I have a hard time dealing with others

I have a hard time dealing with others

Thursday, February 26, 2009

My new favorite quote

Just going to church makes you as much of a Christian as standing in a garage makes you a car.

Well isn't that a slap in the face. I wanted to be a car too. Nevertheless we should stop and think this thought sometimes, you need to do more than just be present. Not just at church, but anything you have a passion for. This weekend I am not showing up to Austin to be a racer "testing the waters," I am there to win. Those that show to play just cause havoc to those that are there to contend. I feel pretty good this week anyways. Honestly, I understand that you can't always be in the top ten, but admitting that before going can't be very productive. Let's rewind to my first Cat III race. Denton, Texas downtown crit. Provided just a few races earlier I was rolling Cat V with not much experience at tactics, I entered to see what I was in for. I wrongly went into the situation wanting a top 20. Thanks to that attitude I got 8th. If I just would have shot for a more positive outcome (win) I would have been more concerned with my positioning at the final lap than I was.


This Lenten season I am once again going to try to omit foul language from my vocabulary. It's like cigarettes, hard to quit. If I ever plan on having kids in the near future this is a must. My wife and are reading 1/2 chapters from the book of John each night. It's a reminder that miracles do happen. Just like it's a miracle anyone still has a job, or that the market has not completely crashed under this administration.


If this season doesn't pan out to my liking look for me on the BMX track. I will have a black hat with the bill flattened out on.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Error 404 reminds me of 808 STATE

I sit here wondering if we offered enough to seal the deal on a new home. If we lose out to someone else, then so be it. The search will continue. Today I will take a few photos and explain them, hopefully it will provide some insight as to who the guy wearing the BA kit is when not on the bike.


For starters I love my wife dearly. Count them. Yesterday was not even a holiday, just a day to remind her that I love her. The beauty of a gift of flowers is that each of us can enjoy them when in the room. The sweet aroma reminds us that spring is upon us, as well as bike racing season (yeah!)

Speaking of things of nature, I happen to be a collector of unusual plants. Here lurking beneath the leaves of a double bloom hibiscus, lies my little X492 hybrid. He was only 2 centimeters when I had him shipped to me from Florida. I have about 9 rare hybrids. I found a grower that has been crossing them for several years and is now releasing them to collectors. Speaking of cross, I am not interested in cyclo-cross.

I collect pens. Actually I collect things of high precision. Pens fall into that category, although they also fall into another category of things I like, fine resins, which include cuff links. Similar to the Swiss mechanized watch, a fountain pen is more than just a vessel containing ink, it is a machine that draws in the ink, stores it, and then allows it to flow out at such a rate that the captain is able to make there mark with total control and precision. Tuesday was a good day, Cross finally returned my Townsend after making a repair for me. How could I ever leave out my favorite time piece, the Festina Tour de France Chrono?





Golf, it's a hell of a sport. Collecting the small spheres is another pastime. This one in particular is from the Ryder Cup. I have a good story about this watch, it cost me about 20x the retail. It was an engagement gift to me from Kelly. She knew I had longed for the timepiece for years and when it came time for me to buy her a ring it was obvious I did not save enough to get myself the watch as well. Again I would like to add, she is well worth it and more.

Frankie Knuckles has two wonderful releases from the early 90s. Jamie Principle (1986?) is actually the one to thank, but nevertheless give these two a chance; The Whistle Song as well as Your Love I love early Chicago House.

I would like to post a couple of photos of home, so that you can view the essence of where I live as well as what I may be doing at any time, drinking a Malbec, enjoying the warm glow of the embers in the chimenea, or sitting here staring at my Song of Jamica plant.

On to cycling, my coach emailed me in regards to my power numbers. He said they were high. I was even asked to reply with my current weight. The best part is that I have lost 7-10 pounds since my last weight report. I guess the prescribed workouts are working. Now if I can only just get away from work to try these legs out.










Last but not least, Mystery Babylon. TKK.

These links are for the music, not the video content.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Being an American is not biting off more than you can chew but biting off more anyway because the govt. will chew it for you

Yes. Another rant on our economy. As I happily put in an offer tonight on a foreclosed home I like to reflect back on a different time. It was a hot Dallas summer in 2007. I was doing my L.A. internship for a design group in Grapevine TX. We were busy, very busy. Who wasn't busy? It was one of the biggest housing booms in history and any designer, developer, construction company, lumber co. etc.. was working overtime to meet this demand.
" What demand?" Asks the imbecile.
The demand of irresponsible people. A snow ball effect that is now half way down the mountain and probably 2/3 the size of the mountain it rolls on. We will call this mountain 'Payday Loans,' I like to use this name since the whole payday loan store front is just that, a front for loan sharking. The mortgage companies and banks loan sharked people for homes they could not afford. They gambled. Lost real bad too.
Lets visit margin buying. I can buy securities with cash borrowed from a broker, using my other securities as collateral. The net value, i.e. the difference between the value of the securities and the loan, is initially equal to the amount of one's own cash used. This is to protect the broker against a fall in the value of the securities to the point that they no longer cover the loan. This is my point. The banks loaned money with no insurance. Now the government is spending our tax dollars, no wait, our great grandkids tax money (which they will be slaves to the chineese) to bail them out.
Lesson for the decade: Don't worry about your actions, someone will cover them for you.

Nevertheless, I am responsible and with that plan to capitalize on those that weren't by purchasing a home far below market value. What goes on around me with helping the homeless will continue despite my complaints and concerns. The best solution is to move on and find a way to place yourself on the top.

Cycling: I love to ride my bicycle because it keeps my mind off of the world around me. Funny thing is that most people vote and create opinions without knowing anything at all.


Monday, February 16, 2009

Paradox of Thrift


Yesterday was the annual Chili Bike. Basically it's what you make of it. For instance some people mix beans with some meat and tomato and call it chili, others may use tomatillo, green chili pepper and pork calling it chili too and then there are those that think chili is only found in a can. Personally I like to use well trimmed sirloin, venison, and hot sausage. Like wise, when offered 37 miles of mountain biking I made 45.

While riding I did some thinking about our economy. No longer should we
shame the top executives for buying what they want. They are creating jobs by doing such. For example think of the private jet. These are not items sitting on a shelf waiting to be bought. They are to be produced to the consumers' liking. Production means jobs. Union jobs at the factory to build the plane, jobs in the private sector to design the interior, jobs to support the middle man that negotiates the deal, jobs at the landing strip cafe to serve the pilots that WORK to operate these machines. Look at all the jobs you can create, or sustain if you just let the people with money spend it.

I would like to place blame on others but who am I to
judge? Let's take a verse from the book of Matthew "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your eye?" It's true. Kelly and I are into saving as much as possible. We are part of the problem because with our saving we are not contributing to consumption. We are not being consumers and without consumers we can't have capitalism. We need to invest in things through purchasing. Buy more insulation for your attic. That way you can keep the guy at Lowe's employed and help your self by saving money down the road over less energy costs. Already insulated? Great, buy some plants to landscape your yard to keep that grower busy as well as the guy at Lowe's. In the end up your home value by as much as 15%. Even if you don't own a home you can buy yourself a bicycle, save on gas and employ people globally!

The answer is usually so simple it is often overlooked.

Big shout out to our teams' good friend Andy for capturing the moment through more than just a lens.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

The fuse is nearing the plastic

That plastic in question is C-4.

I just want to play with my fountain pens and spin the wheel on my bike while it rests upside down.
Another part of me wonders if I am an infidel and if so does that matter? Is my consumption of pork bad?
Wine? Nobody really has the answer. Just opinions. We are only subject to mans interpretation of what is right and even that is heavily biased to there own opinions. Politics make me want to open fire, three-round burst, but on who? Nobody is to blame. Speculators that drive the market in to downward spirals need to swing from the gallows, I think, but then again without low prices how else can some afford to get aboard? For everything I perceive as bad someone may greatly benefit and with what they feel is horrible, may create me a job. In the end, I am happy for each situation I encounter. Whether it be beneficial for me or detrimental, somewhere some how it is good, I just may not see it.

Another good thought, self gratitude. Being happy for what
you have and not the display of it. My volunteer services for others need not be gratified by the public.Not only favors for others, but even what I do for myself. I do not need or want the audience. I seek the sensation of completion when I do good unto another as well as serve myself. Self gratitude. If I want to destroy my inner self and its happiness I will advertise my efforts. I will post on social networks to let everyone know. Yes I am talking about you, the "Joe did 340 watts for 4 hours," guy. Nobody cares. It's February.

Lets all take a moment to reflect on there emotional state. If you are not in sorrow, rejoice and if in sorrow seek comfort in our Lord. We tend to take happiness
for granted, as well as time.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Race as in skin color

Portraying our president as the modern Abe Lincoln is really making next week's Presidents day looking pretty grim. After all, Lincoln was assassinated.

As I grew up ( I am a white male for those that don't know) I never gave a second thought to the possibility of a black person becoming president. I knew that black people held many positions high on the executive ladder. To me a black person was nothing more than a human with a different skin color. Not only to me but to most of the people I knew. Maybe in my parents day this may have been a concern but not my generation. So why are children today of, several generations later, being interviewed on the topic, "What do you think now that 'we' voted a black president?," and their response, "Now I know I can become anyone I want." When was racism reinstated after my generation? Did Al Gore scare these kids into thinking the blacks were to amount to nothing here in America? Was it just th
e media? ARGHHHHH shit like this is what pisses me off!! If anything it is a woman, of any race, that would surprise the hell out of me to see in a presidential position.

Speaking of the President, this stimulus is the same shit the Republicans end
orsed last year. It sucked too. Now the Dems want there turn to put out a shitty stimulus, the exact same one but with there name on it. Should I just move to China for the next 15 years and come back and indenture American citizens that owe me money? I would own a lot of people. I guess it's okay to not approve of Communism, but at the same time borrowing money from them is perfectly fine.
Hey drug dealer, quit making a living of not paying taxes and hurting people! You are the source of all evils! Oh yeah, can I borrow $100, my kid is good for it?

My thought is to make a deal with Hyundai, Kia, Toyota,and Honda to open plants here in the U.S. to continue making their fine automobiles. Let Ford, GM, and Chrysler fail. They have ripped us off long enough. Planned obsolescence works for companies as well as products.

Well aside from hoping for a ticket to heaven today, my wife a
nd I went house shopping again. I was a little tired from my earlier ride, but being the good husband I strive to be I put on my patient helmet and kept it on, full power. Speaking of bike ride, I may be the only person around that can ride with one hand on the bars, the other putting on chap stick going about 18 mph through an intersection, turning left and manage to hit some invisible ripple in the asphalt causing my left foot to fly off its pedal into my front wheel, bending spokes, while my body heaves over the handle bars and pull it off with out falling wrecking. Let me know if you or someone you know can do this.

Tomorrow I have a wheel to fix.


One last thing, if you hate your job be glad you have one to hate. Most importantly thank God for your riches. You may not have more money than the guy down the street with the fancy house and fast car, but you still have more than most of the people in the world.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

The grey cloud in the white sky


As Kelly and I go to look for homes today I have to admit that there will be a little grey cloud looming from above. Robert Gibbs is just one of the circus performers in the White House, but what better choice than to have an idiot speak for an idiot.
I miss Tony Snow (June 1, 1955 - July 12, 2008). President Bush lauded to what he felt was Snow's ability to bring "a certain civility to this very contentious job." As a fellow Catholic and conservative, I shared the same perspective on the country. After having lunch with my dad today I left feeling happy to know that I am growing into who he is. Back to the earlier point, as we ranted on the current administration I reflected in our conversation the doings of Mr. Snow, and with that missed him.

Work outs this week are coming along well. We start racing the last two weekends of this month in Austin. You should see a win or two with BAR, after all we are racing on the bikes that have more wins than any other this year in the pro ranks. If we don't win then its not our gear, it's just flat out our own fault.
God Bless our country.

Sunday, February 1, 2009

4 hours in the saddle on Superbowl Sunday

I dont have much to say today. I am too tired. Although alongside of having a great wife I also have great friends. We should all take a moment and reflect on our fortunes, not of the financial set but of who we know and interact with. Some people are alone.

Big shout out to Chad for the nice ride today, BO-BOs, Specialized, CBS Sports, our sponsors, my good friends the Bair Family-Happy Birthday Jack, those in congress that put a stop to the bull shit stimulus package the Prez failed to read and all whose names I failed to mention.

TOday = 4 hours endurance, actually almost 4.5 hours. At the clip we rolled maybe 80+ miles. Nice work for a Sunday morning. I am ready for more.

AMEN