September 26, 2011

Where has the summer gone?

I've been thinking about my blog a lot lately. I'm not sure why. Maybe it is an opportunity for me to sit and dump some of this extra cruft I have built up in my brain onto paper. Maybe it is because I have at least a half dozen people who read this and really want an update (Sarcasm). Maybe some things are best not analyzed. The fact of the matter is I'm adding a post!

I have about a hundred topics I'd like to talk about, but I'm going to keep this one short and sweet. I'm going to tell you a story. A true story.

This past weekend I was driving in my S.U.V on a country road that had enormous power lines next to it which went as far as the eye could see. Forget the fact my truck is spitting out exhaust, I have the gall to say, "This view sure would be nice if it weren't for all those power lines."

My wife quickly responded, "That makes you sound so old. You need to embrace the necessary and sometimes ugly things in life and look past them."

I took that bit of advice to heart. That afternoon I went on a bike ride. I brought my camera with the intention of capturing beauty in man made objects. While on my ride I was thinking to myself, "I need to look past the ugly..." and no sooner did I think this when a really fat grasshopper tried to cross the road at an inopportune time. the grasshopper jumped into my spokes where he was quickly blended into a grasshopper puree, which was then sprayed onto my leg. It honestly felt like a glass of water hit my shin.

The moral of the story: There is a lot of ugly in the world and not all of it is man made...

OK, maybe that is a bit dark.

The moral of the story: Whether the ugly is a power line or a blended grasshopper; if you don't focus on the ugly and focus on the big picture, things are a lot less ugly.

I looked past the power lines and I saw beautiful mountains. Similarly, the minced grasshopper on my leg didn't keep me from having a great ride!

February 5, 2011

Lesson Learned: Buy a Camera Mount


I'm going to let the video speak for itself this week.

January 29, 2011

Inner monologue

Some people have friends they are able to vent to. Others use therapists. I recommend both, but sometimes the one who understands you the most is yourself. Being alone with my thoughts while out on the road is some of the best times for me to find center once again. To prove my point, let me take you on a 20 second journey to the inside of my head and thoughts while I outline an inner monologue I had during today's ride.

Me: "I need to get in touch with a couple people. I've either left them hanging or haven't chatted with them in a while."

Myself: "Later man, you are riding."

Me: "I need to get my shit together and finish that wheel I've been building."

Myself: "Dude, shut up and ride."

Me: "I gotta find time to finish that level of the video game."

Myself: "Pedal, man. Focus on me for now. I won't let you down."

Me: "Oh yeah, I need to login to finish some work before Monday."

Myself: "Breath. Enjoy the cool air. Enjoy the fact that you are outside."

Me: "I'm out here riding and I should be home doing other stuff."

Myself: "That is it man, I'm shutting down your brain. Breath, pedal, enjoy."

Me: "Ah, I love riding! What a great day to be outside. The rest of the stuff can wait."

Myself: "That's it man! I'll be there for you next time when life gets in the way of enjoying your ride."

January 23, 2011

A Bit Out Of Sorts



Over the years your bodies become walking autobiographies, telling friends and strangers alike of the minor and major stresses of your lives.
~Marilyn Ferguson
"Pennies do not come from heaven. They have to be earned here on earth."
~Margaret Thatcher