Hurricane Season begins June 1
One day prior to a re-run of last years' flurry of expensive storms, the early morning thunder showers stormed through the area. Apparently, the lack of El Nina activity in the Atlantic ocean is going to allow the storm building activity to be fairly active this year. We will make sure we collect protection early this year and attempt to plan better than last year.
Although, how do you plan to be out of the way for the arrival of Emily when you really don't know which way she will be going when she gets near here?
Tag:
storms
A Bang Up day on the Mountain Bike trails
That was the roughest 12 miles of trail riding I can remember since starting the sport. 5 crashes, 1 face plant, 2 endos (head over heals over the handle bar), a torn jersey, a few scratches and plenty of sore muscles. To say I was out of touch today is an understatement. I love the sport. (Notice I kept riding anyway?)
I don't know if it's been the lack of decent sleep lately or the increase in apneas since my weight has creeped up a bit since the cold. Whatever the reason, it was one heck of a day. We started out on "bridges" trail and watched another rider zip down a fast, steep hill and flip over (Endo) only to land on his face. From above and behind him, it was not easy to see what happened. When he checked inventory he discovered a dislocated middle finger. A group of 5 people helped him back up the hill and out to the parking lot. People get hurt at this place just about every week. I feel lucky that I decided ahead of time I'd take it easy today.
Hmmm...Perhaps THAT is why I had trouble? "The Mind is a Terrible thing" runs through my thoughts. Did I do poorly today because I told myself going into the day I was going to have trouble? Or did I recognize how out of sorts I've been and met expectations by the number of falls? Either way, it feels like it's all in control of the mind.
Someone hit this blog site the search phrase of "How does a Mountain Bike work?". I've thought of that answer a little more today and it turns out that it's not the mountain bike that does the work, it's the rider. A combination of equipment, confidence, experience. Knowledge and practice are all required to achieve a great day on the trails.
Some days it's amazing how smoothly and efficient things work and other days it's not so fun. Anyway...
A Bad day on the trails is better than a good day on the couch.
Tag:
mountain biking
Bloggging Hit sends site over 1000 mark, should I care?
I post about what interests me or what catches my eye. I try to post with some consistency as well, even though I hate to write. I don't always have the time but I almost always have the desire. It's an interesting pull, this tug I feel, to place my thoughts here. Thoughts that help express, over time, who I am or what approach to life I have. Lately, I've found good half-thoughts, if that makes sense. Tons of them. If I could put enough of them together perhaps they will some day make a complete thought and be worthy of the electronic ink.
To post for ratings or big hit counts seems like it might be fun from time to time. I don't normally go for that sort of thing though. However, I have seen some interesting things happen here after a post made in March. Sitting at home one night, I happened to catch a TV ad. The idea of the ad, basically a new twist to an old song, struck me as interesting and inspired. I posted my thoughts about it and things changed. I noticed traffic to the site hitting that post. I was surprised at how much I could learn from viewing the hit and visit information. People were just as interested as I was, but unlike me, they were looking for more, the video. I could tell by the search words "video" or "lyrics" included with the referrer information. I finally found the video and posted he link and well as the lyrics.
These changes brought a rather large increase of traffic to the site. People on their way to the video and other links included. So much so, that this site has topped the 1000 visits mark (my visits are ignored).
I find fun is reading what the hit traffic tells me. By watching the information Sitemeter tracks, it's possible to tell when the TV ad plays and, sometimes where. People all over, at different times, reacted the same way I did one night. They saw a TV ad and searched for it on the web...and found my comments which took them right where they wanted to go...
...to see the ad again.
Yes, Blogging is big and here to stay.
Tag:
blogging
Long Weekend ahead
What will we be doing at the end of this weekend? Saying goodbye to another month. Things move SO quickly now I blink and two days have gone by. Well, it SEEMS that way at least.
Is our cellular service meant to sell us cell phones?
I had to "exchange" my (manufacturer unnamed) cell phone today. The display turned blue, thus rendering the phone useless. I could place and receive phone calls with no trouble, however, I could no longer send or read text messages. (over 550 text messages just last month) SMS mail on my phone has become part of life. A server complaint sent to the phone during a particularly fun bike ride is common these days. Or perhaps a call out to "which phone book entry is that?" to setup after ride plans. No, I don't think to turn off the phone or leave it in the car while I'm out. You never know when "This is Your Life" will call.
The idea that struck me today implies that the whole cell phone/service system is setup to charge $50 to $110 per year for a cell phone. That's over and above the exciting 'Special rate with service activation' price paid at the beginning. When I explained the problem I was asked for my cell number and without even looking at the phone I hear: "I'm sorry, this phone is past the initial 90 day warranty and I see you do not have the phone insurance. You can use the manufacturer 1 year warranty or purchase a new phone out front...". "OK," I said, "What's involved with the warranty?". Gee, I always thought the phone would last at least a year, and besides? Isn't the cell phone part of the service I buy? I mean you can't have one (service) without the other (phone) can you? Apparently you can. OR you can contact the manufacturer and return the phone for repair. (expected turn around time: 10 to 14 days in addition to shipping time). Could YOU do without your cell phone for close to a month?
The insurance, at $4.99 per month, covers your phone with a $50 deductible. Hmmm, $60 a year insurance plus $50 to replace it when needed. Some 'deal'.
After expressing my concern, they did perform a "one time courtesy replacement for only $50", but that left me with an empty phone. Transfer of the phone book is another $10. (OK, I didn't have to pay that today but the sign on the wall, seen after I signed the credit card receipt, clearly shows that rate.) 230 phone numbers transferred from one phone to the other. Good, I don't have to do THAT again.... Wait? What about the 53 E-mail addresses, including mobile phone text message addresses? Where are the 15 'Locked' text messages? Will any of my 23 phone settings (like zoom to max so the display is just barely readable instead of microscopic text) be carried over? "Oh, the program only transfers phone numbers."
Yet I can't imagine going a day without the cell phone. Good thing I wrote down all of the E-mail addresses when my last cell phone failed (I could read the display then but not dial out). Now I just have to remember the 4 or 5 I didn't write down.
Moral? Make sure you keep a copy of your cell phone book somewhere outside of your phone for that "one time only" that you'll need it.
Now, where is that cell phone...I need to make a call...
Tag:
communication
Movie Reviews
I've seen some movies since last we spoke. Perhaps a small review of each may be interesting.
I saw "
Kicking and Screaming" so..... you don't have too.
"
Blade Runner", the
Directors Cut. Not enough information to explain things can make a movie harder to understand. I still like the move but this version feels less personal than the version with the voice-over. After all these years the movie still holds up well too. Even after seeing some of the "flying" cars in the Disney MGM Studios' bone yard.
"
Brazil" Still a must see movie if you can handle the bizarre. At least the music has stopped rattling around in my head now. Oops.
"
Donnie Darko", the
Directors Cut. There is a good amount of film added to this version as well as a rearangement of the music. With this version we have things explained a lot more than in the first version but too far in my mind. With so many things explained there is less room for personal interpretation and discussion. If you have never seen this movie there are two scenes well worth the effort. The High School introduction near the beginning of the film is very impressive and the "Mad World" segment near the end. (I love
this Mad World video)
"
Powaqqatsi". This movie carries the trilogy forward very nicely. Over the years since I saw this movie in the theatre, I 've thought about it many times but didn't place it until I viewed it again recently. Something you have to watch and listen to. "
Koyaanisqatsi" took me a week to sort out the meaning of the images I viewed. With Powaqqatsi I didn't need to think about it as much. It was all there in all the beauty of the Southern Hemisphere.
I'll soon be watching "
Naqoyqatsi" which is the third installment of the
Godfrey Reggio and
Philip Glass collaborations.
Tag:
movies
It feels Good to feel Normal again
I know I must be feeling better when I start to complain about things. Crazy drivers, people blocking the back of the car, Sister-in-Laws and all other sorts of things. I even have enough energy left over after complaining to write about my complaints. Imagine that.
Boom. Gone. There it is. The "block" is broken. I finally wrote something.
Why was it ever so hard to talk? It's not that I didn't have things to say, I had plenty to say. Plenty of little things, daily things. However, Things that don't move "the cause" forward. Whatever "the cause" is.
Get back on the saddle, K.
Tag:
BloggingTag:
navel gazing
Driver choice kicks up dust near work
Wow, While thinking about my ideas on how to avoid problems on the road I was shown that was not possible. While going around a right curve on a two lane road I noticed a car in the left lane appearing from nowhere. I guess he was going 25 to 30 miles an hour faster than I was. I was going 55. I stayed in my lane as steadily as I could while watching his vehicle flash past my rear view mirrors left to right, a few feet from my rear bumper. Next I heard a slight crunch as I caught a glimpse of the road sign slapping his roof. He was fine, shaken but fine.
I'm glad I did a double check before changing lanes!
Tag:
driving
Bad Driving Choices hit close to work
A broken nose. A broken back. A broken face. It happened at 6:30 in the morning on Friday. She doesn't remember being thrown from the car as it flipped over and over on the interstate. Witnesses saw the car land near her shoulder and face. They saw what happened in the early morning trip to work.
They finally found the driver that started the series of events. Driving his truck too fast, cutting lanes, driving while on a cell phone. He came up fast and cut right, in a space too small for safety. The car swerved to avoid contact and quickly lost control.
Doctors think it may be more than a year before she can go back to work. She doesn't even remember the last few moments before the crash. Health insurance isn't enough to even cover the first week of hospitalization. Surgeries may be needed.
The other driver may have a few moving violations to deal with only, since there was no evidence of contact.
I've not been by to visit yet. Her supervisor and a co-worker visited today. "Sore and in pain" is an understatement.
I wonder if there were any things that could have avoided this incident. I mean beyond the obvious like seatbelts or cell phone turned off or clear vision of all lanes or slowing down to match the traffic situation. We all pay when something like this happens, indirectly. And I can't help but think even a single "better" choice by just one individual in this event could have made a tremendous difference.
Events happen, just like this one, without fault or blame. He didn't hit her car. Her evasive maneuver was called for given this threat.
Responsibility though, is another story.
tag:
driving
Happy Mothers Day
I'll bet there are more than a few posts like this today. After all, in this area of the world, that's what happened today.
We did the family thing, went
out to eat, family style. Had a great time. We seem to always have a good time when we get together. It's just odd that we can't get together more often. I mean everyone still lives in the same area, we all know each others phone numbers and addresses... We have fun. So why not more often? Well, If you listen around the table for any length of time you might quickly find out that maybe it's
just me that's not "getting together" more often.
After lunch we all went to visit grandma, who is 93 now, at the nursing home. This is the first visit I've made here in two years. The last five times I've seen her have been either at places where she went to with mom or in the hospital when she had problems with her shoulder. It was a good visit today and everyone left with smiles.
Good reminders that family should always be kept close and keeping in touch includes frequent visits.
tag:
life
Where did the sun go, busy guy?
I think it's been raining here for three days now. Not very much, most light, off and on. Just enough to leave everything wet with no direct sunlight. I've been working 12 hour days this week so it only adds to how odd this week is.
The strangest thing is the amount of tasks I'm getting done, without thinking. Someone asks me to do something and I just do it, minimal effort, minimal thought. It feels weird to do something just enough to get it done and move on. Normally, I like to do things right so there is no repeat or fix-it-later work needed. I guess when you don't have much time to do everything right your mind switches to some "just get it done" mode.
Perhaps that's why they say "If you want to get something done, ask a busy person to do it."
The more things you do, the more you can do.
Tag:
Life
A Regular Kind of Guy
Just like you, I'm different from everyone else. Although it would be nice to at least get in the regular 6 hours of sleep per night (at best) I normally get. Lately, it's been more like 4 or 5 hours per day. I guess when things heat up at work due to the extra hours involved with starting a new contract it's tougher and maybe expected. Still, sleep is very important when clear judgement is needed. Enough rest is needed for plenty of things too.
'Regular' normally involves 'two wheel' miles per week, generally in the range of 30 to 60 mountain bike miles. I'm at 18.5 miles total for the week at this point. So that explains any extra nervousness this week. It might also explain the extra two pounds.
The first two weeks of the month also have regular meetings scheduled. There's the Trails Association meetings (2 of them), the computer club board meeting followed by the trail work days. All of these will be missed this week to cover the extra load of new people using our system.
So it looks like I'll be an Irregular Guy this week. I enjoy the challenge.
Do you Yahoo!? (Instant Messaging for the rest of us)
Imagine this scenario: You're at work and you pick up a blue phone to call the corporate office. When you're done, you pick up the red phone to call the customer back. Later in the day, on your break when you want to call your sister in New York, you use the yellow phone. Yes, the Green phone is for calling home. The more I read about Voice Over IP (VOIP) systems, the more I envision this scenario.
Skype and
Vonage seem to be examples of systems gaining ground.
Who would put up with this? Limited to calling only people with the same service? (for no extra charge)
Wait a minute.
I do that every day with instant messaging. I've gotten so used to talking to people from AOL/AIM; MSN and Yahoo! that I forget I'm using different services. I use
One program to access all of my IM contacts from each of the services. I tried to get people to switch to the "best messenger" with little or no luck. "No, I am used to [fill in favorite messenger here]" seemed to be the most popular reply.
I still have blue (MSN), yellow (AOL/AIM) and red (Yahoo!) contacts (I don't use ICQ, green, any more) but I've become so used to it I forget the details of what goes on in the background. The program is called
Trillian and it combines all of my IM contacts into a single interface so I don't have to load AIM to talk to AOL contacts or any of the other messenger programs.
Anyway, I support the program and with the release of two things (The
movie and the new
Trillian promotional website) I decided to mention it here.
Tag:
IM
Mountain Bike Safety, Does it matter?
I have so much fun mountain biking that I sometimes forget the danger. During the club ride today, at the easiest park we ever ride in (called Flatwoods for a reason), two riders each broke an ankle. The first incident happened to a "newbie". While she was attempting to cross a small bridge (18 inches off the ground for a distance of 15 feet), she fell over and broke her ankle. When you are first learning to mountain bike it's hard to decide what things to take and what things to skip. However, even for a new rider, a small bridge such as this one doesn't look so bad as to be something to avoid. The second incident happened to an experienced rider. This woman has been riding longer than I have and caught a pedal on a palmetto root and tumbled over the tangled ankle/root combination. When we returned to the parking lot at the end of the ride she had already put a splint on her own ankle. (She's a nurse)
I flashed back to when I first started to ride with the club to an early ride at a park called Santos in north Florida. The beginner group came upon an area of ups and downs that looked really scary. That day (a year and a half ago) another new rider decided to walk that first hill section. As she walked her bike down the slope she slipped and caught a stump. Broken in two places and dislocated. Today's broken ankle nurse and I walked that rider out of the trails that day while she kept her ankle away from harm. Her husband had a wire splint kit that day. I heard he sold both their brand new bikes shortly after that day.
On Tuesday of this past week, a
visitor from California crashed on a tough local trail. Apparently he took a bad fall over his handle bars following a buddy over a root section.
New riders, experienced riders and just visiting riders can be hurt. There is no predicting what or when something might happen. Usually when we least expect it. 3 incidents this past week. No meaning to that, it just happens in groups sometimes.
The thing is there is risk in just about everything we do, especially the fun stuff. Mountain biking is fun, despite the dangers. Bones heal. Confidence breaks don't heal without effort. Yes, safety matters but it's not everything. "Get back on the horse" is a saying that comes to mind. Keep trying. With each new triumph comes new confidence. With each new failure comes another opportunity to find triumph.
Ride on!
Tag:
Mountain Biking
