Leg Work

I went to the University to hear a lecture/presentation on the work of Balthazar Korab. They have a small exhibition that will be on display at SARUP, open weekdays. He took most of his pictures in black and white. You always have to wonder if film photography will survive. If it does, it may be only black and white. Most notably because it is easier to develop and can be done at home. Then you have Internet commerce. everything can be centralized and sold out of a warehouse, serving a worldwide community with cheap prices (since the demand would be low). But there are a lot of old cameras out there.

Below is a picture I took in Israel. When they say that their x-ray equipment wont effect your film don't believe it. All my film came out hazy. I cleaned it up a bit digitally after scanning. The Sea of Galilee was the best part of the trip. I missed the trip to the Dead Sea.

I made a list of things I need for house repairs, pretending I had the money to buy the stuff. I can pretend I have the money to buy a trainer but it wont make one appear. Inbox Dollars is an easy way to make  few extra dollars. You can squeeze a small check out once a year for reading e-mails. Our utilities are running over $1/day cheaper this Winter with the repairs I've made and the thermostat set at 62.

My trips the gym are getting longer and longer. After about 40 minutes on the track my body gets into the zone and my mind starts going over mountain bike course, envisioning them in my head. It makes me long for the warmer weather.

I am going light on the leg extensions and compensating with various types of leg presses. The curls are no problem. Have to keep trying more of that yoga stuff, good stuff. Not sure when I'll get out to ride again. Feeling much better than last year. Been taking some vitamin D and some other good stuff.

A google search by title brings up one of my political posts on the first page. It was on the second page after I first posted then disappeared from the results. But now it's suddenly back. I attribute the results to good writing and facebook.

Winter Time

Another picture from the race season and more free advertising. I wish I could afford one of their trainers but I'll have to settle for a cheap model from a second rate company if I can ever scrape the money together. But I got out on my bike yesterday before the return of frigid temperatures. Taking a trip to the bank and the gym.

I really need to ramp up my Winter training. Have to get to the gym more and workout longer. I'm usually hungry after I get back and have taken to grabbing a chunk of cheese afterwards, and maybe summer sausage. They say it helps one lose weight. Also soup is great food. Misao has been making more of it. Here you can get a free trial for a weight loss product.

What about those Vikings? Like I always said; Brett Favre throws away two games a season so you can win three you couldn't win without him. And he was due. But I knew they were going to lose as soon as they had that half hearted running play on first down, barely into field goal range. You keep going for the first down or even the touch down no matter what the situation. And this after scoring that meaningless touchdown against the Cowboys at the end of the game.

I haven't heard any news of a proposed all Clydesdale team. At over 250 lbs and over 26% body fat, according to my fancy scale, I couldn't get under 200 lbs without loosing muscle mass. But I have a new sport in mind that of course would favor Clydesdales. Maybe I'll spell it out in my next post. I call it Rollerbike. Yes, a take off of the movie "Rollerball". The original, not that punk remake.

Maybe I should run for Congress. I certainly have the time to hit the streets. A great political mind, recognizable to any fan of my political blog, which I wont link to here. The demographics of the district would suggest it would be impossible for me to win. But I'm not without inroads into the community and certainly could shake things up in our current political climate.

Of course I could face an onslaught of brutal personal attacks in the media. Oh God I hope so. No more people keeping secrets or demeaning my character and skills behind my back. I'm more than capable of defending myself and it would make it so much easier for the lawyers.

It's Saturday

This last Wednesday I worked the shoulders with the weights. Usually my left shoulder tightens up causing immense discomfort but everything stayed loose. A hopeful sign. Any positive change I consider an advance in my overall health. Been doing a bit of yoga every now and then. Misao bought a book and DVD at an after Christmas sale. That could be part of it.

The Winter Olympics are coming. Short track skating and the sledding events are some favorites, not to mention the biathlon among other cross country events. The snow boarding is a big favorite too. This is supposed to be the coldest time of the year. Often with temperatures well below zero. Looking at the heating bill I don't mind the thaw.

No riding today as it was already raining when we woke up, working late on weekends. I thought of getting up early and going to the Winter Race at Crystal Ridge to see if I could help and take some pictures but they canceled it and changed it to a ride.

A local talk show host was claiming that you need money to be happy. That you should find what you are good at and how to make money doing it. A lot of money. It got me thinking. What do I do the best? Being taken advantage of, being maligned and abused is one of the many things I do well. So all I need is a slew of lawyers. In my profession there's the spiked Pepsi, the format sabotage (and cover up) and so much more. My family... don't get me started. I hope they all enjoyed my fortune. Everything comes out over time.

But I worry more about my own short comings and pray for my enemies. All of them. Every day. And what I get back is more of the same. Being dirt poor I guess that makes me terribly unhappy and an outright bad person. And I'll never be a real mountain biker unless I drink beer, and I'm not talking that non-alcohol stuff. (no I don't drink beer for all you comprehension challenged ones)

So it is back to the job hunt. I brush up on iambic pentameter, work on some drawings for constructing poker tables and maybe work on a wall section or site plan, the endless house repairs. Not to mention trying to keep in shape and stay healthy. I thought of turning a piece of fiction on my political blog into a book. And no that piece wouldn't be the last chapter (and I'm not talking chronology leaps).

I should be taking more photos to post. Still have to get the 2009 photos onto my flickr page. But I did find a you/tube clip for all to enjoy.

Winter Pedaling...or Peddling

I pulled my road bike out of the basement yesterday, as temperatures neared 40 degrees, and rode to the gym. So nice to stretch the legs and I went to make a deposit afterwards but the bank was closed. Yes, it was Martin Luther King day. Not that I didn't know that.

Riding in the Winter, which I am not really prepared to do, you need a good pair of shades. The glare, especially with melting snow, is blinding. Then going into shaded areas, not knowing what is there until you enter the darkness can be dangerous. Going under a bridge into the shadows, with traffic coming off the expressway zooming by, I found myself on a sheet of black ice. Maybe if I had winter tires I would ride more but it is such experiences that keep me from riding in the Winter.

Metro Mountain Bikers will be having a Winter Race this Saturday at Crystal Ridge. Only $5 to register. For all interested parties, I am currently not planning to attend, but we'll see what happens.

Looking through the Bike Nashbar catalogue I found some interesting pedals. They have their Taijitu platform pedal and then a butterfly platform pedal. It seems in Britain a butterfly pedal means something else. Oh how I wish I could afford some new bicycle accessories or even some kitchen products. But I am not familiar with these pedals or if you can get any lifting power transfer into the crank. I have a lot of lift strength. I found this pedal promo on you/tube that has a bit of mad riding.



My weight is actually going down. A Winter time miracle. And now after giving some free advertising it's time to pursue the American dream. If anyone likes jumping through hoops for $500 gift cards, click here. I got you a free trial of an energy drink and the fitness page has some interesting stuff. This product has the most clicks.

And what about those Packers? When slews of penalties are not called on your adversary how can you expect to win. I've just recovered from the loss of nine days ago. The better team lost and we all suffered as the only game of note this week was the Chargers vs. Jets. All I can say is we are lucky they wont be facing the Vikings in the Championship game. I mean with satellite imagery showing we clearly have more lakes than that land of 10,000 lakes. Brett Favre going over to the enemy and then beating us twice in the regular season. And the fact that the Vikings have never won a Super Bowl (LOSERS!) I can only imagine the carnage along the border towns, whoever won.

Personally I wouldn't mind if Brett Favre won the Super Bowl. Someday the Vikings might even win one.

Time and Space

I hope everyone is having a happy new year and are well into their resolutions. Time to go through all my assortment of bike and fitness gear to see if I can put an ensemble together to handle the cold temperatures on my bike. Metro Mountain Bikers are working a deal on a group discount for some high end bike lights. Still too steep for me. The last opportunity to get in on the deal will be at their next meeting. I most likely wont be there. Just to let all my fans know... along with my stalkers (their supporters and facilitators) and anyone else who sees fit to obsess on my life.

As far as my own goals, for those focusing on my weight and fitness, today is a good day. With the snow forecast to fall all day, and the lake effect to heap more here on our special community, I will be in and out shoveling all day. Lots of snow in Seoul and even London as global warming casts its icy grip over the world.

Some say snow is a sign of good fortune and I'm hoping this new year of 2010 to be just that. Yesterday an old friend from Korea I had lost touch with tracked me down on the Internet. I actually heard he had cancer at some point (not sure if it was true) and thought he was dead. After I left Korea most of my friends move and changed jobs, as did I, and I lost touch with many of them. Good friends are few and far between and can be counted on one hand. His parents gave him a name synonymous with good fortune.

Being alone most of the day, working out of or on my house without any real human give and take outside of the gym most of the week, it is a fight to dominate time. To use it most efficiently. While I have to revamp my schedule and make a determination to stick to it, a bigger factor is organizing space. Having a specific area for each task clearly organized can keep one focused. And sometimes a certain task consumes your day as it just seems to keep you inspired, so out with any schedule. And if it doesn't, you just move on to the next task.

I have a nice reading chair and lamp, and reading will be a focus this, especially related to my profession. And hope to do a lot of writing on all my blogs. Have to keep up with any related lectures at the University. Always looking for good influences and sources of information. Of course the most influential factor in anyones life is to know that one is loved. Anyone who doesn't understand that is a fool and anyone who works to keep that knowledge from another.... no consensus will keep them from where they're going.

Ein frohes neues Jahr ...

... und alles Gute für das Jahr 2010!

Leider sind die Silvester Fotos dieses mal misslungen, da zu viel Nebel war. Ich habe deshalb ein Bild aus dem letzten Jahr hochgeladen.