Away for the weekend

Michele and I just made it down to Portland, we're going to spend the weekend fucking around at the Edgefield. It's been seven or eight years since we've been here and I've been looking forward to our return here for a while. 10 bars, a spa, movie theatre, and a par 3 golf course should be more than enough to keep us occupied.

Long Distance Pumping

So, long distance pumping(LDP) has become my exercise of choice lately. What is LDP you ask? I think this short little video will give you a pretty good idea:



It's no secret that road riding in Seattle drives me up the wall. If I'm going to ride pavement I want it to be mindless and flat, Seattle riding isn't either. I ride the tank cruiser to class everyday but that's where I draw the line. Also, I hate spending a bunch of time in the car to mountain bike. When we lived in the 'nix it was easy to sneak away for an hour and a half to go tear up the preserves but to ride here an hour and a half barely covers the drive time, and not even that in the afternoon when traffic gets heavier. So, if I want to get out for just an hour of quick exercise, LDP it is. Greenlake is only a half mile down the road and it's a perfect surface for just pumping away. There's this great rhythm to it and the right music makes the time just fly by.

The downside of LDP is that without good traction it's a no go, and urethane does not grip wet pavement. Thankfully, we've had a couple of perfect days this week and I'm looking forward to more on the horizon.

2009 - Year in Review

It's been an interesting year, that's for sure. Here's the quick rundown:

I had a job, and got laid off
I went to AZ and set some tile
Drove to Portland and built some stuff
Michele took a staycation(my least favorite new word of the year)
I built a bike and sold it
Started school
Bought a new bike
Built a longboard
And another
Another 33 more after that
Michele's mom finally made the trip to Seattle
We all went to Forks, AKA abstinence porn vampire town
Watched the 520 bridge open from just a few feet away
Attended a big family reunion with the Swedes in attendance
Lost to a cheater in the TdF slow race
Road tripped to Maryhill with Shannon
Took a kick ass vacation in Bend with John, Eithne, and Atticus
Skated a half marathon
Returned to the 'nix and sailed with Cap'n Joe
Thoroughly enjoyed a rare visit from DT herself
Best Thanksgiving ever part 2
Michele finds fellowship
Christmas with AfroCox

I think that pretty much sums it up. Here's to a new, possibly less abridged year.

It's a Christmas Miracle!

All I've ever wanted was some goddamn Legos. Hurray!

Oh yeah, I got some other awesome loot too.

A Little Too Close To Home

I picked up a copy of the Stranger today and what do I find but an article about my life. Fuck, at least I haven't eaten a can of concentrated orange juice in ~17 years. Makes you think none the less.

Oh yeah, and Merry Christmas.

Well, It's Official

Michele has been offered and subsequently accepted the position of palliative medicine fellow at UW. This means we'll be staying in Seattle for one more year. One more year of mild climate, good food and friends.

Earl House Thanksgiving

Filled with awesomeness.

Everything was neatly labeled and the alcohol was flowing freely, everything was just as it should be.

Best Thanksgiving meal ever. No doubt.

Bookmark this, write it down, commit it to memory, whatever the fuck you have to do, do it. These meatballs are insanely good and shouldn't be confined to just the interwebs.