should I ride or should I nap?

the bags under my eyes say nap.......

either way....
I am not going to waste my time BLOGGING

Punk in early to mid 80's
at least a basic introduction to my limited suburban perspective

having an older sister who listened to cool music gave me an advantage
what she listened to... I got to listen to as well
even if we did grow up in different houses
my sister was cutting edge in a wacky sort of way
punk rock was still young and had yet to be marketed
sure Malcom McClarren had his "Cash for Chaos"
but for the most part punk was still hanging in the shadows
not even fringe yet
the malls had not yet started to sell the punk image

somehow my sister had her hands on the pulse of what was happening in music
in the underground
local and across the pond
remember....
there was no internet
there was no "alternative music" or at least the term had yet to be coined
and
the concept of "indy rock" and the "independent label" were still just ideas
that had yet blossom
there was no BORDERS BOOKS with a helpful clerk to direct you to the BEAT
READER SECTION or the whatever else would educate someone how to be a non
conformist

records were bought three for ten dollars at Kemp Mill or at Second Story
Books
don't expect them to have whay you are looking for
unless you chance on finding it at Choice Cuts in Bethesda or rush out to
Rockville for the museum of what would later be known as Alternative Rock at
Yesterday and Today
there was definitely no Amazon.com and even SMASH RECORDS did not exist yet
and when SMASH first opened it opened as Spotlight Records in Bethesda and
them eventunally moved to Georgetown, but originally on the other side of
the street from where it exists today

thrift stores were the place for each and every kids effort to create a
fashion that was both individualistic and punk
Value Village was an adventure
it would be humorous who you would see shopping for a golf jacket or some
wing tips
there was both the 14th Street and teh Rhode Island Avenue locations
my sister attended a conservative all girl's school in Georgetown....
a demi jacket still spelled REBEL!
add her combat boots, multi-colored socks, and assorted pins of her favorite
bands were enough to make her stand out... enough for her to make a
statement... enough for her to piss off the nuns!*
(*this is of course an over simplification of my sister's rebellion, her
individuality and her efforts to rebel came more from within, while her
efforts on the outside, as slight as they are.... were in that world of the
early 80's in a private school were enough to get the effect from authority
that she was seeking while the core of her rebellion was about independence)

for those who wanted more.... perhaps shoes that actually fit, a special
style that was cutting edge, an outlandish hair dye color that was not
available a People's Drug Store, or something that was seen on a record
cover or a music magazine...... these people had to go the extra mile and
get their hands on catalog and order things from across the pond;
England.... fill out some forms... figure out the conversion and get a money
order in POUNDS!

Doc Martin boots were from England.... not Nordstroms.

There were a few processes. There was a friend headed to Europe with their
family (which oddly happened for me as I piggy backed an order with
childhood friend Eamon while the Mercurio family was taking a trip to
London. Jenny made the offer at no charge.) Then there was the catalog...
that magical catalog that showed any and all different types of Doc
Martins.... boots with various numbers of eyelets and creepers with any
number of lepard or zebra print. That was not always as easy. Somehow it
seemed that something always got lost in the translation from American to
English. Wrong sizes.. Wrong colors.... someone got some shoes.... and
someone didn't.

okay.... there was and still is Commander Salamander
google it yourself

as for bars....
there were very few bars...
if there were't punk bars there were bars that had PUNK NIGHT
even back alley was just one night a week

there was Whisper and Charmichael's
and believe it or not there was a bar called Posers..... and people went
there.......
I only went there on dollar beer nights......

Punk Dialogue: Three primary words; sell out, poser, and anarchy

okay
it is late
no time for these meaningless rants

rather than a DRAFT I will just PUBLISH AND POST

back

EARLIER THIS WEEK LISA AND I TOOK THE BOYS TO THE AQUARIUM IN BALTIMORE
AS I WAS WEARING CLEAN CLOTHES I TRIED TO HAVE LISA TAKE A PICTURE
BUT
DEAN HAD A DIFFERENT IDEA HOW HIS TIME WOULD BE SPEND

Laird Knight
Mountain Bike Hall of Fame Inductee
Founder of Granny Gear Productions/Creator of the 24 Hour Relay Race format

I once met a main who had filmed a documentary on one of the Granny Gear 24 Hour events that Laird hosted in Snowshoe West Virginia. It was clear that the topic of this documentary made this film maker's blood boil... rather than saying anything negative or having to tell me the tale of what went wrong this man said one thing.....

"Laird has an ego that could be seen from a helicopter a mile high in the sky."

I have no doubt that this dramatic imagry has its metaphorical truth. Having met Laird I find that he is a very charismatic and personalble individual with a passion for his work and a passion for the sport of mountainbiking. BUT... there are aspects of his ego that are so grand that they may be a tad self destructive. Perhaps a word from one of my high school English classes would aid to explain Laird a little more clearly.

here is a definition from Britannica.com

hu·bris
Pronunciation: 'hyü-br&s
Function: noun
Etymology: Greek hybris
: exaggerated pride or self-confidence

not what I was looking for.... lets try Dictionary.com

hu·bris
n.()Overbearing pride or presumption; arrogance:

well....
neither definition went into the detail that this great level of pride or arrogance leads to the individual's downfall
Perhaps I will have to reread Homer's ODDESSY to deliver a more clear definition

In additon to Laird's contribution to the sport of mountain biking, Laird is most certainly to be respected for his faithfulness to the state of West Virginia. For whatever reason Laird is determined to continue hosting a 24 Hour Race in the state of West Virginia.

In an email between former East Coaster, present day Colorado Local, Rocco there was some back and forth about the new 24 Hour race venue of Big Bear Lake in West Virginia.
In short....

Rocco is calling for mud....
with the confidence of prediction sand in the desert and snow in the artic Rocco has called for mud at Big Bear Lake the weekend of the 24 hour race.... he claims it is a wet muddy state

no...
not mud....
there is no way that Laird can sell us on a new location where we have to carry our bikes rather than riding them
no one is that arrogant
no one is that obnoxious
no one is that self destructive

and
no one will ever race at his races again if he does this to us again

several years ago after racing the 24 Hours of Snowshoe in knee deep mud I swore I would not race there again....
then the next year I held to my promise.... the course was fast and dry
I felt like I had missed something that I loved
I felt like I had backed down from something that I am not afraid of
so like the fool I am.... I raced Snowshoe again last year
sure enough.....
the course was wet, there was as much walking as there was riding
it was racing
but I am not quite sure if it qualifies as mountainbike racing
lucky for me I did not have much training under my belt, but had been walking my dogs
so I was well prepared
during one of my late night laps I again swore that I would not race at SNOWSHOE AGAIN!

to my pleasure before the weekend was over Laird announced that he would be moving to a new location which was not to be announced at that point.
then the announcement earlier this year, Big Bear Lake in Bruceton Mills would host the next Granny Gear 24 Hour race hosted in West Virginia
am I fool to think that this course will be any different?
or
am I just happy that the drive to the race location will not be as long?

I feel like I am taking back a girlfriend who won't stop cheating on me
sorry Laird... the sex is not that good.... it is just a little too muddy

Laird will walk away a hero if it is fast and dry....
if this course is muddy I think I will have to ask for my money back

here is a RACE REPORT from former City Bikes Team Captain and one of my Snowshoe Team mates from last year's race, Brian Kemler

Still wondering what sort of response I will get from the folks at NORBA
perhaps I should say....
Still waiting for a response from the folks at NORBA

Earlier this week I sent a few emails out...

One email was sent to a variety of people on the board of NORBA; National Off-Road Bicycle Association, while another email was sent to a number of race promoters who are throwing the AMBC NORBA sanctioned series that determines the NORBA Mid Atlantic Champion. Both set of emails were centered around having a Clydesdale Class in NORBA mountainbike events. To those that do not know... the Clydesdale Class is a class of mountainbikers each weighing over a minimum of 200 pounds, as far as I know the class is not gender specific, but in my limited racing experience I have yet to encounter a female Clydesdale at the starting line.

The AMBC Mid Atlantic Series promoters were kind enough to get back to me quite quickly.
Not only did they get back to me with a rapid response, but they gave me the answer that I was looking for.... they will be having a Clydesdale Class in their series! While the folks at NORBA are all giving it a tad more time... either they are dwelling on the idea or they just hit the DELETE key (DELETE is a response that my emails are not entirely unfamiliar with) There was one response from one of the NORBA representatives, it was a short and pleasant response that voiced support and a future vote in my favor at any future meetings. It was cool to get an email from this individual as well as getting backing on this issue. But... this was just an individual's response/opinion and not the NORBA boards reaction/decision.

we will wait and see

one thing for sure....
we need to have the Clydesdales show their support by getting out to race at this AMBC race series!
Mark Your Calendars!

the camera is often less than kind to me....
but in my mind I am beautiful



after all.....
people say my sons look just like me
and
there is no debating that these are two beautiful boys!

here are a few shots off the digital camera
thought my posts have been way too text rich lately
need to break things up with more information and more images
so...
here you go

daddy reading to dean



grant being grant

Ticket and Tow
and
if that does not change behavior
scan their records and issue the Death Penalty

today I did the cross town drive to drop Dean off at Daycare
lisa had the pleasure of taking Roscoe and Brutus into the woods which is currently a winter wonderland
while I ventured the city streets of Washington DC where I had to wrestle the anarchy which is a SNOW DAY
easy enough..... finish feeding the boys.... get Dean dressed... leave Grant in his PJs.... load up the Element... clear snow of car as engine warms up.... and go!

not so easy....

there are a few barriers slowing the flow of traffic
the primary "butt plug" causing traffic delays are the cars left parked over night and not moved for Rush Hour in the morning
it would be a harsh education for the owner of this car to wake and find their car gone
well, they are ready for that education as common courtesy is not inspiring them to move their cars

sadly there is an economic component
the law is not administered judiciously
in so many cases the law is imposed on various groups more so than others....
in the case of tickets and towing....
the more affluent neighborhoods are more likely to be ticket and/or towed than in the less affluent neighborhood
the Rush Hour streets near Dupont are flushed clean each morning, by the owners of the cars and by the DOT work force
but not in Columbia Heights or Shaw
as there are too many cars sitting in the lots at Traffic Adjucication as it is
they can not take any more cars in that will not be picked up
so they tow the cars of those who they know can afford the fines
rather than risking picking up another car that will never be retrieved

okay.... this is unfounded theory on my part
but
in my limited experience
in my limited scope this is what appears to be happening

I know some of this is true
I do not know if the economic discrimiation against the middle and upper class is actually policy
or
just something in my head
as Ezra will tell you the inner workings of my head are a dangerous place...

the other barriers?
people are idiots and assholes (sorry, more cussing on my BLOG, my bad.... but they are)
there are people who are doing drop off and pick up all along these city streets causing temporary blockage
death penalty?
hmmmm....
I would settle for public shaming or maybe caneing...

either way I survived
had a few close calls doing that cross town drive
it seems that stopping at stop signs throws driver's off
nearly got rear ended a few times

managed to keep my speed bellow 40mph, rarely over 35mph

I did almost cause a little backlog at the red light at 14th and Columbia Road in Columbia Heights
when I saw Soledad's high school age son Jose..... I could not help but shout hey
he did not see me....
so I played the hurt lover and accused him of being too cool with his friends to say hey
he claimed he had not seen me
they
just when he thought he was safe and had escaped me.....
I got out of my car and started a snowball fight....
neither of us connected with the target
but the energy of the moment was there.....
public shaming or caneing for my behavior?
nope.... I was back in my car and rolling just as the light turned green....
even "juked" the car in the center lane at pole position to pass one of those wrongfully parked cars

time to suit up and head to work

The Short Bus...
(no offense Rocco)

it seems that those that drive the short bus now rode the short bus as children

last night I went through a number of great blogs that i must link to......
great tangents....

also
need to make mention of how there is a movement to some people to close their blogs while others move to expand their blogs

it is an interesting thing what a concious decision this whole BLOG thing can become

tonight was a mixture of events....

tried to rush home to free up soledad and watch the kids before lisa got home
lisa beat me home, guess the weather did not effect her drive as much as we all feared
perhaps the weather slowed me down on my short pedal up the slushy and slick streets of DC

with fresh snow on the ground and the dogs needing to be walked I asked Dean if he wanted to go sledding
99.9% of the time Dean would want to do certain things
there are things that he loves
there are things that he looks forward to
there are things that he really really enjoys
Dean enjoys everything
as much as Dean loves roller coasters (at least the ones he is tall enough to ride)
Dean loves sledding
Dean loves sledding so much that his favorite hooded sweatshirt says SNOW DAY on it

Dean responded with excitement.... YES!.. then started to scamper around to get ready
actually, I was shocked he was not in his snow suit before I walked in the door
we each suited up
at three and a half he is pretty good at getting dressed
at three and a half he is not very good at staying focused
after the usual hoops the dogs were on leash, we had Petzel headlamps on our heads, snow protection head to tow and we were out the door
we crossed the very busy street in front of our house and stepped into my sanctuary, Rock Creek Park
the snow was more shallow from morning foot steps so the trail was not hard to follow to foot path
Dean hung on tight as he sat in his sled and we moved down the trail
in an almost hurmous fashion Dean ran over my hels as the sled picked up speed faster than I could walk
most certainly he wiped out on a few curves laughing all the way, face full of snow smile glsitening
when we got to the preferred sledding hill across the street there were some teen age girls on the trail
Dean and I did not want to cramp their style
but we needed to share the hill
they were more than willling to share the experience
one of the girls lives up the block and we are familiar with each other
they made no mention of the headlamps
the girls walked up the sledding path while Dean and I walked along side the sledding path

in a very teen age girl way these girls were dressed more for fashion than function
they were soaking wet without a piece of winter clothes within a mile of them
no hats
no gloves
definitely
no gortex
they were wet and it was dark
drentched head to tow they headed in leaving one of their sleds behind

we had the hill to our selves
like the freak I am I tossed as much snow from the sidelines onto the trail
trying to make the path faster and perhaps give it a little more cushion

dean and I unlike the girls treked up the side of the sledding path rather than right down the middle
is it because I am a guy
or
is it because I am me
after a few trips down the hill
including one ride down the hill where Dean insisted I ride in the front and him in the back
he had fun
eventually Dean realized that it did make more sense for him to be in the front

after a number or rides down the hill I decided to mix it up and pulled Dean through the woods up and down some small little rolling hills
all the while I was cautious that he did not slip down the off camber sections
and
that all the times we went over a fallen tree or an anti-erosion barrier that was created by me
that he would clear it or if he were to fall it would not be too bad
sure he fell
but it was part of the fun
we had a blast
the dogs had a blast
snowing all the while
the snow disoriented Dean
he got all disoriented but eventually grasped where we were
after a downhill over several water bars that I built I debated with some other methods to repair these trails
Dean laughed as we flew off each ledge while I clintched my teeth
there had never been a complaint of being too cold
there was mention of some snow in his pants, but not a complaint
in my effort to educate Dean about clapping his hands to keep his hands from getting wet from melting snow I think I may have given mixed emotions
trying to be serious, Dean thought I was being stern, perhaps I was, but it seemed like he could do to learn that he needs to keep the snow from clinging to his cloth mittens
there were no pee breaks
there was no crying or whinning
there was no incident with my dogs chasing a homeless man or a apartment poodle
it was a good experience
it was all good
then it got even better
we got home to a little PHO
lisa and grant went out to Nam Viet to grab some vietamese soup
oh man....
what could warm us better from the inside
we all love it
the whole family eating PHO is an experience
Dean wanting dipping sauce
Dean wanting to know what sauce is spicy, what is tangy, what sauce he might like...
not sure if people get what this little three and a half year old is doing
well.... let me tell you... Dean is talking just like you and me.... it is like a little adult alien dropped on our planet learning about things for the first time.... it is magical.. and not just through his parent's eyes

dinner went its usual course with the dogs getting the lion's share
what they snatch and what grant gives them adds up to be a feast
it was a great bonding session for grant and myself
he crawled up from the floor into my lap to eat what I was eating
Dean is right... grant is a little noodle monster
and ya know ahte. he is a little broth monster too

after that we kicked it in the living room
the snow coming down only visible under the street light
boys going to bed late after finally dressing them for sleep and reading them some books
the boys always go to bed late
we script our own misery
now me going to bed late
we script our own misery

Pre and Post race shoes and boots....
something that would be excellent for those rainy multi lap races
like Lodi Farms or Snowshoe (this year's Big Bear)

okay.... shamefully the Cyclocross season came and left without me approaching the starting line once....
well, as the snow falls on the warm wet earth I am thinking about cross....

I was thinking of some shoes that would be great for standing on the sidelines watching the fast guys as I let my heart rate drop to a normal healthy level

this is what I came up with..... MUCK BOOTS.... here is what Elaine from J. Peterman had to say about the Muck Product

and
a HOT TIP for the Winter Commuter in Wet Weather

a few years ago I saw a crazy cycling commuter at the local health food store in Boise Idaho
as I scoped out his very custom rig we had a pleasant exchange
I noticed he had clipless pedals.... then I saw that his shoes were covered with an inexpensive version of a rubber slip over shoe cover (totes or something from a surplus store)
when I questioned whether or not he was using the cleats and shoes with the pedals on his bike
he showed me that he had cut a square out of the sole of the rubber boot cover
I examined things more closely... these boot covers were more solid than they appeared
almost a hard sole
he said that the water may splash up from a puddle

for the most part they were a good inexpensive way of keeping the feet dry
definitely a custom set up that I had considered before the purchase of the LAKE winter shoes

I hope that this post finds someone looking for an inexpensive option
too many commuters and couriers still putting their feet into plastic bags before they step into their shoes
a good short term fix

this rubber boot cover seems like a much more warm and toasty option!
and not that expensive!

Clydesdale Class added at the Norba race at Liberty in PA
UPDATED: the word on the street is that a CLYDESDALE CLASS has been added to the series.... so.... BIG BOYS.... get out and race.... bring respect to all the Fred Flintstones out there!

had a friendly little email exchange with the folks at highspeedcycling
they are in fact having a CLYDESDALE CLASS!
if the series has a CLYDESDALE CLASS is not yet clear to me

will keep you posted
also sent an email to some folks at NORBA asking about NORBA's adding a Clydesdale to all of their Mountain Bike Races

the friendly exchange paid off.....

there was not always the internet
before the internet there were books....
but most people fell back upon word of mouth
me.... sometimes I just talked without knowing anything

when I was young and punk there was this big hang up about "selling out"

so without knowing anything about gary fisher or even fisher bikes
when TREK bought fisher I just without any knowledge figured that this cat was "selling out"
ya know what..... I don't know shit!
did not know shit then
and
don't know shit now

only then I was a little more opinionated..... yes.... more opinionated
just as most people are when they are young... I was an exhaggeration of myself

I was wrong

gary is cool
gary is punk

okay...
I still don't know shit
again... I could be wrong
I changed my opinion years ago
it is unlikely I will change my opinion again
there are just too many facts out there confirming it..... gary is cool

here are some links
Fisher 101 teaches about 29 inch wheel technology
History according to Fisher
History according to the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame
okay... that was the History of Mountainbiking according to the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame
here is Hall of Fame Inductee; Gary Fisher
(the history is worth looking into... hope your afternoon is free.... you may find it interesting)

also cool
and get your Punk GED here

.

a must see animation piece from Elizabeth Furnace
fearlessdogeaters
the endless loop has its value and purpose
but
I think I need to learn to read faster as I kept reading the the tale from the trail the animation started to make my head spin after a bit


ladies and gentlemen.... the original joep

.

I F_CKED UP!

today after work I ran a quick errand
actually left a few minutes early as I had to get there before it closed at 5PM, just made it!... after the time it took to change, swing by the bank, get to the location, lock the bike, and find the right room it was just minutes before 5PM
most certainly that door behind me closes and locks by 5PM if not by 4:59!
I was IN! I was IN LINE! all before the doors closed and locked no matter what time they closed
the cross town pedal was under double rush mode
so rushed that there was no more time then a quick game of chicken as a childish hello to friend and rival kevin dillard.... okay arch enemy
so perhaps the game of chicken was not so childish.... okay... it was
then once the errand was done I was in the thick of it downtown on the bike
not wanting to take the most direct room home as it was still early
not at work
not working late
lisa getting home from work and picking up Dean from Rosemount were on my timing for schedule and return time
I pointed away from home not sure of the best path to take
as I pedaled towards home I got distracted
somehow I thought I would be more comfortable at speed on the cross bike with its skinny little tires and well worn brake pads, which even at their best they do not meet the braking power of V-brakes then of course the USCF forbidden disc brakes
man... I want disc brakes on a cross bike... hold on getting distracted
braking in traffic is a style I like very much
the track bike never spoke to me in the urban setting
so on a geared cross bike I hammered through traffic fighting a little rub from a rear wheel that is asking to be retired
so I went down past the Smithsonian on The Mall towards the Washington Monument, then the Jefferson Memorial, and across the 14th street bridge towards the Mt. Vernon trail
this is a well trafficed bike path
with impressive numbers for daily users
respect to those that founded this project
respect to those that keep this thing going....
if only there were more trails
but for that to happen we need more people that understand the value of the trail
does not look like the majority of America "gets it"
after all... this is a country that considers obesity to be an epidemic
okay.... off the topic again
humorously enough all this tangent stuff is me trying to edit

so almost without notice I pedal towards and then under the Memorial Bridge as the marble monuments on the other side of the river take a glorious pinkish orange glow... subtle yet beautiful
then after memorial comes the Key Bridge after a little island which has some urban outdoor culture... Roosevelt Island

before I knew it I was spinning fast and hard on the towpath between the C&O Canal and the Potomac
the hard packed orange gravel earth mixture of the tow path was pretty dry for the most part
with one side of the path, the side closest to the water of the canal was the fast line
I stayed within the fast line as much as possible
but things were solid and dry enough to get a tad sloppy
not intentionally sloppy, but sloppy as I was distracted by the view through the leafless trees of the Potomac
the canal at this point is without water and is really not much of a site
well, yes, a site... as in an eyesore

the sun had already set
but there was still plenty of light and some magical coloring over the Potomac as I headed northwest further and further from home
now do not let me give you the wrong impression.... I was not headed to Cumberland
heck....
I was not even going as far as Great Falls
all I was trying to do was get a little more than the usual post work ride in as I feared that the next few days will be too wet and too cold with rain and snow for anything more than a mad dash from home to work then work to home
with a glance at my watch I made a turn around at an arbitrary point and headed back down the towpath towards Georgetown and then home
the path is a slight grade downhill which aided the momentum
while freeing me to spend more time gazing out over the Potomac
as the light grew more and more dim the objects on the water became nothing more than sillouettes
until it was not so dark that I needed a headlamp
but dark enough that I needed to focus on the trail ahead and did not have enough light to bother to look out over the water

at Fletcher's boathouse I rolled off the canal onto the Capital Crescent Trail where the wheels would feel less friction
once on the paved trail I focused on the bicyclists ahead as motivation to maintain pace
one by one I rolled past a variety of commuters
giving each individual a respectful "on your left"
pleased that I am not being passed...
being that hypocrite that is maybe going a little too fast on the trail
or is it the guy going past me that is the asshole going too fast
either way caution and respect are on my mind, so is a little risk for a little pleasure
with a glance at my watch to get an estimate of my duration I realized a few things
it was getting late and lisa would be expecting me
and
it is wednesday
yes, wednesday, not tuesday, president's day threw me off
lisa is at home with the kids.... there is the potential for an earlier pickup as it all is not dictated by what time she leaves work and the post work commute traffic that can be altered by accident or weather each day having or or the other.... lisa and I had planned for her to go to yoga wednesday night... tonight

I F_CKED UP!

the pleasure of a brisk winter ride vanished immediately
any notion of taking my ride any further into Rock Creek for some rolling hill climbs were dashed
there were no options but whatever would get me home most rapidly

sure enough
there was lisa
entertaining Dean and Grant
both boys fed and involved in one project or another
it was too late for yoga
lisa asked if I worked late
I hung my head and admitted that I had forgotten that it was wednesday, that president's day had thrown me off, and that I had the best intentions for her to go to yoga

best intentions suck!

I F_CKED UP!

it is wrong for me to take advantage of her like that
unintentional or not
it is wrong
I need to focus on her needs as well as my own
had it been her late for me to meet some people for a ride.... well I would have thrown a tantrum
sure I got some "negative energy"
but had this happened to me I would have acted like a 3 year old
believe me I know what a three year old acts like
(okay, Dean is an angel, but I have a history for throwing tantrums)
negative energy?
okay
I deserved it

it was still a pretty good winter ride
just need to be more careful and not f_ck up so much

oh
forgot to mention the moon
even before the city was in actual darkness the moon was our full and white
as I finished the last couple of hundred of yards on the Capitol Cresent Trail I gave the moon as much attention as I could afford
the rest of the ride home was too demanding to take in the stars
I do love the moon
if I were not such a lazy mothe....
sorry, I never cuss in my blog and could not contain myself
but I am a little too lazy to suit up some gear and get the dogs out into the woods
maybe we will be blessed with some snow....
then tomorrow night I will take the dogs out for a long one before I try the cross country skiis again

NORBA and a CLYDESDALE CLASS.....

so I just emailed a bunch of folks at NORBA asking them, "when they are going to have a CLYDESDALE CLASS at their races?"

wonder what sort of response I will get....

baby names...
naming a child or even naming a dog should take a little thought
and maybe.... just maybe.... a little web searching

how important is a name?
does the name make the person or does the person make the name?

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other word would smell as sweet."

--William Shakespeare From Romeo and Juliet

significant or insignificant?
how has your name effected the development of you and your "self?"

perhaps we should reference the Shel Silverstein song made famous by Johnny Cash; A Boy Named Sue
or
maybe we can just look back at our grade school years and reflect on how children responded to common names and how children responded to unusual names....
I do recall there was always a slight bond with any other child that I happened to meet that shared my name

in this day and age the naming has grown to be more and more obscure
or at least the common names have grown to be more and more obscure

everyone has a story or a reason why they have selected a certain name for their child
as for me.... well... I went through a list of names

go to the toddler park and scream out in a friendly parental way, "Madison" then wait... try "Zoe" then wait... then "Aiden" and then try "Jackson"
more than likely you will attract 95% of the kids in the park

check this list Babycenter.com's top 100 names for 2004
here is a short list from the Social Security offices

funny to see a name like Madison hit the top 100 list for girl's name...
What is the first recorded usage of Madison as a first name for a women on record?
Daryll Hannah's mermaid character in the movie SPLASH!
yes, a cute name... but a name that is turning out to be less than unusual
I anticpate my sons to be having crushes and dates with all sorts of Zoes, Madisons, McKenzies... when they get older

the whole naming issue can be funny...
a parent does their best to seek out a name that is unusual, strong, independent, and cool

for girls this can be difficult
as many women in different aspects of the "adult industry" have gone through a self re-naming process where they went through that same set of ideas for their new and improved name...
so when the mom's name their daughter Aspen, Jade, Ashley, or Jenna.... why don't their husbands speak up and tell them that the porn they just downloaded showed doing some Kama Sutra with the football team as she answered to that unusual, strong, independent, and cool name

boys are a little easier...
but I do find that there are some geeky couples giving their kids names that may be stronger than they can hold
not sure if my sons would want the pressure of living up to Laird, Zeus, or Thor
okay... I have not met any Zeus' out there
and Laird and Thor are fine names... but not if you are going to raise a skinny little book worm like yourself!

there can also be nicknames...
there can be pet names...
perhaps these will grow into the real name
as people intentionally have a "third/III" so that their child can be called Tre or Tripper (for triple_

when naming my two sons I went through this little process with my wife
we each had a list of favorites
we shared our lists
we canceled names off each others lists
then finally we came down to a few names.... and that is what we ended up with
names that we hope do not hit the top 100 for at least the next few years

for me I was concious of the names I gave to my two sons....
in the same what I was concious how I named my two dogs

people respond to the name
although it does not define them... it does label them
I wanted my children and my dogs to wear a label that they would enjoy
and
a label that would hopefully suit them

but in the same respect I did not give them a name that I thought would be fitting of a pro snowboarder or even a future cyclist....


to all who named their children names that were listed in my short list of names that have become of too common
my apologise
I know many wonderful little Jacksons and Zoes
Jackson was a name that we had considered

it boggles the mind how there could be these naming streams of conciousness
that girls could turn to women carrying a piece of paper in their perverbial pocket with that one perfect name that they had kept a secret
that name that they did not even share with their best friend as they knew that if their best friend were to have a child first they would steal that name

okay
this rant has wandered and rambled enough
to give cyclists that one little cyclist tangent....
as if being Eddy Merckx's son is not enough pressure... but to name him Axle
well...
last year at the Olympics he lived up to his name
did the name add additional pressure?
I think not.... the pressure was their at birth... before ink on the birth certificate was dry
there was pressure for him to reach for greatness on the bike
the name is just a name

so that is how I will close....

the name is just a name

with that said.... how can I change my name?

.


this blog on the topic of the FIXED GEAR OFF ROAD (www.63xc.com/) is more for my friend and electronic rival DT

currently DT and I are racing to see who can control the world faster through BLOGGING!
right now we are both tied for last!

.

afternoon snack for a Clydesdale

hunger and boredom frequently dance together
some times one confuses itself for the other

while exiting the neighboring offices I as usual opted for the stairs rather than the elevator
after all... life is cumulative... every little bit adds up
before I opened the doors to the stairs I slapped my chubby belly and pinched more than an inch
contemplate what it would take to shed that less than glorious spare tire

then moved slowly down the stairs letting gravity do the six flights of effort
upon exiting the building I turned right instead of left towards the main offices
at the corner I was greeted by JJ a local panhandler
honestly... I do not get much pleasure from our encounters
actually... I would prefer not to be bothered by him
the error was mine.... when he had his dog KING on the streets with him I could not resist to give him food for his dog, actual IAMS dog food... King rejected the food... King was accustom to the scraps of the scraps that JJ tossed his way

then this winter as I tried to do some spring cleaning I ended up with a garbage bag full of clothing
random stuff, cycling tights with tears on the seem, sweaters, sweatshirts, t-shirts that I never expect to wear, and a few jackets
clothing that I went ahead and shared with this same man, JJ, who is now without his dog
animal control took his dog, by now that dog has more than likely been put down, poor king... poor poor king... at least all dogs go to heaven

well... now as I walk down the block he feels compelled to approach and give me that urban hello... you know the wonder twins power thing... that thing where two people gently and cooly touch fists
normally I try not to do such things as it is not my style, but it is easier to meet him on his ground and then move away
he may think that he is helping whitey feel a little cooler.... a little more in touch with "the brotherman," but he is not... he is making me feel awkward

we say a few hellos
then I try to move away before he tries to hit me up for some change

after our encounter I moved towards Jack's carryout for a grilled cheese sandwich with lettuce tomato, and bacon.....YUMMY!
not sure why... but that is what the belly was calling for.... and I always listen to the belly

Jack's was closed! BUMMER!
so I fell back on Old Standby.... Mohammud's corner hot dog stand
standing in front of Jack's locked doors and dark interior left me victim to the scent of hot dogs standing in day old boiling water, topped with everything.... that is everything!; onions, hot peppers, cheese, mustard, ketchup, and chilli.... there may have been more than that
who knows what is on this dog... it all melds into one goopy mess of flavor

needless to say I ate and enjoyed two hot dogs, a bag of Sour Cream, and an icy cold can of Coca Cola
the food was not all the way down my throat and in my belly while the juices of various condiments were still on my hands and I felt immediate regret.... guilt
a sickening guilty feeling....
or maybe that was just indigestion

Races Around the Corner....

Fitness Challenge becomes part of a Mini-Series

after a few seconds of thought I sent out an email that got as little review as many of my BLOG entries...
it was a simple plea to have them add a CLYDESDALE CLASS to their Series, unlikely they will consider it
here is that email message....

Good Afternoon-

Will you guys be having a CLYDESDALE CLASS at your races this spring; the AMBC races. After a glance at your three sites it appears not...

For a racer to select a class is not always easy.

For me it is no easier, it is shameful for me to race in the Sport class yet, there are times where I feel that I just do not belong in the Expert Class. Last year I stood on the podium in third place at the Greenbriar Fitness Challenge along with several other sandbaggers.

The only real difference.... I am 6'4" tall weighing in at over 235 pounds (depending on my lunch that day and snacks the night prior... that time last year I may have been over 240... with beard)

In short....

I see these Single Speed Classes popping up everywhere...
but some of the promoters seem to fail to see that the Single Speed is a choice.... Clydesdale is a genetic disadvantage. I on any given day can not just select to be a 150 pound racer.... but on any day I can select my rigid single speed or my geared front suspension bike.

With the larger categories it makes sense to break the people up.... Clydesdale is often a great little subgroup... no need for Beginner, Sport, or Expert Clydedales... just Clydesdales.... the Sport distance and course is usually good enough, but most definitely not the beginner distance/course.


just thought I would throw this out there
let you guys consider adding a Clydesdale class....
it is good for the sport
and
it is good for racing

let me know what you think
thanks
Joel
Clydesdale Racer
City Bikes Mountainbike Team

would love to be a fly on the computer screen when they get this email....
most likely they will just laugh it off
as the only people who seem to get the Clydesdale Class are Clydesdales.....

the date is from two years ago
and
that email address does not work
but
it is still a fun little animation piece that I tossed together

Flip Sign
(time for me to Photoshop another sign... if only I had Gif Builder to animate it)

yesterday I took a not so long road ride on my cross bike
even with the broken spoke it was a pleasure
for the most part the experience suffered very little friction from the car culture
but there is a perspective to this friction...

sort of like the mosquitos in summer... there are so many that on a day where there are so few...
there is not need to complain as so few is much better than so many
yes, the mosquitos in some parts of DC are aweful after all.... DC was built on a swamp!
but we should still desire a mosquito free environment

yesterday was a day with very few mosquitos, I mean cars
during my ride there is one section where the car traffic really irks me
that is ON THE CLOSED SECTION OF BEACH DRIVE
there is a section of Beach Drive that closes to thru car traffic

there are a few issues....
people are always going down this road not knowing that it is closed on weekend and holidays
only to get to the barriers at the end, thus causing them to have to turn around
they are so pissed that they speed through Rock Creek twice as fast as they entered
and
people are always flying down these sections of closed roads at high speeds to get to a family picnic at one of the many reservable picnic groves
sure... they are allowed to be driving to these picnic grounds... but can they at least do it in a more reasonable fashion?
doubling the speed limit should be enough to revoke a license... lets revoke some licenses!
and
people are selfish and stupid, that is a given
(usually I clarify that by saying that in this world people are either idiots or assholes, many turn out to be both)

this seems like a problem that could be solved with a little change here and there....

sure officer friendly could stand out there with his radar gun and his pad of tickets...
I have never felt that tickets do much more than generate revenue and piss people off

there needs to be an education, people need to learn that the area is closed to car traffic but that they are allowed to pass through to get to their picnic area
thus making them realize their subordinate position
that their right on this road in their car is beneith that of the roller blading family, the person running, the dog walking couple, and the pack of cyclists that are all on this section of road

one way to aid in this education would be MORE SIGNS
within the more signs education I feel that a "FLIP SIGN" for the speed limit would be an excellent part of this campaign
the Speed Limit sign of 25 MPH, which means in the driver's mind..... gun it on the straight away and hang on on the curves, should actually read 15 MPH with some sort of mention of the various non car traffic having the right of way

too often I get buzzed by some car traffic that is heading down Beach Drive lost and angry
only to have to turn around at its end even more lost and more angry
exiting the park at an even more aggressive pace then they had entered
weaving in between roller bladers and cyclists like they are orange cones on a closed driving course
the dangerous combinations are endless
a child could make a U-turn in an effort to regroup with their family
a roller blader could fall thus changing their expected path
and
the car as passing one cyclist could fail to anticipate the approaching speed of another cyclist coming the opposite direction causing a head on collision
this set of variables occurs not at random, but rather each and every time a car cruises through the closed sections of Rock Creek Park on weekends and holidays

time to walk the dogs
coffee is doing its thing, but working very slowly
this idea is not hitting the screen with the clarity that I seek
well, most of my recent posts have lacked the clarity that I seek
somewhere along the line my BLOG started going for QUANITY and not QUALITY
the race season should change that
as I start riding more
there will be more meat to my message
the races will offer a more clever set of stories
and the rest of my life will have to experience the balance of all that is fatherhood and all that is a struggling cyclist whose greatest struggle is laziness

vital to work out on monday

I have always felt it is vital to get a work out on monday
it is a great way to start the week
it is good to know that if you don't work out again at least you got in one work out
then if you are shooting for 3-5 work outs a week, without Monday it just may not happen

wanted to ride
of course wanted to ride dirt, but after last night's rain it would be mud
so pavement was my only option
not to mention there was a shortage of time
time that would be better spent riding than driving to the trailhead
cursed myself for not getting out on dirt when it was frozen and fast this weekend

for whatever reason I was stuck on the notion of riding my cross bike
riding a different bike on the same section of road can change the experience entirely
not just the gearing but the body position also alters the experience as a whole
different bars and in this case a completely different bike
one issue
broken spoke on the rear wheel
with a spin of the wheel I figured it was straight enough to ride
with the Spooky cross brakes there was room for a little wobble
this old wheel is past its prime
I spun the broken spoke free from the spoke nipple
the wheel was now a 35 spoke, not 36 spoke, rear wheel
the wheel was not so bad that I am ready to retire it, but this is most certainly one of this wheel's last rides
as it was president's day I was not sure if City Bikes would be open
so I figured I would just go ahead and go out and hit the shop on the loop back after a few miles

it was great to get out on the old Jamis Nova
sure it is way too small for me
but the sensation of being on a thin tired bike with drop bars felt good
the acceleration and the glide, well, the glide with the wobble of the rear wheel
being a holiday there were sections of Beach Drive closed, but only a fraction of my short ride
went our past the Mormon temple then towards Rockville
encountered all sorts of cyclists doing their own thing
tandems, track bikes, roadies, more roadies, and then just some regular folk
in the roadie eye I am quite Fredlike with my backpack and all the lights
well, actually, in anybody's eye I am sure that I look more like the bear riding a tricycle in the circus
my big beard and my big body dwarfing the mininutive frame with its skinny little wheels

on the way out the phone rang, the phone never rings, I stop thinking and fearing that it is work
sure enough
time to pick up the pace and head into work
but
not without swinging through City Bikes for a quick repair
just a tad further forward before I made my turn around, no reason to be so close without making the full extension
the body is feeling good the bike is feeling alright
I attribute some of the drag on the bike being the rear wheel falling further out of true and my body being slightly out of shape; winter weight?
as I crested a little roll of a climb I glanced back at the tangent where the rear tire meets the earth
sure enough it was flat.... wellnot exactlyflat... it was losing air

with the tire losing air I make a turn off Jones Bridge onto the Capitol Crescent trail as I shout a hello to Mount Pleasant neighbor, fellow mountainbiker, friend, and frelative through marriage, Lex
no time for more than a hello for either party
we are both father's of two meeting out window of opportunity.... our very small window of opportunity
sprint out the last 100 yards questioning if the thrusting is causing the air to exit at a more rapid rate than trying to ride light and smooth
then I realize..... I do not know how to ride light and smooth

yep
with a cross dismount to raise the bike I pinch the rear tire..... almost entirely flat
as I round the corner past the line of display bikes I see Sean Bega making a sale or making small talk with a set of parents whose child just pedaled off to try out what looks like her first geared bike
Sean is a wealth of knowledge with a strong belief in the product.... not sure of his sales style, but I would guess that he steps back and lets the bicycle sell itself

in some sort of a manic rush I tell sean my problem and my needs
he directs me to where I can work and where what I needs will be
I toss the seat over the stand
no need to clamp into the stand
this is a quick turn around repair
already know that the spoke is none drive side, so only a few steps to get this bike rolling again
with the tire flat I remove it before I start the process
mechanic dave and I exchange hellos

as Sean moves back to the front of the story directing my attention to light for the trueing stand
I notice the shade before I noticed the lamp....
someone made a very awesome lamp out of a rear triangle of an old bike
not unlike some bar stool I have seen
only this frame is not so old
it is a beautiful chrome GT frame that makes a pretty awesome lamp
quick release remains allowing for adjustment of the lamp height

that lamp is worth another look as well as a photo and a post on the site

the shop experience was quick and clean
this shop is run like a well oiled machine
the bikes are assembled on the floor and on the racks, the product is well stocked and clearly displayed, and the mechanic work space is organized, clean, and logically arranged
there are about 50 helmet boxes on the floor, but..... there are things that need to be done

they have all the spokes.... well.... they have a great number of well arranged spokes
more importantly, they have the spoke size that I need
I weave the spoke into place
not bending it too much to get it past the rear cluster (cassette, excuse me)
then over and under and a little tightening of the nipple
then into the stand
this wheel is pretty ugly
but I am shooting for "best possible" or at least my non-career mechanic best posible
a real mechanic can breath life into parts that appear to be long been past due
to the trade of bicycle mechanic's credit.... I am not that mechanic

with the wheel moderately straight I moved forward and further
in my bag I pull out a cross tube
actuall I pull out of my bag a twenty six inch tube, a twenty nine inch tube, and then also 700c cross tube while glue and patches fall on the floor

with an aircompressor to assist me the tire and tube are on the rim and pumped up to nearly 100 psi in seconds
my good byes to mechanic dave and then up front to settle up
before I can make it to the register I figure I best grab a few nipples and a spare tube
then back to the register to settle up with Sean
there is some playful bantor and Sean makes some mention of the rapidly approaching road season
then I admit that I have no road experience, then Sean invites me to try his crit at RFK this summer
it sounds like a good plan
after warning Sean about my wreckless style he assures me that he has insurance for such things

then out the shop and across Conneticutt Avenue back on the Capitol Crescent trail where I could glide 7-9 miles downhill into work
the first section of trail is unpaved
it was fun in a sort of messed up sort of way
there was a tad bit of people traffic, most of which was trying to tip toe delicately around the puddles
even the Bethesda dogs were avoiding the mud
not me
I went forward straight and hard picking the fast and polite line
it was my own little Paris Robaix
a little excuse me, pardon me, good afternoon, on your left, on your left, then as I crossed Bethesda Avenue just outside of the tunnel of the Air Rights building I started to get a sense of that warm weather holiday crowd
the path was a tad crowded for anything more than a beach cruiser
but I had to get to work so I pointed for the flesh parade
as I crossed over Bradley Blvd. I said hello to a passing familiar face
John slowed to stop for a hello
I asked if he was headed home
sure enough he was
so I turned around to share company with John and to travel a route that would get me downtown just as fast but without being a nussance to the Sunday traffic on a Holiday Monday
also allowing me to get my building pass id... just in case

eventually got to work
we managed to do our thing and I stuck around so my coworker to head home after a long day
did not want to go to work
yet am glad to get a comp day for down the road..... maybe make that Colorado trip a long weekend

then as my day came closer to a close the world got cold, wet, and dark outside
my buddy dennis came back into the office laughing as he grabbed an unbrella
he laughed about me being on the bike
while I laughed....
it was not about the bike it was about being in nothing more than nickers and long sleeve jersey
sure enough I got wet
sure enough I got cold
but I guess I should have known
lesson learned?


oh...
bummer
tonight lisa and I were trying to line up a babysitter so we could go to an Ashtanga class together
we could not line up a babysitter
then getting called into work eliminated lisa's chance to go to Yoga as I was not home to watch the kids
I got my monday work out lisa did not
wednesday lisa must go to yoga
especially since saturday was without Yoga due to a combination of my stomach virus and a phone call from work

.

Hall and Oats?
I don't get it.
then again, I don't get get ABBA either
prefer Hall and Oats to ABBA, but I don't get Hall and Oats.




.

bicycle education

just as I feel that we need to install some sort of PSA style education on empathy for car drivers to see cyclists on the streets as people
I also feel that there should be a "bicycle class" in high school just like there is a "health/sex ed class" Mandatory.... everyone takes it.... for a grade? pass fail? I don't know.... they just need to have it
this "bicycle class" would cover riding, safety, and maintenance with a full semester "bike shop class" for credit as an elective for the students who would like to take their cycling interests further

to not know how to ride a bicycle is way beyond not knowing how to swim and I feel that everyone should learn to swim!
how and where a bicycle has a right to be is something that seems to pointed out to some people (it is basically a two ideas.... bikes are not supposed to be on the sidewalks and believe it or not bicycles have a right to be on the road)

if everyone were be givne the slightest education on bicycle maintenance and repair many things would happen...
time and money would be saved....

here in DC it is standard for a flat repair to cost roughly 15 bucks (tire and tube)
that boggles my mind that someone would spend that, yet when I worked in a shop there were families who appeared to be scrapping by dropping off a 60 dollar Huffy to get two flat tires repaired....

if people learned to just clean and lube their chain properly then the riding experience would be more pleasurable; both faster and more responsive

then on top of that there would be those who had bicycles or used bicycles as part of their lives would gain the knowledge to fix and repair bicycles which could give job opportunities as well as expanding the mind to the logic of how things work..... or even more simply... that there is a correct tool for each job....

very seldom should a hammer, vise grips, and duct tape be used to repair a bicycle

nuts and bolts come in various sizes.... and so do the wrenches
the vise grips are not an all in one tool.... the vise grips are a plumber's tool

the sooner the children learn this, the sooner they can start fixing their bikes rather than slowly making them less operable

oh.... patch kits cost less than super glue and an old tube
sure it is ingenious... but it is not cost effective... plus.... your grandma wants her Crazy Glue back so she can fix her reading glasses!

education.....
life is cumulative.....
there are benefits to learning
some people are not being taught these things at home so we need to offer them in our schools

Lessons.....

in life there are many lessons...
some lessons are more obvious
some lessons are more frequent

on the bicycle there are always lessons to be learned....

a pinch flat/snake bite while out mountain biking is often a lesson in tire pressure, too little tire pressure can cause the impact to pinch the tube against the rim causing two holes that resemble the tooth prints of a bite from a venemous snake

lost of traction while riding the cross bike on off camber, wet grass, or while turning on not so loose gravel may also be a tire pressure issue, too much tire pressure can reduce traction

the education can be a less than immediate process
often having to learn the balance
a balance which is not the same for everyone
the rules of the Clydesdale are not the same as the rules for your average weight weenie

getting caught in the mountains not anticipating the seasons to change being caught without a shell or full finger gloves can create an chilling uncomfortable feeling
just like getting caught in the desert as late as noon in the high season, heat can bring on exhaustion fast leading to what could be a dangerous situation

there can also be lessons that create a great inconvenience
like being caught with a broken bicycle far from home
name the failure.....
in most cases the failure is repairable with the right tools
if it can be fixed there is no reason to be stranded
a cyclist learns fast that a short bicycle ride is a very very long walk!

today I am experiencing a lesson that is a tag more obscure
right now my calf is sore and bruised with a knot that can be felt but is sore to the touch
this bruise is a reminder of my chain breaking last week one night on my way home from work
so if the long scoot and cruise on a chainless bike is not enough lesson for me to know to have a 15mm wrench when riding the single speed
than I have this very subtle reminder on my leg

the bicycle, not unlike life, and offer many lessons some less obvious than others
some metaphorical and some just about the basics

Tools....
no this post is not about the people driving SUVs with the requisite W sticker this post is about tools.... more specifically Bicycle Tools
I will blog on about those TOOLS later

when traveling via bicycle it is vital that the rider travel with anything and everything that that individual may need to repair their bicycle if something were to break

no, a cell phone is not an "all in one" repair tool!

it is pretty basic really....
here is what I tend to carry-

pump, tube (various sizes for various bikes), patch kit, tire lever (Quick Stick,) bicycle specific multi-tool, and a 15mm wrench (which I was without the other day)

then in the case of a bicycle that lacks a quick release as in a track bike or a single speed there may be the need of a 15mm box wrench
now...
there are other things that should be brought along as well-

spare chain links, master links, energy bar, spoke wrenches, some duct tape, and thirty-five cents to call home

there is a world of tools out there
forever someone is trying to build a better mousetrap
in some cases the mousetrap may not be better.... but it may be more fun!

the folks at SURLY have introduce the world to Jethro Tule
a fashionable option to the standard blox wrench


and the kids at Crank Brothers have their very functional multi-tool
the Alien was the king at one point, but it had more tools than were needed
the Crank Brother's option is smaller and lighter


and of course... PARK TOOLS tends to make a solid product (too many pictures to post)
and while I am showing pretty pictures...
here is the Quick Stick! an old time favorite!


here is a page from PERFORMANCE BICYCLES with many multi tool options

these are the basic tools for going for a ride or for commuting....

racing will have a few changes.....
some swap or add Co2 cartridges
then for touring there may be the need to add various spoke sizes as well as some parts including a spare tire

another bike-less weekend.....

this weekend I was planning on joining an ecclectic cast of single speeders for a Scavanger Hunt Race/Ride event at Patapsco/Avalon
it was a team event with a course that was kept secret like the location of a Rave back when such things were still part of the underground
to my displeasure one of my boys passed off some sort of intestional bug
aside from being weak it was also vital to maintain immediate proximity to the toilet
thought of a wet and muddy course and a wet and muddy set of cycling pants lead me to have to make the mature decision; I had to bow out.

wish I were writing a race report
actually.....
I wish I were riding
there was a slight rain last night
not sure if it was so much that it has made the earth too wet for responsible trail riding

maybe I will go out of a ride before it rains again this afternoon

the weekend was not a miss.....
worked saturday which earns me a day off in the future
sunday went to the aquarium in baltimore with the wife and the boys
here it is president's day
drinking my coffee and blogging
starting my day
a day that has already involved reading various books to the boys
as well as reintroducing them to various toys

The Banff Film Festival
a great way to start the spring
a great way to get some inspiration
a great excuse to get a babysitter and get out on the town
just a great collection of films

each year for and years..
lisa and I have been attending various lectures and films at the National Geographic here in Washington DC
one of the highlights each year has been the Banff Film Festival
we have been attending this event since before we were married.... that was a time long ago... to our two small children... it has been a lifetime
to our dogs... it has been a dog's life (which is a great number of years in dog years)


this is a recommendation you will not regret
tour dates for a city near you
the tickets are not cheap, yet I am still attending films on two nights
it is recommended that you do the same
no FLIP ORLEY did not hypnotize me and create some suggestion for me to advertise this event
it is a legitimate recommendation.... a piece of advice I am glad I got and even more glad that I listened to!


the Banff Film Festival has added a film spin off Radical Reels as they felt that they were getting so many high energy sport films that they could not give them all fair representation
as well as they did not want to turn off some of their older less adrenalin pumped viewers

the Jason Berry film starring Jeremiah Bishop and Sue Haywood is just the type of film I would expect to see at the Banff Film Festival or maybe the Radical Reels collection, Offroad to Athens

Flip Orley did hypnotize me.....
Flip told me to tell you that his show is well worth your time and money....
if you lack the time.... he will still take your money
take a look to see when Flip is hypnotizing people in your town
seems that Flip will be in DC early next month, maybe I will have to head over to the IMPROV!

Hunter S Thompson Dead at 67

sad but true all of his insanity is finally validated
not just wild talk and wild writing
not just misbehaving and pissing people off
it was not only drugs or not only alcohol
it was actual mental illness
Hunter S. Thompson commited suicide
a gun shot to the head ended it all

news story here

guess if Hunter had not been a gun fanatic he would have just cried in his coffee

rest in peace... thanks for your writings from all who ever read your work
sorry you had to exit in such a way
hope you have no regrets about your very absolute ending to your life's story

perhaps I will have to read Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas one last time

on another obituary note.....
"Gidget Goes to Heaven!"