What a beautiful morning, oh what a beautiful day! We spent what was originally a foggy morning but turned into a hazy-fine day out on Sarasota Bay aboard the Hinckley T40. Got to drive with the Jet Stick and hang on for 35 knots of diesel powered fun. Tonight is another blast up and down LBK with the elite riders...bring on the hurt.
posted at 1:41 PM - comments
Monday, April 28, 2003
Good happenings all around this weekend. Read three (count em! 3!) books, saw "The Hudsucker Proxy" upon Gram's recommendation, got ever closer to the purchase of a dining room table, went to the local boat show, relaxed at home, cleaned the James, washed and waxed my bike, learned to be the AV guy at church, and caught up with some friends and family. It was quiet but good. Friday's torrential overnight downpour wrecked my Saturday ride, but that leaves me rested and relaxed to ride two or three nights this week. I'd forgotten what a real Florida storm was like, and somehow "shock and awe" seems to take on some meaning after that display of atmospheric pyrotechnics.
posted at 12:36 PM - comments
Friday, April 25, 2003
DOH! Thanks to the staff Phyiscal Therapist I've now been warned to stay out of the pool after riding to avoid prolonging the muscle trauma that I've inflicted. Man is it ever nice to have smart people reading your website! If anybody reads this and nows how to turn plastic bags into money, then please by all means let me know.
The weekend upcoming holds the possibility of a day at the boat show or a day surfing, but probably I'll only get one or the other, since if the weather stays junky I'll surf but if a remarkable turn-around occurs surfing will be right out and the boat show will be in. I'm also hoping to finally (after 2.5 months) wrap up the designs for my bedroom furniture and send them off for estimates next week. There will probably be some more furniture shopping, since that seems to be what I do on weekends, and I've signed up to be an assistant A/V Geek at church. Except that at church, they're not called 'geeks' per se, just A/V people, although in all honesty everybody knows what 'people' means in that connotation. I mean seriously, nobody who isn't just a tad geeky cares this much about consumer electronics, am I right? Last week I nearly bought a set of $600 tires for the James to get a free $100 Palm Zire - how messed up is that? That's worse for you then getting in the hot tub after cycling.
Went riding with the Tuesday-Thursday peleton for the first time last evening...it was certainly an adventure. I did about 30 miles in about 90 minutes, including about a 5 mile burst at nearly 30 mph with a gang of elite riders that got caught at the back of the pack due to a flat tire. That was interesting: riding at 28 or 29 miles an hour 10" from the wheel in front of you takes some getting used to, but it was fun and such good excersize. I got home and collapsed in a heap in the hot tub at TimberChase, which was nice even though the ambient temperature was about 75 degrees. This morning I have sore legs and shoulders, though, so I'm sure the hot tub helped alievate what could be some pretty serious misery.
posted at 12:49 PM - comments
Monday, April 21, 2003
Such a weekend. Saturday I rose early, watched Drew row a little bit, rode LBK, shopped for furniture, gave blood, saw The Pianist at Burns Court, and finished my latest book - Dave Barry's "Big Trouble." Somehow everything from the day got a little gray after watching such a harshly realistic film, but I guess that those who don't occasionally get crushed by the horror of history are doomed to repeat it, so we'll chalk one up to character building.
Sunday I went to church, did some spring cleaning, and then headed slowly north to Patrick's. I stopped at New Pass for lunch before spending a great afternoon hanging out in and around the pool in their tropical paradise-themed back yard. A good weekend and a nice way to spend the holiday.
posted at 12:47 PM - comments
Friday, April 18, 2003
A long week wrapped up at MPYD and the weekend is looking good. Even though the Red Wings did lose in 4 consecutive games, I'd say it was a good week. Sometimes productivity is better than fun.
posted at 6:20 PM - comments
Tuesday, April 15, 2003
Rode with the beginner group last evening and found that while I'm not yet used to riding in a pace line or with my hands on the hoods at all times, I'm not a beginner in terms of speed anymore. Next week, bring on Tuesday - Thursday. After the ride and some dinner, I watched in horror as my Wings lost yet another one to the Mighty Ducks. Incredible. At this rate I'll be able to turn off my basic cable package after less than a month...whoooopeeeeeee!
posted at 12:38 PM - comments
Monday, April 14, 2003
So I've got a board - it, like my trailer from the days of yore, is red and it rocks. Now I'm outfitting myself with a leash, hopefully some roof rack pads, etc etc. This weekend's productivity rate precluded any surfing, which was a bummer since it was windy. Instead I cleaned, did laundry, shopped for more kitchen and bike gear, completed my CT tax returns, rode LBK, went to church and read two books. Not toooo shabby.
posted at 12:57 PM - comments
Friday, April 11, 2003
Going to California....
OK well not actually, but I'm going to pick up the main element of surfer style this evening, a surfboard. I'm stoked. The Blue Album is loaded in the car, and I'm ready. You'll take your car to work, I'll take my board. And when you're out of fuel, I'm still afloat. I'm goin' surfin.
posted at 12:50 PM - comments
Wednesday, April 09, 2003
Hairs cut and basketball watched was the story of yesterday. UConn won the big one, thanks to Diana Taurasi. Post game comment: "We won with no superstars, just blue collar." Classy. The great thing about the girls' game is that even the consensus MOP, a junior, will be back for more next year, whereas I predict we've seen the last of Carmello Anthony. Now, bring on the second season of the NHL and go BLUE! It's high time for U-M to add another title banner to the heralded rafters at Yost.
posted at 4:38 PM - comments
Monday, April 07, 2003
As it turns out the weekend flew by, too. I saw a pair of impressive tennis matches Friday - including the great Martina Navratilova playing doubles - at the Sarasota Clay Court Championships, rode my bike Saturday morning and shopped for a surfboard Saturday afternoon, both without a great deal of success. Sunday was eaten up by the time shift, some work to finish up, some errands, washing the truck, etc etc. The work started early this morning with a client visit and then this evening is a Bikesenjava ride on LBK.
posted at 12:37 PM - comments
Friday, April 04, 2003
The week just flew by, now it's time to climb back on the bike, shop for a surfboard, do some bookstore browsing, and generally enjoying spring in Florida. Watched the first of what I hope to be many Red Wings games last night - 5-2 over the Isles. They're streaking towards the playoffs in most impressive fashion and I'm primed to consume muchas Muchas Grande Nachos from TB and cheer like a crazy loon.
posted at 1:05 PM - comments
Thursday, April 03, 2003
A surprisingly busy week in the office and an unpleasantly domestic week at home - time to catch up on laundry and cleaning and doing taxes and blah de blah blah blah. I did get a bigger cable package this week, though, in anticipation of the upcoming NHL playoffs. I'm mostly looking very much forward to the weekend, to bike riding and bookstore browsing and having more time to myself.
posted at 12:47 PM - comments
Tuesday, April 29, 2003