It's summer here in Tempe, AZ, which means the sun's up around 0500 and it's probably 95F by 0600. Normally my ritual would be to get up, pull on clothes, stagger half-asleep out the door with the dogs and walk them for an hour. Not so much when I'm pouring sweat and the dogs are avoiding the asphalt.

So, my morning ritual goes like this:

* Dogs ( Read more... )

Dunno what the big wide world out there is saying, but I've been enjoying Sounds of the Universe. Liked my first listen-through so much I bought tickets to see them live in August, in fact. Think I should wear a KMFDM t-shirt to the concert?

Observations and thoughts following three great days of riding in the Cortez/Durango bit of SW CO:

( Read more... )

So even after I told Linda I wouldn't need her services -- the cats could take care of themselves for a couple days, right? -- she still came over, brushed out my fluffy-wuffy puffball, gave everyone ice a couple times, and handed out treats. I can't really afford the luxury of a paid catsitter these days, but now I feel obligated to pony up ( Read more... )

Currently reading: Amberville. Totally effing weird  -- film noir featuring anthropomorphic stuffed animals -- but it's a fun ride. The fact it's translated from Swedish makes it even weirder. I love a good translation, and only getting it 90% right is part of the charm (see: War With The Newts).

Just started, waiting 'til Amberville is done: Fool ( Read more... )

Terminator: If this sucks I'll be so heartbroken. I love love love the trailer ( Read more... )

This is what I'm running these days on all my mountain bikes:

Ingredients:

• Moldbuilder Liquid Latex (http://www.eti-usa.com/consum/mbldbar/mldbldr.htm)
• Your favorite tube sealant. I like Flat Attack, 'cuz it's not as bright green and there's better particulates in it (little fibers)
• Ammonia (I use ammonia-based windshield wiper fluid)
• Particulate matter ( Read more... )

Just got word from someone who braved the threat of snow and ice atop Pinal Mountain. He reports that there's no snow on the trail and conditions are good ( Read more... )

My all-time favorite mountain bike epic is almost upon us! I'm feeling edgy and excited about it. A little nervous maybe, since I've not been hitting the gnarly stuff that hard lately and I have my doubts about my current health insurance situation (i.e. will they actually cover me if I go to the hospital ( Read more... )

I'm getting ready to take a family of five out on an absurdly easy loop this morning and I'm thinking.

Seriously: I love running mountain bike tours. I mean, I go through phases like with everything else in my life: When I was working on the road biking guidebook I was totally turned off the tour gigs. They felt silly, unnecessary. Just get on your ( Read more... )