Thoughts from this morning:
As a smoker/bike-muter, I'm kind of like a talking dog. It's not that I do anything particularly amazing, but that I do it at all. When I quit smoking, I'll be just another bike-rider I guess.
The difference between doing something well and true excellence is a matter of inches and seconds.
I'm really fried after:
(a) once again dealing with this guy from the other office (who has prepared a minimalistic style guide, done very little with it since, and keeps emailing it to all writers -- though we have an existing style guide that's about 100 pages and very complete); and
(b) my presentation (which went okay but would've been a lot better if we'd had access to current code).
The wind is already picking up. In spite of this, the ride home should be nice. It's sunny out, and I'm a little ahead (for now) of the vehicular commute.
Thursday, May 17, 2001
1038.5.
Nice day, already a clear sky at 5:30 am. So I managed to get going early and get to work before 8:00. Very pleasant ride - never felt like I was straining to get over a hill or around the next bend. People pass me, but y'know, they don't smoke a pack a day, thus I am able to excel and "be the best" in my own mind.
It's Bike to Work day. Little "refreshment" stations are set up around the county, where volunteers give away drinks and Odwalla bars, a small reflecting/blinking light, some sample sunblock, and advertising for camelbak hydration devices. As expected, more cyclists than usual on the road, and more of them apparently unused to riding. A guy passed me without making a sound (thus risking both of our skins); another guy stopped at the refreshment station and promptly fell off his bike. Yeah, that dismount IS tricky....
My little sister arrived yesterday for this weekend's wedding reception/party. It's nice to see her, and to have some one-on-one (or two-on-one) quality time with her before others arrive. It's tough for me having these events where I have to meet'n'greet many people at once -- I'd always rather have "deep" time with one person than "shallow" time with many. Anyway, another sister (and her family) arriving sometime today, and mom and final sister (and family) arriving Friday. I have the day off Friday, and feel I really need it. It will be about a $2000 day, buying beverage stuff (incl. keg of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale) and later, dinner for 22. (I'm happy to spend this money, just always worry about the odd problem that will make it not go smoothly - really should just get a credit card one of these days.) (I also expect to have a LOT of leftover beer and wine and other stuff, but will not be disappointed at all if we don't.)
Nice day, already a clear sky at 5:30 am. So I managed to get going early and get to work before 8:00. Very pleasant ride - never felt like I was straining to get over a hill or around the next bend. People pass me, but y'know, they don't smoke a pack a day, thus I am able to excel and "be the best" in my own mind.
It's Bike to Work day. Little "refreshment" stations are set up around the county, where volunteers give away drinks and Odwalla bars, a small reflecting/blinking light, some sample sunblock, and advertising for camelbak hydration devices. As expected, more cyclists than usual on the road, and more of them apparently unused to riding. A guy passed me without making a sound (thus risking both of our skins); another guy stopped at the refreshment station and promptly fell off his bike. Yeah, that dismount IS tricky....
My little sister arrived yesterday for this weekend's wedding reception/party. It's nice to see her, and to have some one-on-one (or two-on-one) quality time with her before others arrive. It's tough for me having these events where I have to meet'n'greet many people at once -- I'd always rather have "deep" time with one person than "shallow" time with many. Anyway, another sister (and her family) arriving sometime today, and mom and final sister (and family) arriving Friday. I have the day off Friday, and feel I really need it. It will be about a $2000 day, buying beverage stuff (incl. keg of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale) and later, dinner for 22. (I'm happy to spend this money, just always worry about the odd problem that will make it not go smoothly - really should just get a credit card one of these days.) (I also expect to have a LOT of leftover beer and wine and other stuff, but will not be disappointed at all if we don't.)
Wednesday, May 16, 2001
Flat Tire.
Man, I hate that. I want puncture-proof tires. I don't even want to learn how to fix a flat by the side of the road (actually, HAVE learned how, but don't want to do it), and I don't want to carry half an extra bike in my pack to do repairs either.
The flat was just the topper to a really poor day yesterday. The writers from the other city are tactless and inconsiderate, and they don't listen. Further, they're now trying to order me around. These kids have maybe five years of experience between them. Anyway, I spent WAY too much time being pissed off about that yesterday. Take a deep breath, let 'em stew in their own juices.
By coincidence, two Helen Hunt movies last night: What Women Want and Pay It Forward.
I am not qualified to discuss What Women Want - can't imagine that none of it would be offensive to women, any less than "What Men Want" would find ways to offend me. It was fluff; entertaining enough I guess, and certainly started with an interesting premise. For a movie directed and cowritten by women, there were no big insights here. Helen Hunt annoys me. six stars.
Play It Forward shows Hunt transformed, really, and I like her a lot in this movie. Haley Joel Osment does not see dead people, but does tend to see quite a bit more than I would expect a 14-year-old to see. E.g., when he knows when to give up on the addict. I was disappointed at the end, which seemed to me formulaic and manipulative. Anyway, ho hum, Kevin Spacey is great. seven stars.
Man, I hate that. I want puncture-proof tires. I don't even want to learn how to fix a flat by the side of the road (actually, HAVE learned how, but don't want to do it), and I don't want to carry half an extra bike in my pack to do repairs either.
The flat was just the topper to a really poor day yesterday. The writers from the other city are tactless and inconsiderate, and they don't listen. Further, they're now trying to order me around. These kids have maybe five years of experience between them. Anyway, I spent WAY too much time being pissed off about that yesterday. Take a deep breath, let 'em stew in their own juices.
By coincidence, two Helen Hunt movies last night: What Women Want and Pay It Forward.
I am not qualified to discuss What Women Want - can't imagine that none of it would be offensive to women, any less than "What Men Want" would find ways to offend me. It was fluff; entertaining enough I guess, and certainly started with an interesting premise. For a movie directed and cowritten by women, there were no big insights here. Helen Hunt annoys me. six stars.
Play It Forward shows Hunt transformed, really, and I like her a lot in this movie. Haley Joel Osment does not see dead people, but does tend to see quite a bit more than I would expect a 14-year-old to see. E.g., when he knows when to give up on the addict. I was disappointed at the end, which seemed to me formulaic and manipulative. Anyway, ho hum, Kevin Spacey is great. seven stars.
Tuesday, May 15, 2001
1022.2.
Dead gopher snakes, some quite large. Must be mating season for them.
Passed a cop at the school on Roblar; he appeared to be waiting for speeders. Seldom do I feel any appreciation for this, but y'know, his presence makes the cars slow down a bit on that hill-and-curve. On the other hand, he also probably makes the drivers watch their rearview instead of the road ahead as they go into that curve...
Straight down Smoggy Point today - a little hairy on that last part, where the shoulder is like six inches, but not as bad as I expected. It's slightly downhill, which means I can be in top gear and get through it quickly. Bike to Work Day thursday - I can enter to win a trip to Tuscany. Root for me, man! Maybe I can trade it for cash!
Bit of fluff last night: Miss Congeniality. A Sandra Bullock vehicle, in which she is almost watchable. She does have a certain talent for the pratfall, but as an actor, she's found a character and always seems to plays that same slightly goofy "ugly duckling," with the hesitant delivery. Gets on my nerves a bit, but not so much in this movie. Call it fluff and give it five stars. Call it anything else, and start putting the stars back in their container...
Dead gopher snakes, some quite large. Must be mating season for them.
Passed a cop at the school on Roblar; he appeared to be waiting for speeders. Seldom do I feel any appreciation for this, but y'know, his presence makes the cars slow down a bit on that hill-and-curve. On the other hand, he also probably makes the drivers watch their rearview instead of the road ahead as they go into that curve...
Straight down Smoggy Point today - a little hairy on that last part, where the shoulder is like six inches, but not as bad as I expected. It's slightly downhill, which means I can be in top gear and get through it quickly. Bike to Work Day thursday - I can enter to win a trip to Tuscany. Root for me, man! Maybe I can trade it for cash!
Bit of fluff last night: Miss Congeniality. A Sandra Bullock vehicle, in which she is almost watchable. She does have a certain talent for the pratfall, but as an actor, she's found a character and always seems to plays that same slightly goofy "ugly duckling," with the hesitant delivery. Gets on my nerves a bit, but not so much in this movie. Call it fluff and give it five stars. Call it anything else, and start putting the stars back in their container...
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