Month: September 2003

Friday: Well town meeting went well and now it is lunchtime here at Sikorsky. This weekend looks like a mixed bag of events. One thing I know for sure is that I am going to a Sci Fi party tonight. Tomorrows Grafton Park Festival is on my list but, I havent got confirmation that I can get in. There are limited entries and I am applying late. Hope my buddy can get me in. Sunday is up for grabs but I do not want to go back into CT.

Thursday Night: This weekend has been changed and I scrambled today so much trying to put it all together that I didnt get a workout this evening. Damn! It looks like I will be meeting up with friends Keith and possably Ed to do a mountain bike festival instead. The event is called the Grafton Park Festival. It should be a hootin good time. Last year we drank beers the night before and rode our asses off all the next day. Well, I am off to bed. This day SUCKED! Tomorrow is new and is full of possability. Bring it on.

Monday: The morning run went sluggish and as usual I am taking my time getting to work. Ahhhh Mondays, you got to love them. I am having a good day so far and I have to give credit to my friends for being awesome and being there. I do appreciate them. I think change, even good change, creates a certain grief or sadness. Then there are the band aids, compulsive or addictave behavior, focusing on others needs, religion, denial, staying busy, money, exercise, food, and relationships. They all postpone pain. I am not the best at these things but it is probably better to face it and feel it. True courage indeed. Everything must be for a reason. If there are negative feelings then there must be a lesson and if we feel it then something will be worked out in us. I am starting to go on but the point is I think that it takes true courage to stand still and feel. And it takes a true friend to stand there with you.

Tuesday: Before my run I had to snap a pic of the sunrise out the front window. Running is sluggish today. It must be that I went a little too hard this weekend. Or … drank too much … or to little. Work has become a bear again and our boss is going crazy. It is manditory that every employee put in at least 10 hours overtime a week. The worst part is that 5 hours you have to work for free. My attitude is that they can replace me because I am not going to go along with that. I am not going to do it. Yesterday I read something by Melody Beattie and it went something like this

Too often, we try to gain a clear perspective before it is time. We do not know how things will work out. We do not always understand the source of our feelings. … Why a door closed. … Let it go. We can let go of our need to figure things out, to feel in control. … Now is the time to be. To feel. … In hindsight, we will know. It will become clear.

This Weekend: It looks like a Saturday outing with my friend Monica then we meet up with the Routeski”s that evening for some festivities. Then on Sunday the thought is to teach me windsurfing. lol. Brrrrr.

Wednesday: Well here I am at work and online so I better get this on before my boss comes around. Didnt get to sleep till late and got up at 5am so did not get a hike in. Last night I went on a short mountain bike excursion. It really felt good except for the fact that fall is here and it gets dark early. On the positive side there is a beautiful sunset every night to ride into. Last night was outstanding. Why am I at work so early? Well, I take my car in this afternoon to Montessi and I have to get out of here by 2:30. Chow, have a good day all.

Thursday: Yesterday”s theme is how much money can you get me to pay out for repairs to a new car. For the next couple of months I will be very thin in the finances. My car has 53,000 miles and is in need of new parts. I wish I had a garage and tools because I do know how to do most things. Like brakes for instance. Why should they cost $300.00, labor that is why. It takes 15 minutes and a couple of pads. Hell they are easier than bike brakes to replace. On top of all that I have 4 wheel disc brakes … the easiest to replace. Ok enough bitching. The morning run went very very sluggish. I think my sleeping pattern is not good. Last night I stayed up doodling on the computer, then woke up at 6. Yesterday I woke up and went to work at 5. Mountain biking last night was awesome of course as was the sunset. Surprisingly I didn”t have any thoughts while running this morning. I think today I will just be grouchy.

I have been keeping a web diary since college. I think that it would be nice to visit the past so that the future may or not make sense. If anything just a laugh to see how things turned out. Two years ago today:

Monday, September 3, 2001 11:18 AM Well, I am about to go out the door to go on another mountain bike ride. I have rode this whole holiday break (Labor Day). The most recent news is that I am in debt more than I thought. I am on a plan now to pay everything off in 8 years. So until then, no-one ask me to visit please…I am not rich. I do get to ride all the time and that is all I can ask for. I have also decided to have a long distance relationship with my soul mate Suzy. Sure we will never see each other but our friendship has made it through the worst of times. We have so much fun when she visits once a month, it only seems natural. Next weekend we hope to hang out together here and go to a concert in the park. In two weeks my friends Paul and Lucy come down to visit. In three weeks I will do my first Expert race in over 6 years(yes, I finally got downgraded), should be fun. Well it is on to my other love in this life … Mountain Biking… good-bye!

How things have changed.

Friday: I am up this morning to get my books done and to get those pictures posted. I couldn’t sleep so maybe I can get stuff done. Hopefully, I can get a run in and maybe even go to work today. Today’s thought has already popped into my head. Definition of a good friend … a person who REALLY knows you and still wants to hang out with you! It is a saying that I remember seeing somewhere.

This Weekend [updated]: This weekend is still so far away. I had to deal with something on Thursday and the day got worse as it went on. These things happen and I will rebound. I am not feeling well and may have to take tomorrow off from work to get better. Maybe even get caught up on some things if I were to go to VT on Saturday. I have reserved a room in Williston Vermont so that is covered. The plan so far is to hike Mansfield, hang in Burlington, then crash in Williston. Actually, I want to hit some old haunts. I would like to check out the EMS (Real Large One), Muddy Waters, Red Onion, just to name a few.

Freddie V.S. Jason: Tuesday night’s movie night was fun. No, the movie was not the greatest but to be out with friends having a good time is priceless. We all met at Pizza Villa next to the Stratford cinema. In attendance was Lisa, her friend (I think I know the name but I will just say friend so I don’t screw up), Pat (roommate), Lawerence (the Canadien … not really), and Ray (my cubical mate). The movie, well I don’t care too much for hack em up movies but it was entertaining. The two things I liked were the humor and the theatrical effects of the movie. Sure, the movies sucks, but it was done in a way that was very moving in an artistic sense. Using colors, shadows, music, and lighting was done very intelligently. Hard to believe. But then again, I just had some champaign. Ill leave that story until later. Goodnight.

Tuesday: Good morning all. I am back from my trip to the White Mountains of New Hampshire. I just realized that this week will be one day shorter. Yahoo! Next weekend I am looking forward to Hiking Vermonts Highest and walk one of the finest ridge walks in New England. What happens after that will be determined by Paul and I as we attack Burlington, Vermont with vengeance. Today I can’t think and I do know I must get some laundry done. Oh yea; it is movie night.

Wednesday: Happy hump day for everyone. Marcy got into a fight during this morning’s run. Running is going very well. I am almost fully recovered from this weekend already. I feel great. Today I get questioned by the FBI about something. It is job related and is required for me to hold a certain position. Although necessary, it seems like I am being harassed. This weekend is all set as I have reserved a room in Williston, which is next to Burlington.

Thoughts: Today I think about my friends Paul and Lucy (Niko too, but I have not got to know him personally yet).Most everyone down here is focused on making money. Money, Money, Money. My friends Paul and Lucy think they are rich because they can eat well and be happy in the town of Plattsburgh with a house and family. I don’t think about it … I believe that they are rich. They work at jobs because it is what they believe in and they are making a difference. I believe that they are rich. I am rich too, with a good friend like that.

Thursday: Today is a bad day. I haven’t exercised all day, and I just came home after work feeling not well. I usually go running in the morning. It helps me repair for the day and I get a lot of thinking done at the same time. Today I have not run yet and it is time for work. I had to deal with something this morning and it has me bummed out. I think I will run anyway and go in late. I hate it when things get so backed up that it seems impossible to get caught up. I haven’t even paid the bills for this month yet. I need a mental day off.

My Excursion into the White Mountains of New Hampshire, August 30th to September 1st, 2003.

Friday

4:00 PM : I am on the road and for the first time, I am on time. In fact a little early. Unfortunately that is it, on the road. The traffic is horrible. The traffic is bumper to bumper. I decide to send some cell phone text messages to my friends. I call mom to let her know I wont be calling this weekend. Monica calls to answer the text massage I just sent. Bumper to bumper … until I hit Vermont. Finally around …

Brattleborough I break free and finally am able to drive at a reasonable speed.

7:30 PM : Finally getting north but now it is starting to rain. The rain gets harder and harder all the way to Lincoln. The pass over to Lincoln from Vermont way is treacherous and I slide around some corners due to the rain and thick fog. Thank god for traction control and a good handling car. Also thank god I decided to go slow as the road pitch was so steep that I thought Id get washed off the road.

8:00 PM : Lincoln New Hampshire my home away from home. I love this place. Well the rain is coming down still and all the lights on the camping vacancy board are red. Not a good thing. That means all the campsites are taken. I decide to drive up the road to a couple to verify that indeed they are full. I think that maybe tonight I would get a motel but instead decide to drive north toward Bethlehem to either find a campsite or a cheaper motel.

9:00 PM : As I cleared Franconia Notch and started down the other side a family of raccoons appeared out of the fog. I slam on the brakes. I cant turn suddenly because of the slick conditions and knowing that that action would throw me into a out of control spin. I decide I want to live and I held on and veered slightly to the right, missing one butt … hitting the other. Suddenly my car felt weird and I took the next exit. The collision broke my fog lamp and ripped up my front grill. On top of that my skid plate under my car was dragging on the ground. I spent 2 hours in the pouring rain tearing and manipulating the parts back into place with wire and shoe laces. I got the car drivable but the mend would be temporary until I could call the insurance company when I get within cell arrange. I killed a living thing. I feel awful … This will be a hard thing to get over. I wouldn”t blame my higher power if I were to lose my life this weekend.

12:00 am : I am shaken by the ordeal and decide to drive back towards Lincoln. Before I could get to Lincoln I decide to start looking for a place to park so I could sleep in my car. Finally I decide on parking at the Liberty Spring Trailhead. I Made a bed in the back of the car and fell asleep. I fell asleep to flashes of lightning and pouring rain. As I dozed off I was awoke by a searchlight. A police officer was checking out the parking lot so I kept low and he moved on. Whew, thank god. I needed sleep.

Saturday

5:30 am : I wake to a pretty nice day. At least it wasn”t raining. There were some clouds and the wind was blowing pretty hard. Time to get to the hike.

6:30 am : Canon Mountain Trailhead. Before I take off, Marcy and I pose for a beginning shot to document the time. The hike started going up and the entire hike was moderately steep and never really leveled off except for a short traverse from a smaller peak over to Canon Mountain. Once on top there was no view so I snapped off a summit pic and then started down. As I climbed down I found breaks where I could take some pretty interesting pictures. Picture taking took its toll on my round trip time. I could of did the entire hike in under 2 hours but instead I completed the trek in 2 hours and 5 minutes or so. I was happy with the length but I felt that maybe I went a little too hard because my legs felt a little tired.

9:30 am : Twin Mountain New Hampshire. This place really needs bagel places. I miss the White Mountain Bagel back in Lincoln. I settle for a breakfast burrito and a cookie with coffee.

10:30 am : Dolly Copp shortcut. Monica and I found this nifty little shortcut over to route 16 towards Pinkham Notch. It starts in Randolph. This shortcut takes you by the Dolly Copp Campground so I decided to just stop in to see if they have any campsites. I was in luck as someone had just canceled their reservations. I got a great little campsite #77. How lucky is that. And in such a perfect spot, next to Mount Washington. I set up camp quickly and head off for mount Washington and my second goal for today.

11:00 am : Mount Washington. My friend Monica suggested that I take the Huntington Ravine up then over the summit of Washington and over to Boot Spur then down. So I headed out. I must of passed 50 hikers before I turned to the right onto the Huntington Ravine Trail. The trail started out nicely enough and I was making great time. I reached the Fan of the ravine in an hour. I figured I would summit in another hour. I was so wrong. As I climbed the boulder field known as the Fan I kept looking up. Where in the hell would this trail go. Soon I found out. I saw climbers climbing up a straight wall faces. I sincerely hoped that that wasn”t the trail as I have no experience, plus I had no ropes or gear. I was a good thing I left Marcy behind on this one. I was relieved to find out that the trail went to the right side of the ravine instead. I wasn”t so happy to find out that the trail went right up the rock face and out of sight. The winds were howling so I put on my fleece. I started to climb. Pretty soon I was terrified. Here I was dangling from my fingertips on a rock wall. I used every muscle in my body. I think I even used my tongue at one point. It took me an hour to cover a hundred feet. There were times that I feared for my life. It was terrifying. Finally I reached the crest of the climb. I was trembling as I sent every ounce of my energy to climb up. My fingertips were raw. This climb should only be attempted on a nice day with no winds. Today was cloudy, wet, and windy. Winds on Washington today was gusting to 88 mph. The visibility was bad and I found numerous hikers huddled behind Cairns like frightened little children. The winds were unbelievable. I went to take my pack off and it almost blew away. I had ice forming on my pack. When I took out my camera I had to put it back as the clouds that swept over the top at 88 mph covered everything in moisture. I summit Washington, ate some bread, then headed down. I was a broken man. It took forever to get down via boot spur. The terrain was awesome and I loved being all alone on top with no trees. The terrain was unreal and I loved every moment of it. Even though I felt awful. My leg started to give out and I barely made it back to the car before I could stand no more. The hike took 5 hours and 35 minutes. Why do I feel so awful. I felt every muscle in my body.

5:30 PM: Back at camp. I made pasta with saut

This weekend my friends Lucy and Paul came down for some fun. We went to the Whole Enchalida for supper and then went to the Playwright for some beers.

Lucy was tired and didnt want to dance so we meet up with Lulzim (Luly) and went out while she held down the apartment front. Marcy enjoyed her company I am sure. She even chatted with my mom while we were gone.

Meanwhile back at the Playwright we danced real hard and drank Kamakazies.

The next day we went running at Maltby lakes and went to breakfast at the Copper Kettle. After some strolling we headed up to the summitt of a local mountain for a birds eye view of New Haven.

Lucy did some hard core calling from the cell phone, setting up Nikos birthday party and family business. We went back into town for a trolley ride to the Thi Taste. Yum Yum! Major Yum Yum!

We then went to Starbucks for some frappichinoes before they headed home. It was great.

Last night I went out dacing again at the Playwright, Saturday nights are way better than Friday nights.

Today I rested and mountain biked. The day was beautiful.

Well, I am about to go out the door to go on another mountain bike ride. I have ridden this whole holiday break (Labor Day). The most recent news is that I am in debt more than I thought. I am on a plan now to pay everything off in 8 years. So until then, no-one asks me to visit, please…I am not rich.

I do get to ride all the time and that is all I can ask for.

I have also decided to have a long distance relationship with my soul mate Suzy. Sure we will never see each other but our friendship has made it through the worst of times. We have so much fun when she visits once a month, it only seems natural.

Next weekend we hope to hang out together here and go to a concert in the park.

In two weeks my friends Paul and Lucy come down to visit.

In three weeks I will do my first Expert race in over 6 years(yes, I finally got downgraded), should be fun. Well it is on to my other love in this life … Mountain Biking… good-bye!