Posted On Thursday, July 29th, 2010 By David Veatch
The trouble with pets is that they don’t use their words. By that, I mean, they don’t talk to us in plain spoken language. Is it really that hard? Then again, maybe it is. We start learning how to speak around the age of 3, give or take. It’s been said that the average dog’s intelligence is on par with the average 2 year old. Cats are probably fairly similar. That means they missed the speaking boat by about a year, which sucks for them. Or rather… it sucks for us. See, we’re having pet troubles now, which would be very easy to solve if they could just talk to us about it, instead of just laying around, or meowing all the time. On the one hand, Elliott the Cat has kept Jami and I up every night this week. It’s not constant, mind you, but every couple of hours, he’ll wander through the room with something very important to say. “Meow. Meow meow. Merrrrow. Meow meow meow thhrrrbt meow.” Then he’ll jump on the bed and, because we clearly didn’t hear it, say it all over again right next to our head. “What, Elliott?! What do you want?! Use more »
Posted On Monday, January 5th, 2009 By David Veatch
Last year, my focus was on getting as many miles in as I could. I had twin goals of increased fitness and minimizing the use of my car, at least insofar as getting to and from work. This year, I’m simplifying a bit. Both life at work and life at home have changed, and I’m in a position where I have need of my car during the day while at work, and during the evenings while at home. That makes it difficult some days to ride in. I’m the first to admit that the frigid temperatures have something to do with it. As I said, I just don’t care for riding in the cold. Moreover, I’m still fighting a very persistent and frustrating low grade sinus infection, which I don’t want to exacerbate through exposure. However, I’m going to maintain my goal of increased fitness. That has always been my primary goal, and was why I started commuting by bike to begin with. So.. this morning was the beginning of something a little different. Since I won’t be/can’t be riding my bike to work every day, on those days I don’t ride on the streets, I’ll roll. You may recall more »
Posted On Monday, December 15th, 2008 By David Veatch
When, at the same time one encounters temperatures below 10… verily, below 5, and a persistent cough due to cold, one might be tempted to throw on layer after wind breaking layer, air up the tires, lube up the chain with a durable lubricant, wheel the bicycle out of the garage and make ones way against 10+ mph cross and head winds the 8 miles to work. Not me. This morning, I resisted the temptation, utter and compelling though it was, and decided to eschew the saddle for the seat… the handlebar for the steering wheel… the painful yet oddly numb fingers and toes and lips and nose for the same, but toasty and warm. I’m proud of myself. It’s not often that I’ll be so staunch and resolute in the resistance of temptation, hedonist that I am. But this morning, I put my foot down, and though the Drop was calling my name loudly and clearly, I had to let her down, pass her by, and sit my butt down in the seat behind a steering wheel instead. My cough, painful and persistent as it is, might have bolstered my ability to resist the temptation to ride this morning, more »
Posted On Tuesday, December 9th, 2008 By David Veatch
I’m home again today on account of throat crud. About halfway through my ride home yesterday, I felt a familiar soreness when I swallowed. I rejected it it out of hand. Nope. Not going to happen again, not so soon. I can’t remember the last time I was sick, but I don’t think it was that long ago. Blah. Doesn’t matter. I’m home now, and it’s snowing out. Today would have been a fantastic day to ride! But the way it’s snowing, I’m sure I’ll have tomorrow as well. BTW, the answer to yesterday’s question is Steven Brust. I *love* the communication style between his characters.
Posted On Thursday, October 30th, 2008 By David Veatch
Please, take some time and let Elden and his family know you’re thinking about them. He’s had a very hard night.
Posted On Friday, May 2nd, 2008 By David Veatch
Eldon and Susan just got some very bad news. Drop a comment over there and share some much needed positive energy and love please…
Posted On Tuesday, February 26th, 2008 By David Veatch
Though I hate driving to work these days, I have to face the fact that riding to work yesterday wasn’t a good idea. I’m still too deep into being sick to stress the immune system the way I did. Had the weather been fine, I would have been also, but between the cold and the stiff headwinds I faced going both ways, I felt as bad last night as I did during the worst of last week. The morning headwind that turns around to give me an evening headwind was funny at one point. Now it’s just tiresome. So today I drove, though I hate it. I’m hopelessly behind on my mileage goals for the month… being out of town for a week was one thing, but being sick for another entire week, with the aftermath this week is just too much. There is no way I’ll make any decent headway this last week of February. I may just rest up again this week and hit it hard this weekend (weather permitting, of course). I’m confident that once the weather improves, so will my riding frequency. Unfortunately, good health dictates I stay out of the cold and wind for now. more »
Posted On Monday, February 25th, 2008 By David Veatch
I’ve missed two full weeks of riding. The first week I was out of town on business. I did get some gym time in, using some old stair climbers, treadmills and stationary bikes, but it just isn’t the same. The second week was a completely sedentary week due to having succumbed to a really nasty bug going around. Sunday night a week ago I was running a 104.5°F fever. While that was an exceptional spike, I was pushing between 101 and 102 from Saturday through Wednesday. Thursday it finally broke, and Friday I was better… still weak and wobbly, but better. I debated riding in this morning. I’m definitely not 100%, but I’ve been off saddle for so long, I just couldn’t stand the thought of driving in this morning. So I bucked up and got on the bike. Taking it real easy, I made average time, but the time off the bike is obvious. Two weeks off does make a difference… thank the Maker it was nice and warm this morning in the mid 30′s. It should be fantastic this afternoon! No ride report aside from that this morning… I don’t have any of my data cables on me more »
Posted On Monday, February 18th, 2008 By David Veatch
The fever of last week was a 24 hour deal. On the way to the airport Monday night, the GF and I dropped the Kona off to get the brakes replaced with linear pull, rather than center pull brakes. I’m hoping they help me stop better in wet conditions, and don’t squeal so much in dry. The flight to Chicago Midway wasn’t bad, but the drive to the hotel was long… I love the fact that National rental offers Garmin GPS devices with their cars. That saved me a lot of trouble that night. By the next morning, I was feeling fine. No trace of fever, or illness at all, in fact. I came back to KC Thursday night, and a bit tired from the trip, I worked from home, on Friday. Saturday, however, what little bug I had on Monday, either came back with full force, or something else came in it’s stead. I was feverish and exhausted all day. Between 101°F and 102°F all day. Sunday (yesterday) was the same story, but last night my fever spiked to 104.5. Too much more of that and I would have taken myself to the emergency room… or tried to. I more »
Posted On Monday, February 11th, 2008 By David Veatch
By way of keeping track, I’m running a 101 fever today, just in time for heading out to Illinois by plane to help a colleague. I plan on sleeping the afternoon away until I get on the plane. It’s too late to cancel, or I would. I’m hoping that by the time the flight time comes, my fever will be under control, and that this is just a 24 hour or less deal.