Uh. What a day. Got up early (very sleepy) and rushed around the house trying to head out to Thurmont, MD (bout a 35 min drive) to do the Civil War Century.

After a beautiful 105 miles through the countryside and 7,400 feet of climbing thru the mountains and through the rolling hills of Civil War Battlefields (Gettysburg, Antietam, etc) - it was a monumental day. Pacelined with a few folks and it was more or less a leisurely ride. I didn't push myself too hard - because next week is the real challenge (Bridge to Bridge). There was GREAT food at all the stops, and because it wasn't blisteringly hot - folks were in a relaxed mode. Such a beautiful day.

I finished in 5 hours and 50 minutes (saddle time) - because of the mountain climbing it was time consuming. But hey - least I finished in under 6 hours.

I was pissed when I went to take my first photo - the lithium battery in my camera was dead (the shutter cover must have been partially open when I loaded it into my bag last night - drained the battery). Grrr! So I have no pics of this event.

I came home and hopped into my soaking tub and took a long bath. My left rotator cup is hurting like a mo fo - may go to the dr this week. I took a long nap then woke up, ran to the grocery store, came home for the night to just relax. The soreness is starting to creep in.

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Oy oy oy! What a wierd day - yet beautiful. First, the wierdity - work. Well, nothing that wierd, just productive. Albeit, wierd in that I found out that half of my staff is looking for new jobs (no suprize there) based on ABBA's (Asshole Bipolar Boss Asshole - my boss) continual bullshit. It's a hush hush thing on the coldfront - I'm actually privy to hear about this because my staff wonders why I continue to stay to endure the crap. The ship isn't going down yet - I have an arsonal of things I need to get off my chest at the next round of stakeholder (president) meeting, when they return from an all week offsite expo. Will prove to be interesting.

I releived my staff early - such a beautiful day and everyone did a major effort all week - I found out about all this in an a candid in-the-parking-lot conversation that lasted about an hour. I tried to comfort them, (it was wierd, because I was there all suited up in my cycling gear - my podium was my bike) - I allowed them the dual privalege to rant and vent - it was very enlightening. We all left with a sense of bewilderment. No one was at blame - I left onto my bike ride with zero feelings of disrespect, I just feel horrible that I cannot do more. My hands are tied. I'm not part of the family who owns the company - I myself have hit the glass ceiling (as I've explained to my staff), the only way to get ahead is to be adopted - which I would never elect to do. Nothing worse than a dysfunctional family is to be adopted as an outsider. I reassured them that all of their concerns will be tersely addressed. And soon.

I biked off, we all smiled ready for the weekend of great weather and things to do. I went on a short stretch ride out to Hamilton (32 miles), and because it was getting late & dark not to mention that I'm doing the Civil War Century tomorrow.

The weather is just incredible - I didn't wanna have to stop, but more will continue tomorrow. I had to get back and finish preparations for tomorrow - I'll prolly do the late start on the 105 mile century, at a leisurely pace - there's gonna be some hills. Grilled some bratwurst and had some pasta with a pesto sauce (homemade). Yum.

Just chilling in front of the tv, watching music fundraisers for the Katrina survivors - I called in and donated $200 - it's good music, and a more than worthy cause.

Thank goodness it's Friday.

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photo by d. scott gregory My new perfect snack click on photo to enlarge

I think I found my perfect snack. It's a multigrain wheat oval cracker (Town House Bistro crackers), slathered with a thin layer of fat free cream cheese with garlic and chives, a few splinters of red onion, and topped with smoked Nova (salmon). I can't get enough of this. Almost made a meal of it. This perfect snack brings back fond memories of living in NYC - of all the varied cultures cumulating in all sorts of epicurious culinary possibilities. One of my favorite breakfast meals consisted of a similar thing of beauty - an "everything" bagel, lightly toasted, slathered with vegetable cream cheese, with a slab of smoked Nova salmon or smoked chub. Ahh NYC...and the Fall... call me sappy and a waxing nostalgic freak.

Work was really stressful today - but incredibly productive. The entire day was a total blur of excitement and drama. It slipped by fast, and cool. My staff finally thinks I'm a total freak - not only as a multitasking freak, but a savvy diplomat, on-the-fly editor, talented creative director, un-pushy boss - but just a friend. I think they finally understand me - and why I have to suit up at exactly 5:30 to go out on my training rides. They see the stress on my face. They see my thirst for wanting to get it all done - the drive and passion. They know I push the envelope to try to insure that they get off on time too, to go out and enjoy life beyond work. We have become a collaborative team in this - I may roll up my sleeves too far, but I trust my staff. And they trust me - because they are witnesses to all the shit I go thru with ABBA - I cover for them.

That being said - I was given much ado about nothing on my lonely trek out of the office, last one as usual. I embarked on another more than pleasant training ride - spoiled by the best weather on the planet bestowed onto a cyclist. I was too late too hook up with my cycling club for our club ride, but caught up with a few folks at the end of their ride (I instead went out to Purcellville and back, total 44 miles). All smiles, continued sunset.

Came home and potted a few plants on my deck garden and just enjoyed how pleasant it was out there. Then came in and made my perfect snack. Life is good.

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I'm spoiled. Spoiled by how wonderful this weather this week is. It's SUPERB.

photo by d. scott gregory New Cycling Shoes click on photo to enlarge

Work was, well...just work - but it flew by with a frenzy of excitement of things we had been preparing for. No details - just fun stuff in the horizon. During the excitement, I had a package arrive for me - AHH! my new cycling shoes. I managed to sneak a way a few minutes to unhouse them and check out the sparkling sterling silver glory that they be. I was dissapointed though by the ordeal that I had at hand - to unfurl the guts of the shoe to put in titanium underts to accept my ASB clip hasps. Took me my entire lunch break (I never take lunch) - but I wanted to get these shoes worked in before the weekend and next. Chore was complete - tossed them aside and watch them beg me all afternoon to put them on and give them a few hammer stomps in my pedals.

photo by d. scott gregory New Cycling Shoes click on photo to enlarge

Finished up work in record time and suited up. The whole office was strangely curious about these damn shoes - but they soo purdy. Laffs. They look like space shoes. I headed out into the parking lot and unloaded my bike and crap - and clipped in. Oh schweet! Super lightweight. It was my night to go out to Purcellville and back - with PERFECT weather. Route was crowded - lots of people equally out enjoying the weather before it starts to become really chilly. Rode back with a few tri chicks I know - chatted it up - huge triathalon this weekend in Reston. They are an amazing group of ladies...and hard core.

Finished up in the twilight, snapped the pics of my new "space shoes". Went to the grocery store to stock up on a few items, yelled at the automated teller checkout at the store (the fucker didn't know what fava beans are). Came home, watered my garden, unpacked and restocked for tomorrow. Lookin forward to cycling with my cycle club tomorrow night - a few of us are gonna do the Civil War Century on saturday - may forego the A ride and just do the BB ride.

Life is good!

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photo by d. scott gregory Moon on Deck 09/06/2005 click on photo to enlarge photo by d. scott gregory Moon on Deck 09/06/2005 click on photo to enlarge photo by d. scott gregory Moon on Deck 09/06/2005 click on photo to enlarge

For a first day back to work - almost ready to assume all hell breaks out, work was amazingly tame. I think it was people were relaxed after a long weekend, there was a sense of normalcy - teemed with such beautiful weather we've been having lately. I had many things to finish up and the day blew by fast.

FInished up work, suited up and managed to leave work on time for one of the most glorious rides. All told to Shirlington and back - 44 miles. It was an extended sunset all the while and the air was clear and not too hot - just warm. It was a little crowded though, mut bumped into a few fellow cycling buddies. Nothing but grins.

Came home and did a few domestic things - at this point, it's now dark. Went out on my deck to water my garden (pictured) and witnessed a fingernail moon. I had to take a night shot. Talked to the parents on the phone and am helping them get a new computer. Chug chug chug, doing laundry. Having a crab, garlic, onion, yellow pepper, cheddar wrap - yum.

Time to get details on the Civil War Century on Saturday - looks forward to it. Ordered my new "compact crank" for the B2B on the 18th - will have it installed next wednesday. Oh the drama.

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What a pleasantly relaxing day. Slept in late then did a few domestic chores before heading out on a nice 54 miler ride to Hillsborogh and back - it was such a glorious day. Came home and hopped in the pool for the last time this season (pool closes after today) - made dinner and then caught up on correspondence. Evening full of preparations for the rest of the short work week.

Booked my hotel for the Seagull Century in October - got my race packet, I'm #4058 There are over 6,000 century cyclists that do this ride - it's the end of the season, the whole thing is like a party. I'm looking forward to it.

Pre-workweek anxiety settles in.

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What an odd relaxing day. Woke up late and went out on a very fast 52 mile training ride. Perfect weather - just a gentle breeze, not too hot. Came home, quick dip in the pool then headed out to my parent's home to help them with a computer problem - suffice to say, what a debacle that was. I ran all diagnostics and virus scans, adaware, hijackthis, stinger, et al. Couldn't find what was causing this really annoying runtime error. Found that it may be a hardwars (hard drive) malfunction. Ran my last scan that seemed to take forever - we decided not to wait for it to finish - we went out to dinner at Sweetwater Grill.

We had a great meal and caught up on things, then came home to look at the computer. It was caught up in a messy loop and the actual hard drive was making a horrible whirring sound. I had to unplug it to turn it off. Upon restart, it was completely hosed. To make a long story short - and fortunately my parents had stuff backed up - we decided that it was time to put that computer to rest (it's 6 years old). Will help them get a new Dell.

Drove home and trying to unwind after the day - veg in front of the tv and catch up on correspondence. Tomorrow is labor day - and I will just relax, go to the pool (closes after tomorrow for the season) after my bike ride and maybe grill.

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