My daughters new bike
'neath yon tree (ok next to)
She's growing so fast
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Anniversary #2
Wow. I totally missed my blog anniversary. This blog was started two years ago November 20th. I knew it was close and I thought it was today.
Any way, I hope all have a safe and happy Thanksgiving.
Carl
Any way, I hope all have a safe and happy Thanksgiving.
Carl
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Hmmm... not so much.
A friend of mine wrote something on his blog that while very nice, and I understand where he's coming from, it's just that I don't have the same feeling of hope.
At the place where I work there is a program for recovering addicts. Or rather, thats what it's supposed to be for. However , what I see is a revolving door of recidivism. The "clients" come in, dry out, do the 12 step stuff, leave, fall into the same old shite and then they're right back in and begging to be let back into the program.
I know that there are success stories of recovery. My father, whom to the best of my knowledge is 35 years sober is one of them. I really think that there needs to be a seriously profound and scary shock to the person as the catalyst. Otherwise there isn't the goal or impetus for them to really want change. For my father it was us leaving his abusive rages.
I've seen more than one person go through the devastation of a lifetime of drug and alcohol abuse. I have seen men that when I first met them 10 or so year back were intelligent, thoughtful (when sober) individuals. Then through the years, the poisons take their toll. Turning the people in more than one instance, blithering, drooling, or suspitious and paranoid.
And then they die.
I know that working at that place has changed me. I know that once upon a time I cared. Now, I try to see the best in people but sometimes, it's so far off that I need a telescope to see it.
At the place where I work there is a program for recovering addicts. Or rather, thats what it's supposed to be for. However , what I see is a revolving door of recidivism. The "clients" come in, dry out, do the 12 step stuff, leave, fall into the same old shite and then they're right back in and begging to be let back into the program.
I know that there are success stories of recovery. My father, whom to the best of my knowledge is 35 years sober is one of them. I really think that there needs to be a seriously profound and scary shock to the person as the catalyst. Otherwise there isn't the goal or impetus for them to really want change. For my father it was us leaving his abusive rages.
I've seen more than one person go through the devastation of a lifetime of drug and alcohol abuse. I have seen men that when I first met them 10 or so year back were intelligent, thoughtful (when sober) individuals. Then through the years, the poisons take their toll. Turning the people in more than one instance, blithering, drooling, or suspitious and paranoid.
And then they die.
I know that working at that place has changed me. I know that once upon a time I cared. Now, I try to see the best in people but sometimes, it's so far off that I need a telescope to see it.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
I'm 'avin that
A wee bit ago. I learned through The Fred Cast of the existence of the VeloCast. A podcast put on by two Scotts (well one is Scott the other is John).I very much enjoy this show. I find John and Scott knowledgeable and insightful. One of the things I do when listening to these podcasts is to try to put a face with the voice. Now in many instances I have seen a photo of the podcast host or guests The Fred Cast above, Tim (The MASI Guy) Jackson, Richard Fritz Masoner.
Now Scott and John have been very cagey. I have looked through the pictures they have put up and haven't managed to pick them out for certain. So that leaves my imagination with a lot room to work.
Now, as near as I can tell. The basic format of the show is that both find content to discuss and then Scott will present the subject and then John will give his thoughts. This works for them.
Anyway, the images that have been put in my head because of this are that John is or can be very curmudgeonly (like Waldorf) and Scott is the techie nice guy (like Scooter).
Now all of this is said with the utmost respect. I really do enjoy their show and have laughed out loud when listening at work. (much to the amusement to those around me).
So until such a time as I see a photo of them, I'll be keeping the image above in mind.
Carl
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Mirror, mirror.
So now I’m an LCI (League Cycling Instructor) what am I gonna do now?
Last weekend is almost a blur, long days, late nights. There were some in the class saying that they didn’t work this hard on their masters.
During the class I was given an assignment (which I totally hosed) on the importance of scanning and signaling. Earlier in the day I had the opportunity to try one of my classmates mirror and was quite surprised at how much I could actually see back there. As I was winding down the disaster of a presentation, I mentioned that I had tried a mirror and planned to get one soon.
After the other presentations were done the instructor came up behind me and asked quietly if it was me that was going to get a mirror. I nodded and he set one in front of me. At first I thought it was just one that his club had stuck their logo on.
It wasn’t until Monday that I learned that I was given a custom, handmade, one of a kind, as in no two are alike Chuck Harris mirror.
I didn’t know what it was until I began searching for this “old man back in the woods” as my instructor; Preston Tyree told me when he described who made it. Oh, that’s another thing. Our class was taught by the Director of Education for the LAB. Yeah, that’s right, THE man.
Now this wasn’t because of any special reason though, when the class got set up, he asked who could do it all and apparently all of the other master trainers were already busy. I don’t know if our class was better or not because of that, but I feel very thankful to him for the class and the gift of the mirror.
Last weekend is almost a blur, long days, late nights. There were some in the class saying that they didn’t work this hard on their masters.
During the class I was given an assignment (which I totally hosed) on the importance of scanning and signaling. Earlier in the day I had the opportunity to try one of my classmates mirror and was quite surprised at how much I could actually see back there. As I was winding down the disaster of a presentation, I mentioned that I had tried a mirror and planned to get one soon.
After the other presentations were done the instructor came up behind me and asked quietly if it was me that was going to get a mirror. I nodded and he set one in front of me. At first I thought it was just one that his club had stuck their logo on.
It wasn’t until Monday that I learned that I was given a custom, handmade, one of a kind, as in no two are alike Chuck Harris mirror.
I didn’t know what it was until I began searching for this “old man back in the woods” as my instructor; Preston Tyree told me when he described who made it. Oh, that’s another thing. Our class was taught by the Director of Education for the LAB. Yeah, that’s right, THE man.
Now this wasn’t because of any special reason though, when the class got set up, he asked who could do it all and apparently all of the other master trainers were already busy. I don’t know if our class was better or not because of that, but I feel very thankful to him for the class and the gift of the mirror.
If you blog it. They will come.
Just saw this Apparently Lance Armstrong and Gov. Bill Ritter are reading MY blog. Yeah, yeah I know. NOT! But still, it would be kinda cool.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Susan Nelson
I just read that Susan Nelson wife of Eldon "The Fat Cyclist" Nelson passed away this evening.
I weep.
I weep.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Please stand by....
Watch this space for Longmont BTWD stuff. Right now I'm just bushed. Update. Never mind, lost interest.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
What's a guy gotta do!
Alright. We have the Tour of California and the Tour of Missouri. And the Tour of Georgia gave it up this year. Now I just read about a race in New Mexico called the Tour of the Gila. I'm sure that there are a few that I don't know about yet. So, here is my thought. Who do I talk to to get Celestial Seasonings or Coors or both to put the Red Zinger/Coors International back together?
Friday, January 2, 2009
New Years Day Cafe Ride 2009
On New Years Day I trekked to the big city and met for the first time Jon Grinder.
We were to meet at Kaladi Bro. coffee with a planned ride time of 9:30. Well... that wasn't how it worked. The conversation revolved around bikes of course and for a good part of the time the problem of how many was discussed.
There was talk of you really only need one bike. (yea right!) or every time I think of selling one I'll ride it and change my mind. (not me) Or I could get rid of all except this one or maybe that one... Any way, this went on until 10:30ish so that when we actually began I requested that I be pointed in the direction of the coffee shop in time to get me to a family get together at noon.
The group graciously obliged by modifying the route so that there would be the absolute maximum of hills available. So we lit out on a nice even trip through Washington Park then along the Cherry Creek and Platt River paths we then turned east toward a solid wall of climbing. (I kid... sort of)
It really was great to finally meet Jon and to to put a "bone bag" to the face you see in cyberspace. As well as to interact with other bike geeks like (or worse) than myself.
Carl
We were to meet at Kaladi Bro. coffee with a planned ride time of 9:30. Well... that wasn't how it worked. The conversation revolved around bikes of course and for a good part of the time the problem of how many was discussed.
There was talk of you really only need one bike. (yea right!) or every time I think of selling one I'll ride it and change my mind. (not me) Or I could get rid of all except this one or maybe that one... Any way, this went on until 10:30ish so that when we actually began I requested that I be pointed in the direction of the coffee shop in time to get me to a family get together at noon.
The group graciously obliged by modifying the route so that there would be the absolute maximum of hills available. So we lit out on a nice even trip through Washington Park then along the Cherry Creek and Platt River paths we then turned east toward a solid wall of climbing. (I kid... sort of)
It really was great to finally meet Jon and to to put a "bone bag" to the face you see in cyberspace. As well as to interact with other bike geeks like (or worse) than myself.
Carl
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