Monthly Archive for April, 2008

The World

Published on April 27, 2008 in Biking, Life and Thoughts. 0 Comments

I’m pretty tired and want to go to bed, but I really feel like I need to right this post sooner rather than later.

I have to start with the fact that I feel a million times better than I did on Friday.  I haven’t solved anything, maybe just came up with more questions.  But I also feel better about that.  I just really don’t know what I want to do with my life or how to get there.  But I also know that there are a hundred options.

I had a great ride today with some of the PRW boys.  It was great to chat with Graham Shrive and Mike Stickland…  Two guys that I “know” but don’t really know.  It was good to learn from them and get some different perspectives on the world from two very knowledgable and cultured people.

I’m trying just to take in every minute of every day and learn all that I can!

And on a slightly more negative note, what the heck is wrong with our world???

Don gave a great sermon today.  It was very full, but I think the key points I took out of it were that we, as humans, tend to look to fulfill our needs in the wrong places.  And that when we find God and accept Him, we think that everything will be fine and dandy, when in reality life is at least as hard.

That all reminded me of the distress that my mom came home yesterday with after watching Forgetting Sarah Marshall and seeing a preview for a movie called Young People F__king.  Um… are you serious???  I don’t understand the things I do, and I’m not even close to a perfect example.  But why do people feel the need to have sex?  There are great and amazing ways to find love, appreciation, and joy.

And now that I’m writing this, why do I feel the need to look down on those who have sex somewhat frivelously?  Why do I ponder this over and over again?  What good does it bring?

So I guess on that note, just think about what you do.  Think about the consequences; both for yourself and those around you.  Think about what you say and how you dress and what you do.  That’s all I ask.  And I will watch myself extra close this week.

Smile!

Insuadibilis

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In keeping

Published on April 26, 2008 in Chef Shaun. 0 Comments

with my current pizza obsession, here is my latest concoction of grill sauce, chicken, and roasted peppers:

Mmm mmmm, gooooood!!!

Dad and I also made a pit stop at the wonderful Calmar Bakery on our beautiful ride today.  I enjoyed a simply delicious glazed doughnut!  Excellent!

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Wowza!

Published on April 25, 2008 in Chef Shaun. 0 Comments

And that’s just lunch!

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Maybe my life has been too easy

Published on April 25, 2008 in Life and Thoughts. 0 Comments

I was going to write a second post last night after a great dinner and a chance to slow down and be with my parents.  I got some good perspective on what’s important and how lucky I am and everything that I take for granted.

I guess that may lead into today’s paradoxical post.  I met with my practicum advisor this morning at the University.  I have easily slipped by without going out of my way to seek advice on my academic career.  I have enjoyed it.  I get by with knowing people from various aspects of life.  I enjoy learning for the sake of learning and gaining knowledge.  My competitiveness drives me to work a little bit for good grades, but for the most part I enjoy life day to day and its challenges and rewards.

Meeting with Dave brought a few surprises and maybe a few revelations.  He didn’t these words, but this is what I heard, “You should have seen advisor, you have no experience, you screwed up, what were you thinking??? what are you going to do now??? you’re a horrible student!”  Ok, now what do I do?  I don’t know???  What do I want to do with my life?  How do I go about doing that?

I have to say that I’m really frustrated with school.  I think university is dumb.  I can’t get into the courses that I need because I screwed up registration.  So now I’m stuck???  Do I even go to school?  Can I get into a practicum?  All you need to do is learn the stuff, get a good grade, and you’re golden.  Now you need experience and to focus every minute of every day on your career, then you’re platinum.  No thanks!

My friend Lisa is a genious.  She has worked in a physio clinic forever and would be amazing.  But she’s not in physio, because they take geeks who have no life and get a super high GPA.  Right….

I want to learn, gain knowledge, and practical experience.  Maybe I’ve taken that philosophy too strongly.  Maybe I haven’t been forced out of my comfort zone and pushed to do hard things enough.

I have had absolutely amazing experiences.  I haven’t had to kill myself to get those.  My parents pay for a lot.  I get to cook and not do the dishes.  I get to work in coffee shops and bikes shops.  I work less than 40 hours a week and spend lots of time resting and training.  I get to do all the fun stuff without all the work.  Maybe I received too much and given too little.

Forever I will be thankful for everything I have and have ever received and everything that will come in the future.  But maybe my life has been too easy…

Insuadibilis

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Cool stuff

Published on April 24, 2008 in Biking and Thoughts. 0 Comments

I have to say this article by Lennard Zinn really made me think.  I am pretty confident that he was forcing a “next big thing” in cycling.  But I also think it could be true.  I ride a heavy, but comfy saddle.  So many pros do.  We’ve gone to mostly carbon in high end race bikes.  I don’t know.  I’m willing to see what happens in the future and what comes from it.

And on a similar note, I found this blog post about Euro cobbles.  You think Alberta roads are rough?  These are nuts.  The few that I rode (which I don’t think are nearly as bad as something like Arenberg) were crazy on cross tyres.  You can complain all you want about rough Alberta roads (and I would even love to have a race based around the decisiveness of some of the cooler ones around here), but they are not Paris Roubaix.  I enjoy gravel and crappy conditions as much as the next guy and just want to jam, but they’re definitely not Paris Roubaix.  If you want to be shaken up on your bike, you gotta go to the real thing!

Insuadibilis

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Hokey Moly!

Published on April 22, 2008 in Biking. 0 Comments

This is awesome!

[dailymotion id=x54r2v]

Insuadibilis

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Sick!

Published on April 22, 2008 in Life. 0 Comments

I think I must have slept through summer…

I mean, just last Thursday I was wearing shorts and working on my tan.  And now it looks like January again!

But on a better note, John Mayer’s Continuum has been repeating itself in my cd player, and this is definitely my favourite song of the week by a longshot!  Enjoy.

Insuadibilis

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Snobbery

Published on April 15, 2008 in Thoughts. 0 Comments

I’ve been called a snob many times, for good and for bad.  Also by close friends and those I hardly know.  I have to agree.  I am a bit of a snob.  I’ve also talked about it many times on here.  I’ve also talked about how I try not to be a jerk about it.

Here, the New York Times puts a good perspective on it…

If you can and wish to enjoy really good things, then do it.  If you can’t, don’t waste your time or money.  You can and have to put effort forth to grow into new realms of appreciation.  But you also don’t have to.

Enjoy the things that you make you smile.

Insuadibilis

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EPOC

Published on April 13, 2008 in Biking. 0 Comments

I’m just sitting here recovering after my ride consuming some excess oxygen post exercise.  I love it when you get home and you’ve been sitting around for a while and you’re still just breathing super deep.

It was quite an eadventure today… Dad, Jason, and I met Taylor Little in Lendrum.  We took a whole bunch of wrong turns and couldn’t agree on which way to go out.  Then we had to walk down the grass hill to get onto the road we wanted.  Then my dad flatted.  All when we were a little rushed to begin with…

But the guys waited for us.  It ended up being 22 guys from all different clubs and all different levels.  Quite the gong show…  A couple crashes, a bunch of flats, way too many stops, and more indecision on what route to take.

We ended riding on some super rough roads and a bunch of gravel.  Kind of fitting since it was Paris-Roubaix today.  Nothing near as hard though.  Those cobbles aren’t like anything you could possibly find here!

Then the four of us south side guys turned around and took a few more wrong turns.  Then we made a pit stop near the end of the ride at Dairy Queen.  It was great!

All in all, a good ride, and a great weekend!  I got to see a bunch of people that I hadn’t seen in forever.  Now I need some rest…

Insuadibilis

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"Your shift"

Published on April 12, 2008 in Biking. 0 Comments

That’s what Jason said to me as he was pulling off.  We were taking turns jamming alonside Bruce, the TT king, down the highway.  We couldn’t hold his pace for very long, so we rotated through while my dad sat on.

Today was a killer ride.  Bruce was just on fire and we were hanging on.  But I also felt the best I have in a long time.  I think I’m actually getting stronger.  And I’m just loving riding my bike too!  I always look forward to the first day that I can wear a jersey and shorts!  Today was it.  It was absolutely gorgeous!

But man, is Bruce a tank or what.  I think he should tear up Mt. Hood.  I wish I could be there.

And speaking of tanks, Alex Wrubleski is tearing up the European peloton with the national team… read her latest report here.

Get out and enjoy the sunshine.

Insuadibilis

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