I So Rule

Despite a moderate level of intoxication, I rode my bike no-hands, standing on the pedals, and made a controlled 90-degree turn. You should have seen the smile on my face. Reminds me of my distant cousin: Wolverine.

Silver Medal Winner

Futurama is pure genius. "Mexico. Silver medal winner: Mexican-American war."

Halloween vs Thanksgiving

Halloween is my least favorite holiday, mercifully flanked by Thanksgiving, my favorite. Also: optical drives are this generation's printers and fax machines, and my bike-across-America excursions page is finally set up (just need a tent).

It's no trouble

"No. I'll shoot the cook. My car is parked out back anyway." Brilliant.

New Trick

I tried to ride the whole Southern Greenway hands-free. The main obstacles: a blind turn onto a narrow bridge, oblivious side-by-side cyclists, and a mother/daughter duo who blocked the road. I need a horn. Specifically, a large, shiny, chrome one.

Senior Recruiter

In software, everyone's resume says "senior", so in silent protest I dropped titles from mine entirely. Yet every recruiter who calls is a "senior recruiter", never a junior one. I look forward to the day a recruiter intern finally contacts me.

Pikes Peak

The Barr Trail sign says Pikes Peak's 13 miles and 7,300 feet can be hiked "at a brisk pace" in eight hours. I'd never call our pace brisk, more a purposeful saunter. We finished in 6:59:57.

Happy 30th Birthday, ...

Happy 30th birthday, Ethernet. You make my world go 'round.

A Near Miss

Let me tell you a story. Queue the banjo. There was once a liquor store with an abundant supply of cheap, refrigerated champagne, and those careless mimosa afternoons flowed without reservation. Then, slowly, the stock began to diminish.

Thirst Quenching

Lesson learned: be vigilant rinsing your bike water bottle, and don't neglect the cap. That distinct Palmolive taste isn't exactly thirst quenching.