Where are you??

I am sure my regular readers (all 3 of you) are wondering what the hell happened to Jay. WHen I was working I was posting at least once per day. Now that I am unemployed, it's like once per month. So you are thinking that I must be riding 4-5 hours per day getting ready for some of the big races at the end of the year..nope.

Just got back from a week long trip to Grand Junction, Telluride, Mesa Verde, Durango and Ouray. Went with my sister & mom celebrating her ahem...60th b-day. We had a great time seeing a bunch of beautiful scenery. I took 7 rolls of B&W and just developed them. I'm headind to the darkroom today to try to get some printing done. Of course I'll post some.

So the big news is I have figured out what I want to do with my life once I grow up! Over 6 months ago when I knew I would be getting laid off, I started seriously thinking about what I REALLY want to do. I went through staying in my current field (Network Engineer), working for a non-profit that I am passionate about, technical recruiting, commercial real estate, getting back into thte hotel business and I am sure a couple of other careers. After thinking and pondering about it I figured out that I wanted a career that I could benefit from personally and one that can not be shipped overseas. After thinking back to all the jobs I had, I thought about my late teens and early 20's when I worked for a landscaping company, fence company and a general contractor and realized that those were the jobs I really enjoyed. Getting into my work and using my hands and brain. So I asked around to friends and other people I met that knew the trades and asked them their thoughts. Most pretty much said start with HVAC and that will give you a great beginning.

I finished up my first week of classes at Red Rocks Community College. It has really opened up my eyes to make me wonder why I did not do this earlier in my life. I am taking 4 classes (Monday - Thursday nights) at 4 credits each. Fundamentals of Gas Heating, Refrigeration Fundamentals, Electricity for HVAC and Pipe Fitting Skills. I am stoked realizing that just after these classes I should be able to do more fixing around the house. The teachers seems pretty cool so far. I like 3 of the 4 and the 4th guy is ok. He is younger and comes across as the tough guy image. I am sure he is fine as a teacher and I just need to appease his personality.

Peace Out!

Here's Mack getting wet!

New Pics

I just posted a couple of new pics on flickr.
Enjoy!

Hitch Hiker

So here I am on my last interval today going up past Red Rocks and I look down at my rear derailleur. I see at grasshopper, large I might add, hanging on to the cable upside down. Crazy! So, after I finish the interval I turn around to start going downhill and I look down again and there he is now hanging on upright. It was actually pretty funny. He held on for about 5 more minutes, then climbed onto my cassette, not a good idea, but I did not pedal ;) and then he was gone. I was wondering if I was seeing thisngs since it was 92 degrees and I had just finished my 6th 8 minute LT interval. But I think it was real.

Here is a new picture I printed today. It was taken on top of Bierstadt looking out to Gray's & Torrey's. I'll start posting them on flickr as well.

Hmmm... weekly update?!

Ok, so it has been one week since I posted. I guess it's getting better than before. ;)

Here are 2 more pictures I took & printed. I really like the dew on the rose leaves. You have to see it in person to really appreciate it. I do have a few more negs I'd like to print. Some are from our recent trip up Bierstadt with some friends.

Shabbat Shalom!

What have I been up to?

So my last day at work was July 1 and my last post was a few days prior to that. Now that I have not been working for 3 weeks I have not posted. I guess that tells you what I was doing at work...

Let's see the TdF started on July 2 and I have been faithfully watching that every day. I have been riding my bike a lot. It has been sweltering hot, so fortunately I can ride earlier in the day than normal.

I also started taking a Photography class at Denver Darkroom. I am 3 weeks into the 4 week course and am really enjoying it. Here are a couple of my first prints. They are from the Parker Main Criterium on Saturday, July 16.


Not too bad if I say so myself. I have a couple of more to print, but when you are in the darkroom time goes by. It's like a black hole and kind of like sitting at a table in Vegas gambling.

It looks pretty darn clear that Lance will have #7. The time trial is tomorrow and the weather looks good, so he can go all out and finally win a stage this year. Not that it matters, but it would be nice to win a stage.

Ciao!

The Lost Liberty Hotel

Taken from Needcoffee.com
Logan Darrow Clements is our hero. Why? Because he's started the process necessary, in the town of Weare, New Hampshire, of taking privately owned land from a homeowner and turning it into a hotel. This is because private property rights in America have just been turned on their head by the Supreme Court: all you have to do is prove that you can bring in more revenue for the local government than a homeowner (not hard to do), and bingo–eminent domain can kick in and you can kick the homeowner out!

Why in the world would we be in favor of this? Because Clements wants to build this:

The proposed development, called "The Lost Liberty Hotel" will feature the "Just Desserts Café" and include a museum, open to the public, featuring a permanent exhibit on the loss of freedom in America. Instead of a Gideon's Bible each guest will receive a free copy of Ayn Rand's novel "Atlas Shrugged."

And he wants to build it where Supreme Court Justice David H. Souter's home is now. Read the full press release here. We heartily endorse Clements and will probably invest capital in this endeavor when the time is right.

Celebrate your fireworks electronically

I think instead of driving out to see fireworks, this year I am going to get cozy by the computer and create my own show.

Honda Delivers FCX Fuel Cell Vehicle to World's First Individual Customer

This is very cool!
Read the story here.

More Proof the Government Does Not Work for Us Working Class People

Now under consideration when you buy your next house; make sure it is not in an area that developers may want to put a mall, hotel, spa or tax revenue generator for your local government.

Taken from the Denver Post today:
"The Supreme Court today ruled that local governments may seize people's homes and businesses - even against their will - for private economic development."

Thank you to Justice Sandra Day O'Connor who argued that cities should not have unlimited authority to uproot families, even if they are provided compensation, simply to accommodate wealthy developers.

Read the story here.

Mojito Fever

A cool refreshing drink and perfect for this time of year, especially the way the weather has been (HOT!).

I had my first Mojito a couple of years ago and have only had a few since then. However, earlier this year I made a plan to grow some mint and have them all summer long.

Last night it began....hmmmm...didn't even realize that today is the first day of summer, so it was perfect timing. And it was a perfect drink! I guess you can screw up a Mojito, since I was not impressed with Mynt's, but I thought mine was very tasty.

Here is the recipe taken directly from the Bacardi web site:

1 serving
1.5 oz. BACARDI rum
12 fresh spearmint leaves
½ lime
4 tsp. sugar
Top off with club soda

Muddle mint leaves and lime in tall glass. Add sugar and fill
glass with ice. Add BACARDI rum and club soda; stir well. Garnish glass with
lime wedge and sprigs of mint.
*side note - make sure you stir real well. You need to make sure the sugar, lime juice & mint flavor gets throughout the drink for maximum taste.

To muddle, a muddler would be nice, but you can use anythig that will break up the mint and lime juice. Here is a fancy one I found online at Crate and Barrel. All the other ones I have seen and used are wooden, shaped like miniature baseball bats. Unfortunately the 2 liquor stores I went to had no idea what I was asking for or talking about. I guess they never worked in a bar before. So I will be shopping for one soon.

I hope this new 'addiction' does not turn out like my friend JD's a few summers ago with Mint Juleps. ;)

Dancing Queen

iPod's Royal nod 

Courtesy of the Sydney Morning Herald
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II has dipped into the royal purse to snap up an iPod, a report said today.

Britain's biggest-selling daily The Sun said the 79-year-old sovereign had bought a six-gigabyte silver model for £169 ($A400).

The pocket-sized digital music players can hold up to 10,000 downloaded songs.

Queen Elizabeth's second son Prince Andrew, fourth in line to the throne, was reported to be behind the move, having bought his mother a mobile phone and taught her how to use it in 2001.

"The Queen loves music and was impressed by how small and handy the iPod is," a royal insider told the tabloid.

"Obviously it is quite complicated to download songs, but I'm sure one of the courtiers will do it for her.

"Prince Andrew will probably also help out because he's a real dab hand with gadgets."

Abba's Dancing Queen and Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears might be on the royal iPod, the newspaper suggested.

Courtesy of the Sydney Morning Herald

Pass the Pigs

I vaguely remember this game and just heard about it on a recent podcast. Ahh... the good old days when it was easy to entertain yourselves without electronics and such. Even though this is an electronic form, it is still fun and a great way to pass the time. ENJOY!

Are you Kidding Me People?!

Discovery channel has a program called The Greatest American. They have a list of the top 25 people that came out of a list of 100. Some of the nominees are: Muhammad Ali, Rosa Parks, Neil Armstrong, Ben Franklin, Bill Gates. As I am looking at the list I see George Bush's name listed. How the heck did he make this list? And there are a few others that I was surprised to see, but come on, George Bush?! PUH-LEASE!

MMMMMM!!! Bike Porn!

Trek's new weapons for the Discovery Team Tour de France campaign.

For more pictures and the story go to CyclingNews.com

Lance Armstrong's new Trek Madone SSLX  

Trek's new TTX time trial bike was a winner on its first time out, as George Hincapie blasted to victory on his new TT rig at the 7.9km Prologue of the Criterium du Dauphine Libere in Aix-les-Bains. 

Can I/We Wait This Long?!

Paris Hilton plans to give up public life for family life -- but not immediately.

The hotel heiress, 24, star of "The Simple Life" reality series, told Newsweek magazine that when she was younger, "I thought it was cute to play a dumb blonde. On TV, I do it because it's funny. I consider myself a businesswoman and a brand."

But Hilton says she plans to give up her public life in two years, by which time she expects to become a mother with her fiance, Paris Latsis.
Star Tribune

Once the TdF starts, I'll change my countdown clock so we can all see how much longer we have to put up with her. ;)

Dia de la Bandera

That's Flag Day in Spanish ;)
I also just learned that Flag Day in Argentina is June 20. The internet is a wonderful thing!

Here's a little trivia for you to celebrate Flag Day:
Do you need to burn the flag if it touches the ground?
For the answer and other cool stuff...go here.

Something here is wrong!

In Denver News...Repeat DUI Offender Gets Heavy Sentence

Things I see wrong:
1) Repeat DUI Offender - Why is this guy still driving after 7! DUI arrests?!
2) Heavy Sentence - 24 years in prison is not heavy enough for killing someone

How did the courts/law allow this guy to get back behind the wheel? Did he have a current driver's license and insurance? I realize that he could drive a car without those and risk the chance of getting pulled over.

During the news broadcast he was requesting to be put in a prison near where his mother lives so he could be close since she was sick. I'm sorry Ramon, but you screwed up! Why should anyone try to cater to you anymore? You have had 7 opportunities to change your life and once again you f'd up! You are so lucky that the law only allows a maximum of 24 years. I would give you life with no opportunity for parole or even visitation rights!
100% RESPONSIBILITY!!

Truth or Urban Legend?

I came across this entry at my favorite Urban Legends site, Snopes.com and wonder (as they do) if it is a true story. I think it is, not because I know, but because I have a gut feeling it is. Hopefully we will get more information as time goes by and those crafty researchers at Snopes.com uncover more.

Here is a snippet..."I am picturing a board room full of executives giving props to the young promising engineer that figured out how to squeeze an additional row of seats onto this plane by putting them next to the LAV. I would like to flush his head in the toilet that I am close enough to touch, and taste, from my seat."