Used to drive to get to where I was goin' in a day...

My blog has apparently become a contest with myself to see how may WSP lyrics I can incorporate.

First off, I am sorry to see The Mop calling it quits. I am thinking of starting a "Save The Mop Foundation" with donations accepted. Perhaps a fund raiser from the sales of "The Mop" jersey worn at the Halloween cross race at RMR. All proceeds will go to beer, salsa and getting The Mop on a date with Julie! She was still pining at the last cross race.

Back to today's title; The drive home from SF was incredibly long--some may say it was epic. (Happy Birthday to young Sleeve today too.) We had a great time in SF and my sister and Peter's new place is really nice. The T-day festivities were a highlight for me. We rode bikes across the GG bridge and I saw a dude in Milram gear that looked like Saunders--Anna was hopeful, but alas it was not him. Turbo couldn't figure out his phone to text me back either. Upon returning home, we cracked a few cold ones and proceeded to make some cranberry chutney and an apple crisp. I really can't take credit as I primarily stood around. We then went to some friends around the corner--a mere two hours late--had a great meal and played Killer Bunniez. Lots of fun!

Overall, SF is a great place to visit, but AJD and I just couldn't see ourselves living there. The proximity of shops, bakeries, diners, fruit stands, sushi, thai, tamale parlors and coffee was fantastic and it was great to not touch the car the entire time we were there. I digress...

We are in the midst of the first epic snow here, so it looks like I time the end of my cycling season to perfection as the ski season should kick off shortly.

SF

We got in the car on Friday afternoon and started driving to sunny California. The adventure led us to Grass Valley for a cyclocross event on Sat. It was a good course and had a couple soft turns, but did not have any of the sand we get in SLC. The course was a 5 minute loop that consisted simply of working up a hill on one side and then back down the other. I couldn't really get going and Anna commented after that I just wasn't going as fast as the guys in front of me. Thanks for clarifying the obvious!

After the race we completed the drive to SF and I decided to do Sunday's B race as my sister had some friends in it and the Womens' race that immediately followed. As it was she and Peter spent enough time watching and drinking malted beverages. Anyway, the course on Sunday was fun and had some good technical sections as well as some wide dirt roads. I got a position in the third row and was able to enter the first turn in about 7th place. Unfortunately, that was the height of position as my legs just couldn't respond with what I needed. I lost a bunch of positions on the paved section and was able to finish 16th just 2:00 down. Not bad considering how I felt. I am definitely ready for some R&R off the bike. Which began last night by watching the SF Hip Hop Dance Festival which was unreal! Talk about skills.

Anyway, Anna is bored sitting in the coffee house we are at and I think I have repaid her enough for the comment mentioned above.

The Japanese Connection

When they make the movie who will Gene Hackman play--Theo Epstein perhaps, Terry Francona? Things are looking good for the Sox to sign Matsuzaka a much needed addition to the starting rotation. Sounds like a good move, but I like the idea of signing Barry Zito.

Anyway, standby at 6PM MT this evening for the official word. I am sure the Sox will find some way to screw it up!
















By the way, this is a doctored photo from a Liverpool match in England. Somewhat humorous all the same.

spew.

My wife woke me up this morning at 530 by jumping out of bed and running to the bathroom. At first I was annoyed because I knew that I was up for the day, but then I heard the dreaded gut wrenching sounds of her stomach having it's way with her. Good times! She has since spent the day much like Tbird's wife. And mine has been much like Tbird's.

Several others have complained of mild symptoms. Perhaps it was a good thing The Mop didn't show on Sat, because he might be sick too. Though he may have avoided the shameful event that transpired. However, RevP isn't happy and he didn't come on Sat, so who knows!

Now I have to go make dinner. Perhaps I will keep this in mind:

Summer relapse

Today is absolutely beautiful here in the SLC. Overnight lows were only into the mid-40's and it is currently pushing 70. While I am definitely ready for some skiing, I am pretty glad for this bit of warmth. It enabled a nice morning ride with a few local ciclisti. About 20 minutes into the ride I almost managed to crash us all and promptly relegated myself to the back where I couldn't do anymore damage.

Tomorrow is Sandy's 32nd birthday; be sure to visit his blog to send him birthday wishes.

Also don't forget to:

WSP

T-bird made me a bit jealous when he informed me that he was in Vegas and saw Widepread Panic. This doesn't mean that he saw a casino robbed or the response from an alien attack. Rather he got to see one of my favorite bands of all time. I will steal from my favorite song since poetry has been the latest craze:

The leaves seen through my window pane
Remind me that it's time to move my life again
November sun is felt by none
A chilly breeze has blown my thoughts to what's to come

Needless to say, this song gets me excited for ski season! In the words of String Cheese, "waitin' for the snow to fall..."

Flack

I have been getting some flack for not updating my blog. Sorry to keep everyone in suspense for so long, but things have been pretty "busy" for me. I say "busy" to pick on a certain roommate who used to work at Starbucks from about 5AM to 10AM. Then he was so busy riding his bike and taking care of email that he did not have time to do much else and was hence, busy. At the time, I was working more than full time and didn't understand. Now I get it. Thursday--as Anna will attest--is a super busy day for me!

I see a resemblance, how about you?


Anyhow, I have been racing some cyclocross. I have not gone as fast as I would like yet, but things seem to be starting to come around a bit. Anna has been great and there to support me at every race. I tagged my knee a couple weeks ago and now about the only time I don't feel it is when I am riding. Hope it doesn't effect my ski season. I should probably work on my flacktoids between now and then to be sure.

Otherwise, things are the same-old, same-old. Riley is doing very well and we were just remarking last night that she would not likely be as healthy and happy--and possibly not even alive--if she had not undergone the treatment last year. She still needs to be reminded of the rules sometimes, but it is well worth it. Talk about busy--sleeping all day except when she has to protect the house from the mailwoman or the UPS driver! She doesn't take any flack from them.

Quick Sat AM post

My cousin Nikki ran the Columbus Marathon in OH last week. Please visit her blog for complete details. However, note that she ran a 4:00 which is awesome though she would have liked to have been a little faster. She, like the Pilgrims, is feeling the pull to Boston! I wonder how she would do on the Mass Quiz below. Considering she is from Chicago, I would guess not too well.

I am off to race cyclocross today. Should be fun and Anna will have her picture taking device. I will post any good ones or ones of me puking. Enjoy the Oct weather--whatever that is in your neck of the woods.

I take great pride in my roots

Anyone who has ever seen my license plate will attest that I take pride in where I grew up and my family is from. I love New England and especially love to hate Massachusetts. It and New Hampshire are two of the smallest states with the largest political influence. I like how the people are outspoken, vocal and let you know when you piss them off. I can't remember when someone in UT told me I was #1!

Anywho I was forward this How Massachusetts are you? quiz from a teammate. The response I got was (and I can hear the accent when I read it):

Dude! You're 95% from Massachusetts! Me and Sully and Fitzie and Sean are gonna hit Landsdowne tonight after the game, hang out at the Beerworks. I'll pick you up at the Coop at 6.

My fingers are gold...

I was trying to type "cold" and "gold" came out instead. I guess my fingers really are cold though we just got some new insulation in the attic, so the house should be warmer?

Anyway, things are back to normal after traveling a bit. It has been nice to spend time relaxing with Anna! The turnaround from NE to Telluride took its toll on me and I was definitely tired at the ISSW. However, I caught some very interesting papers and talked to some key folks for my PhD. It really comes down to two programs: the more scientific one and the intensive fieldwork one. Both have benefits and I am hoping to visit both. More to come on that as I move forward. I also like the option of a job as it would allow Anna to begin to do more freelance work giving her more time to paint and play. We shall see what is in store in the spring.

As for my Masters, things are progressing well. I have been working to develop a finite element model of crack propogration between a composite sheet and a foam core. It has been difficult--often more painful than banging my head against a wall. My advisor, Dan, just presented some results to the Automotive Composites Consortium this week and they were pleased. I am pleased because I am now handing this project off to someone else to work with thermoplastics. We are going to try to develop methods for bonding them which is difficult. The nice thing about thermoplastics is that they can be recycled. This project is also for the ACC and someone from the group recognized me from my previous work on the Corvette hood when Dan gave an overview to them this week. I am excited to be working in the physical realm again instead of being stuck behind a computer all the time.

Cycling is going well and I am looking forward to more cyclocross in the coming weeks. Then ski season!!! I just got some new boots for the first time in about 10 years. I am not positive that I like them yet, but everything seems right with them. Regardless, I am very, very ready for some of this: