What's New With Mick

Tag: commute

  • The moon is in a phase and I guess that I am too

    Last night Graham and Thomas had their final orchestra concert of the year. In anticipation of the event, several months ago I invited my mother to visit us at this time so that she could attend. Graham’s fourth grade orchestra was the first to play and they did a very nice job of showing how much they had improved during the year. After they took their bow, they all started off stage to make room for the fifth grade orchestra. As Graham stood near the edge of the stage waiting for the rest of the kids to move, he chatted and laughed with his nearby friends. I looked away for a second to talk to Tina and then we heard a crash in front of the stage followed by a gasp from the audience. Somebody fell. Tina asked, “Who fell?” Scanning the group near the commotion, I realized Graham was no longer on stage. “It’s Graham!” I told her as she stood and then rushed down the stairs to the stage.

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  • Vital Statistics

    Bike odometer: 2529
    Van odometer: 155015
    Aches & pains: lower back, muscles (moving)
    Current reading: My Name Is Red by Orhan Pamuk, Cross-platform GUI Programming with wxWidgets, The Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons
    Recent listening: No Line on the Horizon by U2, Final Boss by MC Frontalot
    Recent viewing: Lost (Seasons 2-5), Medium, Hardball, NBA Playoffs, Rachel Maddow Show
    Recent playing: Galcon
    Recently accomplished: working in Vancouver, cleaned cat boxes, cleaned van, cardboard recycling, showed Thomas how to mow lawn, showed Graham how to use the edger, equipment salvage in Vancouver office
    Imperative To Do: Scouts accounting, turn compost, read Sam’s script, return cans

  • Vital Statistics

    Bike odometer: 2500
    Van odometer: 154003
    Weight lost (in pounds): 0
    Aches & pains: left shin (scab gone), lower back, all my muscles
    Current reading: My Name Is Red by Orhan Pamuk, Profiles in Courage by John F. Kennedy
    Recent listening: The Jimi Hendrix Experience (Box), News from Lake Wobegon, Science Friday, Coverville, DrugMusic
    Recent viewing: Olympics, Democratic National Convention, Republican National Convention, The O’Reilly Factor
    Recent playing: Chain Factor, Spaceward Ho!
    Recently accomplished: Upgraded DSL, cleaned cat boxes, setup VPN access for work, office cleaning, office moving, office remodeling, cardboard recycling
    Imperative To Do: Craigslist items for Thomas/Graham, install Tina’s bike computer, get rid of office junk, freecycle, activate new Tivo, oil change for van, weeds, clean garage, moss

  • Vital Statistics

    Bike odometer: 2485
    Van odometer: 153885
    Weight lost (in pounds): 0
    Aches & pains: left shin (scab gone)
    Current reading: My Name Is Red by Orhan Pamuk, Profiles in Courage by John F. Kennedy
    Recent listening: The Jimi Hendrix Experience (Box), Fresh Air
    Recent viewing: The Dark Knight, Airport 77, Rounders, The Player, Igby Goes Down, Meet The Press, Reign of Fire, Last Comic Standing, Garden State, The New World, Olympics
    Recent playing: Chain Factor
    Recently accomplished: Updated LinkedIn profile, updated resume, sent two job feelers, fixed The Doctor, mowed lawn, cleaned cat boxes, installed AC window unit
    Imperative To Do: Get rid of junk (couch), buy trailer for van, activate new Tivo, oil change for van, weeds, clean garage, moss, new muxtape

  • Vital Statistics

    Bike odometer: 2485
    Van odometer: 153551
    Weight lost (in pounds): 0
    Aches & pains: left shin (still healing but stopped oozing), lower back/sciatica
    Current reading: My Name Is Red by Orhan Pamuk, Profiles in Courage by John F. Kennedy
    Recent listening: The Jimi Hendrix Experience (Box), It’s A Shame About Ray by The Lemonheads, This American Life
    Recent viewing: One True Thing, Biography, Dr. Horrible’s Sing-a-long Blog, Dazed and Confused, iCarly, Monk, Batman Begins, From Dusk Til Dawn, The Incredible Hulk
    Recent playing: Chain Factor
    Recently accomplished: cleaned cat boxes
    Imperative To Do: Get rid of junk (couch, vacuum cleaner), buy trailer for van, activate new Tivo, oil change for van, weeds, clean garage, moss, new muxtape, upload pictures

  • Morning Bike Commute

    Distance: 11.9 miles
    Riding time: 70 minutes
    Max speed: 21.6 mph
    Average speed: 10.2 mph
    Temperature: 75º
    Soundtrack: Jimi Hendrix (box set)
    Route:

    • Stanton to 162nd Ave
    • 162nd to Sandy Blvd
    • Sandy to 158th
    • 158th to Airport Way
    • Airport Way to Interstate 205 bike path
    • Bike path to Old Evergreen Highway
    • Old Evergreen Highway to 164th Ave
    • 164th to 34th Street
    • 34th to 168th Ave
    • 168th/169th Ave to 26th Way
    • 26th Way to Fred Meyer parking lot
    • Fred Meyer parking lot to 167th Ave
    • 167th to work
    It’s been three months since the last time I rode to work. I knew I’d have to start riding again but have been dreading/avoiding it because it was so traumatic last time. The good news is that, even though I’m in much worse shape, the ride went much better than last time. Knowing when to expend effort really helps to manage your energy for the entire ride. Also, I was much better prepared for the locker room at the gym after my arrival (last time I had no towel) and that went much smoother, too. I’m looking forward to at least one ride next week!

  • Vital Statistics

    Bike odometer: 2472
    Van odometer: 153074
    Weight lost (in pounds): 0
    Aches & pains: left shin (still healing)
    Current reading: The Book of Totally Useless Information by Don Voorhees, My Name Is Red by Orhan Pamuk, Profiles in Courage by John F. Kennedy
    Recent listening: News from Lake Wobegon, Fresh Air, Science Friday
    Recent viewing:  Numb3rs, Pardon the Interruption, Mo’ Better Blues, Battlestar Galactica, Doctor Who, Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte
    Recent playing: Chain Factor
    Recently accomplished: sold G4, mowed lawn, cleaned cat boxes, resolved various online purchase problems, ordered replacement LCD for Thomas, attempted to fix The Doctor (GPS), recycling, got rid of junk (bed, mower, microwave)
    Imperative To Do: Get rid of junk (couch, vacuum cleaner), buy trailer for van, activate new Tivo, oil change for van, weeds, clean garage, moss, new muxtape, upload pictures

  • Vital Statistics

    Bike odometer: 2472
    Van odometer: 152961
    Weight lost (in pounds): 0
    Aches & pains: left shin (bumped into a fire pit)
    Current reading: The Book of Totally Useless Information by Don Voorhees, My Name Is Red by Orhan Pamuk
    Recent listening: Raising Sand by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, In Rainbows by Radiohead, News from Lake Wobegon, Science Friday, Fresh Air
    Recent viewing: Countdown, My Life on the D List, How I Met Your Mother, WALL•E
    Recent playing: Chain Factor, Rock Band (Wii)
    Recently accomplished: cat boxes, bought clothes for business trip, paid bills, packed for two day business trip, haircut, bought new shoes for first time in 10 years, pulled dandelions
    Imperative To Do: Sell G4, get rid of junk (couch, vacuum cleaner, mower), buy trailer for van, activate new Tivo, oil change for van, weeds, clean garage, mow lawn, moss, new muxtape, upload pictures

  • Vital Statistics

    Bike odometer: 2443
    Van odometer: 152791
    Weight lost (in pounds): 5
    Aches & pains: Left wrist, right ankle, left knee
    Current reading: The Book of Totally Useless Information by Don Voorhees, My Name Is Red by Orhan Pamuk, CSS: The Definitive Guide (O’Reilly) by Eric A. Meyer, Profiles In Courage by John F. Kennedy
    Recent listening: This American Life, Jimmy Buffett
    Recent viewing: The Borrowers, Celtics at Lakers, U.S. Open (golf)
    Recent playing: Chain Factor, Sporcle
    Recently accomplished: Mowed and trimmed lawn, assembled and mounted bike rack, paid bills, helped fix Thomas window, cat boxes
    Imperative To Do: Sell G4, get rid of junk (couch, vacuum cleaner, mower, bed), buy trailer for van, activate new Tivo, oil change for van, weeds, clean garage, moss, new muxtape, re-assemble bathroom door frame

  • Vital Statistics

    Bike odometer: 2443
    Van odometer: 152647
    Weight lost (in pounds): 3
    Aches & pains: none
    Current reading: The Book of Totally Useless Information by Don Voorhees, My Name Is Red by Orhan Pamuk, CSS: The Definitive Guide (O’Reilly) by Eric A. Meyer
    Recent listening: Chrome Dreams II by Neil Young, Jimmy Buffett, Fresh Air, This American Life
    Recent viewing: Lakers vs. Spurs, Celtics vs. Pistons, Doctor Who, Face the Nation, Countdown, Hardball
    Recent playing: Chain Factor, Fireflies
    Recently accomplished: Voted, GPS rebate, cleaned cat boxes, cardboard recycling, new tires for Thomas, fixed flat on little bike, mowed lawn
    Imperative To Do: Sell G4, get rid of junk (couch, vacuum cleaner, mower), buy trailer for van, activate new Tivo, oil change for van, weeds, clean garage, mow lawn, pay bills, fix Thomas’ window, moss, new muxtape