Posts from — October 2005

As you may know, I work in the Marketing department of a major automotive company. As a perk, I get dozens of free magazines that are left over from the media managers on the floor. I collect so many magazines each month, I find it hard to keep up. Pam has her favorites that I bring home regularly and between us my bag is usually weighed down with one magazine or another every day.

The problem is I’m using so much time reading magazines, that I haven’t read a book in a long while. I should start limiting these magazines and do some real book reading.

I’m also overloaded with music. I have my 40 GB iPod filled to capacity and only listen to a small fraction of the songs. I scan online sources regularly and find lots of new music to download. Podcasting is also demanding more of listening time and it’s hard to keep up with the many “radio” shows on a regular basis. Since iTunes integrated podcasting, subscribing to interesting p-casts is easy than ever.

Then there’s television. With the means to record four shows simultaneously at home (2 Tivo units + Comcast dual tuner DVR), we often have too much stored to keep up with it.

Cellphones, voicemail, email, radio, television, magazines. It’s a media overload for me.

And this is bad. For all the time I “waste” watching TV or reading magazines, I could be outside exercising.

I’m going to develop a plan where I can read, watch TV and listen to music while I’m outside riding on my mountain bike. I’ll be doing all the things I love at the same time.

The Fall TV season is in full swing, here’s what I’m watching:

Rome.
Great story, acting and visuals. It’s almost like being back in ancient times.

Surface.
Sea monsters, government cover-up, good characters. A formula for a good show.

The Amazing Race - Family Edition.
I thought adding family members to the mix would mess up this great reality show. I was wrong. It’s still filled with the whining, yelling and arguing among the team members and I love it.

Lost.
Last season was great, this season it’s excellent. This is the show you shouldn’t be missing. 4 8 15 16 23 42

We’re also watching, Supernatural, Commander-in-chief (Pam), Apprentice(s) and Survivor.

I often talk to myself when I’m alone, at home, during work and while I’m in the car.

Here’s what I say when I’m driving:

“Stupid Moron! What’s the matter with you?”
“Hey Idiot, thanks for using your blinker!”
“&#$%^%@@$#$%”
“Get that piece of crap out of my way!”
“Right turn around the world.”
“Why don’t you follow me a little closer you f–ing tailgatger!”

What do YOU say?

Last weekend I bought a new Trek Navigator 200 mountain bike. Actually it’s classified as a “hybrid” bicycle where I can take it on paved roads or dirt trails. As usual I checked all the reviews and agonized over which bike to purchase. I visited several bike shops in the area and learned all I could about mountain and hybrid bikes.

After deciding on the Trek, the salesman found a good model, adjusted the seat and handlebars and I took it for a ride around their parking lot. I instantly fell in love with the smooth, and very comfortable ride. It has kevlar tires, a smooth shifting mechanism and top-rated parts.

Then Pam took the bike for a ride and loved it so much, we bought her one too. We didn’t plan on paying so much for bicycles, but figured these nicer ones will last us for a very long time.

Last weekend we loaded the bikes in the Pacifica and went to Bloomer Park in Rochester. They have miles of trails through the woods and even a velodrome (bicycle racing track). We spent a few hours pedaling around the woods having a great time.

Next up, Geocaching in the woods with our new bikes. I’m reading about quite a few caches to be found and getting to them is a lot easy if you can ride.

One thing, you’ll never catch me wearing those weird bike outfits.