the mountain roads are iced over again; time to go mountain biking

Had a nice long 4+ hour mountain ride today. It seems like I ought to be able to crank out four hours without even blinking. The last hour or so I was blinking.

Also, cold feet. I've figured out how to keep every other part of my body comfortable and warm on cold days, but the feet remain a problem. They're expensive, but with as much time as I spend riding in the cold I can't help but think these would be a good idea. Booties take such a beating on the mountain bike anyway...

...

Absolutely loved my Thursday ride, ten miles on the rails-to-trails to Newville and (ten) back through a snow fall heavy enough to have completely obscured my outbound tracks by the time I made it back to Ship.

I just can't get over it: fresh-fallen snow is just so magical. Let it snow, baby.

the wisdom of Ignatius

I finished Confederacy a few days ago. Brilliant.

My wife, initially turned off a bit by its sometimes blunt vulgarity, has I think come around. She sent me a note today with a favorite line.

Ignatius, when threatened by his mother with a stay in a psychiatric hospital, comments:

"They will try to make me in to a moron who likes television and new cars and frozen food. Don't you understand?"

I understand.

Society is sick and you have to be ill for it to praise you as a success.

go(a)t milk

I am finding this very hilarious.

(Can you hear Oskar's voice--that's how he would of said it, very hilarious.)

winter

Went down three times today on icy Ridge Road. Once right in front of a hunter. Awesome.

Also, somehow neglected to stuff my goggles and (the mysterious) balaclava in my pack.

Coldest. Ride. Down. The. Mountain. Ever.

Stopped twice to warm my penis (admittedly, remembering the goggles or balaclava would have done nothing to keep my penis warm). A small leaf hit my cheek at 30mph. Hurt like you wouldn't believe. Had I not shaved my winter fur a week ago (or had I remembered the balaclava--or the goggles) this pain could have been prevented.

Otherwise it was a nice ride. :-)

...

Currently listening to A Confederacy of Dunces. Marvelously funny. At one point on my ride I came around a bend laughing loudly--I think it was Ignatius' attempt to lead the factory workers at Levy Pants to insurrection. A Mennonite woman crossing the street to collect her mail probably thought I was laughing at her. I tried to play it off with a sheepish wave and a warm smile. I was not likely very convincing.