pulling the plow

spanked
just out of the shower
was able to get a ride in before sunset
the day was amazing
but was a little slow out of the gate
with the older son, dean, at grandma's
lisa and I got to take grant into the woods with the dogs for a bit
other than that
not much exercise
had the laptop on the back porch as I monitored dean (back from grandma's come afternoon) and one of his friends tie up everything with some old climbing rope
no I do not climb

the boys moved indoors
active outdoors moved to toys indoors
legos moved to group pleas for a power ranger movie
the pleading was too much
so I agreed to the movie as long as I got to pick it
put in Avatar.... a Nick kids Anime dvd
then worked on my template

the time moved by and dean's friend's dad came to pick up his son
I looked at the time
I looked at the day
then I played through what I had done that day
it boggled my mind that riding had not occured to me
so I offered Dean and Grant to go for a ride

with the excitement of a firehouse answering to an emergency call we all rushed about the house
dean had to get shoes back on and located his coat
I need to suit up in some cycling gear, grab a bike from the basement, and pull the burley
trailer from the garage
lisa was assigned the task of getting a drink and snack for the boys
lisa also was responsible t0 make sure the boys did what they were supposed to do
for grant.... it was his responsibility to stay out of trouble

with great efficiency there was air in the tires
then assembly of the trailer
but only after the already removed wheels were taken into the house as there is a pump in the basement but not in the garage
with the trailer assembled and attached to the bike
dean and grant made the last steps out the backyard and into the alley

four year old dean is a long tall glass a water
not sure how tall
maybe knee high to a grasshopper
not sure exactly
but almost too large to fit in the burley deluxe trailer
grant is new to the trailer
he would fit fine
but with dean taking up more than his half
well it was a little tight

threw my gatorade and backpack into the back of the trailer and pedaled away
the slight grade out of my alley was no place to warm up
my small ring on the cross bike is well worn
too worn for use
so I am left to the big ring, which is more of a half step than a big ring, but big enough just the same
with not much more than maybe 23 in the back I stepped out of the saddle and snailed out the alley

out the alley
made a turn
then another turn
all down hill
cruising
it is a tough one
sometimes I take the sidewalks to get to the bike path
then there are times where I feel it is just that I take the road
the speed limit is 25 mph
I doubt that I was going as many miles per hour under the speed limit as the driver who started to tailgate me was going over the speed limit
the hill gets more steep
with more speed the driver gives me more space

in no time I am on the closed section of Beach Drive

no time for this post
here it is
took the closed section of Beach Drive then Jones Mill over to the Capitol Crescent Trail
a good grade for pulling the trailer
as we passed through the old railroad tunnels I chugged along and made my train sounds for my kids.... like I always do
there was not much conversation between us
take more effort to go forward fast with the two of them rather than just one
not to mention my early season lack of condiditoning

got them to sing a few things for me
as I am against the notion of headphones for multiuse trail users
so their renditions of Itsy Bitsy Spider would have to do

the ride was just what I needed
felt worked
felt strong yet humbled
got a guage of the miles ahead
got a reminder how much fun it is to pull the boys
got a long mile ride out of a short ride
an hour and a half pulling 100 pounds... a great work out that I need to return to
even if the next one includes stops at museums and monument

new template... new look
well... I finally took the time to clean up the page a bit
grabbed a simple and clean template from the BLOGGER WORLD
cut and pasted a copy of my old HTML template into WORD
then made some edits to the new template after it all loaded....

well....
it is simple and clean
but I am not sure if I like it
if I could just get the "hypertext links" to "pop" more
well, I would be satisfied for a bit
I like to share links
and well... the active links seem a bit subtle for the reader to know that there is something active to that word
anyone with some quick HTML advice?

I want to put some time out to try and add more links to this page
there are more and more blogs that I visit that I do not link to
but
I lack the organization
I am so dependent on using the links of other Bloggers to get me where I need to go

uterus tote bag
this is the uterus tote bag
on my urban block with its row houses holding each other up there is a wide variety of occupants
there are cigar smoking republicans
various families of various cultures
older adult couples
our lesbian couple with twins moved a few months ago
and there are even a few remaining group houses

a wide variety of occupants
within one of the group houses not the one with the blue grass band of last weekend
but the group house in the other direction down the block
their direction is more to the punk rock side of life
they too have musicians
they also have a creative enteprenurian spirit
in addition to peter and his limited run of custom painted skateboards
there is daisy and her one of a kind clothing
and her uterus tote bags

daisy's uterus tote bags
daisy also converted my City Bikes Shop Dickies work shirt into a vest for the WABA silent auction
and currently... daisy is working on some curtains for our moderately barren house

and of course
I think that the uterus looks a bit like a bike
and
I always like to bring it back to the bike

check out the Uterus Tote Bag and Daisy's other creations
it may be just the thing for your friend who has everything!

ah gossip...
we all love gossip
or is it news?
yes, it is gossip
while it is still news
Graham at Go-Clipless is spreading the word that stellar female downhill talent, Marla Streb, is pregnant
good for her
she will be an amazing mom!

there are links to more news on this issue
as well as the link to marla's blog on Go Clipless

was going to put that famous nude shot of Momma Streb on the bike
but thought after my shot below of the young female snowboarder that my blog was starting to be a little too drunk cyclist
hey... I love the drunk cyclist
I wish I had more time and a designate computer to spend more time on the drunk cyclist

go clipless... another blog I go to that I myself would go to more often if I made the link available TO ME!
check out his posts
check out his links

the bike blog
sorry I missed it
I think I will scan the archives
it seems like it would have been a good read then
it seems like it would be a good read now
how did I miss it?
wonder... maybe I will find some drunken comments on one of the bike blog pages

second child blues
tonight I went for a ride that was enough to merit a shower
so, after a tastee dinner with the wee one grant and mommy
I opted for a shower bath
that is when I run the shower and it collects into a bath
the boys get rained on underneith
well, on this night Dean is having a sleep over at grandma's
so, it was just grant and myself
after being soaped down and cleaned up I let the water fill up
once the water started to fill up
I slid down with grant into the tub
the tub may not have been filled with water
but the tub sure was filled with me
funny, before kids I would have never tried to fit in a tub
maybe to soak if I was really really sore.... but not often

grants looked at me with wide eyes
it is not often he sees his massive father in the tub at tub level
grant slide to the side as I slid down
the water level went from shallow to full with a little incidental splash over the side
immediately I thought of how I try to be understanding of the boys when they have an incidental splash over the side
maybe I can be a little more understanding
I got up as quickly as I got in
only being careful not to cause a spill
reached around the corner over the toilet and grabbed some bubble
came back around and slid into my spot
while grant slid into his and uttered... BUBBLES

it was then that I got a million flashes of all the times durning dean's baths he got primo treatment
serious one on one
I blew some bubbles and thought
grant needs those bubbles from gymboree
I don't get to malls very much
and I think gymborees are all in malls
when I am in the malls I want to slip in straight for the register only for the bubbles
but there is always a line
always someone returning something
people are always given gifts from gymboree
that is how I learned about the bubbles
returning something from gymboree
something that did not fit my children
or
perhaps something that did not suit our style

so
the second child gets a certain amount of unintentional neglect
not only does this child get bubbles less frequently, normally when he has to share them with his older brother (who is clearly faster at popping and smashing the bubbles as they fall,) and he gets bubbles that are sub gymboree standard

I grew up as the third child.....
I got no bubbles

what do the children of large families do?
do they take pictures of the 5th child?
I guess... if you give the camera to the oldest child
then you may get some photographs

oh
went to the gymboree site
their site is as helpful as their sales people
they need a site that opens with the page BUY GYMBOREE BUBBLES
or at least
have a soda machine at the enterance that dispenses jars of bubbles!
they would sell more bubbles
and
the bubble buyers would not take the time of the cashiers handling the returns

toying with my template
take a look
adding some links
actually want to tear it down and build it up again
would be nice to try and cluster some similar bloggers
add a few blogs that I go to but do not link to
then there is an unintentional use of tab or maybe a margin late in the links
not knowing HTML
not caring to know HTML
not knowing how to fix that
makes me think that this is not a bad time to try and snatch my template to a text file through a little back up via cut and paste
move to a new template
then drop the links in

guess I could do that....
but first let me make a call to see if my friend rob wants to get a drink
would always chose to do something active and out over the blog

some images of mine up at BIKEMAGIC.COM
I have to admit that I have been having fun with the camera
was thinking that I may want to print one of my photos and give it to my Physical Therapist for my shoulder
as I appreciate his efforts and his progress
would actually give it to the office
as there are many people in their system that make it all enjoyable
very different than my experience with my Physical Terrorist for my post surgery finger
totally different vibe
could not sculpt this PT office to have that PT office sceanario
the arenas are as different at the circus and the zoo
similar yet different

here are the link to BIKE MAGIC

don't get me wrong
my finger's experience with a Physical Terrorist was vital and effect as well
perhap the dwarf dominatrix was exactly what I needed
the process hurt
and well
she was good at her job

Washington Post Article: Car Use Drives Up Fat; Study Says
well... that article is two years old
yet the message is still true today
get out and move
it is that simple

found this old article while trying to track down VELORUTION
got it now.... you should go there now... you should go there often
but then come back here!

also check out Martino's Bike Lane Diary....
he is on a serious film kick right now, oh, bike theme of course
seems that one of his film shorts on a Critical Mass ride is being played
Martino has links to much more worth viewing
nike movie that may make you laugh
(I am not sure if I get it.... but it did make me laugh)

had a thought to bring this all full circle
but lost that thought
go to those sites

one more thing on the weight loss tip...
Jason at Crash and Burn blogs about his passion for cycling
but his past has a secret
he used to be lazy and rather large
he told me he stopped taking in more calories than he was burning and like magic!
here he is
Jason was also inspired by a film on the SM100 by Jason Berry

BIKE MAGIC
there is a site that focuses on Bicycle Imagry
last night I tossed a few images onto their site

check it out!

Wikipedia
I love the Internet
I love Wikipedia
and
I love metaphors

the crash of US Olympic Boarder Cross racer Lindsey Jacobellius due to a flashy grab would be like a Speed Skater doing a Triple Axel comeing out of the last turn

29ers and fixies
the other night after work I tried to squeeze in a quick spin before heading home
it is always the best way to shed the day
and well
it would be nice to shed a few pounds as well
but, as of yet that has not happened

rolled through georgetown
then across the key bridge
made a turn onto the mt vernon trail
then before me stood the legendary TNS
I greeted the faces I knew
tried to greet those that I did not know
they welcomed me along
which was gracious as I was on a single while they were all pushing fixies

I accepted their invite to roll with them until it was time for them to turn towards Shirlington
where I would turn back towards home
it did not seem worth my marriage to go out drinking without warning the wife

the head of the pack pulled away
as I rolled far behind at DT's pace
his gearing was lower
and his new rig... well... was not quite road worthy
we rode and we talked
he dropped his chain twice
then I turned around and headed for home

maybe I need to schedule a TNS ride in the future

Jason Stoner's Blog: Discocowboy is not Dead
then chase the links on his page

the trainer
tonight I tried riding the trainer
worked late
actually worked kinda long
rode straight home from work
got home in time to read a book
it was late
the boys were tired
there was not much arguement from the boys about bedtime
lisa took grant to bed
I put dean in bed
dean did not want to be read to
he wanted to read to himself, dinosaurs
I love reading to my kids
but when i have not had dinner and it is approaching 8 PM
well, the body starts running differently
I am a big american car that takes lots of fuel
I am a big american car that takes lots of fuel very often
so, when dean said he did not need me to read to him
I did not argue
we talked for a few minutes
then I went downstairs
in the kitchen I eyed the left over chinese from city lights
oh, it looked so good
but I had promised myself I would ride the trainer
I had already put Pee Wee's Big Adventure by the old laptop in the basement
bike already on the trainer
gear already on the floor
shoe options everywhere
and well
shorts everywhere as well

powered up the old windows 2000 laptop
by the time I was dressed
it was time to put in the DVD and hit play
with a water and a gatorade in front of me I started pedaling through the open credits
the pace may have started a little fast
the music was radical
and well
the opening of the film is a race dream sequence
had to try to keep up with Pee Wee

rode through the film
occassionally losing interest in pedaling
occassionally losing interest in the movie
the trainer is hard for me
it is like homework
and well
I was never very good in school

realizing why a heart rate monitor would be a valuable part of this activity
part of the game
part of what could make riding the trainer indoors a tad more interesting
and well
a tad more effective
some where in all the clutter there is a heart rate monitor
bought a heart rate monitor ten years ago when I ran the Marine Corps Marathon
the watch has been seen in the shuffle in the last few weeks
while I know where the chest piece is
oh... I know where the chest piece is
only I can not picture it right now
it will come to me

forty five minutes into the riding/movie the dvd skipped
I got off the bike
this old machine does this sometime
not sure if it is a RAM issues
not sure if it is an over heating issue
I do not know
it could be a scratch on the dvd
all I know it has happened before
so I try the menu fast forward then play trick I used last time it happened
it did not work
I try it again
I fiddle with the controls
it crashes and closes
I open the dvd program/player again
scroll to menu
the chapters
find my chapter then hit play
throw my leg over the bar
my but on the seat
pedaling
feeling cocky about how close the chapter selection was to the point where the dvd frozen
then it comes to the part that froze
it freezes again
I am off the bike
I go to the bathroom then drink some water then finish the gatorade
start thinking of that left over chinese from city lights

so I go upstairs
beef fried rice
lemon chicken
dumplings.... oh, I ate some of the dumplings immediately when I came in the door from work
then finsihed the rest of the dumplings when I headed to the basement from the upstairs
no more dumplings
they were awesome
the kids left me all the dipping sauce
there was also white rice
I do like the white rice
so I made myself a plate

I made a variety platter
with my variety platter and went downstairs found the next chapter in this Paul Reuben classic
the hit play, threw my leg over the bike, put my butt on the seat, reached over grabbed my plate, started pedaling, and then started eating

finished my food

thought to myself
Larry Black owner of College Parks Bikes is surrounded by legend including his rare talent to get undressed and dressed again all while riding rollers
well, larry black may get undressed and dressed
while a Clydesdale like myself picks up a bucket of chicken before he gets on the trainer
okay.... this was chinese food
but you get the idea....
so I pedaled for 10 maybe 15 minutes longer maybe longer
the movie skipped again
not sure
I think I rode for an hour.... maybe an hour 15
guess I could check the chapters and the time to get the actual results
would have been easier to calculate had the movie played to the finish and I kept riding
but
that old laptop gave me the excuse I was looking for to step away from the bike on the trainer

just easier for me to ride outside in the rain and the cold
maybe I should pull out the HID after I put the kids to bed
maybe some mellow night rides when the traffic is gone
maybe the cabin john trails if it freezes or stops raining

maybe I will find a movie that makes me pedal fast and makes me want to stay in front of it enough to get me to stay on the bike for an hour forty five

went upstairs
took a shower
then put on some clothes
when downstairs
then finished the rest of the left over chinese

GOOGLE VIDEO
GOOGLE VIDEO WITH THE TOPIC OF CYCLING

jill achieved her goal
her write up is worth reading
her build up is worth reading
check out her posts from alaska

.

tom's blog: tomalope

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1600 Pennsylvania
the roads are closed to through traffic
well, that does not slow the cyclists
superdave gives me a wave in black with the front panniers

Adrian Fenty for Mayor
I have met Adrian on two occassions
not sure where he stands on all the issues
although I have heard his basic pitch

his parents own a running store in Adams Morgan
his brother races road bikes on a team that is sponsored by the same shop that sponsors my mountainbike team
he grew up in the neighborhood of Mount Pleasant
the same neighborhood where I have lived for more than the last ten years
I know some of his supporters
I have seen his banner's on various friend's lawns

Mayor Anthony Williams seemed like he was headed in the right direction
hopefully if Adrian Fenty wins the election and takes this fine city to the next level
having met him
having seen the support he gets from the people of my neighborhood
I feel that this is a man who could support my interests

even if my interests are as simple as making the public school systems in Washington better and
slowing down the traffic on my street!

.

bike magic: 25 years of cycling photography
stolen from the HIPPY BOGGER

also
The Bike Show (blog and podcast)

.

.

give This American Life a listen
I have it blasting as I clean my office
my office is overdue to be cleaned

.

in addition to multiple trips on the subway to Chinatown with the kids...
there were various musical experiences this weekend
took the boys to the PANCAKE MOUNTAIN viewing
and
a group house down the block had a 35th birthday party for Chris
it was a good gathering
good people
good music
all around good time

these folks proved that Rock Creek Park is mountain enough to have country and blue grass soul!

Happy Birthday Chris!
(that is Chris headlining at the mic; various others contributed to the sound as well... I went home to get my camera and missed the main session which included a very flavorful fiddle!)

Beergaritas
Rock Creek Park

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Sustainable Energy in Motion Bicycle Tour

.

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Indy film on a one legged messenger in NYC; Fast and Reliable
STARBURST AD

both stolen from here COMMUTEBYBIKE

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a sunny day in february
not a bad day for the park

not sure where this image is from
it was shared with me from a cycling friend of mine
not sure if it is east coast/washington dc local
not sure if it is just something wandering the internet

thought it was worth posting just the same

I do not know if the rider was hurt in the accident
but
it is clear that the fork needs replacement and that the squirrel succeeded in its suicide attempt

gold

Olympic Fever or Spring Fever?
the past few posts have me wondering...
do I have Olympic Fever?
or
is it Spring Fever?

with a high speed connection you could scan the web all day for OLYMPIC stuff
start here
Olympic Snowboarding Page
SNOWBOARDERMAGAZINE
TRANSWORLDSNOWBOARDINGMAGAZINE

then less snowboard specific: espn highlights

honestly....
I just miss making turns on a snowboard
not that I was ever any good on the snowboard
just a "soul rider"
rode for the feeling
miss that feeling

oh...
and on skates...
I am a wall walker
but I do love to watch the Speed Skaters
then the cross country skiing can also be good for the viewer

and finally
what is up with the EPO and the Austrian XC Ski coach?

and
here is a list of links at IHATEMYCUBICLE that will get you fired from work
or so I am to assume
as I have not opened any of the links
as I am at work
and
I do not want to get fired from my job
not sure why I am recommending something I know nothing about
but I am

Snowboarders: more specifically... female snowboarders
Lindsey Jacobellis is not the only female snowboarder to watch
check out Gretchen Bleiler making the grab

team intros
gretchen profile
complete list of snowboarder profiles

Gretchen did deliver
but it was Hannah Teter who took the GOLD!
simply amazing
those woman can RIDE!

VISA has some fun ads
their ads on life are also fun
not just their Olympic ads

lindsey jacobellis
wikipedia defines her as
outdoor news tells the story
NBS Olympics
also from NBC Olympics

by now everyone has heard this story many times
it makes for great conversation around the keg
like a sex scandal in the white house
it is at a level that anyone can have an opinion on it
whether you know about politics or not

that air with a grab could have been sweet
but things ended up tasting sour
most certainly very sour
I would think that it would be tough to celebrate that silver medal after that experience

history could have written itself differently
had she stuck the air
landed without issue
well, that air with the grab would have been cover story material
but, she did not stick it
so we are stuck with the crash image instead

what could have been the best day in Lindsey Jacobellis' life
may seem like the worst...
but honestly... as strong as the emotions may be... it really is small in the scheme of things
no one died
she was not shipped off to iraq
she was diagnosed with cancer
she may not have even lost an endorsement
as she is getting more press than if she had won the gold
lemonade... that refreshing drink

the lesson most certainly been learned
her coach
her parents
her friends
her brother and all her riding "bros"
they don't need to say the word
Lindsey stood alone at the finish
watched the gold medalist get mobbed by friends and competitors
no one to share the moment with her

most certainly she will have a bruised ego for a while
and maybe, a bruised tailbone as well
she is young
hopefully there will be many opportunities for redemption
there should be no reason for this moment to define her

Nerves of Steel
I wonder how this book, Nerves of Steel, was recieved
here is some old archive called, LAMBCHOP MONTHLY
and
MIMA aka Messenger Institue for Media Accuracy

finally
why does it seem that every messenger I take a picture of is working for Washington Express (WEX)

PANCAKE MOUNTAIN
what is pancake mountain?
it is hard to say
as I am still not entirely sure
guess an oversimplification would be that pancake mountain is a dc hipsters version of electric company

this weekend past my brother and some friends thought that this weekend's viewing of the first six episodes may be a chance to get the kids together and be entertained at the same time
mission accomplished
the kids had a blast
the adults had a good time as planned
it was an adventure
I shuttled the two boys down to the warehouse (coffee shop) via subway
dean and grant love the metro train
young boys as a run love trains
just as dogs love trucks

once the show started the kids went wild
well, my kids and my brother's kids went wild
most of the other children were a tad younger (the oldest in our group being 5)
the parents of the actually toddling toddlers sheltered their children from the mosh pit that the four cousins had created

it was cool
perhaps we will all gather at the next Pancake Mountain dance party...
while there I spoke with one of the creators of Pancake Mountain, Scott Stuckey
in our exchange I plugged The Fort Knox Five as a great band for their show
DC being a small town, Fort Knox's Rob Myers and Scott Stuckey are already familiar wiht each other
but
the plug from an outside source may be taken differently
my words were simple and true
my kids dig the new pre-release by FORT KNOX
the feel the music and they move