Support my habits

About a year ago I read Lance Armstrong's first book, It's Not About the Bike, and it's the reason I ride a road bike today.  I'm not known as an overly emotional person, but I was touched and inspired but this story of man who overcame the extreme adversity of testicular, brain, and lung cancer to become one of the greatest cyclists ever.  I have the utmost respect for him has a person in the way he handled himself during and after treatment.  It inspired me then, and it continues to inspire me today.

I first learned about the Ride for the Roses, a charity ride that Lance Armstrong holds every year to benefit his foundation, from his book, and I thought it'd be cool to ride in it someday.  It turns out that someday is going to be October 23, 2005.  My aunt put up the initial amount required to enter the ride, but I'd still love to collect more money for a worthy cause.  If you find a few pennies in your couch cushions, you can donate them by clicking on this link: Donate.  It's tax deductible so you'll receive a receipt in the mail for tax purposes.  You can also mail a donation to the following address:

Peloton Project
Lock Box 1597
San Antonio, TX 78296-1597

Just put my name and member number (200251087) on the check so they know who's account to credit.

You may be saying to yourself:  "Gee, that ride is so far away.  What if I forget to donate?"  Fear not.  I'll remind you again later. :)  If you can't donate but would like to go play in Austin, come down that weekend to cheer me on and watch me whoop Lance in a field sprint to the finish line.

How to have a good winter

I recommend the following items to have a fantastic winter:

1) Heated seats
2) All Wheel Drive
3) Snow tires

Feel free to make additions to my list.

After I got back from the airport last night I went out and played in the snow.  The traction in my R32 never ceases to amaze me (except when I'm sliding on gravel into a railing).  With the traction control on, I pulled into a snow covered culdesac at about 20 MPH and sharply turned the wheel.  Normally I'd expected the laws of physics to keep my car going relatively straight, but the traction control kicks in and starts to brake individual wheels and cut my throttle so that the car practically pivots about one wheel and makes the turn.  In some less drastic tests, the car really stuck to road with little or no slippage, and when it did slip, it was super controlled.  I may just have to enter a snow autocross to play because it's about the safest way I'll be able to test my car at higher speeds.  Finding out that my car oversteers a little more than I expected when I lift the throttle is not something I'd like to find out on the highway.

On a related note, I got a letter from my insurance company telling me they're raising my premium because of some $6000 repair bill.  Hrmph!  I should add up all the money that I've spent on insurance and tell them they still owe me a few thousand dollars.

Surprise!

Christine and I flew out to Ohio last Wednesday to pay my family a surprise holiday visit.  Our flight arrived kind of late, so instead of going right home and waking people up we stayed at a hotel.  The next morning (after fabulously sleeping way in), we trotted over to my aunt's house.  Pretty much every year since up to the time I moved to Colorado I was at my aunt's house on Thanksgiving morning to help stuff/play with the turkey, so I figured it was an appropriate place to start my surprise.
We parked down the street (so as not to be prematurely spotted) and quietly walked into the kitchen where my uncle was busy cooking.  He was easy to sneak up on because he's hard of hearing, so I tapped him on the shoulder (after making sure he was in no position to drop the stuffing all over the floor) and put my finger too my lips (shhhh) so he wouldn't alert my aunt to my presence.  A few seconds later she walked in the room, screamed and gave me a big hug.

After chatting and having a little breakfast, we went over to my parents' house.  We creeped in the front door and it was strangely quiet.  I looked around every room downstairs, and not even the dog greeted me.  I poked my head in the garage to make sure the other car was still there, and it was.  So I started to walk upstairs and heard the TV on in my mom's room.  I stood there, camera ready, until she turned around to put paper in the printer.

I'd say I gave her a pretty good surprise.  My dad was out running with the dog, and when he returned he was confused by the extra car in the driveway with Michigan plates (my rental).

The rest of the day went pretty well, and Christine got the full effect of the family (and last time I checked she hasn't run away screaming yet).  My family got to meet the "mysterious" Christine, and probe her with all the pertinent questions.  I guess they didn't believe me when I told them she was a meth dealer.  They were also glad to see that she was more than a head and feet (because of the previous pictures they had seen). 

I'm just glad I can stop lieing to my family about my travel plans.  I had been planning on this trip for a few months now, and I had to come up with stories for where I was going to be, and when I'd be coming home.  Now I have time to lie to them about other things.  Any suggestions?

Oooh, me too.

Everyone else is doing it and since I'm such a follower I better go along with it:

States I've visited:

create your own visited states map

I'd build a world one too, but mine's pretty boring.

Say uncle

I'm an uncle again.  I got a message from my sister that she gave birth to my new neice, Laurel Delaney, yesterday morning.  Congrats to my sister and brother-in-law.

Tuesday at the Merc

I had a great time at the Merc last night for the first time in a while.  Much thanks goes to Shana's DJ'ing, even though I had to leave early due to this lame cold I'm trying to fight.  Since she didn't post it, this was her set list:

Baby Got Back - Sir Mixalot (A long distance request from John Dyer)
Zoot Suit Riot - CPD
Milkshake - Kelis (Another favorite from JD)
Rock Your Body - JustinTimberlake
Follow me - Uncle Kracker
Jump, Jive an' Wail - Brian Setzer
Go Daddy-O - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Then I had to leave

Not your usual type of setlist, but fun nontheless.

:P

Announcement

For those not in the know, I have a girlfriend, Christine. Here are some pictures:





My phone should be ringing any moment now.