Slept in a little bit this morning - stayed up a little too late working on a new template for my cookblog - will continue tonight, it's not finished.

Ran a few xmess errands this early afternoon, then went on a 45 mile bike ride - finally it had stopped raining. Was a very nice ride, a litle chilly, damp, but the Annandale loop was almost empty...guess people were out xmess shopping or enjoying the warmth of the indoors.

Ran a few errands afterwards, came home and showered, wrapped a few presents. Promised my parents I'd cook for them, so I made my Linguini with Prosciutto, Pancetta in a Garlic Butter Shitake Mushroom Sauce, but I used wheat pasta and omitted the butter, substituted the pancetta with canadian bacon - Mom is on the South Beach Diet. It was very tasty, they appreciated the meal.

Tomorrow, I am attending the National Museum of the American Indian for the first time since it opened this past Fall. I have no doubt that it will be a profound experience.

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Very busy day at work, then all of a sudden - total slow down. Was nice to have a lazy late afternoon at work for a change. It rained all day again - for a moment thought I wouldn't have a chance to bike - but it slowed down to a light to heavy mist.

Geared up, and headed out towards East Falls Church - it was really misty, I had to wipe my clear bike glasses every few minutes to comprehend the road. Approaching Herndon, I see what looks like the reflection of cat's eyes ahead - i came closer...it was the fugliest opossum, with a meniacle nasty grin. It took one look at me and fell over - pretending to be dead, right smack in the middle of the bike trail. Coward. I encountered him on the way back (he looked like a clear bag full of sweaty lawn grass), an hour and a half later - he was still there - he did the exact same thing. Double coward. It was still a nice 36 mile ride.

I look forward to over the weekend for a bike ride or two in the light, no rain and a little warmer. THen again, after all - it is December (winter).

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Rain Rain, GO AWAY....come back some other day

Rained ALL day here. Was depressing to wake up to - was cold, dreary - made it difficult to get out of bed. Not to mention, making for a horrid commute to work. Work was a whirlwind of last minute jitters, paranoia, stress before we launch something and debut - major pressure. It all got done, but the full blown thing will finalize tomorrow.

I was debating to take a bike ride at all after work - it was raining, dark, cold. I decided to "feel it out", so I went ahead and suited up, and went down to my car - assembled bike in rain, moved bags around, put on headlights battery, balacava, earband, gloves, helmet, waterbottle, hydration pack, blinkers....then I had an ipiphany - what the hell am I doing? It was at that point, a complete torrential downpour, 44 degrees, and dark. I sat there in the parking lot, already soaked to the bone from getting ready to embark on a really miserable ride - I just looked up at the sky and said "screw it". Packed everything up, dried off as much as I could.....hopped into my car, and spent 1.5 hours in traffic (instead of 25 minutes) driving home. THAT was miserable. And treacherous. I was glad to get home - pure commuter drama. Tomorrow will be a long day, and more of the same rain. Hopefully it will finish before the end of my work day - I get edgy when I miss a day of training.

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Busy, yet boring ass day at the office...somedays..I wish I was a bit more challenged. I need to take on that initiative, but if anyone has been following this blog - they know why I have not taken on a new challenge (yes, interviews are still happening, et al..)

Promptly left work at 5:30pm to go on a bike ride. Was colder than I thought - was supposed to be warmer (not freezing). Turned out to be a really nice 36 mile ride.

Tonight, I finally looked into something that I had been thinking about after seeing many times on my rides...street names, there is this one Michael Faraday Drive...just one of many street names that I pass...this one perplexed me for many rides...and about a month ago, I decided to look into it. I think I have a short term memory, because every evening that I would see the sign, I would try to remind myself to look up the name online. And EVERY night I would forget...then kick myself the next time for forgetting. I've been playing this game now for a month....so FINALLY...tonight..I remembered.

Quite Interesting (and I'm a little suprized I did not know who he was...at least his name and/or accomplishments), Michael Faraday was a gifted self taught then appointed scientist/inventor. Of his most noteable things he is attributable is Iodine and the battery powered electric engine. Very fascinating.
Then I smacked my head, "gee, no wonder there is an Isaac Newton Street a half mile from this..." Gosh forbid there be a Bill Gates Avenue or something.

I think I may try to do something a little bit different this Spring....I found this neat long trek (do-able in a long weekend) The Allegheny Trail Alliance Bike Route (click on overview map). Looks like fun - I may solicit some bike buddies to see if they may be interested. I could bike from Georgetown (Washington, DC) out to Pittsburgh, PA (184.5 miles on C&O Canal to Cumberland, MD) then on the Allegheny Passage Trail (150 miles from Cumberland, MD to Pittsburgh, PA). I am definately looking into this.

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Dreary morning to wake up to....raining...foggy, but unseasonably not-so-chilly (hence the fog). Sleepy day at work - but busy with stress, heavy deadline approaching. Got out of the office on time to go on my bike ride. It was almost dark, and wet (no rain though). It wasn't cold though.

Turned into an incredibly peaceful bike ride to East Falls Church and back (bout 38 miles total) - very foggy...but wet calm and quiet. On the way back, right outside of Vienna, I encountered 4 deer in the middle of the trail ahead...I slowly approached...but didn't want to break my pace..these damn deer would not move...their eyes like flashlights in my headlights..I said out loud "aren't you gonna move?"...they just looked at me...lifted their snouts and sniffed the air...bewildered. I asked this several times. Then finally after a minute, I yelled "OH CHUCK A WOBBLY!..." in my best Aussie strine accent..scaring the crap out of them....all of a sudden..I hear this frantic clop clop clop clop...shuffle shuffle shuffle wisk wisk wisk..then..........KERPLUNK! SPlash SPlash!......it seems that when they scuffled off the trail real quick...they shuffled over the edge of the embankment...and fell into the creek. I sorta laffed and then went on...humming a Men At Work tune.

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Was a humdrum of a day at work - more of the same level of stress....and ready to leave for a bike ride...blah blah blah...

It was actually warmer tonight - but still wore my new booties. They kept me extra warm. Not too many people out, was wondering if some huge even in the area or on TV that kept people off the trail. I't been far colder and rainy to keep the crazies like me off the trail.

I have added a new recipe to my cookblog - Linguini with Prosciutto, Pancetta in a Garlic Butter Shitake Mushroom Sauce, replete with typos and horrific spelling.

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Stayed up way too late last night - finishing projects, et al. Slept in today - was also good to catch up on some sleep. Today was more of the same - Xmess shopping, errands, a long bike ride (43 miles). Felt nice to take a long stretch while it's light out.

Came home had an amazing dinner - Filet Mignon with seared onions & mushrooms in a marsala butter sauce, asparagus, baked potato. Very yummy.

Had an extra pumpkin that I needed to do something with - so I decided to make 4 more quarts of pumpkin soup (since it was such a huge hit during Thanksgiving). Time to finish that up (still need to add the cream, blend, wash up) and prepare for the week.

Recipe soon to come for the Linguini dish I made last night.

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