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.

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!

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.

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.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/11/07/stick.hall.fame.ap/index.html

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.

Sunday Riding in Pictures

The Lake vs. The Monsters

I had this strange, pulling desire to ride my commuter to the lake last night. I left the rock gym around 9:00pm and started for home. The air felt so cold against the exposed skin on my face but I was bundled in my down jacket and with the exertion of me pedaling Hank, I was toasty and as content as I have been in quite some time. Each breath made my lungs sear but the 'pain' was a beautiful reminder that winter is on it's way and the contrast of my cold breath to the warmth of my core was incredibly vitalising.

As I pedaled I thought about everything and nothing all at the same time. The feeling of peaceful calm was a welcome change to the anxiety I have been experiencing on pretty much a daily basis. I didn't want this new feeling to go away and riding to the lake would have prolonged it by another hour or two.

When I was a child, then into my adult years, I used to go to the lake quite a bit to escape reality, to kayak, to swim or just to sit and meditate. For whatever reason, the waters calmed me, brought me clarity, refreshed my haggard mind. Lately I have felt the strong need for it. Usually I get out there at least once a week with the dogs, but this week has been busier and with the days getting shorter the motivation follows suit. But last night I could have gone and sat for hours escaping the ground clutter of the city to catch a closer glimpse of the stars in the sky. I craved it and wanted it...but I didn't do it. I felt guilty. The poor dogs are home alone most of the day and then most of the evening while I was climbing plastic rocks. I just couldn't bring myself to leave them for another two hours.

So there it was my desire for the water dashed out by my responsibility to my four-legged friends. It's ok, the ride from the gym was a brief reprieve from the daily grind that goes on in my head and the act of comedies that ensued when I got home was enough to make me feel like I made the right decision. After all at the lake I wouldn't have had excited, furry monsters showering me with affection and warm, stinky kisses.

Better Late Than Never

Happy birthday to me...but wait, my birthday was in August. Yes, indeed, it was. However my birthday present was finally completed and presented to me two days ago. Better late than never, right? Due to my constant bitching about wrecking my road bike commuting to work, seeing as how Rochester roads have craters instead of potholes, Trevor decided to build me a commuter for my birthday (or just to stop my complaining). As little time as he has now that he is back in school and working, pretty much any free time he does have is spent in the studio (or with me) and not on something trivial as building bicycles. I joked in late August that it would become my birthday/Christmas gift...it was closer to Halloween. So here it is...

Isn't it great?!?!?! I love it! The other night I had to take it on its inaugural run to the rock gym in the most inclement cold rain storm. It was such a smooth ride! Here are some of what this awesome ride boasts: Armadillo tires for flat protection (I was getting way too many flats on my road bike - not fun in sketchy parts of town.), single speed drive, rear break, fenders to protect my posterior from getting drenched with road spray (not cool to go to work with a rooster tail), riser bars - for comfort of course but the best part are the wheels. T$ built those bad boys up himself. If you look closely you will see the spoke patterns are different on each one. I love it! Oh and the frame was an old scrap frame from the shop that he stripped and refinished. This is the best birthday present ever! Now I only to need to name it :)