A New Year, a New View, and Pie

Well it has certainly been a while, hasn't it? It is the second day of 2016 and I thought I'd pause to check-in here and see if I can make some sort of habit of writing again.

So much has changed since I was here last in earnest. Let's see... First and foremost, I am happily married and I'm the proud father of an amazing 10-week old baby girl. She was born in Milwaukee, so let's call her "M."

1990 Miyata 600GT 

I'm still more or less on a hiatus from the bike racing world, but I *hope* to get back to it this year. My last ride of late was a commute to work on my trusty old Miyata. Prior to the birth of our daughter, I found myself longing nostalgically for the early to mid 1990s and that carefree Rivendell Bicycles lifestyle I might have otherwise had going forward. This alternate life sounds best when set to Electronic's eponymous first album. Talent from New Order and The Smiths, what's not to like?.. Well, put the brakes on that for a time. For now, it is a life of sleep deprivation, late night feedings, and diaper changes. But a joyful life it is.

 I am still trying to run as a surrogate activity of sorts. In fact, I'm registered for a half-marathon in Madison, WI in May. So far, I've exhibited the one-and-done behavior as far as the full marathon goes. I am hoping to take a stab at a fall marathon in Milwaukee.

Still working at the Hoth Ice Planet in winter, Dagobah in summer university, and I still miss California.

They are more red than pink... really.

Still sort of obsessed with Mizuno running shoes with the Wave Inspire model being my favorite. In fact, I ran this morning in 20-degree weather. I did the old "Hey, I'll drop the car off for an oil change and then run home!.." Indeed. I'm hoping to do the whole running-with-a-stroller thing come spring. Part of me momentarily wishes to eschew the whole stroller-as-lifestyle status symbol thing and thinks I should just use a modified shopping cart from Target or something. Anyway, here's a photo of my Mizuno Wave Creation 13s, all post-run triumphant-like. Wave Creations make for a good winter trainer. A bit more over-built than the Wave Inspires, they are a "neutral" shoe that lends itself well to the sort of watch-where-you step gingerly pacing I tend to opt for in winter (yeah, because I'm really tearin' it up the rest of the year). Remember Rocky training in the snow all old-school vs. that Russian guy? Yeah, that.

This is probably as good a time as any to confess that when I got home, I placed a hearty dollop of this apple pie from Mukwonago, Wisconsin into my oatmeal breakfast. This is no ordinary apple pie, but only the most amazingly delicious creation to be baked in a paper bag. Seriously, they bake it in a paper bag!.. Not sure what the back story here is, but the results are worthwhile, and so is the pie, if you are ever in the area. Well worth the calories.


Oh, I am also on like day 3 of a 99-day retreat from facebook. Yay.

Ok then. So here's to a new year and new adventures, on the bike, off the bike, running, walking, or crawling.