Christmas is over

And we're in the inevitable after Christmas lull. The kids got some chinese four wheelers, and they are loving them. Tori took to it like she was born on one, and was chasing me around the yard in no time. I was riding the XR, which of course is still not at 100% but she was hanging no problems, woohooing the whole time. Good stuff.

I'm looking forward to getting going so that I can get my focus sorted. Right now, it feels like everything back here is on hold, since I dont want to start anything new, only to leave in two weeks. So its like just sitting around is the only thing to do.

I have many big plans for when I get back, and Im looking forward to those...

So as the fall winds down

Im getting closer and closer to heading out. The very beginning of January is going to be the hardest time of my life. I've deployed before, but not since Ive had kids. Its hard to find that balance between war focus, and remembering to send the kids letters and videos. On one hand, you want the focus, its what you need to make sure you come back in a year, but what good is coming back if you alienated everyone you love while youre gone? The adults can just figure it out, they should know that things are gonna be tough, no matter what, but the kids, you cant explain that to them. So you just have to remember, you have to steal minutes to make sure you tell them you love them, and that in some wierd way, thats why youre there.

Insanity

Im sitting here receiving a class on Iraqi sniper activities, and one of the big points being made about insurgent TTPs are that they will engage with civilians and children in the kill zone.

What kind of a sonofabitch could bring himself to fire on children?

I just dont understand these pathetic bastards.

Harvest Classic 2008 --> Starts tomorrow!

Can't wait to get this going. Taking the whole herd is always more challenging than just jumping on the scoot and heading over, but the last two times I was there I just kept wishing they had been there with me. So this time were all going. :)

Harvest Classic Rally

Woohoo --- Hernia Surgery

Well this has been interesting to say the least. I got cut Friday,and it took me til solidly tuesday to feel somewhat Human again,and even today, almost a week later, I still feel maybe 50%. It really makes you realize how truly delicate we are.

This is so VERY true...

Rockstars

RSVR 1000

RSVR 1000, originally uploaded by Dave in Austin.

Ducati 996 v Aprilia RSVR

So I rode both, back to back today. I rode the Priller first, and in the interest of full disclosure I'm going to say that it has BRAND new tires, so I took it easy at anything other than full upright.

It has a FANTASTIC chassis, it feels like its up on its toes, ready to sprint in any direction you nudge it toward. Not at planted feeling as the Duke, but again, read the tire comment.

The engine. Honestly, at this early juncture, it let me down. I thought it would be more powerful, smoother, and more modern. Across the board, I prefer the 996 engine. It REALLY makes me want to spin up a 1098. Archren? :)

I found a couple things I would like the Duke to better after riding the other Italian bike, the 4 pad Brembos are breathtakingly good for instance, and I'd like my fork to work more like the Ohlins (who wouldnt...) so I have something to shoot for after the 'Stan. Its good to want things.

Life is made up of a dizzying array of choices

And because of some of the ones I've made here lately, I havent been on a bicycle in three weeks. This is UN-ACCEPTABLE.

I have this sort of malaise about riding in the last few weeks since I now know for sure I'm going to the Stan next year. Its like not wanting to start something, get solid again, just in time to stop. The benefits to me physically, right before going to live at 7000 ft above MSL for a year are beyond question, but I still drag my feet. Part of it is that I cant stand spending time away from the kids before I go. I tell myself that Im investing in their future by spending time working out, but as a rule, Taliban bullets dont care what physical condition youre in, so I say to hell with that and spend time with the babies. More soon.

Hurricane Ike

Well I'm no meterologist, but Im no casual observer either. Most folks who grow up down here in Hurricane Country (though Im something of an Expat from there now) learn to read these things pretty well. When I went on to college, I learned alot more about it through studies in Earth Science (Geology baby..no money in it though...) so I'm aware of weather patterns, and how they affect each other and all what. So watching Ike has been fascinating. I love watching the threat in the first place, I love a big storm bearing down on us, I've ridden out more than I can count, and I've evacuated for a couple as well.

For the first time in a while, it looks like Ike may come see us up here in the hill country, which is pretty cool too. We'll get some heavy rain, and we'll get some damaging winds, which will hit harder here since that isnt something that normally happens here, so most folks dont have quick tie downs and whatnot to use.



I followed Gustavs progress on twitter, I plan to do the same here, along with a healthy does of traditional media for perspective.

I cant say I hate to see this...

I may not be the biggest Lance fan in the world, but what Lance does for the sport, and his accomplishments, are without equal, and thus far, beyond reproach.

Lance is coming back...

"Lance Armstrong will come out of retirement next year to compete in five road races with the Astana team, according to sources familiar with the developing situation.

Armstrong, who turns 37 this month, will compete in the Amgen Tour of California, Paris-Nice, the Tour de Georgia, the Dauphiné Libéré and the Tour de France — and will race for neither salary nor bonuses, the sources, who asked to remain anonymous, told VeloNews.

Armstrong's manager, Mark Higgins, did not respond to questions. And an Astana spokesman denied the report to The Associated Press.

Armstrong re-enrolled himself into the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency’s out-of-competition testing pool prior to August’s Leadville Trail 100 mountain bike race, where he finished second to Dave Wiens, said USA Cycling chief operating officer Sean Petty.

USADA rules state that any athlete who wishes to come out of retirement must enroll in the USADA out-of-competition testing program for at least six months in advance of regaining eligible status."

So he is going for complete transparency in the new era.

This is an amazing image.

Brean wreck of the ss Nornen flat holm in the backgroung, originally uploaded by Troyka The Gallery.

I love this photo, Im a Flickr nut, I probably spend waaay too much time on there, but photography is my second favorite hobby after turning two wheeled objects...

Here we go A G A I N

So we get through Gustav basically unscathed, but can we get so lucky again?

Little Spin

Well the Bear wen on her first long bike ride yesterday. Shes been up to five miles before, but yesterday she went nine. Big day. Shes a little sore today, a little tired, but we made sure to manage the recovery time (Chocolate Milk), and rest last night. She seems no worse for wear, but a little fatigued. Shes getting a new bike for Christmas that she'll really be able to keep up better on, either a Specialized Hotrock, or maybe a cheaper Schwinn Mesa. The Mesa may actually be a slightly better bike for her. We shall see...

Well here we are. Gustav...

Its just beginning to touch the coast with Tropical Storm force winds. Lets all pray to whatever Deity we prefer that this thing does not go the way of Katrina. Some of my brothers are in harm's way out there, and I really want them all through this with a minimum of pain.

Hmmm Hurricane Gustav

UPDATE: 2300 hrs, Sat night. This thing is looking like one bad motherfer. Rattle snake suitcase and all. More to follow.

Well, here we go again. 3 Years to the day after Katrina, were doing this all over again.

Riding, but still not on the road...

Mountain bike only lately. Its not that the MTB is bad, I just wonder whats going on in my brain to convince me that I want to ride the MTB and not the Road bike...

I rode Thursday in the rain, and crashed of course at the end of the ride. No biggie, just enough to ring my bell, and remind me Im mortal. Hence the black and white but very muddy picture. I guess I'll make a goal of getting back on the road after the field next week.

Not Riding

I've been letting the world intrude waaay too much into my riding. I rode 7 times in two weeks at Pathfinder, (Which given the nature of the course, isnt so bad) but since then, I've only been on the MTB 4 times. I have however completed the cross bike finally, and identified the final punch list to put Molly back where she belongs after robbing parts for the cross rig. SO it wasnt soley unproductive, just not enough riding.

The thing is, when I lay off for a while, there is the inevitable soreness and fatigue the first few days after a ride, so what I do is justify to myself if I know I cant stay in the program for a few days, i will just skip the ride altogether.

This is NOT productive.

Cross/Commuter

I got a lot of work done on the cross/commuter bike last night. I'm pirating parts for it from the Pinarello, and Im in a quandry in that since its a commuter bike, i dont want to use stuff thats too nice, (theft, crashing, inclement weather) but at the same time, I want stuff thats going to work, and work well.

So I have a Chorus Rear Derailleur (cheap on ebay), Centaur front, Centaur Shifters, FSA crank, (I'll change that out for an aluminum compact most likely, since the front derailleur I got supports CT and Centaur/Veloce CT cranks are dirt cheap). I have cane creek canti's, and a nice cheap but well made Bontrager cross fork. With those items in place, I can finally take her for a spin. I'm dying to know how she rides, and Im dying to have a bike to commute on that Im not worried about every hole and rut on the road with. Commuting on a $3500 bicycle is an exercise in stress every ride. I'll have maybe 500.00 in the Jake when all is said and done.

Once I'm happy with the way she works, and my component selection, I'm going to take her back apart and have the frame powdercoated flat black. Then I plan to have a few pinstripes worked over the top tube, and down tube, (think classic hot rod) in orange and blue. Should make for a pretty cool bicycle.

Commuting

I've started commuting on the bicycle in earnest the last few weeks, and this week almost every day. I have a pretty good route, takes me through low enough traffic areas that death isnt alway lurking on my left, but its varied enough that I dont sing Mary Poppins songs in my head. Im riding the Cervy for now, but Im also building up the Snake as my "truck". She's still pretty nice, but not quite so exotic. Campy Centaur, 3TTT , so on and so forth.

Yesterday I was riding along shoal creek, and I'm waiting for a light to change. This guy rolls up behind me and just crashes. Big as day. I looked back and asked if he was ok, he didn't really reply, but he looked ok, so I left him alone. Right after the light changed, we went through the intersection, he goes blazing past me pushing a big ass gear at a really low cadence. I guess he was embarrassed. He was on a Kuota that was creaking like an old suspension bridge. Cool.

Sometimes this is such a weird town.

Gonna talk about bicycles and motorcycles.

I've been blogging off and on for several years, but I guess its time to go big time. :)