The Thing That Should Not Be

My Failure is Legendary

2008-10-11T11:45:00.000Z

SE Michigan Ski Report

2008-10-07T01:44:00.005Z

Well, It's that time of year again. The summer heat has baked the backroads of Washtenaw and Livingston county a deep brown, the county road commission has chemically treated the surfaces....And it hasn't rained substantially in over two weeks. You know what that means, don't you?

DIRT SKIING

More details to come, but what I can say is that you can't ask for a better sn- Uh, ski experience than a michigan dirt road in early autumn.
Coming up: Whitmore Lake-Hudson Mills "Pleasure and Pave"

Baby Laundering!

2008-09-13T03:35:00.002Z

The Ypsi Connection:

LOL! For al of you who grew up on DOOM (and in the '80s)

2008-02-24T00:47:00.001Z

http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1803224/

Go.

See it.

Now!

Cycling Sponsors Behaving Badly (click here for sponsor's team)

2008-02-24T00:32:00.003Z

For your reading enjoyment

"A wolf remains a wolf even if it has not eaten your sheep"

5th Year Anniversary

2008-02-02T03:21:00.000Z

A tribute song....

An Experiment/Lesson (re)Learned

2007-12-29T01:09:00.000Z

So anyway, I'm sitting on the floor in the mall typing away on my new phone. More clumsy than a keyboard, granted, but cool just the same.
so what's my lesson learned? Well I've been pretty conscientious about working out regularly but the trouble with a day job and school is that time is my limiting factor: My body is simply used to no more than 8-10 hours a week working out.
But I've been on vacation since the 16th so I've had all this free time. What do I do? Work out more, of course! so in the span of a week I get in about 15-16 hours either riding my bike, rollerskiing, or skiing on the real stuff.
Being an idiot, though I still try to squeeze in some "quality" FT and sprint workouts on the bike. You can imagine my consternation that, while I still have the urge to work out, trying to maintain an intensity even close to my FT on the trianer is, well...Painful.
And I feel like taking lots of naps.
Go figure.
Idiot.
Oh well. Back to a regular schedule next week when I put my nose back to the grindstone..

Best Christmas Post EVAH!!!

2007-12-28T14:03:00.000Z

Go see for yourself.

Gratuitous Cat Pictures

2007-12-26T15:34:00.001Z

Have an Unspeakable Holiday!

2007-12-23T16:29:00.000Z

It doesn't matter whether we've been naughty or nice, when the Great Old Ones return we'll all be devoured just the same!

Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn!!!

Disease of the Month (AKA Brianna's X-mas gifts)

2007-12-20T13:42:00.000Z

What's childhood without disease, right? If there's one thing I learned from living with HT and Herr Professor it's that one can develop a relatively robust immune system if one lives in filth 24/7. It's only proper that little Brianna gets exposed as soon as possible so the proper immunities are developed. I consider it my duty as "crazy uncle bill".

This little piece of work to the left, the common cold (rhinovirus) found its way to my saddle. Lucky for me I wasn't sitting on it at the time (and when I do, I'm sure to use fine Swiss products to keep him at bay.

What's that I see hiding in the corner? A cough bug (Bordetella pertussis) laying in ambush? Well I'm too clever for your silly games!!

Oh my! Look who's hiding in the cardboard pile, it's Mr. Strep Throat (Streptococcus pyogenes). Sorry buck-o, had you once when I was a kid and luckily for me antibiotics had more punch than they do now against your like. Darwin may be on your side but I only need to keep you at bay for another 40-ish years!

They say the quickest way to a man's heart is through his stomach, but Stomach Ache (Shigella dysenteria) could care less about my feelings. Right now he's lurking by these empty milk jugs waiting for a moment of carelessness from me to take a trip down the esophogeal tunnel of love to wreak havoc in my digestive system.

People keep asking what the best way is to keep The Flu (Orthomyoxovirus) at bay my only answer is FOR GOD'S SAKE, DON'T LET HIM IN!!!!!!!!!

Coming soon: "Have an Unspeakably Horrible Christmas"

Toledo Neighborhood Ski Report

2007-12-17T12:05:00.000Z

Well, it looks like all those snow dances I did finally paid off. The only drawback to this windfall was that driving on the roads was a little too sketchy to get to someplace that had any ski trails worth a damn. Now, I'm usually a make-vinegar-out-of-grape-juice kind of guy but I gave a shot at making some lemonade out of this situation (d'ya like how I scrambled those cliches together?)

The grooming quality on Cheltenham left a lot to be desired. It's something of a throughfare and was well packed by the time I hit the trail. Almost impossible to get an edge in edge-wise.

Great double-poling though.

Monroe St. was "Da-Bomb". Light traffic. packed in snow from multiple cars taking multiple lanes. My technique is still a little rusty (years of rollerskiing without any snow time will do that to me) so I couldn't keep up with traffic but I'm sure I had more fun and a better workout thann those driving in their shiny metal boxes.

I-475, However........

I admit it: I'm a coward. I didn't feel like getting arrested, ok? it looked like prime trail, though. I'm sorry I'm such a loser.

Random Incriminating Pic of the Week

2007-12-10T23:23:00.001Z

Tony G. giving an anonymous wheelman a butt massage.

This Week In Child Abuse

2007-12-10T23:20:00.003Z

I leave it to your imagination for the rest....

Face Hugs

2007-12-10T23:00:00.001Z

Now Brianna, what will you do if you happen to find yourself in a derelict spacecraft on a planetoid and in the cargo hold you find all these pods strewn across the floor?

BZZZZZ! Wrong answer. How do you expect to survive an onslaught of xenomorphs with an attitude like that?

Silly Baby

Ski Boots (IOW: F*** Cyclocross!!!)

2007-11-24T18:31:00.000Z

Got these bad boys in the other day. Look at 'em, aren't they beautiful?

Went to an engagement celebration for Christy and one of the two johns It was a very nice, high tax bracket affair that (I was told) simply an excuse to have relatives over for longer than the Thanksgiving Holiday. Mr. and Mrs. (Mike) House were the only two there I knew there, so being the social butterfly that I am (*cough*) I stuck around with them for a lot of the time. Thankfully the Happy couple were glad to talk to me as well. John was really interested in what HT was doing these days and I told him he was on the lam somewhere in Kansas. All of us were disappointed, though that the esteemed Dr. Stephen J. McGregor (PhD) wasn't able to make an appearance. Something about celebrating T-day in London. Hey! They don't celebrate Thanksgiving in Canada on the 22nd!!!

But back to the boots. What can I say? When I kick off, I go forward. When I try to flex my ankles, I can't. So, to all you sick twists still doing C-X at this late date (with gears!!!) Kiss my fat, pimply, pale butt. I'm hittin' the road.

Baby - Its What's for Dinner

2007-10-22T09:54:00.001Z

An Ignoble End to the Road Season

2007-09-05T02:12:00.001Z

Brianna's already discovered the demon liquor

2007-08-19T13:57:00.001Z

The Cyborg

2007-08-19T13:54:00.001Z

Princess of Darkness

2007-08-06T10:25:00.001Z

This is my mom's cat, Sadie. Don't let the cuteness fool you: She's concentrated evil (5M). She used to be really lovey-dovey when she was a kitten but when she matured she developed a hair trigger that allows her to transition from a sweet, quiet kitty into a hissing and spitting buzzsaw at the drop of a hat...Any hat. I'd give her more hugs but I'd need to bring face protection and wear leather gloves.

Look at those eyes...Concentrated (5M) evil.

Brianna - Simpsonized!!!

2007-08-05T14:44:00.000Z

You Asked For It....

2007-07-30T11:02:00.000Z

When I took these photos she was so upset that she was actually phasing out of our universe and into a parallell one. I'll be sure to send this to MIT soon (or Cambridge, whoever'll pay me the most money for the evidence)

As an aside, you could say that I'm gatering evidence to embarass the little one when she gets older. All those cutesey photos from auntie Leanne wont amount to a hill of beans in front of my photographic onslaught.

And if that's not enough I'll tell the little one that her grandma always liked me better than her dad, anyway.

Close Encounters of the Absurd Kind

2007-07-24T00:43:00.000Z

Labeled for Life

2007-07-24T00:35:00.000Z

Steve Gilliard R.I.P.

2007-06-03T14:29:00.000Z

F**kitty F**kitty F**k

Oh, and F**k the F**king Yankees.

ToKV Update

2007-05-21T10:54:00.000Z

What can I say? It was a race...I happened to be in it. Otherwise I've got some great shots of the morally questionable pre-race practices of the Saturn/Shell squad. I'll post them later. For now, here's another kitty pic.
And here's a baby pic. We're starting her doping program early....

We're also getting her used to the idea of wearing glasses (as both parents are as blind as bats).
Brianna McLaughlin (AKA Four Eyes)

NAturally, she wasnt happy about the whole affair....

DANGER! Viewing this may cause melting!!!

2007-04-28T17:40:00.000Z

Michigan Seems Like a Dream to Me Now....

2007-04-06T23:09:00.000Z

Good Friday

2007-04-06T15:55:00.000Z

In honor of Barabbas winning "Judean Idol" all those years ago.

(copped from Rising Hegemon)

Mediocre - A Manifesto/Meditation/Ramble (Part I)

2007-03-29T01:46:00.000Z

Striving for excellence is bunk. What in Satan's name does it matter if I realize my full potential or not? What on earth does it mean for a carbon based life form to have "potential"? That a project was completed on time and under budget? That a race was won? That a cure was developed? That disaster was averted? That dreams were realized?

Do you know that M31, the Andromeda Galaxy is hurtling toward us at several hundred thousand kph and will collide with our Milky Way Galaxy within the next few billion years? ...And I'm supposed to get worked up about how well I'm going to do in the next race? Or that the guy next to me in the paceline isn't puling his weight. In a couple billion years the Sun will start fusing Helium nuclei to form carbon to generate energy, wiping out all life on the earth...And Somehow I should be concerned about the fact that I haven't won a race in years...Or cared that I haven't?

People are an odd thing; smelly, selfish, violent, hairless monkeys. Why are we so impressed with ourselves? So we can write, talk and make fire. Big deal. So people have split and fused atoms, and gone to the moon. This is important why? Oh yes, and we've constantly improved on techniques to blast our fellow hairless monkeys into chunky kibbles. What innovative, inventive, potential realizing monkeys we are.

New Arrival

2007-03-06T18:59:00.000Z

Say "Happy Birthday!" to my new ~~chick-magnet prop~~ niece, Brianna McLaughlin. She was born at UM Hospital in Ann Arbor at about 6pm on 3/5/07. The proud parents, Marty and Pauline, are doing well. The grandparents are absolutely beside themselves with joy. The kitties, Storm and Shadow, are somewhat nonplussed.

Personally, I was hoping for a lizard.

More Commuter Chronicles

2007-03-05T19:35:00.000Z

Well, about a week and a half ago it was a stunningly beautiful afternoon and warm (albeit w-i-i-ndy) so I went tooling around before heading home. And I thought to myself "Why don't I get on top of the High-Level* bridge and snap some photos.

(*Also called the Anthony Wayne bridge. It's a suspension bridge built in 1931-ish. It's locally called the "High-Level" bridge because it's the highest road-by far, sadly-in NW Ohio.)

So, Up I went. Here's what I took with my puny phone camera:
This is a view of East Toledo from the highest point of the sidewalk. The resolution is poor (what can I do? It's a phone camera fer cryin' out loud) but those shiny stacks in the center of the photo is the Sunoco refinery. I used to cross this bridge every morning, by bike, to get to work there. Easily recognizble at night because of the flare stack shooting flames. A little bit of "Blade Runner" right here in Toledo.
Here's a view looking North. What I wanted to capture in this photo was the "Glass City Skyway" in the distance. Right now there's a drawbridge that I-280 uses, this new cable-stay bridge will render it obsolete. Which is good. Have you ever been less than a mile from the office only to be stopped on the interstate because a drawbridge is up...And you have to pee? No fun let me tell you.
This is a pic of the Maumee still iced over. It was 40F when I took this pic, butit had been so cold so long that the ice wasn't going anywhere anytime soon. A couple of years ago there was a fire at that grain elevator. I saw it as I was riding from the refinery one afternoon. Too bad I didn't have a camera.

Oh, and two gratuitous kitty photos. My brother's cats are moggies but they have strong Maine Coon traits. In order to get them in touch with their heritage we like throwing them in snow drifts occasionally. Unfathomably, they hate it. I don't get it. Don't they know they're descended from a proud line of snow cats?

manamana

2007-03-04T12:42:00.000Z

Musical Interlude

2007-02-28T11:16:00.000Z

In Canada did Cooper Can / A stately hockey rink decree

2007-02-26T11:09:00.000Z

You can laugh all you want about the clothes and the hair, but this song just RAWKS!!!

Another One From Childhood

2007-02-10T22:38:00.000Z

Time to Go to Work

2007-02-09T11:32:00.000Z

Another Verse, Same as the First

2007-02-04T15:07:00.000Z

The problem with having parents with liberal arts degrees is that you're exposed to niggling liberal artsy-fartsy things like literature, music, or history. Consequently, whenever you hear something on the "news" you get this creepy feeling that people are meandering down a well trodden path.

Saturday Random Top-10

2007-02-03T14:54:00.000Z

Just Because

Perpetual Change - Yes
Jacob's Ladder - Rush
And You and I - Yes
The Chase - Queensryche
Jupiter: Bringer of Jolility - Holzt
Ghost of a Chance - Rush
An der schönen blauen Donau - Johann Strauss (younger)
Kanon - Pachelbel (as played by the Canadian Brass)
Joy to the World - Three Dog Night
Armageddon It - Def Leppard

And heres a cat pic:

And something that shaped me as a child:

5F

2007-02-03T14:39:00.000Z

5F
Five degrees
Fahrenheit
465 Rankine
260-ish....Kelvin
Pretty
Damn
Cold
For a ride
Wish me luck

It's like I'm Reading a Book, From the Inside

2007-02-02T18:57:00.000Z

Read this.

Now read this:

The essential act of war is destruction, not necessarily of human lives, but of the products of human labour. War is a way of shattering to pieces, or pouring into the stratosphere, or sinking in the depths of the sea, materials which might otherwise be used to make the masses too comfortable, and hence, in the long run, too intelligent. Even when weapons of war are not actually destroyed, their manufacture is still a convenient way of expending labour power without producing anything that can be consumed. A Floating Fortress, for example, has locked up in it the labour that would build several hundred cargo-ships. Ultimately it is scrapped as obsolete, never having brought any material benefit to anybody, and with further enormous labours another Floating Fortress is built. In principle the war effort is always so planned as to eat up any surplus that might exist after meeting the bare needs of the population.

Or this:

Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed.

What a waste.

A Message to All Team Members

2007-02-02T17:07:00.000Z

Most of us are at least 21
We're all grown-ups here
(or under close adult supervision)
Goddamnit, someone out there
needs to start acting like one

NOW!

Be Afraid.....

2007-02-01T23:11:00.000Z

I rarely let the things I worry about get in the way of being a normal, american, carbon-unit sleepwalking through life. But sometimes, when I read articles like this and this I get a queasy, nauseous feeling and I fear that I'll really be nostalgic for the these days when I could go about my daily sleepwalk as if it would always be that way.

I think I'll sleep with the lights on tonight.

Serendipity

2007-02-01T19:03:00.000Z

I saw the following two headlines on the Freep today:

"Ford Sales Drop 19% in January"

and

"Toyota Sees Sales Climb 9.5%"

I also got this in my email today:

A Modern Parable

A Japanese company (Toyota) and an American company (Ford) decided to have a canoe race on the Missouri River. Both teams practiced long and hard to reach their peak performance before the race.

On the big day, the Japanese won by a mile.

The Americans, very discouraged and depressed, decided to investigate the reason for the crushing defeat. A management team made up of senior management was formed to investigate and recommend appropriate action. Their conclusion was the Japanese had 8 people rowing and 1 person steering, while the American team had 8 people steering and 1 person rowing.

Feeling a deeper study was in order, American management hired a consulting company and paid them a large amount of money for a second opinion. They advised, of course, that too many people were steering the boat, while not enough people were rowing.

Not sure of how to utilize that information, but wanting to prevent another loss to the Japanese, the rowing team's management structure was totally reorganized to 4 steering supervisors, 3 area steering superintendents and 1 assistant superintendent steering manager.

They also implemented a new performance system that would give the 1 person rowing the boat greater incentive to work harder. It was called the "Rowing Team Quality First Program", with meetings, dinners and free pens for the rower. There was discussion of getting new paddles, canoes and other equipment, extra vacation days for practices and bonuses.

The next year the Japanese won by two miles.

Humiliated, the American management laid off the rower for poor performance, halted development of a new canoe, sold the paddles, and canceled all capital investments for new equipment. The money saved was distributed to the Senior Executives as bonuses and the next year's racing team was out-sourced to India.

The End.

I'm A Pissed Off WATB!

2007-01-29T19:58:00.000Z

~~Well I just checked my calendar today. Looks like the annual unofficial Wheelmen trip to NC falls on the same weekend as my PE license exam.~~

~~Great. On April 20th, When everybody else is soaking up the view on Friday, I'll be in Cleveland taking an 8-hour exam and driving home with a giant Excederin headache.~~

~~Waaaaaaaaaaa!!!~~

Nevermind

I'm Dreaming of a White...February???

2007-01-28T13:09:00.000Z

8:10 am
I'm at the downtown office right now. Yesterday, I did a rollerski/weight workout that totally knocked me down; I, like, fell asleep at 7pm and woke up this morning feeling like I got hit by a bus.

So, where was I? Oh yes, I'm at the office right now...On a Sunday morning. All I can see as I look out the window is a steady snow shower, and I wonder where this kind of weather was back in December. I also looked at the long-term (i.e. 7-day) forecast; which called for cold temps for the rest of the week.

You know what? It feels...Normal. Like the way things should be at this time of year. I don't have to worry about the miles I should be getting on the road, or how stupidly fast the group rides are this time of the year. Instead, I'm just wondering whether I should ride inside for a couple or take the cross-bike out for some snow miles...Or both. Decisions, decisions.

BTW, I downloaded Queensryche: Operation Mindcrime II yesterday. Not bad.

I Am....

2007-01-23T02:58:00.000Z

Had the big team get-together to kick off the new season; it was a who's who of NW Ohio Masochists Anonymous fer sure. Spent the time fondling the shop cats and walking around, drinking coffee and looking stupid. I got a nice list of things I can spend my ill-gotten gains on but the cash isn't trying to burn a hole in my pocket like it was last week so I'll just have to think on it for a bit.

After the meeting, the kewl kids went for drinks a Ciao's. I suppose I could've gone (heck, I think I owe Adam a few beers now) but you know what? I had an incredible urge to go work out...So I did. Yes, I AM LAME!!!111!!!one!!!

Had a nice soundtrack to go with it, though, to cancel out the rubbish that was playing at the gym. Here's my lifting playlist for today:

This Is Your Life - The Dust Brothers featuring Tyler Durden
Start Wearing Purple - Gogol Bordello
Not a Crime - Gogol Bordello
Never Been Any Reason - Head East
Joy to the World (Single Version) - Three Dog Night
I Would Never Wanna Be Young Again - Gogol Bordello
Feelin' Stronger Every Day - Chicago
Feel Good Inc. (Album Crossfade) - Gorillaz
Eyes Without a Face - Billy Idol
Wouldn't it be Good? - Nik Kershaw
Voices Carry (Single Mix) - 'Til Tuesday
Walk in the Shadows - Queensryche
The Obvious Child - Paul Simon
The Killing Moon - Echo And The Bunnymen

Pretty lame, huh?

Don't You Ever Get That Feeling....

2007-01-16T12:52:00.000Z

....That someone's out to get you???

Just wondering.

Wash Away...

2007-01-13T01:15:00.000Z

I rode just about everywhere today.
I did the usual ride to work and back, and then rode to the gym to lift weights.
It was pouring outside when I left.
Didn't matter. Didn't care.
I felt....Free
Liberated.

It also washed a lot of crap off my frame, too.....

Let Me Level With You Guys

2007-01-11T02:08:00.000Z

I'm watching the presidential address while sitting in the laundromat.

I have an almost overwhelming urge to throw a brick at the TV.

I wish there were some bricks around.....

The Most Perfect Thing on the Internet

2007-01-11T01:55:00.000Z

Character is What You Are in the Dark

2007-01-09T13:04:00.000Z

Well, one nice thing about not having classes this term is that I'm able to ride to work every day. You don't realize how much a simple drive stresses you out before work until you take your foot off the gas pedal every now and again. Of course, it's kinda dark out there these days but I know not to be timid out there; timidity(sp?) is a sign of weakness and any driver worth its salt can smell fear through the cigarette smoke, B.O., and cheap air freshener wafting in the car.

Anyway.

Couple of nice pre-dawn images I wanted to capture:

This is in the "Auburndale" neighborhood on Monroe st. "Labor Works". "Work Today! Pay Today!" Who knows, it could be me one of these days...Interestingly it's only a half-mile or so from the Ohio Unemployment office.

That blurry building in the center in the National City bank building...Interesting gargoyles, if you're interested in that kind of thing. This is taken from the corner of (I think) 17th and Jefferson. The building on the right is a daycare center. Some little rugrats were staring at the goofy-looking spaceman taking pictures with his cellphone.

2007-01-08T13:15:00.000Z

Beer, Beer, Beer

2007-01-08T11:34:00.000Z

A long time ago, way back in history,
when all there was to drink was nothin but cups of tea.
Along came a man by the name of Charlie Mops,
and he invented a wonderful drink and he made it out of hops.

He must have been an admiral a sultan or a king,
and to his praises we shall always sing.
Look what he has done for us he's filled us up with cheer!
Lord bless Charlie Mops, the man who invented beer beer beer
tiddly beer beer beer.

Update: FINALLY!!! REAL BUDWEISER!!!!!

Gray Saturday

2007-01-06T13:11:00.000Z

Mornings like this need some unbearable cuteness to brighten things up

Feel better?

Friday Random Top-10

2007-01-05T17:02:00.000Z

Too Late for Love - Def Leppard
I Hear You Now - Jon and Vangelis
Changes - Yes
Analog Kid - Rush
Tainted Love - Soft Cell
Particle Man - They Might Be Giants
Fool in the Rain - Led Zeppelin
Brandenburg Concerto #2, 1st movement - English Chamber Orchestra
Tom Sawyer - Rush
Jailbreak - Thin Lizzy

A Couple History Lessons

2007-01-02T21:36:00.000Z

I'll let you in on a big secret: I like to surf the web at work. I wish I could do the youtube thing or IM'ing, but the tech gurus here are good. Instead, I really hit the blogs hard. Now, don't be surprised, but I don't really hit the cycling blogs all that hard; I tend more towards the political. If it comes with a history lesson I tend to get slightly too engorssed.

How I've been goldbricking lately:

Dave Niewert's ongoing essay on eliminationism in the USA
Mr. Niewert's a freelance journalist who specializes on white supremacy groups on the west coast. Totally engrossing. Also, check out his essay on the rise of pseudofascism.

Professor Juan Cole of the University of Michigan.

Steve Gilliard for some history and politics with attitude. Sometimes the photography's pretty good too.

Off to ride home now.

Soundtrack In My Head

2007-01-02T13:06:00.000Z

During my commute this morning I had the Aria and Variation #1 of Bach's Goldberg Variations stuck in my head. And I wondered if this is something I should worry about.

My Life as a Pink Floyd Song

2006-12-31T13:33:00.000Z

I'll be honest with you guys here this year has been a bummer and one I wish I could forget. I met the love of my life...And she's gone. I'm going back for the Master's degree...But it's cost me alot emotionally so far and now I'm stymied by work. It feels like everyone I know is growing and changing and I'm a ant trapped in amber. Going nowhere...Yet getting older.

Do you know I'm going to be an uncle (the cats don't count) soon? Well, now you do. I should be excited, but it only depresses me. It seems like everyone I know has gotten married, engaged, had a kid, moved on to a more lucrative job in better climate. And Here I am. Same job. Same crummy apartment. Same people wondering how it could be that I havent gotten married yet, and all I can do is shrug. I don't know why either.

If I could do it all over again....I remember Rachel's Halloween party back in 2005. It was a Friday and I was exhausted. I'd done a full week at work and was buried with O-chem work; I got home and decided to close my eyes for a little bit...I woke up....Much Later. Rachel was a little pissed that I was a No-show. I was embarrassed...Not only for dissing Rachel, but I missed out on my chance to meet Marina. Just my luck again. And so began my 2005 holiday season...A lot like this previous one.

Marina and I finally got together for a while. It was....Blissful. One of the most wonderful intelligent, sexy, beautiful-on-the-inside-and-out people I've ever known. It didn't last of course. I knew we had limited time in Toledo, but I thought I had until August to convince her that we had a future together. Didn't happen that way. Remember the Long Jusdon road race that was canceled back in May? We all gathered at the Bistro Wasabi for beer and Sushi. After some urging by other's in the party I got Marina to meet us there. Life was good.

After we parted ways Marina and I went to the Starbucks...And she broke up with me. "I'm wasting your time", "you need to find someone here", "you have so many friends here". I was speechless. I wanted to tell her that it wasn't the case and that my friends would always be there

On that night I was the loneliest person in the world. I drove up to be with my brother in Ann Arbor. It was a suicide watch more-or-less.

Well, back around labor day. I met Marina at a nice, neutral location and I was finally able to spill my guts; that she was the one I wanted to be with. It finally dawned on her where I was coming from and her face turned several shades of pale. We both agreed that our relationship was cursed by bad timing since we first met at the MVW Club Crit.

And, being cursed by bad timing, it was already too late.

His name's Seth, by the way.

But you know what stung the most? Marina was stunned, shocked, incredulous that, after an entire summer, I still hadn't found anyone. This is called "Being a single man in Toledo", Marina. This is what happens, what has happened many times before.

Anyway, enough of the "reverie". But do you see what I'm getting at? I was miserable at the beginning of this year, but after a bit things started to go well...And as time went on it looked like things would really be different: Good grades, good job, love. And here I am, again, scrambling for any reason whatsoever, for why I should even bother getting out of bed. It's a broken record of a bad song.

I'm paranoid.
I'm a little afraid.
It can't be like this, again, can it?

"The sun is the same in a relative way, but you're older
Shorter of breath, and one day closer to death"

Why I Don't Commute in Weather Like This

2006-12-26T13:41:00.000Z

Enjoy

CTHULHU FTAGN!!!!!!

2006-12-23T00:41:00.000Z

Ia! Ia! Chtulhu Ftagn!!! Ia! Ia! Aiiieeeeee!!!!

2006-12-22T14:10:00.000Z

Commuter Chronicle - Morning Destination

2006-12-21T17:04:00.000Z

So, after a few jogs past the art museum I'm at my final morning destination..The downtown office. Here's what I see every morning:

Ahh, the perks of being "authorized personnel, I guess. So, I take the freight elevator down to the basement where there are some modest cleaning facilities, the red door on the right. No shower facilities, but what the heck, it's winter; not like I'm going to sweat alot when it's around freezing.

After a stroll down the long hallway my executive parking space awaits my green steed.

Best parking spot in the company. Suck it, corporate mo-fo's.

Thursday Not-So-Random Top-10

2006-12-21T14:54:00.000Z

I'm overcome with the spirit of the season right now, so I guess I'd better let you know what I'm listening to:

Nutshell - Alice in Chains
Whale & the Wasp - Alice in Chains
Don't Follow - Alice in Chains
Shame in You - Alice in Chains
Over Now - Alice in Chains
Angry Chair - Alice in Chains
Junkhead - Alice in Chains
Down In A Hole - Alice in Chains
What the Hell HAve I - Alice in Chains
Rain When I Die - Alice in Chains

Merry F*#%ing Christmas

Pause, and Reflect

2006-12-19T18:55:00.000Z

Commuter Chronicle - Monroe st.

2006-12-18T13:07:00.000Z

Well, it's December and 41 degrees outside. Since I'm done with classes I can get back to a good morning ritual that makes work go so much better: Riding to work.

I started out at 7am today because I really wanted to stay in bed. Unfortunately, things need to get done or deadlines get missed. Out the door I go then.

Here's the first thing I see as I roll out of the driveway: Jo-Jo's, a convenient watering hole. Pretty sure my commute would be more interesting if they were open 24/7...

Then, of course, there's the lovely waitresses at the City Diner

After that, my commute devolves into crazyness as I go by the hospital. Lots of healthcare workers driving dangerously...And getting their last smoke of the morning in.
Anyway, after that I descend into the Ottawa River "valley" just east of Upton (More on that at another time) where there are actual hills I have to get my fat ass over. Until I come to a beacon of light. No it's not anything spritual, it's....

Monroe & Detroit!!!!

I'll finish this post with a shot of something that isn't blighted or a little run-down; a little culture to my post:

And I've still got another 2 miles to go!!!! All downhill, though.

More to come...

Soy un Perdedor

2006-12-17T16:56:00.000Z

Well, I was supposed to go for an epic b-ride this morning; epic because it's December 16 and it's 50 degrees outside. But I wake up at 6 in the morning and can barely get out of bed. Back to sleep I go....

What followed was a miserable sequence of dreams involving romantic rejection, sexual frustration, ex-SO's, unrequited love, and competitive swimming. I woke up at 10 am drenched in sweat, a little nauseous, and more than a little sad. *sigh*. To make matters worse, the tenants in the apartment above are a couple of colege age lovebirds....With a squeeky bedframe.

Which means that my traumatic nightmares didn't wake me up, it was another 5-minute (from the time she starts going down on him to his climax) wham-bam-thankyouma'am that this couple thinks passes for making love. Now, I'm not an expert by any stretch of the imagination, but for crying out loud I wish somone would use his imagination and try to get her off for once.

Where was I? Oh yes, I think what I need right now is a little zen. I'll get the laundry done then rollerski for a bit. What the hell, it'll get me out of this cesspit that passes for an apartment.

Oh yeah, and I still need to do all my christmas shopping.

Kitty Porn/Friday Top-10

2006-12-15T17:33:00.000Z

Little Storm caught in a compromising position:

RANDOM TOP 10:

The Killing Moon - Echo and the Bunnymen
Neurotica - Rush
San Tropez - Pink Floyd
Not a Crime - Gogol Bordello
Southern Cross - Crosby, Stills, & Nash
Used to Love Her - Guns 'n Roses
25 or 6 to 4 - Chicago
Candle in the Wind (Marilyn Monroe NOT Princess DI)- Elton John
Voices Carry - 'Til Tuesday
The Manhattan Project - Rush

Kids These Days

2006-12-15T02:24:00.000Z

*sigh*
I'm sitting at Maxwells nursing a Guinness and I can't help but hear the crap that's passing for live music these days. Some acoustic group just finished with "Wonderwall" by Oasis and the audience of post-highschoolers are singing along. It was crap then, it most certainly is crap now.

Get this: They're covering Toto's "Africa". uuugh. Then onto Hootie & the Blowfish.

God's Hooks!! Not only are they playing badly, but they're playing all the bad music from the past 20 years.

I weep for the future of America. We are truly doomed.

I Surrender!

2006-12-14T02:57:00.001Z

SOMEBODY STOP ME!!!!!!

2006-12-14T02:36:00.000Z

A Slight Antidote to Christmas Music.

2006-12-14T02:16:00.001Z

Youtube Completes Me!

2006-12-14T02:07:00.001Z

Friday Random Top 10

2006-12-08T13:32:00.000Z

Have at it, music snobs. Again, I hope you choke.

Siberian Khatru - Yes
Long Distance Runaround - Yes
Big Money - Rush
A Farewell to Kings - Rush
Dirty Laundry - Don Henley
A Venture - Yes
Commissioner Castration - The Dust Brothers
Perpetual Change - Yes
Air for "G" String (from Orchestral Suite in Dmaj BWV 1068)- Royal Philharmonic
Jaded - Green Day

Thhhhhbbbt!!!!!

Note to Self.....

2006-12-03T23:56:00.000Z

Two Rules To Live By:

Cyclocross bikes are for cyclocross.
Mountain bikes are for mountain bike trails.

I have to say, today my respect for those psychos that did the Mohican 100 a couple months ago was greatly augmented. I'm battered, bruised, and lucky I didn't break a bone (though I came close a few times) Maybe I should finally break (sic) down and get a decent mountain bike.

I wonder if Dan still has space in his basement.........

STUFF + CATS = AWESOME!!!!

2006-12-02T20:15:00.000Z

~~Glenn~~Dennis is in a cleaning mood today.

Apologies to Stuff on my cat . com

Rachel's Blogging Kung Fu/Top 10

2006-12-01T13:48:00.000Z

Rachel's putting me to shame with her blogging, which really shouldn't be much of a surprise since I race 'cross poorly and I'm the epitome of lame. *sigh*

Anyway, with school finishing up and the weather beginning to stabilize I think I'll be able to ride to work a little more often, maybe get a sort of "commuter chronicle going.

Or something.

TOP 10 12/1/06

San Tropez - Pink Floyd
The Thing that Should Not Be - Metallica
Red Right Hand - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Action Not Words - Def Leppard
Requiem For Soprano - Gyorgi Ligeti
The Boys of Summer - Don Henley
Operation: Mindcrime - Queensryche
Zombie Eaters - Faith No More
Marla - Dust Brothers
Say Hello 2 Heaven - Temple of the Dog

A Moment of Zen

2006-11-29T03:07:00.000Z

Friday Random Top-10

2006-11-17T18:42:00.000Z

Head Creeps - Alice In Chains
Walk Away - James Gang
Hate to Feel - Alice In Chains
Rocket - Def Leppard
Halls of the Damned - DOOM
A Passage to Bangkok - Rush
Sister Christian - Night Ranger
The Last in Line - Dio
Piano Sonata #14 in C#-Minor "Moonlight" - Ludwig van Beethoven
Goldberg Variation #25 - JS Bach

Sunday Evening Gratuitous Kitten Blogging

2006-11-12T22:44:00.000Z

Me after the Munson Park 'B' Race:

Well, apart from seeping in yarn....and being so sweet...and furry...and huggable.
Definite ass-whupping was had. I need those every now and then.

Oh, Page. FYI

2006-11-12T13:28:00.000Z

This is Ian McKellen as Richard III.

Thanks for Dinner, Mark and Page!

2006-11-12T13:14:00.000Z

Nostalgia

2006-11-12T13:03:00.000Z

I was getting a little nostalgic for the days of my youth, when I squandered so many, many hours on a friend's 386 for countless hours of virtual violence. I was never able to concentrate as well as when I was staring at a screen in a dark room.

Hmmmm. Between that, studying, and working out, it's not really a surprise I couldn't get laid, eh?

But the point of this story? Well I found a website that has pretty faithful reproductions of the soundtrack. And a few are on my iPod now.

Ahhh, happy times....Except for the not getting laid part.

Why No Cat Pictures????

2006-11-10T12:27:00.000Z

Well, let's set the record straight here: My apartment has no pets....I am not allowed to keep pets :( . I would not bring a pet into my household unless I had a few flights of stairs.

Why no pictures of late? I'm not allowed to post pictures from my work computer. Trust me, I've tried!!! The Sysadmins here are good. I mean, they're so good I can't even get on the MVW website from work because it's a "sports" website.

*sigh*

Apres les Banquet

2006-11-10T12:24:00.000Z

Went to the MVW Banquet, drank some wine, ate some cheese, went over to an establishment across the street for a beer. Watched people get awards and make pirate sounds. Saw a scary picture of a guy who shouldn't be wearing daisy dukes, but does.

Perfectly normal evening, beats staring at the ceiling.

Friday Random Top 10

2006-11-10T12:20:00.000Z

Choke on it, music snobs.

1. Echoes - Pink Floyd
2. Burning Bridges - Mike Curb Congregation
3. Brandenburg Concerto #1, 3rd Movement - Bach (as played by the English Chamber Orchestra)
4. When the Levee Breaks - Led Zeppelin
5. Animal - Def Leppard
6. If you Never Say Goodbye - P.M. Dawn
7. Pigs on the Wing II - Pink Floyd
8. Brush Away - Alice in Chains
9. Countdown - Rush
10. Never Been Any Reason - Head East

Sunday Evening Gratuitous Cat Blogging

2006-11-05T22:58:00.000Z

Isn't this just too cute?

(One of) My Ride(s)

2006-11-04T09:57:00.000Z

Just in case anyone was curious. Didn't think so.....

sigh (part deux)

2006-11-04T02:34:00.000Z

Friday Random top 10

2006-11-03T15:59:00.000Z

Have at it, music snobs. I hope you choke

Sally - Gogol Bordello
The Last in Line - Dio
Space Monkeys - The Dust Brothers
2112 - Rush
Sound Chaser - Yes
She Sells Sanctuary - The Cult
Excitable - Def Leppard
To Be Over - Yes
Mama Told Me (Not to Come) - Three Dog Night
A View to A Kill - Duran Duran

Doppelganger

2006-11-03T15:36:00.000Z

Spent a very nice late afternoon over coffee with a very nice gal.
Naturally, she doesn't want to see me ever again.

But in other news, I decided to crash Jebby's class at EMU. Why? Well it so happens that my good twin wants to be an excercise physiologist (so much for that UM BSAero degree...) and who should be teaching one of his classes this year than the funky canadian himself.

The look in some students eyes when I asked for directions to the class was great; they looked at me as if I'd gone insane.

The double take Jebby did 5 minutes into his lecture was worth the soul crushing rejection I got earlier in the evening...Sort of.

sigh

2006-10-31T22:09:00.000Z

Having one of those days that started bad and got worse. Now I need to prepare for tomorrow even though I know it's going to be more of the same.....if not worse.

*sigh*

I'm going to hide in my safe box for a while.

Oooooo, What's this????

2006-10-30T12:19:00.000Z

Here be the ravings of a lunatic; trapped for countless unhallowed minutes in NW Ohio.

coming soon.....

2006-10-30T03:33:00.000Z

Go Away!