What Have I Been Up To?

This post is dedicated to Vinny, who commented:

"Believe it or not, there are still people checking this (now pathetic) website for updates. We want to know know if you reached 179 or blew up to 350+. We want to know if you're still stalking unsuspecing commuters and flirting with the NJ sexual predator list. We want to believe that the internet is NOT DEAD. Put down that beer, get off your (potentially enormous) ass, find some motivation and give us an update. We want to know what the hell is going on in your life. Come on man, you owe it to your loyal following.....get back in the saddle and give us some insight."

First off, yes, this is an absurdly pathetic website. But I'm not alone. Just as video killed the radio star, Facebook killed the Blogger star. Another blog I read made the same comment last week. I spend a lot more time on Facebook and let's be honest, my status messages embody what is really going on in my life. Do these blog posts ever amount to more than 5-10 words anyway? I may type 2000, but in the end, don't the following really describe my life:

* Norm hit the 170s!
* Norm got in a 4 hour ride today.
* Norm likes beer.
* etc etc

I may write more than that, but do I say more than that? Probably not. But here I am, using more words to say something I probably could have said in 5 words. Maybe at the end I'll summarize it in 5 words if I feel so motivated. I do have to say that I'm thinking of trying to make 1-2 posts a week, but longer, and more in depth, and maybe even with pictures and videos. Why bother? I really have no idea. Maybe this is my natural cycle where I like to express myself in words. I like to fancy myself somewhat capable with words. And I know there are a few people out there who do read, apparently Vinny included. So maybe I'll give that a go. I can tell you now it won't last. But at least we can try.

So what have I been up to? Well let's see, the past bunch of weeks I've more or less worked from home all the time. I went into the office 4 times in the last 2 weeks, but before that I was home for 3 straight weeks. And before that I was in the office maybe 4 times in 3 weeks. So it's something like 7 times in 7 weeks, which accounts for my not blogging nearly as much because when I get on the train I read or watch DVDs. I have enough diversions and so little time that I tend not to blog anymore. I WFH again this week and the 3rd week in February.

So did I hit 179? Yes I did. Then 178 and 177 which is my current low weight. I fluctuate on a daily basis of course, but still solidly in the 170s currently, even though I'm not riding nearly as much as I would hope right now. The weather plus 2 colds has really limited me in the last 4-5 weeks. Currently getting over the second cold but the weather still sucks. There's still a solid covering on the ground and as I sit here in my kitchen the temps are in the 20s outside. At least the sun is setting later and rising earlier. So we got that going for us, which is nice.

Work is work. I do love my job basically because my boss and his boss "get" it. The job itself is solid, and I can more or less do what I want so long as we get what we need done as a group. So I look for interesting ways to make the job easier and entertain myself in a work environment. Aside from that the whole WFH thing makes it a lot easier to mix work and home.

In the end, this is more or less what I do with my spare time when I'm not riding my bike or drinking beer:



Or this, which is the kind of thing we need to do to get her to take a bath:



And when Mommy leaves Julia with Daddy, we get doughnuts:



I'm also trying to clean up my basement so I can figure out WTF is going on when I'm down there, which is pretty often since that's where the W happens in the WFH abbreviation. This is my "before" pic though this is really a "during" pic. Everything in life is a work in progress, my basement included:



Hopefully I can post a worthy "after" pic in a few weeks but I can imagine anyone but I would care. This is why I'm riding less than I like. Every other day I wake up to this which, while beautiful, sucks the riding wind out of my sails:



Here is another reason I find it hard to ride some days:



For whatever reason, they never plow our road. So I take it in, enjoy the season, drink beer - you know, all the same sorts of things people like to do. The weather will turn soon enough, and I'll be pumping out 15 hour weeks before you know it. But for now, with the cold and my sickness, the last 2 weeks were barely 4 hours each. Thankfully I haven't taken this opportunity to get fat again. Or more precisely, fatter. But I need to watch what I eat, which is lame. I like to eat, and when I ride a lot I can eat a lot. It's a dual bonus because eating is one of my favorite hobbies as well. Same story on drinking beer. Triple bonus!

I did finally build a cross bike so I can better ride in this crap weather. Took it out twice last week - lots of fun! But plenty more fun to come for sure:



Anyway, that's about it. I'm sure there's more but for now, I'd say that's more or less enough to keep you up-to-date on what's going on with me. And if you want to step into the present, join Facebook and set your status message now and again.

So the Facebook blurb is this: "Norm is summing up his existence."

Slow and Steady

Today's cliche is that slow and steady wins the race. This begs the question of the race. What race? If we're talking about the rat race then I agree. If it's a bike race, well enjoy 38th place. Like all subjective realities, the answer is somewhere in between.

Terren

"Thanks for the plug, Norm."

Fuck your yankee blue jeans.

Steve

"*You know, like I said, go with the flow and see where it takes you* sounds awfully familiar... (un)fortunately i missed chris' "ass" story at the picnic."

As did I. But I'm thinking that it was Ben's story as per the next comment below.

ChrisG

"Walter, I just got done laughing at that same memory while reading Ben's comments here. As I recall, he had some really funny anecdotes regarding care and grooming of the South 40 as well. Something regarding full-length mirrors... When ass stories cease to be funny, we'll know we're all doomed."

I think one or both of you guys need to get into the gory details of this story. But then maybe it was Chris after all:

Walter

"this may be off, but ChrisG told a very funny saddle sore story at the picnic, complete with visuals and all. Quite humorous."

I'm thinking now maybe Chris and Ben were doing stand up? I feel left out. Perhaps I was busy gorging myself with foodstuff.

Comments are great guys, keep them coming. Remember, all comments always get posted here. That is, until I get so wildly popular that I can ignore the people that brought me up through the ranks of the blogosphere. It is time for a change! Blogger needs someone who can move them forward, who can deliver synergy in under 30 minutes or you get a free synergy with ham and pineapple on top! I am change! I am synergy! I am woman! Hear me bark like a chicken!

On to politics and one last comment:

George

"Well, it was sort of interesting on Tuesday. Though it seemed like clinton won the popular vote, in reality Obama won more delegates. I guess I could get on board with Obama, but definitely not clinton. Knowing about her economic policies, and her supposed tax plan, there is just no way. I come to that conclusion after reading Sowell. If she does what she plans as far as taxing big corporations, and providing government funded (i.e. - taxpayer funded) healthcare, we will suffer economically in the long-term. That is my assessment. It may not be popular, but I am confident that by applying basic sound capitalistic economic principles against a more social economic policy... A free market economy wins everytime. Sure it is flawed, but countless social economic models over the last 100 years are rotting in the grave. Nice idea on paper but they just don't work. She has done nothing to assure me or most of the country that more taxes, and additional government provided services is the answer to the lower and lower middle class income problem. I agree though that a fix is needed, but it has to be well thought out and more than just "Tax the rich" It seems that McCain will lead the charge on the GOP side, and over on the Dem side it could go either way as of now. Still a long way to go before the November elections. When Ten came out, it was like a musical revolution in my opinion. What a great album. Vs, Vitalogy, & Yield are also great. (Given to Fly - something about the melodic rhythm takes you away to a place in your childhood, or just somewhere where hope and attainment seems possible)I sort of stopped buying their stuff after Yield, I was a bit disappointed in the direction change. But a great band for sure. I found myself cheering for the Giants too. The Pats are a well run, organized team which I really appreciate, but it was good to see the local team win. Your training regiment seems to be taking its toll on the old legs eh? I'm sure it is one of those deals where you just have to get used to it...hmm, get used to the pain? Sure, isn't that what all the tough guys say? I suppose no pain no gain works for some, but everyone is different. You will figure out what works best for you, then it's look out for Norm...he'll be rolling up and over you...punk! : ) Yea, winter blues over here man. Even though the hours of daylight are extending each day, it seems a long way off until warm days and sunshine! Keep pedaling dude."

On politics, let's be honest. This is just a conservative-liberal dog and pony show to see who ascends into the office and continues the years of American Imperialism abroad. Obama might seem to offer hope of change but without the good old boy network supporting him how does any change really happen? And if there is dramatic change how does that actually stick? To be honest it's just like discussing if there's life "out there" while sitting on a car hood drinking a few beers. This is entertainment, like Roger Clemens.

In hindsight I'm happy the Giants won because the entire New England region is taking it as poorly as you possibly can. They're defining what it is to be a Sore Loser and that's great to watch. I hope the Red Sox lose 100 games this year.

Biking is going well. More news at 11. Or not. As Fred says, kick ass sea bass.