No, much too low brow for Pete. I read a longer article by him this week in CW about a trip through (mostly) Germany to the Dutch TT. Good read--only mentioned motorcycles a few time, the trip took precidence. I *am* going to do a tour through Europe/Germany/The Alps, etc. on a motorcycle. Perhaps, if things go well, next year for vacation.

The list was hysterical Jon! Did you fit in any time on the slopes this weekend?

Not this weekend. I had time, but can't afford to spend $150 every weekend. Perhaps this coming weekend. Speaking of off topic, I bought a new mountain bike. It's a Kona. It was a '96 model that was still on the showroom floor, so I got a great deal on it. It's a little small for me (probably could use a 20", it's an 18"), but I like it.

Excellent! Ridden anywhere yet? I tried a couple of trails on Saturday ice fest... long painful slides... no good Sunday I gave up and hiked!

Hee. Yeah, exactly. I've ridden mostly on the road, with a little off road stuff. A lot of fun. Hiking is better in most situations in the winter, though a fresh snow (I've found) can be fun--you still have some traction. It sure has been a warm and relatively snow free winter. I've done more hiking in the past three months than any three months all summer.

That's one of the great things about living where I live--lots of places to hike and ride close by. Awesome place. I keep thinking I'll move to the city, but I don't.

if you don't have to... commute, social, family reasons... don't. I don't mind living in the city (as if!) in 10 minutes, I'm blissfully beyond civilization (and in a more civilized place)

Uh, you've got a point. I went from having a group of good friends back in Texas to being just "Jon the hillbilly up in the mountains by myself". I have zilcho social life. I do lots of stuff and stay busy (like Blues Jam night at the Little Bear on Tuesday, banjo lessions, jam night at The Buck Snort, etc.), but not alot of friends. The commute is an hour each way, but that hasn't been enough of a factor to make me move. And I'm not in civilization at all now, which is great. Just hang out in the mountains. Aaaaah.

Have you ever been to The Buck Snort, Stacey?

Today is "restaurants in Denver" day. Tonight I went to the first really super snazzy upscale joint I'd ever been to, a place called "Del Frisco". You wouldn't like it, Stacey--it's one of those "we love meat and we don't care what anyone thinks about that!" places. Ultra snazzy, though. About $80-$100 a person to eat there, valet parking (I told the attendants to please fetch my "Tracker Carrera"), perfect service, etc. They had good looking waitresses who fawned over me but would probably ignore me in any other setting. :-) It was fun, and the food was good, but you know what? I get about as much or more entertainment from a $10 evening at a little divey bar in the mountains. It's fun, but not to be done every day. And considering the look on the face of the VP who took us there when I ordered desert, that won't be a problem.

Stacey, I've sent you a couple of e-mails, but I don't think you got them. Our mail server has been doing weird things, like not delivering to certain addresses (about 1 out of 100). I wonder if it's having trouble with the Spring.

I've gotten them... and responded so it looks like you're going out but things are having difficulty coming back in. *frown* the restaurant sounded interesting -- you should post it in 'restaurants' (get out and explore a little, Jon). Was it a celebratory dinner?

No, we had a contractor that's going to help us design the new corporate website (and is also doing some work on the interfaces for the software). He was busy in other departments so dinner was the only time we could meet. I followed my supervisor's lead in really having a good time since I wasn't paying. :-) Explore? You mean on the Spring, or around here? Either way it's probably true, although I do enjoy doing and learning new things. I'll e-mail you tomorrow from my work e-mail and see what happens.

Hmm. I don't think that the folks in Austin care about restaurants in Denver, but I've got a mess of 'em I could post.

heck, I post 'em all the time... they don't seem to mind. besides, I'm trying to bribe people to come visit!

How does that work? I think of lots of good reasons to come to Denver, but I'd need more prodding than that to take off across the country.

I'll have to go check out that conference and see if I can find a new place to eat.

Been checking in & out frequently, surprised there are never any submissions here. I've passed the URL along to several different riders with no responses yet! I don't mind going from place to place to discuss my favorite topic, can I be the only guy? Let's keep this going! (o:

No your not the only one, but I hate speeking to miself, to much differents opinions. :o)

P.S. It's also very quiet in most conferences that interest me.

Well I'll be b******d, it works ! Just though I'd check it out in case the worst happens to XRoads. Hi each. Mike Stimson

Hey Mike. We have to convince Eirik to get in on this. I realize the interface can be daunting at times but better to was up on shore than go under. I'm going to see if maybe we can adjust things to have a similar topic list as XR, instead of plowing through 1000 things. Glad to see some posts!

Hey Stacey, how are things going in your life? How's the new job? I'm looking for work myself. Talking to a company based out of Hong Kong with an office in Denver. That would be cool (as long as the communist government doesn't nationalize the company or something).

I'm posting this here because I've given up on trying to E-mail Stacey, in case someone wonders.

Yes I was wondering. And I realised that it`s not my bizness if your just a bit off topic :o))))

Hi y'all! I'll join in... I'm Gena. I live north of Boston and currently ride a '93 ZX6. I bought it last summer after succumbing to a 20 year urge. My first bike was a 73 (i think) Yamaha 250. I must say, they have changed in 20 years! I love my ZX6, but once I have a couple more seasons under my belt, I'll look at spanky new models. Ride safe...

Shoot, the ZX6 is nice. I ride an old ZX-600R--a much less sportingly competent machine, and it's still all I can handle.

Mine's the ZX600E. It's enough for now. My best friend rides a Honda F3 and she comments on the 'quickness' of my non-race equipped bike. I don't know what I'll graduate to... may end up staying with Kawasaki. I doubt that I'll go over 900cc... may just stick to the 6's.

Famous last words eh, folks? (o; Welcome Gena; check out http://www.sportriders.com they'd love to see you sign on, and are good folks.

Frank, how about plugging our conference on Sports Riders?

Well I did a while back. Thing is they have a list (Biketalk) that lets the "club" communicate by e-mail. I'll give it a second shot.

Hey Jon! I guess this is our new forum... I have received and replied to all your emails, not sure why you aren't getting them. All is well here. Busy but with the lower country slowly thawing, I've been able to get a bit of outside fun in!

Hee. Yeah, something must be wrong with your SMTP server. Anyway, I've done some bicycling and hiking too. It's been chilly the last few days, though, but all in all a mild winter. Can't wait for summer, though. So much biking, motorcycling, off roading, fishing, hiking, camping, etc. to be done.

I'd say stick with the 600s. I like 'em myself--light, powerful and loads of fun. I really enjoy my beat up old ZX-600R. If I change bikes, it won't be to a larger displacement or because I feel it doesn't have enough power.

hey watch it! MY (???) SMTP server?!?!? How DARE you? *giggle* Everyone else seems to be receiving my messages just fine! *smile* This weekend is snowshoeing is Estes Park (as it stands now)

What's the snow like there? We've got nothing but ice around where I live. As soon as it snows again, though, I'm going cross country. Yeah, I don't know why I can't get your e-mails.

snow is white and fluffy... as it should be! They got about 6 inches this week so it ought to be prime. Stay away from avalanches!

Well, I'm looking for work. Interviewed with Software AG today and have an interview with ICG tomorrow (Friday) morning. It looks like losing this job may be the best thing that's ever happened to me.

Best of luck Sheb

any chance of negotiating acompany bike? :)

Company Bike?! I wish, I'd be a corporate tie-wearing a-kisser in no time! BTW, anyone seen the Virgin Atlantic "Limo-bike" thing? A pro picks you up on a BMW, dresses you for the conditions prevailing(!) and speeds you to your metro destination, cell-phone provided if necessary, etc. Whaddaya think?

We have used them for getting people to the airport in a hurry - works well! I nearly got my Tiger as a company bike, but just befor it was completely sorted we had a change in Financial director from one who was bike friendly to one who was seriously anti bikes. :( I got told take a Renault Clio or the money but you cannot have a bike - a clio is no use to me at all so I took the money! :) Sheb

good luck with the job hunt Jon!!!

Really, good luck Jon!

Thanks, folks. No, but once I was on the way to a job interview on my Nighthawk with my pin striped, double breasted suit and wingtips and a guy pulls up next to me in a big work truck and asks "is that a company ride?" Hee. I wish!

Not in our Lifetime, I guess, eh?

Hey Jon were you dumped on today too??? Six inches so far, 10 more expected before dawn. *frown* and I thought Spring had arrived!

Exactly! Sprign *has* arrived, and from what I understand, "when it's Spring time in Alaska I'll be 6 feet below" or something like that. Pretty much a typical Colorado spring, from what I've heard, but you've been here longer than I. I didn't make it home this evening--I'm staying with some friends in Lakewood. I'm happy, though, as I should be able to do some cross country skiing--something I haven't done since before Christmas. I start my new job on Thursday. It should be interesting commute.

An interesting commute today. With the weather.

Should be no problem in the Tracker....

first day at the new job: how'd it go??? (and what/where is it?) lookit me! All dug out from under the 14 inches in our front yard (and driveway) and at work!

2.5 feet here. First day was fantastic. I'm off to a great start, my boss thinks I'm a genius, and I'm loving my work.

where are you working and how did you pull the wool over your bosses eyes in just one day?!?! *giggle* 2.5 feet... I guess that Tracker is mighty useful!

Oh yeah, I didn't make it home on Wednesday. I tried to get up 285 but traffic was a dead stop. I ended up staying in Lakewood with some friends.

No, the boss is just naturally observant. Hey, a fact's a fact.

Oh, it's ICG, off of I-25 at Dry Creek Rd. Do you know who ICG is?

No, but I know where it is. Right by Inverness, right?

Right--a big new building. They're a multi-million dollar communications company that has the market cornered in a couple of areas (like ship-to-shore sattelite communications) and is competing with the big boys (and doing a good job) in other areas like telecom, data, sattelites, etc. For example they own and operate several communications sattelites that transfer everything from phone traffic to TV shows.

building tilting forward (toward I 25) and lotsa glass? (lemme know if there are any good restaurants down there. Hankering for a happy hour soon)

jon. the mail keeps getting returned on jon_lind@icgcomm.com suggestions?

Try it again. I checked with the mail admin today and she had it set wrong. It should work now. Atleast you're getting some kind of response--that's promising! Hmm. Stanford's is pretty good for happy hour--they have a great feta cheese pizza for $2, but drinks are full price. We need to meet somewhere sometime.

Uh, yes, that's the building. Cool building, but boooring inside. The most impressive part is the fact that they imported marble from Europe for the entrance and lobby. It's crazy what these corporations will spend money on.

$2 cheese pizza?! How big is it? Where is this? (o;

WAY OFF SUBJECT BUT - spending money on crazy things goeas back a long time - allegedly when they built stonehenge they brought some of the stone across the sea from Ireland ! :)

Where's Stanford's? DTC?

Yeah, it's in the Tech Center off of Arapahoe and Yosemite. It's a good size pizza for $2--enough to more than fill me up. It's their happy hour--instead of cheap drinks they have cheap food (and good food, at that) between 5:00 and 6:00. Smart thinking, because if you have more than one drink, you've spent more than if you'd gone somewhere else and gotten cheap drinks with full priced food. And actually it's not cheese, but feta and Italian Sausage. But since I'm a vegetarian for Lent, I ask them to leave off the sausage. Eating vegetarian is hard! A vegetarian friend, when I told her what I was doing, said "how do you feel?" and I answered "like having a big old cheeseburger". ;-)

Have you tried to e-mail me Stacey, since the "so" message?

No, I've been home (just Thursday) with some yucko stomach thing and so I haven't checked the box at school. Sounds like I can get through now though! Surprising that cutting out meat hasn't made you feel better (more energy). Are you getting enough calories/protien/iron? More beans and more cheese will certainly help! Of course I went back to fish after I gave up meat because 1) I like fish and 2) I needed the nutrients. Lemme know how it goes!

Lots of calories and protein (I've more than made up for that with various cheeses), but I don't know about iron. A big old steak could fix that up just fine. 1) I don't like fish, which is part of why I left them in my diet. Sure, a good old plate of fried catfish (can you say "deep fat"?) can't be beat, and I like some seafood, but I'm not big on fish.

I have no scientific reason to believe that not eating meat will make you more energetic. It works fine for wolves, lions, cheetahs, etc.--they don't seem to lack energy. ;-) Eating a high-fat diet and sitting around being mostly inactive, however, will make you un-energetic.

MAN! Just loading up this topic and scrolling down to a "submoit' form took all weekend. Seems the season here is underway, yesterday I took a cold 10 minute ride to the Dairy, saw a few neat homebuilt cafe jobs, one a homebuilt Guzzi with sublime open megaphones. NASCAR has nothing on an open Guzzi sound! Nice 748. A few cruzers. Unfortunately I missed the get-together at MotoMarket in Acton, MA. From the photos it looked like a great place for a Sunday hang. Tell us, Gwen?

Frank, I'm suppsosing that is Dairy as in cow milking establishment but could it be "home of the white trash ice cream" (and one of my favorite places) DAIRY QUEEN?!?!?! On your big ride Jon?

1st, apology to Gena, I mixed up the name! Next, Marcus Dairy is in fact a big dairy in Danbury CT, close to my house. The production manager let his love for bikes get completely out of control, and Sunday gatherings have progressed from little groups as I described above to giant 4-times-a-summer bike-fests. There are always a few rides outside on Sundays however. The diner at the gate is one of the best-kept truck-stops in the northeast, and the coffee & ice-cream are top-notch.

"On your big ride"? Whuzzat mean?

weren't you going down to Texas soon?

Anyone coming to Texas, let me know and we'll be sure and party down.

Hee. No, I didn't get down to Austin. And the "Big Ride" had to be cancelled because I lost my job at Intergram. Instead I took a couple of days off to drive to Dallas and see the Nascar race. "You might be a redneck if...", but I don't care. ;-)

Jon, I've tried to email you by clicking on the blue "triumph" link here and it gets returned. I've tried both the hcds.net and diac.com and neither are working. Did you get out to San Angelo? (Your parents live there don't they?)

Nope, didn't get back to Angelo. My address (and this should work--though our mail server was down for a while) is jonlind@diac.com

Hey, Stacey, are you still there? Did you not come back from Georgia? Disappear off the face of the earth? E-mail to me quit working again?

e mail still working.. busy week! sorry happyhour next week???

Sounds good. Hee, you *still* haven't told me what was in Georgia, but I guess it's none of my business. :-) Just say when--any day is good for me.

Hey guys, Long time to...uh...read(?). I just got the 'net at work and spent the last week finding you. I have a friend coming in from Europe on the April 24 and we are going on the road June 1-10 (bought a GS850GL which I am loaning him). I'm thinking Colorado...any suggestions? onkel udo

looks like you don't need too many suggestions... you picked a great state! Jon and I both live here, but he's the one to ask about motorbike trips... I'm strictly manpowered!

Onkel Udo!? I forget the name exactly, not Mike K.?? I e-mailed to the above and it bounced. Try http://www.fp-webs.com:8080/~Xroads, or e-mail me at FnGG@aol.com if you have trouble.

I guess, in the summer, people ride instead of just talking about it

Has anyone heard from Jon Lind recently? How can I contact him?

He has not posted in a few years as far as I know (I usually keep up to date on stuff like that. Terry can tell you his last login address, most likely.

Thanks! I hope it's current; but I doubt it...

He never entered a valid email address when he signed up.