Recreation Through Endurance http://homepage.mac.com/jastangl/blog/Nov_06_Blog.html What if you could start every day with a ride? How would it feel to see more dirt than concrete? Is it possible to wear a camelbak more than slacks? Pipe dreams, I know... But what is life without dreams? ...and sometimes those dreams come true where a couple times a week, lanes aren't determined by yellow and white lines, but by bench cuts and mossy singletrack. Sometimes, we wind down our day with a helmet hair and dirty skins. Even occasionally, just before the sun goes down, flying down the side of a mountain is the reward for struggling to the top, and those things help put everything else in perspective. Sat, 09 Dec 2006 19:40:38 -0500 60 The Fountain http://homepage.mac.com/jastangl/blog/Nov_06_Blog.html#yev186162059
]]> Sat, 25 Nov 2006 10:40:58 -0500 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Going_Dutch">Going Dutch</a> http://homepage.mac.com/jastangl/blog/Nov_06_Blog.html#ntw186038407
There's a bad habit I have of not getting really excited for an event until it's almost here. For example, my supervisor called me about a month ago and asked if I wanted to go to Veldhoven, for a one-week training class. Of course, I had to ask for an extra week of vacation so Liz could come out and we could hang out in Europe, just for the hell of it.

Liz will be flying into Amsterdam the morning after my class is done. What will we do for 4 days? I don't even know if there's anything fun to do there... Really, they have all these limits on behavior, like
"Avoid using cannabis in public It is unsafe and illegal. It is not allowed to smoke in the public (you can get a fine, but usually just a reminder from the policeman), and it is not polite either to roam the streets, shops or restaurants while stoned. You can easily bump into a bike or a tram and die. If you have to, use the cannabis in the privacy of the coffeeshop."
Also,
"No pictures of the Red Light District's windows Never take pictures of the occupied red windows in Amsterdam Red Light District, to respect the privacy of both the visitors and the workers of the district."
So, since those are out, what will we do? Perhaps, experience Heineken, or Rijksmuseum, or the Anne Frank house, or take a canal boat, or go see Van Gogh.

One thing that will be interesting, is to see a somewhat more liberal culture. Things like fountains and coffee may not be the same as in America. What will we do? It's hard to say, but I supposed we'll figure something out. All I know is that after making reservations, I'm starting to get excited.]]> Fri, 24 Nov 2006 00:20:07 -0500 Perscription for Pain http://homepage.mac.com/jastangl/blog/Nov_06_Blog.html#lfu185936914
During one afternoon earlier this week when I would've rather been mountain biking, I was reading the paper instead and came across an article that made me feel better. If you've gotten around Richmond at all, you've seen the Seal Team PT sessions and how hardcore the guy must be to put them on. Well, seems like he got it worse than I did. Popping a finger out of place in a bike wreck is nothing compared to breaking your neck on a trampoline. If he can push through that, I can quit my whining.

My checkup with the doctor perscribed the other PT, which I can't start since I'll be in the Netherlands for the next couple weeks. Guess I'm going to have to subject myself to my own painful recovery, which started today. Nothing like zip-tying your finger closed and keep cranking it down more and more until you can't stand it anymore. Give it a try sometime!]]> Wed, 22 Nov 2006 20:08:33 -0500 Mountain Biking Minus The Bike http://homepage.mac.com/jastangl/blog/Nov_06_Blog.html#mog185478477
It's rained pretty hard the last few days, almost all the leaves are down for the fall. The trails are harder to see and look very natural blending into the woods.

My finger's still in the healing process, or at least I hope it is since I still can't close my hand and can't ride the thick bike until it does close.

I've been running the road more lately, but it never feels fast since there's no danger or trees flying past.

Teva had a great offer on trail running shoes for $40 that I couldn't pass up.

There are sections of Forest Hill Park that descend hills with tight footing where, if you move your legs fast enough and hold your arms out like wings for balance, you can feel like your flying. It's a beautiful thing.
]]> Fri, 17 Nov 2006 12:47:56 -0500 The Tide Has Turned http://homepage.mac.com/jastangl/blog/Nov_06_Blog.html#drm185072355

The Onion

Republicans Blame Election Losses On Democrats

]]> Sun, 12 Nov 2006 19:59:15 -0500 I Can't Complain http://homepage.mac.com/jastangl/blog/Nov_06_Blog.html#cms184875789
Ok, here's the truth. I found a new HTML tag I wanted to use and wanted a paragraph to go with it. Enjoy.

]]> Fri, 10 Nov 2006 13:23:08 -0500 Age Like Wine http://homepage.mac.com/jastangl/blog/Nov_06_Blog.html#rut184657478
My friend, Jay, has been reconsidering the nature of America, and his place in it. A good friend who moved to Richmond from Texas about the same time I did felt, for very intangible reasons, he'd be better off back in Austin and now I don't have a source for music recommendations. More than one person has confided in me they're thinking about switching jobs out of boredom or lack of meaning. I'm reading Timequake, where the universe falls back 10 years and everyone's forced to relive a decade of their lives only able to observe their previous actions. I've heard of more break-ups than hook-ups. I also know I've been looking back more than forward lately.

Before new life can be born, the old layer needs to be shed. With the falling of the leaves (and the end of race season), life seems to be preparing for hibernation. Just stick it out guys. You'll be glad after the winter's over. It's the only way to enjoy yourself.

BTW: I can bend the finger a little more each day. Maybe I'll ride a mountain bike again someday.]]> Wed, 08 Nov 2006 00:44:37 -0500 Recent Random Thoughts http://homepage.mac.com/jastangl/blog/Nov_06_Blog.html#yxn184471073

Running in the cold at night is vastly underrated.

Zillow is vastly overrated.

Just because your fast on a bike, doesn't mean 26.2 is easy. Velonews reports Armstrong saying:
"In 20 years of pro sports, endurance sports, from triathlons to cycling, all the Tours, even the worst days in the Tours, nothing was as hard as that, and nothing left me feeling the way I feel now in terms of just sheer fatigue and soreness."



Ski season is a month away! Liz reminded me it's time to get those edges sharpened and bottoms waxed. ]]> Sun, 05 Nov 2006 20:57:52 -0500 On the road again http://homepage.mac.com/jastangl/blog/Nov_06_Blog.html#sbb184265116
Went out today for a reasonably short road ride. Partially due to a time crunch and partially because I didn't know how much my hand would allow me to take. Mountain biking is still several weeks out, but I figured if I kept the hills and bumps to a minimum, I could ride on skinny tires. After it was over and declared successful, I realized my forearms got a workout from the unusual handlebar positions. My forearms probably don't get enough exercise anyways.

Also, typing is almost normal. With the splint off, I can use my ring finger on those important keys, like "x" and "2" without also pressing 7 other keys. Now, I just have to work on closing my hand more than it's current level:

]]> Fri, 03 Nov 2006 11:45:16 -0500