Chasing Palindromes

Chop Chop

2009-08-16T13:38:00.003-06:00

When my floors were tiled, I also had a wood stove installed. You see...I have a yard full of wood that's just been begging for a purposeful existence. About a year and a half ago, I had to have three full grown globe willow trees taken down because they were dying. The wood was then cut to length and stacked in the back yard. Now the wood is ready for splitting, the stove is installed, and I'm awaiting the winter months with great excitement.

I grew up in a home that was heated by a chimenea in the winter. Granted, that was in Tucson, AZ, so it's not like we had to use it much. I grew up loving the radiant heat of a fire on a cold morning, the crackle of the wood, the smell of smoke, and the mesmerizing flicker and dance of the flames. More than anything I love to build and tend the fire. There is something irresistably intriguing about poking around in the fire and watching the subtle changes in the airflow and combustion...watching the flames smother suddenly, then leap back to life with a little nudge and a puff of air.

There's something else I love about heating with fire...chopping wood. I love to chop wood and I have just begun the process today. The willow is nicely dried and ripe for splitting, so I took a whack at it today...actually quite a few whacks, though I stopped short of fatigue, fearing that my back would punish me tomorrow. Willow is very accommodating, easy to chop. I have a heavy splitting maul and long arms, so it doesn't take much strength on my part to get plenty of impact. It's the focus I like, the precision, and the crack when I hit my mark. I probably enjoy golf for the same reason, and maybe tennis too. There's just something satisfying about it.

Wooohoooo...Tile Floors

2009-08-14T08:32:00.003-06:00

My floors were tiled late this summer. The carpet that inhabited my house prior to that was probably the approximate equivalent of a synthetic slime mold. It did not, however, walk off on its own, which would have been a blessing. Instead, I had to cut it in to pieces and drag it, kicking and screaming, out of the house. I was kicking and screaming, that is...and incidentally, fighting my gag reflex all the while. Talk about disgusting.

Now that things are all said and done, the house feels much cozier, brighter, and more spacious. I have almost no allergies, and was able to finally install a wood burning stove. It takes a grand total of about 5 minutes to round up the dust bunnies with a little dust mop. The dog has all but figured out how to stop short of ramming his head into the back door.

My house is finally, finally, after 5 years of living in it, is starting to feel like home. Slowly but surely, it'll continue to make progress with a bit of effort here and there.

Tightening the Belt

2009-08-13T10:28:00.004-06:00

This month will be my first month living on the wee wages of my new job. In January, I gave up my faculty contract to take a professional staff position coordinating the math tutoring center here at San Juan College. There were so many reasons I wanted the job that they pay cut wasn't nearly enough to deter me. However, throughout the spring semester I still had the benefit of some leftover supplemental income trickling in. Now, with my new contract beginning, I have no supplemental anything...just the meager scraps from my contract pay.

I admit, I've been spoiled for the last 5 years. I have not had to worry about money in a very long time, not because I was rich, but rather because the lifestyle that was most comfortable to me fit easily within my moderate means. That's a closer call now.

I have no qualms about living a frugal life...I like it in theory. I don't buy expensive shampoo and eat out every night. I don't pay for pedicures and I don't mind eating beans and rice. I like to grow my own food and ride a bike in lieu of a car. I'm sure I've said in this blog before, simplicity is cheap, but it's not easy. It's time consuming and it takes much forethought.

Well, it's time now to reassess the budget...find out all about being a penny pincher again...forgo extravagance...learn to enjoy the challenge of living on less. I do like a challenge...don't I.

It is time...

2009-08-13T08:56:00.002-06:00

I admit it...I've been neglecting my blogger duties. Maybe I have not had much to say, but more likely, I've been too busy to say it...or even more likely, not in the mood. When I blog, I take time to write. It's rare that I just throw a few poorly formulated sentences on the screen and click publish...that's such a Facebook way of doing things.

Speaking of Facebook, I'm back on the wagon. Now before you judge too harshly, let me explain my gripe with Facebook that initially caused the deactivation of my account. First, I follow and maintain a number of websites for things like blogging, bookmarking, social networking, emailing, etc. So it's a HUGE PITA to visit all these various websites and use them effectively. Facebook was the first to be sacrificed because it is a time sucker, the likes of which I have never before or since experienced.

Now here's a potential solution (or we can call it that because it's new and fun and we need an excuse to fiddle around with it). A colleague introduced me to a website called Netvibes. Netvibes is like a super powered all in one continuously updating one stop shopping miracle. I can add widgets from my email, Facebook, blog feeds, craigslist, news feeds, and a zillion other things that people have created out there. So now it's just one website. Every time I look at the Facebook widget, there are 20 other things to distract me from it, so I never spend too long. Ahh, the blessings of information overload.

And BTW...Blogger is hypothesizing that Facebook is actually a misspelling of "forsook." Hmmmm.

Guess that's just the way the sheetrock crumbles...

2009-07-15T14:55:00.005-06:00

I decided to have the floors tiled...finally. The carpet was so gross that I just couldn't take it any more. When I ripped it out you coulda planted crops in the heap o' dirt underneath...at least I pretend it was dirt...no telling what kind of crap has collected under there over the last 28 years...I hope nothing too toxic. Believe it or not...this is by far the least interesting discovery so far.

Owning a home is great...sometimes. When I bought this house, it was immediately obvious that the sellers had a few undesirable qualities.

Poor taste
Wall paper obsession
Bad habit of painting over wall paper
Do it yourself home "improvement" obsession
A complete lack of home "improvement" skill and common sense
No qualms about ignoring and hiding damage and structural problems
A complete lack of scruples where selling a house is concerned

Only later did I discover that the realtor and the inspector must have been in cahoots since a number of obvious problems were "accidentally" overlooked while I was unfortunately 7 hours away trying to coordinate two closings and a move. In short, you never know what you're gonna find when you start diggin' in. The house was poorly built, poorly maintained, and tortured with disgustingly gaudy decor. This house has been treated for termites before and apparently there was significant damage before the treatment was done. I had a hunch that I didn't want to know what was behind the wall paper, but the damn stuff was so ugly that I couldn't stand it any longer. I finally tore it down in the master bathroom, resigning myself to the possibility that replacing a whole wall of sheetrock might be necessary. Little did I know that taking down the wall paper was the least of my worries. The real problem was removing the baseboard since the sheetrock behind there pretty much disintegrates in some places as soon as you start prying. Good grief!

Oh yeah...and then there's the HUGE crack down the middle of the living room floor. Nobody told me I was buyin' a split level. Cripes! We're talkin' 1/4 in. separation in some places and obvious sinking on one side. There's a voice in the back of my head that is relentlessly screaming, "Finish this project and GET THE HELL OUT!"

As I was packing the spent wall paper into a garbage bag today, I couldn't help but note that it was much like cleaning up wrapping paper on Christmas morning. My house...the gift that keeps on giving. Unwrap the magic! Joy to the world, blah, blah, blah...is there liquor at this party? At least there's enough sand on the floor to bury my head if it gets any worse.

Miracle Drugs

2009-07-09T19:47:00.001-06:00

Mobic is an awesome drug. I walked normally today without knee pain, without achilles pain. What a wonderful feeling. I still have to be careful doing some things, but I don't have to limp if I walk at a realistic pace. I imagine it will still be a number of weeks before I get back on a bike, but I finally feel like I'm going in that direction at least. THERE IS HOPE YET!!!

Doc Says...

2009-07-08T23:32:00.002-06:00

I went to the doctor today, just my PCP. She is wagering on tendinitis for both the knee and achilles. She prescribed an anti-inflammatory drug that is more effective for soft tissue and told me to keep icing, don't do anything that hurts, and come back in 10 days if the knee isn't showing significant improvement. If I don't show improvement, then an MRI is on the agenda. There's no swelling and I'm feeling no pain if I'm careful, but if I move it the wrong way, oh man, watch out, the pain is harsh and debilitating.

On the up side, driving is no big deal. I slide the seat all the way back and operate the clutch mostly with my ankle and the knee bend is within my range of ability. The big problem is getting in and out of the car. I don't seem to be able to swing my left leg into and out of the car while bent, so that means it has to go in first, which you can imagine is a bit awkward. I put my left leg into the car, lock my knee, then brace my arms against the steering wheel and seat, while I rotate my body and right leg into the car. I've also tried getting in and out by gripping the roof of the car, but my new method seems more controlled and I feel much less like an orangutan.

Wakeup call

2009-07-08T23:07:00.002-06:00

I have been experiencing the afternoon snoozies the last few days and today I gave in around 6 pm. I slept intermittently until 10:30 pm, at which time there was a loud bang and rattle of an exterior door. It was definitely someone trying to get into the house. After almost crapping my pants, I hurried to where my gun was stashed. I had unloaded when my bike trip ended in Florence, but the full magazine was still with the gun, so I loaded up and made ready to defend myself. Then I heard the dog whine and realized that I had fallen asleep while he was outside. He had been violently digging against the back door, probably because he was spooked by fireworks. I let him inside and that's when the nausea hit. I had so much adrenaline coursing through my veins that I nearly puked. That was the first time in my life I have ever picked up a gun with the immediate intent to defend myself and it was more than a bit scary even though it turned out to be nothing.

Home Sweet Home

2009-07-05T23:03:00.004-06:00

I am home at last, enjoying the reunion with Cirrus and Rusty. Cirrus has not left my lap since I came home. He has purred, meowed, drooled, kneaded, and done every combination since I walked in the door. Cirrus is a conversational cat and he no doubt missed our morning dialog of meowing. Rusty has lost weight. He eats less when I am AWOL. He may have a bug, but there's no telling until we get back on our normal routine.

I am alone in my house, as my roommate is out for the night. It is strange to be alone after a week of so much socialization and strange for other reasons as well. I correctly anticipated an overwhelmed feeling upon my return. I am baffled by my kitchen, my closet, the bookshelves. My comfort zone is still tightly tucked around four yellow Ortlieb panniers and a few other odds and ends. My mind is running in low gear...at contemplative speed. The adjustment back to real life will take time. I find myself frequently dazed, lapsing into a somewhat meditative state as my brain attempts to reset, process, take a time out. I find comfort in the predictable rhythm of my breathing...the stillness between my heartbeats. As the hours go by, my time on the road fades into the distance, and the experiences finally morph from sensations into memories.

For the past four weeks, I have led a fairly simple life. As I have mentioned before, I find relief and pleasure in minimizing my possessions; paring my life down to bare necessities. I indulged some desires on my tour, but for the most part, what I carried were things that I required for daily use, safety, or emergency preparedness. I would change little of what I packed, but one of my tasks for tomorrow is to unpack with care, assess each item, and determine where weight can be cut in the future. I will feel compelled to give away much of what I own now, to bring the sparseness of bicycle travel into my home. I will fight the urge sometimes, but there will undoubtedly be fewer things in my house by the end of July.

Tonight I am acutely aware of sensory input, especially sounds...the sounds of home and remembered sounds of places I've been. I remember the gradual changes from day to day in the birdsongs, the insect chatter, the various hums and creaks of the rooms where I have slept, the flapping of the tent, the rustle of leaves in the wind, the rain, the rivers, the sandstorms, the voices of people, the roar of engines, the soft whir of my gears, and always my breath feeding my forever reliable lungs, my heart pumping blood to the muscles that carried me 1000 miles over mountains and across deserts, the roughness of my voice as I growl in pain, frustration, and stubborn defiance of my failing body, and at the end, the sound of my own weeping as I traded my dream for humility and acceptance.

As I rode on and on, the physical sensations were abundant. As I recall them one by one, it seems that few would be overtly pleasurable, but there were not many instances in which the condition of my body was anything but exhilarating. There was grit in my teeth, grime on my skin, rain on my face, hail pelting my body, heat and bugs bombarding me as I desperately push to break free of the stagnating confines of a tailwind, the turbulence of passing cars, the ache in my hands, neck, butt, legs, and feet, the burn of exertion, the relief of a long downhill, the heavy, damp night air after a deluge, the shock of cold morning air on my skin as I leave the protective cocoon of my sleeping bag, the flex of each muscle as I turn the pedals over and over and over again, the alternating pain of my right Achilles tendon and my left IT band, the numbness in the fingers of my left hand, the burn of sweat in my eyes, and the nightly ritual of releasing my body into a healing slumber. Every sensation brings me closer to understanding what it means to be alive, to feeling my body connect with the whole of existence, to the miracle of billions of cells functioning synchronously to move me through space with unbelievable precision.

I feel a lump in my throat as I wrap up this entry, maybe because the tour is finally over, or because I never reached my goal, or maybe because I am thankful for the gift of such a journey, the knowledge that the world is still full of beauty, and the opportunities to test my skill, wrestle through difficult choices, challenge my body, and ultimately know myself better. Perhaps I feel fear because my body is broken and I don't know how badly, or shame because I should have been strong enough, or regret that I didn't stop sooner. Maybe I feel the anticipation of a new day, seen with fresh eyes, a tranquil mind, and lingering contentment.

Byouna Vista

2009-07-04T06:40:00.003-06:00

The locals pronounce Buena Vista as Byouna Vista rather than Bwayna Vista. As much as it pains me to mispronounce a spanish word, I pronounce it as do the locals.

This morning we're headed to the Buena Vista 4th of July parade, then fireworks this evening. It promises to be an exciting day with two kids in tow who seem to live for the 4th.

Two legs!

2009-07-01T11:42:00.004-06:00

I started back on smaller doses of ibuprofen yesterday. This morning, I actually climbed the stairs with both legs...carefully, but with minimal help from the railing. Going down the stairs is more challenging. The walk to town yesterday seems to have made little impact on my knee, but irritated my Achilles tendon as expected. Nothing I've tried yet has reduced that pain or swelling.

In the meantime, Florence is proving to be a restful and enjoyable place to recover. The farmer's market was a delight this morning and later I'll tag along to a MTB race in Colorado Springs. Tomorrow, it's off to Buena Vista for the holiday weekend.

I'm getting anxious to see Rusty & Cirrus and get back to my usual routine. I hope my injuries heal quickly enough to get me back in a MTB saddle before I have to go back to work, but I've no intention of pushing my luck by jumping in too early. Right now, I'm thankful to have the car to drive, but I look forward to the day when I can again feel confident that it isn't a necessary amenity.

Toolin' around Florence

2009-06-30T14:04:00.002-06:00

Florence, CO is a tiny little place. I decided to get out and walk a bit today so I made the mile trek to downtown and meandered about. There are about 647 antique shops, a few restaurants, a hardware store, and some other miscelaneous businesses.

My knee seems to appreciate not being statinary, but the Achilles tendon is throwing its usual tantrum. I'm back on small doses of ibuprofen while I heal. It does look like the rescue will pan out, so I should be on my way home in a car by July 5.

The End

2009-06-29T09:46:00.003-06:00

Well...it appears this may be the end of the line. My concern has become the risk of permanent or chronic problems. I'm resting comfortably in Florence now, but the knee is going to take a few days. I'm currently trying to arrange for a July 5 pickup from some generous friends who will be passing through on their way back to Farmington.

My ending trip mileage, believe it or not, came out to exactly 1000.17 miles. It's hard for me to believe that I broke 1000 at all since I've been battling pain for about the last 300 miles straight. Yesterday I found my limit. Every day, I ask myself a thousand times, "Do you have enough for one more crank?" The answer always came back, "Yes!" until yesterday. Twice I had to admit defeat and swallow my pride, hitch hiking to cut out the climbing. I was able to ride 51.76 miles yesterday under my own power. The last section I rode was gradual downhill or flat, so I kicked out my left shoe and went as far as I could on one leg.

I cried quietly by the roadside before sticking my thumb out for the second time. It's hard to throw in the towel, but knowing when to say when is a valuable lesson. I gave it everything I had. That's all I promised.

Besides, I've always wanted to know what hitch hiking was like?

The cookie crumbles

2009-06-29T06:07:00.003-06:00

My journey yesterday began with a 15 mile warmup before the climb to Leadville. I made it about a mile up the hill before my knee would no longer support me. I hitched a ride from someone who took me all the way down 24 to Poncha Springs. I rode another 35 miles or so on easier terrain until there was a point when I could no longer bend my knee. I unclipped and did a few miles on one leg, but eventually I had to stop. I had no service on my phone, so I stuck my thumb out again. An old couple from NY took me as far as Canon City and tufftommy rescued me from there. Once I have a further plan, I'll update.

It'll take a miracle

2009-06-28T07:36:00.002-06:00

I zonked in the bushes of a rest area last night about 20 ft from a "No Overnight Camping" sign. I must have been well enough concealed since nobody gave me grief. It was right by the river, so my gear was soaked this morning. Soon as the sun peaked over the mountains, I laid everything out to dry and ate some breakfast. I'm currently at a gas station having a cup o' coffee and loading up on my typical regimen of ibuprofen.

I'm not sure I'll make Leadville under my own power today, but I can start and give it all I've got.

Then I guess I'll stop here...

2009-06-27T18:52:00.002-06:00

A few miles East of the I-70 Hwy 131 junction is a town called Edwards. The whole town is like a friggin' country club. This is where I was when my body crapped out today, so this is where I'm stayin'.

Tomorrow I'm supposed to climb the highest pass yet, topping out at 10,440 ft where it crosses the Continental Divide. I'll be starting from about 8000 ft.

Whew! Made it!

2009-06-26T17:25:00.002-06:00

I arrived in Oak Creek around 5:00. I just beat the next storm. I figured out how to keep my Achilles from hurting too bad, but no luck on the knee. I iced both right away when i got here. I think it's just gonna hurt and I'm just gonna suck it up best I can.

The trip up here from Steamboat Springs was gorgeous and surprisingly dry. The rain let up soon after I turned off on 131. Then I turned off on what I thought was Route 14, but ended up meandering on a few miles of dirt road before I found the right road. I eventually got here. I saw another deer on my way. She was right at the side of the road. When I came around the bend, she spooked. I stopped the bike and cooed a little. She stopped and turned around. We looked each other over for a long while before she finally ran off.

Just passin' thru

2009-06-26T13:19:00.002-06:00

I'm in Steamboat Springs now and intend to turn South on 131 ASAP. I'll make Oak Creek today and stop there. There's a storm in the mountains and it's cold. I may end up moteling it aqain if it's too cold to camp. I've been riding in the rain all day...not just a spninkle either...it's a doozy of a storm and I'm soaked. I've been advised that 131 is under construction, so I'll detour on 14, which runs past Stagecoach Res.

I've decided not to go all the way to Denver after all. I'm headed straight for Buena Vista and plan on car transport from there to Florence, CO, where I'll rest up for a bit before blasting off toward home.

I'm not sure if Oak Creek will have service, so this could be my last contact until tomorrow afternoon.

Spell Check!

2009-06-25T14:02:00.002-06:00

For all of you who were wondering over the last few weeks why my spelling has gotten worse, it's not just me getting dumber. The blogger spell checker doesn't work on the Opera Mobile browser. I have taken the time today at the Moffat County Library to go back through all the mobile entries and run the spell checker. So there you have it...I'm a nerd...and now you all know that I'm a naturally crappy speller.

Where I've Been

2009-06-25T13:40:00.004-06:00

Here's a map of where I've been so far.

View Summer 2009 Loop in a larger map

Stats

2009-06-25T08:23:00.005-06:00

I'm sitting here resting and icing today and I added up my mileage. I've traveled a total of 817 miles. Assuming an average speed of about 10 mph and an average cadence of about 50, that means I've ridden for 12 days (and rested for 6 days including today), spent almost 82 hours in the saddle, and I've cranked the pedals almost 25,000 times. I've been from 4500 ft to 9500 ft elevation and up and down a zillion times in between. No wonder my body hurts! The average speed and cadence are just a guess, but whew!

Rest time!

2009-06-24T18:54:00.003-06:00

I made the 65 mile journey to Craig, CO today. I will be staying 2 nights since my left knee is in desperate need of some TLC. I pushed through the pain to get to Craig since there's really nothing to speak of between Vernal, UT and here. When I got here, I went to a tasty local pizza joint and scarfed down a 14 in pizza while icing my knee. Now I'm in a room at the world's cheapest motel, but it's cleaner than some of the spendy ones I've stayed at. In retrospect, I probably should have stayed 2 days in Vernal, but too late for that now.

Though my knee is getting progressively more painful, my Achilles tendon on the right leg is holding steady at a tolerable level of pain and nothing else seems to be complaining.

Last night at dusk, just as I was drifting off to sleep, three deer galloped up and observed me for some time from the next hill. They were nervous and kept making snorting noises. Eventually, they left. Then today a hawk flew with me for about 50 feet, just 10 feet up and a little to my left. I saw another deer later in the day. I got to see it frolic by the roadside and then bound over a fence. Oh, and there was yet another deer on a hillside across the highway. he was a pretty large buck from what I could see. The cattle seem to like me too. On the open range of Wolf Creek pass I almost started a stampede.

Well, I'm off to enjoy some R&R.

Brief update

2009-06-23T17:47:00.001-06:00

Service is spotty, so I'll keep it short. I stayed on Hwy 40 due to very low traffic. I'm looking for a BLM access road for camping. I'll be a few miles East of Massadona.

Longest day yet...

2009-06-22T19:36:00.004-06:00

Guess where I am! Just GUESS! Vernal, UT. Eleven hours and 90.5 miles later, I'm finally sitting down to dinner. Vernal's a real town, so I thought about eating out, but the most appealing thing was salad and the best place to get salad is the produce section. One bag of romaine, one cucumber, one tomato, one small can of sliced black olives, one small can of green chile, and one can of fiesta corn. Voila! Dinner is served. I don't carry a bowl big enough, so I just cut the front out of the lettuce bag and used that.

I've been popping 2 ibuprofen every 4 hours today as I recover from 2 very challenging days. I was still feelin' OK by the end of the day today...better than this morning, in fact. I'm sure the ibuprofen is to thank for that.

At this campground, there's a guy from Bloomfield, NM (just down the street from Farmington) camping next to me. How do I know this? I borrowed his can opener. The kindness of strangers is such a blessing.

Well, it's off to dinner and bed. Adios!

Blue skies, dead ahead!

2009-06-22T08:18:00.001-06:00

Yee-haw! The skies are clear, the road is flat, and I'm about to make like a baby and head out.

Holy crap!

2009-06-21T16:55:00.003-06:00

Up and up yet again. Today's climb was STEEP! Since Wolf Creek is on a state road rather than a highway so the grade was 8% rather than 6%. I reached the summit of 9,485 ft 28 mi from this morning's start. About 1 mi after the big climbing began, my zip was gone. I think I left it all in East Canyon yesterday. Despite the continual complaint from every part of my body, I did finally make the summit in time for the storm, narrowly missed frostbite on the way down the other side. The challenge of today's climb was overcome one pedal stroke at a time and I had to talk myself into every single one. Today was all about pain tolerance, patience, and bull headed determination.

I waited out another storm this morning and got a late start around 10. I made it to the 50 mile mark before my legs said, "NO MORE!" There's no camping round here, so I'm staying in a room over the cafe in Tabiona. It's a family owned place and they are VERY friendly. I'll make it to Hwy 40 easy tomorrow.

Oh, ye of little faith...

2009-06-20T20:15:00.003-06:00

I had a wicked tail wind today, but about a mile from Oakley, the weather caught up to me...hail and rain by the bucket by the time I rolled into Oakley, I was soaked to the bone. Luckily, this place is home to the Road Island Diner, where I pathetically took refuge until the storm let up just a tad. I sat discretely in the corner, ordered a bowl of soup and decaf coffee. I tipped generously for the use of the table. Soon after I was seated, one of the servers rolled out a shop-vac. I was sure it was for the puddle forming under me, but turns out they were defrosting the ice cream freezer. Whew! That would have been embarrassing.

Anyway, the rain finally let up enough for me to get from the diner to the city park. I made a dash for the overhang in the rear of the building. I set up my tent for warmth even though there is a shelter. I'm on concrete, so I tied down to the picnic tables surrounding me. The shelter is leaky, but it's better than nothin'. At least my gear will be able to dry out a tad overnight.

I was on the verge of believing that the rain would never stop and then, right after I got set up, the rain stopped and the sun came out briefly before setting. The lesson? Have faith...things always seem to right themselves. I know, I'm worse than friggin' Aesop.

Progress

2009-06-20T15:00:00.003-06:00

I'm in Echo, UT at a cafe. I'm having a coffee, chatting with some folks from Kamas. I've been told that the city parks in Oakley and Kamas both will be adequate for camping, but it's gonna be a cold night I hear.

Up, Up, and Away!

2009-06-20T10:26:00.004-06:00

Left SLC from the mouth of Emigration Canyon, up through East Canyon, 8.77 miles to the top. I'm standing at the high point overlooking Wasatch National Forest Ponds. I'll soon turn North toward Henefer on 65, then back South on 32 toward Peoa, Kamas, and Woodland. I'll hopefully camp in national forest tonight.

Well, here comes the rain...off I go.

Couldn't Do It Without You...

2009-06-16T07:14:00.005-06:00

...well, I could, but I wouldn't want to.

TONS and HEAPS of thanks goes out to all of you who have followed this trek so far and offered encouraging words (and some tough love) along the way. There were reasons to do this trip solo, but I'll admit it's not easy. The emails and comments on this blog have really helped to keep me pressing on...especially those first few days.

Riding alone is a breeze, but once I stop, the solitude can be maddening. I'm getting used to that now and I'm learning to appreciate those evenings alone...when my mind and body need all the attention I have left to give. I also needed to find out that I COULD do for myself without someone guiding me...and that having a knowledgeable partner isn't what makes me capable of such things. It's actually all in there...in ME. What a great thing to know.

I'm thrilled to have come this far and glad it's not over yet.

Welcome to beautiful Bountiful, UT

2009-06-15T23:05:00.003-06:00

I started the day late today. I had to suck every last second out of the Hampton Inn stay. I rolled out around 11 am after a delicious breakfast of omelets, fruit, granola, yogurt, and yes a decadent donut with my superb coffee.

Then it was back to reality, stinky riding clothes and all. One thing I'll say about SLC and surrounding areas is that there's construction on every other block and detours everywhere. I made some wrong turns, but my Google mobile maps app came in handy big time with the GPS locator in satellite view. Once, I stopped on a rural road West of I-15 to check my location and route. A friendly horse snuck up behind me to say hello. When I turned around, there was this lovely, inquisitive face staring back. She sniffed my hand and let me pet her face. We bonded. I named her Blondie.

Somewhere in American Fork, I ran across an outdoor equipment store called Recreation Outlet with crap loads of great gear in stock at reasonable prices. I replaced the GoLite Shangri-la 1 with a Vaude Hogan Ultralight 4-season tent and some Ti V tent pegs that can double as pot supports for a wood fire. I'm tired of the inside of my shelter looking like the Sahara in the morning and tired of lugging my hiking poles around for the soul purpose of tent support. I want a faster setup and tear down with more versatility.

I meandered my way through SLC trying my best to select routes that would minimize the probability of pissing off drivers. Uncle Jim eventually got sick of waiting for me to arrive at his office, so when I was about 5 miles out, he called and said, "We're comin' ta gitcha!" And thus began my visit to Bountiful, UT.

It's good to be with people again.

Who's up for the Hamptons!?

2009-06-14T19:03:00.003-06:00

The Hampton Inn that is...in Provo, UT. When I left Soldier Summit, the downhill started sooner than I expected. 'Bout the time I reached a cruising speed of 30+ mph, the rain started...a cold one...then the hail started...the welts are gradually subsiding. Though I've never experienced it my bet is that this was on par with being shot point blank with a pelet gun 20 times a second for 5 minutes straight?

So what the hell was my rationale for not stopping? Here it is. I was freezing my tail off, I had no idea how long the storm would last, and I was desperate for something flat enough to pedal on since that's the only way to warm up. Course when I did finally get to start pedaling, my legs were so cold and stiff I was afraid to move 'em to fast. I thought they might shatter.

And no, I still don't wear rain pants.

When I finally reached civilization I was pretty clear on the fact that a shower was necessary. Combine last night's sand storm with today's road grime, and you get one disgusting mess. The first hotel I ran into in Provo was the Fairfield (way too pricy). So I moved right along to the Hampton. When the desk attendant quoted me a price of $90 I must have looked so pathetic that he knocked it down to $60. What a deal!

First priority was obviously a shower. Once that was out of the way I started eating. That went on for some time. Now I'm lounging in a very comfy bed.

Overall trip mileage so far is 419 mi. Today's mileage was about 73.

Coming to you live from Soldier Summit!

2009-06-14T11:18:00.003-06:00

Yup! Made it to the high point. I'll admit I was scared after all the warnings I got, but sheesh, really, was that even uphill? JK! It's about 23 miles from my camp to here. The first 9 were up, but not THAT up. Then there are about 3 miles of significant climbing. Up on top it's pretty flat for 20 miles or so and then the descent into Spanish Fork will begin.

Looks like rain and cold on the way down from here. Jackets on everyone! Off we go!

At last...a free night's sleep!

2009-06-13T16:15:00.003-06:00

I'm just outside Helper, UT, a couple of miles up into Spring Canyon. I can see houses from where I'm at, but hopefully they're not bothered if they see me.

Today ended up being about an 80 mile day. My intention was to get as close as possible to the beginning of the big climb up to Soldier Summit. I'm assuming it's pretty brutal based on what I've heard. But if there's one thing I've learned, it's that drivers have a very limited awareness of the varying levels of climbing difficulty on a bicycle. I believe this one will be tough, though, so I plan to start early and rest frequently.

I'll let you know how it goes later.

Oh....and I found my bug spray after all. WHEW!

SHADE!

2009-06-13T10:30:00.003-06:00

Holy crap! I found shade in the middle of the Utah desert. I'm about half way to Price from Green River. If you look at the Google satellite image of 191 where I'm at, you'll see the trees I'm referring to. Trust me. They'll stand out. There aren't many around here...though it does look like there may be more to come. These are the first I've seen all day that pass for more than bushes.

Solio's getting his first workout today. This blog post is provided courtesy of Solio, so he's gotta recharge today. I like the name Solio...it's like Coolio, but hotter.

Yesterday, on the way out of Moab, Sid and I got a bit of a surprise. I followed a twice recommended "bike path" that parallels 191 North until the 313 turnoff. It appeared to be well maintained at first, but it was soon clear that the other 8 miles had been left for dead years ago. We may as well have been on dirt single track. This stuff was a steep mess of huge potholes fallen rocks sand, and gravel. The challenge of it ended up being kind of fun. Sid certainly earned his wings for low speed maneuverability. Good to know.

I've discovered that I love the riding part of this adventure, but I hate stopping to sleep. If my body could handle it I'd just ride 24/7. I end up missing most of the scenery but the introspective nature of a trip like this is priceless. I'll buy the postcard later for the scenery.

Now that I'm dry, the gnats have given up on me. Must be time to press on.

I'm going about this all wrong

2009-06-12T16:30:00.004-06:00

It dawned on me today that perhaps I've got it backwards. I could sleep just about anywhere for free as long as I do it during the day. Shady spot in a city park? Sure! But once it's night they make you pay for someplace "official." So maybe I ought to ride all night while it's cool and then "nap" somewhere for free during the day. Definitely cheaper, but stop gasping! I can hear you from here. I wouldn't actually do it since I trust sleepy night drivers about as far as I can throw them.

I'm at the Green River State Park tonight. I anticipate bugs in my near future. That's why the deet came along. The campground is full to the brim with very excited little campers. They just can't wait to get to the bonfires and smores. Can't hardly blame them since smores are one of the tastier foods around.

I'm torn when it comes to campground camping. Part of what I see is the shameless display of excess and decadence with all the RV's and house sized tents, but there's more to it. I also see the things I loved as a child. I lived for campfires and rough housing, laughing hard and enjoying the big event.

I'd probably really like a lot of these people, and given the right circumstances, I might even party around a bonfire with some of them. For now, I'm content to observe from a distance.

Why AM I out here pedaling around like a fool? Why am I not content to spend my summer pulling weeds (which really needs doing btw) and planting a garden? There was a time in my life when I desperately needed to experience the extremes before I could reliably find the middle. Maybe that time has passed. Perhaps all it takes is an open heart and pure intentions to find that balance.

But as long as I'm out here I might as well see if saddle sores and sunburns contribute anything profound.

Skeeters are out. Time for repellent.

...

Oops! can't find the deet! Damn...well...time to meet some of these friendly campers and beg for mercy.

Ahh...recovery.

2009-06-11T16:41:00.003-06:00

Moab really isn't that exciting a place if hiking & mt biking isn't on the agenda, but it's relaxing here nonetheless. Hit all the bookstores/cafes drank some local coffee, and discovered that most of the people out and about on a weekday in Moab are actually not from here. Go figure. You mean people actually have jobs?

Random guy at Moab Cyclery was awesome. Cleaned my chain and let me use a work stand to give Sid a good once over. I didn't catch his name because he was so dang busy renting out mt bikes. Anyway, I discovered a rack bolt that was about two b-bumps away from making the shoulder of Hwy 191 it's permanent home. Next stop True Value hardware for some loctite.

My legs (Achilles tendons in particular) have welcomed the R&R. I've been on a steady regimen of Ibuprofen today just to be sure inflammation doesn't inhibit healing. I've been able to fend off sunburn so far. The overcast skies have been a help. I've grown a few new freckles and probably a few new muscle fibers.

I found a hostel on the south side of Moab. It's got just a hair of creepy about it, but the people seem nice, so maybe I'm mistaking character for creepy. What the hell...it's only $9.

And tomorrow...onward and Northward!

Moab! (almost)

2009-06-10T20:00:00.002-06:00

I made it to a KOA just South of Moab. I left at 9:30 this morning, rested for a while at a service station in Monticello, left there at around 1:30, and zipped up to Moab. All in all it was a 76.6 mile day. The drop in elevation coming into Moab boosted my average speed from 9.6 mph (in Monticello) to 10.4 (in Moab). I also broke 200 miles, which means this is the farthest Sid and I have ever been from home together.

I got rained on a couple of times today. I saw some great lightning and got really wet. I refuse to wear rain pants. I go with a jacket only for ease of transition. What that means is that my butt gets soggy. It's all about compromise.

Incidentally, I gouged a big hole in my left index finger on day 1. It had nothing to do with knives this time, just a fingernail, which was trimmed down short and everything. It really wasn't too gory, but it bled like a chainsaw massacre. I discovered that bandaids really gross me out. I have to put on a new one way too frequently. So I bought some 2nd skin and it works really well...once the bleeding stops.

I'm having fun...finding my zone. I miss my pets and my people, but there's something out here for me so I'm off to find it.

Why are my arms sore?!

2009-06-09T19:23:00.003-06:00

Almost exactly 60 miles down the road, I found Dove Creek. I don't like this town much. No camping anywhere in the vicinity and only one motel, which is overpriced. Beggars can't be choosers though can they. The office clerk was nice anyway. Good thing too. When I only talk to a couple folks a day, one meanie can put me in a funk.

Mancos and Dove Creek are about the same elevation. However, the road between Mancos and here doesn't contain any flat portions. I spent all day either roasting on my way up a huge hill or freezing on the way down the other side. Toward the end of the day my legs were sick of it. After every downhill, I'd start the next climb with about 5 seconds of the worst muscle burn EVER.

And at the end of the day my arms are more sore to the touch than my legs. Hmmm.

Still Alive 'n' Kickin'

2009-06-08T19:13:00.002-06:00

OK...truth be told. I'M BEAT! I'm at a campground a few miles before Mancos. There was a little sign that indicated the presence of a campground. So I turned off and headed that way. Little did I know that the campground was 3 miles down a road that might as well have been vertical given that those were miles 60, 61, and 62 on my first friggin' day. Yeah...I walked the worst 1/2 mile. I'll admit it.

Note to self...take ibuprofen before bed.

My plan for this evening is to eat until I fall asleep mid-chew.

Overall a good first day, about as long and painful as I expected and tomorrow will start with a HELLA good downhill!

Like a Herd of Turtles

2009-06-08T08:32:00.003-06:00

Yup...still at home...but nearing departure. Final weight? 238 lb including me, Sid, gear, food, water, and the inexplicable boost in gravity reported by BSN early this morning.

I think it's fair to say that about 2/3 of my bag weight happens to be food and water, which will show gradual reduction over the next week or so...I hope at exactly the rate I anticipated. Who the hell knows. It's all a crap shoot with me. Learn as you go and take good notes. That's what I say.

On the up side, Sid rides like a dream when loaded down heavy. He was born to be a beast of burden...and a burly beast he is.

True...So True

2009-06-07T14:50:00.002-06:00

Dr. D gave me a spoke replacement and truing lesson today. I did remarkably well given the fact that we picked the hardest spoke we possibly could and I've never actually trued a wheel before. I successfully removed the rotor and the "broken" spoke. Then I threaded the "new" spoke (which was actually still the old one) through to the nipple and tightened it 'til it was "close" enough. I reassembled everything and put the wheel back on the bike. Once everything was in place, I got to try out Dr. D's rubberband & pencil truing trick. I tightened the "replaced" spoke first, just a hair at a time until everything was just about there. Then I did a little fine tuning around the rest of the wheel and voila! Dr. D says I successfully accomplished just as good a truing job as any bike shop.

I also packed a Fiberfix Kevlar spoke just in case. Now that I know how to deal with a broken spoke, I can guarantee I won't have to.

Weeping, seeping, leaking...

2009-06-07T14:29:00.002-06:00

Whatever you wanna call it...Ralf the Rohloff is on my last nerve with this "oil here, oil there, oil everywhere, can't tell where it's coming from, not coming out fast enough to REALLY worry, but definitely more seepage than one would expect." Stop playin' with me Ralf! You're makin' me crazy. If you're gonna leak...THEN GET THE F#%$ ON WITH IT! Otherwise...GET THE F#%$ OVER IT! *eye roll*

During the first 18 months of his life, Ralf was running dry as you may recall from an earlier entry. I wonder if this oil seepage is standard fare with a Rohloff and I just never noticed because...well...there was no oil in there to leak out in the beginning.

Here's my attitude...screw it...I'm still leaving tomorrow. I'll mail an oil change kit ahead just in case I feel I've lost an unacceptable amount of oil. If Ralf decides to crap out completely (which is highly unlikely given his demonstrated lack of need for excess lubricant) then I'll thumb it to the nearest bike shop and figure it out there.

So off we go...seepage and all. I suspect I'll be living the next six weeks with mechanic hands. I think I'll squeeze some GoJo into a little shampoo bottle and take it along with me. Seems like that might be a good idea. Although, in pretty much any town along the way, no matter how small, there's bound to be a yard with enough car parts in it to indicate a high probability of GoJo within.

Ready, Set, Go!

2009-06-07T08:46:00.003-06:00

I'm still planning on leaving tomorrow morning, June 8. I'll be riding North on NM170 (a.k.a. La Plata Hwy), which changes to CO140 at the border. I'll hang a left at Hesperus, CO. Once I hit Mancos, CO I'll have to decided whether to stay on US160 until it hits US491 or swing a little ways North on CO184. US491 will take me into Monticello, UT and from there, US191 drops me in Moab, UT. This first leg will be a total of 193 miles. It's likely that I'll make that in a few days, but we'll see how ambitious I am.

Realistically, the entire distance from my home to Bountiful, UT is only about 435 miles. If I average 9 mph and ride about 8 hours a day, then I'll make it in under 7 riding days. I'll take a rest day in Moab, but I think this trip could potentially go much faster than I "planned." I don't really plan much though. I fly by the seat of my pants once on the road, which incidentally contains a lot of padding, so I consider myself pretty safe.

I've had a pile of gear on my bedroom floor for the past week and I've been gradually paring it down. Each day I look at the pile, my attitude gets just a little more minimalist. I'm carrying only what I need along the way and plan to mail a box ahead of me to each major destination so that I have some extra clothing and such while visiting people. That way I can disguise myself as normal when it's appropriate.

While biking, on the other hand, looking like a complete freak seems to come very naturally. I've experimented with tying my Solio phone charger to the top of my helmet, which looks pretty goofy (a little like a propeller) and works wonderfully...except that my riding direction doesn't put it at the right angle for optimal collection. I think it'll be tied to my Camelbak most of the time on the way through UT.

I think I've finally opted for the GoLite umbrella rather than the poncho or both. The poncho is much more appropriate for hiking and is minimally useful on biking excursions.

I made an interesting food discovery. In this scenario, where all I care about is packing the most calories into the least possible weight, the ABC (Alternative Baking Company) makes the best "energy bar" there ever was. Their "Mac the Chip" cookie packs 520 calories into 120 g of cookie. Now that's impressive. It's also vegan and wheat free. VERY appealing. To be fair, one cookie contains half the RDA of saturated fat, so scarfing these suckers must be restricted to the metabolic extremes of multiday athletic adventures I'd say.

I also plan to attempt some "whole foods" while I'm out. Turns out that quinoa and split red lentils presoak well enough to significantly reduce the cook time, so I'll be munching on those some nights in addition to the instant stuff.

Spring in My Step

2009-06-02T07:05:00.003-06:00

The past week has brought the most perfect spring weather imaginable to Farmington. The mornings have been cool, filled with the sound of singing birds. The breeze has been more subdued than the usual for this time of year, and nearly every afternoon we've seen thunderheads building in the distance, which is thrilling whether the rain comes to fruition or not.

This is my favorite time of year, when I finally begin to get out of bed willingly in the morning and even with excitement sometimes. Finally, the cool air is something I welcome rather than recoil from. The winter months wear me down gradually, but by the end of May, I'm into full on recharge mode and ready to conquer the world.

Recently, my last renter moved on and I took in a new one. He called this his home for the first time yesterday and it was strange becoming accustomed to a new face in the house, a new voice in my midst. I realized last night that even things like how he talks to the pets and how he scratches their ears are all new. These are not things I expected to have to "adjust" to, but they are. A new person is new in every way imaginable, right down to how fast he walks down the hall and the patch of counter on which he prefers to prepare food in the kitchen.

I like having a second person in the house. I don't have a TV or a radio. I listen to podcasts sometimes, but generally, the house is silent now if I'm the only one here. Silence is golden, they say, but I also believe in moderation. Little chat, little quiet, little music, little radio news, little laughter, little meowing kitty, little whining doggy, little bit o' time left to just listen to the birds and feel my breath merging with the breeze.

I've come to believe that connecting with other people and building healthy relationships, whether long or short term is, or is at least close to, the most important thing in my life. If left to my own devices, I would tend toward a reclusive lifestyle. While seeking solace and understanding within myself is very important to me, it is nothing if it stands alone. A lesson I am still trying desperately to learn is balance and moderation. There are many good things in life, but they are each just a small part of something bigger. It's the big picture I need to nurture, not just a few parts.

You know when you finish a puzzle and there are missing pieces, so you can never see the finished masterpiece? Yeah...I don't want to end my life that way.

Hmmmm

2009-05-30T20:36:00.005-06:00

Last weekend I took a drive...a long one. I explored a number of the roads I plan to ride this summer. The one that sticks in my mind is Rocky Mountain National Park. Does 15 miles of this shoulder scare the crap out of me? Sure...but what the hell...I've got a contingency plan. Besides

I like the elevation graphs that are available for some cycling routes, but I can't for the life of me track one down for this stretch of Hwy 34. Not to worry, I'm a mathematician, completely stubborn, and very excited about Google maps. I discovered that I can build my own maps! These maps can be viewed in terrain mode, which shows topography, and I can place markers along Hwy 34. At each marker, I can get a reading of distance traveled in miles from Google and elevation from the topo. I know...I'm a nerd...BUT I CAN'T HELP IT! OK...so I'm completely excited about creating my very own elevation graph using the data points off my own personal RMNP route map. Here's what the map looks like so far. I'll continue adding markers until my route is through the park.

View RMNP in a larger map

Dork on a MTB

2009-05-21T10:08:00.004-06:00

I went on a group ride yesterday with the pit crew from Cottonwood Cycles. I rode a demo bike, the Trek Fuel EX 7. It was seriously fun, though my tendency to go, "Wwwwweeeeeeeeeheheheheh" on steep downhills is probably an embarrassment to the tough guys in the group. That was the first time I have used the rapid fire shifters. I like that at least as well as grips. That was also the first time I rode with full suspension. My lower back was killing me at the end, so we have to figure out why before I go out again. The next ride is next Wednesday. I think I'll take out the same bike, one size smaller to see what that feels like.

There are also a couple of other demo options I can try. This just gets more fun every time I ride. I'm getting better and better at riding with my whole body and tuning my balance. I'm feeling more comfortable on the sand and rocks. Soon enough, I'll be ready to try the tougher stuff. There is no shortage of people to ride with around here and they are all at different levels. I could probably find someone to ride with every day if I wanted. Mountain biking wears me out in the best possible way. I go home and collapse in a satisfied heap when I'm done. I live for that kind of exhaustion.

The search continues for the next two-wheeled member of the fam. I'll know when I meet my match. It will surely call out to me and dance a little jig the first time we meet. I'm watching for this with anticipation, but patience is essential on such a mission.

Hitched Without a Hitch

2009-05-21T08:41:00.002-06:00

My sister, Anne, is the most organized person you'll ever meet. Her wedding planning abilities are demonstrative of this. Weeks before the wedding day, she had spreadsheets, scheduling the wedding day in 15 minute increments, listing every task that had to be completed, who was responsible for it, and where it would take place. I was responsible for things like "get hair done" and "be in pictures." It was hard work, but someone had to do it. I also contributed mightily by filling small glass cups with pink M&Ms. I wanted to get it perfect, so I graciously ate all the broken and ugly ones. According to the schedule, that was beyond the call of duty, but hey, what are sisters for.

They were so organized that all the checks were written ahead of time, everything arrived on time, nobody was flustered (not even the bride). It was the smoothest running wedding I've ever seen, heard about, or imagined. The only sign of any stress on the part of my sister was when she put on her wedding gown for the first time and instantly overheated. There were some seriously creative attempts to curb the sweating and cool her down. Then the miracle of floor vents was discovered. She stood by the window, with the sun blazing in on her, and a cooler vent blowing icy air up under the skirt. You've never heard a more relieved sigh. Being a floor length dress, it gradually inflated into its full cone shape. This was both humorous and dramatically beautiful. When she turned slightly to face the camera for a photo op the skirt became a hovercraft and we all busted up laughing. She was a princess, showing nothing but love, patience, and grace all day.

Anne's wedding colors were clover, ivory, and some pink color that might be referred to as cerise. Her dress was ivory, ours were clover with ivory accents and ivory shoes. The pink was subtle, just on our toes and nails and in her bouquet. We were instructed to choose the style of our liking from the dessy.com website, so we all chose differently everyone got to wear a flattering cut. Here's mine. It was a good fit for tiny tatas and happens to be very wearable for later occasions since it's not floor length...not that Farmington offers much in the way of formal events. I purchased perhaps the most daring pair of shoes I've ever worn in my life, the Aldo Falconeri. I was approximately 6'3" while wearing these shoes. They were surprisingly comfortable. I got no rub other than blisters on the soles of my feet where all the pressure was. That's just from so much time on my tiptoes that I wasn't used to. My calves haven't gotten that good a workout in a long time. They were definitely sore the next day.

I busted out the extrovert in me for this occasion. I think I overspent. During the 36 hours following the wedding I probably slept a total of about 20 hours. I was BEAT! Totally worth it. It was the best party I've ever been to with the best people, the most happy tears, and the most memorable moments.

At the reception, Anne and her beau, Zach, made the first dance into a choreographed hip-hop like dance routine, which they pulled off beautifully, entertaining the crowd with their pizazz and dazzling dance moves. That kicked off the boogie with a bang and it was a nonstop groove fest after that with great food, free wine, and a zillion of the most awesome people in the world.

The newlyweds are now known formally as Mr. & Mrs. Zimmerman and informally as "The Zims" or Mr. & Mrs. Awesome. I'M SO HAPPY FOR THEM!!!!!

I now have two new bros and a new sista. I love you all!!! You're the BEST! Can't wait to see you all again!

OK...Now I'm REALLY Pissed

2009-05-18T22:23:00.003-06:00

My luggage made it on the earlier flight without me...AFTER ALL THAT!!!

I know of no swear word appropriate for this moment. Perhaps urbandictionary.com has some suggestions.

Back at the DIA

2009-05-18T15:01:00.004-06:00

I just spent the weekend in Tacoma, WA for my big sister's wedding(tell you all about that later). After a 45 minute ceremony and 4 hours of almost nonstop dancing in 4 1/2 inch platform heels my feet are thankful for moving walkways.

When my flight arrived in Denver at 2:50 I noted that there was a 3:38 flight to Durango rather than my currently scheduled 5:30 flight. I inquired about the possibility of moving up my flight only to discover yet another penalty for checking a bag. Apparently, if you have any checked luggage you aren't ALLOWED to deviate from your original itinerary...EVER...UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES!!! I don't get it. You charge me a fee if I check a bag...but give me a guilt trip about cluttering the cabin if I carry it on. Then if I check it anyway, you rummage through it, probably sniffing my dirty underwear. And THEN, even after all that bomb swabbing nonsense, you're still so sure I am plotting to take down the plane that you must insist that I am on the flight with my bag. You know...if I really wanted to not be on that flight, it's pretty easy to "accidentally" MISS it.

I hate flying...where's T.J.Cinnamon's...

DIA On a Wednesday

2009-05-13T13:18:00.004-06:00

I'm just sitting at the Denver airport, watching people go by...all two of 'em. My computer doesn't seem to like the WiFi here, so I'm making an experiment of it. Since I expect to be posting from my phone during my tour, I decided to give it a whirl today. So I'm postinq from my phone today. As expected, this is slow going. Posts will be short this summer.

It IS pretty cool to have the ability to do this from a contraption that is no bigger than my palm. The picture thing is complicated though. My phone doesn't have an SD port, so I have not yet figured out how to post pics other than ones taken with the phone. I could hit a public location from time to time for uploading. That's the most likely scenario.

Gearing Up

2009-05-10T17:15:00.005-06:00

I have not mentioned this upcoming trip much (or perhaps at all) on the blog, but there is, in fact, an upcoming trip...a long one...about 1550 miles and 5-6 weeks worth of gorgeous country. Here's my projected route if you're curious. (route subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances or just plain spontaneity)

View Larger Map

Over memorial day weekend, I plan to do a little driving and scout some of the passes in the Colorado Rockies.

I've been pondering and gearing up for this trip recently. I decided that I wanted to try a few new gear items on this trip. I've already got most of it, but here are the new additions.

MSR Pocket Rocket Stove
GoLite Shangri-la 1 tarp w/ floor
Liquid Iodine for emergency water purification
Solio Solar Charger for smart phone

I may do a little more gearing up, but my main task now is to plan food and project daily mileage/supply points.

Congraduations on Gradulating

2009-05-09T07:34:00.002-06:00

Pucks graduates today. That Damn Crowlie is gonna make me find another roommate. It will be hard to find one as agreeable. I'm hoping to have a new renter by early June. Rusty will miss Crowlie. They've gotten quite close. I'm sure to see some major moping for a while.

Well, I'm off to applaud all the graduates...send them on into (hopefully short lived) unemployment. And there goes another academic year...

Alright...this is getting suspicious...

2009-05-08T15:50:00.003-06:00

There's something amiss in the cosmos. I am particularly prone to any type of wreck imaginable lately. First Gladys got mashed, then Cirrus got his tail hacked off, then I stabbed myself in the hand (yes, kiki, I did it again...same scenario...never learned), then I crashed a mountain bike with such perfect timing that my right arm will be a lovely mix of olive green and purple for my sister's wedding. Oh yes...I'm a bride's maid...and no, my dress does NOT have sleeves. Luckily my sister is the best and when I told her, she said, "AWESOME." I know...couldn't ask for a better reaction? Whew!

I think some people refer to this condition as "accident prone." I hope it's just a phase...

Amputee

2009-05-06T13:45:00.002-06:00

Cirrus came through his surgery well yesterday. I think they took off a little over an inch (sorry buddy). He didn't get out of bed today. I scratched his head and put a little cookie by his face just in case he woke up, but I let him sleep. By tonight I'll have to make him get up to eat, drink, and potty.

Cirrus is an indoor cat, so he doesn't get his regular vaccinations, which means that whenever there's enough trauma to get him to the vet, they always add to said trauma by updating his vaccinations. That's nice of them...don't you think? Damn...if there wasn't already enough to feel guilty about.

On the up side, it's less likely to get caught in doors now.

See Ya Later Alligator

2009-05-06T13:25:00.007-06:00

YIPPPPPEEEEE!!!!

I am currently sitting in a classroom, watching my LAST 11 students struggle through the Trigonometry final exam. After this semester, teaching will be optional. I will never again be required to grade exams. I can choose to leave work where it belongs, at work.

What's so cool about this is that I will no longer be limited to MY students or MY courses. I will now be able to help EVERYONE'S students in ALL the math classes offered. The tutoring center will be my only focus for the 2009-10 academic year. I'll be able to settle into my new position and really put all my effort toward doing it well.

There is a poignant sense that an era is ending. I am moving outside the realm of my imagined future. I am now beyond where I thought I'd be. It's like a little bubble burst and the world just got a zillion times bigger. I guess I always knew it was there, but never REALLY expected to find it.

Farewell to yesterday. Welcome to all the new beginnings, big and small.

Tribute

2009-05-05T15:26:00.002-06:00

Cirrus the cat is real wary
Cuz bathroom doors is so scary.
His tail lost its tip,
But he’ll get past this blip
Thanks to his hero, Miss Sherry.

Sherry is the Vet Tech Program Coordinator here at San Juan College. She was kind enough to visit my house yesterday and give Cirrus a quick exam and diagnosis.

Thanks, Sherry!

Short Tale of a Short Tail

2009-05-05T12:10:00.005-06:00

Cirrus the cat is visiting Dr. M today. He had a little incident with the bathroom door on Monday morning. Upon exiting the bathroom (apparently a little too slowly) the door attempted to eat his tail. The last 3/4 inch was degloved (sort of a gross injury). Since there was exposed bone, he is now having a minor amputation.

Needless to say, I freaked out. Cirrus didn't really seem to notice and there was minimal blood. He was mostly pissed that he wasn't allowed to eat this morning before his surgery. He let me have it over that one. Talk about feeling guilty. I really beat myself up over this all day yesterday. It sure helped that he wasn't showing any signs of pain, but that was some major heartache.

The other interesting consequence of this type of injury is impaired balance. With a slightly sore tail Cirrus had a bit of a hitch in his getalong while bounding about, but his little kitty swagger seems to be just fine. After the end is gone altogether, I imagine he'll have some adjustments to make.

My Inner Thrill Seeker

2009-05-04T15:16:00.004-06:00

G2 took me mountain biking for the first time on Sunday. We were supposed to go Saturday, but it turned out the weather was uncooperative. Sunday, on the other hand, was perfect...no really...PERFECT!!!

Very light cloud cover minimized glare. No sunglasses necessary, which meant no contacts required (I hate wearing contacts). Nothing I could call wind disrupted the ride. There was a cool breeze from time to time...just enough to make you go ahhhhhhhhh. The air smelled of juniper and the flora was at its best, freshly rinsed by the recent spring shower. Indian paintbrush, globe mallow, and other wildflowers ambushed us to flaunt their vibrant spring attire.

I always thought mountain biking wouldn't appeal to me, but I have to say...I'm hooked...hooked for life. I'm another addict in the making, just waiting for that next opportunity to rocket down a winding single-track with the wind in my face...perfect blend of adrenaline and endorphins coursing through my veins...all the while getting pumped for the next climb. Yes indeed...I'm hooked.

I found that the positioning and maneuvering of my bike/body came very naturally, probably partially due to my extensive saddle time over the last few years. The bike I borrowed from G2 was just the right size, easy to shift, and very light. My muscles are thankfully well tuned to pedaling, both pushing hard and spinning fast, so climbing was a feasible challenge and quite gratifying.

I wonder...when will my next bike find me...and who will he be?

Hit and Run...Yeah, You BETTER Run!

2009-05-04T12:44:00.005-06:00

When Gladys the Fit was four days old, she had a run-in with an unscrupulous Farmingtonian. The Denny's parking lot is not, in fact, known for excessively small parking spaces, nor was Gladys invading anyone's personal space. The Farmington population, as a whole, is however known for its particularly slow reaction time (except where guns are concerned), poor driving skills, and unbelievably low average IQ. (statistics provided by visitors who have been forced to spend at least three consecutive days within the Farmington city limits against their will)

This was a clear invasion of territory held squarely (and legally) by the sexiest Honda Fit in town. Jealousy may have been the culprit, but I have my doubts. Probability favors stupidity as the explanation.

...but I'm not bitter.

Allstate, the body shop, and the Honda dealership have been more than helpful. I've been assured that Gladys will be back to showroom quality before too long.

Alias "Sid"

2009-04-27T21:47:00.004-06:00

Sometimes Sid is just Sid, but on my dorkier days I have taken to expanding on Sid's name in various ways.

Sid Vicious
Siddo
Sidicus
Siderilius
Der Sidimus (congrats if you know where I got this one)
Siddy
Mr. McSid
Tyranasidicus Rex

And yes...in case you wondered...I have terribly stupid conversations with my bike while riding. What else am I to do during my 45 minute commute?

Other parts of Sid have names too. Sid's computer is named Chase Palindrome after it's purpose in life. The Rohloff hub is named Rolf. That one is courtesy of Blogger. It always tells me that Rohloff is misspelled and Rolf is it's first correctional choice.

Oh...and Sid's current set of tires are named mud since the are the least dependable tires I have ever encountered. Can't wait to wear 'em out! I'm on the verge of slashing my own tires just to have an excuse to buy new ones.

OIL SPILL!!!

2009-04-27T20:07:00.002-06:00

Sid had a little accident in Lance's car...how embarrassing. I laid him down in the back and apparently the temperature change from outside to the car interior caused a pressure change in the hub great enough to force some oil out around the seals. The Rohloff manual is quite clear that this is a risk when laying the bike on its side, but I've never had a problem before. I was distressed to say the least.

When I got home I put Sid up on blocks and carefully examined the rear hub. Finding no evidence of damage or loose screws, I thoroughly cleaned all parts of the hub and waited for a few days to see if there was any more leakage. Finding none, I decided that it was just the result of the temperature change. Sid was due for an oil change anyway. I did this one on my own without the assistance of Dr. D. I was quite proud of this until I finished and realized that it really isn't that hard. Eh...whatever...pride's not good for the soul anyway.

Sid's been riding like a dream. We'll be leaving on a big tour some time in June. I think before that, I'll do a complete cable replacement, new tires, chain, and brake pads. I really should get on the ball and order it...maybe tomorrow.

Randy's ready for his 500 mile tuneup and adjustment. Maybe Thursday. We'll have to bake a cake to celebrate. Sid just rolled over 4000 miles recently. I can't wait until we hit 5000. We'll have some great palindromes and symmetry to share after that. We'll undoubtedly hit a few good ones this summer on our way through the Colorado Rockies. Can't wait!

What!?

2009-04-27T19:52:00.004-06:00

Yes indeed, I have just bought a car. I know, I know. Crazy it may seem. I discovered something important during the last 8 months of car-free living. It is more cost effective to own a car and rarely drive it than it is to not own a car and rent periodically. I rented a car twice during the time I didn't own one and it was VERY pricey. I opted for a Honda Fit. It is currently registering an average of 45 miles per gallon. Not too shabby. Not to mention that the back seats fold down to create a cargo space in the back big enough for my bike, a dog, or anything I could possibly want to haul around.

Another reason I opted to renew my membership to the car owner's club is that I've decided my social life needs to expand. Friends are one thing...they don't care if you arrive a little disheveled from an 8 mile ride. Dating is an entirely different animal. I discovered that I like to arrive looking feminine every so often. It's sort of an advantage on most first dates. I also am tired of being so dependent on others when I feel the bug to GET OUTA TOWN.

I purchased Gladys (yes, that's her name...don't ask) last Tuesday, picked her up on Wednesday, and have been enjoying driving. She's a 5-speed standard and quite zippy. Today, however, I got back in the saddle. Sid was thrilled to get out again. Poor Randy was left home alone with only the cat for company. I know, it's lame. Poor, poor Randy. We'll get out again soon.

Just Another Tuesday...

2009-04-14T09:10:00.004-06:00

Today is my thirtieth birthday. I actually forgot it was my birthday until my roomy gave me the old HB. There have been multiple phone calls, which I have actually made the effort to answer.

Otherwise, it's pretty much the same old thing. I snoozed my alarm a zillion times, then got up, had some coffee and a bit of breakfast, fed the pets, cleaned up cat puke, listened to BBC, checked my email, took a shower, put on all my bike gear, took pills, made my lunch, packed my bags, and got out the door.

Today was the first day this year that I felt confident it was shorts weather, so I broke out the shorty shorts and a light top. I still wore light gloves and my cap under my helmet, but MAN was it nice. I rode Randy today (Sid is currently out of commission) so we were really flyin'...cut 10 minutes off the usual commute time. I'll probably be sore tomorrow. WOOOHOOOO!

With regard to the cold, I tend to be a LOT tougher in the Fall because I know it's just going to get worse....way worse...so I can't let myself get soft too early. In the Spring, however, once I know I'm past the worst of it, I'm a total wuss. My metabolism shuts down and I turn into a reptilian heat sink. WHERE'S THE SUN!!!!!!!!!! TURN UP THE HEAT!!!!!!!!

I have after work plans for drinks and goodies today, so that qualifies as my official birthday celebration. I guess it's not so much that today is just another day like any other, but that every day is such a celebration that you can't tell the difference when my birthday rolls around.

Life is awesome!

HBTM....HBTM....HBDK....HBTM

Deca-birthday

2009-04-11T07:40:00.002-06:00

I'm about to turn 30. I'm not one who has ever been hung up on age (or so I tell myself), but this whole 30 thing has got me thinking a little more than the other birthdays. When I was first hired as a Math instructor here at SJC, I was 25. I felt like a kid...the "same age" as my students. Recently, by simple subtraction and a little trend analysis, I discovered that I am no longer the "same age" as my students. It was a shocker.

Why is 30 different? I guess because society measures age in decades. When I turned 10 it was "double digits." That may have been the least exciting deca-birthday, but it was the last one I got a cake for. A lot happens in between 10 and 20, so it seems like there ought to be some sort of special exception for the penta-birthday of 15 just because that's the beginning of independence with driving and such. There's also 12, the beginning of the teens, and 18, the age of legal independence. Now 20 really isn't that exciting, but somehow it's interesting to be able to say, "I'm in my 20's." It's more exciting at the beginning and the end than it is in the middle of the 20's.

Then there's 30. This is the first deca-birthday when you're supposed to know what you're doing. There's a sense that real adulthood has begun. The upcoming decade is when the question of, "Do I want to have children?" really comes to the forefront. It's when my body begins to tell me it's not 15 anymore. It's when "accidentally doing something stupid" changes from "mistake" to "irresponsible."

On the up side, 30 for me is a marker of stability, rolling out the red carpet into the rest of my life, telling me that I'm now prepared to do almost anything I want, telling me that I've passed the test, satisfied the prerequisites, made it through the "stupid years" without too much permanent damage.

I've spent the majority of my first 30 years feeling very unstable. It was hard for me to stay in one place for long or make any decisions that I had any faith in. It was hard for me to feel satisfied, caught up, purposeful. The last two years have been the best and the worst in a lot of ways. I've confronted some issues head on that I never thought I'd have to look at.

I was just under the wire, but over the final six months of my 20's I have found emotional stability I never knew existed, found a job that I really enjoy and feel good at. I've found both acceptance of my limitations and faith in my true talents. I have found a spiritual path that is meaningful to me. I found out that true love is what I have to give myself. Other people are just one of the mirrors in which to see it. This was perhaps the most important lesson of my life.

OK...I think I'm ready for the next ten years...here goes!

Giggle

2009-04-10T09:36:00.006-06:00

I never quite grew out of sliding across a linoleum floor in my socks. It still makes me giggle. Zzzzziiiinnnnng...

Do other people do that? If not, they should.

I'm glad my inner child still comes out on a daily basis with a hoot and a giggle. I'll be sad if it ever goes away. It's good to appreciate the very simplest of joys I think.

Eggs Galore

2009-04-09T21:12:00.005-06:00

Easter is the most yellow holiday I can think of, so I like it just fine. I just blew 18 eggs for decorating tomorrow. I'm little light-headed...whew! I'm probably lucky I didn't have a stroke.

I also bought egg dye to make the real ones for Sunday and filled plastic eggs with candy for hiding around the office tomorrow. There's just something about Easter...or maybe it's something about springtime that makes me giddy. I can't help myself!

Book Club

2009-04-08T20:33:00.005-06:00

For some weeks now, I have been participating in a "book club" that just so happens to center around the best-known book in America, the Bible. Now from my perspective, this seems strange, so I can only imagine how it seems from your perspective if you happen to know me. I grew up with basically no knowledge of what the Bible was or what it contained. I have always been curious, but people who know a lot about the Bible aren't always good at answering questions without a personal sales pitch in one direction or the other.

I recently met a person who knows a ton about the Bible and also has the amazing ability to share his knowledge gently. So I've been learning a lot through short readings and long discussions once a week. I can't say that what I believe has changed immensely, but what I know, what I feel, and how I interact with the world is somewhat different.

I can't exactly tell you why the Bible is so powerful, but I do find many parts of it to be inspirational and calming. I also like that there's just enough ambiguity to really test one's integrity.

To be fair, I haven't read any other religious texts either, at least not with the goal of learning anything deeper than facts. I suspect that most of them say approximately the same thing from within varying cultural paradigms. That makes a lot of sense to me because I agree with most of the behavioral recommendations in the New Testament. It seems reasonable that most cultures agree on what's good and what's not so good.

It makes sense to read the Bible, I guess. It's hard to say whether I believe it or not if I don't know what's in it.

Oh...There You Are...

2009-04-04T09:10:00.002-06:00

Though I have not written in some time, I think it was an exercise in giving myself permission to choose other activities. I have been busy, but not busy enough to force me out of regular entries. That must have been a choice. Over the last week, three people have mentioned my lack of regular posting, so it has come back to the forefront of my attention. This morning, I opened my browser for some other purpose and there was Blogger. It beckoned and I followed.

It's Spring here in NM. Yesterday, we were viciously blasted with a grimy wind that must have come straight from the heart of hell. The rising sun was otherworldly through the thick smog/fog/dust. It was a white disc, dull and lifeless. I felt like I was sinking into one of the gas giants, surrounded by noxious fumes.

Today is Saturday. I have two tasks: bike maintenance and taxes. I know the taxes should have been done months ago. Surprisingly, I have not procrastinated. That would imply deliberate delay. I have simply forgotten, not cared, not worried... Denial? Maybe. But shame gets the finger these days. Freedom is sweet.

There is no current philosophical pondering to share today, no political or societal rant, no advice, no request, no questions, and not even much news. Today is just the day I happened to come across Blogger at exactly the right moment. Nice to see you again.

Spring's Around the Corner

2009-02-13T21:31:00.002-07:00

We're about to say farewell to winter in Farmington. We only had one really cold week, right around Christmas, and I was out of town in sunny Tucson. The coldest I've had to ride in this year was 12 degrees. That's really pretty mild.

Mother Nature tested my will in a new way this year. It wasn't the temperature, but rather the hail. I got hail in the face four times this year on my way home from work. Once it came along with some very cold rain and another time it came along with some snow. Once I tried to pretend that I was having facial acupuncture, but my guess is that wasn't very accurate. In reality it was probably closer to tripping and falling face-first into a porcupine, but hey, wha-do I know. Maybe the next time someone falls face-first into a porcupine, they'll say, "That was a lot like riding a bicycle in a hail storm." It's likely a rare person who has experienced both.

The forecast says we will get more snow, but I doubt it'll be much. I anticipate a gradual warming trend coupled with afternoon gusties, which will all begin next Wednesday at precisely 11:24 am Mountain Time.

Snow Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-02-10T07:58:00.003-07:00

SNOWDAY!!SNOWDAY!!SNOWDAY!!SNOWDAY!!SNOWDAY!!
Mr. garbage bin with a fluffy hat.

Mr. irrigation pipe with a very punk do. There's nothing supporting that snowy mound other than hydrogen bonds and luck.

Mr. barbeque grill after a curious hand paid a visit. Yes, that looks like it might be almost 4 inches.

Mr. mailbox with a stylin' bonnet. I hope that doesn't do him in. He's already teetering on a cracked post.

Oh...and in this last picture, you can see how the roads are soooooooo bad that we had to have school closures all day. No prob Bob...I can cope. Guess I'll just have to PLAY ALL DAY!

BTW...as I write this, the sun is coming out, the clouds are clearing, and a beautiful day begins. Don't y'all wish ya lived here?

That Makes Two

2009-02-10T06:46:00.003-07:00

So these Panaracer Rivendel Ruffy Tuffy tires are a load o' bunk. Two flats in a week, one front and one rear. The first was a goathead and the second is yet to be diagnosed. These tires may be Kevlar, but my hunch is that the thread count is too low to make an effective defense against spiny attacks.

Lotta Snow

2009-02-10T06:10:00.002-07:00

Last night Farmington got a doozy of a snow storm. OK...still doesn't compare to the amount of snow in most places, but when you consider that our annual precipitation averages around 9 inches, this was a pretty impressive display. There's quite a pile out there this morning.

The snow started yesterday evening...during my ride home, conveniently. It was hail-like at first, then transitioned to big fluffy flakes. About a mile from home, I contracted a bad case of flat rear tire. It was obvious that walking the bike home was faster than repairing the tire in the snow. Shelter was nowhere to be found anyway since the wind was blowing the snow into every nook and cranny. So I wandered home, with a dejected and embarrassed Sid in tow.

When I arrived home, I was covered in a layer of snow, so I went to the backyard and shook myself off. There was much foot stamping and vigorous shaking of various articles of clothing. Sid jumped on the maintenance stand and dropped his rear tire. At that point, I realized that waiting for things to dry was really the best way to go...mostly because any excuse for procrastination is a good one.

I think I'll just enjoy the snow and the two-hour delay. Perhaps Randy will get some exercise today.

Facts

2009-01-29T21:23:00.005-07:00

I learned three somewhat irritating things this week:

Insomnia adds waking hours to the day...but they usually are not the productive or enjoyable kind.
My body really can tell the difference between a custom frame and an "off the rack" bike.
I've apparently become completely obsessed with organizing my thoughts in the form of bulleted lists.

Happy Friday!

Easy Street

2009-01-27T07:53:00.004-07:00

I think it's safe to say that people in Farmington consider the car-free life to be pretty amazing...or insane depending on who you ask. I just really don't get it. I love biking in Farmington. Let me explain why Farmington is a completely easy place to live with only a bike.

I live almost as far west as one can live within the city limits and still, everything, and I mean everything, is within 12 miles of my house.
There are about 2 streets in Farmington that have bad traffic and there's always a way to get around riding directly on them if one is willing to go just a little out of the way or look at a map.
Residential, commercial, and industrial areas are very intertwined in Farmington, which contributes to the low traffic alternative routes available.
Most city streets have speed limits 35 mph and under.
There is not much pedestrian traffic, so in the rare event that a sidewalk must be used, it's not that big a deal.
There's a bus system (a pretty good one by small town standards) that can get me anywhere in town if I give myself a little lead time. And there's a bike rack if I want to ride one way only.
Drivers are surprisingly courteous here even if a little ignorant. As with most places, the assholes do exist, but they are luckily infrequent.
The weather is rarely over 100 degrees in the summer and rarely under 5 degrees in the winter.
The amount of precipitation is very, very low all year, so even when we get "lots of snow" it's really pretty manageable on a bike even without any extreme measures like snow tires. Likewise, rain storms are often downpours in the summer, but usually can be avoided by employing the "wait 10 minutes" strategy.
And lastly, if you live on the far East side of town (which I don't unfortunately) then you have a tailwind both in the morning and evening during the windiest time of year. I, of course, live on the far west side and have a headwind both ways...joy!...says she with gritty teeth.

OK...there are some things I don't like, but I'll leave that for another day. My point here is that in Farmington it's really surprisingly easy with the right attitude and a few essential bits of gear. Not that it works for everyone, but geez...if you have a desire, it's really pretty possible if you think about it. At this point, dealing with a car seems much less appealing. Granted, it took me a couple of years to get all the way from mainstream to where I am now, but most of the switch happened within a month or two of the beginning. Farmington is really a perfect place for this lifestyle.

I see more and more Farmington folks out there all the time "giving it a go." There's one guy that sort of reminds me of a justified paragraph...all neat and tidy, clean cut, and so unnaturally proportional that he looks like a hallucination...and the weirdest part is he's the only person on the planet who can really pull off the bike helmet look. Really, that helmet looks right at home perched up there. Everyone else, including myself, looks like some sort of deformed alien. I be this guy doesn't even suffer from helmet hair. Damn him!

Rub-a-Dub-Dub

2009-01-24T19:27:00.002-07:00

Poor Sid...the last time Sid got to cruise was two weeks ago. It was snowy, icy, and grimy that week, so he got completely caked with nastiness. Though I hate to admit it, Sid's been wearing that dirty layer of muck for two weeks. I finally got around to washing it off today. Crash Vader came over and brought the Death Star for a bath too. Randy didn't get into the action because first of all, Randy has never experienced anything close to dirty. There's a little grit buildup on the derailleur mechanism, but overall, Randy doesn't even know what dirty is yet. Plus it was cold and wet outside and I was barefoot with numb toes...two bikes was all I had the energy for today. Crash questioned my judgement with the bare feet thing, but there were two factors that led me to this decision.

I really, really, really hate soggy shoes and socks...and they don't keep me warm anyway.
By the end of January, I'm pretty accustomed to numb toes anyway.

Incidentally, my new Park Tools maintenance stand is really a joy. It was dandy to be able to spin the wheels or the pedals to my little heart's desire without fear of the bike tipping over.

At the recommendation of two independent sources, I used Simple Green to bathe everyone. I diluted it about 1:30 for the full body wipe down and I used it undiluted for cleaning the chain. I used rags torn from an old sweatshirt and borrowed the super soft brush that goes with my dustpan for a little nook-and-cranny-ing.

I can't wait for Sid's new pedals to come in. That will definitely be fun. For now, he can just look all new and shiny and hang out at home. There is supposed to be rain and snow all week anyway and I don't want him to end up all gross again. Not to mention that Randy has been spoiled by good weather so far and I think he's ready for the big plunge into the reality of life as a commuter bike.

Randy Cycle

2009-01-17T12:22:00.005-07:00

Randy has been my workhorse this week. Randy is a Trek Portland, which is classified as a commuter bike, but falls very much on the road bike end of the spectrum as opposed to the mountain or touring bike end. Randy has an aluminum frame with a carbon fork, a derailleur transmission with a triple crankset and a a 9 cog gear cassette. Randy has road bars with integrated shifters, disk brakes, a rear rack (but no front rack), 700c x 28 tires, and Shimano 520 clipless pedals.

OK, OK...I know I said I would never go clipless, but now that I've experienced it, I'll never go back...at least not for commuting. As for touring, I think clipless would be a mistake for me because I end up tromping around in the desert too much and would undoubtedly end up with a rock jammed into my cleat somehow. So I think the pedals would go back to platforms with toe clips as soon as I get on the road for any serious touring.

Some interesting things I learned are...

I do actually notice and appreciate the increased efficiency of clipless pedals combined with a lighter, stiffer aluminum frame. BIG DIFFERENCE!
I hate derailleur transmissions. I really can't think of a single advantage to this system. Sid's Rohloff is infinitely better. It's smoother, faster, quieter, more durable, more dependable, and requires less adjustment. Not to mention that it can be shifted while stationary.
Carbon fiber is a miracle. No really. I expected a big difference between steel and aluminum in terms of ride comfort, but when you throw a carbon fork on an aluminum frame, the ride is actually surprisingly comparable to a flexy steel frame. Neither bike has any shock absorbing components. I'm totally sold on carbon.
Hill climbing doesn't have to be a chore. Being able to push and pull, using both legs and more muscle groups means that I don't need my lowest gears so much anymore. With platforms and toe clips, I was relying on low gearing, my upper body strength, and gravity when the hills got steep. Gravity isn't really much of a help when you're as light as me.
It's not so easy to retrain my brain to deal with 4 levers when all it's been doing for the last two years is one grip shifter.
A custom built bike really does fit better.

So the reason for Randy has to do with me selling my car. I need a bike that can serve a few purposes. First, I need a backup just in case Sid is under the weather. Secondly, When people come visit, I would like to have a second bike that they can ride.

For now, Randy and I are spending a lot of time together, but once he's broken in sufficiently, necessary adjustments are made, and my brain understands the intricacies of shifting a derailleur transmission, I'll go back to riding Sid almost all the time. The one change is that Sid will have clipless pedals soon.

Sid's really a great sport about the whole thing. He's a patient and understanding friend. Everything a good bike should be.

And We're Off!

2009-01-17T11:52:00.004-07:00

One week down at my new job! And I love it so far! Do I miss teaching? No...for two reasons.

All the things I loved about teaching are still part of my job, and
I'm still teaching one class on the side as a temporary transitional fix.

As of August 2009, my job should be isolated to Coordinating the Math Tutoring Center. I'll still have the option to teach one class on the side, but I think I'll take a break for a while while I get my feet under me.

Part of my new job is liaising with the Math Department faculty to make sure that the tutoring services offered match the needs of the department, so I still get to visit all my buddies frequently and talk education when the mood strikes. I also have tons of opportunities to harvest their great ideas.

Another part of my job is tutoring students in the center. I do that 30 or so hours a week. This was always my favorite part of teaching anyway, so now I get to cut out the classroom stuff and have office hours all day long basically. I'm also not limited to serving my own students. I get to serve ALL of the math students.

I also do things like interview potential new tutors, monitor usage data, schedule tutors at the center, hold regular meetings and trainings, give workshops for students, and handle marketing and promotion of the Math Center. I handle maintenance and purchasing of educational equipment and math manipulatives, which is pretty fun. I also get to team up with the coordinators of the writing and science centers to handle bigger projects.

There are a few great grant projects under way in my new location too. I love the innovation opportunities that come with grant funding.

And last but not least, I can stop at 40 hours a week most of the time and I still get 2 months off in the summer plus holidays. I also accrue sick leave and annual leave so I can actually choose to take a day off sometimes if I need it. Yippee!

Catching Up

2009-01-10T06:57:00.005-07:00

It's been too long since I've posted. I got out of the habit and then I never came back. Here's a rundown of the events of the the last month:

finished my last semester as a college instructor
signed a full time professional staff contract to head up the Math Tutoring Center at San Juan College
rented a car and got behind the wheel for the first time since August 26 on icy and snow-packed roads (not the smartest thing to do, I admit)
spent 24 hours in Las Cruces, NM with Kiki, the model of broadliness
spent almost a week in Tucson, AZ with Mom, Chris, Anne, and Zach
engaged in activities even less familiar than driving a car, such as watching movies and cable TV, hanging out in a 70 degree house, having my coffee made for me every morning...
visited with friends I have not seen in a billion years...they went from little children to med school and marines
ate way too much
drove back home (barely remember the trip it was soooooooooooo boring)
got tested quantitatively for attention deficit (very intriguing to look at the data)
had a burox New Year's Eve with Crash...we are both partially of German descent, so we each made burox by our own family recipe, which is a seasoned ground beef (or turkey), cabbage, and onion filling wrapped in something like pizza dough
battled an icky eye goop thing with my dog, Rusty, who escaped from the kennel while I was gone and ran 5 miles directly to my front door (don't ask me how he knew the way) was picked up by animal control and then returned to the kennel to spend the rest of his stay in a 3 ft x 4 ft x 3 ft cage...he won't be going back there
baked low carb bread without the bread machine for the second time and it improved somewhat but still isn't rising well
saw the turkeys a couple of times (they definitely think Sid is God...or a really screamin' cool turkey that they idolize)
found some turkey's gift by my front door...I wonder if they could be trained to poop in the compost
became addicted to sudoku temporarily
hung laundry outside a week ago and am still waiting for it to dry/thaw
started my new job January 5...good to be an 8-5 employee...love my new location...job is very satisfying and fits my strengths well...bike parking is still indoors (whew!!)
rode Monday and Tuesday on a snowy, icy bike lane that covered Sid with so much ice, snow, and grime that he had to park outside for two days in a row
had my first fall on the ice...sort of belly flopped and slid a little ways while Sid slid the other way...in a residential area thank goodness (air-tight panniers provided a nice cushion for Sid)
received a call from Cottonwood Cycles that my Trek Portland is ready for fitting...today is the day! Can't wait for Sid to meet Randy...yes, that's the Trek's name, Randy

I'm sure I left out some details, but that's about the size of it. It's good to be back!

Big Snow (for NM)

2008-12-17T05:50:00.002-07:00

The snow is upon us. The clouds have been trying and trying to get some snow on the ground, and now there's plenty...for NM that is. Farmington is not cold deficient in the winter, we just don't get much precipitation here. The snow is always welcome sign that this might not be a too dry year.

It's luckily not sticking on the roads...yet, so that's good news for me and Sid. The snow is a blast to ride in. Yesterday I needed a squeegee for my glasses (fleece mittens sufficed). I had snowflakes all over my face...big fluffy ones. I like when they land on my eyelashes and on my lips. It makes me giggle. Sometimes I even catch one in my mouth...yes I still ride along with my mouth agape hoping the funnel in a little piece of heaven.

Snow may be the most graceful weather condition there is. It performs a beautiful ritual dance on its way to the ground, spinning this way and that, fluttering and floating, somehow avoiding collision with the hundreds of others...no wonder it's mesmerizing.

Though I've heard it said that every snowflake is unique, the mathematician in me doesn't believe it. These configurations are finite, so I would ask, how many snowflakes must fall before two of the same are formed? Probabilistically speaking...I could have had twins on my face yesterday. Almost infinitely unlikely (or maybe infinitesimally likely), but possible nonetheless...in my opinion. I'm fully aware of the contradictory and rather mathematically incorrect use of the word "infinitely" there...but the sentence seemed worthy of an infinity. My guess is that no one but me would notice that.

Well...come on Sid...off we go to brave the snow (that rhymed) and hope all the students show up for their final exams.

The Ambush

2008-12-12T19:50:00.003-07:00

Well, I might have been right about the turkey ambush. The turkeys were waiting this morning, but I tricked them by leaving 15 minutes early...so I thought. I ended up having to turn around and go back home because I forgot something. When I was a couple blocks from home, out popped the turkeys from some front yard and we were off on a little turkey trot. They followed all the way to my house, where I had to stop and get off my bike. Fearing the worst, I dismounted and the turkeys suddenly appeared confused, bored, definitely lacking purpose.

Once the fear was gone, they didn't look as big...maybe about 3 feet tall for the biggest. It became clear that these turkeys really have no idea why they follow me...but I guess the urge is too strong for them to resist. They might be seeking food, but I've never fed them, and they don't beg food off other people who are out in the morning, so this makes no sense.

Anyway...three turkeys were standing between me and the front door, so I waved my arms a little to shoo them out of the way and they scurried enough I could get inside. When I returned, I found the six of them waiting in the street. I grabbed Sid and we slowly eased through the crowd.

Then we were off. Three of the turkeys kept up for about 5 blocks until I turned and crossed the ditch to leave the neighborhood. That must be the edge of their territory because they stopped at exactly the same spot as on Wednesday. They watched me longingly as I rode off into the mist, gobbling their disappointment at my departure.

I may change my tune about eating turkey at Thanksgiving next year. When animals become individuals with personalities, it becomes difficult to continue eating them. Turkeys are getting that way fast.

Turkey Lurkey

2008-12-10T19:50:00.004-07:00

The wild turkeys seem to be making more frequent visits to the front yards these days. On Monday and today, I ran across them early in the morning on my way out of the neighborhood.

Monday I made a little noise at them and the biggest took a few strides in my direction, gobbling away. Today was even better. All six were in the street just past my right turn. As I approached my turn, they all started trotting toward me...gobble, gobble, gobble...I turned and they picked up speed, falling in behind me. I'm not really sure if they wanted to play or peck my eyes out, so I didn't let them catch up, but I slowed down just enough to keep in range. They followed me at about 20 feet for a block and then dropped off.

If I was sure they didn't aim to kill me, I'd stop and socialize a bit, but these turkeys are huge. If they wanted to do damage, they probably could easily. The smallest of the six stands waist high.

What the heck are they so interested in? Maybe they're territorial. Do they think I'm a bird encroaching on their territory? I wonder if I appear bird-like on Sid. I suppose they might just like yellow. Perhaps they worship me...turkey goddess...now that's a title to be proud of.

...Or maybe they're hunting me...I bet they have an ambush planned for Friday morning. Yipe! Ride like the wind!

Now That's Christmas

2008-12-09T19:59:00.003-07:00

Check out this great musical performance done exclusively on bicycle parts.

http://www.specialized.com/bc/microsite/holiday/

Thanks Mark!

Give 'em Hail!

2008-12-08T20:06:00.003-07:00

I've been out of commission for a couple of weeks. My brain stopped working for a spell there. Not in the physical, brain dead sort of way, but in the WTF sort of way that really makes everything a blur. Poop! Yes, that's all I have to say about that. I'm back on track now.

In spite of this, Sid and I have been out and about, enjoying some cold, some warm, some sun, some rain, some wind, and today, some freakishly painful hail/rain at near freezing temperatures after dark with a little lightning thrown in just for spice. When lightning strikes, the impulse to duck is very strong, but if you think about it, that's just stupid. One of the bolts was pretty close and I was looking right at it when it struck. I watched it form and then disintegrate into what looked like a million tiny sparks. Pretty spectacular show.

My eyelids are a little swollen from being hit so many times with the ice. I really gotta go for some prescription riding glasses. And next time I buy a helmet, it will have a visor. When it started coming down, I opted for a rain jacket, but no water protection on my legs. This was an OK choice given the length of my ride and the fact that I had a warm shower waiting on the other end if needed. My legs were cold and wet when I got home, but with my heart pumping, I never felt uncomfortable. Nothing a little hot tea and a warm cat won't fix. The warm cat is the important part, so you feel psychologically comforted even if you end up hypothermic.

This is the first time I've been hit head on with serious hail. Definitely not the most pleasant of weather encounters, but still way better than a gusty 35 mph crosswind. I'm ready for the sun to come back. I'm a spoiled New Mexican.

Turkey Day

2008-11-27T08:13:00.004-07:00

I guess everyone has to make a special Thanksgiving Day contribution that has something to do with Turkeys. Here's my contribution to the TG holiday cheer. This family of six wild turkeys lives by the river that borders my neighborhood. They come into the subdivision from time to time, and they decided, appropriately, to make an appearance today. I learned this morning that a group of wild turkeys is called a "rafter" of turkeys.

Rusty, being a bird dog and all, alerted me to their presence by alternately hopping excitedly in front of the window and sprinting to the back door. It took me a few minutes to look outside at what all the fuss was about. Once I saw the turkeys, I began alternately hopping in front of the window and running to the back door (just kidding). But I did run from room to room looking for my camera. I found it finally and carefully opened the front door. These turkeys are very accustomed to people, so they didn't pay any attention to the flash. They didn't stay long, but it was fun while it lasted.

Belts for Bikes

2008-11-24T08:46:00.006-07:00

I was notified recently by two different people, that Trek is coming out with belt drive urban cycles. This certainly isn't new, but it isn't mainstream either. Maybe Trek will help it take off.

Looks like one single speed and one with the Shimano Nexus 8 hub. They use a Gates Carbon Drive system, so I went to the Gates website and discovered that they don't have sprockets for Rohloff hubs yet, but there is a note at the bottom of the list that indicates Rohloff sprockets are coming soon. It would be nice to know how long ago that was posted.

The split rear triangle is a little weird...it's been interesting to see how various companies have handled that. iXi and Jano apparently handle it by not having a rear triangle. Momo, Strida, Trek, Gates, and others have some sort of removable piece that opens up the rear triangle for the belt to sneak through.

What about recycling anyway. Does Gates recycle their PU belts? Or does anyone? Steel is most certainly more easily recycled than the belts, but chains also don't last as long I hear. Strida actually claims indirectly that the Kevlar (and rubber I assume) belt that they use will never need replacement. That I doubt. Gates only warranties their belt drive for 2 years. But most of these bikes are designed for light, short distance commuting use and would probably not stand up to many thousands of miles per year of rough treatment.

I do like the idea of a clean, grease free drivetrain, and the quiet is appealing. A clean, lubed, properly tensioned chain is likely just as quiet, but it doesn't stay that way for long, so the belt has it beat there for sure.

As for efficiency, if I worried about that, then I wouldn't ride a 35 lb beast, now would I. I'm sure there's tons more to ponder here, but I'm done for now.

Bar Hopping

2008-11-23T14:04:00.003-07:00

I found these Origin 8 Pro-Pulsion Road Ends by accident one day. This solves the drop-bars-grip-shifter problem for the Rohloff in a new and different way. By doing a little searching, I found them referred to as "ghetto" by one user. That's harsh. I couldn't locate any more information on the functionality and comfort. I'm not sure it's appealing given the sharp corner they would create. I wonder how often I would bang my forearm against that. Anyone used these before? I'd love some reviews.

Thus far, I know of a few solutions for the Rohloff grip shifter, some of which I've already written about.

The Hubbub bar end adapter. Liked it OK...had some slippage problems...I first had the grip pointing backward and didn't like the hump, so I flipped it with the grip pointing barward and liked it better, but then the cables hit my knee, which was an unnecessary annoyance. After a while I couldn't get it tight enough in the bar to keep it from turning. I've been told to try lightly greasing the threads and the angled surface of the compression mechanism or cleaning metal particles out of the bar end, but I opted to move on to a new design altogether.
The Thorn accessory bar. This is pretty new, but I like it so far. There's not much room on the steerer tube, so there's no spacer at all between it and the stem. By positioning it with the angle downward and rotated slightly to the right, I have just enough knuckle room and knee room. Another major selling point here is that I might be able to get a cute little bell on my bike since I have a mounting location now. :-)
Origin 8 road ends. I have yet to try these, but I intend to some day just to see what they feel like. To be honest, the Thorn accessory bar seems better because it puts the shifter in a location that is slightly more accessible from the drops. But that's just a first impression. One advantage that occurs to me is that it leaves open the possibility of ergo grips on the flat bars...and that's a plus for long rides as I hate wearing gloves.

I also have been told of a split bar of some sort that allows the shifter to slide on from the center I guess. I can't seem to track this down and I'm not sure about the diameter issue either.

Kick Stand

2008-11-22T20:51:00.004-07:00

Rusty is a skinny mini dog and when he sits down, his butt doesn't quite reach the ground...so he has a kick stand. I can't believe my dog has a kick stand and Sid doesn't.

I made Rusty pose for this picture and he was really confused. Can you tell by the ridiculous look on his face?

Schmancy New Accessory

2008-11-22T20:13:00.006-07:00

Sid's shifter got a new home earlier this week. I took out the bar end adapter and installed a Thorn accessory bar below the stem. There was barely enough space, but it fits in there and the stem dropped about an eighth inch. The accessory bar is cocked to the right because of the limited knuckle room. It barely misses my knees when I'm really crankin', but it's definitely out of the way. I like it so far. I'm almost to the point that I don't grab for it in the old spot now. Once I'm sure it'll work there, I'll adjust the cable length.

Wow...am I the only one who sees the praying mantis?

Oh look, there's a miniature cat sitting on my headlight. The lack of spacers between the accessory bar and the stem is a bit annoying, but the accessory bar is angled down a tad, so that helps.

Here the angling to the right is visible.

Marriage, Bicycles, Divorce, and Discovery

2008-11-22T17:50:00.007-07:00

To start at the beginning...

In August 2005, I married William.

In July 2006, I made a decision to make a bicycle my primary transportation. I didn't have a decent bike, so I rode an old Schwinn mountain bike that William had bought in 1990. We put slicks on and turned it in to a commuter.

Some time in the fall of 2006, William decided that I should have a nicer bike that fits me well, and I was entirely in favor of that. At some point he had discovered the Rohloff Speedhub 500/14 and got really excited about that. He eventually concluded (for reasons I'm not sure of anymore) that Seven was the only company that could build the frame. I now realize that William probably wanted very much to design a custom bike with the Rohloff Speedhub, but he couldn't ride. So it was being built for me instead. William then embarked on a journey to design the "perfect" commuting/touring bicycle.

In February 2007, the final specs were faxed to Seven.

On April 10, 2007, the frame arrived in Albuquerque.

Around late May or early June 2007, we picked up the fully assembled bike and paid the balance. It was red then.

In mid August, 2007 I discovered a tire clearance problem with the frame. When the frame was sent back to Seven, they discovered that the wrong chain stays had been used. The rear end was rebuilt and the frame was repainted...white this time. They were very apologetic and provided great customer service.

On October 30, 2007, the frame arrived in Albuquerque for the second time.

The Friday before Thanksgiving (November 16, 2007) We picked up the assembled bike.

The following Monday (November 19, 2007) William told me that he wanted a divorce.

On January 14, 2008 the divorce was final and I began my journey alone with this two-wheeled product of William's imagination. Knowing very little about the maintenance of this bicycle, or any bicycle for that matter, I was nervous and not at all excited about trying to learn it all on my own. I didn't feel bonded to it. It didn't feel like my bike. It was always William's project. It was like a step-child who just fell into my life and we had to figure things out day by day.

I drove more in the spring of 2008 than I had in the past year and a half. I was out of sorts...trying to figure out how to go it alone. Riding was suddenly an inconvenience that I didn't have room for and I didn't care...maybe because I knew the Seven was William's brainchild and riding it triggered too much anger.

During the Summer of 2008 I gradually found joy in riding again, took my first tour, a short 200 mile jaunt down Highway 550. I discovered a passion for bicycle lifestyle that I never knew I had. It was during this period that the Seven became Sid. I found my own bond with two wheels and then I made the real commitment.

On August 26, 2008, I sold my car.

Some weeks into the fall semester, around the time I started blogging, I found The Lazy Randonneur and that's when I really got excited about the Rohloff Speedhub that dependably transported me everywhere. I was inspired to begin learning the details of maintenance and care, and pleased to discover that my mechanical skills were strong. It was a slow road at first...building confidence slowly and asking tons of questions (thanks, Vik). I found a great mechanic here in Farmington, that's Dr. D. He's sort of my unofficial mentor and I'm hoping that some day soon, with his help, I'll be able to rely almost exclusively on my own skills.

Dents

2008-11-22T08:38:00.002-07:00

I went to the dentist on Thursday for my usual twice yearly checkup and cleaning. Every time I go in they say, "Looks like it's time for X-rays." as though they only do it sometimes. But no, they do it every single time. I hate the X-rays because they cram these rectangular pieces of plastic in my mouth seemingly not realizing that my mouth isn't rectangular and the corners don't have anywhere to go. "Bite down," they say. What are you, crazy?!?! But I bite down anyway. Ouch! Thanks for the dents in my palate. In this day and age, you'd think they could figure out how to make that less painful. My first instinct is to ROUND THE CORNERS! Is that so hard?

I did get a clean bill of health, which is nice. I hate drills, cavities, and Novocaine.

I've been noticing lately that my teeth are yellowing with age. I'm sure it's all the coffee I drink. Anyway, I asked the dentist about whitening. I'd like to note here that I can't believe I'm actually considering this. Please understand that I'm the kind of person who teaches my classes in jeans and flip-flops, and I haven't "done" my hair in years. Tooth whitening doesn't really seem to fit, does it? I haven't figured that one out either. It was sort of a spontaneous thing out of nowhere.

So the dentist says, "Just so happens we're running a special right now!" At this point, I'm thinking, "Is this the kind of special like at Big-5 where the golf clubs are on 'sale' all year round...half off after an 18,000% markup? Or at Safeway where eggs have been buy one get one free for the entire 4.5 years I've lived in Farmington?"

Either way, it's $99 (down from $175) for custom dental trays and a bunch of whitening gel, and then $22 for extra gel to touch up later. I made an appointment to have the molds taken, but I'm still debating. Kiki tells me that Crest premium whitening strips work great and they're OTC. Will the strips get into the grooves? Will 1 week of treatments for $30 end up being a better deal? Why the hell am I even considering this?

On the up side, should I come to my senses and do nothing, stained teeth chew great.

Lessons Learned

2008-11-21T21:36:00.008-07:00

Dr. D and I performed an oil "change" on Tuesday and discovered, to our horror, that Sid's been running dry for his entire 3400 mile life. OUCH! Not good. Apparently the mechanic mounting Sid's Rohloff Speedhub 500/14 failed to note that the oil included in the box would work more effectively if actually inside the hub. Remote lubrication...now there's an idea.

Long story short, the assembling mechanic freely admits that the hub was not filled with oil, but the shop, shockingly, refuses to replace the gear unit unless I commit to allowing them to service the current hub until it dies...then they will determine whether it is their fault and replace the hub "at their option." Given that this wasn't the only problem with the installation, these guys have hardly proved themselves worthy of servicing my Sid. I have some gripes about this deal as you might imagine. Driving 200 miles for mediocre service is not my idea of efficiency. I'm done giving these guys the benefit of the doubt. I think Dr. D and I can handle it from here on out. Simply reading the manual will put us way ahead of TWD. (To be fair, they are excellent mechanics when it comes to the mainstream stuff.)

I must say, customer service at TWD has always been on the good side (though not perfect), but this experience blew me away. And all this over a measly $250 dollar procedure. Bad choice there, TWD. Oh...but wait...you've offered me a $50 store credit?...thanks for the salt in the wound.

Lesson 1: Do everything yourself and watch like a hawk if you have to involve anyone else.

Lesson 2: Trusting someone just because they tell you to is about the dumbest infinite loop I've ever fallen into.

Lesson 3: Reading the instructions is absolutely necessary when you're dealing with someone else's money.

The official Rohloff service department assures me that the hub was not damaged, but it's wear has been accelerated to some unspecified degree. Needless to say, I severed my ties with Two Wheel Drive today.

I've always complained about the noise. "Your hub is sooooooooo loud!!!" I would tell Sid...well not really, but I thought it. I was always assured by the aforementioned mechanic that it was normal and that it would quiet with age....LIKE WHEN SOMEONE PUT OIL IN!!! Holy CRAP!

I picture poor Sid staring longingly at the little 25mL bottle on the shelf going "clackety-clack, clackety-clack." Trying desperately to tell me what he needed. Not being fluent in the language of hub, I completely missed the message.

Lesson 4: Listen to the hub, not the hubby, or the mechanic. The hub never lies.

Lesson 5: Read the !$#%&#@ manual thoroughly as soon as you have it in your hands! Don't wait until it's time for service. And don't assume the person who gave you the hub told you everything you needed to know, or that any of it was correct.

Lesson 6: Don't listen to anyone else (except Vik) unless you personally watched them read the manual cover to cover twelve times. Assumptions of competence are a real drag when you're wrong.

Lesson 7: Don't treat girls like their dumb. And no, TWD, cable adjustment isn't too "tricky" for me. Thanks for the vote of confidence.

On the up side, the hub is actually is very quiet now that it is properly lubed. It shifts smoothly, quickly, and quietly as it never did before. Vik kindly points out that "...many folks actually prefer their hubs after 10,000 - 20,000kms as they are more worn and get smoother/quieter. Maybe you'll just get there faster." Sid and I appreciate the silver lining. Sid's been feeling a little self-conscious...like a prematurely bald teenager. But that is a kind reminder that he will age gracefully with proper care from now on.

The next step is doing another thorough flush and oil change right away to remove any extra particles from the accelerated wear. Sid didn't end up making the transplant list, but he's alive and kickin', and relieved to have switched service providers. Dialysis will do for now.

Moments

2008-11-19T21:11:00.004-07:00

Last night, I was riding home from work late in the evening after a trying day. I was in a high gear pedaling hard up a gradual incline, hoping the endorphins would trigger an attitude adjustment. Then suddenly a huge winged creature glided across my path up ahead. I stopped pedaling, hoping to see what large bird of prey I was observing. The bird swooped up and landed high up on a telephone/light pole next to the road, so I geared down and pedaled slowly until I finally stopped near the pole. When I shielded my eyes from the light, I could barely make out the shape, but the wide head and flat face told me I was watching an owl. It scanned back and forth a few times, then spread its wings and disappeared into the night. What a wonderful way to end the day.

I wonder how many of these moments I miss because I'm stuck in my own head. Probably a lot over the past couple of weeks. It's clear to me now that it's time to begin a meditation practice again. It has been a long while since my last sit, but I feel drawn back after many, many months away. If I can let go of trying to control everything, then life will cease to feel chaotic. I know it's the only way to regain my peace and resilience.

Right now I don't feel resilient. I feel beaten down by the events of the last ten days. Last week began with harassing phone calls and police, then watching a small dog be crushed in the jaws of a larger dog. Next there was the first serious interpersonal conflict since the end of my marriage in January. There were some positives in there over the weekend, but I never quite recovered. I began this week emotionally exhausted, unable to muster much strength beyond what it took to teach my classes. This week has not proved much better, with a number of unexpected and distressing events demanding more time and energy than I have in my reserves right now.

It's time for change. It's time to stop...sit...breathe.

Low(er) Impact

2008-11-17T20:18:00.001-07:00

The reality of sustainable living is that it requires big changes and that's intimidating. (I can speak from experience there.) But that doesn't mean big changes have to happen all at once. It means that eventually, the goal is to see progress toward big changes. I'm in the process, myself, as are most people I believe. I like to think that I get closer every day, but I backslide often and have to claw my way back to where I left off.

I think real, permanent change is slow and requires a lot of forethought, planning, and adjustment. It won't happen overnight and it doesn't have to. I try not to let the doomsayers get me down. That doesn't mean do nothing...that means any small step toward sustainability is way better than nothing.

Lifestyle change is a lot like a no sugar added, fat-free fudgesicle. If you approach it as though it's supposed to taste like the original, then you'll just feel completely cheated. But if you view it as its own food with no prejudice, then you may find that it's actually better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick. Living sustainably is a lot easier than choking down a no sugar added, fat-free fudgesicle, and I've never been poked in the eye with a sharp stick, so how would I know. Yeah...this argument doesn't really "sell" me either.

Sometimes I get carried away. I can tell you from experience that if you get into a really consistent habit of turning lights off when you leave a room, your coworkers may complain, but they'll have a hard time chasing you down from the pitch black room you left them standing in.

Not flushing is another thing that's not usually appropriate at work. But at home, I think flushing just for yellow isn't necessary. Not every ray of sunshine you let loose needs it's own 1.5-gallon transport to the sewer. I find that they like to travel in packs.

Big change has become pretty comfortable for me now. I have discovered, to my surprise, that it's the small things, not the big ones, that are hard to maintain, like shortening my showers, thinking before I open the fridge, and remembering to unplug the chargers when they aren't in use. There's always something to work on, isn't there.

I think I'll go put on some down booties. It's getting cold in here.

E-Responsible Sharing

2008-11-15T08:35:00.011-07:00

I have recently decided that email forwards (even the good ones) and large group email updates are unnecessary and the bad ones can be pretty annoying. There are better ways to share information. If we're going E, then let's do it right. Use personal email for what it does best, connecting people one-on-one.

Touchy feely forwards really don't say anything personal. That doesn't mean they aren't fun to read. It just means email isn't the place for it. Honestly, when I get one I always figure that the only reason I got it was so the sender could avoid the 10 years of bad luck that results from not forwarding to 7 people. I especially think this when there are exactly 7 recipients. For the record, I have never, in my recollection, forwarded one of those to as many people as was "required" and my "luck" is still fully intact. I think we can let go of that fear now.

I think we should also let go of the hope that something cool really will happen two minutes after the email is forwarded.

If you have information you think would be interesting or important to a specific person, then forward it to that one person and try to include a personal note about why it made you think of them. I like getting those forwards because it tells me that I was worth the time.

For everything else, social and networking websites are the way to go nowadays. (Here's a list of the most popular ones.) Many people I know have already gone this route (thank you if you are one of them). If you need help learning, you probably know a techie that you can ask. Many people reading this know me...and I can help.

If you want to regularly share personal, professional, or themed information, start a blog. I obviously use Blogger and and am happy with it, but I know others who use various other blog sites.
For social networking on the web there are things like Facebook or MySpace. I have used Facebook. I think it serves its intended purpose if that's what you're into. I have never tried MySpace. The default setting on most of these is "members only," but you can often choose to make them public if you want.
For media sharing there are tons of picture and video sharing sites. YouTube and Flickr are the ones I use the most, not for posting, but for browsing the stuff others post. On YouTube, I have an account and I tag things I like, then I can link to them from my blog if I'm feeling the urge to share.
For internet bookmark sharing, there are a number of options. A few that I know about are Delicious, Digg, and Diigo. All of these seem fine to me, but Diigo has been the most impressive so far because of it's tag handling and highlighting capabilites.

Most of these sites have RSS feeds, so anyone who wants to be notified of your updates can subscribe to your site feed. You don't have to set that up...it's built in. I subscribe to feeds on sites that I like to keep up with. Every time there's an update, it gets sent to my feeds folder. I can view them whenever it's convenient, either through my browser or my email program (Windows Live Mail). I can also unsubscribe any time I want so that if I am overwhelmed by too much information (common in today's world), I can do something about it. To subscribe, look for this icon in your browser or on a website:

Many of these modes of sharing also allow you to choose whether your site (or parts of it) is public, or available by invitation only. If you make it public, then all your contacts can see your stuff whether they are members or not.

In short, if you want to share general information with your contacts, then put it in a place where they can access it when and if they want to and don't clutter their email up unnecessarily. You just need to send out one email invitation with the links to your central sites. If they want to see what you think is cool, then they'll check your posts. If they don't take the time to subscribe or look, then they probably didn't need to get the email either.

And a final note...don't forget about snail mail altogether. Everyone still loves a hand-written card.

No E for Me

2008-11-15T07:04:00.004-07:00

It has been a long, busy week and I am exhausted. Again, riding saved me this week from total doldrums. If I didn't ride to and from work every day, there's no way I'd get enough exercise. I probably wouldn't allow myself the extra hour in the day to get a workout most of the time.

Pucks recently converted his Jamis commuter hybrid into an Ebike with the Ezee Kit from Renaissance Bicycle Company in Vancouver, BC, Canada. I like the idea and it's pretty cool in action, but I won't go that route for a few reasons.

I find it interesting that the Ebikes folks argue for the environmental friendliness of their hub by pointing out that the human metabolism is only 25% efficient, not including all the energy and environmental cost of transporting and growing the food; whereas, the electric motor is 75% efficient. This may be completely accurate, but I like to consider a few additional factors...like reality.

First, when you think about it, if I used the hub motor, then I'd have to get my workout at the gym. So what I would be doing is burning the energy with the motor to get to the gym at the college and then burning more energy with my metabolism at the gym to get the exercise. that doesn't make sense to me. This is one instance in which multitasking really seems like the way to go. I think the 15 mile round trip is just about my bare minimum in the way of exercise.

Second, my metabolism is what keeps me warm, so I need to rev it up while I ride.

Third, I like to eat, so it's entirely likely that I'd keep eating the same amount, be too busy to work out at the gym, get fat, and develop heart disease and diabetes.

I think maybe Renaissance is a little biased. There's a slim chance they are taking this stance in an effort to push their product. Ya think!?

Geared Up

2008-11-14T19:22:00.009-07:00

I thought I'd start tonight with some notes about gear that I like.

I'm a big fan of the Topeak Road Morph G pump. I tend to follow the typical feminine trend when it comes to strong legs and weak arms...or maybe that's the typical cyclist trend. Regardless, most hand pumps are useless to me since I can't get my tires anywhere near full pressure. The Road Morph G is awesome because it's really a mini floor pump, which allows me to rely on the resistance of the ground rather than the resistance of my other arm. I can easily get my tires up to full pressure when I'm out on the road either commuting or touring. I suppose one could argue that I should just work out my upper body more. Maybe another day.

Another of my favorite purchases was the Topeak Survival Gear Box. I love only having to deal with one tool at a time. I'm sure there are advantages to the multitool, but I'm not very excited about them. They feel clunky and don't fit in tight places very well.

I've also become partial to glueless patches. I really hate glue. Is it dried the right amount...should I let it dry a few seconds more...Is it too dry...Did it get too dry while I was pondering it's moisture content?

On the safety front, I carry pepper spray designed to Velcro onto a bicycle tube. It's probably more likely to be discharged at a loose dog than anything, but you never know what's out there on a dark night.

Where clothes are concerned, my favorite has to be the Pearl Izumi Microsensor Skull Cap. I rode all last winter, down to around 10 degrees, with just this cap and a helmet cover. Given the fact that my chin was still uncovered, it ended up numb sometimes, so I'm thinking about the facemask for the single digits mornings. Sometimes numb is good though. I've gotten accustomed to numbness as just another part of the sensory input continuum. (I like words with a double "u." Not sure why.)

In closing, here's a bit of clothing that I don't like and will never purchase again. I bought Nike arm warmers two years ago thinking that it would increase the versatility of my wardrobe (cold in the AM and warm in the PM). Well, they just slide down my arms and irritate the heck out of me, so I tried safety pins for a while and then stopped wearing them. I find that just dressing on the chilly side and relying on my rain gear as an emergency layer works fine.

When it comes to gear that doesn't work, I've finally become OK with giving it away or throwing it away depending on how non-functional it is. I can't keep stuff I don't use. It's a waste of space. I've also learned to do research before I purchase something new, and after I use it, I review it on the website where I purchased it, so others don't make same wastefull mistakes I did. As for gear I do like...I use it daily until it is so ratty it's unrecognizable and tell EVERYONE about it.

Musical Ineptitude

2008-11-10T20:57:00.006-07:00

I took piano lessons when I was a child. I played the violin from fourth to eighth grade. I took piano lessons again for a short while in college. I'm a lousy musician. I still can't play the piano, remember nothing of the violin, and probably sing something like fingernails on a chalkboard. And sight reading...no can do. But that doesn't change the fact that I love to try.

My grandmother's piano now lives in the main room of my house where it belongs, so I plunk myself down every so often and try to pick out tunes that sound familiar. I make my best attempt to read music, but I'm pathetically slow. I know where middle C is on the piano and on the page, so I just work my way out from there. I work on one hand at a time and then put them together, which feels a bit like trying to pat my head and rub my tummy. I never could do that very well either.

Since I started going to the UU fellowship here in Farmington about a year ago, one of my favorite parts of the service is the singing. I never went to church as a child, so singing in a group was new to me. Boy, is it fun. Someone recently told me a UU joke about singing, which I found extremely funny...

Q: Why are UU's so lousy at singing in church?
A: Because they're too busy reading ahead in the lyrics to see if they agree.

Despite my lack of skill, I am drawn to music. I love listening to beautiful music, be it pop, jazz, classical, etc. I usually can't remember the name of a song or the artist it or any of the words to save my life no matter how much I liked the music. I mostly just experience music in the moment. But not being able to remember the words really cramps my style when I'm in the mood to sing. I do a lot of humming.

I especially like to hum or sing when I'm out riding. If there are people around, then they probably hear me and wonder if I'm crazy. It's times like this when it's particularly important to not look like a hobo. A little style, color coordination, and professional gear is important for conveying the appearance of sanity. Mostly people are in cars, so they can't hear me anyway and they already think I'm nuts. Well, I don't know...maybe they can hear me. The fact is that I have no idea how loud I sing because of the wind noise. It's definitely not loud enough to make me hoarse.

Space Yourself

2008-11-08T20:40:00.005-07:00

I grew up with wide open spaces in the Sonoran Desert West of Tucson, AZ. When I graduated high school and went to college, I chose NMSU in Las Cruces, NM, where the wide open spaces dwarf anything I had ever experienced in Tucson. The Sonoran Desert is a veritable rain forest compared to the Chihuahuan Desert of Southern New Mexico.

I like wide open spaces, being able to see for 40 miles, and the sense that the world is still a roomy place in spite of all these people. And I like being reminded that there are still places in the world that are so vast that humans can't get a handle on how to destroy them...at least not directly...yet.

I spent this morning creating open spaces in my home. I gave away a good deal of furniture and rearranged what remains. I'm aiming for sparse, which is still a ways off, but I'm on my way. I probably won't be satisfied until all my worldly posessions fit in a B.O.B. trailer. What an accomplishment that would be. I'm not talking about a trailer full of essentials and a storage shed somewhere with all my other crap. I'm talking about everything I own...anywhere...can be hauled across the country behind a bicycle. What a joy it would be to take up so little space in the world.

Heavenly

2008-11-07T19:45:00.005-07:00

Something new occurred to me today. I'm really not sure why, but I was thinking about the concept of heaven. Let me pause here to state that I don't believe in heaven as a place people go after they die...but the concept of heaven is worth pondering because it is vastly important to many of the people I interact with daily. That said, let me continue...

What occurred to me this morning while chillin' with Sid was that many people (make that most, including myself) are capable of finding something to complain about no matter what the circumstances. We often refrain from outward complaint, but that doesn't change the fact that there's almost always something that could be just a little better. There's almost always a little "I wish..." voice in the back of the mind. I wonder, if we were in heaven, could we still find something to complain about? I suppose in lay terms, the definition of heaven is something like, "a place where there's nothing to complain about," so the answer to my inquiry would be no. Or maybe the definition of heaven is "a place where no one complains," in which case most of us just wouldn't be invited in the first place. This brings me to the second part of my ponderings...

So what if I could, during my life, experience a level of acceptance and non-judgement so complete that the concept of complaint simply ceased to exist. This does sound heavenly indeed.