I have on very sick and pitiful little baby. Owen has a severe sinus infection that blew up this weekend. It is really heartbreaking to see just how miserable he feels.
Time is in short supply for me right now, so not much posting here. I am happy to report that there was a HUGE turnout at the County Commissioner's meeting monday night. So much public outcry against the proposed Wilson Creek PUD seems to have definitely made the difference. We must remain vigilant so that our open spaces won't be cavalierly developed for such silly reasons as "someone is going to do it eventually". On another happy note, the Lenoir Convenience Center is open! Now get to recycling!
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Mark it on your calendar!
Here is more of the story on the proposed development of Wilson Creek. The County Commissioners meeting is this Monday, August 27th at 6 pm. We need as much public opposition to this proposal as we can muster, so please, please, please come out and lend your voice to the cause!
In reading the News-Topic article, I especially like the developer's comment that Wislon Creek is going to get developed eventually. You know, we don't have to roll over and play dead for land developers. Development of wild and scenic areas is not inevitable. But just like any treasure, someone will surely steal it for themselves if you don't protect it!
Got a good soaking on my afternoon commute yesterday. I also managed to break a bolt that holds my panniers to my dropout. Fun times limping it to the shop, hoping that the friction of my fender being pushed against my tire by a pannier loaded with textbooks wouldn't cause the tube to explode going down the one sketchy descent. It broke up the routine of my twice daily rolling meditation.
I enjoy my solo morning commute the best. The air is cool and there is usually a slight mist close to the ground. Traffic is light and I am left to my thoughts. Maybe it is the fact that I am not fully awake when I leave, but the whole commute seems to take on a transcendental mood. I find myself to the point of disconnecting my thoughts from the rest of my body. I can feel myself pedaling from a distance as my mind seems to be more immediate. I kind of dig that feeling...
In reading the News-Topic article, I especially like the developer's comment that Wislon Creek is going to get developed eventually. You know, we don't have to roll over and play dead for land developers. Development of wild and scenic areas is not inevitable. But just like any treasure, someone will surely steal it for themselves if you don't protect it!
Got a good soaking on my afternoon commute yesterday. I also managed to break a bolt that holds my panniers to my dropout. Fun times limping it to the shop, hoping that the friction of my fender being pushed against my tire by a pannier loaded with textbooks wouldn't cause the tube to explode going down the one sketchy descent. It broke up the routine of my twice daily rolling meditation.
I enjoy my solo morning commute the best. The air is cool and there is usually a slight mist close to the ground. Traffic is light and I am left to my thoughts. Maybe it is the fact that I am not fully awake when I leave, but the whole commute seems to take on a transcendental mood. I find myself to the point of disconnecting my thoughts from the rest of my body. I can feel myself pedaling from a distance as my mind seems to be more immediate. I kind of dig that feeling...
Friday, August 17, 2007
Immediate attention required!
Our fair county has decided to lift a one year moratorium on development in the Wilson Creek area in order to slip in a big land development deal. You can get the full story here. You can email members of the County Board of Commissioners here. Please voice your opinion to leave Wilson Creek undeveloped and stress the importance of outdoor areas for recreation. The future of Caldwell County lies in the outdoor recreation opportunities that are here and are just now beginning to be truly shared with people from outside of our region. We need to allow the developments that are already being built in the nearby Collettsville area to be completed (and their impact assessed) before irrevocably damaging the beautiful Wilson Creek Gorge area! This will be discussed in an upcoming board meeting. I will keep you updated in an effort to rally some vocal opposition to this proposal at the meeting!
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Long time, no see
I finally have enough time to spout off some more drivel. Life has been hectic this past week and it doesn't show any signs of stopping anytime soon. Just in case you aren't in our area, it is unreasonably, unbearably, bewilderingly hot here right now. Add to that a hefty dose of no rain and you've got yourself a good old-fashioned drought. Commuting back and forth to school has become an exercise in asceticism. Each day, I arrive at the shop from school streaming sweat and red as a fire truck. I can't wait to be able to complain about how cold it is. The nice thing has been that mornings have been cool with a good layer of ground fog and some spectacular sunrises that tend toward the pink and turquoise.
Today was Owen's first day of daycare. He seemed to be pretty fine with the whole thing, but there was definitely stress on our part. I never realized all of the feelings and emotions that go along with parenthood. It is a really primal protectiveness that you feel for your child. It's nice being reminded of your animal nature.
I spent today tubing the New River with all of the students from our school. It was hot and slow. The water level was way down, so a lot of walking was involved. Not quite tiring, but not quite relaxing either.
Jeff and I have committed to going to Vegas for Interbike this year. It's been a while since I've gone, so I'm definitely excited about going. I'm really curious to experience Interbike from the perspective of a shop owner, instead of the employee's perspective. I'll try to give some sneak peek reports from the show while I'm there.
The weekend is nigh and I am truly ready for it. Hope to see you in the shop this weekend!
Today was Owen's first day of daycare. He seemed to be pretty fine with the whole thing, but there was definitely stress on our part. I never realized all of the feelings and emotions that go along with parenthood. It is a really primal protectiveness that you feel for your child. It's nice being reminded of your animal nature.
I spent today tubing the New River with all of the students from our school. It was hot and slow. The water level was way down, so a lot of walking was involved. Not quite tiring, but not quite relaxing either.
Jeff and I have committed to going to Vegas for Interbike this year. It's been a while since I've gone, so I'm definitely excited about going. I'm really curious to experience Interbike from the perspective of a shop owner, instead of the employee's perspective. I'll try to give some sneak peek reports from the show while I'm there.
The weekend is nigh and I am truly ready for it. Hope to see you in the shop this weekend!
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Pinch me
My new teaching position is better than I dared to imagine. I find myself, in the middle of teaching, having an out-of-body observation of our interaction and seeing that they are actually engaged in learning. It's really weird how these kids do all of the things that you wish for your students to do. You ask them to think about something and "POOF!", they actually think about it. It is a sight to behold...
I've been to busy to actually update this blog in a while. Seems a lot has been going on in the cycling world. I'm watchin', I just haven't been sayin' anything.
First off, Team Slipstream has secured the services of Magnus Backstedt and Julian Dean. I want to point out that my good friend Jason scooped everybody with that tidbit at his blog schnooked in der spurt. A chance encounter with Frankie Andreu at the Charlotte NRC critertium gave him a leg up on everybody.
Secondly, WADA vs. Alberto "the Kid" Contador, who's gonna win that? Contador and Bruyneel have scheduled a press conference (all statement, no questions). I think the pot is on simmer right now, but be looking for an increase in temperature in the near future.
Lastly, Kash Kasheykin (ASTANA) has turned up positive for homologous blood doping in an out of competition test. These guys aren't even racing and they're testing positive! I am beginning to feel beleaguered and bewildered about this whole mess. I know there are clean riders, but are the dopers really this stupid? Would you undergo a procedure that your team captain tested positive for less than 3 weeks ago? Have the UCI controls been so lax in the past that riders new the odds were in their favor if they gambled with doping? And while everyone gets bitter and pissy about doping in cycling, has anyone bothered to take note of Barry Bonds breaking the all-time homerun record with nothing more than a suspicion of steroid abuse? There are a lot of dirty houses out there, not just ours.
Our car got egged and keyed in front of our house last Friday night. I called the police to come and make a report. The officer asked me if I could think of anyone who might do such a thing. I informed him that both my wife and I were middle school teachers, so it could be any number of former students from the past 5 years. He asked if I could "narrow it down". I asked him if he could make a list of all of the people he had pissed off during his career as a plice officer. He said, "Yeah, I see your point." I'm not worried about who did it, it's just a car and it can be fixed.
Luna Cycles socks are in stock! $8.99 a pair, or 3 pairs for $24! Email me if you would like some, but can't make it in to the store. If you have been by lately, you've probably noticed some half finished remodeling of the back area of the shop. Soon, the mechanic's area will be pushed back to the back room in order to create more floor space and to accomodate our new bike fitting area. Come by and check it out as we start finishing it up this week!
I've been to busy to actually update this blog in a while. Seems a lot has been going on in the cycling world. I'm watchin', I just haven't been sayin' anything.
First off, Team Slipstream has secured the services of Magnus Backstedt and Julian Dean. I want to point out that my good friend Jason scooped everybody with that tidbit at his blog schnooked in der spurt. A chance encounter with Frankie Andreu at the Charlotte NRC critertium gave him a leg up on everybody.
Secondly, WADA vs. Alberto "the Kid" Contador, who's gonna win that? Contador and Bruyneel have scheduled a press conference (all statement, no questions). I think the pot is on simmer right now, but be looking for an increase in temperature in the near future.
Lastly, Kash Kasheykin (ASTANA) has turned up positive for homologous blood doping in an out of competition test. These guys aren't even racing and they're testing positive! I am beginning to feel beleaguered and bewildered about this whole mess. I know there are clean riders, but are the dopers really this stupid? Would you undergo a procedure that your team captain tested positive for less than 3 weeks ago? Have the UCI controls been so lax in the past that riders new the odds were in their favor if they gambled with doping? And while everyone gets bitter and pissy about doping in cycling, has anyone bothered to take note of Barry Bonds breaking the all-time homerun record with nothing more than a suspicion of steroid abuse? There are a lot of dirty houses out there, not just ours.
Our car got egged and keyed in front of our house last Friday night. I called the police to come and make a report. The officer asked me if I could think of anyone who might do such a thing. I informed him that both my wife and I were middle school teachers, so it could be any number of former students from the past 5 years. He asked if I could "narrow it down". I asked him if he could make a list of all of the people he had pissed off during his career as a plice officer. He said, "Yeah, I see your point." I'm not worried about who did it, it's just a car and it can be fixed.
Luna Cycles socks are in stock! $8.99 a pair, or 3 pairs for $24! Email me if you would like some, but can't make it in to the store. If you have been by lately, you've probably noticed some half finished remodeling of the back area of the shop. Soon, the mechanic's area will be pushed back to the back room in order to create more floor space and to accomodate our new bike fitting area. Come by and check it out as we start finishing it up this week!
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
I am worn out. We've had 3 open house sessions at school in the past two days. I have given the same 5 minute talk a total of 12 times. I'm beat. In addition, my daily commute is now a 30 minute, one-way ride with a distinctly rolly texture to it. I'm riding my '70's era, dumpster rescued Raleigh Gran Prix which now sports flat bars, 7 spd Deore thumbshifters, and a Brooks B-17 saddle (not like we want anymore kids...). With the Jannd mtn. rack and panniers I think I'm pushing about 45 lbs back and forth to school. And the thought that keeps going through my mind: 'cross season is coming...
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