Beer in the Headlights

In case you all haven't noticed my blogging has been pretty much non-existent.

Frankly, it became more of something that I felt like I should be doing as opposed to something I wanted to do.

I attribute much of that to actually "getting a life." Well, I had one before. Then I got sucked into a pit of cyber crap. For several years.

I've spent less and less time online the past several months and, not surprisingly, I'm a heck of a lot happier for it.

The Web is odd. People get weird online. Far too many people begin to think they're far more important than they really are - important to people whom they've never met. The anonymity of an online persona causes many to say and do things that are out of character, stupid, offensive and just plain wrong. It gets to people's heads and some sort of weir megalomania ensues.

So with this I think I'll sign off and go about my life as I should: Going back to school, getting back in shape, spending quality time with my wonderful wife and terrific kids.

To all of you that have, from time to time, thought you may be spending too much time online - you most likely are. I know I sure did.

Go ride a bike. Check out a book or few from the library. Go fishing. Cook a nice meal. Learn to do something.

Use the Web as a resource for learning things, shopping, entertainment and a little communication.

Don't get caught up in some hive-minded frenzy of frothing hyena-esque cyber heckling It's toxic.

I may be back. I may decide to toss some more recipes or a cooking video or two sometime down the road.

One thing's for certain. I'll do my best to stay away from politics. That stuff makes people crazy. I know I got carried away with it. I have my beliefs just like most everyone. I just really think I've gotten to the point where I've grown up and gotten beyond the need or desire to pontificate, belittle and criticize.

Thanks for stopping by. Now go do something productive.

A Spanish sweetshop owner was counting cash in his till in the city of Aviles when he came across a coin bearing the likeness of Homer Simpson instead of Spanish King Juan Carlos, Reuters reported.

Is that King Juan Carlos or Ron Jeremy on the other coin?

Ouch

Trees of small diameter should not be used as slalom gates when mountain biking.

I woke up before the sun this morning and went for a mountain bike ride. Did about 11 miles. Hard. Saw a several deer and a bunch of rabbits. Heck, it was like Watership Down.

My right forearm is red, inflamed and missing a moderate amount of skin. I thank the inventors of Neosporin and ibuprofen for their hand in relieving my discomfort this morning.

Now it's off to church, then some leftover grilled chicken from last night for lunch. Some errands this afternoon then time for some flatiron steak on the grill with some chimichurri sauce. I fear I may have become addicted to chimichurri.

TGIF

It's 08/08/08 and the Beijing Games are about to kick off. The Chinese see the number 8 as being lucky. I hope it is for their people, the athletes and all those taking part in the Olympics.

I say that and I mean that. But for some reason I have a gut feeling that some Muslim whackos are going to make their presence known in the next week or two. They've already released a video threatening the Games. American intelligence sources have picked up some chatter that confirms the threats.

In the meantime the ChiComs have been busy rounding up peaceful Christian and pro-democracy dissidents.

I don't want anything bad to happen during the Olympics. But something tells me that if some Muslim extremists cause trouble then the ChiComs will drop the hammer (and sickle) on them. Hard. And it sure would be nice to have them on our side of the GWOT instead of having the ChiComs selling weapons and ammo to the bad guys.

One can only hope.

And what else is going on? Well, Republic of Georgia and Russia are tangling it up over South Ossetia. Fox News has been all over the erupting tensions. Good for them. It's could be quite a big deal. I'm just glad my friends and colleagues with the Georgia Army National Guard have recently returned from a training mission to Republic of Georgia.

Anything domestically?

Hillary Clinton, Queen Sour Grapes herself, is hinting at some sort of something that may or may not occur at her behest or otherwise at the upcoming Democratic National Convention. Gee, couldn't see this one coming. She smells blood. Hillary knows how vulnerable Obama is and with the recent polling numbers swinging steadily toward John McCain, she sees a prime opportunity to strike. This could be very entertaining.

I just don't understand how American voters just don't see through the childish, Marxist demagoguery that drives the Democrats these days. Polling number show the Republicans are likely to lose more seats in the House and Senate. How? Why? Those chambers are being run, and quite poorly I might add, but the shining examples of ineptitude that are Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid.

Just as Americans are wising up to Obama I think that may have a spillover effect in the House and Senate races. Nancy Pelosi's refusal to address domestic oil drilling could be the nail in her leadership coffin. John Boehner just can't afford to overplay his hand right now. I hope he pays careful attention to the adive he's no doubt getting from Newt Gingrich.

I went for another mountain bike ride yesterday morning. This time up at Gainesville State College. I did three laps and really smoked myself. Felt great once I recovered. I saw six different deer (2 each bucks, does, fawns) and even a juvenile golden eagle. Big darn bird, that thing. I'll probably ride again tomorrow morning.

I'm looking forward to this coming weekend. It's cooling off outside. The missus and I may take the kids over to Kennesaw for a barbecue festival. Maybe we'll take them for a hike at a local park. Maybe I'll cook some more flap meat on the grill and whip up a big batch of chimichurri sauce so that I wreak of garlic until Wednesday. And then there's that whole chicken I bought on sale yesterday for $.59/pound. Should I "beer can" it or spatchcok the the thing?

Decisions, decisions...

Long ago, about half a life time to be reasonably accurate, I was a competitive mountain and road bike racer. I grew up in northwest New Jersey which, believe it or not, is a fairly ideal place to ride.

I got off to college and discovered women and beer. I forgot about the bike. College came and went then I started working. I still forgot about the bike.

But there it was... The 1994 (or is it 1993 or 1995?) Gary Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo that moved with me and sat largely unnoticed. It sat in my in-laws' basement for a few years waiting for some repairs that never happened.

I got the parts. I fixed the bike. That was back in April or May. I recently started talking about riding with a colleague and finally did it this past Friday. I hit the trails up at Gainesville State College and had a blast. I forgot how much fun it is to zip through the woods on a bike and how strangely good the burning lungs and legs felt.

I went for another ride this morning before work. I read up on and decided to try the trails at Tribble Mill Park a few miles south of my office. Once again I had a terrific time.

I can really see myself getting back into riding on a fairly regular basis. You all may find yourself reading about some of my rides and even a race or two.

Hope, change and a shamefully atrocious haircut.

This monstrosity actually won a "barbering contest" at the annual Bronner Brothers Hair Show in Atlanta.

In honor of the big annual event that is the Bronner Brothers Hair Show, the AJC thought it would be fitting to have a little interactive game where users could put different hairstyles on local celebrities. Check it out.

I started fiddling with it and came to the realization that Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin looks just like that two hit wonder Seal. Wow.

I wrote about the wayward beagle that found her way into our lives last week here.

Well, not too long after writing that entry I was able to find a terrific home for her. A woman who works in my organization has recently adopted two adult Basset hounds. She jumped at the opportunity to take in the sweet little beagle.

After work on Monday I placed the beagle in my truck and took her over to my colleague's home. Of course, she peed in my truck.

Anyway... The Beagle is now named Lucy, which fits in with her Basset hound housemates named Charlie Brown and Sally. Lucy is adjusting very well to her new surroundings and, just as she did to us, she's charming her new owner.

A vet determined Lucy to be about 4 years old. She hasn't been spayed, but that will happen in a couple weeks when she goes for a follow-up visit to the vet for additional vaccinations.

It's nice to have a story regarding a stray animal with a happy ending.

This guy just became a Jeff Foxworthy punchline.

CONWAY, Ark. — A Conway-area man died from electrocution while he was using jumper cables to hook up power to his house after his electricity was shut off.

Authorities say 33-year-old Lonnie Montgomery was found dead Wednesday outside his home on Skunk Hollow Road. He was still clutching one end of a set of jumper cables. Officials say the other end was connected the electricity meter box.

Faulkner County sheriff's Lieutenant Matt Rice says it appears that Montgomery tampered with the meter box and a plastic cover installed by Entergy Arkansas after service was cut due to nonpayment.

Sheriff's Major Andy Shock says Montgomery was attempting to adjust or remove the jumper cables when he was electrocuted.

Skunk Hollow Road...

Major Andy Shock...

Is this real or from the mind of some wise-arse satirist?