walk to work!?

I walked to work today! Not because I set out to do so, but rather because I missed the bus. I took the motorcycle to work yesterday, but caught a ride home from a coworker because it was pouring down rain. So I planned to take the bus to work and the motorcycle back home. That plan was foiled when I missed the bus, so I just jogged/walked to work. It took me 45 minutes to complete the 3 mile journey. Not bad of an experience.

More on this past weekend later, perhaps...

Gauley River

OK, so I wussed out and turned on my heat shortly after posting.

I've been putting off posting for several days for one reason. I've got an awesome topic to blog, but don't know what to say. It seems that I am not the best story teller, nor the best blogger. How can I give any justice to my whitewater rafting experience on the world-famous Gauley River!? I can't. So I'll just settle with telling you to see the pictures:

click one of them to see all of them




There's also video, but you'll have to go to the facebook for that.

A few highlights.
1. We did not flip.
2. We did not throw anyone off the raft, except when someone was "riding the bull" for fluffy bunnny.
3. The water temps were much higher than the air temps, which began at 28 degrees :(
4. I jumped off jump rock.
5. I swamp swimmer's rapid.
6. I'm going back next year.
7. We did not hit dildo rock as this raft did.

My house is 58 degrees

My house's thermostat reads 58 degrees. I didn't bother to turn on the heat because after waking up to a 28 degree morning yesterday, 58 feels like a sauna!

More on this later.

commuting log

I ran the numbers! I started keeping log of my commuting method starting 5/1. My options were bike, bus, motorcycle, car.

Bike:
What? 2001 Bianchi Pista fixed gear
MPG? null, although the MPGe (equivalent) 653 MPG
value? $500-600
Emissions? just my hot air
Commute times? 14-minutes to work, 18-minutes from (thanks to one giant hill)
Costs? Zero. Free parking, no tolls

Bus:
What? GRTC
Cost? $1.25 each way, $0 parking, $0 tolls
Commute times? 30/35 to/from

Motorcycle:
What? 1976 Honda CB550k
Value? $1200 max
MPG? 40/45 city/highway
Emissions? Carbureted 550 cc engine built in 1976 probably doesn't size up to well according to modern car emissions.
Costs? Free parking, $0 toll, $3.50 regular gas
Commute times? 15/15 to/from on surface and 8/8 on highway

Car:
What? 2005 MINI Cooper S
Value? approx. $20k, at least I assume
MPG? 22/29 city/highway, yes--its that bad!
Emissions? Pollution 2/10, Greenhouse gases 7/10. 10 is best; MINI is bad.
Costs? $5 parking, $1.40 in toll, $4 in premium gas.
Commute times? 15/15 to/from on surface and 8/8 on highway


And finally the numbers.

The commute is roughly 3 miles. The $ figures are assuming the car takes the highway and the Motorcycle takes surface streets.

Breakdown of Commuting Methods by Days Worked:
Bicycle: 61, or 64.2%, $0
Car: 16, or 16.8%, $17.45 gas + $80 parking = $97.45
Motorcycle: 14, or 14.7%, $7.35 gas
Bus: 4, or 4.2%, $10 in fare

Total cost if I just drove my car: $554.27

In conclusion, I ride my bike to work most days through the warm months May-October and have saved $449.47 by consciously taking alternate forms of transportation, most of which would've have been parking costs. I'll be interested to see how this changes Oct-May when the weather turns.

High Life, high on life

First off, Miller High Life is one of my most favorite crap-beers, but that's not what the title means. The title means that I've been high on life. I had an excellent time in Washington DC this past week even though I was working around the clock to support a court trial.

Now I leave to Alexander Supertramp it in West VA for the next few days. Actually that was the plan until I learned of a Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds concert in Richmond next Sunday, and the tickets go on sale (actually given away to residents for free) tomorrow at 10 AM. Now I am considering staying in town to get tickets, but that would cut into my Bridge Day activities. I'd still make it there by 2 or 3 PM, so I think I'll go for it. The real reason for the trip is to raft down the Upper Gauley, which will still happen on Sunday regardless of my arrival time on Saturday.

It seems that changing your relationship status on facebook makes a lot of people question things which just speaks to people's undying interest in one anothers' lives. Much like the way that people rubberneck while passing an accident scene--they want to see a dead body. The fact is that my relationship status was complicated, so I labeled it as such. I'm not saying I'm over things by changing to "Single", but rather its less complicated.

random updates

I tend to facebook more than blog these days, so here goes a bunch of very random updates.

The weather is getting cold, so on my commute in this AM, I had to wear my new gloves and ear muffs.
I'm volunteering at the Richmond Folk Festival for 16-hours, 8 of which I get to leave work and be paid.
I saw my brother and nephews this weekend. The youngest (6 months old) is getting bigger by the day.
I have high blood pressure 129/91 (possibly related to the thing two lines above as its always been high), low glucose levels (67), good cholesterol 159 total, 60 HDL (ratio of 2.6--under 4.0 is good), and a much better BMI/fat percentage 27.4/20.8% fat, 35" waist (down from a BMI of 29 and a 38" waist 11/07). I still have further to go, but I'm on the right track.
I'm rafting the Gauley River (google it, world class rapids, dam-release) with my extreme buddies on Oct 19th, which is the day after Bridge Day. We're camping.
I might also be going camping Nov 1 and Nov 8. Does it show that I just watched Into the Wild again last week?
The Giants are 4-0! I bought Giants @ Redskins tickets for Nov 30. I plan to bring my uncle since he paid for that awesome deep-sea fishing trip in August. Its 10th row in the end zone--I'm excited!
My fantasy football team is 2-3, which is good considering I took over the team in Week 2 and started the season 0-3. I had Tom Brady, lol.
I've learned a lot recently about XML transformations at work.
The law industry is rather resilient to economic stresses. Basically business transfers from the Real Estate team to the Bankruptcy team.
That Mountain bike race I did a few weeks ago went well, except I dislocated my shoulder. I ended up putting it back in myself right there in the trail, biking the remaining 4 miles and finishing first place in my age group of the beginners! I walked away with a small trophy, an "injury prize" of some energy drink powder, winter cycling gloves, and a belly full of beer and catered BBQ! All for a $35 entry fee. I'll be back next year! Fredericksberg Off-Road Duo. fredevents.org
I shot some guns two weeks ago. Adrian (friend, Miata owner and race buddy) and Amanda took everyone out for some fun lead-laying and dinner @ River City Diner to follow. Good Times!
Some of my recent favorite websites:
1. bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com - He's a Bike Snob and an excellent blogger. Hilarious stuff.
2. woot.com - one deal a day. So far, I've purchased two micro SD cards, a Dyson vacuum, and a blood pressure cuff. I'm going to take hourly readings for a week and bring the results to my doctor.
3. pandora.com - streaming music, vote "like it" or "don't like it" and it'll start playing only stuff you like.