Rowan is sick again, (at least his body is sick, Rowan hardly notices) so I spent the last two days at home with him. It is fun in a mope-around-the-house-in-your-scooby-pants kind of way. The only thing he will let me do other than actively play with him is hang out downstairs with the bikes. He likes being down there and he likes playing with tools. As evidenced by the time he nearly removed my brake rotor while I worked on another bike.
It is becoming increasingly difficult to "hang out" with the bikes anymore though. With the days getting longer, and March being tomorrow and all; it feels like the bikes are twitching or humming. This humming is at some odd frequency that allows me to do nothing but pace back and forth and drink pots of coffee while dreaming of fluffy dirt. It is nearly as intense as spending 48 hours locked in the house with a rowdy 4 year old. In the case of the 4 year old, I can only play trains with him or pile all the blankets and pillows on top the cat, laughing it up (Moonkee is quite tolerant of our bullshit). In the case of the bikes, there isn't much left that I can do. The Kona, my main SS race bike, sits ready to explode. All she needs are those final squirts of brake fluid and Stan's before the first dirty weekend. Sheri's new bike parts are multiplying and mumbling amongst themselves about glitter and gear ratios. The rest of the bikes that aren't gainfully employed lurk in terror, fearing that another caffeine induced franken-bike session might break out. At least we are due for some snow-eating rain this weekend. Even letting loose on a bike path without worry of cracking my ass on an ice patch would be a welcomed change.
2.29.2008
2.26.2008
Spring and Sponsabilities
It was still in the teens I think, but I could feel spring this morning. Maybe it's a feeling that corresponds with D3 levels that top off quickly. Maybe it's only that urgent feeling I get when I realize I don't feel fast yet and racing feels close. Maybe it is only my pathological optimism.
Rowan was talking to us last night about what our "sponsabilities" are. He initiated this conversation. He first assigned the sponsability of mounting speakers on the wall to Sheri, then after a quick reassessment of aptitudes, reassigned this one to me. We decided that Moonkee's only sponsability was to poop in a box, and he can't even get that right. We are currently trying to contact Karl Rove to see if he has any interest in making Moonkee president.
2.25.2008
Captain Buzzkill
Nuff' said.But George was my hero yesterday. Taking 3 laps to shake those no loads and then taking it like that was great. For a while there it looked like the whole field said "screw em, its February." By the time they decided to suck it up and race it was too late. Cool finish.
2.24.2008
Good Answer
About not wearing an American flag lapel pin, Obama said Republicans have no lock on patriotism.
"A party that presided over a war in which our troops did not get the body armor they needed, or were sending troops over who were untrained because of poor planning, or are not fulfilling the veterans' benefits that these troops need when they come home, or are undermining our Constitution with warrantless wiretaps that are unnecessary?
"That is a debate I am very happy to have. We'll see what the American people think is the true definition of patriotism."Full text here.
2.23.2008
2.22.2008
Obama? Yeah I bombed em' alright! heh heh,.... where's Barney?
I was tickled by this headline. The story is a report of your standard Bush fear-monger negotiating. "You won't let me ignore the constitution, so you all hate America and you will die miserable deaths!" I'm really going to miss this guy.
2.19.2008
2.14.2008
Family Bed
I came upstairs from riding in the basement tonight and found this critter. I best be careful not to get him wet.
Cleanup/Buy my Stuff
I am way overdue for some organization and some clean up of most aspects of my life. So why not start with bike stuff? The blog looks better I think, and the basement shop is 100% better and ready for action. Unused parts and frames are piling up though, so they are off to craigslist.
More to come later. kerrydrake36x17@yahoo.com if you are interested, or just clicky through the CL add. Want one of these bikes built up complete? I can do that too, I just hate seeing stuff hanging around unused.
More to come later. kerrydrake36x17@yahoo.com if you are interested, or just clicky through the CL add. Want one of these bikes built up complete? I can do that too, I just hate seeing stuff hanging around unused.For you aspiring Guitar Heroes
2.12.2008
Obamamentum
We went to the Kohl Center tonight to tell Obama in person: "You sir, are the man." Bring us your old, your latino, and all the rest of them folks that used to break for Hillary.
Really though, the energy in the place was pretty great and being there is quite special. Even Rowan was into it. If I didn't suck so bad at blogging I would have pics of Rowan partying with the Obamicans, but well.... you know.
Really though, the energy in the place was pretty great and being there is quite special. Even Rowan was into it. If I didn't suck so bad at blogging I would have pics of Rowan partying with the Obamicans, but well.... you know.
2.08.2008
Who would have thunk it?
Spreading the Word.
This is an election year and the best way to get a message through is to repeat repeat repeat. I've got no shame about it, the more people hear it the more likely it is that we get up and make it happen.
I don't have any bike news really, except for that base in the middle of a winter like this is a psychological battle. I don't ski(or drink beer that tastes like fruit, or wear legwarmers), so its all about the bike. When you feel like you might be losing it, regroup and attack from a different angle. I just need to get through these next 3 weeks, March is creeping up. I'm already thinking that my 2009 plan might have to involve more beer, and big squishy bikes in endurance events. For now I keep on truckin'.
This is an election year and the best way to get a message through is to repeat repeat repeat. I've got no shame about it, the more people hear it the more likely it is that we get up and make it happen.
I don't have any bike news really, except for that base in the middle of a winter like this is a psychological battle. I don't ski(or drink beer that tastes like fruit, or wear legwarmers), so its all about the bike. When you feel like you might be losing it, regroup and attack from a different angle. I just need to get through these next 3 weeks, March is creeping up. I'm already thinking that my 2009 plan might have to involve more beer, and big squishy bikes in endurance events. For now I keep on truckin'.
2.05.2008
Impressions of the voting (or non-voting) landscape.
I spent some time on the phone last night talking to folks from both Georgia and Colorado as part of the GOTV effort for Obama. I finished up feeling that we are all over the page on this one, and this thing must be totally up for grabs. I'm not surprised at all at how dreadfully wrong the polls can be.
My first call must have polluted the home of a painfully white Georgia man. He in clear terms conveyed to me that I had called the wrong house. So it was clearly a wrong house. My very next call was also to Georgia, to an older woman (sounded white, if that's possible. Of course it's possible, quit being so damned PC) who was thrilled to hear from the campaign. Sounding as though she were ready to burst with excitement, she told me that she was a Republican crossing party lines to support Obama. My next click on Obama's website showed that the site was completely paralyzed. The campaign was experiencing overwhelming support as volunteers frantically attempted to close out the east coast while calling hours were still good. Hopefully this kind of thing is a good test for the general election GOTV.
With the site pretty much disabled, my frantic clicking to refresh my call list actually popped a cable splitter in the basement. The energy of this campaign was too much for the internet. It was bursting like that proud Republican crossover. Well maybe not but I did have an actual twofer; website was choked with traffic AND I had a hardware failure. I frantically cannibalized some other inactive network of cables downstairs to scrounge up a splitter to get reconnected.
By the time I was up and running again the east coast was closed down, freeing up enough bandwidth for me to resume calling. So it was off to Colorado. We must get better data out of Colorado, because I seemed to be getting nothing but solid Dems. While I may have received no hostility out of Colorado, there was enough apathy to make up for it. It was obvious to me that at least half of the people I talked to hadn't given the first though to the primaries, but will say anything if it means expediting the conversation. "Oh yeah, I support him.... yep I'm going to vote.... yeah I mean caucus, you betcha"
I did speak with one Colorado woman that was "leaning Hillary", but really wanted to hear what I had to say. Her poor husband was irritated with curiosity.
"Who are you talking to?..... What the hell are you doin?"
"Shhhhh! It's Obama. Let me talk Randal."
"For real?! Let me talk to him!"
"Not Obama, but one of his.... guys."
"Whatever, gimme the phone."
I then talked to this guy for 20 minutes. He was truly undecided, and seemed to be waiting for someone to call him and tell him who to support and why. I was amazed. I thought undecided voters were like true vacuum. While it might exist in theory, the universe would implode if it were ever achieved. Turns out they are for real and I had one on the line. Until now I had regarded GOTV efforts as a sort of token support. We do it because if we had nothing else to do while anticipating results we would go crazy. I was wrong. There are all kinds of votes floating around out there. The cards haven't fallen yet. Tonight should be good.
My first call must have polluted the home of a painfully white Georgia man. He in clear terms conveyed to me that I had called the wrong house. So it was clearly a wrong house. My very next call was also to Georgia, to an older woman (sounded white, if that's possible. Of course it's possible, quit being so damned PC) who was thrilled to hear from the campaign. Sounding as though she were ready to burst with excitement, she told me that she was a Republican crossing party lines to support Obama. My next click on Obama's website showed that the site was completely paralyzed. The campaign was experiencing overwhelming support as volunteers frantically attempted to close out the east coast while calling hours were still good. Hopefully this kind of thing is a good test for the general election GOTV.
With the site pretty much disabled, my frantic clicking to refresh my call list actually popped a cable splitter in the basement. The energy of this campaign was too much for the internet. It was bursting like that proud Republican crossover. Well maybe not but I did have an actual twofer; website was choked with traffic AND I had a hardware failure. I frantically cannibalized some other inactive network of cables downstairs to scrounge up a splitter to get reconnected.
By the time I was up and running again the east coast was closed down, freeing up enough bandwidth for me to resume calling. So it was off to Colorado. We must get better data out of Colorado, because I seemed to be getting nothing but solid Dems. While I may have received no hostility out of Colorado, there was enough apathy to make up for it. It was obvious to me that at least half of the people I talked to hadn't given the first though to the primaries, but will say anything if it means expediting the conversation. "Oh yeah, I support him.... yep I'm going to vote.... yeah I mean caucus, you betcha"
I did speak with one Colorado woman that was "leaning Hillary", but really wanted to hear what I had to say. Her poor husband was irritated with curiosity.
"Who are you talking to?..... What the hell are you doin?"
"Shhhhh! It's Obama. Let me talk Randal."
"For real?! Let me talk to him!"
"Not Obama, but one of his.... guys."
"Whatever, gimme the phone."
I then talked to this guy for 20 minutes. He was truly undecided, and seemed to be waiting for someone to call him and tell him who to support and why. I was amazed. I thought undecided voters were like true vacuum. While it might exist in theory, the universe would implode if it were ever achieved. Turns out they are for real and I had one on the line. Until now I had regarded GOTV efforts as a sort of token support. We do it because if we had nothing else to do while anticipating results we would go crazy. I was wrong. There are all kinds of votes floating around out there. The cards haven't fallen yet. Tonight should be good.
Thank You and Goodbye Sheldon Brown
His contributions to our community will long outlast his time spent on earth.
2.04.2008
Ford, give me strength....
Nobody needs me to tell them that this January was pretty brutal. Winter is no big deal if your greatest worries are leaving the house 5 minutes earlier to scrape the windows, or wanting to cockpunch the man when you get the heat bill. But it can be a real pain in the ass when you are trying to get in 16 hours of riding in a week with an average high of the same number. In any case I'm rolling on and it still feels good. 600miles (half of which are "real" miles) and 152lbs indicate that I'm on track. I don't have enough experience with the power meter to have extracted any truly useful data yet, and it doesn't help that I spent this past weekend with a nasty case of food poisoning when I should have been power testing. At least these things happen on rest weeks, and there is nothing like a bit of food poisoning to curb your appetite for a while. What the power meter has been useful for is quickly telling me when I'm not feeling so hot on the bike. Now that I'm through that first base period things can get a bit more interesting with some force/muscle tension stuff thrown in. Too bad none of this work will get me anywhere, since training is for losers and racing is totally 4 years ago. But I don't believe a word of it and I refuse to age quietly.
Speaking of believing, the real superbowl is tomorrow. That means I get to spend this evening on the phone talking to the voters of Georgia about this guy. If you are tired of paying for a system that isn't working, maybe you should help too.
Speaking of believing, the real superbowl is tomorrow. That means I get to spend this evening on the phone talking to the voters of Georgia about this guy. If you are tired of paying for a system that isn't working, maybe you should help too.
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