when new years resolutions die

last week:
calorie counting
strength training
base miles

this week:
beer/fast food/soda
did some push-ups on my floor
short intense ride

Disappointing will.

Now is the Winter of our Discontent

I like discovering new things about myself. It turns out that I like to meet new people and really enjoy a good raged out indie trance techno jam session from time to time. Box wine is a fine lubricant to get the legs moving. Last night allowed the intrinsic warmth to return to the heart. Not quite there yet, "but I've got to admit it's getting better, better all the time."

St. Louis was beautiful today. With no forewarning, the skies cleared, the sun appeared, and the winds settled. This is time when the folks with any sense of logic reach for a mountain bike and shred tail like tax documents. I managed an afternoon ride at the Chubb, strangely not one of my favorite trails, but I assumed rocks equate to dry trail. Assumptions confirmed. Started in the east and rode the low stuff heading westward. Pretty good ride despite having lost all aerobic capacity. Somewhat worried about early season race performace.

Oddly, the Meramec was gorgeous; I never would have conjectured. The water appeared a spearmint green with patches of white ice flow giving view of the bright yellow sand beaches at each bend. I wish I had my camera.

Inaugural Ride for the Year of the Ox

Spent the last few weeks since Christmas at the edge of America, hiking in the Chisos Mountains. I often need breaks like this to rest the mind and recharge the proverbial battery. Having taken a long siesta from reality, school, the midwest, showering, and cycling, I return home to have my life explode in my face like an a la carte semtex sandwich. Pain and anguish gratis.

Not feeling like discussing my personal life further with the bits and bytes of our computers, I spare any further details.
Stumbling about attempting to pike up the pieces reminiscent of some natural disaster survivor, I climbed back into the saddle and attempted to sooth the soul with each subsequent stroke. Kings of Leon, TV on the Radio, & the Killers were my guides.

Friday was gorgeous weather to return to, affording some dirt bike action at Castlewood. Astoundingly, the legs cooperated and showed little sign of degradation. Sadly though, trail conditions were moist secluding me to the few rocky portions of the wood. One can only do so many runs up the east ends of Lone Wolf and Grotpeter. {Man I can't wait to move west...} Fortunately many other St. Louisisans capitalized on the weather reprieve as well, churning the moist trail into RUT-abaga borscht. Castlewood should be nice and crap come springtime!

Today I found myself meandering about the city and the rivertrail. Put in some miles for the base building thing I keep hearing about. Base building = bore fest. Some mind and muscle enhancing drugs would sure go well with my humus sandwich.

Here's to 2009, things can only get better. I eagerly await.