Listening to the public classical station in the kid's room this morning as I got the herd ready. In the mornings the "dj" has a british accent and speaks the perfect english that you'd expect to hear on the airwaves of such a station.
But it was still weird to hear him talking about Dallas Cowboys' news.
I suppose it isn't any weirder than Bob Roll talking about euro dawg peloton happenings.
Still, it sounded odd, but it also made me listen, and I don't normally listen to anything about the Cowboys.
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Monday, August 29, 2005
Play Ball
Last night was the first game of the restart to my cat 5 softball career. Scott (Noah's step-Dad) and I play on a team made up of Scott's neighbor and his coworkers. So, I got on this team as the step-third cousin twice removed or something.
I hadn't thrown a ball or swung a bat in years (since 2000 to be be precise), but I was itching to do something active. Somehow I ended up playing softball. Oh, I take that back...I did swing a bat at Gameworks when Burke, Jodith and Keegs came up, but that was a video game. I also played air hockey, so I'm quite the Bo Jackson.
Since I'm the new guy, I got to play catcher. Catcher in softball is where they put the people so they will hurt them the least. But I got to play, so I don't mind. Honestly, I probably would have been a liability in the field since I'm gimped and all.
Had a good time though. Batted three times. Grounded out, flew out, and got on (probably an error). Didn't miss any pitches, which isn't anything to brag about, but I was surprised at how many strikeouts there were in this slow-pitch game.
But the cool thing is that I didn't get hurt. This might not be a big thing to the reader, but considering the last two softball games I played netted me a torn quad and a pulled hamstring. That I didn't get hurt is a big deal.
The sad thing is that I'm sore from running 300 feet on the night.
We won though, by coming back in the bottom of the last inning, and I helped push the guy from first to third who ended up scoring. Which sort of made up for the error I made (that everybody else would have made too) during a play at the plate. When you are catcher you only get one or two real plays per game.
It was fun, and I look forward to our next game. Our team name is "Those Guys."
Oh, I went to the last doctor (I hope) I'll see about my back. Since I've been doing exercises on my own and making some adjustments to how I sit and such, there has been some improvement. With that in mind, the doc says we can hit PT more aggressively. Worst case is that I'll get surgery later. Best case is that things continue to improve. The nerve damage is there and there's not much that can be done, but strengthening my back will supposedly minimalize the issue. I like this doc, so I'm fired up about what we are doing. Should be back to racing (got approval on the homefront) in 2006. The bottom third of the field is in trouble.
I hadn't thrown a ball or swung a bat in years (since 2000 to be be precise), but I was itching to do something active. Somehow I ended up playing softball. Oh, I take that back...I did swing a bat at Gameworks when Burke, Jodith and Keegs came up, but that was a video game. I also played air hockey, so I'm quite the Bo Jackson.
Since I'm the new guy, I got to play catcher. Catcher in softball is where they put the people so they will hurt them the least. But I got to play, so I don't mind. Honestly, I probably would have been a liability in the field since I'm gimped and all.
Had a good time though. Batted three times. Grounded out, flew out, and got on (probably an error). Didn't miss any pitches, which isn't anything to brag about, but I was surprised at how many strikeouts there were in this slow-pitch game.
But the cool thing is that I didn't get hurt. This might not be a big thing to the reader, but considering the last two softball games I played netted me a torn quad and a pulled hamstring. That I didn't get hurt is a big deal.
The sad thing is that I'm sore from running 300 feet on the night.
We won though, by coming back in the bottom of the last inning, and I helped push the guy from first to third who ended up scoring. Which sort of made up for the error I made (that everybody else would have made too) during a play at the plate. When you are catcher you only get one or two real plays per game.
It was fun, and I look forward to our next game. Our team name is "Those Guys."
Oh, I went to the last doctor (I hope) I'll see about my back. Since I've been doing exercises on my own and making some adjustments to how I sit and such, there has been some improvement. With that in mind, the doc says we can hit PT more aggressively. Worst case is that I'll get surgery later. Best case is that things continue to improve. The nerve damage is there and there's not much that can be done, but strengthening my back will supposedly minimalize the issue. I like this doc, so I'm fired up about what we are doing. Should be back to racing (got approval on the homefront) in 2006. The bottom third of the field is in trouble.
Friday, August 26, 2005
Scam
My Lovely almost fell for a scam. I wasn't going to write about it, but she insisted because she wanted to make sure nobody else fell for it.
The scam is called a "Nigerian Scam," I believe. It came into our lives when we put the Expedition up for sale.
Seems the scammers of this sort look for something being sold, and if they determine that there is some sort of desperation, they start in with the emails that involve out-of-country buyers, agents picking up the car, agents receiving payment, an overpayment with a cashier's check and so forth.
Nobody would actually pick up the car. No agent would actually show up. The scam is in the casheier's check. It is a counterfeit.
What they do is send a cashier's check for over the amount. The reason can vary to whatever their creativity affords. In this case, they told Mama that it had to do with reimbursement. The idea was that they would pay twice the amount for the car, and we'd send the over 1/2 to the agent, who then applies it to something and ultimately it all comes out in the wash. Mama read the emails closely, so she was believing the story. I didn't, however, since I'd read something about such a scam recently.
Meanwhile, I was to be checking the mailbox regularly for the cashier's check. If the scam holds true to form, the scammers won't send it for awhile to create desperation on the part of the seller. Eventually they expect that the seller will pester the scammer with "Where's the check" and so forth. At that point, they have you.
In this case, they were going to send a cashier's check, we would deposit it, and the bank would show that the money (in this case, $18,000) was in the account. Then we'd cut a check to the agent to speed up the process, since "the agent can't pick up the car until..." (or something like that).
But the thing is (here's the lesson), just because the bank shows the money in your account and says it has "cleared" doesn't mean it really has. It takes 10 days or so for a cashier's check to actually clear, but since your account shows the money deposited, you feel safe in writing the check. Meanwhile, the bank would learn that it was a counterfeit, but we would have already paid "the agent" the overage. Nobody would have picked up the car, but since it was a counterfeit check, the bank deducts the "deposit." But now you are out the money you paid to the agent.
When this whole "deal" stressed me out too much to sleep, I started looking for information online about the scams. At that point, Mama sent me the email dialogue with these folks, and we were able to sort out that this indeed was such a scam.
I want to thank Mama for listening to me on this one.
This scam is pulled not just on cars, but on anything. It is most often seen on eBay and the like. It can be for small items or big ones. When I went looking for information, I found that most of the time the scammed won't say anything out of embarassment for falling for such a thing. But it turns out that the scam has been pulled for "items" as small as a $10 DVD and as big as $60K Mercedes and $300K houses.
The scam is called a "Nigerian Scam," I believe. It came into our lives when we put the Expedition up for sale.
Seems the scammers of this sort look for something being sold, and if they determine that there is some sort of desperation, they start in with the emails that involve out-of-country buyers, agents picking up the car, agents receiving payment, an overpayment with a cashier's check and so forth.
Nobody would actually pick up the car. No agent would actually show up. The scam is in the casheier's check. It is a counterfeit.
What they do is send a cashier's check for over the amount. The reason can vary to whatever their creativity affords. In this case, they told Mama that it had to do with reimbursement. The idea was that they would pay twice the amount for the car, and we'd send the over 1/2 to the agent, who then applies it to something and ultimately it all comes out in the wash. Mama read the emails closely, so she was believing the story. I didn't, however, since I'd read something about such a scam recently.
Meanwhile, I was to be checking the mailbox regularly for the cashier's check. If the scam holds true to form, the scammers won't send it for awhile to create desperation on the part of the seller. Eventually they expect that the seller will pester the scammer with "Where's the check" and so forth. At that point, they have you.
In this case, they were going to send a cashier's check, we would deposit it, and the bank would show that the money (in this case, $18,000) was in the account. Then we'd cut a check to the agent to speed up the process, since "the agent can't pick up the car until..." (or something like that).
But the thing is (here's the lesson), just because the bank shows the money in your account and says it has "cleared" doesn't mean it really has. It takes 10 days or so for a cashier's check to actually clear, but since your account shows the money deposited, you feel safe in writing the check. Meanwhile, the bank would learn that it was a counterfeit, but we would have already paid "the agent" the overage. Nobody would have picked up the car, but since it was a counterfeit check, the bank deducts the "deposit." But now you are out the money you paid to the agent.
When this whole "deal" stressed me out too much to sleep, I started looking for information online about the scams. At that point, Mama sent me the email dialogue with these folks, and we were able to sort out that this indeed was such a scam.
I want to thank Mama for listening to me on this one.
This scam is pulled not just on cars, but on anything. It is most often seen on eBay and the like. It can be for small items or big ones. When I went looking for information, I found that most of the time the scammed won't say anything out of embarassment for falling for such a thing. But it turns out that the scam has been pulled for "items" as small as a $10 DVD and as big as $60K Mercedes and $300K houses.
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Thought for the day
No matter how much The Assassin encourages you to keep going, you really should stop after your second serving of zabaglione
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Monday, August 22, 2005
Doping
Photographic evidence that I do endorse performance enhancing supplements to my athletes. This is a shot of the head LSW soigneur helping one of my junior athletes in the bouncy slide competition. If you look closely, you can see that other juniors are forced to also use performance enhancing supplements to remain competitive. It is a vicious cycle. Do you remember when kids used to slide on the bouncy slides just for fun?
Sunday, August 21, 2005
#3's Terrors, Stuff We've Planted, and a Sleepover
Not sure what Mama was thinking, but I just scored an iPod mini. She was entered in some raffle at work and won...a Playstation. She made way to Best Buy and exited sans Playtation and con iPod.
A few years ago I was in the throes of music downloading mania. Originally this was to have a library of tunes for the regular spin classes I was holding up at Bluebonnet Bikes and in our garage. But a crashed hard drive took out not only my bidness, but also my library (I think it was around 1500 songs) of music that I'd handpicked.
I guess I'm still bummed. Probably because this was before DSL, or at least before I had it, so downloading music wasn't as quick as point and click.
But I've got the thing now. My library of CD's has made it back to the computer, but this was just a small bit of all the music I'd Napster'd. We'll see if I get back to that ripping music again. I think the going rate is a buck a song, so I'll have to be more selective.
Uncle Lonnie and Uncle Pickle have incredible music collections. They have something for every mood, party and situation. Me, I have a collection of The Racing Post cycling socks. Uncles win.
Just wish I was riding to use the iPod. Noah and I have been completely off the bike for more than two weeks now. My back has gotten to the point that I can't ride at all, even with Noah, and besides, he tweaked his knee practicing soccer, so we've been keeping ice on things. Or eating ice cream. One of the two.
Reanie has been riding, though. In fact, we're going to have to figure something out, because she's moving so fast and hard on the tricycle that she's usually only on two wheels. If she's on Budisimo's "bike," when she takes off she spins the front wheel while it struggles to get traction. Don't need no powermeter to know she's cranking out the watts there! Might be time to pull the little bike out of the barn...
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Noah had a buddy over to play and spend the night. They "swam" with the bouncy slide, and they were both very, very cool about letting Reanie and Budisimo play with them.
We had homemade pizzas and an apple pie thing that Mama concocted. So good that I ate three pieces of pizza past full and still went for it on dessert.
The boys played computer games well into the night. Though I was trying to sleep, it was neat to hear them really into it.
The plan was for them to sleep outside, but after tending to #3 at 4am, Mama saw that the boys were "camping" in the living room instead. I just got through checking on them, and as I look at the clock, I'm chuckling because the babies will be up soon, and those boys will be hard pressed to get back the sleep they missed by going to bed so late. 10 years old is fun, though.
But so is 35.
By the way, Happy Birthday, Lisa! (it was yesterday)
* * * * *
Something is going on with Buddy at night. It has happened twice in the last four or five days. He wakes up in the middle of the night in a terror or extremely pissed off. He's screaming and hollering and running around in full sprint. He runs faster than he can see and plows into and through things. He can't stop moving and hollering/screaming. On one hand, it is the middle of the night, so Mama and I are doing what we can to make this a brief interuption, but on the other hand, he's darn near inconsolable. If it weren't the middle of the night and I hadn't just been startled awake, part of me would like to see what he's doing or trying to do in an effort to figure it out.
Tonight he "came to" in about 15 minutes. The other night it took 45 minutes or so. Since I'm such a light sleeper that I wake up when a cow takes a leak, I'm up for good once Buddy does this thing. Mama tries to help him though it awhile, then me, then Mama, then me again...and so forth. Meanwhile, whoever isn't with Buddy directly is having to soothe Reanie back to sleep. It is quite a production.
Not to discount what Buddy is feeling, but it is painful on our end to see him in such a state. Sure, he's not even two, but to see him struck so breaks your heart. You just want to hold him and hug it away, but holding him increases an already unbeliavable outburst (not the right word, but didn't feel like looking for it).
* * * * * * *
-We planted some pumpkin seeds yesterday. It is about a month too late, though. They'll still grow, but the pumpkins won't look like much by halloween. Took me forever to find pumpkin seeds to plant. We'll have to save some from the pumpkins. But what will probably happen is that when it is time to plant next year, I'll be thinking either, "I meant to save seeds from last year," or, "Where did I put those seeds"...
-We've had a couple spaghetti squash from the garden in the last week. Better than what you can get at the store (of course), and strangely, bigger too.
-The tomato plants are about done. Next year I'll plant more of those. I didn't count on that the kids would pick and eat so much.
-Mama is about to make another batch of pesto as well as jalapeno jelly. Put your orders in now.
-The fig tree stopped producing for the year. Darn. I'm going to have to learn about the different kinds of figs and see if we can't get a June producer and something the will produce later in August.
-Noah's pear tree...last year it produced one pear. No big deal since we only planted it last year. This year, however, at one time there were 20 pears. But gradually they disappeared. It is normal to lose a few to bugs or whatever, but this was different. These weren't partially eaten or even on the ground. They would totally disappear. A pear isn't that small, so it isn't like a bug can take it away. Best we can figure is that someone has been picking them or that there is a bird that is strong enough to take the entire pear away.
As the tree went down to ten, then four pears (which weren't quite ready to pick), we became more attached to the remaining fruit. When we were down to one, I told Mama that it was for Noah to pick (he would be with us the next day). And wouldn't you know it, that ONE last pear was gone before Noah got here. Darn.
-I was about to pull out the eggplant yesterday. We got one good one off of it, but it hasn't done anything in a few weeks. On the day that I decided to pull it to make room for something else, sure enough, there's one brewing!
-The watermelon is about the size of a grocery store canteloupe, but it is ready anyway. We'll get into that today. I think we planted the watermelon too late, so I don't expect that we'll get anymore off of this plant.
* * * * * * *
You read all of this?
A few years ago I was in the throes of music downloading mania. Originally this was to have a library of tunes for the regular spin classes I was holding up at Bluebonnet Bikes and in our garage. But a crashed hard drive took out not only my bidness, but also my library (I think it was around 1500 songs) of music that I'd handpicked.
I guess I'm still bummed. Probably because this was before DSL, or at least before I had it, so downloading music wasn't as quick as point and click.
But I've got the thing now. My library of CD's has made it back to the computer, but this was just a small bit of all the music I'd Napster'd. We'll see if I get back to that ripping music again. I think the going rate is a buck a song, so I'll have to be more selective.
Uncle Lonnie and Uncle Pickle have incredible music collections. They have something for every mood, party and situation. Me, I have a collection of The Racing Post cycling socks. Uncles win.
Just wish I was riding to use the iPod. Noah and I have been completely off the bike for more than two weeks now. My back has gotten to the point that I can't ride at all, even with Noah, and besides, he tweaked his knee practicing soccer, so we've been keeping ice on things. Or eating ice cream. One of the two.
Reanie has been riding, though. In fact, we're going to have to figure something out, because she's moving so fast and hard on the tricycle that she's usually only on two wheels. If she's on Budisimo's "bike," when she takes off she spins the front wheel while it struggles to get traction. Don't need no powermeter to know she's cranking out the watts there! Might be time to pull the little bike out of the barn...
^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Noah had a buddy over to play and spend the night. They "swam" with the bouncy slide, and they were both very, very cool about letting Reanie and Budisimo play with them.
We had homemade pizzas and an apple pie thing that Mama concocted. So good that I ate three pieces of pizza past full and still went for it on dessert.
The boys played computer games well into the night. Though I was trying to sleep, it was neat to hear them really into it.
The plan was for them to sleep outside, but after tending to #3 at 4am, Mama saw that the boys were "camping" in the living room instead. I just got through checking on them, and as I look at the clock, I'm chuckling because the babies will be up soon, and those boys will be hard pressed to get back the sleep they missed by going to bed so late. 10 years old is fun, though.
But so is 35.
By the way, Happy Birthday, Lisa! (it was yesterday)
* * * * *
Something is going on with Buddy at night. It has happened twice in the last four or five days. He wakes up in the middle of the night in a terror or extremely pissed off. He's screaming and hollering and running around in full sprint. He runs faster than he can see and plows into and through things. He can't stop moving and hollering/screaming. On one hand, it is the middle of the night, so Mama and I are doing what we can to make this a brief interuption, but on the other hand, he's darn near inconsolable. If it weren't the middle of the night and I hadn't just been startled awake, part of me would like to see what he's doing or trying to do in an effort to figure it out.
Tonight he "came to" in about 15 minutes. The other night it took 45 minutes or so. Since I'm such a light sleeper that I wake up when a cow takes a leak, I'm up for good once Buddy does this thing. Mama tries to help him though it awhile, then me, then Mama, then me again...and so forth. Meanwhile, whoever isn't with Buddy directly is having to soothe Reanie back to sleep. It is quite a production.
Not to discount what Buddy is feeling, but it is painful on our end to see him in such a state. Sure, he's not even two, but to see him struck so breaks your heart. You just want to hold him and hug it away, but holding him increases an already unbeliavable outburst (not the right word, but didn't feel like looking for it).
* * * * * * *
-We planted some pumpkin seeds yesterday. It is about a month too late, though. They'll still grow, but the pumpkins won't look like much by halloween. Took me forever to find pumpkin seeds to plant. We'll have to save some from the pumpkins. But what will probably happen is that when it is time to plant next year, I'll be thinking either, "I meant to save seeds from last year," or, "Where did I put those seeds"...
-We've had a couple spaghetti squash from the garden in the last week. Better than what you can get at the store (of course), and strangely, bigger too.
-The tomato plants are about done. Next year I'll plant more of those. I didn't count on that the kids would pick and eat so much.
-Mama is about to make another batch of pesto as well as jalapeno jelly. Put your orders in now.
-The fig tree stopped producing for the year. Darn. I'm going to have to learn about the different kinds of figs and see if we can't get a June producer and something the will produce later in August.
-Noah's pear tree...last year it produced one pear. No big deal since we only planted it last year. This year, however, at one time there were 20 pears. But gradually they disappeared. It is normal to lose a few to bugs or whatever, but this was different. These weren't partially eaten or even on the ground. They would totally disappear. A pear isn't that small, so it isn't like a bug can take it away. Best we can figure is that someone has been picking them or that there is a bird that is strong enough to take the entire pear away.
As the tree went down to ten, then four pears (which weren't quite ready to pick), we became more attached to the remaining fruit. When we were down to one, I told Mama that it was for Noah to pick (he would be with us the next day). And wouldn't you know it, that ONE last pear was gone before Noah got here. Darn.
-I was about to pull out the eggplant yesterday. We got one good one off of it, but it hasn't done anything in a few weeks. On the day that I decided to pull it to make room for something else, sure enough, there's one brewing!
-The watermelon is about the size of a grocery store canteloupe, but it is ready anyway. We'll get into that today. I think we planted the watermelon too late, so I don't expect that we'll get anymore off of this plant.
* * * * * * *
You read all of this?
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
From the mouth of a babe
First thing Reanie said when she woke up yesterday--
"Excuse me, Daddy. I tooted."
First thing Reanie said when she woke up today--
"I like food, Daddy."
"Excuse me, Daddy. I tooted."
First thing Reanie said when she woke up today--
"I like food, Daddy."
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
Sunday, August 14, 2005
Communist
I was riding the scooter back home after taking Noah to a birthday party. A cyclist was rolling up the hill on McMakin as I approached. Being on the scooter, it didn't take much for me to get by him.
The car that was tailgating me, though, was not enjoying the ride. I was traveling the posted speedlimit, so it wasn't that I was holding up the show. But since I could wiggle through and get by, the car behind just had to wait for the guy to get over the hill.
The motorist honked in that unfriendly way and got right up on the cyclist's butt. And for some reason, that didn't make the cyclist go up the hill any faster. More honking. Shouted something, but I couldn't make it out (I slowed down and was watching this mess in my rear view mirror).
After the top of the hill, the motorist gunned it, went wide, but brought it back close to the cyclist. Who knows if it was intentional. Looked intentional to me. The guy riding gave the "hello arsehole" sign. Since I was watching I'd slowed down, and the motorist came up on me pretty quick.
I usually don't get involved in these things. I've only expressed my displeasure of a motorist a few times in all my years of riding bikes. But for some reason, I felt compelled to go 30 mph (posted 40) until the stop sign. When the guy tried to pass, I went to the middle of the road, but stayed in the lane. Nothing illegal; just not friendly since he obviously wanted to pass.
We got to the stop sign, and I moved over to the right, since that's the direction I needed to turn. He pulled up next to me, two wheels just on the other side of the yellow line, rolled down his window, and said...
"You F@*%ing Communist!"
So there you go.
The car that was tailgating me, though, was not enjoying the ride. I was traveling the posted speedlimit, so it wasn't that I was holding up the show. But since I could wiggle through and get by, the car behind just had to wait for the guy to get over the hill.
The motorist honked in that unfriendly way and got right up on the cyclist's butt. And for some reason, that didn't make the cyclist go up the hill any faster. More honking. Shouted something, but I couldn't make it out (I slowed down and was watching this mess in my rear view mirror).
After the top of the hill, the motorist gunned it, went wide, but brought it back close to the cyclist. Who knows if it was intentional. Looked intentional to me. The guy riding gave the "hello arsehole" sign. Since I was watching I'd slowed down, and the motorist came up on me pretty quick.
I usually don't get involved in these things. I've only expressed my displeasure of a motorist a few times in all my years of riding bikes. But for some reason, I felt compelled to go 30 mph (posted 40) until the stop sign. When the guy tried to pass, I went to the middle of the road, but stayed in the lane. Nothing illegal; just not friendly since he obviously wanted to pass.
We got to the stop sign, and I moved over to the right, since that's the direction I needed to turn. He pulled up next to me, two wheels just on the other side of the yellow line, rolled down his window, and said...
"You F@*%ing Communist!"
So there you go.
Thursday, August 11, 2005
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
Friday, August 05, 2005
Thursday, August 04, 2005
Not Really Stories But Gotta Go In There Somewhere II
NRSBGGITS #1
Noah and I went to Academy to get him some soccer shoes this morning. Over the PA, we heard, "Bubba, please report to the gun counter."
NRSBGGITS #2
Yesterday, as I was herding the livestock, I told Reanie, "Let's get in the car. It's time to get to school."
She said, "No, Daddy. It's time to get the party started."
NRSBGGITS #3
From the top step, Buddy can spit up milk to reach six steps down.
NRSBGGITS #4
I got my new old road bike back from Sem. If you ever think about getting a frame (or helmet, or motorcycle or...) painted, you will regret it if you don't at least contact David Sem. www.semcustompaint.com "Bollacilli" and "Binati" will be built up very soon.
NRSBGGITS #5
After our track workout yesterday, Noah and I ate at Golden Corral. Now, I will NEVER crave anything they serve there, but I believe it is now one of Noah's favorite places. Maybe he was just hungry, but he made six trips to fill his plates. Of course, he may have just wanted to stay inside the place, since we were in parking lot traffic in Bessie (no AC) and it was only in the low hundreds yesterday.
NRSBGGITS #5
We got Buddy his own tricycle today. Noah Reanie and Buddy can race each other.
NRSBGGITS #6
I haven't picked up a permanent replacement training wheel for my track bike yet, but Mama got me a kick butt rear tri-spoke that falls under the category of "You can't blame the wheel for your result" in terms of go-fastness.
NRSBGGITS #7
Had a good time at Rudy's b-day dinner on Sunday. And in contrast to Hassan's b-day dinner we had at the same place not too long ago, I can actually remember this dinner.
Noah and I went to Academy to get him some soccer shoes this morning. Over the PA, we heard, "Bubba, please report to the gun counter."
NRSBGGITS #2
Yesterday, as I was herding the livestock, I told Reanie, "Let's get in the car. It's time to get to school."
She said, "No, Daddy. It's time to get the party started."
NRSBGGITS #3
From the top step, Buddy can spit up milk to reach six steps down.
NRSBGGITS #4
I got my new old road bike back from Sem. If you ever think about getting a frame (or helmet, or motorcycle or...) painted, you will regret it if you don't at least contact David Sem. www.semcustompaint.com "Bollacilli" and "Binati" will be built up very soon.
NRSBGGITS #5
After our track workout yesterday, Noah and I ate at Golden Corral. Now, I will NEVER crave anything they serve there, but I believe it is now one of Noah's favorite places. Maybe he was just hungry, but he made six trips to fill his plates. Of course, he may have just wanted to stay inside the place, since we were in parking lot traffic in Bessie (no AC) and it was only in the low hundreds yesterday.
NRSBGGITS #5
We got Buddy his own tricycle today. Noah Reanie and Buddy can race each other.
NRSBGGITS #6
I haven't picked up a permanent replacement training wheel for my track bike yet, but Mama got me a kick butt rear tri-spoke that falls under the category of "You can't blame the wheel for your result" in terms of go-fastness.
NRSBGGITS #7
Had a good time at Rudy's b-day dinner on Sunday. And in contrast to Hassan's b-day dinner we had at the same place not too long ago, I can actually remember this dinner.
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
Monday, August 01, 2005
Looking for a rear wheel. Anyone got a rear wheel?
Since Noah and I don't ride much, we are perfectly qualified to race track.
We went out on Friday night to race bicycles. Noah hadn't ridden a bike in a week and a half, and I hadn't ridden anything more than taking the kids to school in the trailer in that time, so I wasn't much better.
What the heck? We raced anyway.
Noah had decent speed, but he was racing against juniors who were 15+. That is, once they separated the juniors/youth from the adults. He races his ass off, though, and if he sticks with it, these will be part of the stories we tell when he's got his picture in the magazines or something.
On the way to the track, Noah asked if we could eat dinner out with the racers. A sort of tradition is for a group to go out to eat after the races. By and large, these are all folk of whom I enjoy their company, so I do like to go eat. But it is also that Noah is 9yrs old, and we need to get home to get him to bed. Plus, I want to see Chloe too.
Anyway, Noah asked if we could go out to eat after the races. I told him that if I finished in the money that we could go out. See, I pretty much knew that wasn't going to happen, so it was pretty easy to tell him, "Sure, if...."
Well, I only had enough cash to register Noah in his race and me for one category. Normally, I register for Masters and the 1,2's. Since I'm not training, the extra $3 to add another category is just ride time. I like that.
Well, with me only riding one category, I wasn't so fried in each race and I could actually hang on and not get dropped. A night of that got me 4th place and in the money. So Noah and I went out to eat.
I had a veggeburger, salad and water. Noah had a cheeseburger, french fries and root beer.
There was more racing on Saturday night at a new event called the Festival of Speed. This consisted of a 200m time trial and a 500m time trial as well as a kierin. Noah did the 200 and 500 while I did the 200 until the 175m point, and I had to pedal weird through the 500, and I didn't really get to do the keirin at all.
Noah busted out decent 200 and 500 time trials, but he really only had one other guy in his age group. With all juniors, Noah was 5th and 4th (I think). He won an XXL t-shirt!
I didn't get to really warm up since registration was overwhelmed by the unexpectedly large turout (for track, anyway), but I wasn't stressed by it at all. If that stuff is going to matter to me, then I need to train first. Nevertheless, I'd poured over gear charts and redicted times based upon certain rpm's and so forth that I had a good idea of where I'd be. Come game time, I wanted to leave nothing on the table, as I wanted to have a time of my absolute best to use as a benchmark in training.
In the 200 I thought I slipped my tire as I came out of turn 4 to get up to speed, and again out of turns 2 and 4 on the actual time trial. Weird, but I didn't really think anything of it, but it was a bit disconcerting to have something give like that when going all out. For just a split second there, it crossed my mind, "It'd be funny to crash going this hard and being on the track all by myself."
In the 500, it happened again 4 or 5 times as I ramped it up from 575m or so (you get to hit the starting line at full speed). I just assumed it was the cheap ass tires I'm using and the fact that I hadn't really run at it in the races like I was for this event. I sort of went at 90% through the first of the two laps, and since it didn't slip anymore, I tried to step on the gas for the last lap. Still wasn't happening. Felt like it was slipping even more. I tried to spin it up without really torquing the cranks. Whatever.
The last event of the night was the keirin. I wasn't going to do this event originally, as I figured we'd head home with Mama and the babies there watching and not wanting to stay out too late. However, things were running very late, and Mama took the attitude that if we were out that late, might as well do the event that I'm good at. And if I do say so myself, I'm pretty darn good at the keirin. And I wanted to make up for whatever was holding me back in the previous two events.
I got my buddy Mark to hold me for the start. The motorcycle comes around, and even though we're frickin crowded with 9 guys on the track, I get a great push and start without having to mix it up and half pedal as the group fell in behind the motorcycle. But the official signals a false start, and we roll back to the line to try again.
I get focused, and we get ready for the motorcycle again. It is going to be MY spot behind that bike, even if I did draw 6th position. MY spot.
About four pedal revolutions in and my cranks are just spinning. Like Lance says, "No chain." But in my case, it is "No cog." Spun that mf'r right off the hub. I'm out of the race 20m into it.
I coasted into the infield (which is very awkward on a track bike, since it isn't supposed to coast, and you don't have any brakes) and I'm thinking about how much a new wheel is going to cost and how quickly I just went from planning to be IN the money to being OUT of money. A few guys come up and tell me that I must have great power to do that to a cog. Um, yeah. Power. I'm trying to think of what a new hub is going to cost and where I'm going to get the money for that.
It was hard to be upset seeing Noah so happy. That dude wants it, I tell you.
We went out on Friday night to race bicycles. Noah hadn't ridden a bike in a week and a half, and I hadn't ridden anything more than taking the kids to school in the trailer in that time, so I wasn't much better.
What the heck? We raced anyway.
Noah had decent speed, but he was racing against juniors who were 15+. That is, once they separated the juniors/youth from the adults. He races his ass off, though, and if he sticks with it, these will be part of the stories we tell when he's got his picture in the magazines or something.
On the way to the track, Noah asked if we could eat dinner out with the racers. A sort of tradition is for a group to go out to eat after the races. By and large, these are all folk of whom I enjoy their company, so I do like to go eat. But it is also that Noah is 9yrs old, and we need to get home to get him to bed. Plus, I want to see Chloe too.
Anyway, Noah asked if we could go out to eat after the races. I told him that if I finished in the money that we could go out. See, I pretty much knew that wasn't going to happen, so it was pretty easy to tell him, "Sure, if...."
Well, I only had enough cash to register Noah in his race and me for one category. Normally, I register for Masters and the 1,2's. Since I'm not training, the extra $3 to add another category is just ride time. I like that.
Well, with me only riding one category, I wasn't so fried in each race and I could actually hang on and not get dropped. A night of that got me 4th place and in the money. So Noah and I went out to eat.
I had a veggeburger, salad and water. Noah had a cheeseburger, french fries and root beer.
There was more racing on Saturday night at a new event called the Festival of Speed. This consisted of a 200m time trial and a 500m time trial as well as a kierin. Noah did the 200 and 500 while I did the 200 until the 175m point, and I had to pedal weird through the 500, and I didn't really get to do the keirin at all.
Noah busted out decent 200 and 500 time trials, but he really only had one other guy in his age group. With all juniors, Noah was 5th and 4th (I think). He won an XXL t-shirt!
I didn't get to really warm up since registration was overwhelmed by the unexpectedly large turout (for track, anyway), but I wasn't stressed by it at all. If that stuff is going to matter to me, then I need to train first. Nevertheless, I'd poured over gear charts and redicted times based upon certain rpm's and so forth that I had a good idea of where I'd be. Come game time, I wanted to leave nothing on the table, as I wanted to have a time of my absolute best to use as a benchmark in training.
In the 200 I thought I slipped my tire as I came out of turn 4 to get up to speed, and again out of turns 2 and 4 on the actual time trial. Weird, but I didn't really think anything of it, but it was a bit disconcerting to have something give like that when going all out. For just a split second there, it crossed my mind, "It'd be funny to crash going this hard and being on the track all by myself."
In the 500, it happened again 4 or 5 times as I ramped it up from 575m or so (you get to hit the starting line at full speed). I just assumed it was the cheap ass tires I'm using and the fact that I hadn't really run at it in the races like I was for this event. I sort of went at 90% through the first of the two laps, and since it didn't slip anymore, I tried to step on the gas for the last lap. Still wasn't happening. Felt like it was slipping even more. I tried to spin it up without really torquing the cranks. Whatever.
The last event of the night was the keirin. I wasn't going to do this event originally, as I figured we'd head home with Mama and the babies there watching and not wanting to stay out too late. However, things were running very late, and Mama took the attitude that if we were out that late, might as well do the event that I'm good at. And if I do say so myself, I'm pretty darn good at the keirin. And I wanted to make up for whatever was holding me back in the previous two events.
I got my buddy Mark to hold me for the start. The motorcycle comes around, and even though we're frickin crowded with 9 guys on the track, I get a great push and start without having to mix it up and half pedal as the group fell in behind the motorcycle. But the official signals a false start, and we roll back to the line to try again.
I get focused, and we get ready for the motorcycle again. It is going to be MY spot behind that bike, even if I did draw 6th position. MY spot.
About four pedal revolutions in and my cranks are just spinning. Like Lance says, "No chain." But in my case, it is "No cog." Spun that mf'r right off the hub. I'm out of the race 20m into it.
I coasted into the infield (which is very awkward on a track bike, since it isn't supposed to coast, and you don't have any brakes) and I'm thinking about how much a new wheel is going to cost and how quickly I just went from planning to be IN the money to being OUT of money. A few guys come up and tell me that I must have great power to do that to a cog. Um, yeah. Power. I'm trying to think of what a new hub is going to cost and where I'm going to get the money for that.
It was hard to be upset seeing Noah so happy. That dude wants it, I tell you.
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