~2385 / na / 366

Yep, we now have a year smoke-free. Two months drink-free. Unfortunately, also almost 11 months job-free.

~2370 / na / 335+

XXX: Triple Icks.

11 Months since the Habit That Dares Not Spark Its Flame. Now, more than one month since any alcohol.

2138.7 / 40.4 / 242

Eight months since the Habit That Dares Not Speak Its Name. Good 40-mile ride yesterday - longest ride yet, and as usual, perhaps a little more than I should've attempted.

AI (2001)

Been a while since I reviewed a movie here but, this one sucked so hard I think my VCR got a hickey. Here is a GREAT example of mindless spending on special effects in lieu of plot, characters, acting... William Hurt, who I generally respect as an actor, tries to keep his head down so his face is not associated with this pile of doodoo, but it's too late - we saw him. Jude Law sneaks in a pretty good performance as Gigolo Joe (in IMDB, Law is quoted as saying, "I would never know how to sell myself as a sex symbol. That's not how I'm programmed").

Haley Joel Osment shows a couple of moments of promise, and an hour of treacly make-it-go-away-ness that ensures his future in horror movies until he reaches adolesence and starts to look like John Elway, and then overdoses on a mixture of drugs and alcohol in a popular LA nightclub with Macaulay Culkin semi-implicated by calling for the ambulance.

Oh, but that's just one possible future.

Some rather expensive voices get no face-time in this movie...

Jack Angel (I) .... Teddy (voice)
Robin Williams .... Dr. Know (voice)
Ben Kingsley .... Specialist (voice)
Meryl Streep .... Blue Mecha (voice)
Chris Rock .... Comedian (voice)
Erik Bauersfeld .... Gardener (voice)

T notes that the most likable character in the story is Teddy, and it appears there's a good opening for a sequel. I rather hope Teddy can become a real bear and maul the other characters in that movie...

1779 / ~14 / 170

Annadel with Randy. Fun! The most "technical" riding I've yet done, mostly single-track, lots of rocks and roots (and mud, after the rain from the weekend! I was pretty much spattered all over with mud). I need some kind of toe-clips, or bigger pedals, for this kind of riding... I got left behind on the downhills, but not so much on the uphills.

~1765 / ~5 / 168

Did the West County Trail again Monday, and attempted to gear up (through a rainy week) to the new trail that goes from Big Rock to Loma Alta. I managed it yesterday, but not without a LOT of stops for air and water. I am a wimp still.

I realize that while I like riding on fire roads and stuff, I don't care to get very "technical." When the road gets a little steep I tend to inch my way down, unwilling to risk going over the handlebars or worse...

1746.6 / ~16 / 158

Checked out the West County Trail from here to Forestville and back. Pretty nice. There's about a mile stretch that doesn't have a paved bike path where you have to follow 116, but even that has a nice little single-track several yards away from the road. Then there are a few places where the bike path stops and restarts for short distances, but it's still really beats the hell out of the ride you'd have to do on 116. Now, if we can get the trail extended to the River and Armstrong Woods...!

On 2/15, I accomplished the stated goal of climbing the Burnside Road hill. The loop urned out to be closer to 20 miles than 17.

My current goal is to make the 17-mile loop that includes the full length (and height) of Burnside Road. I may try it today...

1700.5 / ~15 / 143

Road Rash somewhat ill, but still alive...

Lovely day out, and I managed the Pleasant Hill / Kennedy / Barnett Valley / Burnside / Watertrough route.

I was feeling really pretty down about still not having a job (though at least there have been jobs to apply for this week for which I felt I had at least a remote chance of getting an interview!). And now I'm relying on unemployment $$, having blown through a pretty big chunk of savings $$. And I just sit around here really not doing a whole lot - and not feeling there's a whole lot I *can* do. And the gym is starting to bore me, now that I took two weeks off to travel and have a cold, and I'm now questioning whether I really want "that kind" of muscle --- I REALLY just wanted to be slimmer, after all...

SO anyway, it's good that the weather's not crappy, and I can get out and do some significant miles.

Wore the bike shorts I got for xmas - modestly wearing sweats over them - and a sleeveless shirt to start on this year's tan (ha!). And the long climbs and drops on Barnett Valley and Burnside are good for the soul. Even though I'm *still* unemployed and *still* feel like a leaky money-boat in a vast ocean of non-opportunity, hey, it *is* a pretty world.

Rented and watched some old Burns and Allen shows last night - not as funny as Spike Jones, and George never *was* funny (the difference being that he was trying to be funny in later years), but Gracie had her moments, and was I suppose something of a pioneer as a woman comic...

While I'm not working, I mean to start drawing again - but of course as I worked out today, "All of art is in stARTing," and I haven't done more than buy supplies and think about it so far - there's still the blank page to contend with.

Ah well.