Today on the James front

Much has changed.

2012-01-10T15:36:00.000-08:00

My last post on this blog was in 2009. So it's been a while. My last post was my first triathlon, the Quakerman.

Since then, I did ...

2009: Summer Sizzler F1 (double-sprint distance)

2010: Summer Sizzler F1 (single sprint), Cazenovia Triathlon (Olympic)

2011: Quakerman (again), Rhode Island 70.3 (half-Ironman)

Then on October 4, I became a dad.

It's been a busy couple of years.

I'm going to try to use this blog to document my rise from the depths of post-baby larditude.

Current weight: 253.9 lbs

Current mini-goal: Under 250

Exercise this week: 20 minutes

Goal for the week: 1 hour.

Goal for next week: 90 minutes.

Triathlon!

2009-06-28T09:46:00.000-07:00

So.

It's been ages, folks; sorry for the radio silence here, been busy. Some of you may know that I've been training for a triathlon; I just finished it. The QuakerMan Triathlon (http://www.quakermantri.com) is a 600m swim, 22 mile bike, and a 4.5 mile run.

I did the whole thing in a bit over 2:11, and I'm very very pleased with that. Here's the full report:

The race went well.

I overprepared and overthought and overworried, all of which probably stressed me more than it should have, but meant that I had more than everything I needed, and I think I was more prepared for this than ... actually the race organizers. More on that in a bit.

The alarm came early -- really early. Getting up at 5:25 to get going and go work out is a bit disgusting, but this was the first of many times that training really prepared me. After all those early morning trips to the pool, and those 6 AM runs, it didn't feel any better to get up at 5:30, but it didn't feel unusual, either. Got coffee, drove to the event.

Arrived, set up my bike in the transition area. I was prepared for the swim to look insanely far, but the distance from the beach to the TA surprised me. http://tinyurl.com/lmfjqf is good perspective -- we came out of the water towards the right side of the beach, near those white squares, then ran up the path, across the parking lot, and the transition area is almost exactly where the "A" is on the map. So I got the transition area sorted, went to the bathroom, checked out the beach, and asked a few people about the race meeting. There...wasn't...really...one. Everything was a bit disjointed; they were painfully understaffed, and the meeting was going to be at 7:30...then 7:50...Around 7:55, people were ready on the beach. I'd stripped down to my tri shorts and had my swim cap and goggles (as did most other participants). We were all sort of milling around, when the race organizer yelled to us that someone had walked off with their bullhorn, so we'd do the race meeting at the pavilion. Same map, follow Bank St. back up and it's about across from home plate of the baseball diamond. So 400 swim-capped triathletes do the bare-foot ouchy-walk up to the pavilion, and we get briefed about the course, rules, etc.

Then back to the beach, and we started. I was in the second wave. We watched the first one go, then filed into the water. I started swimming, and after about a minute, thought "It's over. There's no way. I can barely breathe. This is horrible." Fortunately, I knew from the pool that this would pass ... and it did, about the time I rounded the first buoy...and everyone else passed me. OK, not everyone, but it felt like there was a steady stream of people flying by. Four and a half years went by [ok, not really, but time did some very strange things during the race], then I came to the second buoy. I was thrilled to make the turn and head back for the beach. Soon I could see people getting out of the water, and then I was out. I did the "Triathlete shuffle", half-run-half-walking to the transition area. I'd had the foresight to get a spot right next to a flagpole, so I beelined for my bike. I picked up my shirt and tried to put it on fast...and two of the safety pins holding my number on popped off. Now ... I'd been warned (thanks, Tommy!) that T1 is like trying to function after several drinks, so there I was, trying to re-attach my safety pins with hands that refused to work. Two days later, I got it sorted, got my bike shoes and helmet on, and got on the bike without drama.

The bike was GREAT. I was off like a shot and didn't really slow down. I passed a lot of the people who had passed me during the swim, some of whom were on triathlon bikes. THAT made me feel pretty good. Once I'd settled into a good pace, I had one of my gels. The weather had been holding to this point, but about 30 minutes into the ride, we got some sprinkles. Lap 1 was uneventful; I had a good push near the lap-1/lap-2 marker, and then again on some hills about 2/3 the way through the second lap. Towards the end, though, I backed off, wanting to save my legs for the run. T2 was much smoother. I had my shoes undone as I approached the dismount line. I don't really remember getting off my bike, but somehow managed to do it and leave my shoes on, which worked well. Back in the TA; put on my running shoes and was off ... slowly.

It took some time for me to hit my pace on the run, but evenutally, I did. Around the first mile, I thought, "I might be able to do this without walking". By the second mile, I was pretty sure. By the third mile, I was confident. With about 300 yards to go, I started to open up (I didn't realize that there was one last loop through some woods)... I eased off, and then when I saw the finish, I ran HARD, sprinting across the line in about 2:11. All in all, I feel good. I didn't push too hard, I trained well, I ate well, and I did it. Could I do it again right now? No. Can I walk upstairs right now? Yes. So... all in all, a success.

One final note, with two thank-yous. First, to Sonya. She's put up with countless 5am wakeups as I dragged out of bed to head out to a workout, and hours and hours of me disappearing to run, bike, and swim. Through it, she's supported me as I did this crazy thing. Thank you, love. Second, to Tommy. I know that, for the past month, I've bugged you with every little last question, from sock choice to passing strategy. Thank you for your answers and your patience.

Go James Go!

2008-06-01T07:41:00.000-07:00

In three Tours de Cure, I've now ridden 265 miles. (Actually a little more, but we'll go with the official numbers). That's impressive.

So. Another century yesterday. Not to put too fine a point on it ... I. Kicked. Ass.

I'd been watching the weather for a while, and the outlook was glum about a week ago, and got glummer. Rain, wind, more rain, chance of thunderstorms. By this morning the forecast was for WSW winds of 9-15 mph, rain, and a high of 68. I started the day wearing shorts, tights, a long-sleeved base shirt, and a jersey over that. I considered a jacket -- with the wind and the rain, I was chilly -- but I decided to tough it out, hoping that I'd warm up.

The ride started at about 7:05, and we set off under light rain. I was in the lead group, going fast -- for the first 7 miles or so, we were averaging about 21. Then, as I came around a corner fast, the bike slid out from under me. It happened here -- coming up Harlod, turning left on Pletcher. The road was smooth, and with the water on it, it was slick. I went down hard, landing on my left hip. I was pretty close to the front of the pack, so I immediately had about 30 cyclists speed by, saying, "You OK? You OK? Hey, you OK? You alright?"

YES. I AM OK.

I retrieved my lost waterbottle, put my chain back on, got my bearings, straightened my handlebars, and got back on the bike. My thumb was bleeding (I still don't know how that happened), and I'd lost the lead pack. Not "lost", exactly -- I could see them -- but they remained about a minute ahead of me. I tried to catch up. For about ten minutes, I tried to catch up, but they remained tantalizingly out of reach. Eventually, I gave up and resigned myself to a slower pace. I slogged on to the next rest stop, where I got my thumb patched up and met some guys who were riding at a good pace. We set off. The wind was at our backs, the sun had come out, and it had turned into a nice morning. The 50 mile mark came quickly... and then we turned into the wind.

The wind was BRUTAL. Sometimes a headwind, sometimes a crosswind, but pretty constant for the second half of the ride. At the last rest stop, I set off with a guy who had also been in the lead group and seen me go down ... he'd been waiting on a repair and was eager to get going. I did the last 9 miles FAST, really putting the hammer down. I arrived back at Niagara County Community College at 1:45 PM.

Final stats:
Total time: 6 hours, 40 minutes.
Ride time: 5 hours, 32 minutes.
Miles: 101.8
Average speed: 18.3
Max speed: 38
Average HR: 159
Max HR: 188

After a good night's sleep, the thumb is doing well; the hip is still a little swollen, but (oddly) not bruised yet. Plans for today? Not much. Resting, recuperating, sitting quietly on my right side. Hey, and I don't know how much longer, but my Tour de Cure site is still open for donations...

Update: Miscellany

2008-05-09T07:07:00.000-07:00

First and foremost,
In less than a month, I'm riding in the Buffalo Tour de Cure! Click here to sponsor me. Or just click the link to see an amusingly larger, spandex-clad version of me on my bike, about to set off. I really should put up a new picture. Anyway, it's a great cause -- I'm trying to raise $1000 for the American Diabetes Association. I'm busting my butt with the training -- 100 miles is a long way to go -- so if you can, drop a few bucks in the virtual pot. Thanks!!

Spring has (finally) arrived in Buffalo. Last weekend, Sonya and I did a massive yard clean-up and spruce-up; our curb is now much more appealing! We finally ditched our rusty old mailbox (literally rusty. Who makes a mailbox out of non-galvanized steel? Serously.) and replaced it with a plastic one.

Work continues to go well; the international drive can be a chore, and can be a pleasure. This past week, I had a bit of both - the former, where I had a half-hour wait at the border, and the latter, a lovely meander through the Niagara Escarpment region. There's a video of that at the bottom of this entry.

Volunteering at Hawk Creek continues to be great. We have a couple of interesting rehab visitors to the center -- a still-fuzzy juvenile Great Horned Owl, and a magnificent Red-Tailed Hawk. Cross your fingers for a speedy release for both of them! In other nature-related news, we put up a nest box last weekend, and already we have some Tree Swallows battling for it in our backyard. I hope they settle in -- they're a lot of fun to watch!

Finally, here's a time-lapse video of me driving from near work to near home. I took the scenic route (which is a little slower, but a lot prettier). Hooray for old blues music being in the public domain.

Come on, Spring. You can do it!

2008-03-21T08:16:00.000-07:00

I'm blogging this morning from my living room. Shadow is curled up on the ottoman by my feet, and the sun is streaming in the window, shining off the thick crust of snow that still covers my back yard. I know that this must be tough for my readers south of the Mason-Dixon line to picture, but there is still snow on the ground here. Not "a smear of snow in a north-facing corner" or "a grubby grey pile of snow and crud that has been slowly melting in the mall parking lot". There's still a real layer of snow on the ground.

COME ON, Mother Nature! It's Spring!

I should point out, though, that when I left for work Monday morning, it was about 25 degrees. This is neither surprising nor unusual -- since December, it's been anywhere from about -2 to 35 when I've left for work on Mondays, and 25 is pretty close to average. But on this past Monday, it felt different. Maybe it was optimism, maybe it was the sun creeping Northward in the sky (up here, in the middle of winter, the sun briefly says "Hello" from the South) ... but SOMETHING in the air made me say, "You know ... it's going to get warmer. The weather has turned the corner."

So ... Other than that, things are going OK. I've fully covered from my weekend of food poisoning and heel slicing. Lots of stuff planned for the weekend, including some cycling. Did my first ride of the season last week (more of this in a later entry), and it was ... actually, pretty good.

Not a good weekend

2008-03-04T15:44:00.000-08:00

So... yeah. This past weekend was awful.

Sunday, Sonya and I got hit with a case of food poisoning. It came on pretty quickly-- as we got up in the late morning, it was kind of "ooh. Something's not right", and quickly progressed to "Oh god, I want to die." Around 5pm, Sonya finally felt well enough to drive me to the ER; we spent an entirely fruitless two hours there; eventually, I said, "You know, I'm not going to see a doctor any time soon, I'm not feeling worse ... let's just go." I told them I was leaving. They asked me to sign a form saying I was leaving against medical advice. I asked, "WHAT medical advice? I haven't received any!" After some grumping, they let me sign a "Leaving without being treated" form. Not sure what the difference is, but the latter sounded more accurate.

Yesterday, Sonya and I spent in quiet convalescence. Around 5pm, I really started to perk up - my energy had returned, my mind had pulled out of the fog, and I was generally feeling better. I pottered around the house, feeding the cats, doing the laundry, and generally taking care of everything I needed to do before coming up to Canada today. Around 10pm, I was about to put some dishes in the sink, and I stepped on some broken glass (no, no idea where it came from) in the kitchen. There was a lot of blood.

So here I am today - with slightly-wobbly stomach, slightly-wobbly foot, 130 miles away from Sonya, who is not doing quite as well as me. On the agenda for the evening: A mild supper, a careful drive to the hotel, and then maybe some TV and photo editing

Miscellany; feline affection, winter children, eclipse

2008-02-22T05:51:00.000-08:00

Not a lot to report these days. Working hard. Going to see MacHomer tonight; hope that it's good. At the least, a trip to Canada should be fun and exciting.

I'm *finally* back on the weight loss train/wagon/boat/generic transportation analogy. SIX POUNDS. That's it. I just need to lose six pounds, and I can start transitioning to maintenance. Oddly, I've been essentially in maintenance since about November ... but not on purpose; it just kinda happened that way.

In other news, I'm staying at the Walper Terrace hotel in Kitchener. I had to call them today to ask them about something, and noticed that, on their website, they advertise that they will have availability for the Elton John concert on March 3. "Huh," I thought to myself, "You know, self... Elton John, he has some pretty good musical chops. Perhaps I will invite my wife up and we will watch him tinkle some ivories (and ebonies, too. And, for that matter, I'm sure that Sir Elton would never touch actual ivory keys; I'm sure that he would agree that elephants needn't lose their teeth for him to play ... but I digress) ...so I looked into tickets. It's sold out. Which means that not only will I not be going (which isn't a terribly big deal), but that parking is probably going to be hell on earth that night. Yee freaking haw.

Happier stuff:
Today's 3 beautiful things:

Feline Affection. Studies come out fairly regularly that promote pet ownership as being correlated to good health. And if you've ever woken up with a cat smugly purring on your chest, you know why.

Winter Children. Couple of days ago, I was leaving the hotel in the morning, and there was a little girl -- she was three or four -- crossing the street, bundled against the cold. She was wearing a sky-blue down jacket that was a little grubby, and mittens dangled from the ends of her sleeves. She was wearing a jaunty, brightly colored winter cap [1]. Her nose was red from the cold. She was walking with her mom, in that "I'm almost tall enough that my feet can touch the ground and my mom can hold my hand without stooping" way. And she just looked really, really happy to be out stomping around in the snow. Unabashed childhood joy makes me happy.

Eclipse. Coming back to the hotel a couple of days ago, heard about the eclipse on the radio. Dutifully trudged outside to see it at 10pm. And ooooh, it was pretty.

Oh, and one more thing: I'm in the process of putting up wedding pictures -- I think I did a good job.

Everything I need to know, I leared from enterprise-level computing systems

2008-02-15T06:33:00.000-08:00

OK, not really ... but there are some important lessons I've learned.

Backups. Unless you're using your computer to browse the web and very little else, you really should have a backup solution. I have a hard drive fail about once every 18 months, give or take. Sounds like a lot, right? Well... consider that, until recently, my laptop would go through airport security around twice a week. And while the x-rays are probably not an issue (though I'd be interested in the long-term effects), the shock is. Taking a computer out of the bag, putting it in the tray, having it slide down the conveyor, then rattle down the exit chute is probably not a great thing. In any case, though, you ought to be backing up. Frequently. Think about everything you used your computer for in the last month, everything on your hard drive, and what you would do if it was gone. With a 500GB external drive hovering just above the $100 mark, it's crazy NOT to back up. Another alternative is Carbonite, which I've heard great things about, but never used personally. The idea is that Carbonite runs in the background, quietly uploading all of your data to their VERY VERY SECURE servers. It does this while your computer is idle and connected to the Internet. You have a problem, you go to their website and you can download everything you lost. Great idea, but the prospect of my data living somewhere else makes me nervous.
Encryption. Yes, I'm serious, especially if you have a laptop. Check out TrueCrypt, which is a nice, easy-to-use, well-documented, open-source (that means free) encryption product. Think of TrueCrypt as a way to create a locked file cabinet in your hard drive. Bank statements, credit reports, all that stuff that you wouldn't leave lying on the kitchen counter.... if it's on your hard drive, and your hard drive is on the kitchen counter, it's just as bad. Many laptop thieves don't care about the actual physical laptop -- a used laptop just doesn't fetch that much money -- but are MUCH more interested in the data on the laptop. Bank statements, social security numbers, all sorts of goodies. So if you have sensitive documents on your hard drive, get TrueCrypt, set up an encrypted volume, and put the good stuff in there. It'll take you an hour, and give you peace of mind if anything bad happens.
Sanitization. Ah, so you're thinking of upgrading your hard drive, or maybe your whole computer. Great! Now, what are you doing with the old hard drive? There are a few options:

Do Nothing. Just give away or sell the old hard drive. Advantage: Quick and easy. Disadvantage: All the data on the hard drive goes with it. Are you SURE you got rid of all of those compromising pictures?
Delete Everything. Great ... but if someone is really motivated, they can still get to the data.
Delete Everything, then scrub the drive with a DoD-style 3-pass erase. You just need to go grab Eraser and use it to "scrub" your hard drive. I won't bore you with the technical details, but deleting a file doesn't really delete it. Eraser really erases your drive, so that NOBODY can get to anything on it.
Electromagnet. Find someone with a VHS tape eraser (or, better still, one of those car magnets that you see in junkyards) and do a few passes over the drive. It'll probably scramble the drive, but the drive will also probably never be usable again. So if you wanted to give away or sell the drive, don't do this.
Physical Destruction. A hammer is a pretty good way to destroy a drive. Only ...be sure you REALLY kill it. You don't just want to dent the case, you want to make sure that the case has been completely compromised and that the physical disk inside has sustained significant physical damage. Advantage: Fun stress release Disadvantage: Time and energy consuming; messy

OK, that's all for now, kids. I gotta go clean my tinfoil hat.

Copying....

2008-02-14T17:49:00.000-08:00

The old drive is not dead!

I think the boot partition was unhappy, but the old drive does seem to be mostly intact. I got a new drive from Dell. I've got Windows and all of my programs installed on the new drive. The old drive is in an enclosure right now, and I bought a 500GB storage solution (it was on sale for $113 over the weekend). I'm presently copying *everything* from the old drive to the new drive. I think it's going to take four or five hours. Yee haw.

Wedding Bells

2008-02-03T20:49:00.000-08:00

My sister's wedding was great. I took a humongous quantity of pictures, which I must now sort through, organize, and prepare. If I had one piece of advice for a budding wedding photographer, it would be: MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A BACKUP. Apply this to everything, and you'll be OK. I brought more cameras, more batteries, more Compact Flash memory, more storage space, more tripods, more film than I needed. The biggest technical failure I had was that my laptop died over the weekend, and while that's a huge frustration for me, I'll have it fixed soon enough, and, most importantly, I lost no pictures.

In other happy news, it was Sonya's birthday today, and we went out to an absolutely delightful meal at the Melting Pot. Also finished my current knitting project (a nice wooly hat), and fixed my rear window wiper on my car (for $45 doing it myself with a used part, instead of $175 for the dealer to do it. Hooray!) Now I need to hop in the shower, throw some clothes in the suitcase, and spend some quality time with my pillow.

Oh, and the Superbowl was today. Didn't watch it, was busy.

Music for a happy

2008-01-25T08:16:00.003-08:00

You know, Apple sure can pick 'em. They seem to, with pretty good consistency, feature good music in their commercials. The latest is no exception - Yael Naim's lovely song "New Soul" that plays on the new Macbook Air ad. Here's the non-Mac version of her video:

...which brings me to today's theme: Music and pictures to make you smile. The "New Soul" video reminded me indirectly of Regina Spektor's "Fidelity":

....and at that point, I was on a roll (or a quest?) to find music that brings a smile. Here's Weezer with "Island in the Sun". CUTE BABY ANIMALS. Dude. How can you not smile?

Finally, this gem from Blind Melon. Remember them?

OK, that's all for now. Got more? Post them in the comments.

Silly commercials

2008-01-24T05:22:00.000-08:00

I like to read fine print. I'm weird like that. Sometimes, just sometimes, there's a gem hidden in there. A couple of examples --

First, in a commercial for some prescription drug, there's some sort of animation - I don't remember the context exactly; for all I remember, it was little happy-faces representing serotonin. Anyway ... as the animation displays, at the bottom of the screen, it says, "Dramatization." Really? Did someone need clarification on this?

Second, from a commercial for toothpaste this morning, the announcer is saying something like "AquaFresh helps reduce cavities and gives you minty fresh blah blah blah..." and at the bottom of the screen, it says, "With brushing". Oh. With BRUSHING. And I thought it was osmosis-paste.

OK, gotta run...

Advice for bands

2008-01-21T19:49:00.000-08:00

This weekend, went to Cleveland to see a Battle of the Bands. It was fun. More on that later. For now, though, I offer this advice to aspiring musicians:

1. Check out your fans. While you're welcome to try to whip them up into a frenzy ... if you're significantly more animated than they are, you kinda look like a dork. Example: Fans are doing the 'mild swaying' thing, if moving at all, and you're jumping around like you have weasels in the pants. Just stop it.

2. Do not do any of the following:
-Choreographed headbanging (unless you're being ironic. And even then, you probably shouldn't).
-The "fall to your knees, mic in hand" bit. First, you gotta be pouring your SOUL into the music to do that. You have to be singing so hard that your legs can no longer support you. And you have to be good - you have to be good enough that the people watching understand that your singing is just too awesome to be delivered standing up. If you're anything short of that kind of awesome, and you do that move, you kinda look like a dork.
-Say "fuck" excessively. I don't have a problem with profanity, but work up to it -- jumping on the stage and saying "Hey, you fucking people, how the fuck are you fucking DOOOINNNNGGG??!?!?" ....well, it makes you sound a bit like a 13-year-old who is trying out swearing for the first time.

3. Never dance around with a big plastic candy cane (exception: George Clinton is on stage. Then anything goes.)

Snow, Cheap Car Parts, Contessa Coffee

2008-01-19T05:41:00.000-08:00

Inspired by some fellow bloggers, I'm going to try to do a periodic Three Beautiful Things post. It's a nice idea -- first, because describing the beautiful things in my life helps remind me of their existence (which I need), and second, because I should post more. I should post more, not because I have a great readership [1], but because I want to be a better writer. And, just like photography or cycling or running or knitting, one of the best ways to get better is to do it more. So:

Snow:
I hadn't been really paying attention to the forecast yesterday, but there was snow last night. When I woke up this morning and glanced outside, everything was covered in a blanket of white. Unexpected snow always makes me happy. Even when it means shoveling, even when it means scary dangerous driving ... it's just so lovely to look out on a frosty, snow-covered world. I think that some part of me will always be seven years old, face glued to my bedroom window with the lights off, watching the pool of light cast by the lamp-post at the bottom of my driveway, hoping to see snow falling, knowing that that would mean a snow day, and breakfast in my pajamas. I miss that lamp. It made me think of Narnia.

Cheap Car Parts:
I have a 2001 Volkswagen Golf. It's a diesel, which means that it gets fantastic mileage - usually in the mid-to-upper 40s on the highway; I once broke 50 mpg with highway driving. That's great, and saves me ... oh, probably $10/week on gas over a similar car that uses gasoline (it would save me more, but diesel is pricey these days. Yes, I've heard about the veggie oil kit. No, I'm not going to drop $2600 on a kit to get "free" fuel. $2600 [1500 for the kit, 1200 for the install] buys a LOT of fill-ups.). Anyway ... the car has been getting expensive lately, to the tune of:
Early December: New snow tires, $450. Yeah, those are important.
Late December: New front brakes, plus rotors, plus a fluid flush: $400.
Early January: New glow plug controller module, plus three glow plugs, plus labor ... $500.
Early January #2: New battery, $100.
Last Thursday: Rear wiper motor.

The good news on the latest problem: I said, "Dammit...this CAN'T be that complicated. I'm going to try to fix it myself." I was right. There's a motor; the motor drives a gear; the gear turns the wiper. The gear is made of plastic. The plastic teeth on the gear had been reduced to a fine dust. So I called the VW dealer ... they don't sell the gear. They don't sell the gear assembly. They sell a new motor assembly, and it's $150. So here's the beautiful part: I got on vwvortex.com, and had a couple of people offer to sell me used ones for "best offer". Here's hoping that that's a lot less than the $150 the dealer wants. And if it isn't ... well, I found an online source (1stvwparts.com) that'll sell me the part for $100. Yay!
Update: New motor coming. $45 shipped. Hooray!

Contessa Coffee:
I love coffee. I *need* coffee to function. I'm an addict, and I'm OK with that. But, unlike some hard-core coffee lovers, I don't completely turn my nose up at flavored coffees. Flavored coffees are tasty! I found one I really like: It's made by for Barefoot Contessa (on foodtv); as far as I can tell, it's coffee with a little cinnamon. And it's wonderful. Especially on a snowy cold morning.

OK, OK. Enough with the blogging. I need to get up and be productive. On the agenda today:
Cleaning the house, acquiring black and white medium-format film, stretching my illiotibial band, doing some sort of exercise (yoga? Stationary bike?), getting groceries, doing laundry.

[1]In particular, it looks like (based upon the hits I get) my travel advice is pretty popular. Which is cool, and I hope it's helped some people get where they're going with a minimum of pain. HAVING SAID THAT... Google is great - they will tell you what queries people have run that returned links to your site. So, for example, my site shows up for a lot of queries on "flight cancellation" and some very specific queries, like "what to do when your United flight is cancelled on a Thursday in Chicago." On the other hand, I get some REALLY odd queries that return my page. My favories so far:
"lorna bagged latex" (?!?!?)
and
"traveling in turkey liquid" (It's the only way to fly!)

It's a new dawn, it's a new day ...

2008-01-08T19:03:00.000-08:00

2008 is here, hooray!

Since my last update ...

I had a really wonderful time with Sonya in Chicago. Much of my time there was spent wandering around the city while Sonya was in interviews. There was also deep dish pizza at Gino's East, which was a thing of glorious dripping-with-calorie goodness. I was astounded at the beauty of the Art Institute; Sonya and I rode the El, and I visited Daley Plaza (where they have that new Picasso). I took lots of pictures, which I always find to be a pleasant way to spend the day.

Speaking of pictures, I'm continuing to prepare for shooting Elizabeth's wedding. I'm going to take a LOT of pictures. I'm kind of excited. Also exciting: I won an ebay auction for a 60-year-old Czech camera. It's a twin-lens reflex camera, which should be ... interesting.

New Year's Eve was fun and laid-back. Sonya and I were heading over to a friend's house; we were to arrive at 10. We realized, en route, that
-we had not eaten
-we probably should eat
-with an ever-decreasing window before 10pm, something quick would be good.
In case you were wondering, precious little is open at 9:30 on New Year's Eve in terms of "a quick bite". The winner was Jim's Steak Out. I decided to set aside the diet for an evening, and indulged in a delicious drippy steak sub. The evening was lovely and fun and laid-back. There was a late-night sortie to a bar, which was uninteresting, but we did discover that Wiseguys Pizza is open very late. I decided that the setting-aside of the diet for the night was still in effect, and indulged in some slightly-drunk late night pizza for the first time in a long time. And ooooh, it was good.

I'm back in Canada these days. I'm happy to have found a semi-permanent place up here, which makes traveling much easier. Things are going well, the diet is back on track, and I just went out and ran tonight!

Speaking of the diet, I think I gained six pounds and raised my cholesterol 20 points just reading this. Worst part? It actually .... sounds .... kinda ... tasty!

I'm going to go gnaw on some broccoli now.

christmas gadgetry

2007-12-26T22:24:00.000-08:00

must...stop...playing...and...go...to...bed...

Motoring

2007-12-20T18:58:00.000-08:00

Reading an article on Jalopnik got me thinking about old cars. Not old cars like an '84 Camry with a missing headlight... old cars like my dad's '59 Triumph. For years, I had a Miata, and it was wonderful and I loved it specifically because it reminded me of the Triumph. Sure, it could go, stop, and turn much faster and better than the Triumph; the Miata would start without question when it was below freezing, and you could put the top up with one hand while moving.

But ... and I may lose you here ... there's a primitive charm to old cars. Sure, they're impractical. Could I realistically drive a 50 year old car 300 miles a week through snow, over roads coated with salt? No! But ... browsing mindlessly through Hemmings Motor News made me quietly yearn for a vehicle that requires tinkering, the sort of car you curse because you love; where driving top-down on a beautiful summer evening makes the bloody, grease-crusted knuckles worth it.

So what was I looking at? What brought back these fond memories? Let's take a walk down memory lane. Are any of these practical? No. Could I afford any of them? Maybe. Would I? Not when I'm living in the frozen North.

First, there's the impossibly cute Morgan 3-wheeler. I love Morgans, because the company is, to put it frankly, batshit crazy. They went from building 3-wheel cars to building 4-wheel cars like the rest of the world...only they decided to make the frame out of wood. Hey, it'll never rust... Oh, and you can buy a new Morgan which looks....not very different from what it looked like 50 years ago. Awesome.

Moving along to a vehicle with four real wheels and sometimes a top, the Triumph TR3/TR3A. This a wonderful little devil of a car. The engine was originally designed for use in a tractor, so (for those of you who are interested in such things), it makes GOBS of torque. Unfortunately, it suffers from BCES (British Car Electrics Syndrome) -- if it involves the flow of electrons, you may as well pack it in for the day. Bonus? If it's out of alignment, the wheel bolts break with a disturbing POP. Seriously. BUT.... it's a great way for a 15-year-old kid to learn how to synchronize carburetors, and there's nothing like it on a May afternoon, sunlight splashing through a canopy of green....

Then there's the Talbot-Lago. This car, in good condition, is worth well into the $3,000,000 range (yes, 3 million). But it's effing gorgeous. Sure, the doors open backwards, but it just looks sexy. Worth 3 million? Eh, probably not. Worth the time to ogle one? Yes.

Next is the Jaguar D-Type. This is the rakish older brother to the E-Type that everyone knows as "Austin Powers' Shaguar". Sure, the E-Type was more popular; the E-Type was a consumer model, while the D-Type was really more of a race car. But...oh, to get behind that wheel.

Off to bed. Going home for Christmas tomorrow.

The indiscreet part of valor is more fun.

2007-12-09T11:10:00.000-08:00

Last night, as I was going to bed, I thought, "You know, I have a lot to do on Sunday, and I tend to let it pile up, frantically do as much as I can on Sunday evening, get to bed late, and then have a rough start early Monday morning. I'd planned on doing the Niagara Habitat for Humanity Christmas run in the morning, but ... perhaps I'll stay home and rest.

But I woke up this morning full of gumption (or something like it) and went off and did it! 4 miles, 38:11. With energy to spare at the end. Yay me! They've been predicting some seriously gross weather, so I was worried. My fears, though, were unfounded -- it was chilly (around 30 F) with a light wind, but certainly not cold, and not a hint of precipitation.

Well, off to do errands...this oil won't change itself!

Apertures and ISO and shutter speed, oh my!

2007-12-07T06:03:00.000-08:00

So my sister asked that I photograph her wedding in early February. When she asked me, I was touched and honored that she'd think of me, and agreed without hesitation.

Now, while I'm not having second thoughts, the serious nature of what I've committed to is sinking in. Among the things I'm doing beforehand is spending more and more quality time with our digital SLR -- like so many things, reading books is helpful, but the best way to take better pictures is to take lots of pictures.

If you're interested, breeze on over to my general randomess photoset on Flickr and tell me what you think. Watch that spot for updates, too - as I take pictures, that's where they'll go.

some thoughts in a numbered list

2007-12-05T20:18:00.000-08:00

1. Thank goodness for my education. Seriously. It means that I can giggle at Kafka references on Woot. It means that I understand "that whole BC Thing." Stay in school, kids.

2. I have a nagging sore throat. I'm hoping it's just an environmental thing - it's been really cold here, and I've been doing a lot of presentations at work - because if it's not, that means I'm getting sick. Better chug some more Airborne.

3. Hooray for new snow tires. Good stuff.

4. Google Desktop is, as a co-worker put it, the cat's ass.

5. "The cat's ass" is a good thing. I mean, I got that from context when I heard it, but as a cat owner, I can assure you, cat asses are not pleasant.

6. Unless I *am* sick, I'll be running in the Niagara Falls Habitat For Humanity Christmas Run on Sunday. Let's hope that there's a lack of freezing rain.

Commercials for cars

2007-11-28T19:59:00.000-08:00

I like commercials.

Seriously.

I know it's a bit odd, but I do - or, rather, I like good commercials. I recognize that, like a haiku, it's easy to cram content into a minimal form, but to work within the confines of a very limiting medium, and still produce something compelling .... it's an accomplishment. I think that car commercials, possibly because there are so many of them on TV, end up occupying both ends of the spectrum in large numbers. Ford has produced some pretty craptastic ads of late, like the ones for the Mercury Milan featuring a woman in a leather vest (which sounds much more exciting than it is). Of course, local car dealership commercials (with stock footage of the vehicle in question) manage to be almost painfully bad, and yet not so awful to be interesting or amusing - they just suck.

On to better things.

First, the Honda Cog spot. This is a few years old, and you've probably seen it already - a Rube Goldberg contrivance using Honda parts. It's wonderful to watch, and a great example of a good ad. A good ad saunters up to the sixty seconds it has, stretches out, relaxes, and comfortably fills the space, managing to convey enough information to be appealing without feeling rushed.

And then there's the spot that prompted me to make this entry: This gorgeous spot for Shell gasoline:

Here's the thing. I'm a car guy. I'm fascinated by cars, and I think they're great. And, for me, this commercial is compelling on an almost visceral level. I can close my eyes, turn up the speakers, and listen to the engine go from the raucous burble of the vintage Ferrari to the unearthly howl of a modern Formula 1 car, and it's all Very Good. But I'm curious - is it just me? Is this commercial at all interesting to someone who sees cars as appliances? [NB - I'm not denigrating that position in the least - I'm just curious to know if this commercial is compelling for car people, or just compelling.] If you'd like a higher-res version, just download this clip.(QuickTime required). It's slightly different from the YouTube clip, but also excellent. If you do download the clip, it's worth watching a couple of times for all the details - the subtle cues to the evolution of the car; the lens flare between the buildings in NYC, the puff of steam from the cabbie's coffee, and, around 0:43, there's a great shot of the steering wheel -- no longer a three-spoke handle to steer the car, but a hunk of carbon fiber - a driver interaction center bristling with knobs, dials and switches. Craziness. Anyway, there's a neat deconstruction of the commercial here.

It looks like Partizan, the group responsible for the Shell spot, has a pretty good record with car commercials; they're responsible for this automotive eye candy, too.-- a lovely spot for the Audi R8, complete with haunting soundtrack by Simone White. I like this one because ... well, I think most people don't think about how cars are made. Or if they do think about it, the thinking is something like "they come out of factories, like pens and aluminum siding, right?" I think that this commercial captures the way that, even today, passion can be captured in the building of a car.

Hot Buttered Rum

2007-11-27T19:02:00.000-08:00

Hot Buttered Rum

Batter
3 sticks butter, softened
2 cups brown sugar (er, around two cups. I used one of the small box-in-a-bag packages. Yes, all of it)
1/2c vanilla ice cream, softened
2 Tbs pumpkin pie spice
2 tsp cardamom
1/4c molasses
1 Tbs cinnamon

Cream together butter and brown sugar in mixer; add ice cream, then pie spice, cardamom, molasses, and cinnamon. Mix until mixture is even and smooth.
Transfer to bowl; refrigerate at least overnight.

Drink
Batter (see above)
Good dark rum (I like Myers)
Cinnamon sticks
microwave-safe 6-8 oz mugs [this is one of the few times you can use old-fashioned "standard size" coffee/tea cups. For actual coffee, my cups start at 12oz, but generally, I go with the 20 oz mug, no cream, three Splendas.]

Half-fill mug with water; microwave 1-2 minutes. Water may be boiling in mug; that's OK. You want the mug hot as well as the water. If you get your hot water from a kettle, just rinse the mug with hot water first. Add 1 golf-ball sized glob of batter; stir until dissolved. Add 1-2 oz rum; stir. Drop in a cinnamon stick.

This drink *will* warm you. Seriously, you could walk into the house after a two hour hike in the sleet with wet socks and a headwind, and two sips into it, you'll have feeling in your extremities.

Giblet hangover

2007-11-23T06:38:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was wonderful.

I didn't get to sleep until about 2am -- I kept realizing I had something else to pack up, or put together, or toss in the car, or mix, or blend... and when I finally did get to bed, I was hyper-nervous about the race in the morning.

I got up at 7 (OK, I got up at 3, 4:30, 5:50, 6:30, and 7 -- like I said, nervous about the Turkey Trot), got dressed, and headed out. It was disgusting - raining hard, 36 degrees or so. I got to the race start, and, like everyone else, sheltered under the awnings of nearby buildings, stamping my feet and trying to stay warm. By the start of the race, at 9:00, the rain had tapered off, and the weather was actually pretty decent. I ran 4.97 miles in about 46 minutes, which was much faster than I'd thought possible, It was *great*.

After the run, I came home and showered, then Sonya and I went to Thanksgiving dinner at Lorna's, where Lorna and her mom had prepared dinner for twelve ... despite there only being five of us there for most of the day. We ate, we talked, we watched some of Miracle on 34th St., we ate, we talked, we played with Lorna's wonderfully sweet dog, we ate... At some point, I gave up trying to keep track of food. In terms of "the wagon", I did not fall off the wagon. I made a well-executed three-and-a-half dive in the pike position off of the wagon, deep into sweet, delicious apple pie.

This morning, the scale was expectedly bad to me. But it's OK. I knew I was going to indulge on Thanksgiving; I enjo;yed the hell out of it, and now I'm going to wipe the metaphorical pie from my face and clamber back on the wagon. The only thing I need to decide at this point is whether 25F is too cold to run.

Pre-Turkey Travel Advice

2007-11-21T05:35:00.000-08:00

So, everyone ready for the biggest travel day of the year? No? Tough! OK, it's almost 9am on the day before Thanksgiving, but here are some travel tips that may help you stay sane.

Check in online. If you're reading this blog, you probably already know how to do this, but just on the off chance -- Go to your airline's web site (like usairways.com or delta.com and look for a link that says "Check in online". You will need a printer. You can print your boarding pass in the comfort of your home. THIS WILL SAVE YOU TIME AT THE AIRPORT.

If possible, don't check bags. Obviously, checking bags runs the risk of them being lost; also, you'll wait 10-60 minutes for them to come out at your destination.

Follow the TSA guidelines about liquids and gels. Its ridiculous, and it's silly, and it doesn't make me feel a whit safer, but PLEASE, IF YOU DO NOTHING ELSE, READ THE TSA GUIDELINES FOR LIQUIDS AND GELS. I can't stress this enough. The breakdown is simple:

You can't carry any containers of liquid over 3 oz. in size through security.
You can buy liquids (like a bottle of water or a cup of coffee) once you're through security.
All of your small containers of liquid must be in a 1-quart ziploc bag.
You can put any size container you want in your checked bag

I really can't stress this enough. Don't be the person who holds up a 1-hour security line because you forgot and stuffed your shampoo in your carryon. And DEFINITELY don't be the person who screams at the TSA that you *need* your expensive shampoo. If you're at the point of going through the security checkpoint and you have something that can't come with, your options are:

Check another bag (and go through the line again)
Say goodbye to your bottle of shampoo/scotch/lotion/whatever.
Cry, scream, yell, moan .... and then choose option 1 or 2 (though if you pitch a large enough fit, you can be arrested, too).

Get to the airport early. It's better to spend an hour twiddling your thumbs at your departure gate than be in the security line with 12 minutes before your flight leaves, ready to sprint for it. Security screening is like quicksand- the harder you struggle, the worse it will be. Go through relaxed, and you have no problems. Also, and this may sound strange, but... Get to the airport on time, EVEN IF YOUR FLIGHT IS GOING TO BE LATE. If you have a 5pm flight, and it's delayed to 6:30, they MAY be able to leave at 6pm. Or 5:30. Trust me, it happens. Never rely on a flight being as late as they say. Also, if you're checking bags, you have to arrive at the counter 45 minutes before the ORIGINAL check-in time, regardless of when the flight really leaves.

Be prepared for the worst. Check out my guide on what to do if your flight is cancelled. Have a well-charged cell phone and the phone numbers of the people you'll be meeting. Understand that flights will be cancelled or delayed. It happens all the time. Don't stress about it. Stressing about it won't make the plane take off faster.

Bring this stuff with you: Consider this list. You don't *have* to bring all of this, but it helps:

Earplugs. $1 at the drugstore is cheap insurance against screaming babies, noisy jets, etc.
A pen and scratch paper.
A charged cellphone and cell phone charger.
I like to bring my laptop. But I'm used to bringing it everywhere. If you bring yours, make sure it's in a padded case, and you bring your charger.
A list of phone numbers, including the airline, rental car company, and hotel I'm using; also, any contacts at my destination.
A printout of any maps I might need to get from the airport to my destination
A printout of every travel confirmation I have
Advil and immodium
A light snack or three
Digital camera and charger

Finally, here's how to get through security quickly:

As you approach the security line you should have no metal (keys, coins, cellphone, etc) in your pockets. Of course, if you're wearing a jacket, it comes off, so it's OK to stick these things in a jacket pocket.
Have your license/passport and boarding pass out and ready. Nobody likes waiting behind a hapless traveler as they dig through their pockets for a license.
Once you get through the initial screening (they'll ask for license & boarding pass), keep your boarding pass out and available; most airports want to see it as you walk through the metal detector.
As you approach the metal detector (with a minute or two to go), start preparing to go through. Untie your shoes. Take off your coat and drape it over your arm. Take your laptop out of its bag.
When you get to security, put your stuff in the bins as follows:

Laptop goes in a separate bin
Don't overstuff the bins
Shoes don't go in a bin. If you put them in a bin, the TSA takes them out and puts them on the belt. If you're concerned about your fancy shoes going on the belt, wear different shoes.
Coat comes off and goes in a bin

OK, that's about it for now. Everyone have a safe and happy holiday!

Miscellany

2007-11-20T05:45:00.000-08:00

First, a weather update...
I've been watching the weather for Thanksgiving closely, as I'm going to be out in whatever it's doing for at least an hour. On Thursday, I checked: High of 40-50, 50% chance of showers. [hm. An hour's run under grey skies. Yes, I can do that] Yesterday, it was a high of 50, 80% chance of rain [Um. Running in 43-degree rain (it's not going to be up at the high at 9am) for an hour. Well, better stock up on hot chocolate.] Today, it's now "Snow and sleet. Much colder with highs in the mid 30s. North winds 10 to 15 mph." All I can say is that I'm glad I have the clothes for this, and I'm REALLY glad I've been training in the cold. Oh, and I will *so* have earned some serious Thanksgiving eating.

Next, a fitness update:
Sonya introduced me to yoga ... and I'm really digging it. I'm discovering new ways to move my body, and new muscles I didn't know I had. Right now, I'm discovering them by way of them saying "Ow. That was uncomfortable." But still. It's good.

Anyway, off to bed. Much to do tomorrow.

Best donation yet

2007-11-17T14:45:00.001-08:00

Worked an outdoor event for Hawk Creek today. It was a fun "Winter Festival" thing. On the whole, it was pretty enjoyable, in large part because I'd had the sense to dress appropriately. But I couldn't find gloves before I left the house; in any case, the ones I have reduce dexterity to the point that I wouldn't feel comfortable wearing them while working with a bird. (In emergency situations, nimble fingers can be critical)

So I was out there, doing my bit, talking about the Peregrine Falcon, and shifting my free hand from pocket to armpit and back... when a woman who had come by earlier came back and donated... a pair of gloves!!!

Whoever you were, wonderful stranger in West Seneca, *THANK YOU*. The glove was perfect and warm and delightful, and couldn't have come at a better time. May you have a warm cat in your lap by the fire (and a perfect night for it, too -- the snow is coming down hard this evening, threatening to stick!

First annual week-before-thanksgiving update!

2007-11-16T14:28:00.000-08:00

Running:
Somewhere in the past few months, I've become a runner. While I'm always going to be a cyclist, and I have a special fondness for cycling, running has, amazingly, become more than a challenge and a way to exercise that doesn't involve nearly as much expensive equipment. I think the moment of "Hey, this isn't so bad" has come in the past month; I'm at the point now where, while running, it's not a constant effort. When I started, each stride was tough, and each stride was an effort. If I stopped pushing, I stopped running. Now ... if I stop pushing, I slow down... but I've managed to get momentum in my legs, if that makes sense -- when I start to slack, my legs keep moving.

The training is going really well; last night, I did 4.3 miles in under 50 minutes, so I think I'm ready for Turkey Trot! Go me!

Google Webmaster:
So Google knows everything about everything...even itself. I've become amused and disturbed looking at the search results that lead to my pages. A lot of it is searches like "Flight cancelled help" type searches; I hope I've been helpful for those. The weirdest to date is "lorna bagged latex". What?!?!? Random Googler, I ... hope you find what you're looking for.

Cat in the Lap/Porcupine in the Pants
After much thought, I came up with the "Cat in the Lap/Porcupine in the Pants" series; I thought it was rather inspired. But, since its inception, I haven't given any of these awards out. So, without further ado, a Porcupine in the Pants to Virgin Mobile for taking a week to get my Canadian cell phone activated. Sooner would have been better, guys. A Cat in the Lap goes to me, apparently, for being gone all week. Only ... this Cat in the Lap is...an actual Cat in the Lap. Apparently, Shadow really missed me this week. I'd been using my computer for about 20 minutes, when she got up in the chair beside me, then onto the handrest of the laptop, and has finally settled on top of my arms (my feet are stuck out on the ottoman; the laptop is on my thighs; my hands are on the keys; Shadow is on my forearms). She curled herself up with her head in the crook of my arm and is half-asleep, purring and making soft sleepy-noises. Seriously....this stuff is good for the soul.

Mapley goodness!

2007-11-07T18:39:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately, this post is 100% pancake-free; I'm still on a diet...

No, I'm in Canada! I'm on a long-term contract up here, so ... yeah. It's good so far, the people are great, and the nearest hotel is actually a cozy B&B, which is a nice change from the nice-but-boring hotels where I usually stay. Oh, and I can drive here, which means I have my own car here, which is much more of a big deal than you'd realize.

Off to bed early soon, I think -- running in the morning. Brr!

More on Tour de Cure

2007-11-03T19:29:00.000-07:00

Next spring, I will be riding 100 miles in the Buffalo Tour de Cure. This will be the third year I've ridden in Tour de Cure, and the second year for 100 miles. (in '06, I did a metric century - 65 miles).

Tour de Cure is an annual series of bike rides to raise money for the American Diabetes Association. It's a great cause, and I'm proud to support it. Cycling 100 miles seemed like an impossible goal. When I signed up last year, I really wondered if I'd be able to do it. But with hours and hours of training, and the unflappable support of my lovely wife, I managed to finish. And not just finish -- I enjoyed it! So I'm back again for more this year!

If you're interested in sponsoring me, just click here!

Autumnal splendor, cats and porcupines.

2007-10-30T21:06:00.000-07:00

I love this time of year. It's like the heat of the summer finally climbed out of the tub and jumped into a nearby icy stream. As vegetation dies back and the harvests come in, I always feel invigorated and alive. Everything feels crisper, cleaner, thrown into sharp relief. The sky is that deep cobalt blue, the yellow leaves swirl around my feet. I love the way that autumn smells. People are starting up their fireplaces, mowing their lawns one last time. When I had my convertible, this is the time of year when the top was rarely up - I just wanted to drink everything in all the time.

I recently read some melancholy musings on the season; and while I agree that the acoustics of the season are well-suited to the echoes of the past.... for me, autumn is a time of coming together. This has always been the time of year when people began to need to crowd around the fire for warmth, and it is still -- a time of gathering, of storytelling, of imagining. This is the time of year when I got married.

I love this time of year.

I have no good segue from that, so I'll just plow on.

I'm going to start a new segment that I've been thinking about for a while: a "good and bad" bit. Something like TV Guide's "Cheers and Jeers", or Stephen Colbert's "Tip of the Hat/Wag of the Finger". I've been dragging my feet, though, trying to come up with a good name. At long last, though, I have:

Cat in the Lap/Porcupine in the Pants.

Because who *wouldn't* like a cat happily purring in their lap? And who would want a porcupine in the pants? Ow!!!

As in, "A cat in the lap goes to Sonya, who is feeling lousy and crappy and is dealing with a cruddy cold and mountains of work. A porcupine in the pants goes to the jerk in front of me on the highway, who tossed some trash out of his window. " Anyway, I have a bunch of CitL and PitP that I've been thinking about posting, so watch this space for more developments.

[No porcupines or cats were harmed in the making of this post]

I was thinking of going with "weasel in the pants", but "porcupine in the pants" had a better ring to it. What do you think? Tell me in the comments...

Weekend round-up

2007-10-28T09:48:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy weekend.

Friday:

Went to the doctor for a physical. Since last year, I've lost 39 lbs, my blood pressure and pulse are down, and everything is generally as good as it was or better. The doctor said to see him in a couple of years - I'm healthy. Yay!
Went for a run.
Decided that I'm doing the Buffalo Turkey Trot this year. I've never competed in a footrace before. It's intimidating. Wish me luck!
Got something finished.
Worked on my Jack Sparrow costume late into the night. It was a little frustrating - the only element I was really having trouble tracking down was the vest -- I figured I could get a shirt or a coat at Goodwill, cut off the sleeves, add some appropriate buttons, and.... Well, I got a flannel shirt at Goodwill, and, after trying it on a couple of times, I said, "Wait! This is a *really nice* flannel shirt. Why would I cut this up??" So I got a men's wool overcoat yesterday at Goodwill, something like this. Only... that looked really good, too. So hooray for getting good clothes cheap, but boo for still not having a vest! Finally, about 7pm Friday, I found a vest that was perfect (or as close as I was going to find).

Saturday

Wore my Jack Sparrow costume to work Dragon Fest at Hawk Creek. Got many compliments.
Quiet evening in.

Sunday

Tried yoga. I think I like it. I'm ... still kinda processing the experience; it was a lot harder than I thought it would be, but I enjoyed it.
Let's see...it's 1pm now.... I think I'm going to do some laundry, pack for the week, maybe go for a run (gotta do that training!)... not sure what else.

Update: I ran 5k! 3.1 miles in 36 minutes.

Pet peeves

2007-10-21T14:17:00.001-07:00

My ride today was REALLY nice -- if not for a brisk wind, it would have been perfect. It was warm enough that I could ride with shorts and a short-sleeved jersey, and no problem with keeping my hands and feed warm; cool enough that I didn't get overheated. Clear blue sky, beautiful foliage....really delightful.

But I was reminded of two things that really irritate me when I'm out riding:.

Riding on the wrong side of the street. You should ride with traffic, i.e. on the right side of the road (in the US. Presumably, you ride on the left in the UK and Japan). Do this for two reasons: First, if everyone rides on the same side of the street, it makes passing much easier. Second, it's MUCH safer in terms of automobile traffic. Bear with me as I do a little math. If you're driving your car at 40 miles an hour, and a cyclist is riding 15 miles an hour, and you're going the same direction, you're approaching them at 25 miles an hour. That gives you plenty of time to get around the cyclist, and the cyclist plenty of time to react. If you're approaching a cyclist on your side of the road going the *wrong* way, at the same speeds, you're approaching the cyclist at 55 miles an hour- more than twice as fast.
Helmetless adults, especially with children. First, if you have kids and send them off on a bicycle, get a brain bucket for 'em. Please. If you wouldn't put your kid in a seat without a seatbelt, don't let them ride without a helmet. This is really obvious. But secondly, if you're riding with your kids, and they have helmets, and you don't, what are you telling your kids? Mom and Dad have titanium craniums[1]?? I don't care how proficient a cyclist you are, the only time you don't need to wear a helmet on the bike is if you're on a stationary trainer. Finally, once you've bought your helmet, make sure you're wearing it right. Hint 1: If it's perched jauntily on the back of your head like a hat, and your hair is sticking out in front, IT'S ON WRONG. Hint 2: Place a flat object (like a book) against your face. If it contacts your nose and the helmet, good, it's on right. If it contacts your forehead, you're doing it wrong.

DISCLAIMER: This guide is NOT a replacement for reading your bicycle's and your helmet manufacturer's instructions. Obey all traffic laws. Always ride within your limits.

[1] Would it be crania or craniums? I went with craniums for the alliteration.

Raison d'etre.

2007-10-20T14:57:00.000-07:00

Another fun day of volunteering at Hawk Creek yesterday, and a REALLY wonderful high point: we released a hawk. It was a red-tailed hawk, a species that is common in this area, and it had come in to the center with injuries sustained from flying into a fence. But he'd recovered and was ready to be released. Six or seven of us trudged up the hill behind Hawk Creek. It was a gorgeous fall afternoon, with a strong, cool wind under crystal-clear blue skies. Some cooler weather earlier in the week finally convinced the trees that it was fall, and they've turned beautiful bright reds and yellows. After a careful transfer from handler to releaser, and some last-minute instructions ("Just throw him into the air?" "Yes, he'll know what to do"), and he was away, happy to be gone, flapping over fields, scaring some doves into the air.

It was really a great feeling, watching him fly away. I do a really odd variety of things at Hawk Creek, from cleaning poop and rat guts, to helping with the address book database. But watching that bird fly away today gave me a wonderful feeling of THIS IS WHY I DO IT.

Yesterday was a pretty good day in general. We got there and the weather was nasty - in the 50s and pouring with rain. We had a second classroom session for our handling class, then braved the rain to work with the birds. By the afternoon, the clouds had gone and it had become a blustery, sparkly, clear fall day.

(I wrote the above yesterday, and forgot to post it).

Today it's a bit warmer; on the agenda: Cycling! I'm shooting for something in the 30 mile range, as this could very well be the last weekend of decent riding weather for the season.

Um, hi?

2007-10-19T18:59:00.001-07:00

I put a counter on this blog earlier in the week so that I could keep track of how frequently I get visited (and, by extension, how interesting I am, right?). I was chugging along at around 15 hits a day ... then today, over 60. What's up? Does everyone just read Consumerist on Fridays or something?

Excited about working with birds tomorrow.

Tired.

Going to bed.

It's Thursday.

2007-10-18T18:05:00.000-07:00

And I was tired. And my head hurt a little. And the couch is comfy. And there was something good on TV. And there were blogs to read. And something funny on FARK. And ... did I mention the tired? And it was getting dark. And ...

...I got off my butt and went for a run.

Go me!

Just roll with it.

2007-10-14T14:58:00.000-07:00

So ... the best travel advice I have, ever, is to relax and go with the flow. My flight was supposed to be

648 BUF-LGA, arr 8:28 PM
900 LGA-DCA, arr 10:16 PM

Only now the first flight arrives 12 minutes late. This takes a "just walk quickly" layover to a "maybe if everything goes right. MAYBE. But you'll have to run" layover. So I called USAir, got my reservation moved to fly in in the morning, called my hotel and told them to cancel my reservation, went online and changed my rental car (oddly, it would have gone up if I'd kept a midsize; by switching to a midsize SUV, it went down), and now I'm good to go.

By the way: Hotels are surprisingly understanding about flight cancellations and changes; generally, (GENERALLY, BUT NOT ALWAYS), they'll waive the "you'll be charged for the room if you don't show up and don't call x hours ahead of time" thing if your flight was cancelled. Anyway, now I have an unanticipatedly free evening. I just have to figure out what I'm going to do with it. I think that, despite taking a shower and getting dressed in clean clothes, I may try to squeeze in a run this afternoon. I'm starting Week 8 of Couch to 5k, which means that next week, I should be close to running a 5k. That's 3 miles for you non-metrically-inclined folks.

A day without rats

2007-10-14T07:51:00.000-07:00

Spent an enjoyable day yesterday at Hawk Creek. Started with a Level II Handling class, which was really neat. At the center where Sonya and I had worked before, there had been a formal introduction to working with birds of prey, but no advanced handling instruction; learning more than the basics was a matter of apprenticeship, shadowing, and learning as you go. It was nice to have a formalized course. After the classroom portion, we went outside and practiced getting birds out of their mews and walking around with them. It was good, but COLD -- I think that, next time, if it's supposed to be below 50, I'm going to bring a thin liner glove to put inside the leather glove. After I regained feeling in my hand, I spent the afternoon mucking around with mail programs and doing assorted computer-maintenance-y things at the center.

Tonight, it's back to DC for work...it's been a really wonderful week off. So...some laundry, some cleaning, possibly a jog, and....enjoying my last few hours of vacation.

Back in the saddle

2007-10-12T07:51:00.000-07:00

A few posts ago, I mentioned that I've signed up for next year's Tour de Cure. This has become an annual project with me. Two years ago, I rode 100k. Last year, I rode 100 miles. This coming year, I'm going to do the 100 miler again. It's all-around a good deal: I raise money for a good cause and I force myself to keep up with working out (riding a century is not to be taken lightly). I had been keeping a training blog at my livejournal page, but I think I'll start doing that here. So prepare to see some boring entries here about where I've ridden.

Yesterday was my first time on the bike in ages. Seriously. I rode some in August, once in September, and...yeah. I don't know - every spring, I ride like a fiend; then I do Tour de Cure in June, my riding tapers off over the summer.... and in the fall, I say, "oh, crap! I need to train for Tour de Cure" and I try to get my act together for the winter. This year, though, I'm going to make more of an effort to stay with the workouts through the winter so that I don't have to cram-train in the spring. Anyway... I haven't been on the bike much since I started seriously losing weight, and the difference is AMAZING. I used to be able to do 16-17 mph with a heart rate somewhere in the 150s. Now I'm doing 18-19 mph with my heart in the 140s. To put the difference into perspective, imagine a 5-lb bag of flour. Now imagine stuffing six of them into a backpack. Now, bicycle around with that. Walk with that. Climb stairs with that. Imagine how nice it would feel to take that off. That's kinda where I am now.

And now, I'm off to run errands. First on the list: Riding my bike to the shop to pick up my car.

huh

2007-10-11T17:41:00.000-07:00

Today I saw a "No Fishing" sign next to a pond.

Wouldn't it have been easier, and probably more effective, to just put up a "No fish" sign?

Take that, VW Dealer!

2007-10-11T06:16:00.000-07:00

You may remember that a few weeks ago, I had a nasty incident with one of the local VW dealerships. Among the issues was that a bulb had gone out (I -think- while under their care) in the dashboard. This is the bulb that illuminates the heating/vent/AC controls. You'd think that after driving the car for over three years, I'd know the controls by heart. You'd be wrong.

The dealership said $79 to replace the bulb, because they'd have to "take apart the dashboard." Um, no. Well, that's probably the "official" method, but it's ridiculous. Yesterday, I bought:

1 replacement bulb......................................$1.10
1 pair very small needle-nose pliers...................$6
1 bag latex gloves.......................................$3

I just followed these directions, and it went like clockwork. I actually was able to pull the knob off by hand. Then I slipped the needle-nose pliers into two fingers of a glove, and CAREFULLY pulled out the old bulb, then pushed in the new bulb. 5 minutes in the Lowe's parking lot. And I bet that that's how they do it at the dealership.

Things are good.... I'm enjoying a few days off at home. On today's agenda: Taking the Golf in for Round 2 of "The Check Engine Light is on", getting the Honda inspected, writing two ads for Craigslist, renewing the tags on the cars, and going for a nice long bike ride.

A really good visit

2007-10-09T18:44:00.000-07:00

Sonya and I are sitting in the Charlotte airport now, waiting for a flight home to Buffalo. It's been a really lovely visit down to Charlotte. Her grandmother was appropriately shocked and thrilled to see us show up at her 85th birthday party. We both had ample time to catch up with old friends, and generally had a really nice time.

More details coming on the specifics. But I will say this: The Hampton Inn and Suites in Mooresville, NC is fantastic, and should you ever need to stay in the Mooresville area, you should stay there. Really.

Suburban limousine

2007-10-05T09:06:00.000-07:00

Todays title doesn't refer to a limousine made out of a Chevy Suburban (though I'm sure that those exist). I just saw a black stretch limousine driving through the suburbs of Buffalo. It's a sunny Friday morning. Who needs a limo in the 'burbs on a Friday morning?

Obviously, your guess is probably the same as mine -- it was being taken in for maintenance. Fair guess, but why was the driver all suited up in his chauffeur's outfit? Do they have to wear that even if they're going for an oil change? ... which makes me wonder... how do you do an alignment on a limo?

Wow, this is the lamest luxury car ever.

2007-10-03T21:05:00.001-07:00

Need to go to bed, but wanted to drop in with a brief update. This week's rental car is an '07 Mercury Grand Marquis. It is a patently awful luxury car, a barely rebadged Crown Victoria.

Problem 1: Storage. The cup-holders pop out next to the ashtray (yes, a real working ashtray, and yes, this is a smoking car). OK, now I know that some folks who smoke and drink coffee do both together, but ... it seems like having the cup of coffee that close to the ashtray....just gross. In any case, though, there's nowhere to stick a CD, iPod, spare change, anything. Just a cubby in the door. Lame.

Problem 2: Donut (limited-use) spare. Come on. You have a trunk big enough for [insert amusing image here. Suggestions in comments. Please keep it PG.]. There's AMPLE room for a full-size spare. My Volkswagen Golf has a full-size spare. What gives, Ford?

Problem 3: User interface. Everything about the layout - the gauges, the buttons, the knobs, looks just like the Fords my friends had in high school. In 1990. Seriously, what gives? It's been 20 years, it's time for an update.

Other than that, the car is about what you'd expect -- soft suspension, surprisingly not-awful handling (it doesn't have that awful feather-touch power steering some luxo-cars have) moderately potent v8 (necessary for pushing around a few tons of steel), bench seats. Oh, and no input jack in the radio.

I give it a 2/5. Do not want.

More on this in a future entry, but I'm a fan of National car rental, because they let you pick your car.

Update: On the receipt, the code for a Grand Marquis is "GRMA 4DR". It really *is* a grandma car!

"You know what we really need? A chainsaw."

2007-09-29T14:09:00.000-07:00

Spent most of today volunteering at Hawk Creek. The best thing about volunteering there is that I never know what I'm going to be doing. Today was typically varied: I resolved some MS Access issues for the mailing list, I helped thaw and move some freezers full of frozen rodents (what did you think the birds ate? Sunflower seeds?), I got to use power tools to rehang the front gates of the center up about two inches higher.... Today's quote comes from me, assessing the best way to remove some wood around the top of one of the poles on the side of the gates. For the gate to hang level, we had to get rid of some of the pole....we ended up using a router. I'd forgotten how satisfying it is to use power tools and build stuff.

Sonya's been abed all day with a migraine; I'm hoping that some delicious supper will help. After preparing said supper, I'm off to the Sleep Center - I'm being tested for sleep apnea. Again. Actually, today they were supposed to be seeing what the best setting would be for the mask that I'd be wearing, but I've lost 30 lbs. since the last test, so.... maybe I don't need it. I hope I don't need it.

Cars, clothes, cleaning.

2007-09-28T16:16:00.000-07:00

I've been having some car issues this summer. In April, I had brake issues - a sticky caliper. Took the car to the dealer[1]. They "fixed" the back brakes (which I thought meant replaced the caliper, but no, just...hell, I don't know exactly what they did.) in April... then the problem returned in late August. The caliper had frozen entirely, had to be replaced. So they did. Picked up the car and the check engine light came on AS I WAS LEAVING.

They said it was something in the glow plug circuit, but they weren't sure, and not to worry, it probably wouldn't come back, but if it did, to bring it back. Well, it did, after about five minutes, and has been on pretty much since (it's off when I start the car, but comes on within five minutes). So I took it back today (yes, I know, almost a month later. Working in DC makes taking care of this sort of thing tough), and they pretty much said, "Well, it's $104 for a diagnostic check, and then ...we don't know. No idea. It might be anything. But it wasn't our fault, and the diagnostic fee is just to check. Oh, and that diagnosis we did last time? Nope, that doesn't do anything towards this diagnosis. It'll probably be done by 9pm." Here's the thing. They didn't really do anything *wrong*, but the service manager [2] was arrogant and condescending. I was walking out of the dealership, irritated at the whole thing, talking to Sonya, and then I said, "You know what? No. The hell with them." I got back in my car and drove off. Went to a dealership across town, and the whole thing was fixed (some bad connectors in the wiring) for under $100 and before 6pm.

Did some clothes shopping today; I needed some shirts (got some), some jeans (got some), and some khakis (alas).

Now I'm off to stop procrastinating and get back to cleaning up the house. It's nice to be able to have a window open with a cool fall breeze drifting in.

[1]Generally, I avoid this and find a local quality garage. Problem is, I have a Volkswagen diesel, and, at least for engine work, there's a lot on that car that's rather unusual. On the other hand, this was for the brakes, so .... yeah. I think I took it to the dealer the first time because they were open on a Saturday; the second time, because they'd fixed it the first time.

[2] This is another interesting tidbit - in conversation with him, he said, "I'm the service manager." When I called back, I said, "I want to talk to S-, the service manager." The receptionist said, "Um, M- is the service manager; he's gone for the day. S- is a service advisor).

Relax.

2007-09-27T17:44:00.002-07:00

I travel a lot. A whole lot. I've been traveling, for work, off and on since 1999. There are hotels where the staff know me by sight. This is not boasting; I'm just establishing my cred on the subject of travel.

I'm writing this from just outside Gate 44 at Reagan National Airport; for the last ten minutes or so, I've been watching people freaking out in the wake of a canceled flight. Here are some tips for what to do when your flight is canceled (or delayed to where you'll miss your connection).

Don't panic. You're stressed, the people you're with are stressed, (both in your party, if applicable, and your fellow travelers, too), and the airline employees are stressed. I'm not saying not to worry, but...
Figure out *what* to worry about. There are things that are in your control, and things that are not. Figure out what fits where, and what you can do to improve your situation. Don't worry about the things you can't control, just try to figure out what your viable options are.
As quickly and efficiently as possible, GET IN LINE with pen and paper. There will either be a line at the gate where your flight was supposed to leave, or one at the Special Services desk. Get into it.
Consider your options, their cost, and the value of speed (would two hours' difference mean getting home before House comes on, or making it to your sister's wedding?) Remember to be creative; sometimes renting a car and driving can be the best solution; sometimes it's a horrible idea.
Call the airline while you wait. If it's an isolated incident (like a broken airplane, not something like storms all over the East Coast), the hold times shouldn't be bad, and you should be able to get through to someone fairly quickly; in fact, you might get someone on the phone before you get to the front of the line. Keep in mind, though, that the people on the phone have access to fewer options than the people at the gate. If you just need to get moved from a 7pm flight to a 9:30, they can probably help you. If you have a complex itinerary, you might just need to talk to someone on the ground. Hey, worst case, you have something to do while you wait in line. If you are able to get something reserved, get all the information you can and jot it down (flight numbers, confirmation numbers, etc.). They may tell you you've been automatically rebooked on another itinerary.
If you do get someone on the phone, EVEN IF YOU GET AN ALTERNATE BOOKING, STAY IN LINE [Unless you have to, at that point, run to get the flight they just put you on. If that's the case, go ahead and go.]. When you get to the front of the line, say that you've been booked on something else, and tell the agent the details. They should be able to print the boarding pass/transfer ticket you need.
When possible, try to stay with your original carrier. I've had problems going from USAir to American; I presume that these are just general problems that happen when you go between carriers. Specifically: If you do change carriers, you will usually need to give the other carrier a paper ticket for your original flight, which they will staple to their ticket. It's a weird little ritual, but let them do it. In any case, if they have you on another flight, DO NOT leave the counter without either a boarding pass or a paper ticket in your hand.
If the cancellation was due to a mechanical failure, they should put you up in a hotel if you need one. If it was due to weather, you're on your own. If you're going to be stuck in the airport for a while, they should give you food vouchers, regardless.
Generally, they won't give you a voucher for a rental car, but they may give you a travel voucher for the airline.
Never, ever, EVER get hostile with the airline employees. There are some great gate agents out there, and there are some who aren't so hot. But getting red in the face and yelling about the importance of your trip will accomplish nothing productive. If you feel that the airline has treated you poorly, try to record as much specific information as possible.(who you talked to, what you were promised, and so forth)

The most likely result of the cancellation or delay is that your plans will be pushed back a few hours, and you'll be stuck in the airport for a while. If you are stuck, consider getting something to eat. There are surprisingly good places to eat in airports these days, you just have to find them. Reagan National Airport in DC is full of good food - just outside security (security lines are usually quite short, under 20 minutes, and frequently under 5, so you can usually pop out and back in without a problem) there's a Legal Seafood and a sushi restaurant; in the North Pier of Terminal C, there's a Five Guys Burgers and a Gordon Biersch brewery. At DFW, check out Cool River, it's an upscale restaurant in the international (D) terminal. I recommend the Sirloin Bruschetta. Also, if you have a laptop and/or cell phone, take this time to charge them. Travel problems can have a ripple effect, and you'll want some talk time on your cell if something else goes wrong.
Handy tip: There are frequently outlets under banks of pay phones and near the gates. Some airports -- I'm looking at you, Chicago -- have put in special plugs to deter travelers from stealing their electricity. A determined traveler can usually find a normal outlet where other appliances (say, a vendor's cart) are plugged in.

Other than that, relax. If you had people coming to meet you at the airport, call them and explain what's going on. Most people have been in this situation and will understand. If you're outbound, call your travel agent (if applicable) and/or contact any rental car company/hotel you'll need to change. Generally, hotels and car companies are pretty understanding about changes due to flight cancellations.

One more thing: Before you leave, consider collecting and bringing with you:

Phone numbers and contact information for all of the travel providers you'll be using (car rental, airlines, hotels, etc), and all the people you'll be meeting/working with while you're away.
Every confirmation number for every piece of travel you're doing.

Tour de Cure

2007-09-26T16:11:00.001-07:00

I just agreed to do the 100 mile ride for Tour de Cure next spring. I'm insane. Or committed. Or should be committed. And I'm also late for dinner.

Bluegrass in my Cadillac and new shoes

2007-09-25T18:52:00.000-07:00

Another week of work down in the DC area... This week, when I was renting my car (Avis), a popup asked me if I wanted a "Cool Car" -- for $332(for the week), I could get a Pontiac G6 (or similar); for $338, I could get a Cadillac.

Oh, why not.

It's as ridiculous as I'd imagined - the seats are heated and air conditioned[1], it's ENORMOUS, and it's quite fast. It also came with XM radio, so I've been amusing myself by driving around with the windows down and Bluegrass Junction cranked up on the (quite potent) stereo. I'm weird.

I'm in the midst of a serious weight-loss effort, and part of that is a running program -- I'm doing the Couch to 5K program from Cool Running. I'm now down around 210, but that's still a lot of weight to be smashing down on my knees. So I decided I ought to go ahead and spring for some running shoes that are under five years old. I went to Potomac River Running, not far from where I work. I was really impressed. Danielle was knowledgeable and helpful. After a Video Gait Analysis (I have "normal" feet, hooray!) and trying on four pairs of shoes, I settled on a pair of Nikes. I tried them out this morning[2], and they are GREAT! It's a HUGE difference from my old shoes.

That's all for now... I think I'm going to try to have an early night.

[1] Heated seats are teh awesome. You'd *think* that "air conditioned" seats would be equally awesome, but, um, no. At least, not initially. I thought it would be nice, but mostly, it feels like you're sitting in something wet.

[2]Actually, I tried them out last night. One of the cool things about this store - they actually insist that you go out and *run* in the shoes. Not "take 'em around the store", not "jump up and down", but "go around the block once or twice and MAKE SURE they feel OK".

Hawk Creek Exhibit!

2007-09-22T15:27:00.000-07:00

Today was a pretty good day. I'd wanted to get up early and go for a run, but didn't get to bed last night until 1, and the alarm was set for 7:30.... so no run. But Sonya and I got up early, had breakfast, and drove to the Lewiston Power Center (which sounds either like a bad 80s band, or a mega-industrial facility-- it was the latter), where there was a wildlife festival. We've both worked plenty of exhibits before with Carolina Raptor Center, but at those exhibits, the birds always hung out on perches. At this exhibit, the birds that were out were on someone's glove.

Now, a 1 lb peregrine falcon doesn't seem like much, but at the end of your arm, a pound becomes pretty heavy pretty fast. It was neat, though, being able to hold the birds and answer questions. Next on the agenda: Dinner.

If I can get up.

Oh, so tired.

Chair so comfy.

Let's smack a bottle of champagne on this thing and push 'er out.

2007-09-21T17:20:00.000-07:00

Hi, I'm James.

This blog will be news of me, my life, my musings. I've had a few blogs before, but they were always in the context of something else, or not globally publicly viewable (e.g. my MySpace blog, which was both). This is just a blog to blog. So there it is. Expect to see content here about cycling, grammar, IT consulting, travel, birds of prey, skiing, beer, and Bill Bryson.

More to come.