before:   vvvvvvvv
after:   ~~~~~~~~

Thursday, May 24, 2001 Improve your memory. muttered around 7:37 AM

Thursday, May 17, 2001 TOSRV Well, the TOSRV went very well this year. I'd have to say that it was the "easiest" one I've done (this is my fourth, in 15 years). Funny, it was the one I was the most worried about, too, because of a relative lack of training. Here's the breakdown: Friday We drove to Columbus Friday afternoon. During the trip, the wind was very intense, and we drove through a massive thunderstorm system. We were all worried that this might be a sign of things to come. However, we eventually learned that this system would blow through and leave a relatively calm weekend ahead, which turned out to be true. Saturday Saturday dawned humid and breezy. We got on our bikes around 7:45am, and realized quickly that we were to be treated to a tail/cross wind. We rode through some light rain showers before the first stop at Fox school, but things dried up after that. The tailwind stayed with us all day, and we tended to average around 20mph overall. We rode in a few pacelines, where we averaged 22-25mph. I finished very strong, but wanting very badly to get off the bike, so I pulled ahead of Richard and Steve and rode the last 5 miles or so solo. My butt was killing me, and all I wanted to do was finish and get a beer. Sunday Sunday dawned very cold (around 40 degrees or less), and very humid and foggy. The fog was so thick that we were wet within a few miles. I hadn't prepared for this kind of cold. All I had on was my jersey and shorts, arm/leg warmers, and a very light vest. Luckily, I'd packed some light, but long fingered gloves. Regardless, I felt as if I would freeze to death on the way to the first stop in Waverly (about 30 miles). When we got to Waverly, I downed about five hot chocolates, and chocolate-chip cookies, but still couldn't get warm. Reluctantly, we left Waverly still cold and wet, with the temperature roughly the same as when we arrived. Luckily, within five or so miles of Waverly, the sun broke through and burned off the fog, and the temperature warmed considerably. The rest of the ride was classic TOSRV: headwind, pacelines, cookies and Kool-Aid. The temps never seemed to get above 60 degrees, but that was fine. The sun was warm, and at the lunch stop in Chillicothe, and the last stop at Fox school, we enjoyed laying in the grass basking in its glow. I finished the day very strong, having led a couple of pacelines, and also having taken relief from a few others. muttered around 7:10 AM

Thursday, May 03, 2001 TOSRV Training May 3rd, and it's snowing. Sigh. Last year by this time I had over 400 cycling miles in (most of which were gained in April). This year I have just over 200 for all of 2001, but most of them are in April. I did spin all winter, which kept me fit aerobically, and kept my body prepared for the cycling position. But it seems that nothing compares to miles on the road. I guess I'll find out Mother's Day weekend, when I return to KY to do the TOSRV in Ohio for my second (recent) year. Work Work is going fine. Our statements-generation system seems to be coming together pretty well, and my only real concern is runtime performance of the batch process, which has to be pretty high volume. Current timings are not too impressive, even though I've spent quite a bit of time profiling the server side of the solution (which is where the major time is spent, assembling the statement). I've been offered the possibility of an extension, which is a good thing. The market has softened quite a bit from last year, and while I'm confident I could always find a job, it wouldn't be a drop-kick like it would have been last year. Etc Saw Dancer in the Dark recently. What a great (and greatly depressing) movie. Bjork should have gotten an Oscar nomination for acting as well as the "best song". Very, very intense movie. muttered around 6:38 AM