da Bears

My cousin Nikki brings up and excellent point in a comment below. I am happy to cheer for da Bears as long as I don't have to endure this. [Though apparently we do have to endure it if we choose to visit Nikki's blog. edit ]

Bring back the Fridge! Didn't they actually make him a running back in the 1986 Stuper Bowl? Hard times...

Ain't the internet great!?! Thanks Al Gore!

Life goes on and it is good!

Well the Pat's lost. I actually watched almost the entire game--well kind of. I am reading Jill Fredston's Snowstruck and had that in front of me most of the time with the game on in the background. The link is a recent interview given by her to a local public radio station. Anyway, she and her partner have done a ton toward better understanding avalanches--something I am quite interested in. She is giving a talk here in SLC on Friday evening at REI for anyone interested. Also, a friend from back in the day Alison Gannett will be giving a talk at Alta on Saturday evening. Alison was one of my first ski coaches at the ski area we both learned at in NH. I must admit I had a crush on her when I was in about 6th grade.

In other news, Magnum PI has begun a comeback. Utah's 24 has episodes on Mon, Wed and Fri sandwiched between two episodes of Hawaii Five-O at 8PM. It is like totally awesome dude! Click below to enjoy and tune in to relive the days of good television shows. Now if only MacGyver, Simon & Simon, and Hardcastle & McCormick were on too...

Go Pats!, school is starting and playing bikes

StevenP--cross racer extraordinaire and the guy that married Anna and me--has got to be pretty psyched with the way the Pats beat the Jets yesterday. I have a song stuck in my head that goes something like: Once your a Pat, your a Pat all the way. It is always good to beat any NY team. Anyway, StevenP has a cool hat that he has had since the Pats logo was:



In other news, classes start today. I am heading to Detroit next week for my first presentation of my research. So far the amount of testing has been limited, but lots of logistics to discuss. I can't say the word logistics without thinking of Office Space.

Finally, riding has been going well. Good to be on a program again. Feb is likely to see me head to Phoenix for some early season racing with the boys. The new team bikes with sexy carbon fiber parts are in and can't wait to get on mine. I am really liking my position from my fit at Canyon Bicycles.

brrrrrr, stick 'em, ha ha ha, stick 'em

For those interested, the whole syncope thing was explained away with some tests this morning. I did a tilt table test which involved me being placed at a 70 degree angle until I almost passed out. Apparently, due to increased capillary volume and improved heart performance I am prone to syncope because of low blood pressure. So I get to drink a lot more and increase my sodium intake--time for some jerky and chips!

As for today's title, we recently came across an old favorite:

Happy New Year!

We had a fun New Year's Eve last night. A&S came over and joined the household plus one for dinner last night. After eating an elk roast complete with gravy and potatoes, we sat around the table and played some games. We tried train dominoes, but couldn't figure it out. So then we moved on to Uno and eventually Bull$h!t. This was fun and we even made it until 1130 before calling it a night.

In other news, Nikki has finally updated her blog while trashing Sandy at the same time. Good work!

Window shopping for solace

Anna got me the new Matisyahu as a present. It is quite good and I especially like the Message in a Bottle cover. This was one one of my favorite songs growing up; I vividly remember The Police albums my sister had. When I first heard him, I commented that I thought he was heavily influenced by The Police so to hear this cover is pretty cool. The dub versions included are quite good too. It also came with a DVD of a live show in Israel. For those not familiar, Matisyahu is a reggae/hip-hop performer who also happens to be an orthodox Jew (Hasidic). His lyrics often express his relationship with G-d (his spelling, not mine), but even more so he is into peace and unity. The boy can hoop it up too!

The Joy of Festivus is abound!!

I was surprised to get gifts on the doorstep this afternoon. There was no note, but the second I saw what it was I knew who it was from: The Mop!!!! Here is what he had to offer:













Apparently, he wants some people to get fat so here is Sandy chunking-up:




























Perhaps Tbird is putting on some weight too. Invitations will be going out shortly for the 3rd Annual Festivus Party. Grievances will be aired to let you all know how much you have disappointed us this past year. Frank Constanza would be proud!

More breaking news...

Jeanson will never race again--apparently that is what happens when you become the best in the world as a doped-up teenager.

Floyd may give up his case.

It snowed bigtime in CO. I mean big time! Lucky dogs...

dirtdogs being dirtdogs?!?

Ramirez to Remain in Left Field for Duration of Contract
Zero Tolerance on 'Manny Being Manny' Going Forward

As Ramirez Packs on the Pounds in Florida,
Trump Decides at Last Minute Not to Send Him Packing

Manny Ramirez, a.k.a. Mr. USA, who had come under criticism amid rumors he had been frequenting fast food restaurants while he was supposed to be at the gym last month, will be allowed to keep his position on the Red Sox, Donald Trump announced today.

"He left a big condo in Boston and he was telling me that he got caught up in the whirlwind of Ft. Lauderdale," Trump said at a news conference. "It's a story that has happened many times before to many players and many men who came to the Red Sox. They wanted their bite of the Big Mac and they found out it wasn't so easy to stay in shape."

"I've always been a believer in second chances," Trump said, standing at a podium in the atrium of Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue. "Manny is a good person, but Manny hasn't played hard. However, Manny is going to be given a second chance."

Ramirez looked chastened and grateful and hungry as Trump called him a man who'd "made some very very bad choices, especially last September when he chose to sit out, some very foolish choices."

Ramirez won the World Series MVP title and became a United States citizen in 2004 and has been living in Florida, hiding from Joe Kerrigan. Recent media accounts of heavy eating at Mickey D's brought a storm of criticism since he was already overweight at the time. Manny weighed 251 lbs. on Monday.

In a tear-choked voice, Manny said, "In no way did I think it would be possible for a second helping to be refused by me." Turning to Trump, he said, "You'll never know what this means to me, and I swear I will not let you down."

Trump said Manny would be entering fast-food rehab. A Red Sox nutrition official said details would be worked out privately with Manny over the next weeks.

"I think Manny is going to be the great comeback kid," Trump said after making it clear he would no longer tolerate any 'Manny Being Manny' episodes for the next two years.

If Manny had been dethroned, his position would have been taken over by left field runner-up Mr. Pawtucket, David Murphy.

Eventful weekend

The weekend ended up beginning on Friday morning when I met up with Tbird for a ride. Turbo was excited at the prospect of us picking him up after Mr. Epicnicity. Unfortunately, the epic one had to turn off early to make it to work on time. We got to Reynolds a bit on the late side, but had a nice ride with Turbo. I thought I was going to die at the end of it, but luckily Tbird agreed to stop for some food. I really wanted a hot dog and sheepishly asked Tbird if he would lose respect for me if I ate one. Not only did he say the opposite, but awarded me a high-five for such an endeavor. The dog hit the spot and got me home.

Saturday saw some fresh snow and some much needed turns with AJD at Alta. They still need a lot of snow, but we got some nice early season turns in. In the evening, we went to a Holiday party thrown by AJD's company. We had some great food and were entertained by the antics of one of her co-workers who was wearing the "bat bra." Yep you read that correctly. Apparently this thing has all sorts of settings and adjustment possibilities and is a feat of engineering. I will trust AJD's word on that one.

Sunday--more snow and a snowshoe-hike in the Western Uinta Mountains with RevP and the dogs. Chocolate donuts were enjoyed by all on the drive in to the trail head. We made some homemade ice cream in the afternoon which was the best we have made yet and shared it with some friends we had over for dinner.

Hot dogs, ice cream, donuts; no wonder I am not dropping weight!