passing out and bad timing
So there it was Friday night and I couldn't fall asleep. I didn't get to bed until 2-something, which meant I didn't wake up until almost 9am. Not exactly optimal for riding my bike. Well, as I've said time and time again, I'm committed to getting in shape, no matter what. No more rationalizing. So, I hopped on my mountain bike and headed out. Well, it was hot. Way too hot to be mountain biking. I then decided I would try to head up to the helicopter pad. Yeah, not very bright. I felt like I was going to pass out it was so hot. In that remote of an area there is a good chance I could have died if I fell down the hill in that heat. Happy thoughts! I'm ok though, and other than some minor sunburn on my legs I will be ok to hurt myself on another day.
I think it must be a rule in life that you meet people at the wrong times. The last three or four women (or girls as the case may be) I've gone out with more than a couple times have all gone against what I've wanted to be doing at that point. Want someone down to earth? Find someone high maintenance. Want someone who can party? Find a "good girl". Don't want to get serious? Find someone worthwhile of being serious with. Don't want anyone at all? Find someone to date. Sheesh, I need to stop planning, it seems to be an utter waste of time. At least I'm bright enough to give it a chance these days instead of sticking to my guns and kicking them to the curb before actually getting to know them.
So here's my little piece of advice to everyone;
You never know when someone worthy of your time may come across your path.
shabu fondue and mormon terror
No, I didn't just sneeze. Shabu Fondue is a new fondue (you know, dip stuff in melted stuff) restaurant across the street from Chandler Mall that Lori and I tried out this evening. It was pretty good, although not as impressive as the Melting Pot. Next time I think I'll get an appetizer, then do the cheese and then the chocolate. The meat/vegetables portion was so-so, and the vegetables left sometlhing to be desired. On the plus side, I had a really good glass of Sebastiani Pinot Noir with it, that I definitely need to add to the "Good Wine" list.
I ran short on time so I rode my bike like a mad man for ~40 minutes instead of the prescribed hour. I actually made it to Frye (half mile south of Chandler Blvd) in 12 minutes from my house. Unfortunately I limped along after that because I had destroyed my legs, but all in all it was a good ride. Why was it so good you might ask? Well I scared some Mormons half to death. I was coming up behind them at a speed that was easily 10+ mph faster, while looking for a break in traffic so I could safely pass. Well, I didn't realize how fast I was actually coming and came pretty close to plowing in to the guy in the back. He barely moved out of my way and almost met the curb with his front wheel. Although it wasn't my intention to terrorize Mormons, I can't say I feel particularly bad about it.
Anyways, it's Friday. Wooooo! Except I'm on call all weekend (Friday 8am -> Monday 8am), so I'm stuck at home for the most part. Booooo! Oh well, it's only one weekend.
man old pueblo was miserable
While taking some pictures of stuff tonight I realized that I had never put up my pictures from the 24 hour mountain bike race this year. Well kids, you've waited 5 months so here they are;
http://www.disturbed.org:8888/pictures/gallery/view_album.php?page=1&set_albumName=old_pueblo_2005
Ahhh, the memories. Steve came back from his night lap and told us all not to go out, it was too miserable. After the previous year being destroyed by muscle cramps I wasn't about to listen so I went out anyways. As I left, the check-in tent folks told me there was a flash flood warning and to not go out. Again, I ignored them. That first hour was one of the most fun times I've ever had on a bicycle, so I'm glad I did it. By the time I got back I was freezing to death, could barely move my legs, was covered head to toe in mud, but man did I ever have a smile on my face. Now I don't have to prove myself next time =).
Also on my camera I found a great picture of Sera and Lila;
Well anyways, today my energy food was delivered from the bike store. Between powder, bars, and gels I have 42,480 calories on my counter. I could eat nothing but that for three weeks and never be hungry. Crazy.
After marveling at bulk endurance food I went shopping and had dinner with Dan and Marcella at Z'Tejas (man I like that place). The waitress sucked, but I had fun with those two nonetheless.
All in all a fun evening.
holy shit i'm bored
Two days working from home just gives you that "I've got to get the hell out of the house" feeling. I don't know if it's boredom, but it's that feeling of needing to go out with a few friends and act like idiots on a perfectly good Tuesday night. Instead I rode my bike, talked on the phone, did laundry, took care of some bills, and caught up on email. God help me. I'm going to have a beer by myself if I have to tomorrow. Damn the rest of you and your adult lives, you need to have fun sometimes. Maybe I'll take out my aggression on the granite in the backyard with the sledgehammer. It's not going to move itself, and I really do need to build that retaining wall.
Enough about that, you can all return to your regularly scheduled programs now.
apple rules
So I finally gave in and bought an iBook on Friday night. I ordered it online after a failed attempt to buy it at the Apple store in the local mall. They wouldn't do the bluetooth upgrade in the store, and I was stuck having to wait two days for them to do the RAM upgrade anyways. Well, yesterday they came out with new iBooks. Processor was upped from 1.2 to 1.33Ghz, hard drive from 30GB to 40GB. Default RAM from 256MB to 512MB and Bluetooth is included by default. Well, instead of getting rid of old inventory and shipping me an old one. They're sending me a new one, -AND- they're charging me the new price. So I get a faster machine with a bigger hard drive for $125 less. Now that's what I expect from a company. Apple gets my respect.
long day
My sleep hasn't been spectacular lately, and last night wasn't any different. I got 6 hours, and then finally solved a complex problem I've been having at work (WOOOOOHOOOOOO!). Then spent the next 9 hours catching up on stuff I've missed since I've been working on that. Not to mention waste the usual half of it on conference calls. I really do hate conference calls. I think that's all my job is these days.
Monsoon season not only brings humidity, but winds. Winds can be your friend and foe on a bike. Today they let me ride from my front door to the very end of Pecos in 36 minutes. Then take 50 minutes to get back. Can you guess which way the wind was blowing? If you said West, you win! I actually felt really good on the bike today, getting in a solid 27 miles. I am feeling the effects of 88 miles in 3 days, making me look forward to a couple days of recovery.
the podium
Ahhhhhhhhh.
That's the sound of me exhaling. A sigh of relief that the Tour de France is over. No more 3-5 hour daily blocks of time wasted watching TV. Lance of course won his 7th straight Tour, and was actually given a microphone (by Hinault of course) to say a little speach. It was a so-so speach, but interesting to see nonetheless.
Last night I had a few people over to celebrate Melissa being done with her pre-med schooling. The next class she takes will be in physical therapy school. I can't believe it, she's going to be a doctor. We had fun, and tried Bell'Italia Pizzeria (Chandler/48th St). We had all planned on going out to Scottsdale for sushi and a wine bar, so it was funny when 7 of us walked in VERY overdressed for a family pizza place in Ahwatukee. Definitely good pizza though, Dan's restaraunt recommendations continue to live up to their hype.
Lori and I spent some time together this weekend, and continue to have fun with each other. Dan/Marcella/Melissa all approved when they got to meet/talk to her a bit last night. Not that I need their approval =).
I got in another hour and a half of riding this evening despite my best attempts to try rationalizing my way out of doing it. Tomorrow may prove to be a larger problem since I am still up at 2:30am. I will obviously be riding after work.
good riding and lance
While the two pieces of the topic may seem to go hand in hand, they are unrelated today. Well, kinda. Lance did win today's time trial stage to lock in his final tour win, a historic 7th in a row. Now, I guess it was more historic when he broke the record at 6 last year. It's just icing on the cake this time around. Tomorrow he will roll down the Champs Elysee as the greatest tour rider ever, and then retire.
The good riding is about me for a change. I rode for 40 miles this morning and actually showed up at 6:30am for my bike club's weekly ride. Yeah, it's been a year and a half since I've done that. I did not stay with the front pack the entire time like I used to be able to, but did ride beyond my expectations. So, the old legs have something left after all.. It will only get better of course, but it will take a while to start dropping the best guys again.
the tour and other crap
Well, I am caught up on the Tour, and another one of Lance's teammates has won a stage (Paolo Salvodelli), but Lance still hasn't won. What's wrong with him? He must really suck =). So I have learned (compliments of Lori) that Lance cheated on his wife. Well, despite me not having heard that, it does appear that she is correct. Lance loses a notch on the ladder for that one.
I am caught up on the Tour though, and with only three stages left, I am looking forward to getting some things done that are on my todo list. It has grown quite a bit, but July has its priorities. Namely; watch the Tour de France.
So Lori treated me to a birthday dinner at Richardson's (off 16th St / Bethany Home) last night, and damn that place had some great food. I had the blackened ahi tuna, barely seared (it was sashimi grade). Words can not describe how good that was. It is definitely a recommended location.
After not getting much sleep last night I did not ride my bike this morning. I was forced to ride it tonight in the dust storm. I decided a 100 degree dust storm was the best time to go mountain biking for the first time in a while. Yeah, not that bright, but hell, I had fun.
One final note; happy belated birthday Chris! He shares his birthday with Independence Day. I guess a day off and a party are always to be had on your birthday.. not too bad. Who else gets fireworks for their birthday every year?
G E O R G I E!!!
I got a wonderful birthday present this year. George Hincapie won the hardest stage of this year's Tour de France. George is the 6th American to win a stage of the Tour, and the 2nd this year (Lance hasn't won yet, but Zabriskie did). Keep in mind this guy is riding in his 10th Tour de France and most of you have never heard of him. He's ridden on Lance's team through every victory. He got 2nd place in one of the biggest single bike races in the world this year; "The Hell of the North" aka Paris-Roubaix.
Of course, I suck and didn't watch the end until tonight. Here he is about to cross the finish line, in complete disbelief;
Aside from that, I went to the Mall today for the first time in at least six months. I bought some stuff I needed as well as a new watch and had a great conversation with the girl at the watch repair while I got my old watch fixed. Too bad she was only 20.. I just don't have the patience for that anymore, now that I'm 25 =).
I went to the Apple store and tempted myself with an iBook, but walked out without purchasing anything. I think that's why I really avoid the Mall, I'm frightened that I will buy a computer.