I haven't laughed this hard since L'autobus was brought to my attention! Enjoy!
Friday, June 12, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
It's Time
It's time for me to blog again or rather attempt to none-the-less. It has been (wait a minute) 7 months? Really?!?! That long since my last entry? WTH? Where did all that time go?
Well, I am in no place right now to recall the last 7 (I am still trying to wrap my brain around that) months, nor does my one reader (do I really even have that going for me?) have that kind of time. Anyway, the real reason that I haven't been on this thing is that I have been extremely busy with life and truthfully just not in the mood to write. Poor excuses? Perhaps, but between working odd, long hours, keeping up with home improvement items, riding my bikes, spending time with those important to me and sleep...well, blogging has just taken a backseat to it all. But here I am, at last, with a spare moment in front of my computer...I would like to say that 'I'm back' then again who knows if I will even have the time or motivation in the next 7 months for the recall of any of my daily occurances or ramblings. Regardless, let me revel in this moment.
Again, I am not going to go back 7 months into the past, however I will go back roughly one month into it. Approximately one month ago I did acquire a new man in my life. I say 'acquire' because this special encounter involved me dishing out a large sum of cash for his permanent company. But in this most unorthodox union, I have found incredible happiness, confidence in my skills, some pain (due to my lack of caloric intake while testing those skills) and miles upon miles of sweet, sweet dirt! Without further ado, I present to you Vlad:
Isn't he dreamy? His big, nobby tires and they way they grip the muddy roots we climb is nothing short of amazing. The way he absorbs our jumps - it's as if I am landing on a soft down throw instead of a rocky downhill. His disc brakes stop on a dime not that we use them that much (ha, ok so we do and when we do they squeal - which in turn makes me squeal with the joy of knowing I won't be biting it any time soon). And don't get me started on his handling skills...whoa. Now I want to ride, instead of work. Ok later, later. Since Vlad has come into my life we have been riding quite a bit. From the hilly mountain climbs with sick views of Jim Thorpe, PA to the hilly, rocky, rooty, crazy-ass-steep-stream-crossings of the Finger Lakes Trail. Of course the main man in my life who is still my first and favourite riding partner (who I also might add was not acquired but rather partnered into my life :) is shown here demonstrating his log riding skills on the FLT in Letchworth. Even with my new ride, I still can't catch T...but I sure do get bruised and battered trying. Did I mention this is fun for me?
The one day we went out to Letchworth, it was post torrential rains and chilly. This was Vlad's first mud bath. No worries, I washed him off afterwards - but he did look pretty sweet covered in a layer of mud and grit!
During my 7 month haitus I also took up a part time gig as a professional tree climber...ok, not really but for some reason I still find trees as enticing to climb up into now (at the ripe age of 29 :-D ) as I did when I was 7. I must assure you it is not as easy as it looks with bike shoes on. Crank Bros. cleats are slippery on bark!
Ok so there it is, the past more than half a year of life recalled. Let's recap shall we? Work, Ride, Eat, Ride some more, Eat some more, Sleep. Got all that?
Well, I am in no place right now to recall the last 7 (I am still trying to wrap my brain around that) months, nor does my one reader (do I really even have that going for me?) have that kind of time. Anyway, the real reason that I haven't been on this thing is that I have been extremely busy with life and truthfully just not in the mood to write. Poor excuses? Perhaps, but between working odd, long hours, keeping up with home improvement items, riding my bikes, spending time with those important to me and sleep...well, blogging has just taken a backseat to it all. But here I am, at last, with a spare moment in front of my computer...I would like to say that 'I'm back' then again who knows if I will even have the time or motivation in the next 7 months for the recall of any of my daily occurances or ramblings. Regardless, let me revel in this moment.
Again, I am not going to go back 7 months into the past, however I will go back roughly one month into it. Approximately one month ago I did acquire a new man in my life. I say 'acquire' because this special encounter involved me dishing out a large sum of cash for his permanent company. But in this most unorthodox union, I have found incredible happiness, confidence in my skills, some pain (due to my lack of caloric intake while testing those skills) and miles upon miles of sweet, sweet dirt! Without further ado, I present to you Vlad:
Isn't he dreamy? His big, nobby tires and they way they grip the muddy roots we climb is nothing short of amazing. The way he absorbs our jumps - it's as if I am landing on a soft down throw instead of a rocky downhill. His disc brakes stop on a dime not that we use them that much (ha, ok so we do and when we do they squeal - which in turn makes me squeal with the joy of knowing I won't be biting it any time soon). And don't get me started on his handling skills...whoa. Now I want to ride, instead of work. Ok later, later. Since Vlad has come into my life we have been riding quite a bit. From the hilly mountain climbs with sick views of Jim Thorpe, PA to the hilly, rocky, rooty, crazy-ass-steep-stream-crossings of the Finger Lakes Trail. Of course the main man in my life who is still my first and favourite riding partner (who I also might add was not acquired but rather partnered into my life :) is shown here demonstrating his log riding skills on the FLT in Letchworth. Even with my new ride, I still can't catch T...but I sure do get bruised and battered trying. Did I mention this is fun for me?
The one day we went out to Letchworth, it was post torrential rains and chilly. This was Vlad's first mud bath. No worries, I washed him off afterwards - but he did look pretty sweet covered in a layer of mud and grit!
During my 7 month haitus I also took up a part time gig as a professional tree climber...ok, not really but for some reason I still find trees as enticing to climb up into now (at the ripe age of 29 :-D ) as I did when I was 7. I must assure you it is not as easy as it looks with bike shoes on. Crank Bros. cleats are slippery on bark!
Ok so there it is, the past more than half a year of life recalled. Let's recap shall we? Work, Ride, Eat, Ride some more, Eat some more, Sleep. Got all that? Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Giving Thanks
Things I am thankful for in pictures...
My doggies (and cat not pictured).
My friends (two of the best pictured here).
My amazing partner (he has to be amazing - he likes Sonia.)
The amusement factors of my animals.
Nature's beauty.
The sky and lake.
My doggies (and cat not pictured).
My friends (two of the best pictured here).
My amazing partner (he has to be amazing - he likes Sonia.)
The amusement factors of my animals.
Nature's beauty.
The sky and lake.I have so many more things to be thankful for, but unfortunately I could not find good pictures to acurately represent these things. But I am very thankful for my family, friends, health, a job, abilities to enjoy the things I love...so much I can't list it all here. Anyway, I am off to New Paltz for dinner tomorrow then it's off to the Catskills for some backcountry fun. Happy Thanksgiving!
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Where am I?
I found out about this new-to-me park the other day at a seminar. Friday morning I was heading to one of my job sites in the vicinity of this new-to-me park, last minute I decided to get a quick early morning hike in prior to starting the day's grind. Not only was this park so beautiful, but it had sweet new trails for Boris and I to explore. Of course, it is now Sunday and I have yet to ride the trails. Eh, can't have it all. 
There is a boardwalk that winds through an expanse of wetlands then meanders across the Genessee River eventually spilling out on the other side then finally ending up at the Lake. I didn't go all the way to the Lake Friday morning - it was just too far and I didn't have the time. 
The rising sun cast some long shadows, so I decided to have fun with them...oh there are more ridiculous pictures. I, however, must retain some shred of dignity and choose not to post them.
Most of the leaves in Rochester have all but been windswept off the trees. In the wind protected valley along the banks of the river, the trees have held on to their vibrant autumn colours. 
I love exploring new places in this city that make me feel like I am not in Rochester at all. I went to work a little later than I had hoped to but with far more energy and motivation than I had started out with that morning. Not a bad way to start a work day. Friday, November 7, 2008
A Stick?
Look Rottenchester made CNN and it wasn't because of a serial killer, the poor air quality or an industrial toxic spill. Today I am a proud denizen of this fine, fine city.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Incredible...
"At 109, Slave's Daughter Revels In Historic Vote" - This is the headline from an npr article you can find here. A 109 year old woman has seen and lived through it all in her lifetime. She never thought she would live to see the day a black man was elected as president of the most powerful country in the world.
"Jones is the living link between the time when black men were owned as property and the time when a black man has been elected president of the United States."
I can honestly say I am excited for the future of this country.
"Jones is the living link between the time when black men were owned as property and the time when a black man has been elected president of the United States."
I can honestly say I am excited for the future of this country.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
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