Lost

I woke up this morning not quite sure what day it was. I checked my watch to see the date and time and still had to think about what was happening. I knew that if I had to work I wasn't late as it was just on 5 a.m. I knew where I was but I still was really confused and had to wake myself up more to figure out, it was monday, I'm off today, I don't need to do much. Well, other than take care of the kid. After I remembered it was just yesterday that I was riding outside, that I got 4 hours and I wasn't wrecked. It was as windy as Carter Lake last year, I was leaning over into the wind to keep from getting blown off the road. Not very many riders out there, maybe 7 or so that I saw. I think the bike worked well but the wind and the iPod drowned out any nasty sounds coming off my grime encrusted drivetrain. As I got further South the roads were more dry and a bit more clear, around Loveland the roads were pretty bad, snowpacked and really wet. Roadbikes and snowpacked roads aren't a good combo. Anytime I turned West the wind would knock my speed down to not more than a crawl and when I turned east it would rocket to 50k/hr. Stiff winds. It was fun to ride alone, just the music and the wind, not suffering as much as working with the wind and avoiding potholes, assholes, and slush piles. The reward for the day was Big City Burrito for dinner, fresh potato and hot salsa for me, never better. We waited to drive home for the kid to be almost asleep, he was out 5 minutes into the drive. Quiet and mellow trip home, except for a bit of snow on the pass. It feels good to start the season in earnest. One long day a week and the other stuff is gravy. I'll try to get to the nordic center today for an hour or so of skating, try.

Movie

Marginal movie last night, The Big Bounce was probably the worst of Elmore Leonard's novel adaptations. Not even in the same league as John Travolta's Chili Palmer in Get Shorty. The story was ok the fact that it was set in Hawaii made it a bit easier to watch. Now I really want to get back to Kauai! Not a ton of surfing, but cool scenery anyway. The tele stuff I had goes back to its owner today. Thanks for the loan Pete! I already have boots, another friend helped out and now I have my very own set of tele boots and skis aren't far off!

Few

Not much to say, it was really cold again today, I saw the rabbit on the way in, that was the first animal I'd seen in a while on the commute. I guess they're cold too! Good massamon curry with tofu tonight, it's still warming my belly. Very good stuff. Here's some more pics.

Reward

One of the benefits of getting up really early to skin up the mountain. This is from last week.

Ice

I have a problem riding my single, I keep wanting to go faster over the ice, I think it will hold fine. I have yet wreck it this winter. I love being out there on it, about -5 today, not too bad, the bike and fresh snow were great. Peaceful cruising over the tundra roads. Most of the roads haven't been snow-free in weeks. perma-tundra, better traction than black ice. The studs haven't slipped yet, I'll have to test them at some point, really try and rail a corner.

Confusion

6 inches of fresh today. The snow was super quiet, I got in a little extra time on the trip in. I have a had time understanding corporate America. The way that the government helps big business is really odd. You get more of a tax cut for driving an H2 than you do for driving a hyprid. By that logic they are going to hit me with a tax eventually for riding my bike and not gobbling up more fossil fuels. As though a gas guzzling 10 mpg (not advertised) H2 is better for the world than some schmuck riding a bike. Can't we raise the gas prices to what they are in Europe or Canada? Maybe we would fight fewer unjustified wars? Maybe we could use the added taxes from the gas sales to promote alternative fuels? Oh, what am I thinking we're fucked for four more years...at least. www.fuh2.com

Connected

Last night Shaubie brought home her computer, I have been well disconnectd for nearly a week and a half. It sucks, I like computers and dislike not being able to surf randomly at home. My mac should be home today. I don't realize just how much I use it. I'm learning iMovie right now too, so no mac means no time to make movies of B running around in the snow, I have the footage now and maybe by the weekend I'll have a short finished. Technology is pretty cool when used for good, really bad when used to further a compulsion. A friend can't blog as honestly as he once did because some sickos were visting the site he uses to write about being a dad. Sick bastards!!!

Nordic

Saturday and Sunday were good trips up the hill, the effort to cross train more has changed my outlook a lot. I see the different options as good alternatives not "time off the bike." Tomorrow will be my first day at the nordic center, an hour of skating should tie my body in knots pretty well. I'm hoping my lungs don't freeze from the inside out. Later on in the week we may skin up A-Basin after dark, ski down with headlamps, a whole other side of the day. I prefer the early morning.

Fear

I try to deny myself the fact that things scare me. I guess I like to think I'm stronger than I am. I normally don't like to catalog my fears but I am reminded of them periodically. If I were to list them the list would change every day, hopefully these will fade and be replaced or deleted tomorrow. Here's what bothers me right now: -Fear of phone calls and door bells, especially late at night; it usually means bad news. -Fear of my son being hurt, being a parent really does change you. -Fear of germs, I wash my hands probably twenty times a day. It just feels good to be clean. On a brighter note, the TV is on in the background, it is utterly fucking ridiculous how bad television is. The level of schadenfreude is astounding. How vapid the American public is, channel surfing is a nightmare, I'll be thrilled when I can go to four channels; Simpsons/Seinfeld channel, Comedy Central, English Premier League Channel and Discovery Channel. I could go with that little variety, but if you think about it that's a pretty good smattering of the worthwhile offerings.

New Year

If the year really does begin at midnight, what difference is there between 11.59 and 12.01? I think dawn should really be the beginning. Isn't that more practical? Whatever, more random thoughts. The kid was having none of it today, 4.30 wake up for a milk and then no return to sleep. Making my 6 a.m. meeting to skin up was no trouble, it wasn't light until just before the top, pretty cool to ascend in the dark and ski down in the light. I still suck at tele skiing but no great surprise there. I was awful at cross until I gave it a while so I guess tele skiing will be the same, if I get that far with it. Some of it is lack of motivation to really rip at it right now. I like the trip up more than the trip down. Hmmmmmm sounds like mountain biking.