Quoth The Water, Furthermore

Morning weigh-in: 167#, 7.5% BF

 

So I'm still reading Male Fantasies. Right now I'm in the "Floods" part, where the author is constructing some Argument By Compare-And-Contrast, between the views of Wilhelm Reich and Sigmund Freud concerning terms like "oceanic," "streaming-away," and the like, in the symbology of the orgasm. It's surprisingly dry (uh, huh huh, huh huh), and I could really just flip the page with a casual "TMI, fellas," and be done with it, but I couldn't help but notice that the whole premise is something that Pynchon touched on this, and covered it better with a sentence here, and a well-turned phrase there, than I can find anywhere in this whole ponderous book. (Granted once again, this was originally a German-language PhD thesis, with all that that implies, but still.)

 

Anyway, moving on... true dat . Guy came to my door the other day, running for state senate or something, and I actually had to press him to admit "well uh hemmina hemmina ... I'm currently affiliated with the Republican party because, uh blah blah family values blah..." Well, thank you for your time.

 

Run/gym last night, then over to XSpringH for dinner. I'm going to a minor league baseball game tonight with some friends, so no ride.

Photos

Morning weigh-in: 167, 8.5% BF

That's me riding at Hubbard, photographed by their official club photographer; his photos can be found here. Meantime, I posted mine as well, and they can be found here. Enjoy!

More New Phonebooks Are Here

Morning weigh-in: 167.5#, 8% BF

 

Hey check this out!

 

Rode a bit at Sals last night before the rain, followed by a slightly drizzly VMB meeting in the parking lot afterward, but we adjourned to the Tally Ho -- chicken cheese steak & Troegs Nugget nectar -- when the heavy stuff started to come down. Quite a turnout, especially considering the weather.

 

Tonight is yoga, then a light (!) dinner at home, since tomorrow is the Christian Springs Hotel "supper club," after the gym of course.

 

We're Having A Heat Wave

Morning weigh-in (Monday): 167.5#, 10% BF

Morning weigh-in (Tuesday): 166#, 8.5% BF

 

Oh yeah, it's hot out...

 

This weekend was the VMB/Hubbard rides (us riding at Hubbard on Saturday, then the Hubbard crew coming down to Sals on Sunday), and I'll have more to say about that but not now -- suffice to say it was two days of fun but brutally hot riding. Not many stories, the usual "we rode and it was fun, then we hung out and drank, and that was fun too," but I do have some photos ,which I'll post in a day or so.

 

Meantime: Happy (belated) Birthday, Dad! But, see my comment to the previous post.

 

Dropped Handkerchief, Thrown-Down Gauntlet, Whatever: I felt pretty depleted yesterday after this weekend's rides, but they were short rides and this afternoon was supposed to be stormy, so I did a benchmark ride on the road bike. Just laying this down for the lurker boyzzz: Mud Run, 13:45 bottom to top, and I know I can take another 30 seconds, and maybe a minute off that time, just by being fresh. I will not be at the Tuesday night "hard ride" tonight, the VMB meeting is at Sals so I'm riding there if I ride at all; I'll leave it to all y'all to beat my score on your own.

 

Weird dream last night, dreamt I had typhus or dysentery or something.

 

In Other News: I busted a tooth yesterday, bottom right, second-to-rear-most molar. Not the whole tooth, just a corner, but still. It had been hurting for a day or so, every bite like chomping on a raspberry seed, so something must have gone wrong... doesn't hurt now chewing on that side, go figure. Have to get it looked at.

 

Yoga this morning (wow I was sweaty in seconds), and maybe a Sals ride tonight. Stay tuned for the possibility of some very interesting -- in a good way, or a bad way -- posts over the next week or so.

Friday Quietude!

Morning weigh-in: 167#, 8% BF (well I guess I know where the heavy food is)

 

"Soldiers, as we often say, do revolt; were it not so, several things which are transient in this world might be perennial." -- Thomas Carlyle

 

Today In History: On this date in 1989, a man stood in front of a tank.

 

Anyway, gym last night but no run, I had a bit of a late start and couldn't fit it in. Dinner was Christian Springs, which is becoming something of a "supper club," as we now have a small group of Thursday regulars. Tonight is the towpath, then I'm going up to the Poconos to crash at Joe's place, so we can carpool up to that ride near Scranton tomorrow. He said Sue's doing the cooking, so I said OK...

 

Local Hero: Go Rob!

Astrea Redux Without Cash

Morning weigh-in: 164.5#, 10% BF (whoa)

 

Astrea Redux: Been an interesting couple of days, politics-wise. A-and that's all I'm going to say about that!

 

Without Cash: I saw this the other day and it kind of pissed me off, so I was glad to see I'm in good company.

 

Yoga last night, and tonight is the gym plus a run. I'll be hitting Christian's Spring for dinner, maybe meet some people there.

I Love A Happy Ending

Mia cuts her chemo lines
Originally uploaded by Julie Cotton.

Whew!

Man I know that feeling, how good it felt when the PICC line came out, even if mine was just for an infection... I ran across a picture of this girl a year or so ago, and it really affected me, especially after I saw she had a relapse. It took me this long to look again, but she's been in remission for more than a year now.

Every life can be long and scary, maybe she can never say she's out of the woods but for now she's got her life back. If you want a roller coaster ride go check out her grandmother's photos; you have to read between the lines but it's an amazing story.

The Grievous Angel Stands Before You

Morning weigh-in: 167#, 8% BF (whoa)

 

Rode last night with Joe & Cindy, and also Jorge; now I know what "tempo pace" (one of those terms I hear but never really knew) looks like. We did about 32 miles in maybe 1:50 or so, for about a 17 mph average: not slacking, but not blazingly fast either. You know, tempo. Pretty fun ride too, and I felt strong as all get-out on at least two of the hills. Getting there, getting there... in fact I am now almost there.

 

Hit Christian Springs for dinner on the way home; tonight is yoga and shopping, and dinner at home.

 

Eyes Blinking In The Sunlight

Morning weigh-in: 166#, 9.5% BF

Just poking my head out into the Internets...

Seems So Much Longer Than A Year: It's been a year since news blogger Steve Gilliard passed away. Rest in peace Steve, I'm definitely not the only one that misses you.

Octopus Grigori Sez That Ain't No Thing: PZ Myers lets us know that you can teach a very old dog some new tricks.

Just A Little Bit Of Something: Via Alicublog, some Vanishing New York.

Worked late here last night, then went home and cleaned the bikes; I also did some laundry, but not much else -- oh yeah, I claimed my 3rd mug at Porters. Came in early but I'm not staying late: tonight is the "hard ride" with Joe & Co if the rain holds off.

This Is The Picture

Morning weigh-in: 165#, 9% BF

 

OK, back to "weekend update" mode:

 

Friday night was the towpath. Me, Larry and Brian, down to Sand Island and back, and we ended by listening to "Jazz in Center Square" when we got back to Easton. (Hard to believe we were listening to high school kids, they were really good.) Brian and I went from there to Christian Springs for dinner, where Doug & Lori (also Greg H and Rich) caught up with us after their Jacobsburg ride. Nice crew, and we basically took over the (small) back room.

 

Saturday was rainy, and so it was a rainy day in the woods at Allamuchy -- the trail day did not get cancelled. Pick-and-shovel work, I was filthy and exhausted afterward, so I blew off the Crawfish Festival. I got home, showered and still felt a real need for more grooming, so I got a haircut at Eskandalo. I asked for "short" and -- well, I got it. I have to admit it looks good like this, but then again that's why I go there.

 

My Saturday night was Pearly Bakers, where I checked out the Trouble City All-Stars. Hung with a few friends in the crowd.

 

Yesterday (Sunday) was a much nicer day out. I started the day with an early-morning yoga class, then hit the Quadrant for brunch before riding down to Bethlehem. I met Ann (one of the displaced Which Brew regulars) along Applebutter Road, and we did a pretty serious ride, going north and west before returning to Bethlehem. A good rider and a very interesting woman, among many other things she brews her own beer and even grows her own hops... We hit the Brew Works for a late lunch, got in a few beers & bull before I took off.

 

My total mileage for the day was 45, giving me 105 miles for the week. I am way behind.

 

Reading: I returned to Male Fantasies again, picking it up where I left off at Part 2 (Floods, Bodies, History). So far so good, but that's pretty much what I said about Part 1... Meantime, I also got back into Schulz and Peanuts, for a little sunset reading on the porch.

 

Early bed last night, not long after dark. Came in to work early, probably staying late & calling it a "rest day."

 

UPDATE: Oh. My. Gawd.

Chomolungma, Chopper One

Morning weigh-in: 166.5#, 9.5% BF

 

Today In History: On this date in 1953, Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay were the first to summit Mount Everest.

 

In Other News: Johnny Rotten's got new teeth. And glasses. Oh yeah, and a new record coming out.

 

Came in to work early this morning. Walked outside and heard helicopters, saw one hovering over downtown and knew there'd be trouble. The radio traffic report informed me that there was an overturned tractor-trailer on the US22 bridge over the Delaware, and the road was closed in both directions... A little zig for gas, a little zag through town, and I hopped on 78 for the drive in, was just a few minutes late.

 

Parody Chases Its Tail: Oh, I guess it wasn't a Mexican gang rape after all...

 

Le Viol des Vierges Chinoises: Also on this date (in 1913, as Pynchon fans will note) Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring debuted to, uh, universal acclaim.

 

Yoga last night, yoga this morning, running/gym tonight, ride tomorrow night. Saturday is trail maintenance at Allamuchy (and probably a ride), then I may go over to the Crawfish festival to meet some friends if the weather holds.

 

Auschwitzgate Update: It's never a good idea to go Swiftboating the greatest generation. (A little more here.)

Space Madness!

Morning weigh-in: 166.5#, 8% BF

 

Still so tired, legs are still fatigued and sore. Tonight is yoga, plus laundry & shopping, and I will be eating the last of my leftover cheese-brats from Michaux.

 

Sense/Net: I was going to write a bigger post last Friday, on a subject similar to the one posted here, but it got a bit too long-winded. Go read that instead.

 

Reading: Nothing right now -- I can't believe I left Against the Day in North Carolina. I will probably be picking up that Charles Schulz biography (my last unread Christmas present) where I left off.

 

Listening: Nope.

 

Wow, I need a life.

Carpe Weekendum

Morning weigh-in (Friday): 166#, 10% BF
Morning weigh-in (Tuesday): 167.5, 10% BF

(Just posting to keep the silence from getting too deafening, much to say but I'm too tired to say it.)

Good holiday weekend, but now I'm exhausted. I basically seized every day until they started seizing me back: rode Friday (Towpath), Saturday was "brick day" (yoga, gym, Jacobsburg), Sunday I drove down to Michaux to meet the campers (of course we rode), and yesterday was towpath/Sals. Each of those days included a night out too, with Saturday (semi-"virtual pub" BBQ) and Sunday (camping) nights involving fire and copious amounts of alcohol. It was an awesome weekend, and maybe I'll talk more about it, but not right now. Today was a total rest day -- no ride, no exercise, and I'm going to bed in a few minutes... Dinner was leftover camping food.

Michaux pictures are posted, by the way.

More Sweet Nothings

Morning weigh-in: 165.5#, 10% BF

 

Not much to say... Chain Gang meeting last night, after that short "yoga burst class," pretty good meeting (and good food too as seen above), but my evening was cut short by by an allergy attack -- I am way more sensitive to pets than I ever was before, especially my skin. So, early home, early to bed for my now-typical 5:30 wake-up. That coffee-yoga-shower-computer routine seems to be working out rather well, by the way.

 

Tonight is the gym, then dinner at XSpringH if all goes well.

Quietude

Morning weigh-in: 164#, 9.5% BF

 

WTF #1: Man clocks deer in Quakertown hair salon.

 

WTF #2: How low will it go?

 

Good ride last night, just me, Greg and Eric, and a little cooperative weather. We did a loop from Greg's house, and despite two flat tires we did 25 moderately hilly miles in 1:25, for a 17.5 mph average. Not freakin' bad!  The Christian's Spring meetup was cancelled (we're rescheduled for Thursday), so dinner was the leftover pasta/tuna.

 

Tonight is the Chain Gang meeting, and I may try to get in that "yoga burst" mini-class beforehand.

Scars I Have Known

Morning weigh-in: 165#, 10.5% BF

 

Kind of sick last evening/night, lower GI thing, not sure what was going on but we'll close the bathroom door of charity on that scene... Needless to say, no exercise and no going out; dinner was pasta & tuna with wilted spinach, plus a spinach/asparagus salad. (I hit the Easton Farmer's Market last week, but the pickings were slim when it came to actual produce.) Did some housework, laundry, blah blah, got a few computer things done.

 

Tonight, if it doesn't rain too bad, will be the usual Tuesday night follies (I hope). Dinner, with or without the ride, will be at Christian's Spring Hotel, since I'm meeting some Virtual Pub peeps.

 

Can I Play? I see, via Pharyngula, that there's a new blogging game in town: tell a story about some non-surgical scar you have, then pass the invite along. Here's one of mine:

 

I guess it was around 1982-1983 or so, and my parents were out of town so we naturally had a party -- don't worry Mom, not a big deal, just a few guys drinking beer, but we did have a theme: we decided to cook pizza from scratch. Got the ingredients, preheated the oven, and made the most beautiful, professional pie you ever saw, the only downside being that we made the pie on a plastic tray, which couldn't be put in the oven. What to do? The pizza was too fragile to just slide off the tray... We eventually took one of the oven racks out, covered the pizza with a dish towel and another tray, flipped it over, replaced the offending tray with the oven rack, flipped it back and -- voila! (This was all done very carefully, like playing Operation with oven mitts on, by a roomful of hungry, inebriated, and solicitous young men.) So there I was, holding the pizza triumphantly upright and on the correct tray, all prepared to start cooking it, and I backed into the hot oven -- I jumped, startled, the pizza started to slip, and I grabbed it with my arms without thinking, sort of hugging the hot oven tray. Tsssssss! Sizzle sizzle, like the start of "Kung Fu" when he leaves the Shao Lin temple, I got two nice scars on the inside of my forearms. Never felt a thing.

 

So who to tag? Well, I only know one other blogger, so yeah I'm looking at you MTBSailor! Anyone else who wants to share can do it in comments.

 

 

International Society For The Prevention Of Plate Tectonics

Morning weigh-in (Friday): 165.5#, 8.5% BF (mission accomplished, I guess)

Morning weigh-in (Monday): 166#, 9.5% BF

 

Was thinking about change the other day, and it came to me in the the image of plate tectonics (well, the original vision came as rulers strapped to moving tables, but still): the plates are going to move, and if things hang up at the fault lines, then the longer the movement is resisted the more violent the inevitable release will be. My life has been like that lately.

 

(By the way, there actually is, or once was, a "Society for the Prevention of Plate Tectonics." I'm pretty sure it was a spoof.)

 

Speaking Of Earthquakes: I was in the coffee shop on Saturday, and some girl, reading headlines about the Chinese earthquake, became upset about the plight of the -- pandas. Three things:

 

1. There are 50,000 or so people, trapped under rubble and dying.

 

2. You push something to the edge of a cliff, and it doesn't take much to knock it off. The real threat to pandas is not earthquakes.

 

3. We might not be in any position to do much about the real panda problem, but (like the half dozen non-cute women who disappeared while CNN searched Aruba for the photogenic young blonde) there are many living things within our reach, which may be less cuddly or worthy of superficial attention, but which actually could use some help.

 

So anyway..

 

Friday night I hit Boulevard Lanes in Allentown for dinner, where my old friend Shannon is now running the bar & kitchen. Apparently they're about to drop $2 million to remove alleys and change the place into a real bar/pub/nightclub, but I'm not sure if I, or even they, know where they're trying to go with this. I hit the Funhouse after that, but it was lame so I went to Porters, where I saw Eric & Janna but they were on the way out -- just before they left though, Janna whispered to me that she was throwing a surprise party for Eric's 30th birthday the next night -- I was supposed to RSVP but I never got the invite...

 

Saturday was a brick workout, yoga, gym & a ride at Jacobsburg, interspersed with various errands and chores. I had just enough time to get home, shower & get a card/gift, and I was off to the surprise party. Pretty good time, I must say. The whole crew was there and we had a blast.

 

Yesterday was mostly just lying around, playing with the computer; among other things I posted the last of my North Carolina photos. (I also hit the evening yoga class.) I went to bed early, but woke up at like 2:30 AM and couldn't get back to sleep until about 4:00 -- I blew off the early overtime so I could get one more hour of sleep, and it was the best hour of sleep I ever had...

 

 

 

 

Wisdom

Morning weigh-in: 163.5#, 9.5% BF

 

Rode the towpath and Sals last night with my friend Joe (formerly of Warren Glen, and before that Easton, but now living in the Poconos), not sure of the mileage but probably about 28, just over 3 hours of riding. That's a pretty serious ride, but I was still a little surprised at the drop in weight: I've been skimping proteins and leaning on the carbs rather heavily over the past few days, which usually puts the weight on, and I thought I'd done pretty well with the rehydration thing. I like lower numbers, but I have to take this one as an ominous sign... Legs were toast last night, so I came in this morning and ate the equivalent of 4 eggs (scoops of scrambled egg w/ cheese, plus an omelet), and spent the morning feeling like I'd swallowed a bowling ball.

 

Meantime: A little morning yoga to make up for the missed class last night, and tonight is the gym.

5:30 Comes Around Pretty Early

Morning weigh-in: 165#, 9% BF

 

Rode last night, 38 miles in just over 2 hours; not counting some backing and filling time we probably had an 18-19 mph average. Me, Joe C, Greg M, Jorge, Scott S and Eric B. Great fun, very competitive ride.

 

More Dispatches From The Stealth Apocalypse: Your house is burning faster.

 

Dinner was at the Christian's Spring Hotel, and unlike the last few times I was basically the only one there. I didn't stick around either, since Joe and I had sampled a post-ride libation (Foundation Brewing's "Devil Dancer" triple IPA, 13% ABV) that nearly put me on the floor -- beyond hoppy, but you could also quite literally taste the alcohol it was so strong; it was like drinking vodka and grapefruit juice.

 

I'm working my way through the menu there (XSpringH), making sure I've tried everything and know my favorites before I revert to just getting the same thing every time... Last night was the beef burrito. Yeah it was good.

 

A-And While We Were Out Fiddling: I really think it's the fungus that will inherit the earth.

 

Anyway, early night. Did a few minutes of computer stuff when I got home, and then it was bedtime -- I've been coming in to work at 7:00 AM, getting up at 5:30 to make it happen, and that gets rough if the evening lasts too long. I'm riding tonight instead of going to yoga, so I did a quick workout while I was waiting for the coffee to be ready, couple of sun salutations and a pose or two, just enough to get the juices flowing. (I think that's a pretty decent morning routine, actually.)

Parson's Tale

Morning weigh-in: 165#, 8.5% BF

 

There are a lot of religious guys here at work, though (as someone on the Internet once put it) it's more a community than a theology thing. My old group seemed to lean rather heavily Baptist, at least on the Project Management side, but this new group I'm in skews more Catholic than anything else. There's one guy who now sits near me, one of the ones I'm talking about, who reminds me of Parsons from Orwell's 1984. Big rotund guy, loud, everything he does is a chuckleheaded commotion -- and I swear the guy has sleep apnea even when he's awake. Uh, hang tough Donny Satyagraha, this ain't even in the same league as sitting near Snot Boy.

 

Yoga last night, and tonight is the "hard road ride." I was planning to hit yoga tomorrow as well, but I may finally get around to that towpath/Sals thing. That's supposed to be my secret weapon this training season, and I haven't even started yet.