W: August 2007

Get Ready

The Best Show on Television is almost back. Seriously, Blowing Devito is a work of genius.

One More Picture From New York

Giant Update

Ok, we're headed to the beach tomorrow for a week. First, how about a picture from our hike on the Appalachian Trail two weeks ago. This is Ally and me at High Rock. I'm told this is a launching spot for hang gliders. Whenever I wear that shirt, Ally breaks into Rockhawk, Jayhawk.

Last weekend, we went to NYC and saw a Yankees game. Here is the Rocket:

However, I think the highlight for Ally was the M&M's store:

The Museum of Natural History was also a highlight. Here is Ally with Larry and Cara's daughters:

I'm sure Ed and Eugene will get a kick out of this because they love to point out what a hairy MoFo I am. Today, in anticipation of the beach, and after much coaxing from Erica, I got my back waxed this morning. Ow. It didn't hurt as much as my wreck (why does my shoulder still hurt? I'm thinking broken collar bone), but all the same, it's not pleasant.

With all the traveling lately, I've been knocking out some books (audio) and have a bunch lined up for the beach. As I mentioned some time ago, www.goodreads.com has the details. Just add me as your friend or whatever. That's it.

I've Seen Them, I Can Vouch for Them

From Jason Fuller of www.Jasonalanfuller.com: "You like the band right? You should check out http://www.myspace.com/lastwaltzensemble King Harvest and Like a Rolling Stone came out pretty good - they're from a show a couple of weeks ago." Their drummer is from Wichita no less.

This Time I Really Did Hurt Myself, Badly

I went riding with a couple of guys from work on Tuesday. Feeling good, exercise at 7 am, cool weather, good times. The first time I went down it was nothing. Like a boxer that trips, not really a knockdown. The second time, I was riding in the 2nd position about two lengths back. We we're going pretty quick on a downhill, when the rider in front of me hits a pool of mud about 8 inches deep. His bike stops and he goes flying over the handle bars. With little time to react, I go left to avoid him, apply the brakes, hit mud, bike stops, I go flying over the handle bars leading with my left jaw. The muddy ground breaks the fall. It feels like I was sucker punched. Third guy rides up and sees the two of piled up. "WTF happened to you two?" First guy has some good cuts too. The last time I go down, and this is the one that mauled me, I'm in the third position, it's the last down hill before the ride ends. We're on service road. I'm riding furiously to catch up. My wheel catches a hole. My bike shakes violently, I almost recover, but I don't. Smash, boom, bang. Instantly, I know this is the worst wreck I've ever had. Pain. "Fuck!" Pain. No blood. Shoulder pain. and head pain. Everything seems to work. Jump on bike. Seat is in a new position (and later I will notice a huge gash several inches long with a depth reaching the plastic core). As I ride away, I see a white plastic thing float to the ground. that's a piece of my helmet. When I remember this later (the next day) and check my helmet, I see the shell is cracked with one giant indentation in the Styrofoam and several small ones. At home, as I prepare to shower before work, Ally says, what's that on your back, Daddy. Uh-oh. My back upper left shoulder is covered with road rash. I'd take pictures, but nobody likes looking at a hairy back. Sometime later that day I think, "so this is what a concussion feels like." Oh, and my neck hurts, must have landed on that too after the initial impact with my head and shoulders. Advil, motrin, Aleve. I'm piling it on. My shoulder is badly damaged. Can't really raise my arm above my shoulder. The next day, today, I feel much better than I thought I would, not great, but better than the day before. Tomorrow we're riding at 6:30 am.

-I may be late to the party, but this is very funny stuff: Clark And Michael

-I need a phone that doesn't take pictures inside my pocket ever time I take a step.

-Light run Saturday, 6 mile hike on the Appalachian Trail Sunday. I think I did severe damage to my neck hauling Ally around.

The Rawking Refuses To Stop! pays homage to Wilco’s Jay Bennett period

Is There No End To This?

Sam's Vet has moved into the bonus round and is reaping hundreds of dollars with every visit and test, of which there have been many. And now to add to the pain, he demands ADMINISTERING SUBCUTANEOUS FLUIDS TO YOUR CAT PART I: Preparing ... every other day. One should be so lucky as to be my cat.

Ally and I went back to Catoctin and hiked 4.5 miles. This means I carried her for about 4.4 miles. The first two shots are on the way to Wolf Rock and Chimney Rock.