Category Trials and Tribulations
The Ride: You mean the hike?
What to do the morning after your neighborhood is socked by a derecho? Go on a long bike ride, of course. Because what better way to express solidarity with your 1.5 million neighbors who are struggling without power than to venture forth into the heat and humidity with a bike and a couple of bottles of fast-warming Gatorade […]
Derecho!
Last night the DC region was hit by a whopper of a thunderstorm. Amanda and I had turned in early (around 10pm) thinking we’d get some rest after a tiring week and be ready for an early start in the morning. Half an our later we were roused from our descent into slumber by what sounded […]
The Ride: Physics Experiment
Based on the chart below, can you guess what happened at approximately two miles into my ride this morning? That’s right, I learned that you can use your left buttock as a break pad to go from 35mph to a full stop. So now I can cross that off the list of things to try. I can […]
The Ride: Not all roses
You know that bit from the Teddy Bears’ Picnic song, where it says “It’s lovely out in the woods today, but safer to stay at home”? Well, I kind of wish I’d gotten a similar warning before this morning’s ride. Not that I was in any great danger (although I did end up bleeding), it’s […]
Digital Parenthood
During my years in the church, I’ve seen many an unruly child disrupt a meeting. Crying babies, tantrum-throwing toddlers, overly exuberant happy kids — they have a way of distracting teachers and learners and turning long meetings into never-ending tedium. One of my least favorite moments in church is the few seconds that follow some toddlerian eruption, when […]
O, the generosity of clients
[Friday, 5:45pm] Client (email): I have some questions about the contract that may require some changes — how late are you going to be at the office? Me (email): I have to leave the office at 6:30pm, but I’ll probably be back online around 7:30pm or so. [Client calls at 6:00pm] Client: Please do NOT feel […]
Self Diagnosis
Remember how I tripped during my run the other day and landed on my face in the street? At the time, my bloodied hands got all the attention and I laughed at the novelty of scraping up my chest. Well, since then my hands have mostly healed, but my chest remains a problem. It hurts when […]
Blood on my hands
After three years of running on the trail near my house, I discovered tonight that there is a small piece of metal protruding from the middle of the path as it opens onto the street. Talk about discovering it the hard way! My toe caught in mid-stride and I did a full-body face-plant into the asphault, skidding […]
Free-range Amaryllis
Last Thursday I got a note from my friend Anna wishing me happy birthday and hoping that I’d enjoyed the gift she sent. Gift? Oh dear, how awkward. I may be terrible at remembering other people’s birthdays, but I’m pretty good at remembering when people send me things (especially Anna — she’s one of the best gift givers I know; so good at coming […]
Am I Crazy?
Here I am at the end of my second highest billable month ever, which itself comes at the end of a sustained period (since early August) of intense work. Just a few days ago I wrote about how frazzled I felt and how much I needed a break. Well, I’ve had a break: Since last Wednesday, I’ve only […]
A More Gentlemanlike Manner 