Shripping the Gnar

Sunday was an epic day at Big Sky. Knee deep for four hours straight on the back side of Lone Peak. For some reason people don't ski the Shedhorn lift. You can do 16 minute laps and hit fresh turns every run. Hit a few spots that were wind loaded and thigh deep. Most of the turns were shin deep and plenty of face shots. Probably my best day in the last three years. I don't think anything will beat the winter of 05/06 when we skied knee deep on 9 weekends.

Spent all night tonight working on Design 5. We are learning a lot about the professional printing process. Been a bit more of a struggle than I anticipated getting our business cards done. I have a lot to learn...

I have been a little frustrated that things haven't been moving more quickly on the new business front. I was venting to Jenny about this yesterday and she assured me that we are making progress. She reminded me that I am working more than 50 hours a week right now and that I can't expect to have energy all of the time. It's also a coincidence that my father in law just sent me some articles about starting a small business while still working full time. Funny how these things work and how peoples timing is sometimes uncanny.

Peace out...

Stuff

Long week of work. Boring.

Rode the trainer for 1.5 hours last night. Played Elder Scrolls the entire time. Makes the time go really fast.

Out on the road for 4 hours today. Ryan, Randall and I took it easy most of the time and did two intervals at red line pace. After splitting off from those guys I hooked up with the Bozeman Masters Velo crew for another ride to the west. They were feeling fresh and headed west into the wind. I rode with them for 45 mins before returning home. By the time I got home I was almost in the complete Bonk zone. I looked at my watch and it said I had a 155 heart rate average. So... I worked way too hard today and am feeling it now.

Tomorrow is Design 5 day so just a couple hours on the trainer in the morning and then it's computer time for the rest of the day. We are heading to Borders to get a book on Adobe Illustrator so we can nail our marketing layouts...

Mr. Anderson and Kyia are in town so I am going to try and hook up with them on Monday or Tuesday evening if they are free. Big snow on the way and they are hoping to take advantage.

Another slow week of work coming up. Not much on the radar so I feel that my time is either limited there...or... I will be doing crappy busy work until things pick up. I volunteered to take some time off but that hasn't worked out so far. I could really use some time to focus on my new company but Avitel seems content to pay me for busy work...

Headbangers Ball

Lots O Riding this weekend. 2.5 on Friday with JT. Conversation speed for two hours then a couple of seriously difficult intervals before a 20 minute cool down.

Saturday JT and I met up with the Bozeman Velo Masters squad. JT and I both figured it would be a nice rolling day at an easy pace. It ended up being 3.5 hours of smashing heads against brick walls over and over and over... This squad of guys in the 50+ age group can F***ing hammer. I have no idea why I was surprised but I ended the day with a lot more respect for this crew. Of course my own ego got the best of me and I spent the entire ride proving I was the strongest and ended up with two cramping calves at mile 68. I know these guys are over 50 but it was some of the most difficult interval riding I have done in years... At least I am riding well. Really looking forward to getting in some racing. Next week is the first official race in Missoula. Just a 45 mile training race but the big boys will all be there.

Today I got out with John for a little over two hours. Today was the perfect recovery ride. Good conversation and no hammering.

Jenny has also been out on the bike the last three days and is ready for the end of winter. The last few days have been awesome. The sun has shone each day with highs in the upper 50s. Tomorrow it's back to the grind but this weekend should help smooth the transition.

Update

Work: Working home theater full time. The past couple of days I have been at an airplane hanger working on theater gear. The owner of several Montana banks has a huge hanger at the Bozeman Airport with a house inside of it. It's about a 2,000 sq.ft. house with a bedroom, huge office, 3 bathrooms, two living rooms, a huge poker table and a great kitchen. We were swapping out some theater gear. I took time to admire his float plane which is the largest single engine float plane money can buy. Also checked out the Bell 407 helicopter. His jet wasn't there, but his Bugatti car was. One of only 12 on earth. Amazing what money can buy... Also a spare $75K Escalade parked in the corner...

I have a few more leads for my new company so things seem to be going well on that front. Going to pursue a few projects in the Spanish Peaks so I am excited.

Also, still working Fridays at Bechtle Architects. Suddenly I am working 60 hours a week... Weird to go from unemployment to very busy...

Biking: Been on the roads two days a week now and then gym time the rest of the week. 2.5hours on Sunday. 9mph into the wind, 35 with the wind... Today I did the stair mill for my tempo workout at the gym. 10 min warm up, 40 min @ 170 bpm, 10 min cool down. I was sweating all over the equipment and for some reason people weren't hopping on the mill next to me... wonder why?

Other: Jenny and I had an awesome ski day last Saturday. Two days after a major storm and we still skiied powder all day on the backside of Lone Peak. I love Big Sky for that reason. Worth paying the money to feel like you are all alone.

Jenny has also been getting into the backcountry on her touring skiis. She and her sister and a couple of friends toured into the Mill Creek Drainage in the Paradise Valley. They had a killer warm day and had fun with the dogs.

We bought our plane tickets to get to MN for my brothers wedding. Looking forward to spending 10 days at home!!! Biking, partying and networking are all in the plans.

Also, I am sure that many of you heard that a half block of downtown Bozeman blew up. It's amazing that only one person lost there life since it was at 8:15am on a weekday. Went down to see that blast and it's sad how much that hole impacts the feel of downtown. I found myself feeling very sad for our little town. I love downtown Bozeman as it really feels like a small town and a great community. Apparently, there was an underground crack in a service line and the gas seeped through the dirt and filled the basement of a downtown art gallery. When the manager arrived in the morning the gas exploded and instantly destroyed three buildings. Then one more building burnt to the ground and a fifth was deemed completely unstable from the blast wave. Windows were blown out for three blocks around and the fire burned for two days. They haven't made much progress clearing the wreckage and only one side of mainstreet is open past the site. Very sad.