When the alarm went off at 5am this morning, I squinted in the general direction of my window and saw raindrops. My first word this morning was: O'hellno. As in, there's no way I'm riding at 5:15am, in the dark, on wet roads and on wet leaves through the park. Despite wanting to just turn off the alarm and sleep another two hours, I managed to talk myself out of bed to investigate further. Upon opening the window, I realized the roads outside my house were mostly dry and the temps were warm. I cursed myself for being investigative and proceeded to pull my act together for another morning ride.
The road leading out of my neighborhood and down to the park is lit - sporadically but just enough. No real worries there except for the stray cat or a new pothole. It's a whole 'nother ball game once I get into the park. There are lights here and there for the first half mile, then nothing, then one or two random lights in the second mile. After that, it's pitch-dark. Under the canopy of trees, moonlight doesn't even shine through. (hence the need for the aforementioned magicshine, which can't come soon enough!).
Today was extra special because the leaves are making a mass exodus from their respective trees and papering the entire path. I couldn't make out where the path was vs the gravel on the side vs the darn forest. If I had a heart rate monitor on, I'm certain some of my highest spikes of the morning were during the time I was trying to ride through the park. If anyone could've seen my thought-bubbles, the dominant theme would be: this is just ridiculous.
Alls well that ends well, I guess - I made it to the ride with a minute or two to spare, everyone was pretty civilized as we traversed the dark and wet roads and I had the chance to play with the big boys a couple of times. At work now and trying to refrain from falling asleep on my keyboard and/or devouring anything in sight.
Speaking of ridiculous - this is a great article on CNN (re: our broken government) that I happened upon a couple days ago. I tweeted it (I don't tweet much so that's big for me!) but thought it was worth posting on here as well.
Happy Thursday - It's almost Friday!!
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Long Overdue
A bit of a whirlwind around here - haven't had time or inspiration to write a witty blog. Instead I'll just highlight a few things, post a few pics and hopefully get my blogging-groove back.
A long vacation (to
include Labor day weekend) was much needed, though I could have done without the 12-hour drive each way. While the east coast was getting hammered with rain, the boy and I were complaining about cool temps and wind. When we found out what we were missing back home, we pretty much stopped complaining. We napped, rode bikes, explored some of his old stomping grounds, ran and napped some more. Since we were staying with his parents, he was being a good boy and doing "squaw" work (his words, not mine) so I snapped a pic or two to memorialize the occasion. (I am so in trouble for posting this- you have no idea).
The house was full of puppies - both the ones that lived there and ones that brought along their human owners to visit. The wolfhounds were especially comical to me - at any random time and any random place, they'd lay down and 1) take up half the walking space and 2) look like they just keeled over, only missing a chalk line to truly live up to a bad, made-for-tv puppy drama.
I didn't get pics of two other puppies that visited with us but Liaka and Desayles provided cold noses and entertainment as well.
Other items of note - we survived the hurricane with no water in my basement- YAY! I did lose power for a day or so but from all accounts that was nothing compared to what some other people dealt with. The next week's rain, however, dashed my hopes that the basement water issues were resolved.
The morning ride has provided much motivation over the past weeks to get my arse out of bed - the 5am wakeup is not for the faint of heart. This group is hardcore - I roll up to the ride start and it looks like a Christmas tree with all the lights blinking. Of course we need it now - the sun doesn't come up until at least an hour into the ride (an hour and a half into my ride). I have a decent tail-light but my headlight is pretty weak. I'm slightly more advanced than "trail by braille" through Patapsco Park - slightly.
My strategy once the group ride starts is to try to keep one of the other riders with the flood-lights behind me to light my way. I FINALLY broke down this week and ordered my magicshine, with recommendation from the boy. I should be blinding on-coming traffic by early next week.
I absolutely NEVER thought I'd be buying a headlight to ride in the dark on purpose. Oh, how times change.
Speaking of change - stay tuned - there's more to come in the very near future.
A long vacation (to
include Labor day weekend) was much needed, though I could have done without the 12-hour drive each way. While the east coast was getting hammered with rain, the boy and I were complaining about cool temps and wind. When we found out what we were missing back home, we pretty much stopped complaining. We napped, rode bikes, explored some of his old stomping grounds, ran and napped some more. Since we were staying with his parents, he was being a good boy and doing "squaw" work (his words, not mine) so I snapped a pic or two to memorialize the occasion. (I am so in trouble for posting this- you have no idea).The house was full of puppies - both the ones that lived there and ones that brought along their human owners to visit. The wolfhounds were especially comical to me - at any random time and any random place, they'd lay down and 1) take up half the walking space and 2) look like they just keeled over, only missing a chalk line to truly live up to a bad, made-for-tv puppy drama.
Claire passed out in the living room
I didn't get pics of two other puppies that visited with us but Liaka and Desayles provided cold noses and entertainment as well.
Other items of note - we survived the hurricane with no water in my basement- YAY! I did lose power for a day or so but from all accounts that was nothing compared to what some other people dealt with. The next week's rain, however, dashed my hopes that the basement water issues were resolved.
The morning ride has provided much motivation over the past weeks to get my arse out of bed - the 5am wakeup is not for the faint of heart. This group is hardcore - I roll up to the ride start and it looks like a Christmas tree with all the lights blinking. Of course we need it now - the sun doesn't come up until at least an hour into the ride (an hour and a half into my ride). I have a decent tail-light but my headlight is pretty weak. I'm slightly more advanced than "trail by braille" through Patapsco Park - slightly.
My strategy once the group ride starts is to try to keep one of the other riders with the flood-lights behind me to light my way. I FINALLY broke down this week and ordered my magicshine, with recommendation from the boy. I should be blinding on-coming traffic by early next week.I absolutely NEVER thought I'd be buying a headlight to ride in the dark on purpose. Oh, how times change.
Speaking of change - stay tuned - there's more to come in the very near future.
Friday, August 26, 2011
TGIF- 8/26/11
I could really get over this whole "extremes" thing we have going on in MD. Flash floods, horrific downpours, earthquakes (we don't have earthquakes in MD!!!) and now a hurricane is scheduled to make an appearance this weekend. I don't know what we did to piss off Mother Nature, but WE'RE SORRY!
This past weekend I had the pleasure of participating as part of the Routing & Signs crew at the LiveStrong event in PA. Honestly, I did this as a favor to a friend who needed live bodies to round out a last minute squad to post signage along the route. More honesty: I worked this event despite the fact that it's associated with LA.
Anyway, we experienced the extremes on this trip as well, from the reaction of the locals to weather. Friday our fearless leader made friends with someone who objected to him temporarily parking on the side of the road in front of their house to post signs. Really? Locals in one section demanded that no signs be wire-tied to existing street signs - because unstable signs on stands is so much better? Before the ride got started, some locals took down various crucial directional signs - thankfully we figured it out before the riders came though.
On the flip-side, many locals - including the fantastic Landis Store folks - were super supportive to riders and our crew (the restaurant is worth the side-trip if you're in the area).
Then there was the monsoon - we were in a pickup truck so rain sounded like it's pelting the roof. I stated to my partner that it almost sounded like hail. Oh, there was no "almost" to it - it was genuine, nickel-to-quarter-sized hail. Seriously?!?!?
After a long day of taking down signs on Sunday, we arrive to the load-lot to sort and store for the next event. The minute I pulled in, it started raining. Not - oh-what-a-relief-rain - no, it was - are you kidding me?- rain. Apropos way to end a long and arduous weekend.
As for this weekend, I'm hoping the weathermen are off the mark on the hurricane. I wouldn't mind a couple of nice, long road-rides outside and really don't want to worry about water in my basement. If someone has some pull with Mother Nature, I'd like to call in a favor...
This past weekend I had the pleasure of participating as part of the Routing & Signs crew at the LiveStrong event in PA. Honestly, I did this as a favor to a friend who needed live bodies to round out a last minute squad to post signage along the route. More honesty: I worked this event despite the fact that it's associated with LA.
Anyway, we experienced the extremes on this trip as well, from the reaction of the locals to weather. Friday our fearless leader made friends with someone who objected to him temporarily parking on the side of the road in front of their house to post signs. Really? Locals in one section demanded that no signs be wire-tied to existing street signs - because unstable signs on stands is so much better? Before the ride got started, some locals took down various crucial directional signs - thankfully we figured it out before the riders came though.
On the flip-side, many locals - including the fantastic Landis Store folks - were super supportive to riders and our crew (the restaurant is worth the side-trip if you're in the area).
Then there was the monsoon - we were in a pickup truck so rain sounded like it's pelting the roof. I stated to my partner that it almost sounded like hail. Oh, there was no "almost" to it - it was genuine, nickel-to-quarter-sized hail. Seriously?!?!?
After a long day of taking down signs on Sunday, we arrive to the load-lot to sort and store for the next event. The minute I pulled in, it started raining. Not - oh-what-a-relief-rain - no, it was - are you kidding me?- rain. Apropos way to end a long and arduous weekend.
As for this weekend, I'm hoping the weathermen are off the mark on the hurricane. I wouldn't mind a couple of nice, long road-rides outside and really don't want to worry about water in my basement. If someone has some pull with Mother Nature, I'd like to call in a favor...
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