So in the beautiful sunshine today i felt the need for another 4 hour jaunt. I ended up on some roads I have never been on, or it has been a great while. My journeys took me down to my alma mater, The Berm. Bermudian Springs High School. The institution of higher learning, where there were more people in FFA & FHA than college prep. BTW, FFA is Future Farmers of America & FHA is Future Homemakers of America. I am giggling as I type that. Yessiree boys and girls, I could not make that shit up.
On to my title. As I stopped at the BERM to fill my water bottles, I noticed my friend and Berm teacher, Brian Oswald. Brian is in the weight room, so I yell down the hall to get his attention. He comes down, we chat, and he says "Greenholt is in there lifting, you should go say hi."
Russ Greenholt started at the Berm back in '83, I believe, when I was a Junior. He started not as a teacher, but as a football coach and STAP (in-school suspension) supervisor. He never taught while I was at the Berm. Later on he obviously finished up his teaching degree/accreditation and taught. He then moved to an Asst. Principal, and now he is the Principal. I knew all of this, and it never ceases to amaze me how wrong I was about this fine gentleman after my brief time with him while at the Berm.
We did the pleasantries of how each other are doing, he asked about Big Boy Pullin', etc... I then said, "You run this place now don't you." He was always a humble dude, from my recollection, and said that he has been the principal for the last three years. I congratulated him on his achievement and how I felt it was awesome. He did not stop there, however. He told me that he is now working through his Doctorate, and has two years to go. He is in an off-site program from Immaculata with 14 other administrators who are local. It sounds like a great program where local administrators with the same goals and passion for education get together to achieve their Doctoral degree.
He obviously had a plan and he has worked it for 23 years now. That is dedication.
If, in 1983, someone would have said Russ Greenholt would be the principal of the Berm and have his doctorate 25 years later I would have laughed at them. This brings me to my point, finally. Russ Greenholt is someone you should model yourself or your children to be like. He started at the entry level of the education ladder, and has never settled for the next step that he has achieved. Now at the top, he is striving for yet even more.
My hat is off to you, Russ Greenholt.
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Feaster, rides & Mt Joy
So, I had some extra time this week, so I decided to get in some longer rides. I need to do some Turkey Hill prep, so Tuesady & Thursday were rolling 75 milers. Felt decent each day, was bummed when my POS PT pooped out. We will see, tomorrow, if they warranty the issue.
I was not going to race this weekend, but Ames was cool with it and Jared & Steevo were making another monster drive. I figured I would get in some more miles and help the lad.
Mt Joy coursa was cool. Very windy with a long false flat & a steep, short climb. Nine laps fr 51 miles. First few laps were people drilling it and people going out the back. The MG-GPOA mafia were all present in the top 15 on the climb. Coming in to three to go I witnessed the worst high-speed crash I have ever seen. A stupid crossing of wheels at 33 mph and wham a guy was slammed to the ground, damn near head first. The nasty sound of that and squealing brakes and mangling bikes was horrible. I was just to the right of it and made it through. The was basically the race as the field was split w/ two off the front and maybe two dozen of us making it through with six laps to go. Round and round with hard accelerations up the steep pitch. A group of four w/ Butts & Benitez kust roll off to 45 seconds. The Steve May rolls off. I go to the front to bring it back for the boys, but no other team helps. I ride steady for half a lap and bring back May and lower the gap to the group of four to 20 seconds. Up the pitch for the sixth time and Jared, Steevo & I are all still there. Then it happens on the wicked fast descent. I nail a rock. I am hoping and praying I am not flat. Well, thirty seconds late at 35+ mph my rear clincher goes down and I am swervy wervy. My day is done as the wheel van is no where to be seen.
The next lap Joe Whitman somehow rolls off and gets a 50 second lead on MG-GPOA group. The group of four up ahead starts to monkey around & JW catches them. By the end, JW rolls through them for third. Big talent there. Once he learns better tactics (like he showed today), he will be awesome. Jared follows a Mike Miller move and takes the third group sprint for 8th. Steevo rolls slightly after that.
On another note, I am so glad I ride for a team where I like all the riders and have great respect for them. I say this after I try to mediate a near fist fight betweem two Alliance teammates, mid-race. Long story short Bill Short misinterpreted a smart move by Ramon and screams at him in front of the field and the finish line spectators. Ramon wanted to fight right there. Ramon finished the race and promptly quit Team AE. He will be a thorn in their side all year. I guarantee, from knowing Ramon, he will make it his mission to ruin their races.
It goes to show that good teams are made up of greast people. Mike Miller said it to me during the race, "too many chiefs."
Ahh Feaster. I shoved so much food it was almost obscene. Beautiful.
Weel I am going to finsh watching Amstel Gold and enjoy a relaxing day after a hard week of riding and general stress.
Bye all, have a great Easter.
I was not going to race this weekend, but Ames was cool with it and Jared & Steevo were making another monster drive. I figured I would get in some more miles and help the lad.
Mt Joy coursa was cool. Very windy with a long false flat & a steep, short climb. Nine laps fr 51 miles. First few laps were people drilling it and people going out the back. The MG-GPOA mafia were all present in the top 15 on the climb. Coming in to three to go I witnessed the worst high-speed crash I have ever seen. A stupid crossing of wheels at 33 mph and wham a guy was slammed to the ground, damn near head first. The nasty sound of that and squealing brakes and mangling bikes was horrible. I was just to the right of it and made it through. The was basically the race as the field was split w/ two off the front and maybe two dozen of us making it through with six laps to go. Round and round with hard accelerations up the steep pitch. A group of four w/ Butts & Benitez kust roll off to 45 seconds. The Steve May rolls off. I go to the front to bring it back for the boys, but no other team helps. I ride steady for half a lap and bring back May and lower the gap to the group of four to 20 seconds. Up the pitch for the sixth time and Jared, Steevo & I are all still there. Then it happens on the wicked fast descent. I nail a rock. I am hoping and praying I am not flat. Well, thirty seconds late at 35+ mph my rear clincher goes down and I am swervy wervy. My day is done as the wheel van is no where to be seen.
The next lap Joe Whitman somehow rolls off and gets a 50 second lead on MG-GPOA group. The group of four up ahead starts to monkey around & JW catches them. By the end, JW rolls through them for third. Big talent there. Once he learns better tactics (like he showed today), he will be awesome. Jared follows a Mike Miller move and takes the third group sprint for 8th. Steevo rolls slightly after that.
On another note, I am so glad I ride for a team where I like all the riders and have great respect for them. I say this after I try to mediate a near fist fight betweem two Alliance teammates, mid-race. Long story short Bill Short misinterpreted a smart move by Ramon and screams at him in front of the field and the finish line spectators. Ramon wanted to fight right there. Ramon finished the race and promptly quit Team AE. He will be a thorn in their side all year. I guarantee, from knowing Ramon, he will make it his mission to ruin their races.
It goes to show that good teams are made up of greast people. Mike Miller said it to me during the race, "too many chiefs."
Ahh Feaster. I shoved so much food it was almost obscene. Beautiful.
Weel I am going to finsh watching Amstel Gold and enjoy a relaxing day after a hard week of riding and general stress.
Bye all, have a great Easter.
Monday, April 10, 2006
Karma, or ...and tonight I met Gene
Today was a well needed easy day on the bike and the mind. A lot of stuff running rampant in my cluttered little noggin. After two days of racing, a nice easy 90 minute spin was well needed. A slap in the Ipod and go. The tunes were incredible tonight. Werewolves of London, Folsom Prison Blues, Lucky Man, Heroes, Everyday, By my side, After the goldrush, Somebody to love. It put me in such a mellow mood, it was perfect for a recovery ride. 200 Watt ceiling, JRA.
If you can sing to your tunes on your Ipod, you are going the perfect speed for recovery. There were probably 6 or 7 people I passed who just gave me wierd looks as I was riding and singing. It was the type of ride that was good for the legs, mind and soul.
Ahh the soul, that almost leads me to Gene, but not quite yet. The Karma patrol struck before that as I met the man who feeds the wild cats. There is this rusted out back end of a pick-up/trailer that acts as a shelter for 4 or 5 wild cats, that I pass on most of my rides. I always notice the cats have full paper plates filled with cat food. I always wondered who did this. Tonight I met him. As I ride up this little rise he is walking to his car with these huge buckets of cat food. He smiles and says, " Ain't life always uphill?" I reply, yeah sometimes it feels that way. I thought to myself that I should have stopped and said hello, and commended him on his helping the cats. So I roll along for a while and hit the daily double of emotional songs. Heroes and Somebody to love. This is right after I had just heard By my side, twice. I am rolling, just enjoying the ride, yes actually ENJOYING pedalling a bike. Like it was my Western Flyer from 30 years ago. Then I hit the homestretch and I MET GENE. Gene, to me is an institution. If you travel Space Highway, you know of Gene. Gene is the dude with the feathered 1970's poofy mullet. Gene is also the dude who walked his Doberman everyday for 4 or 5 miles. We always gave each other a friendly wave and a smile. Probably thinking that the other was a nut for being outside doing what we were doing.While I was bundled up putting in base he was there. When it was 95 and humid he was there. A man and his dog enjoying each other.Unfortunately someone hit and killed gene's Doberman a few weeks ago. Tonight was the first time that I saw Gene walking in the 3 or 4 weeks since the death of his dog. As I rolled along the Karma police got to me. I stopped and told Gene how sorry I was that his dog was dead. He was definitely taken back that I stopped to say hello and express my heartfelt sorrow. He was very nice and very thankful. We spoke a bit about his dog, and what happened that day. Gene was not angry, and he had every right, since the f'ing coward that killed his dog never stopped anywhere to see who the owner is. Gene said his dog was great in the house and on a leash, but nature took over when a door was left open. It was an unfortunate accident, like a lot of things in life. You can be going along enjoying yourself, and in the flash of an eye, your world can change. As we were done talking, he extends his hand and said, "my name is Gene, it was nice to meet you, thanks for thinking about my dog."
We each put in our ear phones and continued on in our respective ways. I can not help but think that today, Karma was on my side.
If you can sing to your tunes on your Ipod, you are going the perfect speed for recovery. There were probably 6 or 7 people I passed who just gave me wierd looks as I was riding and singing. It was the type of ride that was good for the legs, mind and soul.
Ahh the soul, that almost leads me to Gene, but not quite yet. The Karma patrol struck before that as I met the man who feeds the wild cats. There is this rusted out back end of a pick-up/trailer that acts as a shelter for 4 or 5 wild cats, that I pass on most of my rides. I always notice the cats have full paper plates filled with cat food. I always wondered who did this. Tonight I met him. As I ride up this little rise he is walking to his car with these huge buckets of cat food. He smiles and says, " Ain't life always uphill?" I reply, yeah sometimes it feels that way. I thought to myself that I should have stopped and said hello, and commended him on his helping the cats. So I roll along for a while and hit the daily double of emotional songs. Heroes and Somebody to love. This is right after I had just heard By my side, twice. I am rolling, just enjoying the ride, yes actually ENJOYING pedalling a bike. Like it was my Western Flyer from 30 years ago. Then I hit the homestretch and I MET GENE. Gene, to me is an institution. If you travel Space Highway, you know of Gene. Gene is the dude with the feathered 1970's poofy mullet. Gene is also the dude who walked his Doberman everyday for 4 or 5 miles. We always gave each other a friendly wave and a smile. Probably thinking that the other was a nut for being outside doing what we were doing.While I was bundled up putting in base he was there. When it was 95 and humid he was there. A man and his dog enjoying each other.Unfortunately someone hit and killed gene's Doberman a few weeks ago. Tonight was the first time that I saw Gene walking in the 3 or 4 weeks since the death of his dog. As I rolled along the Karma police got to me. I stopped and told Gene how sorry I was that his dog was dead. He was definitely taken back that I stopped to say hello and express my heartfelt sorrow. He was very nice and very thankful. We spoke a bit about his dog, and what happened that day. Gene was not angry, and he had every right, since the f'ing coward that killed his dog never stopped anywhere to see who the owner is. Gene said his dog was great in the house and on a leash, but nature took over when a door was left open. It was an unfortunate accident, like a lot of things in life. You can be going along enjoying yourself, and in the flash of an eye, your world can change. As we were done talking, he extends his hand and said, "my name is Gene, it was nice to meet you, thanks for thinking about my dog."
We each put in our ear phones and continued on in our respective ways. I can not help but think that today, Karma was on my side.
Sunday, April 09, 2006
Visions of Cross Nats danced through my head
They were not good visions either. Cross Nats, worst conditions ever on a bike. Bar none.
Philly two-day was this weekend. Here is a VERY brief synopsis. My desire to write race reports has waned. Plus 44 laps and shit runs together.
Saturday was 41, windy and raining. I was not liking this. To add insult to injury, my trainer finally broke when I was 1 minute into warming up. No warm-up, nasty weather and 51 miles. Blech. The whole was basically there. Jared freakin' rocked. Dude is awesome. Everyone was in breaks, and was really active.
Sunday was a tropical 55 and Sunny. Lemon Hill course, which is wicked fun. Lots of attacks and a big group of ten sticks with Colin & Fred in it. Then with 6 or 7 to go, they somehow get pulled back. G, Jared and I are near the front and Mark Light comes from way back with a rippin' attack. Hacker smartly follows and we now have a guy in a break, so we chill. Hacker stays off, there was no doubting that by us. We get ready to set up a leadout and Colin attacks and dangles for 2 laps. We can not chase and at one to go the field swallow the front and G, Jared & I reposition. G is so smart & fast, he takes 2nd in the field sprint doing the leadout. Jared is not far behind that & I not far off Jared.
What a success, as Jared beats Gui N. and takes the omnium. Hacker's move gives him second. Stephan's sprint lands him in 5th. Stubna ends up in the last money at 10th. Colin, Steevo & I are somewhere probably around 12-15th. Good weekend for the team. The guys are flying. Now it is time for me to actually start doing structured training. I have held off due to a long cross season. Now it is time to pay the piper.
Eric's b-day was Saturday & I interloped on a gathering at his place and crashed there. Thanks again Jules and Eric. Ames was at a scrap-fest Saturday making some cool pages of her Cape May vaca & KB's 30th. Sunday she took "the girls" to a gym play party for one of her ex-coworkers son's b-day. I would have loved to have seen that.
No posts lately as I have been generally uninspired or do not feel like writing about stuff. We shall see.
Blah, blah blah
Philly two-day was this weekend. Here is a VERY brief synopsis. My desire to write race reports has waned. Plus 44 laps and shit runs together.
Saturday was 41, windy and raining. I was not liking this. To add insult to injury, my trainer finally broke when I was 1 minute into warming up. No warm-up, nasty weather and 51 miles. Blech. The whole was basically there. Jared freakin' rocked. Dude is awesome. Everyone was in breaks, and was really active.
Sunday was a tropical 55 and Sunny. Lemon Hill course, which is wicked fun. Lots of attacks and a big group of ten sticks with Colin & Fred in it. Then with 6 or 7 to go, they somehow get pulled back. G, Jared and I are near the front and Mark Light comes from way back with a rippin' attack. Hacker smartly follows and we now have a guy in a break, so we chill. Hacker stays off, there was no doubting that by us. We get ready to set up a leadout and Colin attacks and dangles for 2 laps. We can not chase and at one to go the field swallow the front and G, Jared & I reposition. G is so smart & fast, he takes 2nd in the field sprint doing the leadout. Jared is not far behind that & I not far off Jared.
What a success, as Jared beats Gui N. and takes the omnium. Hacker's move gives him second. Stephan's sprint lands him in 5th. Stubna ends up in the last money at 10th. Colin, Steevo & I are somewhere probably around 12-15th. Good weekend for the team. The guys are flying. Now it is time for me to actually start doing structured training. I have held off due to a long cross season. Now it is time to pay the piper.
Eric's b-day was Saturday & I interloped on a gathering at his place and crashed there. Thanks again Jules and Eric. Ames was at a scrap-fest Saturday making some cool pages of her Cape May vaca & KB's 30th. Sunday she took "the girls" to a gym play party for one of her ex-coworkers son's b-day. I would have loved to have seen that.
No posts lately as I have been generally uninspired or do not feel like writing about stuff. We shall see.
Blah, blah blah
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
You might be a racer...(dork)
If you stare in amazement as you see hair on a teammates legs
If you take TP into the woods like it is standard operating procedure
If you have more wheels in your car than on your car
If a large part of your self-esteem is based on how fast you can pedal a bike
If you think you made out even if your split is less than the entry fee
If you like the feel of Noxema on your chamois
If you have begged a place to crash the day before a race
If you drive 400 miles in a weekend to ride your bike 110 miles
If you have taken a premature exit to the woods during a race
If you think a towel is a changing room
If you think vaseline doubles as leg warmers
If your bike(s) are worth more than your car(s)
If you no longer ride your bike for the fun of it
If you come up with more excuses for poor performance than a NASCAR racer
If you think you are a more interesting person because you race
If you take TP into the woods like it is standard operating procedure
If you have more wheels in your car than on your car
If a large part of your self-esteem is based on how fast you can pedal a bike
If you think you made out even if your split is less than the entry fee
If you like the feel of Noxema on your chamois
If you have begged a place to crash the day before a race
If you drive 400 miles in a weekend to ride your bike 110 miles
If you have taken a premature exit to the woods during a race
If you think a towel is a changing room
If you think vaseline doubles as leg warmers
If your bike(s) are worth more than your car(s)
If you no longer ride your bike for the fun of it
If you come up with more excuses for poor performance than a NASCAR racer
If you think you are a more interesting person because you race
Monday, March 27, 2006
Magic Kingdom, my ASS
I spent last week at the Dolphin hotel at Disney World, for a work national sales meeting. This means a few things.
1) I never get to see the much if any of the destination.
2) I am stuck in a hotel room for eight hours a day in meetings.
3) People drink too much and act like it is the last night of beer on Earth.
4) The ammount of ass-kissing hits a year high crescendo.
5) Lilly goes all-out for a night to keep the spirits high.
All the above held true. It was a standard Lilly issue meeting. Sessions were long and relatively inconsequential, as it relates to communication of new material. There were some nice perks like an East area dinner at a cool theme restaurant & the run of MGM park for a couple of hours. The meeting was definitely well organized, and came at a good time, as moral is a little low in the rank and file.
Yes, there were a LOT of drunks running rampant. I have one rule at these meetings. Would I do this at home on the same night? How many people get shitfaced on Tuesday, to where they can not control what comes out of their mouths? When was the last time you drank a dozen plus beers on a Thursday? Whatever, who am I to judge? Really more of an interesting observation, as all these people still made their meetings and contributed the following day.
To watch the ass-kissing is almost unbearable. So many people think that they can name-drop their way to the top. Granted being connected and recognized is VERY good, within Lilly. Unfortunately, being an ass-kisser is also held in high regard. So another year down and another National meeting gone by. I saw some old friends and got to better know my teammates. So for that, the meeting was good for me.
My biggest and most conflicting take-away from the meeting was this. Our US affiliate Vice President showed a quote from the President of Wisconsin Power & Light about winning in business in the times we are in. It goes as follows, paraphrased. "We can not continue to do the same thing, give me rebels, radicals, revolutionaries and people who want to howl at the moon." Immediately after reading this quote our VP (horrible communicator) states, "now go back to your meeting rooms and practice your sales messages for perfect implementation."
WHAT THE FUCK!!!!
Practice a script and spew this back verbatim to a doctor. You Rebels, that is radical dude. Implement, implement, implement. It is rare that the word SELL ever gets mentioned. AARRGGHH!
I do have a new-found respect for our President. She gave a great closing speech, without the use of a tele-prompter. Sadly enough, she was the ONLY presenter to go sans prompter. DC gets HUGE respect in my book.
I could go on and on, but am getting generally tired of this post, kind of like I waswith the meeting. Well, I have a field day with my manager tomorrow. Hopefully I can leverage another peer award I recieved into some action, to further my stalled career.
Time to go and watch Two and a half men. Good comedic relief.
Oh yeah, now I am getting sick. BLAH!
2,500 road miles so far, since 12/20, pretty much all base. Hopefully I can turn that into some form soon. 900 more miles than last year this time. No wonder I was so tired last week. Hopefully a week off the bike and a relatively easy week will bring some form this weekend.
1) I never get to see the much if any of the destination.
2) I am stuck in a hotel room for eight hours a day in meetings.
3) People drink too much and act like it is the last night of beer on Earth.
4) The ammount of ass-kissing hits a year high crescendo.
5) Lilly goes all-out for a night to keep the spirits high.
All the above held true. It was a standard Lilly issue meeting. Sessions were long and relatively inconsequential, as it relates to communication of new material. There were some nice perks like an East area dinner at a cool theme restaurant & the run of MGM park for a couple of hours. The meeting was definitely well organized, and came at a good time, as moral is a little low in the rank and file.
Yes, there were a LOT of drunks running rampant. I have one rule at these meetings. Would I do this at home on the same night? How many people get shitfaced on Tuesday, to where they can not control what comes out of their mouths? When was the last time you drank a dozen plus beers on a Thursday? Whatever, who am I to judge? Really more of an interesting observation, as all these people still made their meetings and contributed the following day.
To watch the ass-kissing is almost unbearable. So many people think that they can name-drop their way to the top. Granted being connected and recognized is VERY good, within Lilly. Unfortunately, being an ass-kisser is also held in high regard. So another year down and another National meeting gone by. I saw some old friends and got to better know my teammates. So for that, the meeting was good for me.
My biggest and most conflicting take-away from the meeting was this. Our US affiliate Vice President showed a quote from the President of Wisconsin Power & Light about winning in business in the times we are in. It goes as follows, paraphrased. "We can not continue to do the same thing, give me rebels, radicals, revolutionaries and people who want to howl at the moon." Immediately after reading this quote our VP (horrible communicator) states, "now go back to your meeting rooms and practice your sales messages for perfect implementation."
WHAT THE FUCK!!!!
Practice a script and spew this back verbatim to a doctor. You Rebels, that is radical dude. Implement, implement, implement. It is rare that the word SELL ever gets mentioned. AARRGGHH!
I do have a new-found respect for our President. She gave a great closing speech, without the use of a tele-prompter. Sadly enough, she was the ONLY presenter to go sans prompter. DC gets HUGE respect in my book.
I could go on and on, but am getting generally tired of this post, kind of like I waswith the meeting. Well, I have a field day with my manager tomorrow. Hopefully I can leverage another peer award I recieved into some action, to further my stalled career.
Time to go and watch Two and a half men. Good comedic relief.
Oh yeah, now I am getting sick. BLAH!
2,500 road miles so far, since 12/20, pretty much all base. Hopefully I can turn that into some form soon. 900 more miles than last year this time. No wonder I was so tired last week. Hopefully a week off the bike and a relatively easy week will bring some form this weekend.
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Fragile
Most things in life really are, however since this is my bullypulpit I will focus on a few that affected me this weekend.
Relationships
Mindset
Form, for all you cycling geeks
Relationships. Actually this is the one where my fragile mind is rather at ease. I am however very disappointed in myself for a lack of Anniversary surprise or gift for Ames. It is our twelve year anniversary, and I hate to say it, it was another day. Some may feel that is callous or uncaring, some may see it a little like me. In that, I see the day as expected. I do not love Ames any more or less today than I did yesterday or tomorrow. However I should have at least done something. Especially when she got me two very heartfelt gifts. Walk the Line DVD & the accompanying soundtrack. I enjoy the Man in Black and I enjoyed the movie. It was an extremely thoughful gift. I on the other hand got a card. "I gave her my heart and she gave me a pen!" well not as bad as that, but still somewhat schlepish. We did go to a great dinner at the Accomac Inn in Wrightsville, courtesy of Cal. It was superb.
Mindest. This gets tricky. Those who know me, know that if I experience any doubt about something, it is not good. I start to second guess things left & right. Right now work is very unrewarding, but I am encumbered by a pretty nice set of golden handcuffs. I enjoy my job, when I get to actually see and speak with physicians and have meaningful discussions with them. Lately they are few and far between. So I wonder a great deal, when it was that I actually sold my soul for cold hard cash? Would I be any happier doing something else for less money. Would a change just lead to more second and third guessing for a fragile mind?
Lastly, Form. This is as it relates to cycling. Well, I sucked this weekend at Strasburg. That is all that I will say. I was humiliated and embarrased with my performance or lack thereof. So form is a tricky thing with cyclists, some time you think you have it you suck. Sometimes you feel shitty and viola you have a nice race. Finicky.
After little rest from cross, maybe that is the issue, I have put in 2,400 miles since Christmas. All power markers from 5 sec through 10 minutes are at or better than last year's best numbers. Yeah, I thought I was on track. Well, maybe I was digging so hard, I dug too deep. After looking at my last two weeks data again, of which I was so proud of not so long ago, I realized 10 of my last 19 rides were high Tempo intensity or greater for the duration of the ride. What does that mean? Basically my fragile training mind said more is better. It was not in this case. Hopefully a week off will be what the doctor ordered.
Kudos to Geronimo, Miller & Trdina for their Strasburg efforts. Trdina is one damn good rder that does not get near the credit he deserves. That is a shame. Godd dude, funny as shit, good racer.
Sopranos time.
Later
Lastly
Relationships
Mindset
Form, for all you cycling geeks
Relationships. Actually this is the one where my fragile mind is rather at ease. I am however very disappointed in myself for a lack of Anniversary surprise or gift for Ames. It is our twelve year anniversary, and I hate to say it, it was another day. Some may feel that is callous or uncaring, some may see it a little like me. In that, I see the day as expected. I do not love Ames any more or less today than I did yesterday or tomorrow. However I should have at least done something. Especially when she got me two very heartfelt gifts. Walk the Line DVD & the accompanying soundtrack. I enjoy the Man in Black and I enjoyed the movie. It was an extremely thoughful gift. I on the other hand got a card. "I gave her my heart and she gave me a pen!" well not as bad as that, but still somewhat schlepish. We did go to a great dinner at the Accomac Inn in Wrightsville, courtesy of Cal. It was superb.
Mindest. This gets tricky. Those who know me, know that if I experience any doubt about something, it is not good. I start to second guess things left & right. Right now work is very unrewarding, but I am encumbered by a pretty nice set of golden handcuffs. I enjoy my job, when I get to actually see and speak with physicians and have meaningful discussions with them. Lately they are few and far between. So I wonder a great deal, when it was that I actually sold my soul for cold hard cash? Would I be any happier doing something else for less money. Would a change just lead to more second and third guessing for a fragile mind?
Lastly, Form. This is as it relates to cycling. Well, I sucked this weekend at Strasburg. That is all that I will say. I was humiliated and embarrased with my performance or lack thereof. So form is a tricky thing with cyclists, some time you think you have it you suck. Sometimes you feel shitty and viola you have a nice race. Finicky.
After little rest from cross, maybe that is the issue, I have put in 2,400 miles since Christmas. All power markers from 5 sec through 10 minutes are at or better than last year's best numbers. Yeah, I thought I was on track. Well, maybe I was digging so hard, I dug too deep. After looking at my last two weeks data again, of which I was so proud of not so long ago, I realized 10 of my last 19 rides were high Tempo intensity or greater for the duration of the ride. What does that mean? Basically my fragile training mind said more is better. It was not in this case. Hopefully a week off will be what the doctor ordered.
Kudos to Geronimo, Miller & Trdina for their Strasburg efforts. Trdina is one damn good rder that does not get near the credit he deserves. That is a shame. Godd dude, funny as shit, good racer.
Sopranos time.
Later
Lastly
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Naughty Little Minx
Yes she is.
PICK PICKLER!
Top Ten reasons to pick pickler
10) Calamari, what's calamari
9) I will have the Sal-man for dinner
8) Comet the wonder dog
7) Lives with grandpa Wilbur
6) Hooks up Gramps w/ sandwich dates
5) Hayseed
4) More naive than one person should be allowed to be
3) Not a bad singer
2) Easier to look at than Mandisa
1) Beacause she really is a naughty little minx
On another note, anyone who listened to me about movie selections I told them to see Crash. It won the Oscar last night. It is a great story of race relations, perceptions and how they impact a random event. One of the best flicks I have ever seen. I can not believe the same guy who "sharted", in Along came Polly then went on to play Truman Capote. He then wins the Oscar, amazing. Another naughty little minx won Best Actress, Reese Witherspoon for her portrayal of June Carter Cash. She was good, but if you want to see Reese in a cool, dark comedy rent "Election". Pick Flick.Wow, the segues are flying fast and furious. If Pick Pickler sang the song Pick Flick sings as June Carter Cash in Walk the Line, she would crush the Island of Mandisa. I say Pick Pickler needs to channel JCC and sing, Jackson. Her voice is close to JCC, and she could rip the shit outta Jackson.
Keep up the support for that Naughty Little Minx. That little Hayseed hottie needs to last another week or three.
Vote fast and vote often.
PICK PICKLER!
Top Ten reasons to pick pickler
10) Calamari, what's calamari
9) I will have the Sal-man for dinner
8) Comet the wonder dog
7) Lives with grandpa Wilbur
6) Hooks up Gramps w/ sandwich dates
5) Hayseed
4) More naive than one person should be allowed to be
3) Not a bad singer
2) Easier to look at than Mandisa
1) Beacause she really is a naughty little minx
On another note, anyone who listened to me about movie selections I told them to see Crash. It won the Oscar last night. It is a great story of race relations, perceptions and how they impact a random event. One of the best flicks I have ever seen. I can not believe the same guy who "sharted", in Along came Polly then went on to play Truman Capote. He then wins the Oscar, amazing. Another naughty little minx won Best Actress, Reese Witherspoon for her portrayal of June Carter Cash. She was good, but if you want to see Reese in a cool, dark comedy rent "Election". Pick Flick.Wow, the segues are flying fast and furious. If Pick Pickler sang the song Pick Flick sings as June Carter Cash in Walk the Line, she would crush the Island of Mandisa. I say Pick Pickler needs to channel JCC and sing, Jackson. Her voice is close to JCC, and she could rip the shit outta Jackson.
Keep up the support for that Naughty Little Minx. That little Hayseed hottie needs to last another week or three.
Vote fast and vote often.
Sunday, March 05, 2006
Who hires/promotes these people?
Contrary to the tone of this post, I do like the company that I work for and I do enjoy what I do, when I actually get to see a physician and have a good discussion.
Here goes. Some knucklehead 20something on the Strattera brand team got the brilliant idea to send a framed photocopy of letter a kid wrote to Lilly, thanking "us" for making Strattera as it changed her life. Here is where the shit goes wrong:
1) It was an f'in photocopy of the letter, at least do a print for crissakes.
2) I do not care. Do you think anyone will actually hang this in their home. Gee friends, look what Mona sent me. Do you want to motivate me, send me money or find ways to challenge me.
3) It was in a nicely matted design. Three openings, beveled, and all different sizes. Not cheap
4) Nice frame w/ real glass, also not cheap. Remember this goes out to 1,000+ people.
5) It was sent UPS in a regular box, no bubblewrap, with other materials.
6) The glass was very broken when it got to my house.
The upside is with the broken glass, it came out of the frame easier when I threw the photocopy and said glass away. I now just need to find a few pics that fit the openings and print a little descriptor for the small opening.
The thing is some freakin' nipplehead thought that this is a good motivator. The brand team sent a letter saying this is a thank you for a hard year's work. Is a prudent way to spend resources? I now that I am a cynic, that is not really a bad thing, but really why not send evryone a $20 AMEX. Shit like that is what happens when a 20 something with no real world experience and 1 or 2 years of pharma sales is put in a decision making, position of responsibility. The shame is he/she will probably be blessed because they could move to Indy and do a bullshit picture frame project and then come out and be my manager in a couple of years. What the F can he/she possibly say to bring benefit to someone, anyone with 10 years in the industry and reads more disease state journals than most docs? " Well why don't you give the well respected psychiatrist this little school bus lunch box and fill it with popcorn and tell the doc that Strattera works while little Mona is at school and in the evening." That is what the popcorn is for, get it. Tee hee hee, picture hair tossing and boob jiggling as you read the previous quote.
Yes, that is what some parts of Big Pharma are coming to. I do a Neurology CME on neuropathic pain and medical comorbidities in my free time while some f'in twit thinks up ways to incorporate a short bus lunch box into a medical discussion.
Here goes. Some knucklehead 20something on the Strattera brand team got the brilliant idea to send a framed photocopy of letter a kid wrote to Lilly, thanking "us" for making Strattera as it changed her life. Here is where the shit goes wrong:
1) It was an f'in photocopy of the letter, at least do a print for crissakes.
2) I do not care. Do you think anyone will actually hang this in their home. Gee friends, look what Mona sent me. Do you want to motivate me, send me money or find ways to challenge me.
3) It was in a nicely matted design. Three openings, beveled, and all different sizes. Not cheap
4) Nice frame w/ real glass, also not cheap. Remember this goes out to 1,000+ people.
5) It was sent UPS in a regular box, no bubblewrap, with other materials.
6) The glass was very broken when it got to my house.
The upside is with the broken glass, it came out of the frame easier when I threw the photocopy and said glass away. I now just need to find a few pics that fit the openings and print a little descriptor for the small opening.
The thing is some freakin' nipplehead thought that this is a good motivator. The brand team sent a letter saying this is a thank you for a hard year's work. Is a prudent way to spend resources? I now that I am a cynic, that is not really a bad thing, but really why not send evryone a $20 AMEX. Shit like that is what happens when a 20 something with no real world experience and 1 or 2 years of pharma sales is put in a decision making, position of responsibility. The shame is he/she will probably be blessed because they could move to Indy and do a bullshit picture frame project and then come out and be my manager in a couple of years. What the F can he/she possibly say to bring benefit to someone, anyone with 10 years in the industry and reads more disease state journals than most docs? " Well why don't you give the well respected psychiatrist this little school bus lunch box and fill it with popcorn and tell the doc that Strattera works while little Mona is at school and in the evening." That is what the popcorn is for, get it. Tee hee hee, picture hair tossing and boob jiggling as you read the previous quote.
Yes, that is what some parts of Big Pharma are coming to. I do a Neurology CME on neuropathic pain and medical comorbidities in my free time while some f'in twit thinks up ways to incorporate a short bus lunch box into a medical discussion.
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Ding dong the (w)(b)itch is dead
Brenna is done! Hoo Haa. That is one person that was so ingratiating that I could not stand her. Just an absolute pompous self-centered C U Next Tuesday!
My girl Pick Pickler hung tough and was her spunky little hayseed self. What movie was the hayseed reference from. Hint, the Coen Brothers.
Speaking of Hayseeds, that Bucky is classic. I like him because, he is so unassuming and unpretentious. Someone does need to coach him to either speak less or sing all of his answers as statements from Skynard songs. It is a shame the little punk outlasted Sway. I am not a big Stevie Wonder fan, but I thought Sway was decent. I can not get over the little dude's lisp.
So the judges say it is all about song choice. I am hoping that Gene Simmons comes back as a guest judge, but in the phase where the contestants sing KISS songs. That would be sweet. Every contestant must sing Christine Sixteen, and then their fave KISS tune. Rock on!
So on to a little politics. The powers that be at CD high school seem to be trampling all over the first ammendment right of free speech. It seems a student was "placed" in an "alternative" ed program. Some other students objected to his placement so they have taken to wearing "Free Turk" homemade t-shirts and writing the slogan on book covers, backs of hands, etc... Basically a peaceful, visible protest. Well the CD Board has supended 20 students for showing their support of Turk. The ACLU is now involved and is going to file suit. If I were a CD taxpayer I would be freakin' pissed because the school is upholding the suspensions and are going to challenge the ACLU. There is precedent to show this type of action is free speech. More taxpayer money down the shitter, just like Dover. When did school districts take the stance that they are going to impose their will instead of educate their kids?
My girl Pick Pickler hung tough and was her spunky little hayseed self. What movie was the hayseed reference from. Hint, the Coen Brothers.
Speaking of Hayseeds, that Bucky is classic. I like him because, he is so unassuming and unpretentious. Someone does need to coach him to either speak less or sing all of his answers as statements from Skynard songs. It is a shame the little punk outlasted Sway. I am not a big Stevie Wonder fan, but I thought Sway was decent. I can not get over the little dude's lisp.
So the judges say it is all about song choice. I am hoping that Gene Simmons comes back as a guest judge, but in the phase where the contestants sing KISS songs. That would be sweet. Every contestant must sing Christine Sixteen, and then their fave KISS tune. Rock on!
So on to a little politics. The powers that be at CD high school seem to be trampling all over the first ammendment right of free speech. It seems a student was "placed" in an "alternative" ed program. Some other students objected to his placement so they have taken to wearing "Free Turk" homemade t-shirts and writing the slogan on book covers, backs of hands, etc... Basically a peaceful, visible protest. Well the CD Board has supended 20 students for showing their support of Turk. The ACLU is now involved and is going to file suit. If I were a CD taxpayer I would be freakin' pissed because the school is upholding the suspensions and are going to challenge the ACLU. There is precedent to show this type of action is free speech. More taxpayer money down the shitter, just like Dover. When did school districts take the stance that they are going to impose their will instead of educate their kids?
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Giving credit
This entry is all about the proper respect being given to someone/thing when it is truly desreved. Think about your life for a second. If there is something that you absolutely excelled in, could you do it for 16 hours a day? The amount of focus and energy would be almost incomprehensible. That leads to todays recipient of my highest praise. HOBBES!!!!!!!
There he is, on the right, holding on to wakefulnes by his two front teeth. Actually he has four teeth. Yes just four front teeth. The others are nubs from 14 years of tough living. Hobbes is the king of sleep, as are most cats I guess. The difference is Hobbes sleeps so that he can later achieve bouts of athletic prowess that are only dreamed of by other quadripeds. My guess is that his nightly jump onto the counter to search for butter, flour or food scraps has an opportunity energy cost of probably three hours sleep. It depends if he actually can get into the butter for nourishment. Not only is he extremely athletic. We, especially Amy, likes to think of Hobbes as something akin to a prototypical NFL DE. Kind of big, (16 lbs) yet very agile, quick and strong. If you walk by him he will showcase all three atributes by lulling you into a false sense of security by looking something like a hunting trophy rug. Then as you pass, usually with a drink or soup in hand, he stretches his disproportionately long arms out and wraps around your ankle. He then pulls his back legs into your anle and proceeds to "give you the business."
Of course that is exhausting, so Hobbes needs his rest. After a tough day he just wants to be alone, note the top left pic.
Hobbes' other great talent is his wits and opposable thumbs. He can actually open the latch to the basement door if we shut him down there. I have witnessed the feat with thine own eyes.
I could go on heaping credit on this well-deserving feline, but by the sounds of his whines i can sense Hobbes is a little famished and probably needs to sleep. He has been up almost seven hours, with but a little nap.
Sunday, February 26, 2006
Hot or Not
Hot or Not
Wicked awesome stir fry for dinner; Bread and butter post ride sandwich
Scott Z off the front all day in Cali; CSC lead-out train, unless you ride for T-Mobile
US Olympic snowboarding; Jack-Ass Bode Miller
American Idol; Olympic figure skating
Saturday kick-ass ride; Sunday recovery ride in 20-30 mph wind
Sleeping in; 7:30 am conference call
Excel at your job; Kiss your bosses ass
12 year anniversary in 3 weeks; One week meeting in FL, the next day
Ebay; Ebay
Blogging; Blogging
Ipod while training; Not hearing the oncoming rednecks
Sopranos starts 3/12; $75/month for cable
Joey Cheek, total class; Jackasses Shani Davis & Chad Hedrick
Me being happy; Me being a cycnic
Wicked awesome stir fry for dinner; Bread and butter post ride sandwich
Scott Z off the front all day in Cali; CSC lead-out train, unless you ride for T-Mobile
US Olympic snowboarding; Jack-Ass Bode Miller
American Idol; Olympic figure skating
Saturday kick-ass ride; Sunday recovery ride in 20-30 mph wind
Sleeping in; 7:30 am conference call
Excel at your job; Kiss your bosses ass
12 year anniversary in 3 weeks; One week meeting in FL, the next day
Ebay; Ebay
Blogging; Blogging
Ipod while training; Not hearing the oncoming rednecks
Sopranos starts 3/12; $75/month for cable
Joey Cheek, total class; Jackasses Shani Davis & Chad Hedrick
Me being happy; Me being a cycnic
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Music to my ears
Pick Pickler!!!!!!!!
That little hottie is half my age. WTF! The island of Mandisa was really good tonight, and the 17 year old prodigy who did Midnight train to Georgia was incredible.
On another note VH1 classic was rippin' on 2 for Tuesday tonight. Smiths: Sheila take a bow, Two old school U2 songs before Bono turned world saver and the Coupe de Gras Psych Furs (senior citizen version) Pretty in Pink live. Pretty in Pink is a personal fave from the days of Ducky at the dance. It was cool.
Speaking of Ducky, if you are not watching Two and a half men you are missing one of the best shows on TV. Funny beyonf belief, a lot of the humor is sexual and the FCC most be on the edge of their seats.
Poor Stevie opera is begging for her life as her sung was poor. Unfortunately is was not as piss poor as the chick who sang Because the night. Butchered a song I really enjoy, damn. I am just waiting for Simon to ask to bang her.
Hopefully the rest of the show is better.
That little hottie is half my age. WTF! The island of Mandisa was really good tonight, and the 17 year old prodigy who did Midnight train to Georgia was incredible.
On another note VH1 classic was rippin' on 2 for Tuesday tonight. Smiths: Sheila take a bow, Two old school U2 songs before Bono turned world saver and the Coupe de Gras Psych Furs (senior citizen version) Pretty in Pink live. Pretty in Pink is a personal fave from the days of Ducky at the dance. It was cool.
Speaking of Ducky, if you are not watching Two and a half men you are missing one of the best shows on TV. Funny beyonf belief, a lot of the humor is sexual and the FCC most be on the edge of their seats.
Poor Stevie opera is begging for her life as her sung was poor. Unfortunately is was not as piss poor as the chick who sang Because the night. Butchered a song I really enjoy, damn. I am just waiting for Simon to ask to bang her.
Hopefully the rest of the show is better.
Sunday, February 19, 2006
Da girls
So I finally get home from my team ride today and Ames was watching our neices. Riley who is 4 and Maggie who is 2. They are quite the little pair. I walk in the door and Amy is in the obligatory lapper chair, laptop that is for all you depraved fiends. The girls are "hiding" on thefloor behind her. I play along saying I can not see them, they start to giggle. So now I threaten them with tickling unless they come out and say hello. More giggling, so it is tickle time. Now keep in mind, that I have been listening, yes listening to MRN on the way home and I know their is only 10 laps to go in Daytona. The predicament is that Charlotte's Web is on TV. So I "ask" the girls if I may change the show, and they agree as long as I "fly" them.
No problem, 10 laps, 5 minutes a few lifts in the air. So I pick one up and quickly lift them in the air and set them on the coach, then I pick the other up. Well the little shavers realize I can not really turn them down, so it is like a little production line. Lift, set down, pick up, lift set down and on and on. As I set one down and pick up the other, the one I just set down is now waiting for round 2,3,15,37. All of this as I try diligently to watch the end of the race. Damn cautions keep the game going far too long. Finally I made both of them sit down on the coach with me and watch the last two laps. I coached the oldest, Riley, to make sure she tells Mommy & Daddy that she watched NASCAR with Uncle Mike this weekend. That out to be priceless. Like when I tought a two year old Riley to do the "hook 'em horns" fingers and raise her arm above her head and say "Rock and Roll". SHe actually walked around for a while with her fingers in the Hook em Horns position. Damn I'm a cool uncle.
Well now I am doing laundry, some Lilly work, Ebay listing and getting ready for a well needed shower.
Good eve, all.
No problem, 10 laps, 5 minutes a few lifts in the air. So I pick one up and quickly lift them in the air and set them on the coach, then I pick the other up. Well the little shavers realize I can not really turn them down, so it is like a little production line. Lift, set down, pick up, lift set down and on and on. As I set one down and pick up the other, the one I just set down is now waiting for round 2,3,15,37. All of this as I try diligently to watch the end of the race. Damn cautions keep the game going far too long. Finally I made both of them sit down on the coach with me and watch the last two laps. I coached the oldest, Riley, to make sure she tells Mommy & Daddy that she watched NASCAR with Uncle Mike this weekend. That out to be priceless. Like when I tought a two year old Riley to do the "hook 'em horns" fingers and raise her arm above her head and say "Rock and Roll". SHe actually walked around for a while with her fingers in the Hook em Horns position. Damn I'm a cool uncle.
Well now I am doing laundry, some Lilly work, Ebay listing and getting ready for a well needed shower.
Good eve, all.
Meet & greet
This weekend was the official Meredith Group-GPOA team meeting, bonding, riding weekend. Of course it was wicked cold. Saturday was a team ride, but I missed it due to helping out at my buddy's shop. Holemes Cycling & Fitness for all of your cycling & fitness needs. After a day of retail I hopped in the Blaze and headed for Warminster. I arrive just in time to grab a beer say my hellos & intros, order food and set off to our meeting. After a delicious Italian take-out meal, compliments of our tireless DS Denny Dansak, we started the meeting. Basically it was lay out the rules of the road so to speak, figure our race schedule, and go over team & individual goals. After a very productive and and at times quite funny meeting it was almost 11:30. We parted ways to meet up at 11:00 for day two of team riding. I missed Saturday, but it seemed like a very good ride with 12 guys for 4+ hours. Sunday was about the same with eight of us and 4+ hours again. It was 19 degrees out when we started. Remarkably it really was not uncomfortable once my face was sufficiently numb. We hit out for 71 miles all told with some good paceline work and time to talk more with my new mates Steevo, Stubna and Geronimo. I was very impressed with the way everyone rode. A group of 5 of us pushed a 1-2 mile dirt climb and thatb felt good. I know I came away from the 36 hours with a great feeling about our team and how we are riding. With the firepower we have, it should be a successful year. I really think we will rise to the occasion and above at some big races. It will be great to lay it down to watch Jared, Nate, Rob, Geronimo et al finish it off. We have great workers and classy winners. This will be fun. Stay tuned for more as we get our fancy new steeds and their fancy new hoops.
Yeah boys & girls I am more excited than I have ever been to race. The team rocks!
Yeah boys & girls I am more excited than I have ever been to race. The team rocks!
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
What does it take?
So a lot of my cronies, as well as myself, are really riding the hours/miles right now. Which poses the question "What does it take to seperate yourself?" Is it more training, is it time in the gym, is it an ability to suffer, is it being willing to forgo things that others will not? Yes, to an extent.
Some people could ride twenty hours a week, yet never be able to sprint or climb or be willing to sacrifice. It is interesting to read of what seems to be a rennesaince of personal discovery. I look at my good friend Mike Miller. He has sacrificed more than anyone I know, to achieve his goals in cycling. I respect what he has achieved the last three years. Mike is the epitome of "what does it take?" This year I look at my new teammate Stephan. For anyone who has raced the road, you know of Stephan. He is pure talent. It was cool to see him come out last year and race again. With no team, he was always there. I look forward to trying to help him achieve his goals. Stephan has what it takes to be a champion.
The list is quite long with examples of people who have achieved great things, each to varying extents, have what it takes.
Are you willing to prepare longer, harder or smarter than your competition? When you do, remember that your work guaranteed you nothing. While you are doing your thing, so am I , and dozens of others who feel we are doing what it takes to win.
What does it take? If I knew, I sure as shit would not give it away.
Good luck to all my friends and competitors. We will soon see if I, you, them "have what it takes"
Some people could ride twenty hours a week, yet never be able to sprint or climb or be willing to sacrifice. It is interesting to read of what seems to be a rennesaince of personal discovery. I look at my good friend Mike Miller. He has sacrificed more than anyone I know, to achieve his goals in cycling. I respect what he has achieved the last three years. Mike is the epitome of "what does it take?" This year I look at my new teammate Stephan. For anyone who has raced the road, you know of Stephan. He is pure talent. It was cool to see him come out last year and race again. With no team, he was always there. I look forward to trying to help him achieve his goals. Stephan has what it takes to be a champion.
The list is quite long with examples of people who have achieved great things, each to varying extents, have what it takes.
Are you willing to prepare longer, harder or smarter than your competition? When you do, remember that your work guaranteed you nothing. While you are doing your thing, so am I , and dozens of others who feel we are doing what it takes to win.
What does it take? If I knew, I sure as shit would not give it away.
Good luck to all my friends and competitors. We will soon see if I, you, them "have what it takes"
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
I have the shits of the, well, ... read on
So As I mentioned previously I have some sort of virus/bug/unwanted visitor in my lower GI that has now plagued me for four days. It is at least relatively predictable. Eat, wait one hour, experience gnarly cramps & stomach pains, then release.
So today I go out for a ride and am not feeling so physically weak so I start to push it a bit. Well, the same core muscles required to do some big gear efforts are also the same ones used to help in the release of my unwanted belly demons. So I am twenty minutes in, and I start to feel the rumbly in the tumbly, I think damn twenty minutes to the LA Twp park. I can make it. Well two minutes later Ring of Fire comes on the the Ipod and somewhere stirs the pot so to speak. I remember there is a new development going in about a mile away. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can. Positive talk and praying there is a Honey Pot at the site. I am in luck there is the sweet blue plastic depository. I fiddle with my helmet straps and unzip the jacket. while squeezing tight. I make in into the Porta not a second to soon. KerPow, Kazaam, oh oh oh that burning ring of fire, down, down , down the flames going higher. Oh the not so sweet irony.
Off I go for the rest of the ride. Over to the park to look at some course changes and the addition of a wicked long run section. Damn, feeling it again. I head home, another 45 minutes or so.
TESSIE FREAKIN' RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry. I get home and am undoing my jacket, helmet, pants everything. I scream inside . Off with the shoes, and to the bathroom yet again. Barely. Whew. Weigh myself, 152.6. That is not good. Five pounds since Saturday and I am eating.
Hopefully all is better tomorrow.
Gotta go, not to the bathroom that is.
Later
AI rocks!!!!!!!
So today I go out for a ride and am not feeling so physically weak so I start to push it a bit. Well, the same core muscles required to do some big gear efforts are also the same ones used to help in the release of my unwanted belly demons. So I am twenty minutes in, and I start to feel the rumbly in the tumbly, I think damn twenty minutes to the LA Twp park. I can make it. Well two minutes later Ring of Fire comes on the the Ipod and somewhere stirs the pot so to speak. I remember there is a new development going in about a mile away. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can. Positive talk and praying there is a Honey Pot at the site. I am in luck there is the sweet blue plastic depository. I fiddle with my helmet straps and unzip the jacket. while squeezing tight. I make in into the Porta not a second to soon. KerPow, Kazaam, oh oh oh that burning ring of fire, down, down , down the flames going higher. Oh the not so sweet irony.
Off I go for the rest of the ride. Over to the park to look at some course changes and the addition of a wicked long run section. Damn, feeling it again. I head home, another 45 minutes or so.
TESSIE FREAKIN' RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry. I get home and am undoing my jacket, helmet, pants everything. I scream inside . Off with the shoes, and to the bathroom yet again. Barely. Whew. Weigh myself, 152.6. That is not good. Five pounds since Saturday and I am eating.
Hopefully all is better tomorrow.
Gotta go, not to the bathroom that is.
Later
AI rocks!!!!!!!
Monday, January 30, 2006
Weekend rides
Bo f'ing ring!
Ames was away at Scrapapalooza III, so it was just me and Hobbes for the long weekend. I must say the high point of productivity was cutting back the ornamental grasses on Saturday. A whopping 30 minutes of work to my credit this weekend. Whew.
I figured it was a good weekend to get in some killer rides and not feel guilty about being gone all day. Entertained thoughts of driving to my new teammate, Stephan's place and going on a long ride with him. However, the season is long and less time spent driving somewhere to ride won out for Saturday. I decided to ride to Linglestown to meet up with the Faulkner Honda team and join their ride, then ride home. Since I was looking for 5 hours this would be the ticket, and it was. A relatively hard first hour or so got me to the ride, then 2 1/2 hours of pretty easy riding with FHR ( Watts went from 220 @ 1hr to 185 at 3.5 hours), then refuel and head home.
My old high school hoops coach rung in my mind. I could hear him scream. "Andy Miller" what is the shortest distance between two points?" " A straight freakin' line." That is another story altogether. My straight line took me over an 8%'er for a mile, and the steep .5 mile pitch to my house. Time to gear down and just get over them. I did, and it felt good to end with two climbs. 5:08 and 92 miles in for the day.
Sunday awoke to cool air and threat of rain. I better go soon. Rolled out at 10:00, and at 10:05 the rain started. Thank goodness I was rockin' the new Craft rain pants & rain jacket. I finally prepared. Zero power as i managed to also get sick somehow Saturday and purged everything from my system. So 1.5 raining hours of 38 degrees later I get home and dry off. Immediately the rain stops and within 30 minutes the sun peaks out and the temps rise. Stupid weatherman and his pm rain.
Well I did not purge everything, as I spent the rest of Sunday close to the bathroom. What a shitty day literally & proverbially. Even Desperate Housewives was a repeat.
I hope today is better, although 7:30 am Monday Conf calls are usually not harbingers of good news.
Later.
Ames was away at Scrapapalooza III, so it was just me and Hobbes for the long weekend. I must say the high point of productivity was cutting back the ornamental grasses on Saturday. A whopping 30 minutes of work to my credit this weekend. Whew.
I figured it was a good weekend to get in some killer rides and not feel guilty about being gone all day. Entertained thoughts of driving to my new teammate, Stephan's place and going on a long ride with him. However, the season is long and less time spent driving somewhere to ride won out for Saturday. I decided to ride to Linglestown to meet up with the Faulkner Honda team and join their ride, then ride home. Since I was looking for 5 hours this would be the ticket, and it was. A relatively hard first hour or so got me to the ride, then 2 1/2 hours of pretty easy riding with FHR ( Watts went from 220 @ 1hr to 185 at 3.5 hours), then refuel and head home.
My old high school hoops coach rung in my mind. I could hear him scream. "Andy Miller" what is the shortest distance between two points?" " A straight freakin' line." That is another story altogether. My straight line took me over an 8%'er for a mile, and the steep .5 mile pitch to my house. Time to gear down and just get over them. I did, and it felt good to end with two climbs. 5:08 and 92 miles in for the day.
Sunday awoke to cool air and threat of rain. I better go soon. Rolled out at 10:00, and at 10:05 the rain started. Thank goodness I was rockin' the new Craft rain pants & rain jacket. I finally prepared. Zero power as i managed to also get sick somehow Saturday and purged everything from my system. So 1.5 raining hours of 38 degrees later I get home and dry off. Immediately the rain stops and within 30 minutes the sun peaks out and the temps rise. Stupid weatherman and his pm rain.
Well I did not purge everything, as I spent the rest of Sunday close to the bathroom. What a shitty day literally & proverbially. Even Desperate Housewives was a repeat.
I hope today is better, although 7:30 am Monday Conf calls are usually not harbingers of good news.
Later.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Guilty Pleasures
I must confess to being an American Idol fan. The first weeks are equal parts entertaining and equal parts disturbing for me. It amazes me that people think they are the least bit talented. I mean it would be as if I were to audition, I freakin' suck. What people will do for their 15 minutes, is kind of comical.
Ice Cream and/or chocolate, when that stuff is in the house, I eat it like it is my job. In the 8th grade I went a complete marking period eating two ice cream sandwiches and a container of chocolate milk for lunch. It was sweet, literally and proverbially
Bike stuff. Yes I am a bike geek. Wheels, tires, bikes, etc... you name it I dream of it, then I buy it, then I sell it. At last count the Holmes cycling & fitness crew had me at 32 bikes in my "riding life", number 33 is on the way.
Beer. I like beer. hmmmm beer, I like beer.
Those are a good start
Ice Cream and/or chocolate, when that stuff is in the house, I eat it like it is my job. In the 8th grade I went a complete marking period eating two ice cream sandwiches and a container of chocolate milk for lunch. It was sweet, literally and proverbially
Bike stuff. Yes I am a bike geek. Wheels, tires, bikes, etc... you name it I dream of it, then I buy it, then I sell it. At last count the Holmes cycling & fitness crew had me at 32 bikes in my "riding life", number 33 is on the way.
Beer. I like beer. hmmmm beer, I like beer.
Those are a good start
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