Too early in the morning for me to have worked out yet, at least on a workday. Yesterday was a fitness skate at the Veloway and this afternoon will be my final ride on the Greenbelt. Thursday... Rocky Hill Ranch Next week... Colorado, Rocky Mountain high! ;-)

Woo whee Stacey. Same here. It's not early, it's just that I didn't make it to the Q yet today. I'm expecting a visitor from the WELL to roll into town today (sabrina) that I promised to plug in to the Q on her pass through Austin. She left a message on my recorder last night from somewhere out in West Texas.

Well, I like the Q. I think it is too crowded though. You sometimes have to wait several minutes before a weight machine is available.

What is your typical workout federico? It didn't used to be crowded at all but adding 2 million dollars worth of equipment and putting a major promotional effort has packed the place. I wonder how far they're going to take this before it takes a Mexico City or Calcuttalike atmosphere? I like the 2nd row of machines from the far aerobics room. I like it that they give you a self test before you get started.

Workout? I don't know what it is about this summer in Maine; it has either been too rainy or too rainy, and when it rains, I become too depressed to workout. I mean, it isn't as if I don't belong to a "club" with good machines and a *great* view (actually, just a room in my house with a few machines and a window overlooking the lake), it is just that rain seems to be such a disincentive to working out. Oh well, I suppose I will get my act together and workout today (unless I find a good movie on Directv :) http://www.umeais.maine.edu/~hayward

Solution: position your exercise bike in front of the tv and run the tv off of pedal power. I didn't work out yesterday, I spent the day walking miles and miles at the Whole Life Expo. The guys doing "acromassage" sure got a workout. Can you imagine suspending another person upside down with your feet while giving them a massage. These guys did that for several hours. Acromassage they call it. Wild stuff. Tomorrow, the Q, or maybe later on today.

Wokred out at a gym yesterday... ewwww yucky. But as was proved last year, winter is a hard time to maintain my regular exercise stuff -- cycling, skating and running. So the gym would be a supplement. It was a Bally's but REALLY old and dingy feeling. Not the best time but I enjoyed the sweating.

Thanks Paul, for the info on browsing. I've gone back and looked at a few of the older conferences and read old responses. How sad I was this a.m. when I read the first entry into this section... "my final ride on the Greenbelt" My I do still miss Austin an awful lot. I need a plane ticket for me and my bike. Or maybe I should just ride back the ,,10+ miles.

You could do it!

With a personal sag and great weather, I probably could. Dammit Paul, now you got me thinkin'...

Yesterday I snuck in a skate down the Platte River trail from Englewood into the foothills. Absolutely INCREDIBLE day. Cool, like autumn and sunny like Colorado. Good smelling air, Canadian geese all around (chasing the ducks out of the water) and changing leaves.

Wow, sounds like a Rocky Mountain high. We've been getting a lot of rain today, and we need it to green things up around here. I hope to get out on the trails tonight when I get off work. I'm going to do some video of the woods around my place and put them somewhere on the site. I'll point to it later. Have you seen our new main page today, Stace?

'fraid not. The spring takes soooo long to load up on my itty bitty 8MB Mac.. I promise to try and catch a glimpse later.

I'm going to move that animated gif off the main page, it does take a long time to load. I'll make is so you can click on the picture on the main page and go to the animated gif. What are you running for a browser and telnet program on that itty bitty Mac?

netscape and nsca(?)

Cool. How was your workout today, Stacey? Mine consisted of moving furniture and running up and down two flights of stairs in my house. And crawling around in the basement running phone and network wires.

moving? I had a killer mtn bike ride on Saturday but it snowed yesterday so I might wait a couple of days to do it again until the trail dries off! Not a difficult ride but a long, beautiful, exhausting ride!

Not moving, just rearranging. I'm tired tonight from the weekend. It's so nice and cool out I feel like a walk in the woods before the sun goes down. The spider webs near clearing out on the trail. And I need to air out some and get some exercise.

Spider webs in your head?

The spider webs build up along the trail I cut through the woods if I miss a few days of walking, well, the spider webs in my head too from too much being inside!

Obviously I need to clear the webs in my head!

Today's a gorgeous day for a workout, cool, crisp, not a cloud to be seen. I'm planning on a few miles jog later when I get off work. There's a nice breeze today too.

A bike ride last night. Gorgeous day but by the time I got off the mtn, it was FREEZING cold! Welcome to Colorado, where the temp drops 20 degrees in 15 mins if it so desires!

Today I woke up with a leg cramp, for the long walk/run yesterday. Do I need to eat more potassium?

Bananas! Need to take better care of yourself, for sure :-)!

The gym thing again. Dingy and dank but I worked up a sweat and played with the free weights. Snow tonight and through the weekend so maybe a bike ride...

Did the gym thing yesterday, first real workout since I hurt my back. Still a little stiff and sore but sweating for an hour seemed to help. The sauna is what keeps bringing me back! Not nearly as nice as the Q, but hey, I'm on a budget!

My workouts have been *great* the last two days. Mile swims both days. Sauna. Hot Tub. Steam Room. Exercise machines. Pumping up the ol' bod. Got to. Or turn into a brain in a jar (ughh).

Sounds like a great B movie plot. "Man loses Q pass, mutates into... BRAIN IN A JAR!!!"

Don't worry, I have a spare Q card.

Whew! That could've been a disaster.

Always good to have a clone around.

Do you have one sprouting in the back 40?

Not yet, maybe time to get one started.

I had the most fun on Friday! I wanted to go for a jog but it was way too cold. So I turned up the tunage and danced around in my basement! Whew! I had a great time and a great workout [read: I was sore the next day!]

I love to dance around the house to great music.

What do you dance around to?

The best station I can find. I really don't play CDs or tapes much.

radio gets me frustrated. too many commercials and all the same songs.

KUT has some cool music sometimes. And some stations play like 6 songs in a row or do albums.

I agree with the KUT statement. They are one of the few stations that understands the word 'variety.' The popular stations seem to get stuck on 'alternative top 40' tunes.

Sometimes KOOP has some good stuff but can't be counted on.

We've got KCTL (out of Ft. Collins)

I *need* workouts in the winter! No landscaping to to other than chopping wood for the fire, and the daily walks with my daughter to her schoolbus stop, with some Xcountry skiing when weather allows. I use free weights for about 1.25 hours each day since the membership I *won* to the fitness center lapsed. Good discipline's not as bad as it sounds!

I've found Colorado winters difficult for that reason. Very little biking in the snow (although it has been done!), no skating and uncomfortable running. But I do hate gyms...

I know what you mean about the gym scene, I think I tried to get you over to the Q once, remember?

And I conceded but that was at 6am when I had the place to myself. Nothing campares to the great outdoors but a completely empty gym, track, pool and sauna are certainly worthwhile explorations!

I can get you another week pass on your Austin visit. Still happening right?

Yes, still happening. And, hey, that might be a grand idea!

early morning run. a bit nippy but clear and beautiful. took a new route and was a little disappointed in the first mile until I returned home and noticed the 10% grade that I had climbed! snowshoeing in Estes Park tomorrow!

Went for a skate Wednesday afternoon/evening. I had planned on a 10-mile out and back (just a quick muscle mover) but my competitive nature got the best of me. When I arrived at the hill up to Chatfield Dam, there were two men skating ahead. Well, I had to see if I could pass them. And when it looked as if they were going to continue up the sttep grade... well, I had to also. Once I beat them to the top *giggle* I stopped and chatted with them for awhile and they talked about a new route back to the Platte path. It added another few miles but I discovered a new trail and new rates of speed coming down from those hills (yikes!) Total a little over 18 miles. Felt good.

We're back, the spring.net domain name transfer brought us to our knees today. But we're back. And beautiful.

Boy, did that create confusion on my end for the last two days...

and what's so significant about confusion on your end WER?? *smile*

fine!

Sweating wise: Spent all day Saturday on the MTB (between trailriding, commuting and screwing around we got in about 30 miles) Lesuire skate with a couple of girlfriends on Sunday (not very far, not very fast) And, after the drastic temperature drop (and 3 inches of snow) I'm back to the gym tonight.

Spent a lot of time on the basketball court with my son, who's 6'%" and has an intimidating slam dunk. Wore me out!

I'm figuring it should read 6'5"? What can I say? Stay in his face with yer hands up! My son's about 3'1", but since watching "SpaceJam" 20 million times or so has all the basics down...wears me out too!

5" is correct. 6-5. And he has this awwsome reverse slam dunk. I tried the hands in the face trick to not much avail, it's hard to get my hand in someones face who is over the rim somewhere near Telstar 5.

after the illness from hell (from which I still have not recovered my voice -- some say it's sexy so I might try and develop the gravelly sound a bit) I was told minimal exercise. I believed minimal to be four times a week but... it has not worked out as planned. A very easy MTB ride, some gardening and a seven mile skate have completely downed me again. Anyone else have more success today?

Watched some dolphins on TV swimming around very fast. Wore me out. Had to turn it off and lie down. Still haven't caught my breath. How long does this take? Probably depends on the sofa.

Thursday's the big day, moving in to the new house. I called the pool cleaners yesterday and had them set up a weekly appointment. It's going to be a "swimming summer"!

WooWoo!

I am on a fitness binge again... sneaking in skates during lunch, a run here and a bike ride after work. In three weeks I think I'll enter an inline marathon (either that or a foothill century ride). I certainly miss some of my old routines from Austin but nothing beats cycling in the mountains! Today I snuck in a 12 mile skate between summer school and the computer center and took a 32 mile bike ride after coming home to an empty house. I figure if I wipe myself out good and completely, I shall really be able to take full advantage of the jacuzzi bathtub!

What's a good place to pick up a low end bike in Austin, one that would be good for street and dirt. Any brand recommendations?

I had the BEST skate (well one of the best anyway!) I skated along the Platte River up to Confluence Park at a nice lesuirely pace... no racing today! Too lazy to explain it all now, but my legs and whole body felt really strong... I feel really good now! (29 miles roundtrip)

Specialized makes a good range of bikes. Sounds like you would want a Hard Rock. Can fit knobby or slick tires (off road and on road) sits more upright so it is not as ideal for aggressive trail riding but can certainly take you through Zilker! Go visit Bicycle Sport Shop already!!!

Is this a good bike for someone my size, Stace'? Any particular model Hard Rock?

I'd suggest you try Buck's Bikes on Jollyville Rd. They have a good selection and good prices.

try out a few types Paul, cause all frames and frame makers are a bit different. Trek or Kona might be better for someone with a long torso like you (they CERTAINLY don't fit me!)

What's you height?

5'2"

I remember when I was 5'2" those were the best years of my life everything seemed to work out just fine but then my workouts went so well too just pick-up baseball and basketball and football games with friends after school and on weekends and at night I'd go up to Rec Hall at Penn State hardly ever got kicked out lotsa stuff to do there indoor track, way up high, that went around the main gym lotsa basketball courts squash courts, handball courts, raquetball courts weight rooms badminton is intense indoors during a special Christmas 2 week period, every year, kids got coaching on indoor track stuff (with races), and even boxing (with headgear and bloody noses and real short rounds and no more'n 3) and there was a summer indoor swimming program for kids who were no taller'n 5'2" that was taught by Penn State football assistant coaches gymnastics room (trampoline was wide and long, and high up off the floor---like, 4 or 5 feet) and there were these cool belts you could wear that came down from the ceiling ---you'd put 'em on and they could let you be like Peter Pan, swoopin' around through the air---I did get kicked out once for doin' that they were supposed to be used to practice floor exercise routines, and they were hooked to the wall when not in use tennis courts were clear across campus---it was fun to play at night on clay courts one time I played against some women on the tennis team over at their tennis courts they complained about me serving too hard against 'em they weren't like you, Stace if it were you, it'd sure enough be me complainin' about you serving too hard as I get older and more'n and more'n stooped over, I like to think how it's getting me closer to that ultimate height where I can return to the best years of my life and everything'll work out just fine again with great workouts

ah but I shall never achieve that volleyball greatness that comes with physical stature...

we need setters bad good ones with tremendous setter stature tremendous accuracy, quickness, diving ability somebody who can take IV replenishment and get right back in there someone with incredible volleyball instincts if you're that one, we need all your physical stature and all the Stacey you can give

I wish I could just tap into some of her energy...

Stature is not that important when there are six players on the team.

a team with Michael Jordan might be alot better'n the same team without him and someone else in his place ---and then applying that idea to volleyball (or staceyball)

big hike today, taking advantage of the warm weather!

In the mountains?

Don't leave us in suspense. Where did you go? What did you see? How long did it take? How do you feel now?

I resigned from my former job and now work in the foothills. Everyday at lunch (weather permitting) I hike up the foothills, into Deer Creek Canyon and up the hogback. I usually see chipmunks and black squirrels but a week or so ago I saw a two-point buck and several does. It's relaxing and invigorating and perspective generating and... just really wonderful. the sunshine on my face in the middle of the day, clean air (not Brown Cloud air), quiet yet naturally noisy...

Sounds good. Do you take the same route every day? If so how far is it?

different routes, different trails... as far as I can run, walk or hike in about 45 minutes!

That's great. I miss wildness. Everything is so tame here in the city. Even the deer will walk right up to you. And I miss the solitude of the trees.

it was the squirrels that really got me living in Austin... they not only walk right upto you, they climb into your pockets looking for something to eat!

They haven't done that to me yet, What they have done is to sit in a tree at eye level look me in the eye and chatter at me.

they climb into your pockets looking for something to eat! hmmm...that sounds familiar... and speaking of, you gonna be in town next week, Stace?

yup! I was gonna try and surprise you at LI (since you're always there, I figured my chances were excellent) but seeing as you must pay too damn much attention to my senseless prattle... I guess you already knew I'd be a comin! Flying into Austin late Tuesday eve, heading to SA for Wed - Sat (or Sun) and then in Austin until Wednesday (12/2) gonna be around?

Monday after Thanksgiving at work open till close, and Tuesday I work open till 5ish, off on Wednesday...

Let's have a little party at my place, what say, Stace' with you, wer, Ray, Tim, Tami, and everyone.

Great idea. Say When!!

Whenever Stace' can make it. If she's game.

great idea!

GREAT time today playing around on all the exercise equipment I feel so alive, so awake, so fresh, so full of energy... so HUNGRY!

You make want to cruise over to the Q.

did'ya go???

What's on your workout agenda today Stacey? I'm going to try and get over the Q, it's *freezing cold* here today.

skipped the gym today... last minute holiday shopping. Dodging last minute Christmas shoppers was all the exercise I could handle today!

Ah yes, the shopping mall hurdles event.