sunday night, 1908 hours pm in the evening, home from work. i'm still tired, still drained from yesterday, probably still dehydrated. i think i got sunstroke or heat exhaustion. whatever. had a slow day today, but a good one. i am so tired i skipped out on bike polo tonight. plus it's waaaay too hot right now, which is also draining.
artisanal isn't a real actual word, it's artisan. artisan bread, artisan cheese, etc. people say artisanal though, all the time. i see that word as "art is anal". i want to go into a shop and ask for "art is anal bread," or "art is anal cheese". this would entertain me.
so, yesterday, a friend was leaving town to go live in another town not too far away, and we were gonna have a small going away party for her at the shop. as tired as i was yesterday after the long ride, i managed to drag my ass into a shower and ride down to the shop for the party.
got there, there was a heavy blanket of ickiness hanging over everyone, the vibe was gray and muddy and heavy. one of the guys, who is a strong cat, great fella, but kind of a high maintenance prima donna felt snubbed, wrongly so, one too many times, and sort of quit. this of course brought everyone down. the funny thing is...he is so self centered, and everything is always about him, he screams for attention all the time, and it totally was appropriate that he would make a scene and make everyone turn attention to him when it was our friend's going away party. he managed to ruin it and put a kabosh on it. he will be missed, but not as much as he might think.
ok, time for dinner, i think it will be curry chicken of some sort. then i shall snooze the snooze of the dead, i hope. tomorrow i get up early and go to the gym.
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Saturday, August 25, 2012
big ride
i'm sitting here, it's 1534 hours in the afternoon, there is a light coating of salt all over my body, i look frosted, my stomach is filing complaints, my legs are having a board meeting right now to see if they want to revolt and cramp or not. just got back from a three and a half hour ride through the desert. luckily, we started at 1115 in the afternoon so we got to ride in grueling heat. good times. i feel surprisingly great, my mind is tricking me so i don't realize how fat and out of shape i am.
yesterday was a good day. didn't do too much, did start out at the gym and lifted more weight than i have before, and felt great doing it. it feels wonderful to be going back to the gym. the highlight of yesterday was dinner. i purchased some super tasty fancy schmancy artisanal bread and made some tasty caponata, and we had that with a bottle and a half of very tasty wine.
so today, after drinking way too much wine and getting a solid four hours of sleep, i embarked on a long hot ride through the desert. i'm a fucking genius,the things i think are a good idea.
still, i did have a great ride, spectacular views, tons of fun, i feel worked but in a good way. i'm looking forward to passing out in about an hour, after my shower and another twenty or so glasses of water.
yesterday was a good day. didn't do too much, did start out at the gym and lifted more weight than i have before, and felt great doing it. it feels wonderful to be going back to the gym. the highlight of yesterday was dinner. i purchased some super tasty fancy schmancy artisanal bread and made some tasty caponata, and we had that with a bottle and a half of very tasty wine.
so today, after drinking way too much wine and getting a solid four hours of sleep, i embarked on a long hot ride through the desert. i'm a fucking genius,the things i think are a good idea.
still, i did have a great ride, spectacular views, tons of fun, i feel worked but in a good way. i'm looking forward to passing out in about an hour, after my shower and another twenty or so glasses of water.
Thursday, August 23, 2012
i call my cat Stinky McPoopsalot
i think cycling can be quite philosophical, many principles and ideas of philosophy can be seen in cycling, and i think mountain biking is a fantastic metaphor for religious beliefs as well.
mountian biking, be it in north carolina, california, arizona, or in japan, seems to follow a pattern: pedal up a steep ass hill for a really really really long time, possibly stopping to puke here and there, at top ride a super sweet wonderful trail that is beautiful and thrilling and fun, and swoop down the mountain climatically on a sweet fast and fun trail. and that, to me, smacks of religion.
many group rides are on a sunday, sort of like church. you must atone and suffer, painfully climbing up that steep and rocky hill, occasionally falling, each pedal stroke a prayer asking for mercy. there is sweat and blood, you are burdened with whatever you carry on your back. but you climb and climb, heavenward, because once you make it, it is heaven. at the top is redemption, you are reborn and given a reward. the trail is effortless, you laugh and are giddy, ecstatic. the view is spectacular. you must work hard to get to a good trail, and it seems the amount of work you put into it is directly proportional to the coolness of the trail. the really spectacular special and secret trails are well hidden and take lots lots of work to get to.
sure, there are fun trails that are easily accessible, but the really really really fun stuff requires effort. nothing worth anything comes easy, and this is totally true for mountain biking. work, reward. work hard, get bigger reward. quite often, the harder you work, the better the view, and the more sweet the single track.
there is an existential side to it all. when you ride, really really ride, you are living authentically. when you are out there, pedaling, sweating, you forget about appearances, you forget about putting on airs, you are so consumed with the trail and the ride that you become, if only for a brief moment, the total you, the true you. when you are tired and hungry, possibly lost, the weather is crap, you reveal yourself, you see who you are and what you are made of. riding tends to break you down into your most simplest form. i've seen cool awesome guys lose their shit when faced with a sketchy trail, i've seen guys who i thought were not much show their true strong awesome selves.
there is a buddhist bent to it. to really really mountain bike well, you must be present, in the moment. have you ever been riding along, and suddenly BAM you are on the ground? nine times out of ten your mind was wandering to other things, you lost focus, you suddenly were thinking of something else, not the trail. being on a trail, especially a technical trail, forces you to live in the moment, again, you forget your worries, cares, who you are, what bills you have to pay, what that jerk on the forum said, and you are consumed with that moment. you and your bike moving as one. it's a special time, because everything starts to flow, you are "on" and it all comes together, you forget there is a you, all you feel is the movement through air, the trail beneath you. it's a meditation of sorts, and pretty fucking close to enlightenment, as far as i'm concerned.
there is truth, simple truth, real truth, in mountain biking. when you are out there, riding a bike, there is no faking it, no lying to yourself or others. you either climb the hill or you don't. you clean that rocky section or you don't. you can have a badass $5,000 bike, look like a pro, talk like a pro, and act like a pro, but on the trail, none of that matters. your bike doesn't matter, your clothes don't matter, your tattoo and soul patch and hemp bracelet doesn't matter. if you can't ride a bike, it shows, and all that bravado and smack talking and chest puffing is gone like rice paper in boiling water.
cycling, especially mountain biking, to me, is philosophical, bordering on religious, and is wonderful.
mountian biking, be it in north carolina, california, arizona, or in japan, seems to follow a pattern: pedal up a steep ass hill for a really really really long time, possibly stopping to puke here and there, at top ride a super sweet wonderful trail that is beautiful and thrilling and fun, and swoop down the mountain climatically on a sweet fast and fun trail. and that, to me, smacks of religion.
many group rides are on a sunday, sort of like church. you must atone and suffer, painfully climbing up that steep and rocky hill, occasionally falling, each pedal stroke a prayer asking for mercy. there is sweat and blood, you are burdened with whatever you carry on your back. but you climb and climb, heavenward, because once you make it, it is heaven. at the top is redemption, you are reborn and given a reward. the trail is effortless, you laugh and are giddy, ecstatic. the view is spectacular. you must work hard to get to a good trail, and it seems the amount of work you put into it is directly proportional to the coolness of the trail. the really spectacular special and secret trails are well hidden and take lots lots of work to get to.
sure, there are fun trails that are easily accessible, but the really really really fun stuff requires effort. nothing worth anything comes easy, and this is totally true for mountain biking. work, reward. work hard, get bigger reward. quite often, the harder you work, the better the view, and the more sweet the single track.
there is an existential side to it all. when you ride, really really ride, you are living authentically. when you are out there, pedaling, sweating, you forget about appearances, you forget about putting on airs, you are so consumed with the trail and the ride that you become, if only for a brief moment, the total you, the true you. when you are tired and hungry, possibly lost, the weather is crap, you reveal yourself, you see who you are and what you are made of. riding tends to break you down into your most simplest form. i've seen cool awesome guys lose their shit when faced with a sketchy trail, i've seen guys who i thought were not much show their true strong awesome selves.
there is a buddhist bent to it. to really really mountain bike well, you must be present, in the moment. have you ever been riding along, and suddenly BAM you are on the ground? nine times out of ten your mind was wandering to other things, you lost focus, you suddenly were thinking of something else, not the trail. being on a trail, especially a technical trail, forces you to live in the moment, again, you forget your worries, cares, who you are, what bills you have to pay, what that jerk on the forum said, and you are consumed with that moment. you and your bike moving as one. it's a special time, because everything starts to flow, you are "on" and it all comes together, you forget there is a you, all you feel is the movement through air, the trail beneath you. it's a meditation of sorts, and pretty fucking close to enlightenment, as far as i'm concerned.
there is truth, simple truth, real truth, in mountain biking. when you are out there, riding a bike, there is no faking it, no lying to yourself or others. you either climb the hill or you don't. you clean that rocky section or you don't. you can have a badass $5,000 bike, look like a pro, talk like a pro, and act like a pro, but on the trail, none of that matters. your bike doesn't matter, your clothes don't matter, your tattoo and soul patch and hemp bracelet doesn't matter. if you can't ride a bike, it shows, and all that bravado and smack talking and chest puffing is gone like rice paper in boiling water.
cycling, especially mountain biking, to me, is philosophical, bordering on religious, and is wonderful.
lets do it.
yup, i used Gary Gilmore's last words for my post title. it's sort of how i feel. i need to quit fucking around and just jump on in and do it.
was a time i used to blog every fucking day, then i stopped, then i did it again, then i stopped. well, i think i should get back to it. if not every day, at least three to four times a week.
i like it, it helps me sort out thoughts, review shit, come to terms with shit, etc.
i am going back to the gym, thanks to my girlfriend who told me about Chaos and Pain, because she and her friend are huge Tom Hardy fans, and i guess they did some googling and found the blog, and she told me about it, and it put a spark under my ass and now i'm back in the gym. it's pretty fucking awesome.
also, i've been riding a lot more, and applying the attitude of chaos and pain to the bike, which is pretty fucking rad.
i need to focus my life a bit. i was just sort of floundering, not sure why, but writing will help me in a few ways. i just need to commit and stick to it.
so...and i've said this a bazillion or two times before....i am seriously no shit gonna really start writing regularly. i let my other blog go to weeds. not sure if i will delete it or not. this one has been around forever, and it's interesting to see where it was and where it was going.
i think i will make this my main place to write.
fuck yeah. now i gotta shower, i stink from today's ride, which was pretty wonderful. only rode about 38 km, but it was sort of windy, so i had that going for me.
lots of other things on the mind, not gonna write now though. i'm happy to be doing this again, this must be a regular thing.
was a time i used to blog every fucking day, then i stopped, then i did it again, then i stopped. well, i think i should get back to it. if not every day, at least three to four times a week.
i like it, it helps me sort out thoughts, review shit, come to terms with shit, etc.
i am going back to the gym, thanks to my girlfriend who told me about Chaos and Pain, because she and her friend are huge Tom Hardy fans, and i guess they did some googling and found the blog, and she told me about it, and it put a spark under my ass and now i'm back in the gym. it's pretty fucking awesome.
also, i've been riding a lot more, and applying the attitude of chaos and pain to the bike, which is pretty fucking rad.
i need to focus my life a bit. i was just sort of floundering, not sure why, but writing will help me in a few ways. i just need to commit and stick to it.
so...and i've said this a bazillion or two times before....i am seriously no shit gonna really start writing regularly. i let my other blog go to weeds. not sure if i will delete it or not. this one has been around forever, and it's interesting to see where it was and where it was going.
i think i will make this my main place to write.
fuck yeah. now i gotta shower, i stink from today's ride, which was pretty wonderful. only rode about 38 km, but it was sort of windy, so i had that going for me.
lots of other things on the mind, not gonna write now though. i'm happy to be doing this again, this must be a regular thing.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
we rode like lions
it is 1834 hours in the evening, a cool 85 degrees or so, i am quite drained. drew had a chance to ride a 15 pound BMC and said "hey, lets do the monument." drew hadn't ridden a road bike in years. drew wasn't on a road bike that actually really fit him. drew is not currently in the best of shape. drew has some nerve issues. today was a difficult day.
we were supposed to start around 9:30, as we started pedaling, i glanced at the watch and it was 9:50, and about 15 degrees warmer than it had been an hour prior. the first hour was flat, then we started to climb. it was a 67km or so ride, took much longer than it should have. by the time we were done, it was in the high 90's and the wind had started. it was a difficult ride.
but we did it. drew did it. along the way he had realized he bit off more than he could chew, but the motherfucker chewed it and chewed and and swallowed the whole damn thing.
afterwards we sat at the shop and drank some fin du monde, a tasty high alcohol beer. it was fucking delicious.
i warm a chamois today. i'm not as sore as last time. tomorrow i think i shall do a "recovery ride" and pedal a slow and easy and flat 48 kms.
i really want to sleep. now. it was a pretty damn good day.
we were supposed to start around 9:30, as we started pedaling, i glanced at the watch and it was 9:50, and about 15 degrees warmer than it had been an hour prior. the first hour was flat, then we started to climb. it was a 67km or so ride, took much longer than it should have. by the time we were done, it was in the high 90's and the wind had started. it was a difficult ride.
but we did it. drew did it. along the way he had realized he bit off more than he could chew, but the motherfucker chewed it and chewed and and swallowed the whole damn thing.
afterwards we sat at the shop and drank some fin du monde, a tasty high alcohol beer. it was fucking delicious.
i warm a chamois today. i'm not as sore as last time. tomorrow i think i shall do a "recovery ride" and pedal a slow and easy and flat 48 kms.
i really want to sleep. now. it was a pretty damn good day.
Saturday, July 07, 2012
movie review: moonrise kingdom
woke up early and went for a bike ride (wait, i thought this was a movie review? it is, this will make sense shortly). it was windy, but not crazy windy. still, windy enough to make me want to turn around. i just kept on heading into the wind, knowing i would at least have it at my back on the way home. my body felt drained. my legs felt like noodles. no matter what i did i couldn't get comfortable. i was going to do a big ride, i ended up doing about 35 km. at least i got out there. i came home and slept like a mofo, which helped. i still feel drained, i don't know why. probably my crappy diet.
so, moonrise kingdom. it was completely pleasant and fun, unlike my extremely not pleasant and unfun bike ride. i have always like wes anderson movies (except for darjeeling limited, i just couldn't get into that one). i think this may be his best. i love the sets he uses, i like the tempo and feel of his movies. the soundtrack to this movie wasn't as good as his others, but the story was good, and overall it was quite delightful. i would totally recommend this movie.
i would not recommend this morning's bike ride though. it was wholly not delightful.
so, moonrise kingdom. it was completely pleasant and fun, unlike my extremely not pleasant and unfun bike ride. i have always like wes anderson movies (except for darjeeling limited, i just couldn't get into that one). i think this may be his best. i love the sets he uses, i like the tempo and feel of his movies. the soundtrack to this movie wasn't as good as his others, but the story was good, and overall it was quite delightful. i would totally recommend this movie.
i would not recommend this morning's bike ride though. it was wholly not delightful.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
a story idea
a woman - so madly deeply in love with a guy, will do ANYTHING for his love....
the man - hates the woman, feels hounded by her, HATES her.....
another man - completely in love with the woman and JEALOUS that she loves the jerk guy soooo much when she could have her love returned in triple if she would only love him instead...
the third guy, jealous guy, plots to "Get rid" of the first guy, maybe cuts his brake cable on the car, but realizes the woman is with him in the car and is in danger, tries to stop them, they all die...
thier feelings are SOOOO strong, alone maybe nothing, but all three feeding off each other, gather energy and momentum, like a tornado, and each emotion becomes tangible, takes a human form...
so there are three human/spirits...one who is total love, one who is total hatred, and one who is total tragic jealousy...they go around and cause havoc in regular humans...that's about as far as i've thought it out.
anyway...it's fucking hot as satan's balls. and windy too, so i got that going for me. nature pretty much is sucking right now. i've been feeling extra testy lately, like there is a sense of impending doom or something, like something is bothering me and i don't know what it is, my subconscious seems to be pretty alert to it though and has me on edge.
things just seem out of whack. i don't know what to do about it.
gonna go out and visit landon, poor fella, broke his ankle and is all bummed out.
i want to write more, but no time now, and i'm just too fucking sweaty and hot. fuck i hope things get better.
the man - hates the woman, feels hounded by her, HATES her.....
another man - completely in love with the woman and JEALOUS that she loves the jerk guy soooo much when she could have her love returned in triple if she would only love him instead...
the third guy, jealous guy, plots to "Get rid" of the first guy, maybe cuts his brake cable on the car, but realizes the woman is with him in the car and is in danger, tries to stop them, they all die...
thier feelings are SOOOO strong, alone maybe nothing, but all three feeding off each other, gather energy and momentum, like a tornado, and each emotion becomes tangible, takes a human form...
so there are three human/spirits...one who is total love, one who is total hatred, and one who is total tragic jealousy...they go around and cause havoc in regular humans...that's about as far as i've thought it out.
anyway...it's fucking hot as satan's balls. and windy too, so i got that going for me. nature pretty much is sucking right now. i've been feeling extra testy lately, like there is a sense of impending doom or something, like something is bothering me and i don't know what it is, my subconscious seems to be pretty alert to it though and has me on edge.
things just seem out of whack. i don't know what to do about it.
gonna go out and visit landon, poor fella, broke his ankle and is all bummed out.
i want to write more, but no time now, and i'm just too fucking sweaty and hot. fuck i hope things get better.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
book review: unholy night by seth grahame- smith
so i just finished unholy night by the guy who started the historical fiction monster mash up genre. i have but have yet to read the abe lincoln vampire book, instead i went with the three wise men biblical action thriller book. glad i did.
i really liked it. the pacing was good, it is an interesting subject, there was enough action and gore and horror to make it worthwhile but it wasn't over the top and didn't dwell on it too much. an overall good story, bits of humor injected at just the right times, overall well written. i don't know i would go so far as to call it literature, but i would totally recommend this book. it's bubblegum, but it's fun. i will eventually get to the abe lincoln vampire book, i'll probably end up seeing the movie first. i have other crap i want to read first.
overall, yeah, good book.
i really liked it. the pacing was good, it is an interesting subject, there was enough action and gore and horror to make it worthwhile but it wasn't over the top and didn't dwell on it too much. an overall good story, bits of humor injected at just the right times, overall well written. i don't know i would go so far as to call it literature, but i would totally recommend this book. it's bubblegum, but it's fun. i will eventually get to the abe lincoln vampire book, i'll probably end up seeing the movie first. i have other crap i want to read first.
overall, yeah, good book.
Saturday, June 23, 2012
good ride
it's 1132 hours in the afternoon, i'm sorta tired and my taint hurts. just got back from a pretty good road ride, 67.59 kms. i started at 0630 this morning, trying to beat the heat and wind. today is supposed to be 100 degrees with 20 mph winds, fuuuuuck that. it was a great morning, the first 16 or so kilometers were flat, i felt good, then the climbing began. i wanted to throw up, i wanted to pass out, i wanted to turn around and say fuck it, but i kept on going, somehow, and holy shit, i made it to where i knew i was going to be ok. it was a beautiful ride, beautiful day, and surprisingly my legs felt really really good. even after i was done i felt ok, i wasn't totally beat.
after the ride i stopped by the shop and hung out for a while, then came home, and here i am typing.
now i have the rest of the day to do as i wish. part of that is meeting the girl and hanging out with her and her daughter. today i shall meet the daughter, hopefully the kid will like me enough. i've met the son and he liked me, now for the girl. i'm not a fan of kids, i hope i don't want to kill the kid....
other than that...i have the rest of the day to do as i please. which i think will mean sleeping.
so now i gotta take a shower and get ready to hang out with my girlfriend and her spawn. good times.
after the ride i stopped by the shop and hung out for a while, then came home, and here i am typing.
now i have the rest of the day to do as i wish. part of that is meeting the girl and hanging out with her and her daughter. today i shall meet the daughter, hopefully the kid will like me enough. i've met the son and he liked me, now for the girl. i'm not a fan of kids, i hope i don't want to kill the kid....
other than that...i have the rest of the day to do as i please. which i think will mean sleeping.
so now i gotta take a shower and get ready to hang out with my girlfriend and her spawn. good times.
Friday, June 22, 2012
cookies and vodka
it's 2229 hours pm in the evening, i'm washing down homemade chocolate chip cookies with ice cold vanilla flavored vodka, life isn't too shabby. been freaking out over the money situation lately, this month has cost me greatly. found out today my honda civic isn't quite the off road capable car i thought it was, i broke my front struts, it will cost me $1000 to fix. looks like i won't have front struts on my car for quite a while.
been 100 fucking degrees with 20mph fucking winds, making the bicycling pretty fucking miserable. i am going to attempt a ride tomorrow super early, right after sunrise, to hopefully avoid the wind. i dont' much mind the heat, but fuck the wind, that is just ridiculous.
i've not written in a while, not here anyway, and i was thinking of making this my everyday blog. i don't know what i wanna do really. i'm just so tired and bored with most things.
it's strange. i don't seem to do anything. i did just get back from a backwoods hiking/camping trip, so that is something, but overall, in the day to day life, i don't really do anything. when i work, i get up, work, come home and that is it. when i'm off, i don't know what i do, i don't do anything noteworthy.
i should probably write about my trip, i used to write about my trips, now i don't. i don't know why, i just don't. perhaps i should get back into the habit.
for now, i shall just not write anything of any substance, i shall just blather on, drink, and go to sleep. maybe tomorrow i shall write about my ride. maybe. doubt it really.
been 100 fucking degrees with 20mph fucking winds, making the bicycling pretty fucking miserable. i am going to attempt a ride tomorrow super early, right after sunrise, to hopefully avoid the wind. i dont' much mind the heat, but fuck the wind, that is just ridiculous.
i've not written in a while, not here anyway, and i was thinking of making this my everyday blog. i don't know what i wanna do really. i'm just so tired and bored with most things.
it's strange. i don't seem to do anything. i did just get back from a backwoods hiking/camping trip, so that is something, but overall, in the day to day life, i don't really do anything. when i work, i get up, work, come home and that is it. when i'm off, i don't know what i do, i don't do anything noteworthy.
i should probably write about my trip, i used to write about my trips, now i don't. i don't know why, i just don't. perhaps i should get back into the habit.
for now, i shall just not write anything of any substance, i shall just blather on, drink, and go to sleep. maybe tomorrow i shall write about my ride. maybe. doubt it really.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
new bike, awesome day
been forever since i wrote here. the last time i wrote here i had fucked up my finger, a lot has changed. my finger is still fucked up, but i have a brand new kick ass awesome bike, it's magical, i can do just about anything on it. i rode the section that caused my finger to bend, i've ridden other stuff i hadn't ridden before.
two days ago i went for a pretty awesome road ride, last night i tried to ride but my legs were still not ready. then there was today....
today was a great day, i am totally beat, spent, done. went for a big ride to day, in the hot sun, drank a beer or two, and now i wanna call it a day.
great ride, i look forward to the many rides to come.
two days ago i went for a pretty awesome road ride, last night i tried to ride but my legs were still not ready. then there was today....
today was a great day, i am totally beat, spent, done. went for a big ride to day, in the hot sun, drank a beer or two, and now i wanna call it a day.
great ride, i look forward to the many rides to come.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
finally got to ride a bike
i haven't ridden in forever, today i felt good (for the first time in a while) and the weather was cooperating (sort of) and the trails were dry, so we went for a ride.
february in colorado, out these parts it’s warm and sunny and the ground is dry. we went for a ride, it was windy, it was chilly, but it was pretty damn nice, because we were riding bikes in february.
coming down the drop in, i managed to fall nicely. i was fine, got up, and i felt something odd with my hand. thank the gods i had gloves on, because i grabbed the upper half of my left pointer finger, and without thinking about it, instinctively snapped it to the right, back in place, where it belongs. thankfully i did it before i realized what i had done, perhaps i was in a minor state of shock, and i’m thankful for it.
since it was pretty much at the beginning of the ride, my finger was pretty useless for the majority of the ride, which meant braking was a bit not that fun. holy crap i was tired too, i hadn’t really been on a bike for about a month, went for that short ride a few days ago, and now this. being all sick didn’t help much i’m sure, but although i was coughing like a 3 pack a day smoker, my lungs seemed to work ok, and they felt good.
after the ride, back at the truck, i had a bit of medicinal brownie, and now my finger feels fine and i can type. tonight we go to Ross’s house for moive night. i should be feeling way past fine in a few hours.
great day, despite the messed up finger which doesn’t bend too well.
february in colorado, out these parts it’s warm and sunny and the ground is dry. we went for a ride, it was windy, it was chilly, but it was pretty damn nice, because we were riding bikes in february.
coming down the drop in, i managed to fall nicely. i was fine, got up, and i felt something odd with my hand. thank the gods i had gloves on, because i grabbed the upper half of my left pointer finger, and without thinking about it, instinctively snapped it to the right, back in place, where it belongs. thankfully i did it before i realized what i had done, perhaps i was in a minor state of shock, and i’m thankful for it.
since it was pretty much at the beginning of the ride, my finger was pretty useless for the majority of the ride, which meant braking was a bit not that fun. holy crap i was tired too, i hadn’t really been on a bike for about a month, went for that short ride a few days ago, and now this. being all sick didn’t help much i’m sure, but although i was coughing like a 3 pack a day smoker, my lungs seemed to work ok, and they felt good.
after the ride, back at the truck, i had a bit of medicinal brownie, and now my finger feels fine and i can type. tonight we go to Ross’s house for moive night. i should be feeling way past fine in a few hours.
great day, despite the messed up finger which doesn’t bend too well.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
bleh
i have not ridden a bicycle in about a month. i did finally go to the doctor, when it hurt to breathe, and it turned out i had some kind of bacteria infection in my lungs and nose, so i'm on antibiotics. yay, i got that going for me. i want ride my damn bicycle.
tomorrow, sunday, i work. then monday i drive to amarillo texas, road trip for a week, then i'm back on friday. hopefully after that i will be able to start riding regularly again. i feel like i'm getting older and fatter and slower each day i don't get on a bicycle.
and now i will actually get on a bicycle and ride the whole mile to the bar and get a beer. my first ride in quite a while, and i'm actualy getting out of the house instead of sleeping on the couch.
tomorrow, sunday, i work. then monday i drive to amarillo texas, road trip for a week, then i'm back on friday. hopefully after that i will be able to start riding regularly again. i feel like i'm getting older and fatter and slower each day i don't get on a bicycle.
and now i will actually get on a bicycle and ride the whole mile to the bar and get a beer. my first ride in quite a while, and i'm actualy getting out of the house instead of sleeping on the couch.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
disconnected
it's saturday evening, 7:09 pm, i'm in the same clothes i woke up in, haven't left my house all day. it was gray and rainy, while i don't feel blatantly sick, i don't feel well. i didn't do crap today, i finished a book assassins creed: the secret crusade by oliver bowden, based off the game. it was good, bubblegum for the brain. i practised the swe shift, it's my new thing, and i slept.
i did make a tasty soup, simple, and oh so good. sauteed mirepoix, added chicken stock, handful of dried shiitakes, barley, shot of whisky, shot of soy sauce, sqauirt of lemon and it was fucking deeeeeelicious. i also made baba ganouj. yum.
i should have gone for a bike ride today, i haven't ridden a bike in what feels like a month. i am hoping to ride next week, going down to hurricane to ride gooseberry mesa.
i don't know what to do, i dont' want to do anything. i am missing my friends bachelor party, that sucks.
fuck it, think i'll read some more, maybe watch crap on the internet, then go to sleep early.
i did make a tasty soup, simple, and oh so good. sauteed mirepoix, added chicken stock, handful of dried shiitakes, barley, shot of whisky, shot of soy sauce, sqauirt of lemon and it was fucking deeeeeelicious. i also made baba ganouj. yum.
i should have gone for a bike ride today, i haven't ridden a bike in what feels like a month. i am hoping to ride next week, going down to hurricane to ride gooseberry mesa.
i don't know what to do, i dont' want to do anything. i am missing my friends bachelor party, that sucks.
fuck it, think i'll read some more, maybe watch crap on the internet, then go to sleep early.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
blah
it is thursday, it's sunny and actually warm out, but i'm staying in, i feel droopy, i feel disconnected. been off lately, don't know why. talk to my girlfriend, she gets upset for no apparent reason. my friend gets upset for no apparent reason. it's like i am saying one thing but others hear something different. like tyler durden is speaking for me. i don't get it.
it makes me want to shut down, break up with my girlfriend, stop talking to my friend, and just be alone. i don't know what the fuck is going on, i don't know what is wrong or why. i don't feel edgy, but people seem edgy to me, they seem to be getting upset over nothing, mistaking what i say, reading into shit i say.
i havent ridden a bike in a week or so, i need to go ride, i should have ridden today. i feel like i've lost any motivation to do anything, and i have no reason to.
i hope i get out of this strange murky morass.
it makes me want to shut down, break up with my girlfriend, stop talking to my friend, and just be alone. i don't know what the fuck is going on, i don't know what is wrong or why. i don't feel edgy, but people seem edgy to me, they seem to be getting upset over nothing, mistaking what i say, reading into shit i say.
i havent ridden a bike in a week or so, i need to go ride, i should have ridden today. i feel like i've lost any motivation to do anything, and i have no reason to.
i hope i get out of this strange murky morass.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
a big day, now i'm sick
yesterday kicked ass. it was our fouth day out in a row, and yesterday we went big. we rode 30+ kms, about 20 miles, which doesn't seem like a lot, but these were hard mountain bike miles, lots of climbing, super wicked decents which were technical and you were working, followed by more climbing. the day was spectacular, weather perfect, trails perfect, my legs actually held up way better than i thought they would. i was spent, completely and utterly spent.
woke up this morning and i was sick. some cold thing. i wasn't going to ride today anyway, but now that i'm sick, i am definately not gonna ride today or tommorrow. fuck.
other than that, my phone went all wonky and istn' working and i'm just having a shitty day right now. i want to go home. not that it would be any better there, but still.
i need to sleep.
woke up this morning and i was sick. some cold thing. i wasn't going to ride today anyway, but now that i'm sick, i am definately not gonna ride today or tommorrow. fuck.
other than that, my phone went all wonky and istn' working and i'm just having a shitty day right now. i want to go home. not that it would be any better there, but still.
i need to sleep.
Saturday, January 07, 2012
a short ride
"i just wanna do a short, easy ride, nothing big today" this is what we said, what we agreed on, what we apprently felt. it's not what happened.
the weather was beautiful, just a hint of cool in the air, but our hands and ears weren't screaming in pain from the cold. we were in short sleeves and shorts, and it was glorious. took off from the house, got on dirt, and it was ON!
it felt like riding through an M C Escher painting, we somehow were always going up a fucking hill. the trails were in perfect condition, i know somwhere along the way we had to be going down a hill, but it felt like all climbing. we came out by the road, i thought we were done, but oh no, "lets do one more" seemed to be the attitude of the day, and so we did.
three and a half hours of riding overall. my legs were jelly. twenty + miles on a mountain bike is not a "short, easy" day. overall, it was a good day, a fun day.
that was yesterday. today we are going on a slow, short, easy ride. we shall see about that.....
the weather was beautiful, just a hint of cool in the air, but our hands and ears weren't screaming in pain from the cold. we were in short sleeves and shorts, and it was glorious. took off from the house, got on dirt, and it was ON!
it felt like riding through an M C Escher painting, we somehow were always going up a fucking hill. the trails were in perfect condition, i know somwhere along the way we had to be going down a hill, but it felt like all climbing. we came out by the road, i thought we were done, but oh no, "lets do one more" seemed to be the attitude of the day, and so we did.
three and a half hours of riding overall. my legs were jelly. twenty + miles on a mountain bike is not a "short, easy" day. overall, it was a good day, a fun day.
that was yesterday. today we are going on a slow, short, easy ride. we shall see about that.....
Thursday, January 05, 2012
sedona
it is almost 11 pm in the evening, i'm in a house in sedona, arizona. yesterday we did a quick mountain bike ride up at 18 road, i rode strong, and faster than i have, it felt great. today i drove down through utah, to sedona for our shop retreat/month of riding and partying vacation. good times.
i'm tired, i'm going to sleep, but i just quickly wanted to type something while i'm down here.
now i snooze, tomorrow we ride!
i'm tired, i'm going to sleep, but i just quickly wanted to type something while i'm down here.
now i snooze, tomorrow we ride!
Monday, January 02, 2012
the ottoman slap
yesterday was a great start to a new year, and so far, it's kept on being awesome.
i'm currently reading the possessed: adventures with russian books and the people who read them by Elif Batuman. it's pretty fucking hilarious and super interesting. i learned about "the ottoman slap" (osmanli tokadi), as well as other things. great book, so well written, it's not like reading, it's like listening to someone talk to you.
i will probably finish it in a day or two. i have been thinking about trying once again to read 52 books a year, a book a week. i also want to start riding my bicycle waaaaay more, and on top of it all, i remain super lazy, so we shall see what wins out: books, bikes, or laziness. i'm sure laziness will prevail, it's pretty fucking strong.
speaking of bikes, went for my second actual ride of the year. it was such a beautiful day, i had to get out, and my legs were itching and twitchy. i only rode 31 km, about 19 miles. i did some sprints to make me feel like i did something. it was a "recovery" ride, i am indeed a "Recovery ride specialist." and i'm good with that. i don't think i will ride any more this week. i'm gonna rest up and get ready, on the 5th i drive down to Sedona, Arizona, where we will be riding hard, drinking hard, and pretty much having a kick ass time. i figure i will give my legs a break before i abuse them in a few days.
the other kick ass thing that happened today is, i got paid! tomorrow, tuesday, i shall deposit my check, and then wednesday, i shall spend every fucking penny of my paycheck on a goddamn brand new windshield for my car. awesome. but overall, i'm not too upset. it will all work out, it always does.
now i shall have a cup of tea and read more about russian books and the people who read them.
and there you have it. an overall great day.
i'm currently reading the possessed: adventures with russian books and the people who read them by Elif Batuman. it's pretty fucking hilarious and super interesting. i learned about "the ottoman slap" (osmanli tokadi), as well as other things. great book, so well written, it's not like reading, it's like listening to someone talk to you.
i will probably finish it in a day or two. i have been thinking about trying once again to read 52 books a year, a book a week. i also want to start riding my bicycle waaaaay more, and on top of it all, i remain super lazy, so we shall see what wins out: books, bikes, or laziness. i'm sure laziness will prevail, it's pretty fucking strong.
speaking of bikes, went for my second actual ride of the year. it was such a beautiful day, i had to get out, and my legs were itching and twitchy. i only rode 31 km, about 19 miles. i did some sprints to make me feel like i did something. it was a "recovery" ride, i am indeed a "Recovery ride specialist." and i'm good with that. i don't think i will ride any more this week. i'm gonna rest up and get ready, on the 5th i drive down to Sedona, Arizona, where we will be riding hard, drinking hard, and pretty much having a kick ass time. i figure i will give my legs a break before i abuse them in a few days.
the other kick ass thing that happened today is, i got paid! tomorrow, tuesday, i shall deposit my check, and then wednesday, i shall spend every fucking penny of my paycheck on a goddamn brand new windshield for my car. awesome. but overall, i'm not too upset. it will all work out, it always does.
now i shall have a cup of tea and read more about russian books and the people who read them.
and there you have it. an overall great day.
Sunday, January 01, 2012
the first ride of the year
january 1st. just got back from riding the monument, and i feel great. i only rode a total distance of 24 km, about 15 miles, but a good half of that was climbing up 8% grades. i felt strong today, i didn't think i was gonna make it, but my legs kept pumping, the wheels kept turning, and at the halfway point up the climb i knew i was gonna make it. instead of stopping at the top as i usually do, i just kept on pedaling, kept on climbing, rode for another km or two. i could have kept going, did the whole thing, but i had really just wanted to do the first steep climb, and i felt like turning around and coming home, so i did. my legs weren't tired, my lungs weren't tired, i felt great, i just, for some reason, felt like going home.
the descent was pretty good, i made some turns faster than i had before, i was off my brakes for a good portion, the bike felt good under me. it was a beautiful day and i had a great ride, a great way to start off the year.
today, i went to get food for dinner, and there was a leg of lamb on sale, from $50 down to $22, so i snatched that up quick and tonight i shall roast a leg of lamb. i feel rich. life is good. i think this year is gonna kick ass.
the descent was pretty good, i made some turns faster than i had before, i was off my brakes for a good portion, the bike felt good under me. it was a beautiful day and i had a great ride, a great way to start off the year.
today, i went to get food for dinner, and there was a leg of lamb on sale, from $50 down to $22, so i snatched that up quick and tonight i shall roast a leg of lamb. i feel rich. life is good. i think this year is gonna kick ass.
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