When will the movie making moguls ever learn. Toby Keith is headlining in a movie. You know it is going to be an instant classic when a country music star becomes a movie star. Think of all the past successes with Randy Travis, Kris Kristofferson, Clint Black, Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton. Not only does the past hits of country stars give us reason to hope – you can be sure it will be awesome when they title the movie after one of the country music stars hit songs. I can’t wait.
Here is a problem you might be able to help me with. When visiting in the homes of others for an extended period of time the inevitable happens….I have to visit the bathroom. Being a hygienic sort of fellow I like to wash up before leaving said facilities. The issue I need help with is concerning the proper etiquette for hand-drying.
Two problems usually face me at the moment of drying. First, there is the question of which towel to use. Generally speaking, I find that most people have several towels hanging in various places throughout the bathroom and there is generally no clear indicator as to which one is for hand-drying. Sometimes all that is available are the big towels. I always wonder if it is the towel they dried off with earlier in the day after showering. Frankly, drying my hands with the towel the host dried their backside leaves me cold. I wish people would be more obvious about their towel selections. I always find myself spinning around, wondering, trying to reason it out and then drying off thinking the hostess will come in after me and get all bent out of shape that I dried off on her bath towel.
The second related issue concerns those homes of the decorative type of people. These people have their bathrooms all decked out. The towels match the shower curtains and everything is hung neatly and folded perfectly. Dare one dry their hands on towels meant only for show? But again the hostess leaves very little clear information or even clues about what is expected in this situation. I always know I have erred when I try to dry my hands and the towel is non-absorbing. It is a clear sign that it has never been used, never been washed, and is only meant for show.
Personally, I’m thinking from now on I’m stealing some paper towels from the kitchen, stuffing them in my pocket and taking them to the bathroom with me. That way I don’t have to worry about where and on what to dry my hands.
I didn’t know the Brits had such a keen sense of humor. You need to read this.
USA Today had an interesting article about Jay Leno’s upcoming retirement from late night television. Most of the article focuses on Leno’s love of automobiles and his extensive collection of various cars. Leno has some wisdom about building wealth that everyone should heed no matter one’s income.
Here is a quote from the article:
Leno may have millions, but his approach to wealth dates to his early days turning a wrench.
“I had two jobs as a kid, one at a fast-food
restaurant and one at a Ford dealership. And I’d put the money from one job in one pocket and spend it. And the other paycheck I’d save,” he says. “I do that now. I have always banked my Tonight Show money and lived off the stand-up. I have one credit card, no mortgage, and I don’t lease.”
No doubt Leno is set for life financially. But lest we say, “Yes, but that is because he made so much money,” think about all the people who made lots of money and ended up broke. Ed McMahon comes to mind, especially because of the connection to late night television. McMahon’s recent financial troubles were big new recently. So it isn’t really about how much money you make that ensures your financial future.
Leno’s wisdom is found in the above sentence. He saved, he didn’t borrow (no mortgage and only one credit card – I assume he pays his balance monthly), and he doesn’t lease. No matter what income level one has, doing the same thing will help ensure a solid financial future.
You may not be able to live at the same level of lifestyle as Leno when you retire, but you will be able to live at the level you are used to.
My son, Daniel, and I participated in the Norman Conquest Bike Ride. We decided to do the longest route, 100K or 66 miles. The hills started from the beginning and never let up. I flatted 13 miles in and then broke my rear derailuer at around 40 miles. Daniel went on without me. I waited about 40 minutes for SAG to pick me up and we found Daniel down the road and he rode in the rest of the way with us. Here are some pics: Read the rest of this entry ?
I had an epiphany recently. It happened when I received a phone call from Tom. He called my office, I assumed to talk about something work related – it wasn’t. He had been to the local bike shop and wanted my opinion on the particular brand of bike they sell. Tom, apparently in part due to some influence I unintentionally had on him, was seriously considering taking up cycling. I vaguely remember a hallway conversation with Tom about cycling, but I don’t recall encouraging him to take it up. My enthusiasm for the sport had planted a seed in Tom’s mind and having recently retired he was looking for activities that would be good for him and enjoyable at the same time.
After our phone conversation I realized that my love for cycling was causing other people to investigate cycling for themselves. Two of my sons have taken up the sport to some degree. A lot of people I know ask me questions about it and show some interest in riding themselves. That was when I had my epiphany – I have become a cyclevangelist. (The word is pronounced “sigh-kla-van-gel-ist.” Since I made it up I feel I have the right to its pronunciation).
I didn’t plan to become a cyclevangelist, it just happened. It started when my friend Jason told me about how much he enjoyed cycling and I decided to try it and discovered I really enjoyed road biking. Then, the more I road and learned about the sport the more it became a part of my regular conversations. Sometimes I worry that I bring up the subject too much and I have to intentionally refrain from saying something cycling related around some people. More than anything though, people notice that I ride. I don’t just talk about cycling – I am a cyclist. And now without any forethought I have become a cyclevangelist.
What makes one a cyclevangelist? You have to be a person whose passion for the sport is contagious. Not that you shove cycling down everyone’s gullet, but that you are authentic and genuine when you tell people why you love the sport. A good cyclevangelist will also be able to articulate how the sport has positively benefited their own life. Another important quality for a cyclevangelist is some knowledge about the cycling life. You don’t have to know everything. You don’t have to be a bike mechanic capable of adjusting dérailleurs and installing bottom brackets. You don’t even have to be fast. You just have to know enough to show others how to have a good cycling experience. Most importantly you have to actually ride. How much? I’m not sure that matters, but it does matter that you do ride. It is hard for others to believe you love cycling if you never ride a bike.
I am a cyclevangelist. It’s not a calling, it’s not a choice, it’s not even a commitment. It’s just what I have become.
This week I am at a children’s camp. Weather is great. Kids are great. Having a blast. Here is a pic of the group of kids in the cabin I am staying in.
Went out for a quick ride this evening. The air was calm and riding across the lake bridge I couldn’t help but stop and enjoy the beauty for a moment. Here is reproduction from the eye of a camera.
Yesterday’s stage was the first one for the climbers. It was clear who the GC contenders are going to be as the peleton fell apart on the first climb. For the most part it came back together before the second climb to the finish but once they started up it once again came apart. I felt bad for Schumacker, who crashed when he hit Kim Kirchen’s rear wheel just a short distance from the finish. Because it was on an uphill finish the rule didn’t apply which would give him the same time as the group he was with. Therefore, the Yellow jersey went to Kirchen.
Today’s stage has several good climbs as well. The mountain stages are my favorite stages in the tour and I look forward to seeing who is going to go out and establish himself as the one to beat. Here is the stage profile.
Bicycling has a really good article on-line about the creation of doping free team Garmin-Chipolte/Slipstream. It focuses on Jonathan Vaughters and how this team came to be and how they are going about the business of professional bike racing. You can read the article here.
