Ketching-Up and Mustard

First off, Animal Collective. They are rocking my ears off. I've been listening to them multiple times a day for the past few days. Check this link to stream their latest album if I have not worn in out yet.

I have not been completely AWOL from posting, I have been also contributing to the lovely PEDAL-OMAHA blog. I seem to post mainly my pedaling stuff on there.

-- For example, this gallery from a 65 mile journey I took back from Grandpa Marv's place in David (Town) City via country roads bi-pedal of course. Then there is the apartment pedaling post too. Yep, that's EB, in a skeleton shirt, riding around my APT. GTs.

Aside from that, mom breezed thru last week. There was a high amount of gluttony taken in by my part. Nothing like eating at the same restaurant 4 times in like 5 days. Thanks mommer.

I've been putting in some pretty good milage preparing for the Rocky Raccoon. 11 on Saturday, 16 on Sunday, (that's right ladies, now you know where I live within a block or so)then a few easy ones today before keeping on with the keepin' on. My ankle was a little tweaky and I still have not been able to buy new running shoes. Oh, yeah, the 16 on Sunday was retarded cold. Windchill put it at -1. It was some serious coldness. I at one time ate a Gu packet and I actually had to chew the stuff. It was awesome. I got some surprises when I got home. I've never had sweat build up like that. But I've never ran that far in sub-Arctic conditions. Sweatcicles they were later dubbed. It's funny - Not funny ha ha, but the funny you get when you are afraid. It's really cold out, I am cold, but I am completely soaked when I am done. Basically, I am working hard enough to stay warm, but if I were to stop, I'd quickly freeze to death! Good times.


I busted out the trainer today after dropping some large bills on a new chain. Chains used to be like 25 bucks. Now you can pay over 3 times that much for a fancy race bike chain. Ridiculous. EB and I watched stripes and spun for about 65 minutes before calling it quits.

I was fortunate enough to borrow a 5D Mark II for a series of bands I shot on Saturday: Fortnight, Bald Eagle, and Cursive. This camera is freakin' amazing. I was in love. I am in love. I need this camera's love. The only thing disappointing about it was that it totally validated the need for me to buy one. Oh the places we'll go!

Photo Corner

Nothing really, just a few images I've shot in the last week. For fun. For love. For pain.

HTML GALLERY

abrazos

Return of the White

I took a quick power nap before running last night. 30 minutes after laying down, rolled over and peered outside to see large snow flakes coming down. I slid off the bed cussing and pretty much talking myself out of going. But, the type of person I am (idiot) I decided that it was a good idea to still go... and quite frankly, it was a good idea.

Wind was in the 2os mph, blowing snow, wind chill putting it in the low teens.

My eyelashes kept freezing together, I had snow boxing gloves, and my collar was frozen. Mr. Winkie wasn't exactly happy either. I forgot my windstopper crotch protection. 7 to 8 was good enough to make me happy I did so.


The previous weekend, EB gifted me a Salsa 48T front chain ring for my single speed. It was very appreciated and turned my every day steed into a speed stud. Now all I need is at least one brake that works good enough to stop me... seriously.

In all the rage of new parts and cleaning, I decided to pull off some of the braze-on cable stays. I had done it to a couple of them on the rear of the bike, but when I pulled off one on the down tube, just like pulling my ear off, it left a hole in the frame. Well $hit. I covered it up with a sticker... that should bring it back to being structurally sound. I've really enjoyed the extra pedal-power it provides.



Speaking of pedal power, EB put up a new site for all to partake and enjoy. He's stripped his old one, so you don't get anything else to look at. So deal with it -- with a smile!

So I mentioned it snowed. EB set up a indoor loop for fun pedaling at the OVC and I figured I'd try it out at my place of residence. I'd be lying if I said I didn't spend a few hours today making loops. No joke. Any word that you may hear of me riding around in the evening with just a head lamp on and a pair of shoes holds no water.

Wichita Mountains Revisited

Sure, it's been awhile since I ventured to Oklahoma, but I finally got to finish my images from the trip. Some how this dirtbag stays busy with stuff. It's been so long ago that I don't really know what to say -- so I don't think I will really say anything more about it. I will toss some links and say it's an amazing place and I was pretty satisfied with the work that came out of it -- possibly some of my better to best work. Good conditions, good people, good times. -- Good thing nothing but fun comes out of it.

Here is a small flash gallery to some of my favorites.

And here is the selection as a whole.

Enjoy and other words of closure.

Cold Stupidity Fun

I got out for 50+ with Brady, Mike, Bryan and Paul (No blog, WTF?) this morning. It started out cold, then the heavy fog came in which turned into mist/ light rain. It was just warm and humid enough to not be freezing, like 34? I couldn't feel my feet, I was dripping wet, and I couldn't see. It was really quite a bit of fun. Good miles, good times, good soreness.

Against all notions of definite embarrassment for all, I am posting the photos taken at Yah-Yah's from last Monday. It was a great time, and we were all lucky to survive. My camera (but not my body) was highjacked many times by others. I found a decent manual setting and flash compensation and the rest is history.

Oh, I guess there are a few of my devil cat and xmas debauchery -- both equally embarrassing.