopefully, borrowed handlebars. Look out world - I've got a new bike and I saved really hard for it!

I'm weak. Weak, Weak, Weak!

Oh Man, I Can't WAIT for Prom Night!

2006-04-09T22:44:00.000-04:00

Alex Looking Simply FAAAABulous!

Your Tax Dollars At Work

2006-04-07T22:02:00.000-04:00

I was sent to Miami Beach to give a talk on overseas travel safety at an Expo put on by the Miami Herald. Several hundred dollars to fly me down Thursday evening and back Friday afternoon, almost $150.00 for a hotel room. Plus meals and expenses.

Attendance at the talk?

Two (2).

Thanks for the trip, America!

It Burns! IT BUUUUUURNS!!!

2006-04-04T21:21:00.000-04:00

Got to the pool tonight, realized I'd left my goggles at home. Is it me, or do they put more chlorine in pools than they used to? Ouch!

Gym Life

2006-04-03T20:32:00.000-04:00

I've recently started trying to make it to my building's small gym a couple of times a week to do a little weight training. I do this every couple of years before life interferes and throws me off my routine, and every time I start I'm given little reminders of why "Gym Culture" makes it hard for me to stick with it.

1) Screamish McGruntley - this guy (usually a guy) can't lift a towel off the floor without emitting a deafening roar to show the world what a hardcore workout he's got going. Dude, STFU already - it makes me lose count of my reps!

2) Gabby McGabberson - The (usually female) counterpart to Mr. McGruntley. Usually part of a group, often found monopolizing the stairmasters or the cross-country ski machine thingy. Blablablablablablablabla, and THEN I said: Blablablablablablabla, and then SHE said: Blablablablabla. Again, STFU! Nobody wants to hear you and your group of harpies shrieking!

3) Towel-snapper - this is the guy who liked to snap people in the ass with rolled-up towels back in high school. He's moved beyond that now, but not far. As an adult, he alternates between sexually harassing his female coworkers who are just trying to exercise in peace, blabbering about the various "manly" things he does in his off time (Motorsports and killing things often being high on the list of topics), jabbering at other towel-snappers about the latest pointless sports news, and barking "friendly" insults at random acquaintances (usually casting aspersions on one's sexuality). These guys make me think fond thoughts about Piano Wire.

4) Oprah Junky - I don't like TVs in gyms (or bars) in the first place, but as long as we have to have it, and if it really must be turned on, who elected her (again: usually female) queen of programming? There could be 10 people huddled around the TV watching breaking news on CNN, andthis bitch would walk right up and switch the channel to some cheeseball talk show. And it's always a talk show. Always. WTF?!?

5) Mr. Nekkid! - Being in a locker room entails exposure to nudity. Fair enough, I'm no prude. I do, however, maintain a certain level of basic human modesty. What is with those guys who walk all over the Locker Room in the buff? Really - would it kill them to wrap a towel around their waist? Here's my theory: they either want people to look at their wang, or they want to show the world how "unconcerned" they are about people looking at their wang. Either way, they're overcompensating. Get a towel, guys. And try not to roar when you pick it up (Mr Nekkid! and Screamish Mcgruntley are often one and the same; Towel Snapper makes it a common trifecta).

6) Fungo McNast - I'm not sure what's wrong with this guy's feet, but does he have to apply foot powder RIGHT OUTSIDE THE SHOWER STALL? WTF - like I really want to have to walk through this asshole's leftover Tinactin? Dude, lay down a towel or something!

7) Lard-Ass Dilettante - this guy is a waste of space and of everybody's time! He doesn't know what he's doing, he's constantly underfoot, he's always keeping people from using the weight machines, his technique is for shit, and he keeps giving me wierd looks - oops, wait! That's a mirror, isn't it? *Ahem!* Ummm... moving right along...

Welfare by Drew

2006-04-03T14:44:00.000-04:00

I think those who want to do away with all forms of social safety net and make people "earn" their way through life are fucked in the head. Horatio Alger makes for great propaganda, but that's about it. Funny how these myopic greedheads never seem to consider there might be a direct link between tax cuts and the bums who invade local parks and make it impossible for families to gather and have a peaceful time at play.

On the other hand, I don't have a whole lot of patience for people who seem to think living off taxpayer largesse is A-OK. To the greatest extent possible, people need to get off their asses and get jobs. I think this country has moved a bit too far away from the concept that work is ennobling.

How to balance these two seemingly contradictory impulses? I say lay down a floor, and leave the rest up to individuals.

It is borderline criminal for the richest country on Earth to allow anybody - anybody - to go without the following:

Food
Clothes
Shelter

That's not to say providing those basics should be a pleasant experience for the recipient. On the contrary, receiving such should as much as possible serve as an incentive to do better for oneself.

Let the taxpayer provide the absolute, bare-bones basics to keep people fed and sheltered. Not through welfare checks and food stamps, but literally through direct provisioning and rationing. Everybody who needs it will have a place to stay (public dormitory), clothing (government-issued jumpsuit), and enough to eat (nutrition bars) - anything beyond those basics is entirely up to the individual.

The way I see it, living in a dorm, wearing a jumpsuit and subsisting on nutrition bars should provide plenty of incentive to get a job to pay for an apartment, real clothes and a cheeseburger.
"Oh, but that's so draconian!" some may cry. "It would be so humiliating!". Gee, d'ya think? Good! All the more incentive to rise above living in those conditions. We already have a more-or-less functioning system of public education in this country. If you can read, write and do sums, you can do better than a jumpsuit, and you can do it without a welfare check.

So There.

Fatso

2006-03-30T22:58:00.000-05:00

So I'm trying to actually get some training done so I can go on longer, harder rides this Summer. Some weights, some lunchtime rides, some swimming. It seems to be working - I'm already doing better than last year on the weekly night rides. My increased strength and stamina doesn't seem to be having any effect on the ring o'lard around my midriff, though. Whatever.

What I Do For Fun

2006-03-30T07:23:00.000-05:00

Dorking out on a bike ride (pic by Babs).

Greetings

2006-03-29T20:47:00.000-05:00

They made me do it so I could comment on Pete's latest entry. Will I maintain this blog? Extremely, highly doubtful.