big Brit

Change

2010-03-22T11:22:00.000-07:00

probably coming. watch this space

Walking away

2010-03-17T07:02:00.000-07:00

Weird day today. My Madone is arriving at it's new owners, some lawyer from Jersey. Ironically, the last time i walked away from Road riding, i sold my Fondriest to a lawyer as well.

That time, i knew it wasn't a permanent move, just financially, things were at a point where i needed to move the merchandise.

This time though, I'm not so sure. the cash is nice, and will go to pay for a backyard patio and makeover, something that i've wanted for a while, and the last big thing on the house for a while.

but still, i'm a bit bummed that there is a good chance this is the end of road riding for me for probably the longest stretch i'll ever go through. I love bike riding, and it really does make me a bit torn when it comes to my free time (which is rare). i just know the level of frustration i found when on the bike, and not being fit was almost as bad as not riding at all.

But, things change. times change, and i wouldn't give up my life for anything, nor change a thing.

2010-01-13T18:00:00.000-08:00

reading http://jenn.livejournal.com/ made me realise that i too have been neglegent in the blog. so, brian, matt, mike and ron, sorry. ;) (and jenn?)

anywho. I now have a one year old !?!? i'm done counting her age in months. i think it's stupid.
she's just crazy adorable. the phrase "uh-oh" has entered her vocabulary. it's pretty weird and cool.

work, has been challenging. this is the first full 5 day week i've spent in one office in over two months. maybe three? i dunno. i like the idea of the new role, but it's proving hard to get peoples attention when i need it.

and, we bought a BMW. honestly, completely honestly, i love the fact that i own one more than the car it's self. i thouught it would take a lot longer to be able to do it.

it is a rippin' hoot to drive.

2009-09-03T18:27:00.000-07:00

it's been a Looooong time since i've had to pull an all nighter at work, but this is shaping up to be a good one. new biz, which seems to have new importance these days, as always. both copiers are broken, and so we're double hamstrung with that issue.

Baby G is just amazing. cut her first tooth this week. crawling, just being amazing.

consolidating

2009-08-17T06:22:00.000-07:00

so, i've made the decision to sell both the LHT, and the Motobecane. (and an extra wheelset to boot).

I don't ride either, much, and both are so similar it just doesn't make sense. Rather, i'm going to circle wayyyy back around to what i originally intended to do when this whole thing started, and pick up a Soma or a Cross check. something i can cross on, but also tour, if so inclined. I would even be willing to spend more coin, but there is jsut nothing in that $600 frame/fork catagory, and i can't quite make the lead to a $1000+ frame and fork that will get used once a month at best.

2009-07-20T05:56:00.001-07:00

quiet this morning. i tired running, but to no avail. i might try again tonight, after i get home. decided to sip my espresso on the back porch as the sun crept through the bushes and trees. peace. stella ambled around, and then plopped on the porch with me for a while. good dog. good dog.

it really was just a perfect weekend, spending time with my wife, baby, friends, family. it was the kind of weekend that makes me feel so grateful for everything i have, so happy.

2009-06-25T06:28:00.000-07:00

new pains of late have me thinking I need to get some activity back in my schedule. my lower back, stomach and ankles are constantly hurting, and i'm waking up with headaches. while I could go to the doc, i'm not that crazy about the service i get anymore, and honestly, i think i just need to loose weight and work out.

Work on the house has tapered, mostly because we're running out of stuff that needs to be done. the wine room is going along ok. i want to have that done by fall, which should be doable. if i can get the final framing done this weekend, that would be stellar.

Gianna is just wonderful. every day it seems she does something new, and she's jsut a pleasure to be around.

that's all for now.

Observations

2009-05-18T14:14:00.000-07:00

one car family
sunscreen
lighting
soups
cycling
satisfaction
becoming close to debt free

2009-04-14T05:58:00.000-07:00

wanted to get one in under the 1 post/month deadline (and the last post was rather weak).

Anywho, have managed to get back onto the bike a bit now that it's lighter, later which is nice. i really miss riding, and hope this is the long, slow crawl out of the fitness hole i'm in.

Gianna is doing fabulous. She's started on rice cereal, which looks something like runny paste. she seems to like it though, and after a rough night, she's settled into eating it pretty well. she also got the hang of getting spoon fed amazingly fast.

House projects are starting to stack up, inside and out. On the short list:

Finish planting outside/on the slope
Shed
Fence
Paint Siding
Back porch knee-wall
tile back porch
patio
Attic steps

on the long side, we're thinking about adding a master bathroom, which means re-configuring our upstairs, and also possibly adding a room either into the attic, or over the back porch. neither are easy, but, the back porch option does allow for us to possibly make it a "green" renovation, maybe adding solar and a rain collection system.

2009-03-17T19:25:00.001-07:00

is anyone actually reading this blog anymore?

2009-03-05T05:48:00.000-08:00

Floor is in. Pretty easy, but you have to be a bit more delicate with the boards that i was initially. also going to have to figure out some trim sections that didn't quite go as planned.

Ordered new doors last night from Home depot, Front and Patio. I have to say i'm pretty pumped about them. We ran into an issue with the fornt, in that it was a very odd size, but the HD guy did a really nice job of getting the right thing, and not trying to kill us on something we didn't need.

2009-02-23T11:18:00.000-08:00

yes, two posts in one month.

Gianna is doing wonderful, smiles and coo's all the time. and sleeping through the night. :)))

basement is coming along. need to sand the drywall once more, and then should be ready for paint and flooring. i used my better judgement on the tile sections that are going to see heavy foot traffic, and put down a hardy-backer board with about 30 tapcons. should be pretty solid.

I'm also most certainly going to have to pour a new floor in the wine room. it's just too un-level to do anything else. I do plan on using the same method as before, taking up the volume with some quick-crete and then getting close with the topping mix before i use the self leveler, since that stuff is $30/bag, and i'll need like 5 or 6.

I'm also so sick of winter and indoors. want to start working in my garden.

2009-02-02T06:21:00.000-08:00

basement is coming along nicely. finished all of the framing in the main section, and was able to run power to one wall, and once i find the right breaker, will run to the outlet under the stairs. I should be ready to pour a floor leveler in the next few weeks, and my father in law is coming down next weekend to help me move some pipes so i can relocate the washer and slop sink.

Still debating on a floor finish. i have the snap-n-go tile samples, and they are pretty nice, but i really want to put a wood-laminate down, it'll jsut look so much nicer. hummmm.

2009-01-23T07:35:00.000-08:00

observations:

Poor health & increased coffee intake
Fresca
Sunlight
My Blackberry
Cycling season
Ryobi 18v Cordless system

Cars:
No: Ford Flex, Suzukis

Maybe: Dodge RAM, Mazda 6

Yes: Acura TSX, BMW 3 series

2009-01-02T07:01:00.000-08:00

so, i bought a cross bike. it'll be here tuesday. I had bought the Surly with hopes/dreams of doing touring rides, bumbling along country roads for hours on end, maybe stopping in a cafe for a drink, some lunch, etc.

then, i came-to0.

I live in Pittsburgh, and i think the visions i had were somewhere in the Lake District in England.
I also don't see myself being able to take 6 hours for a riding day anytime in the next 5 years.

I can do an hour on the cross bike, and have fun, and be 5 mins from my house. (and do it at night possibly, too).

Should actually be a pretty sweet setup tho. I've got a set of Reynolds Mid-V wheels i'm going to use, and a full 105 10spd group that's actually pretty light. I need a front mech, and a seat/seatpost (and i may use my old beat up flite saddle) but that's pretty much it.

The LHT will be reborn with with some flat bars, the fenders and rack will go back on, and probably a cheapo 9spd group. onward, again!

2008-12-15T06:57:00.001-08:00

Back at work this week. it was not easy to leave the family this morning. Gianna was all warm and cuddled up on my chest before I left. I don't want to miss a second of her. only 6 more hours

2008-12-07T10:10:00.000-08:00

Gianna Mary Burke
7lbs, 11oz
December 1st.

2008-11-03T09:58:00.000-08:00

mananged to get out on the bike on saturday for a couple of hours. really nice day for riding, what with the temps and stuff. i need to explore the north side more.

had a good night out with the boys this weekend as well, first to the squirrel cage for some beverages, and then onto double wide for some bbq. it was good to get out with them, not that anything has been holding me back from that, just some how, time seems to be ticking pretty fast these days.

I'm mentally starting to line up spring house projects. with the bulk of the interior work done, and the major landscaping out of the way, i think i'm going to be looking at really starting to "polish" the house. I'd like to do a patio, and eventually some sort of enclosure of the back porch (like folding glass doors or something that we can open up). I'm also pretty set on a wood stove back there as well. Wittus has some nice/modern stuff.

We're going to do a new fence, mostly to keep the nosy neighbors away, and so I can have my fire bowl in the summer nights.

i'm also going to be putting in a new, bigger retaining wall on the back side of the house. i'm thinking about having some steps that come off the back side as well, since it's kinda unusable the way it stands right now.

2008-10-28T05:31:00.000-07:00

quiet in the office today. i get in early as a rule, more to set the course for the day then accomplish any actual work, since most of what i do is on the run, and involves other people in the office.

it's nice though when no-one else is here. the clocks go back next week, which i desperately need to help my body with the sleeping issues. Sunlight is natures alarm clock, and my Dr highly recommends that i stand facing the sun for 20 minutes every morning when I get up. that's fine, but right now, it's still dark out when I do that.

2008-10-20T13:39:00.000-07:00

peace and quiet surrounded me. i padded back to the bedroom. Both dogs were curled up on the bed with my wife, the husky's tail tucked over her nose to keep her warm. must be genetic. Casey was warm, curled up under the covers, the baby growing inside her, making her sleepy.

It was frosty out, the first time this year, when i opened the back door. the dogs wandered into the kitchen and out into the yard, and I stepped into the cool air, the sun not yet up, but just starting to turn the sky blue from black.

I love this time of the day. it's quiet, and the house is calm.

observations...

2008-10-06T05:16:00.000-07:00

the new mazda 6.
i have a new pet peeve about wrinkled sweaters. just don't do it.
Burberry.
christmas trees in Lowes
evasiveness

and...disturbing trends in womens footware.
NO: "Gladiators", "Wedges"

MAYBE: "Peep Toes"

YES: "Boots", "Heels"

Thinking about a career as a tile layer. I did my parents entry way this weekend. i think I'm at the point now where i could charge for my skills, although to date i have not had to lay anything as tricky as marble. $250/Day, 1/2 day minimum.

2008-09-24T10:30:00.000-07:00

ok. i get that $700 bazillion dollars is alot of money ($2167 for every person in the US, according to CNN). i get that no-one wants to bail out failed institutions. i get all that. but, people, PEOPLE, i'm trying to re-fi my second mortgage this week, and i'll very pissed if this mucks that up.

thanks

2008-09-22T10:01:00.000-07:00

nothing too crazy to report lately. Baby is growing, doing well.

Mostly been trying to wrap up landscaping jobs around the house. I'd say i'm 80% done. going to try and get some shrubs in before it gets too cold, and need to weatherproof some windows.

Work has been trying, with moves across the board, good and bad. enough about that tho.

On fatherhood.

2008-08-12T07:21:00.000-07:00

When I was 20, the notion of being a parent was laughable

When you're 25, the notion of being a parent was scary, but not unrealistic

When I was 30, the notion of being a parent was exciting.

I'll turn 31 before my daughter is born, pretty much the exact age I though i would be when Casey and I would have our first child. It's hard to define when i turned the corner from scary to exciting. I think seeing my friends go first helped, but there was also something deeper inside that just clicked one day, quietly that said "I'm ready" (which is probably a laughable comment as well, since i'll probably be turned on my head with this whole thing). Still, it's a chapter in my life i'm very much looking forward to.

2008-07-24T05:48:00.001-07:00

wow, what a great day to ride. wow.

2008-07-22T18:39:00.000-07:00

thar she blows...

Long Haul Trucker

2008-07-21T13:32:00.000-07:00

F/F Surly 4130 Cro Mo
H/S Cane Creek SL2- Silver
BB 105 External BB
Crank- 105 Close-ratio triple 30-40-50, 170mm for spinnin'
F/D & R/D -105 1ospd, long cage
Chain- Whipperman
Bar/Stem- Bontrager Race
Shifters- 105 10spd
Pedals- SPD 323 flip-flop
Wheels- currently Bontrager Race, soon to be custom, Salsa rims w/ XT hubs.
Saddle- Turbo

Casey calls this my dork bike. or dork-y bike, depending on the context. it's HEAVEN to ride. i could seriously see how you could ride 150 miles a day on a bike like this, fully loaded.

It also marks the end to competitive cycling for me, for the next few years, but hopefully, a return to full time commuting.

Two rides

2008-07-09T06:13:00.000-07:00

So, slowly, I've been able tog et back on the bike, now that the main renovations are done in the house, and we're just waiting for the baby in Caseys belly to grow.

I've done more than two rides, but the last two rides, Monday and then yesterday, were of note.

Monday. longest ride of the year for me. used to be that 2+ hours was no thing, but breaking the 2 hours barrier after a year off was a pretty nice thing to do. It was actually a freak of nature that allowed the ride to happen at all. A strong microburst rolled through down town, causing a roof drain on our office to burst sending 1000 gallons of water through the ceiling. we're 1 floor removed from the action, on 19, but it was enough to fill about 2 small dumpsters and several garbage cans and the floor of our server room (not good).

Any, the ride. eerily quiet on the roads, and on the jail-trial, i just pounded it out, trying to spin as much as possible while still move at a clip. felt really good to be on the road bike again, but i think i wil need to tweak both my position (up a bit) and my low gear (down a bit) until i'm in better shape. I actually put a hurt on me getting back home, up the hills. i was by no means "in a pain cave without a flashlight" as a matter of fact, i'd say my pain cave was very well illuminated and apparent. Regardless, hurting felt good and bad all at once, and i have along way to go.

Tuesday. MTB ride in frick. the MTB has been seeing more action lately, since i can dance for an hour in frick and still be home for supper before it gets dark. If you've ever ridden there, you know that many of the trails follow the edge of steep drops, kind of a shale-rockface, not the kind of thing you can ride down (or up). I've often wondered what would happen if i ate it off the edge of one of those. last night, i found out. took a section i ride pretty much every time i go out just a wee bit fast, and could not keep my line, and veered off the trail. No biggie, i'll just plant a foot and bail onto this tree, keeping a hand out to catch my fall. And then i just kept going. I missed the tree i was planning on grabbing onto (it did get my bike, however) and started to slide. I might have hit a dead vertical section for a few feet, as i was certainly airborne, coming to land back on the slop, slid a few more feet, and stopped, upright, standing in the creek below. Wow, that was scary, slo-motion but scary stuff. my shoulder was sore, but didn't feel like it was out of place, and aside from alot of brush burn, seemed to be ok.

I wasn't immediately in the mood to keep riding, but, a guy who i kinda new was actually not far behind me, and came upon my bike in the trail, and looked down to see my scaling the root/shale/mud wall back up. He hung out until i was upright, and we ended up riding for about an hour together, exploring some of the stuff up behind the cemetery. i even rode down a hill i wrecked on a few weeks ago, which was a good confidence boost.

So I think this riding thing is back, for a while at least. No competition, just riding, for fun. (and i have a Surly Long Haul Trucker on the way as well, but that's a different tale)

2008-04-08T05:40:00.000-07:00

Done, counters in, sink plumbed, done.

Done.

Done! We're DONE. D-O-N-E. Done.. (new couch as well)

2008-04-01T05:44:00.000-07:00

i'm waiting for the plumbing inspector. i think i've got the wrong job. this guy gets to bang me for $125 for 4 minutes of his time.

2008-03-24T19:13:00.000-07:00

so, finally, some kitchen updates...

Before

Before, again

Before, again, again

big hole in the wall

more big holes, down to the studs

framing started on the powder room

drywall, and the bar framed out

dog love

more drywall

finished drywall

tile floor after grout, before sponge

finished floor, and paint!

cabinets, appliances, new living room color, lights, etc

stove & range hood. and dog. (dog was extra)

fingerprints easily....

so, what's left? well, counter tops are 2 weeks out, and they need to re-ship the dishwasher enf panel, but we're close!

2008-02-17T18:21:00.001-08:00

powder room demo is complete, kitchen demo starts next weekend. bought me a shiney new crow-bar.

i've got an appointment with a specialist tomorrow to see why i can't get rid of the cold and headaches i've had since mid December. apparently my CT showed some things my regular Dr. didn't like, or understand.

2008-02-06T18:20:00.000-08:00

it's weird how much something can affect you. Sheldon passed away this week, and is being well documented by the entire web community. I had only one exchange, below with him, but like everyone else, have referred to his site many many many times. having spent the better part of my life in bike shops, i can't tell you the power of having all his information in one place, and what it means to have a connection to a personality like his.

sometimes it's not about luck, but time just expires. farewell.

David Burke to CaptBike

11/9/06

Hi-

We've never met, but i thought I'd send an email and a quick good luck. i read your heath pages, and well, "get better soon" doesn't quite seem to seem appropriate. You've got a fan base in Pittsburgh, PA Lot's of enthusiasts around here refer to your site constantly, and as a self confessed bike geek, i do the same.

Dave Burke

Sheldon Brown to me

11/9/06

Reply

Thanks for your concern. I'm bearing up OK, some days better than
others. I guess I'll just have to play out whatever cards I've been
dealt.

I'll continue updating http://sheldonbrown.com/health as news comes in...

All the best,

Sheldon
--
Harris Cyclery, West Newton, Massachusetts
Phone 617-244-9772 FAX 617-244-1041
http://harriscyclery.com
Hard-to-find parts shipped Worldwide
http://captainbike.com
Useful articles about bicycles and cycling
http://sheldonbrown.com

2008-01-22T01:07:00.000-08:00

this hasn't happened in a while. maybe too much stress, but sleep appears to be elusive for me tonight. i'm not even that anxious about trying to get back to sleep, just can't shut down right now.

smoke and bikes

2008-01-01T13:14:00.000-08:00

trying out the new smoker today, courtesy of my inlaws. beef ribs. going for a 5 hour smoke. should be nice and tender.

Did a new years ride today as well. went to frick, and spent 90 minutes in the dirt. found/discovered a new trail that was pretty sweet. need to get to some other areas though too.

when your product leaves your brand

2007-12-26T19:05:00.000-08:00

my mother bought my niece a Polaroid camera for Christmas. she wanted her to be able to take pictures and get them instantly. you know, like, uh, a Polaroid . problem is, the name has overtaken the product that you're hard pressed to actually find a real, instant Polaroid camera any more. What does this translate into? well, for one, a confused shopper, or owner. there was never actually any confusion over what the camera was supposed to do, only confusion when it came to opening the box to realize that it was no such device.

the power of the brand name had superseded the product details on the box to such an extend that the shopper (in this case, my mother) just assumed that she was getting a Polaroid camera like we all know and love.

2007-12-13T05:38:00.000-08:00

so, i hit 40 hours this week before i stepped in the door... at 7am...

It's awsome though. nuts, high stress, etc but you can't beat the vibe.

and you thought this was done...

2007-11-21T11:02:00.000-08:00

not done, just time to wipe the slate and start over...