It's in September and, for the second year in a row, the person I was going to travel with has had to drop out. Anyone wanna go? I've been saving my vacation time for it. I'd hate to have gone through seven months without taking a day off and not be able to follow a few stages.
I buy you pork and beer.
This is where actually having friends might come in handy. Sigh.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Monday, June 16, 2008
Children's Story
I'm not answering email today. Don't take it personally. I'm preparing for a conference on Wednesday and Thursday and have to learn everything I can about my client's product line since, ostensibly, I'm selling it. My client can't be there so I am his proxy. Maybe I'll sign a new book for him...I'm also demoing some sort of technology that I haven't seen yet. This could be interesting.
Father's Day? Videos to come. But, in a word, awesome. KATY ride, lunch with in-laws, man-sized hamburgers and ribs for dinner, laying on the couch bloated and tired. Success.
A few things: Gert made me cry. Long story. But when she said, "Daddy I know that you love me" for some reason it just opened up some river of emotion. She didn't see me cry. She still makes fun of me tearing up at the end of Field of Dreams. But, for some reason, the purity of her comment just killed me.
It could be because her sister had secretly made me a video about her favorite thing about me (I am funny and sing silly songs all the time). But, also, if you bother me while I'm working apparently I "go all WOOOOO" on you.
There were two quotes from this weekend that, unfortunately, I did not get to record. Gert and Mom were the culprits and, no I won't explain:
"I don't want to be the penis."
"It tastes like clown vomit."
Those go down in the hall of fame.
Father's Day? Videos to come. But, in a word, awesome. KATY ride, lunch with in-laws, man-sized hamburgers and ribs for dinner, laying on the couch bloated and tired. Success.
A few things: Gert made me cry. Long story. But when she said, "Daddy I know that you love me" for some reason it just opened up some river of emotion. She didn't see me cry. She still makes fun of me tearing up at the end of Field of Dreams. But, for some reason, the purity of her comment just killed me.
It could be because her sister had secretly made me a video about her favorite thing about me (I am funny and sing silly songs all the time). But, also, if you bother me while I'm working apparently I "go all WOOOOO" on you.
There were two quotes from this weekend that, unfortunately, I did not get to record. Gert and Mom were the culprits and, no I won't explain:
"I don't want to be the penis."
"It tastes like clown vomit."
Those go down in the hall of fame.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Apache
The ghost of Geronimo came back and killed Tommy Seebach. At least we can hope. Dig that funky dancing at the 2:50 mark.
Okay, I have to cleanse that pallate. Here's a much better song with the same name.
Oh fuck it. I'll ruin that too.
Sucker Theather
So Gert already had a flat on her new bike. She has daddy's good luck. I've discovered that glueless patch kits are roughly useless compared to the old ones. Sure, they get you back home but not with confidence. Granted, I've only used the patch kits to patch other people's flats. I'm a tube carrier. You can get the tube switched out in half the time and be on your way. Just cuts out the middle man.
So I went out and bought a traditional patch kit with real glue. The kind that allows you to fix the flat and get a nice model airplane high. And I needed to get Gert a new tube.
Instead, I bought three tubes for 20 inch bikes. Why? Well, it's possible Gert will destroy hers again. I've seen her ride. But I thought about all those kids with 20x1.75 tires riding around the neighborhood and thought about all the dads who would probably let that flat tire sit in the garage because they didn't know how to change the tube. So color me a sucker.
Yes, I'll even use them for the neighbor kids who are being raised by wolves. Even feral children deserve proper bike rides.
So I went out and bought a traditional patch kit with real glue. The kind that allows you to fix the flat and get a nice model airplane high. And I needed to get Gert a new tube.
Instead, I bought three tubes for 20 inch bikes. Why? Well, it's possible Gert will destroy hers again. I've seen her ride. But I thought about all those kids with 20x1.75 tires riding around the neighborhood and thought about all the dads who would probably let that flat tire sit in the garage because they didn't know how to change the tube. So color me a sucker.
Yes, I'll even use them for the neighbor kids who are being raised by wolves. Even feral children deserve proper bike rides.
Monday, June 09, 2008
Gert's Big Ride
Gert got a brand new bike this weekend. The very first one that wasn't previously owned and abused by a sibling or another kid. The model is a "Pixie", which she loves. It's very sporty. It's a decent bike. This should last her a few years, I hope.
We rode the KATY on Saturday morning and had a fantastic time. Gert was determined to make it to Frontier park in historic St. Charles, which is a little less than 5 miles from the trail head. Ultimately she did a little over 9 miles that day. Here's the proof:
Gert's First KATY Ride from Gary O'Brien on Vimeo.
Riding behind the Family Arena.
Interview with Gert from Gary O'Brien on Vimeo.
Taking a break just shy of her goal. We tried to tell her that we could turn around, that she'd done more than expected. But, she was determined. By the time we got back to the steep series of ramps that took us out of the river valley and I shot off to catch and school some dick who buzzed by Gert without announcing himself, Mom offered Gert the opportunity to walk. She refused and fought her way up most of the climb. Her legs gave out about 100 feet from the end. You can kind of see how big the climb is, especially for a 6-year-old, here. That's taken from the bridge which is level with the parking lot. You can see the asphalt leading up.
Apple and tree seem pretty close...
Oh, and I blew past that asshole at 16 mph up hill while he was struggling to find the right gear while still looking studly in front of his slutty girlfriend. Kind of hard to do when some geek like me not only passes you on the climb but scolds you about nearly running a six-year-old off the trail. Again: Dick.
Celebration Dance from Gary O'Brien on Vimeo.
She made it to her goal and here is her celebratory dance. At least I think it's a dance. Then we had to turn around and make the same distance back. Though she was tired in the end, she was cheerful and hilarious the entire time. And when I told her that the people who had just passed us were getting further away her face tightened and she started to hammer. If she had a little more energy she would have caught and passed those stupid adults.
It's Not On! from Gary O'Brien on Vimeo.
This is about a mile from the ramp to the parking lot. She's cute.
We rode the KATY on Saturday morning and had a fantastic time. Gert was determined to make it to Frontier park in historic St. Charles, which is a little less than 5 miles from the trail head. Ultimately she did a little over 9 miles that day. Here's the proof:
Gert's First KATY Ride from Gary O'Brien on Vimeo.
Riding behind the Family Arena.
Interview with Gert from Gary O'Brien on Vimeo.
Taking a break just shy of her goal. We tried to tell her that we could turn around, that she'd done more than expected. But, she was determined. By the time we got back to the steep series of ramps that took us out of the river valley and I shot off to catch and school some dick who buzzed by Gert without announcing himself, Mom offered Gert the opportunity to walk. She refused and fought her way up most of the climb. Her legs gave out about 100 feet from the end. You can kind of see how big the climb is, especially for a 6-year-old, here. That's taken from the bridge which is level with the parking lot. You can see the asphalt leading up.
Apple and tree seem pretty close...
Oh, and I blew past that asshole at 16 mph up hill while he was struggling to find the right gear while still looking studly in front of his slutty girlfriend. Kind of hard to do when some geek like me not only passes you on the climb but scolds you about nearly running a six-year-old off the trail. Again: Dick.
Celebration Dance from Gary O'Brien on Vimeo.
She made it to her goal and here is her celebratory dance. At least I think it's a dance. Then we had to turn around and make the same distance back. Though she was tired in the end, she was cheerful and hilarious the entire time. And when I told her that the people who had just passed us were getting further away her face tightened and she started to hammer. If she had a little more energy she would have caught and passed those stupid adults.
It's Not On! from Gary O'Brien on Vimeo.
This is about a mile from the ramp to the parking lot. She's cute.
Thursday, June 05, 2008
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