I also got in an early morning ride, then did laundry, dishes, garbage, cleaned the house, emptied the fridge (into my stomach) & generally got the house ready for my absence; I also dropped off my rear wheel with Brian (he'll bring it to the bike shop for me tomorrow) and dropped off my car for a new muffler, oil change and inspection. Busy day, see you in a week...
Morning weigh-in: 179.5#, 6.5% BF
Really nice ride yesterday with Joe, kind of easy ("conversational pace" as the saying goes -- and we bullshitted almost the entire time), hitting the hills and trying to avoid the wind; we were out for about three hours and got maybe 32 miles in. I think we were both surprised, because it felt mellow but that was some solid mileage, especially for a hill ride. We ended almost in the dark though, and took a dirt road shortcut back to his house. Both of us were pleasantly surprised, since neither of us was motivated to go out riding in the cold, wind and snow (flurries, but still); this ride was literally "just what the doctor ordered." A little Italian post-ride take-out -- and some car trouble (Joe's car) picking it up -- more BS about the Chain Gang and the old days, and all of a sudden it was like 10:00. Home, some computer stuff, and I was in bed by 11:30 or so.
Tonight will be the towpath, dinner will be leftover take-out from last night (I got something called a "bomba," like an Italian version of a Cuban sandwich, and I could only eat half), plus maybe some stew. Tomorrow will be yoga, the gym, and more stew.
Morning weigh-in (Wednesday): 180#, 13% BF
Morning weigh-in (Thursday): 179#, 10% BF
Early morning, April 4: I missed it yesterday, but rest in peace, Martin Luther King.
Tuesday night was Svaroopa yoga -- which used to be very predictable (basically the same routine every week) but is now branching out into other moves -- then last night was the gym. I don't remember Tuesday's pre-grocery-shopping dinner, but last night was a bag of salad and a glass of milk, plus a handful of dry cereal before I hit the hay. Lately, my big meal of the day has been lunch.
Man that was pathetic: I downloaded mplayer a while ago and wasn't too impressed, mainly because of an annoying error message ("font not found: subtitle.tff") that kept popping up, and because I couldn't get movies to scale, like to full screen size. Two minutes with Google and the mplayer FAQ last night, and I had both issues resolved -- and it is pretty much the best Linux mpg/wmv/etc player, just like everyone said...
Riding tonight, probably the road with my friend Joe, then maybe dinner with him & Sue -- I've blown off their last few post-ride dinner invites, so must take them up on it tonight if they make the offer again. Otherwise, I'll have some of that bean & tomato stew. Tomorrow is the towpath, followed by more stew, and Saturday will be yoga followed by the gym. Anyway, that's the plan so far.
Morning weigh-in: 180#, 10.5% BF
I was thinking yesterday about educational films I saw as a kid in school, and especially remembering a series that featured a professor and his sidekick interacting with various cartoon characters. I googled "blood," "sea water" and "professor" yesterday, and found these Amazon reviews. I guess I wasn't the only one who remembered that most famous exchange between Dr. Fred Baxter and Hemo The Magnificent...
Blood On Fire: Blew off yoga yesterday: it was so nice out I did a towpath ride, 22 miles in 1:34 for an average of about 14 mph. Not bad, but I have to remove maybe 15 minutes from that time to make it really respectable. (Tonight is back to yoga, the class I blew off last week.)
After the ride I met Brian for Mug Club Night at Which Brew. Haven't talked to him much lately, so we played catch-up: he had his last speed-skating practice the other day, and is off for Spring Break but is redoing his garage or something, no real "sleep-away" vacation. He returned The Road, which I loaned to him a few months ago.
My friend Doug once commented that I became much nicer and more personable once I stopped racing regularly, and training for all that racing (this was a while ago). I took this to mean that I was more easy-going once I stopped obsessing over race results and training regimens, and became more flexible with my time, more likely to just do regular rides or go out for a beer. Brian and I were talking about routines, and I think I caught him by surprise by saying my life had more of a routine in the Nineties than now -- my routines fitted his at the time, so they were probably less visible to him -- but really the structure in my life right now is only an attempt to force a return to the rhythm that my days, and years, followed back then. You know, back when I was less pleasant...
The struggle seems to be going my way though lately, and bringing some success (and success is is what drove my earlier obsessions), so it was a little bittersweet when Which Brew friends last night started asking "Where have you been? We haven't seen you in a while..."
Morning weigh-in: 180#, 13.5% BF (yeah, just had to post that & gloat)
So, rode Friday evening (towpath), then hit the sack early.
Saturday was early morning yoga, then the "Weyerbacher Beer Ride," in which I was supposed to lead a towpath ride from Bethlehem to the annual open house at Weyerbacher Brewery. Kind of a disappointment though: no one else showed up, but I did run into Cindy riding on the towpath with her dog. Oh well, the ride was nice and so was the open house, and I saw Joe & Sue there, as well as a bunch of other friends.
Dinner was at Which Brew, where I saw quite a few of the same people from the open house earlier in the day, especially the volunteers who were probably not able to drink until the fun was over... I felt kind of sick & out of sorts (lot of people say they had or have the same thing), so I went home early.
Today was breakfast at that crunchy new Blue Sky Cafe (where the old Green Cafe used to be), then trailwork at Sals. And now I think it's time for bed...
(By the way, you can see photos of the beer ride & open house, and trailwork photos, at my flickr page.)
Morning weigh-in: 181#, 13.5% BF
Fun & fast (and hard) hill workout w/ Joe yesterday, then went home, ate dinner (tuna & rice) and was in bed by 9:30. Rough night, almost like I was feverish -- I might actually have been feverish, either from the hard workout or a real fever from the cold.
Or, it might have been the decongestant I took. On Joe's advice I tried Mucinex, which is really just pseudoephedrine and an expectorant, but it's time-released and it really worked wonders (except for sleep) last night and today. Weird, pseudoephedrine is now kept behind the counter at the drugstore, and you have to show ID to get it -- apparently kids are using it to make meth or something.
Tonight is the towpath, and I'll probably stay in so I can be fresh for Saturday (yoga, biking).
Morning weigh-in (Monday): 183#, 13.5% BF
Morning weigh-in (Tuesday): 182#, 13% BF
Morning weigh-in (Wednesday): 182.5#, 10.5% BF
More gossip: Here's an interesting story. Very strange -- and it just so happens that I (vaguely) know the girl who was the victim. Meantime, my friend Pete, who with his beard and shoulder-length hair bore an uncanny resemblance to Arlo Guthrie, shaved his beard off and cut his hair really short. I saw him the other day and didn't even recognize him...
Bike! Rode Sunday after a rough Saturday night (ran into friend Shannon, much talk including the above-mentioned gossip), and had a really good ride. About 30 miles in the Slate Belt with Eric B and Joe & Cindy, average pace was about 15 mph. Monday was yoga -- ditto Saturday, thus there was no Friday night, which explains Saturday night -- but yesterday was a beautiful day so I did my Hellertown loop. Took me 1:49 to go about 26 miles, about 14.2 mph average which could be better but hey it's hilly, and I started and finished in daylight.
Tomorrow is another ride, in Jersey with my friend Joe, then Friday is the towpath. If the weather's nice Saturday I'll be doing another towpath ride, leading a ride from Bethlehem to Weyerbacher Brewery's Annual Open House.
Tonight was yoga also, the more athletic "intermediate" class. Monday's beginner class was tough too, with a new twist on things since the usual instructor is in Sri Lanka right now, doing some kind of alternative "doctors without borders"-type stuff. Sri Lanka -- gulp!
...so you better listen real good the first time!
Morning weigh-in (Wednesday): 187#, 13% BF
Morning weigh-in (Thursday): 186#, 13% BF
Morning weigh-in (Friday): 182#, 10% BF
That was some sandwich! Like a pig in a python... I had dinner at Which Brew on Tuesday night, got the Reuben special, which turned out to be a triple-decker corned beef sandwich on thick slabs of rye. It was enormous, and almost beat me but I got it all down, plus the fries and two Anchor Steam Porters. I know who had the last laugh though, when I stepped on the scale Wednesday morning.
The Gossip: One reason I went down there Tuesday was that I missed the St Patrick's day festivities, and got an email (sent around midnight Saturday to everyone on the Virtual Pub mailing list), stating that there had been an incident that night, such behavior was unwelcome and would not be tolerated and oh my God I had to know more... I had to wait a few days but I got the scoop at dinner: apparently someone had locked the owner/bartender in the bathroom while she was cleaning it. (Think about it, this is how a robbery would start, and also even as a prank it should raise red flags in terms of hostility issues, and potential for even more abusive behavior down the pike.) I said as much before finding out who did it, then heard who it was and who egged him on -- I'm not mentioning any names but I think that the perpetrator was just drunk and stupid, but I think the instigator might very well be on a hostility trip, especially after I found out this was his second time instigating the exact same thing.
The March Chain Gang meeting was Wednesday night at Brian's house, probably one of the biggest we've ever had in terms of attendance; we probably had close to the entire club there. We had several crock pots of chili for our potluck dinner, but I made bean and tomato stew (lentils, chick peas & kidney beans, stewed tomatoes, carrots, potatoes, spinach etc) in my crock pot, which boiled over while I was at work -- gee, maybe it was too full -- and spilled all over the counter. I was so busy I couldn't really clean the counter until last night, and by then it was all nice and sticky. Good stew though, I've been eating it for a few days now.
That was some ride! Last night I rode with my friend Joe who lives in Bloomsbury, which is on my way home. I brought the road bike to work, and we rode from his house, just getting back before dark. Two hours or a little more, maybe 30 miles (or a little more). I was whooped when we were done, and filthy as a hog: neither of us wore tights, just shorts, and between the rain and the snowmelt on the roads, there was a lot of road-gritty spray all over our legs and faces. I was so tired after the ride I skipped the gym, came home (ate stew) and went to bed.
Tonight was the gym, also more stew, and tomorrow will be yoga in the morning. I'm staying in for the night, but may go out tomorrow.
Morning weigh-in: 183.5#, 13.5% BF
"The green cusp, dreaming fishes to young ram, watersleep to firewaking..." -- Thomas Pynchon
So it's the vernal equinox, when you can stand an egg on its end, or something like that. But now its springtime.
Yoga tonight, yoga last night; tomorrow is the Chain Gang meeting. Potluck dinner, I'm making bean and tomato stew in the crock pot, though I think quite a few are bringing chili.
More bad news: My friend Mike B (not my high school buddy, a neighbor and riding partner) hasn't been around much lately, and today he called to tell me why: he has cancer. I didn't ask what he had, and he said he's mainly been getting tests right now, no chemo or other treatment yet. Few years younger than me, wife, two kids. Oh man...
Morning weigh-in: 184.5#, 13% BF
(Posting might get a little more sporadic, our access to this kind of internet stuff is now blocked at work, even at lunchtime, so I can no longer do my midday updates.)
So, yes I rode Friday afternoon, went 11 miles in just under 3 hours, last 2-3 miles being on the road: I went down the bike path to the new boat launch, then backtracked to the old Glendon bridge, crossed the river and took the bike path to the falls, then came up through town, returning on Northampton. Good solid ride, lots of resistance when I was off the plowed parts. After that I walked down to Which Brew.
Saturday was the gym (no yoga: I planned ahead, stayed out late specifically because I expected things to be closed), errands, haircut etc, then went to my friend Joe's St Patty's Day party (photos here).
Sunday was snowshoeing in Jim Thorpe. Beautiful day, and the snow was pretty to look at, but it was not ideal for playing in, either on snowshoes (too soft, melting) or XC skis (one skier told me it was very sticky, which I'd expect with all that sun & warmth). Oh well, Doug said XC conditions were ideal along the canal on Saturday... (By the way I took photos of the ride up, and they're posted on flickr as well; the camera's batteries died before I could take any shots in the woods.)
I happened to look at that Cancer Kids photo pool again yesterday, and that little girl Mia was there in some new photos -- she has acute myeloid leukemia, and she's had a relapse. (Just for laughs, Google "myeloid leukemia", relapse and prognosis.) It's not anyone I know, or anyone who knows me, but all of a sudden it was like there was no more air in the room. I had trouble sleeping, I couldn't stop thinking about it.
Morning weigh-in: 184.5#, 9% BF
Last night was a killer workout in the gym, preceded by a mile run (8:30 but on the treadmill, sigh) and followed by chicken noodle soup & a salad; dessert was an early bedtime.
Meantime, it looks like the iron boot of winter is once again stomping on our necks... Got home early from work -- we closed at 1:00 -- and am now going for a ride. Later, as the snow gets deeper, I'll either go play with the XC skis or the snowshoes (more likely), and then go downtown for dinner and what nightlife might survive the storm.
Morning weigh-in (Wednesday) 184.5#, 13% BF
Morning weigh-in (Thursday): 184#, 14% BF
Went to yoga last night, one of the more athletic classes (also a little later in the evening, so I stayed late at work first), then to Which Brew for dinner. Cool night, usual suspects on both sides of the bar. Tonight is the gym also after working late.
Weather is rainy, the snow has mostly melted and the ground really can't get any more sopping wet. Mud Season is upon us, and we are now truly primed for spring. It may be a bit preliminary, but it also looks like the "kid button," has been pressed: they were out in force yesterday, playing on the block.
Morning weigh-in: 185.5# 9% BF
Not much to report, had a pretty good if somewhat "regressional" weekend: skipped the ride and went out Friday night; gym -- no yoga -- then a grueling road ride in NJ with my friend Joe on Saturday, and out again for the evening; and on Sunday I slept in, did some chores before a more mellow PA road ride on Sunday. Pretty much the "standard configuration."
Meantime: I see that the "Gonzales eight" scandal is not only growing legs, but arms, claws and fangs as well.
Nice weather for a day or so, then rain -- but at least it's warmer, and sunny past 7:00.
Morning weigh-in: 183.5#, 11.5% BF
Rode the towpath to the VMB meeting last night, which was at CAT headquarters -- people were a little surprised that I rode there, but as I said last night, I couldn't drive to the Coalition for Appropriate Transportation. The girl there said "that's as it should be!" (They are definitely not shy at CAT; they shamed us last night into joining as a non-profit organization, which I guess is as it should be since we're using their facilities.)
The ride home was a little easier, since a lot of the mushy ground had re-frozen and the trail surface was hard & fast. Still took me an hour though, and I was pushing it so I'd make Which Brew before the kitchen closed. Got home, called and asked them to cook me a burger (now that's what I call service!) then changed & headed on down.
A Nice Surprise: Megan was was at Which Brew, visiting from Seattle after being gone for more than a year -- she hadn't been back since her moving-away party in 2005, and literally went there straight from the airport. It was really good to see her, and good to get a chance to congratulate her on how well she's doing & how happy she seems to be in Seattle. (I get the emails & see the photos, "thriving" & "glowing" really are the best descriptions.) She's good people, I'm glad things are going her way.
Anyway, the cyborg thing: There was a light cover of snow in some areas on the towpath last night, which was good on the way out because it was firmer than the muddy gravel underneath, but near the access points (Sand Island, Riverside Park) it was a little deeper, packed and icy and lumpy with footprints. This was a pain int the butt especially on the return trip, since the trail had refrozen and was the better surface again, but I was just bumping and bouncing ans sliding along anyway, had to get home... I slid out to the left and caught myself with my foot, and only later realized that was the same move that broke my ankle a year ago (today is the surgery anniversary). Didn't feel a thing -- granted I was moving much slower, and the surface where I planted my foot was smooth, but now I also have a much stronger, titanium-reinforced ankle. Better than it was -- better, stronger, faster, I think I'll go kick something...
Morning weigh-in: 184#, 13% BF
Gym last night, then leftover potatoes & chickpeas in lemon-tahini-curry sauce, plus a salad. Bedtime was not long after. Tonight is the VMB meeting, and I'm riding to that so I don't know what, or when, dinner will be -- I was going to make bean & tomato stew in the crock pot, but discovered last night that I was missing a few crucial ingredients, so I'll probably just make it on the weekend. That doesn't solve tonight's dinner problems though...
Meanwhile, today is International Women's Day and (Blog Against Sexism day), so I'll just maybe touch on that with the words waitress and health insurance.
Meanwhile meanwhile, I see that the "Gonzales Eight" scandal is growing even more legs.
Morning weigh-in: 185.5#, 13.5% BF
Randomly checking Teh Intertubes...
Bowdlerizing "The Vagina Monologues?"
Wow that's some serious stupid -- Pandagon has the scoop.
But What About the Ponies?
Looks like I wasn't the only one to notice yesterday's trifecta.
Anyway, did a bunch of chores/errands yesterday, around & in-between was the Tuesday Svaroopa yoga class. Gas, groceries, laundry, etc etc, but I also put a few photos on flickr, from last Sunday's trailwork. Foot bothered me yesterday; I knew today's snow was coming.
I got to bed pretty late (12:30) but felt pretty rested when the alarm went off (at 6:00). I usually sleep for another half hour before getting up, but this morning rolled over and saw 8:11 -- oh no! No wonder I feel rested! Turns out I hit the adjusting buttons when I turned off the alarm, it was only 6:11 and I had plenty of time but I realized this once I got into the kitchen, at a dead run trying to get ready for work...
Morning weigh-in: 186#, 13% BF
Looks like winter is not quite over: it's freezing out, 10 degrees above zero and strong gusty winds when I left the house this morning. Still, you can fee that spring is on its way... Nothing much to report otherwise. I went out last night after yoga, monthly Mug Club dinner at Which Brew. I thought I kept things under control but the tape tells a different tale.
Oh yeah, Scooter Libby is found guilty on four of five charges, the Walter Reed scandal is starting to reap the whirlwind, and yet another investigation is heating up.
Morning weigh-in: 185.5#, 11% BF (b-b-but it was a chicken cheesesteak!!)
Anniversary: it was one year ago today that I broke my ankle. It's also my brother Kevin's birthday.
Friday: did a road ride, short & sweet & hilly, another Morvale Road extravaganza, and then walked down to Which Brew. Early night, but I wanted to be there to say goodbye to that dude Ryan, who took a job as brewmaster down in North Carolina. Also, they had a special cask-conditioned Weyerbacher Black Hole Stout brewed with arabica beans. Good stuff.
Saturday was a good hard yoga workout, followed by a very intense gym workout (with a trip to the coffee shop and a mile run in between); I followed all that with a nap. I was going to do another road ride, but it was raining -- and when I woke up it was sunny and beautiful of course. Got a call from Doug, he & Lori were down at WB, and soon enough so was I.
Sunday was trailwork at Sals, then the Banff Mountain Film Festival road show. I went with a group of friends; we were a crowd of about 16 people, and saw a whole bunch more familiar faces. The films: I had several favorites, but two that stood out were "Kids Who Rip," a documentary about children (youngest was maybe 6, oldest was 13) who skate/snowboard/surf/ski, either competitively or for fun, but at a very high level of X-games proficiency and craziness, and the other was a documentary of a young Canadian couple who bicycled from Ulan Bator to Calcutta, through some beautiful but godawful-remote and rugged scenery.
Which brings us to the Taklamakan Desert. It's not really as remote as I'd originally heard -- the Silk Road bifurcates to go around it (a Northern route and a Southern route), there are cities along the edges, and of course the couple was riding along a road as they crossed it -- but it is still pretty damn remote, and one of the biggest sand deserts in the world. I became infatuated with the place after reading A Good Old-Fashioned Future, a book of interconnected science-fiction stories by Bruce Sterling. The last story was about some extreme adventurers, recruited as spies to investigate some abandoned top-secret facility deep in the desert, where of course they make the usual shocking discoveries.
There was also quite a bit about the Taklamakan (among many other Siberian and Central Asian wonders) in Against the Day (yep, still reading), so it was very cool to actually see the place. Sand, sandstorms, broiling heat, no water. You know: desert.
