photo by d. scott gregory Dill Lime Salmon on a bed of Samphire Greens click on photo to enlarge

photo by d. scott gregory Dill Lime Salmon on a bed of Samphire Greens click on photo to enlarge

photo by d. scott gregory Dill Lime Salmon on a bed of Samphire Greens click on photo to enlarge

I for one and enjoying this new year - 2006. On many levels. Maybe I've earned it, possibly because I've worked hard for it. The only resolution in my live at the moment is to be content, and to have a positive outlook on life - and to table the gripes and frustrations I have...cast them aside, and focus on the good things.

That being said, I had a WONDERFUL day. Slept in and then composed myself for a very chilly 52 mile training ride out towards Harpers Ferry and back. Came home and took a well deserved nap while watching a silly movie, Mr & Mrs Smith. Awoke late to prepare for another evening of cooking and such. I had to get a few things at the store..of all things Samphire...it's a weird asparagus bean grown in salt water...I took it upon myself to Iron Chef it up to try to make it into a savory epicurious challenge. That I did. That and Salmon, which I grilled with fresh dill and lemon - and even made some mashed red potatos with garlic and chives (not pictured). Suffice to say, I had a fabulous dinner with my date - in fun splendor of her smile at my oddness to cooking, no complaints.

2003 Ravenswood Chardonnay was the perfect pairing..and compliment...and a fabulous elixer.

...no more to say other than it was "crazy delicious"

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Thank whomever that it's fuckin Friday.

What a busy day. Between the extradiagetic drama at work, teemed with a crapload of things that my day was going to unfold. Work was work, but glad it's now the weekend - I can continue the drama on Monday.

photo by d. scott gregory Desk setup in progress, 3 LCD monitors click on photo to enlarge

Finished up work with a bleary eye wondering how frigid my ride was gonna be - index of 22 degrees. I broke out the hand warmers and all my winter stuff...it was gonna be wicked. I biked out past Leesburg, a mere 31 miles total. I froze my ass off. But it was a beautiful sunset and I shooed a few deer off the road. Came back with snotcicles and packed up my car for a few errands.

The evening was gonna be wild, between my training ride, errands and a date I had. I picked up the video card and ran to the bike shop to get new tires, and got a new All Clad large pasta pot at Home Goods and a shitty temporary solution for my wine rack situation (pictured, mid assembly). Came home and showered up and prepared for making dinner for my date.

photo by d. scott gregory Building crappy wine rack click on photo to enlarge

My ladyfriend came over to enjoy some Spicy seared prawns over a garlic and Chardonnay butter sauce over angel hair pasta - a mixed salad, sorbet for dessert...and nm. If you want to warm a woman's heart - cook for her - a personal chef, and make her comfortable, a clean place, candles. Nuff said. We watched Cinderella Man (at her request) - it was a great film. She loves Crowe..I like Zelweger...good pairing.

After a lot of nm...and such, we had to say farewell - she had to get going (busy busy busy), to go to Baltimore in the very early morning on business. I thought I was a workaholic - she upstages me.

So I set out to build my shitty temporary wine rack and install the video card to enable all the glory of a dashboard of computer monitor geekdom.

Will be a mellow weekend of casual projects of sorts, writing, cycling, et al.

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What a long day. Glad it's almost over, and estatic that it's almost the weekend.

I had to get up super early for a meeting I had - made for a long morning, and then a long afternoon with the fallout from the meeting. But I was able to leave at a relatively good time. My LCD monitors arrived and I packed them into my car - still awaiting my 2nd video card, but would still be fun to set them up, at least get rid of the clunky CRT off my desk for my mac.

After I suited & geared up, I biked over to my bike shop where I had a very fun discussion with the owner - getting a new Orbea Orca Carbon Frame 2006. I've decided to start to upgrade my current bike, instead of getting an entirely new bike. Starting with the frame - the most expensive upgrade. Not cheap, but a necessary upgrade. I'll order the frame tomorrow or next week, and make all the details for the upgrade/fitting, et al. Then in a few weeks I'll get the new Mavic Cosmic Carbone SL 2005 wheelset (from last year). Also not cheap. But I'm utterly excited (pictures and links enclosed).



I went on my training ride - it was still light out and relatively warm, in the low 50s. Biked out to Peonean Springs and back - a humble 41 miles. Came back in the dark, finished up, and ran a few errands, came home, changed, cooked dinner and opened/installed the new LCD monitors - they fit perfectly with what I visioned.

Work will be stressful tomorrow - but I have my work cut out - the day should go by fast....another training ride, order new frame, et al. I'm looking forward to a relaxing and a productive weekend.

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Hump day. Well, just another horrid day at work - was rainy and cloudy all day. Still adjusting to my new early morning work schedule, and it sucks. SO be it. And to make matters worse, I found out later in my work day today that I need to attend an early meeting downtown tomorrow...which requires a set of a few meetups before the 9am meeting - requiring me to get up at 5:45am so I can leave home at 6:20am to fight traffic and what not to be there in time. Totally sucks.

Work was work, I was in a sour mood all day. I went on a very cold and misty/rainy training ride out past Leesburg (a lonesome 32 miler), finished up...and went to Best Buy to pick up a new video card for my computer (for my dual monitorness that will soon arrive and happen). Silly me...I didn't look to see if my new computer had what kinds of slots before I set out....PCI..or AGP...or PCI-E...fuck. Well, I ended up buying one on pure speculation (AGP) - and would check out the computer when I got home before I unwrapped it. Well, phooey...no AGP nor PCI-E slots...just 3 PCI slots...of course...all taken (one for modem, another for my advanced sound system, another for 2 firewire slots). Well, screw the modem...outdated technology anyways on a PC tower. I'll just rip that sucker out and put in the new video card (when I return the AGP card with the PCI card replacement).

So I go online to shop for a new PCI card....I can order it and pick it up. Found a great deal on a ATI - RADEON 9250 Graphics Card, 256mg card for 99 bucks...and it was available to order to pickup. I went ahead and ordered it, and within 45 minutes..I get a response saying that it was no longer in stock...backorder....but they could ship it to me within 3-5 days, free shipping. Fuckers. Oh well.

Time to head to bed - have to get up super early...hopefully this means I can leave work early and enjoy the almost "springlike" weather tomorrow...in the 50s.

Joy.

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Welp...back to work after the holidays. It was a partial rude awakening because the office hours shifted to an earlier schedule. Nothing like driving to work when it's still dark - but the flipside is that I'd be leaving work while it's still light out (which is great for my training rides).

Work was a busy day of sorts - a lotta petty drama and productivity. I managed to endure it all and just focus on getting out early for a training ride in the partial daylight after work.

Suited up and biked out to Hamilton and back, a mere 34 miles, it was very damp and chilly out. There was absolutely no one else out there. I managed to bike out there with no lights on, the return trip was a foggy twilight, and then total darkness. I was a little uncomfortable, with a crick in my neck from sleeping on it badly - but managed to stretch it out. Finished up and ran a few errands, getting a few things - a new amplified antanae for the tv in my office/studio which has horrible reception (I don't have cable...never watch enough tv to justify it), and of all things...a Remington beard/goatee shaver (my goatee is getting out of control).

Came home and did a little shopping online, had left over steak, and politely trimmed my goatee (still needs work), installed my antanae and watched a little tv while finding a great deal on a wine rack/butler buffet (pictured) online. Will order it soon.

I'm tired and need to head to bed early - for another early morning tomorrow.

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Long sleepy rainy day. Spent a few hours at the gym, cycling. Came home, showered, went to my parents for a lovely steak dinner, followed by some pumpkin white chocolate creme brulee that I brought over. Always great to see my parents. Came home and settled in for a casual relaxing evening before the rest of the workweek begins tomorrow.

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Ahhhhh! It's a New Year! 2006 And already a great start for the new year. Was a very relaxing day, slept in real late, finished a book in bed with coffee before I headed out for a relatively unchilly training ride - first for the new year, out to Harpers Ferry and back. A mere 52 miler.

Came home to clean up and prepare for the evening of pure laziness - well, mostly chores, washing dishes, laundry, paying a few bills and checking on the status of my new LCD monitors that I ordered (pictured). I needed to get rid of this old clunky CRT monitor for my Mac, which I've re-configured/restored with a new DVD writer to become a server, and to add a 2nd LDC flat monitor for my PC - dual monitor, for all my freaky multitasking goodness.

I've been shopping...er...flirting with the idea of getting a new bike for this Spring. Orbea, baby...all the way. Drools in anticipation (at a mere $5,318.00)

check it out here.

Happy New Year! ............... Life is Good!

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