Practice

- b

Washington's Trail

Three years ago I gave a brief review of this trail here.

In that time it's gotten no less treacherous - even dry.

I swear every time I ride this thing a little part of me that sucks dies.

It traverses a 50ft slope between the tracks and the river. Most of the time it's only running about 10ft above the water. If you fall, it's a hard bounce on the rocks, then you're wet.

It snakes along the slope, up, down, around trees, over roots and rocks.

It's as hard mentally as it is physically. Your brain is constantly assessing the next challenge and picking the right line. It's up to your body to follow through.

By the end my hands are all cramped from tweaking the bars left or right to achieve the proper balance as my front wheel goes over a rock while my rear wheel slides on a root.

When you're done, your cheeks hurt from smiling so much.

I can't wait for the next time.

- b

Meeting Wizard

I have this annoying conference call at 8am every morning. Sometimes it's an hour long and sometimes it's only five minutes.

Either way, I have to be on the call just in case.

The real problem is it screws up my morning routines. It's too early to get to work and do it and there are too many things I like to do in the mornings before work (i.e. walk the dogs around the park).

Finally I have the solution.

Bluetooth.

Typically I don't have to talk on these calls. With the bluetooth I can manage the dogs and listen to the bullshit at the same time.

"Bob, what do you think about this particular issue?"

"Hmmm. I'm not sure I have a bag big enough for that load of crap."

- b

Moving Day

On Sunday Jen's mother moved to her new home.

Due to a glitch in directions, her mother nearly missed the entire move-in. Luckily Jen took up roost and directed the process.

The movers were very good and very nice. I think they broke only one thing and that was a light bulb. They were done in about an hour and a half.

Now that it's painted, her stuff is moved in (even the cats), it's time to get things settled.

- b

Solar

We took the plunge and signed up for solar.

I guess it's more then a plunge. We spent a bunch of money and bought a solar system.

It's a photovoltaic system that will produce electricity. What electricity we don't use will actually flow back to the grid.

Middle of June is our current install date - all depends on the state's time to process the rebate.

So by July, we'll have something like this.

It won't zero out our electric bill, but it has the potential to pay for itself pretty quickly and maybe make money. More on all that later unless requested.

- b

Road Ride

Managed to get out at lunch yesterday on the road bike.

In the two years it's been since riding mine, I'd nearly forgotten the sensation of riding a road bike.

It's like speeding around on a tight-rope or riding the head of a pin.

The widest part is you.

Honestly adjusting to the sensation of the bike was more difficult then adjusting to the cars and trucks rolling by a mere foot away.

Eventually it all melded and I rode happily around spinning in the sun. I only had an hour and wasn't really interested in a "workout". The point was to be out of the office and on the bike spinning.

Fully kitted (wearing sponsored jersey and shorts), I didn't look like a tourist, though every time I rode by another fully kitted rider I certainly felt like one.

Maybe next time I'll have more time, throw in some hills and feel like I've done something at the office that day.

- b

Cord Blood and Circumcision

So many choices.

Medically viable or medically required?

If you do?

If you don't?

And we still need names.

- b

Plus Side of Anemia

Steak and onions for dinner (cooked via the iron skillet).

Steak and eggs for breakfast (iron skillet of course).

The lengths we go to accommodate pregnancy side effects.

- b

Just Say Yes

I'm sitting here with a dog on each side dreaming.

Their paws are twitching like they're both running after something fun.

Then I wonder if polar bears dream - dream about ripping seals through air holes in the ice for dinner.

Hmmmmm.

Maybe it's time I put the computer down and went to bed.

Sweet dreams!

- b

ps. Snow Patrol was playing while I wrote this, hence the title.

pps. Almost everything has context here.

ppps. Not like I'll remember any of it five years from now.

Name Contest

We need baby names.

Someone suggested the initials be at least A.L.E. for my favorite type of beer (that person has obviously stepped up a notch or two in my book).

So we need some A first names and L middle names.

We need them for a boy or a girl.

Things like Ass Love or All Lard are not acceptable - mostly because I thought of them first.

Have at it.

- b

Ride the Crunch

Up at 6am.

On the bike at the park by 6:30am.

On my ass in the middle of the frozen-wet and very dark trail by 6:32am.

Hmmm. Guess it's slick.

When you get a couple of warm days after a bunch of hard frozen days, the ground does some weird things. I guess it's frost heaves. It's like the moisture that was frozen and contracted into the soil on the frozen days, expands or explodes the soil on the warm days. Then you get a cold night and it freezes that way - all expanded and frozen. It creates this weird, crunchy dirt flower surface that can't support the inertia of your wheels. If you're riding straight, the crunchy dirt surface crushes under your wheels and feels like you're riding on a semi-frozen sponge. If you're hitting a corner kind of hot (i.e. fast), the crunchy dirt surface crushes under your wheels feeling like gravel. If you're too hot, there's not enough friction and you end up on your ass.

Not one to be completely discouraged by a bike crash, I got up and proceeded on my way. Gretchen hardly noticed. Crunchy dirt flower surfaces don't affect her.

I had limited time this morning for two reasons. The most pertinent was the fact the crunchy frozen dirt flowers I was now skating across would be mud as soon as the sun came up (the one flower that dies in the sun). The second was a conference call at 8am.

I banged out my normal ride on the quarry side of the park. Of course the trail by the quarry seemed colder and darker then the trails elsewhere.

We headed back to the car. Snapped this quick picture of the sun rising over the freezing lake and frosted grass.

Then made it home for my call.

Kind of interesting thawing the frozen breath out of my beard as I gave status on my product to the other folks around the globe.

- b

Corporate Amerika

I'm double booked tomorrow afternoon in meetings.

I have to give an hour-plus spiel on my product to two different groups.

Both the groups and myself work for the same company.

The two groups won't meet together and let me do the spiel once.

They don't want the other to know what they're doing or something.

How about I give you both the bird and be done with it?

- b

Shit Shoveler

As the alarm went off this morning the first thought in my head was,

"Time to shovel the shit."

I then proceeded to put my shirt on backwards and walk into the door on the way out of the bedroom.

So it's going to be one of those kinds of days?

- b

Birthday Girl

Budgets are tight, so I made Jen dinner for her birthday.

It was a simple little thing.

Saute some chicken

Salt and set aside while you saute some portobello mushroom slices with lemon and dry sherry

Place mushroom slices over the chicken then layer it all with swiss cheese.

Bake at 350 for 5 minutes. Throw back some Ommegang Rare Vos.

It's not haute by any means, but it was tasty and went well with the cake.

Happy birthday Jen!

- b

Preparations

It's like a camping trip or vacation, but we're not going anywhere.

There's a kid coming here.

We keep going over the lists. Laying everything out and figuring out what we need.

Onesies, t-shirts, sleepers how the hell do they all work?

Is it like base layer, insulation layer, shell?

WTH?

Pack and Play's - they're like dog crates right?

Holy crap! This is nuts.

- b

WTF?

It's next to the scrapple.

Maybe I'd like it.

- b

The Geologist

Brushed the teeth of the dogs.

Convinced a friend to ride with me though I'm sick and slow.

Heard about plate tectonics, Colorado & New York in the sixties and Jessica Biel in the same conversation.

Disagreed that because criminally insane folks sleep with the lights on, afraid of nightmares, have a conscience.

Drank a Storm King at 2:30pm

Watched two boys haul ass on horses down the middle of the road.

Played landlord.

Played house husband

did the dishes

went grocery shopping

made dinner

took out the trash.

- b

Accomplished Mothers

By default mothers make their mark.

In nine months time their bodies completely change - change in ways most of us couldn't handle in such a short period of time.

After the birth, they have an infant, baby, child, and/or children.

Physically they were one. Now separate the reality of one is never gone.

Good or bad, their faces, laughs and love are constant reminders of that singular feat.

- b

Separate Bedrooms Again

On Friday I came down with a head cold.

In an effort to keep Jen from getting sick, I'm back to the other bedroom.

I get a three day weekend, but sick.

sick sucks.

- b

Heavy Movies

Thursday night "Avatar" (not so heavy)

Friday night "The Reader" (semi-pornographic, with a heavy twist)

Sunday night "Seven Pounds" (way heavy)

next in the quwee

"Hurt Locker" (supposed to be heavy and nuts)

What were we thinking?

- b

Avatar IMAX 3D

Pretty cool flick.

Would see again.

- b

Rocket Man

Last night I was fast. I was smooth and had skills. Just the right amount of brake with perfect little slides here and there. The hills were easy. The trails were mine.

Ok. Now with a little less exuberance.

Last nights ride was fun. I rode with Gretchen, Sean and his dog. It was the same old trail I've been riding over and over again, but last night was as close as I've been to what a "Wednesday Night Ride" used to feel like in a long time.

Granted Sean was a little under the weather and taking his time with Yoshi, but Gretchen and I were all fired up. She was racing me through the twisties - cutting the corners tight and pulling out in front.

I had forgotten how much fun riding could be.

- b

First Tracks

The ride yesterday morning was one of those special outdoor times that are very hard to capture in words and nearly missed when you're experiencing it. You have to stop what you're doing and contemplate the subtleties.

It had snowed a little over night. There was only about a half inch on the ground, but it was enough to give everything that clean white look.

It was cloudy, but not in a way that was dark and brooding, but more of a soft and blanketing way.

Light was reflected everywhere. Granted not a very bright light, but light enough that you could see anything. I could almost see the heaviness of the world I was feeling.

It was like everything in the woods was present at once, yet not - tucked away sleeping in the snow under the blanket of clouds.

Gretchen and I were the first and only ones at the park. We laid the first (civilized) tracks on the trail, yet all the trails had been scouted out earlier by the many foxes and rabbits in the woods. There wasn't a trail a fox hadn't trotted. Though I never saw them, their tracks left a heavy presence.

The lake was frozen except for the middle. The waves that normally lap against the shores were quiet and covered in white.

I rode by houses that come close to the trail. I could see people sitting and waking in their heated lit kitchens. Though outside in the cold and snowy woods, I felt like I was the one really alive. The foxes and I were the ones experiencing life and the world around them. The people in their kitchens were full-size wax figures in a diorama dropped alongside the trail.

At one point I actually reconsidered. I asked myself what was I doing out at 7am riding my bike in the woods on January 12th. Was I that serious of a cyclist? Was I training for something that mattered, but I already knew the answer. I've stated it above. It wasn't about the cycling at all. It was all about being there and feeling it - feeling the world around me on the morning of Jan. 12th.

- b

Pregnancy Sleep Tricks

Used separately, we're able to sleep together.

- b

F It Fridays

I've decided the hell with not riding.

From now on (at least until it doesn't seem to be working) I'm taking Fridays at lunch and going for a ride.

There's a very extensive trail system very close to where I work. At 11am I'm out the door and hopefully back by 1pm.

Last Friday was the inaugural ride.

Being that I'm not so familiar with this extensive trail system, I asked my friend Craig to show me around. From his house we left and met Rick & Wendy. It had even snowed an inch that morning. Not only was it the inaugural F It Friday ride, but a snow ride as well.

Personally I found the snow to have as much traction as riding on sand on a Formica counter top. Craig and his studded tires didn't seem to mind.

It was a good long ride (for me). Craig took it easy on me as far pace. He showed me all the cool things he's been building and riding for the last two years. What a difference it is to ride behind Craig then two years ago. I can only hope I haven't lost as much as he has gained in my absence.

The inaugural ride went a little long and I still have no clue as to where and how the trails are laid out, but it was fun and worthwhile none-the-less.

As I get comfortable with the trails and my fitness, I won't have to hold up Craig as much. As the weather gets warmer I can even hit the road (lots of hills in that area).

If nothing else, I'm looking forward to the next one.

- b

Meat Processor

We had a baby shower/party thingy yesterday (about that later).

One of the food options we had for the party was a roast pig from Forestas.

We ordered a 50lb. pig, and got an extra 10lbs for free. I'm not really sure if that's 60lbs. after all the cooking or what. That's just the number I got to go with.

Today I "processed" what was left after the party.

I don't really consider myself a carnivore (i.e. overly excited about all things meat), but I do consider myself a little less evolved. I had my hands all over this carcass in search of all the meat I could scrounge. It's food. I wasn't letting that get away.

In the end I filled thirteen 1lb. freezer bags with meat.

Yes. I individually weighed each one.

With all the meat scavenged, I proceeded to cut off as much of the skin as I could for later.

What was left (bones, brains, fat, and hooves) weighed 16.5lbs. Not too bad. I guess the pork was a hit at the party.

Now the skin.

Jen calls them Chicherones. I call them Pork Rinds. Basically it's fried pork skin.

We found a recipe on the internet that said bake them at 475°F for ten minutes.

Eh. Didn't quite work like we expected.

After a few Pints of Prima Pils

and some trial and error, I think we figured it out.

1. Clean off as much of the fat and meat from the back of the skin as you can. Technically you can leave it on for meatier flavor, but it's harder to cook for us novices.
2. Cut the skin into sandwich bread size pieces.
3. Place on baking sheet and salt the hell out of them.
4. Bake at 475°F for 10min.
   

Voila!

So tasty!

- b

Function Fashionista

When I got my mountaineering boots in Jan. 2004, they didn't have laces.

Not knowing more then the benefits of plastic double boots, I simply bought a pair laces that fit.

Not caring that the red clashed with the pink and neon green of the boots, I was happy they fit.

Throughout the years I was semi-frustrated by the fact the laces would freeze on our trips. Snow/ice/water would soak in and the laces would freeze solid by the first night - essentially preventing any adjustment in boot fit over the duration of the trip.

I had assumed this was the case for Jeff's boots too (he bought his brand new). It was just the nature of winter camping in the north east.

On this last trip I discovered that was not the case. The laces of Jeff's boots did not freeze and he was able to adjust the fit of his boots every day.

Damn! How'd he do that?

After the trip I did a little research. His boot laces must have somehow been waterproof. Admittedly I didn't search much, because what I found first, Kevlar laces, seemed like the right thing.

They're 100% Kevlar with an operating temperature between -50°F and 500°F. They won't disintegrate till 900°F.

But they're yellow.

Even if they improve over the performance of the old laces, they hardly improve the aesthetic.

Eh, maybe they are an improvement. Side by side, I think the yellow is a little nicer then the red.

Doesn't matter. The old laces already have a new home.

Hopefully my freeze test of the Kevlar laces (currently underway) passes; otherwise, I'm still without form or function.

- b

Ben Vs. Moonbounce

- b

Wegman's is a zoo without cages

New Tactic

My hours at work are pretty flexible as long as I work a lot of them.

With that being the case, I decided the hell with trying to come home at 7pm and going for a ride with the dog by myself in the dark. Instead, I'll ride in the morning when the sun comes up.

Around here, this time of year, sunrise is 7:25am.

Fine. At 7am I'll go for a ride. I'll be rested. The sun will be shining and damn what time I get to work.

Yesterday was the trial run and it was awesome. The trails were frozen, the sun was shining, and all the varmints were out. Gretchen was running all over the place chasing anything that moved. She got herself worked up enough to lay in the creeks at 30° F.

As the days tick by, the sun will rise earlier and we can get longer rides. It's the perfect system.

At least until the baby comes, then who knows.

- b

Lyrics of the Day

There were some lyrics that really struck me today.

"Substitute my coke for gin" - The Who, "Substitute"


"Send lawyers, guns, and money. The shit has hit the fan!" Warren Zevon, "Lawyers, Guns and Money"

"And there was a kid with a head full of doubt So I'll scream till I die or the last of those bad thoughts are finally out" Avett Brothers "Head Full of Doubt, Road Full of Promise"

"She's got gold doorknobs where her eyes used to be. One turn and I learn what it really means to see" Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, "40 Day Dream"

"Oh God. What keeps you out it keeps me in." Monsters of Folk, "Dear God (Sincerely M.O.F.)"


- b

First Trainer Ride

This morning was Gretchen's first trainer ride.

It's true. I haven't ridden the trainer at all in the two years since we've had Gretchen. For most cyclists that would be a great accomplishment. Or, as in my case, a great tragedy.

Anyway.

Alarm went off at 5:10am.

I got up, went to the bathroom then headed downstairs. For Gretchen this routine signifies a morning ride at Marsh Creek, so she got up too and followed me downstairs.

Down to my gear room where I opened my cycling clothes drawers and pulled on a pair of cycling shorts and cycling socks.

So far so good for Gretchen. She started her stretches and yawning in anticipation of an early morning jaunt.

But instead of heading out the door to the garage, I went back to the family room.

Gretchen followed anyway. I am her master and I was wearing those funny/tight shorts.

I sat down at the couch to put my shoes on then climbed aboard the bike. Confused as to why we'd ride in the house Gretchen was still ready to go. She crouched ready to chase.

The pedals started turning, the wheel made sound and I was moving, but I wasn't going anywhere.

Startled Gretchen moved away a little, but kept her eye on me and the bike waiting for the movement she's so well trained to follow.

It never happened. The bike didn't go anywhere. I was pedaling and pedaling, but going no where.

Gretchen moved away and toward the stairs. She sat for a little while watching with some curiosity, but mostly disappointment. After a few minutes she headed back upstairs and went back to sleep.

I kept riding. I got 45 minutes done on the trainer. It's not much, but it's a start.

Gretchen will get her ride tomorrow night.

- b

New Music Tuesday

Style aside, isn't Lady GaGa's "Bad Romance" the same thing as Frank Zappa's "Dirty Love"?

- b

One Eskimo

Went for a ride Sunday with Gretchen.

It is nice having a dedicated ride companion. One willing to go regardless of trail conditions, weather, time of day (or night) or my lack of fitness.

We went around noon and the the ground was still completely frozen solid. The areas exposed to the sun were still solid.

I had hoped to do a full Marsh Creek loop - both the bonus loop side and the quarry side. Come Monday Jen and I would be back at work and Gretchen would need to be tired for a few days. I was warm (ride a few days in the bitter cold and you get your layering/clothes worked out pretty well). My water bottles weren't freezing (start with really hot water), and Gretchen was having fun.

But it wasn't meant to be. At this point I can only handle so much riding two days in a row.

Instead I stuck to the bonus loop side and tried to work out the loop with the new trail they've put in. The bonus loop side used to be an "out and back" where, for the most part, you rode out and back on the same trail. There's enough change in the terrain and variety in the trail you never really noticed it was the same trail - a log drop down a hillside one way becomes an uphill log-over the other way.

The new trail has similar flavor to the old, but now actually makes things a loop. I just need to figure out what direction I like best (downhill log drop or uphill log-over?) and where it really starts. Too bad it's not a figure eight, so you can do it all both ways in one ride.

Hmmm maybe it is and I don't know it yet.

So we explored a bit and enjoyed our time alone in the cold woods.

I did stop and get a picture of the teeter/totter mentioned before.

Unfortunately Gretchen won't go near it now or at least not long enough for a picture with her in it.

- b

Beautiful Days

Vacation is nice!

I had decided in all our reorganizing/cleaning up I'd wait till the spring, when it was warmer, to get into our detached garage and start cleaning things up out there, but it was so nice Friday (bright sun with highs in the upper 30's) I threw open the doors and started early. There were all kinds of near empty boxes that needed a little going through. Put some stuff on shelves, throw other stuff out, or pack it away better - things really progressed as the garage started to look more like a workspace then a disaster area. All it needs now is a little insulation and a kerosene heater that works and it could be a year round workshop. Unfortunately that will have to wait till other priorities are cleared.

Saturday was just as nice. Though colder and windier, the sun was shining bright and the trails were (mostly) frozen solid. I did a quick little jaunt with Ben and Craig around the DTown trails. Luckily they went easy on me, so I didn't suffer too much.

Todays the last day. Time to get the house back together, maybe one more ride, and look forward to the next block of time off.

- b

Interesting Find

Jen and I have been doing a lot of unpacking and reorganizing lately. In many cases it's like we never unpacked when we moved here four years ago.

One of the things I unpacked/reorganized was my old "House Bin" from my motorcycle racing days.

I had five or seven of these kinds of bins for storing/transporting/organizing all the crap I needed for a race weekend. I had a "kitchen bin" with cooking/kitchen type stuff. I had a "garage bin" with tools and cleaning supplies you'd find in the garage. There were also bins for spare parts, etc. Each bin had a giant letter on top, made with duct tape, to denote what bin it was.

This was called the house bin because it contained things I usually kept in the house - things like my leathers, helmet, sunglasses, ear plugs, lap timers, etc. It had a giant H on top.

For those of you that have raced mt. bikes with me, the next part probably won't surprise you, but under the lid of each bin was a list of the contents it should have.

The list served two purposes. The first was to make sure I had everything in the bin before I left home - a checklist. The second purpose was a list of contents for anyone that may have been traveling with me. Jen pretty much knew where everything was, but my Dad may not have. If I asked him to get me something, he could always flip through the lids to find out which bin it was in.

For my friend Dave (race partner) and me, there was no such thing as being too organized when it came to racing. The majority of our success I think was due to planning (and lots of luck).

You never knew when something would break, foul up or the race schedule would change due to weather, but you had to be prepared.

In the end it all made this

a lot easier and more fun.

- b

Bad Shopper

I've sort of taken on the responsibility of shopping for groceries.

Not sure it's really a good idea.

I keep buying crap like this.

Jen sends me to the store with a little iPhone App to make sure I get what's on the list, but I keep failing when I walk by goodies like chocolate chunk cookies.

Maybe I'll get fired from this job and go back to just cleaning the cat litter - at least when I remember.

- b

Shit Movies

Maybe it's just my new camera, but I find myself making movies when I meant to take a picture.



Each time results in the same explicative and a resetting of the camera.



- b

Busted Lip/Fighter Pilot Ride

Wednesday's night ride was pretty good. Sean and I met with the dogs at the Harmony Hill lot. We planned to do a bunch of intertwining loops (insures we don't have to cross too many roads with the dogs), while the rest of the group rode all over creation.

The ground was frozen and fast. The temps nice in the mid twenties.

Sean put together a nice set of loops that I never would have thought of - he's done this a few times solo with his dog.

Riding along at some point something got caught in my rear wheel and through me over the bars into an embankment. It happened so fast and unexpectedly my face hit the cold hard ground before I could get an arm up. My lip was busted and swelling in three places. My chin was bleeding and shin throbbing. Good thing it was cold. That would keep the swelling to a minimum. We rode on.

This was the first time I'd ridden with Sean and Yoshi while Sean was leading. It's a whole different dynamic when you're riding behind a dog. I guess it's a little like following a kid - unpredictable - but the dog has the fitness to keep up.

A little while later I got caught in a rut hidden by some leaves and slid down on my side hard. As I was careening into the frozen dirt and rocks, I was headed straight for a tree. This time I did get my hand up before my face, but my glove caught on the bark and pulled off my hand as I slid by. Took a minute to walk it off, then we were riding again.

On our final loop to the bottom and back to climb up Vietnam (old trail name), we ran into the rest of the group. Now all of us were switchbacking up the hillside with the dogs overly excited and running between us all. It was a beautiful chaos - everyone climbing, working and enjoying the night time trails.

Though I fell hard a couple of times, it was the best ride I'd had in a while. I felt pretty well in control of the bike and the trails - at least to the point where I could enjoy it. There's certainly room to improve.

I should make an effort to get out again while I'm off.

- b

ps. Mt. Washington observations/commentary is up here.

pps. Though the cold night air felt good against my busted lip(s), the hot wings and beer at the bar did not.