Me and the Grinch are cool

I'm the perfect recipe for seething
anti-holiday attitude.

Eleven straight days of work.
Leading up to the holidays.
It's the same crabiness that takes over
when you're REALLY hungry.
But times ten.

And the mall shows just as ugly face
as Walmart. But then add all the frantic
running around and rudeness
that engulfs you.

I know it's not new.
But this year caught me off guard.
And I struggle to find any enjoyment
with this season.

I think we all need a huge snow day.
Where no one ventures outside,
everything is closed,
and I can sit with a cup of coffee,
and watch the lights.

And then go for a quiet ride.

Think SNOW!

Can't see it.

before the projects start
the shop bench needs to get cleaned off.
parts need sorting.
but first the lights need to be replaced.

I jumped into the middle of things
and realized,
I can't even see around the work bench.
something that will be my home away from home...
away from home through the winter months.

and since we jumped right into the REALLY cold
at the start of December...
it looks to be a long winter.

But the project list has begun.
And I said no more art shows for a while
(feeling VERY UN-inspired)
that didn't last long,
as I'm scrambling to drop for another show...
today.

There seems to be so many pots on the stove,
that I've resorted to tossing cans of crap
all over my figurative kitchen.

more to follow...

Check Lists

"Last Call" @ The Marketplace Gallery.
My final show for the year.
I'm running on fumes at this point.

Strange though,
the satisfaction of 'checking goals off'
isn't there.
It was the satisfaction of doing the tasks.
I'll expand on that later...
but it just occured to me as I was sorting out the noise,
the noise in my head of all the things still not completed.

One of my latest POSTS at the Times Union.

And...

This ONE.

Like inviting a few friends over for 'a drink'
this last part of the year has really gotten away from me!

Two months of multiple art shows,
the tail end of the cyclocross race season,
and all the day to day activities
of everyday life.

I started looking at this blog
and realized nothing has been updated
or maintained...

The dreaded FB is such an easy distraction,
I guess it's similar to a bag of chips
versus cooking an actual meal.

Quick and easy,
but never satisfying.

You, my little neglected electronic child,
will get more attention.
I hope.

Fall in love again...

"hey, we do a late night group ride. wanna come?"

"uhhh, sure!"

STOP.
Right there, I need to learn to ask more questions.
Those questions that you ask yourself a half hour before
you head out the door.
There are no expectations. Which is good.
But there is no info. either!
And that is my fault.

I don't want to sound like some dork.
Too many questions might get an UN-invite!

So I split my gear into:
light & quick bare essentials.
and
messenger bag (everything including the camera).

I had no idea.
The worst case on one end:
off season roadies, out for a late night hammer sesh.
Which means I'll get dropped in a couple of miles,
and solo my way home.

or the other worst scenario:
the super casual urban ride. Which means you won't even
warm up (an issue when it's freezing out).



Sometimes I just luck out!



There was casual.
There were beer breaks.
A quick pace.
Lots of characters.
Familiar faces.
And mud.


Equate it to:
a Cat. 4 late night cyclocross race
through unknown trails
without enough lights.

Simply awesome.!

That's what riding is about, FUN!
No one gets dropped.
If someone flats, then it's time to break out the beers,
and share some stories.



I need to loosen up sometimes.
And as they say
just "enjoy the ride".

Cycling Photos

There's lots of them waiting.
Waiting to be edited
and posted.

Not today though.
The light snow flurries means
it's now time to clear off the deck.

A month late. As usual.
Santa's work must be done.
A painting is due.
Some winter 'cleaning'.
Which is a result of digging out
cold weather commuting gear.

Procrastination becomes
the motivator.

Last month's photo!

Ouch!
Completely forgot this for Nov. 2nd!
I'm so, so, so,
scattered!

Gallery window for the UnDead show.
Awesome!

I have to work some skulls into this
holiday season. We'll see how.

Bikes as Art

Last night was the gallery opening.
A gallery I've worked at getting into
for almost a year.

I would almost say opening night
was anti-climatic. That accomplishing goals isn't as satisfying. It's
the work to actually get there that feels good.

Regardless. What was the highlight? Two really cool cafe racers in the
gallery. I spent most of my time crawling through them. And
entertaining the thought of a new bike.
The kind of bike with a motor.....

It was a good night for "art".

Winter Projects

Everyone should have one
or several.

I like to go into the hibernating time
with a frame
or some parts.

Up until this week I had
nothing.

But I just got the ball rolling.
Gotta clean off the workbench.
Already took inventory of parts.
And as soon as the holiday season
is over, it's building time!

Will keep you posted!

For the Dogs!

That was 'Turkey Day'.
Hanging out with the dogs,
get some movies in,
the cat stole the turkey
as it cooled off.

I live in a zoo.

A quiet day for reflection
of those things I'm thankful for,
family.
And some mandatory food induced
nap time on the couch.

Opposites

Walking home from dropping the kids off at school (not pool, school),
I got caught up in the idea of: do we always want what we didn't have
growing up?

I'm a product of suburbia.
Something that I haven't liked since...
highschool.

And when it came time to buy a house. I wanted something 'in town' and
central to everything. Over the years I've reaped the benefits of
living in the city. Skip trying to find a parking place for anything
in town, just bike.

While walking the two blocks back home I wonder if my kids will want
the opposite. A ranch house out in the country? A 'new' house in some
nicely named subdivision? A place that doesn't embrace cycling? Where
every commute must be by car. Or will they want something that
represents how they grew up? I'm not sure.

Let's have a new series!

A $5,000 open sprint.
Pretty simple.
Note the bunny hop over the BMW @ 1:41!
The local elite 'cross series has a $750 payout,
for the season.

Running on Empty!

Up til 2am.
Varnish.
Framing.
Wiring.

All the art is set.
Thirteen in all.
Plus,
another ten right down the street,
at the gallery.

There is absolutely NOT
enough coffee to get through the day!

things bike related

Best costume for a 'cross race!

because it's a bike blog...
isn't it?
One of my past Times Union posts:Can't get there from here.
Nothing big, just putting them out there.
Or you can just click along to the right....

Getting back to four races worth of photos,
to sort & post to flickr... sorry guys, and girls.

the day of the dead!

You should stop by here all the time,
especially today! Bikes and the City.

All Saints Day!

dia de los Muertos!
Sadly there will be no candy skull tattoos for me today.
But I'll make up for that later, trust me!

Today will be an entire day of sorting,
and sitting in front of the computer.

The Mrs. pulled off a great Halloween party on Saturday night.
So good,
that I skipped my self imposed pre race bedtime,
and stayed up all night drinking by the fire pit.
THAT resulted in an awesome race six hours later.
So there's some photos from the Vermont Wicked Creepy race.
And some really bummed out guys that couldn't beat an old,
fat, very hung over guy.
Goal of NOT getting last, achieved!

That's really pathetic, actually.
So I think it was 30th out of 34 or 31st out of 36,
pretty bottom of the barrel.

So I shot masters, single speed, 3/4 and womens.
Then headed out.
Out where, you ask?
To shoot the best wedding ever!

My tattoo artist & friend.
A great mix of Halloween, rock 'n roll, and tattoo convention.
Complete with a bride in a hearse!
And today is my final day to prep for my first solo show,
opening this Friday @ The Wine Bar & Bistro!
PSYCHED!!!