Cycling 10,000 miles in a year

I haven’t written much about my cycling lately (with the exception of using my bike as a metaphor for how great my wife is). It’s not that I haven’t been riding, there just haven’t been any organized or “special” rides lately. However, Sunday’s ride was definitely “special” since I passed 10,000 miles for the year.  That’s right – 10,000 miles on the bike in 2008 (easy beating the number of miles I’ve put on my car this year). I needed 75 miles to hit 10,000 and knocked off 77 for good measure.

So I got to thinking, just how much riding is 10,000 miles?

• Assuming 2 weeks off for vacation, illness, etc.  that’s 200 miles a week . . . every week
• 555 hours – that’s enough time to watch Office Space 370 times
• 300,000 calories – enough for 1,500 Krispy Kreme donuts or 600 Sprinkles cupcakes or 400 large watermelons or 1,200 Clif Bars
• Far enough to ride from my house to Destin, FL-and-back . . . more than 6 times
• Enough watts to light the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center . . . for two days

So how did I celebrate my milestone? I cooked a big Waffle House-style dinner for the family (hamburger steaks and hashbrowns).

Then Grant and I baked gingerbread cookies. Grant loves to bake and now I’ve got some “post-ride” treats for the next few days.

My original cycling goal for 2008 was to earn enough points to move up to Cat 3. I was making good progress towards that goal until an unfortunate crash ended my season early. The 10,000 mile goal is one I established during the summer (once Cat 3 was out-of-reach). Now it is time to set some goals for 2009. Trying to upgrade this year isn’t an option since I just won’t have the time for training and traveling for races with the demands at work and now having two kiddos. So this year, I’ll probably need to get creative.

iPhone App Review – iFart . . . genius

I’m a big fan of comedy. From the age of 4-10 if you asked me what I wanted to be when I grow up my response was always – “a comedian”. As a fan of comedy, I’m not immune to a little potty-humor. Which is why I find the iFart app for the iPhone so hilarious. We’ve already had 4 or 5 occassions in the ThinkCash offices when the iFart app has brought a room of people to tears – tears from laughing, not from the smell (the iFart app isn’t that powerful yet).

The video above gives a pretty good description of what the app can do, but it may be the best 99 cents I’ve ever spent. I’m not alone in my thinking, in it’s first week the iFart app has already had more than 10,000 downloans. Just watch out for “The Sick Dog”

Bush shoe toss/dodge video spoofs

You’ve probably seen the video above already, so I don’t need to give you the back story. However, what I will tell you is that this video is already one of the most viral in the history of the Internet.  Within 24 hours the video has been viewed more than 11 million times across 900 sites, and it has racked up 83,000 comments. This is hotter than SNL’s  “Jizz in My Pants.”

The video has started a tidal wave of parody games and video spoofs. I’ve collected some below for your viewing pleasure.

Nike Commercial

SNL Letter to my sister

Austin Powers

The Matrix

Talking Iraqi shoes

other random objects thrown at Bush

UPDATE – 12/17/08

Someone sent me this remix, basically a best of the ones above

Mondays suck, but this montage of inspirational speeches from popular movies should help

Let’s face it, few people like Mondays. It’s kind of the “airlock” that equalizes the pressures between the fun of the weekend and the meat of the work week. We normally aren’t quite as sharp on Mondays and might need an extra cup of coffee to get through the day. However, I have something even better than caffeine . . . the video montage of inspirational speechs from various movies (40 different movies) above.

I’m a movie geek (I did grow up in a video store and worked at Blockbuster for several years) so I was able to name almost every movie in this clip – including Jean Claude Van Damme from Street Fighter (maybe one of the worst movies ever).

Bookmark this page in your favorites for whenever you need a little pick-me-up that can only be cured by hearing the “victory or death!” chant from The Last Starfigher or the clapping scene from Hoosiers.

Tiger Stadium – covered in snow

LSU's Tiger Stadium Covered in Snow

I guess it is just a strange coincidence, but only a few days after I post on how I love living in the South because of the mild winters – it snows in my home state of Louisiana for the first time in almost 20 years.

LSU's Mike the Tiger

Being a huge LSU Tigers fan, I love these photos my uncle sent me of Tiger Stadium (all covered in snow) and Mike the Tiger playing in the snow. LSU fans – enjoy the pics (especially since this football season hasn’t been all that enjoyable).

Mike the Tiger enjoying the snow in Baton Rouge

Big “thumbs-up” to ProFlowers.com

Flowers more than two weeks after delivery

For Thanksgiving this year I ordered some flowers for Jess (my wife) since it was her first year preparing the feast. I ordered the “Large Thanksgiving Bouquet” from ProFlowers.com. I used to be indifferent about ordering flowers online – I would use ProFlowers, FTD.com, 800Flowers.com . . . whoever had the best coupon or deal at the time. However, I’ve always had such a good experience with the quality of flowers from ProFlowers, that I now use them exclusively. They came through for me again. I went home for lunch today to visit with Jess and Baby Lauren and noticed that her flowers still look great (see pic above) – 15 days after they were delivered!

Why do I love living in the South?

There are many reasons I like living below the Mason-Dixon Line, but  a big reason is the weather. I’m not a fan of cold weather. As a cyclist, I don’t really like cold weather or rainy weather (neither makes for fun bike rides). Say what you will about the “change of seasons” or the fun of the first snow fall. I like being able to wear short sleeves in December and not need to shovel out my driveway . . . ever. The amazing “car pinball” video above just confirms my love for warm weather.