Winter wonderland weekend fun!

So far this weekend ranks really high on the fun factor scale.
Friday came home to shovel, heart was pumping good so I headed on over to the fitness center afterwards fish tailing in 4 wheel drive the entire way. Got a really good Upper Body (chest, arms, core) workout in - after going there almost everyday and seeing the same people all the time the place is becoming something to look forward too. The people that work there and go there on a similar regular basis are friendly and fun. Crazy Carl informed me that I have a 21" vertical jump after we checked it. Stuff like that, just hangin chattin', makes the time spent there all the better. Not the mention the flashbacks and memories from high school. Good stuff.
Came home after getting some salt from Ace to do the second round of shoveling, which was basically just cleaning off an inch of fluffy stuff. Threw down the salt and called her done. Went in to some salad and pizza and some TV.
SMBride was really good. Only bad part was I slept in a little so I was running a little behind and when I went to put the bike in the Jeep I noticed that I had a flat front tire. So I ran to the mini mart, thank goodness I had a spare tube, and did the fastest tube change I've ever done. Had to have been under 3 min for sure. Was too late to meet at the normal meeting spot so I parked it right there and rode to catch them all ready in progress. Group of about 10 or so. 3 or 4 from Milwaukee area this time around and a new guy nick named Arctic man from Cedar somewhere or another. Beach was a bit icy in spots but at least I didn't sink into in like last time and I had way fresher legs than the week before. Beach was real good. We rode to just before Cedar Grove and then up and back into Oostburg. Couple of guys bailed on the ice but you'll have that when riding that many miles in December. Breakfast was good, I talked more than usual since there was a smaller group...kinda explained what I did for a living I guess...the normal get to know a person type of stuff. Good time.
Rode back and all was good. Pics and video on Dano's site. Link on top right of page. Check it out.
After the ride I came home changed and headed into town. Had to take garbage to the dump and get gas and stop by my haircut lady for some hair product...I know I said product...lame.
Got all that crap done and came back home. Tori and I then proceeded to get our gear on to go cross country skiing (XCSkin') for the first time. I then loaded up the Jeep again and off we went to the local state park to do our maiden voyage. Things went very well. A couple of falls getting the hang of it were to be had but all was good. So good that we went again on Sunday morn before the Pack kicked the Lady Lions rear end. So much fun that we're going in about 20 min from now. Have to enjoy this winter wonderland while we can. So that's what's been going on so far.
Maybe a movie in Meqoun tonight (Juno) and some Cheesecake Factory too boot. Not going to do the typical booze til the sun comes up as we have a New Years Day bike ride tomorrow...the Urban Assault I overheard them call it.
Nate in '08 - wow I'm really sportin the lame-ness today.
cya

Low Ballin' - High Groundin

Mustang & Triumph Saga
So the painter guy was able to make it last night, up from south Brew town. Nice guy...loves the car, wants the bike. He's low balling the shit out of me so I told him to reconsider taking all facts into account and to fax/email me an estimate for work to be preformed. I expect to see something in the next week or two. This guy is my number two. The really experienced organized guy that I would prefer to do it must be busy, not interested anymore or on vacation/holiday break w/ family. I haven't heard from him since the 10th and he was just getting over the flu back then. I'm sure once next week is over things will start to mellow out and go back to normal.
Today I ordered some seat brackets for the Stang. I also emailed a guy in Milwaukee who's selling a Grant steering wheel. The To Do list is
- order aluminum radiator setup
- get seats taken care of
- get steering column installed
- get radiator installed
- get steering wheel installed
- order clutch
May be time to call up Tom - he does real good work
I need to get the gas tank on the Triumph painted and the battery installed along w/ rectifier...this is a lot of crap...
Workout Progress
Yesterday on the way home I stopped by a sporting goods store and picked up some Nike Dri Fit Compression Shorts...basically athletic boxer briefs. Tried 'em out last night and they work really good.
Warm Up Bike 10 min
Core - mellow
Runners Stretch
Treadmill - Walk 5 Run 10 Walk 3 Run 10 Walk 2 done
Overall I was very pleased that I ran this long and could have gone longer
Breathing on the machine is getting better
Bad thing was my right shin got super sore immediately and is still buggin out but no pain no gain I say
Shorts helped
Bike 15 cool down
Tonight lay low
Saturday morning Bike Ride is on per Dano and Saturday afternoon will be Tori and I XC skiing for the first time...should be real fun
Sunday is either XC skiing in morning w/ Packers in the afternoon or Snowboarding all day w/ Danny and Co.
later

Back at it

Last nights workout sucked. Haven't had a bad one in what seems like awhile.
Didn't finish lifting, went to treadmill, was going ok but then I was getting annoyed w/shorts and stopped.
Not a happy camper. Hopefully tonight's goes better.
Painter guy is coming today - taking a couple of hours of vacation to meet.
Tomorrow is Friday already and we're supposed to get some snow, how much we'll see.
Hopefully enough to use the XC skis.

Consumption

I feel lucky and also a bit guilty to have possibly tasted all this is the past couple of days...
Ham, steak, shrimp, potato's, chips, salsa, ham roles, pickles, olives, lasagna, pumpkin bars, brownies, cookies, meatballs, beer, goldenshlaager, red bull, wine, roast beef, crackers, cheese, ham, summer sausage, little wieners, chocolate pretzels, Sprite, popcorn, water, dump cake, taco dip, beer, ham, veggies and spinach dip.
I'm not looking forward to a weigh in tonight.

Merry Christmas

Saturday Morn Bfast Ride I tried to bail on the guys and was unsuccessful, I ended up making it to bfast. Note to self...don't have the leg lifting routine the night before a ride...you only make yourself look foolish.

Saturday afternoon went to DaveUSA's - was a long day/night.

Here we are at peak foolishness

Colin, Steph,Mike, Santa, Ryan, Bob, Nate

Fired up the bike

So yesterday wasn't a complete waste at all. I left work early to meet a car painter from Milwaukee at our house. So I stopped at dad's to borrow his torpedo heater to heat the lower garage. Although the garage is insulated it was still at 30 degree's when I walked in. So hooked up the heater and began to warm up the garage. Took about an hour or so to get it up to 62. Plugged in the bike and gave her a couple of kicks and she popped. My suspicions were correct as it was just the cold air/parts. Took some video and sent it to the 2 interested parties. One wants me to do a video walk around of the car and he was unable to make it yesterday and has rescheduled for next Wed, but I'm glad I got the bike fired up and got the vid done.
Last night had me back on the treadmill. After all the messing around w/ the bike and putting the video online I really wasn't in the mood at all to go workout but forced myself to get out of the house. That's where most of my issue is although I have driven to the school before walked in, changed, started working out and said no way after a couple of minutes. But for the most part as long as I can get out of the house w/out to much hassle like packing my clothes in the morning so I don't have anything to think about and just get out and in the car, then I'm usually pretty good. So...
Bike 10/Core/Stretch/
Treadmill walk 5, run 10, walk 5, run 5 faster, walk 5 done
Bike 10
Running was a little easier than Tuesday.
Too many Christmas Cookies around...

Here's a link to the vid -
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3602282083609194587
cya

Half Day Vay Cate

Doing a half day today...I'm caught up at work for the moment and the painter should be making his way to Shebagdad to check out the Triumph and Stang. I'll be getting the torpedo heater out to blast heat in the lower to bring up the temp. This better make the bike pop and turn over. If not, oh well.

Workout 1 last night went well. Tor got me a garage door opener for xmas and even had it installed. How cool.

Not much else going on these days...

I was looking at the list for the Barrett-Jackson Auction and there are a couple of cool cars but a lot of humdrum boring Mustangs.

Hump Day

I decided not to lift last night and focused on cardio. I did not feel like doing either after work yesterday. I was really busy all day and exhausted when I left. I thought about stopping at a mini mart and grabbing a Snickers or something but didn't want to add that many calories before working out. It was also 34 degree's out (warm) and I wanted to spray the crap off of my car. So on the way to the fitness center I stopped by 2 manual car wash places and neither of them were open for business and both were for sale. Strange. I guess the do it yourself car wash is not the most profitable biz.

So anyway, I don't get the car washed and I didn't get a candy bar. I walk into the school and say I'll just get a power drink from one of the 5 machines they have. While browsing the machine I notice that they have one w/ reg soda and crap, one w/ the reg crap snacks then they have a machine that serves ice cream bars. Of the last two machines, one is the Gatorade and other power drinks and one is a snack machine w/ better than norm for you snacks. Like more organic chips and granola bars and stuff. I couldn't help but think they should have these at way more places like work. The snacks are a little more money but not much more. They also had a chart that described the effects of the snack. So being the huge chocolate chip cookie fan I grabbed the small bag and munched them on down. 170 calories per bag. that's about 50 or more less than Famous Amos cookies and had no funky crap like high fructose corn syrup and what not. All real crap. I will say that there were not as many cookies as the normal pack but good all the same. This did help me get threw my workout.

Warm Up - Bike 10 big effort

Core

Runners Stretch

Treadmill - walk 5, run 10 @ 7.0, walk 5, run 5 @ 7.8, walk 5 done

Cool Down - Bike 10 easy effort

Doing the treadmill felt good. I made it to 8 minutes no problem - last 2 min were tough, then on the second round the first 3 minutes were no prob but struggled w/ the last 2 again but made it. I was pleased.

Workout 1 tonight - going to increase my benching weight

Painters should be coming tomorrow from Milwaukee area

Triumph won't fire - I think due to the temps. We'll have to see how it goes.

Maybe I'll borrow the torpedo heater from dad and warm up the garage before he comes and then it'll fire up?

I'll ask a guy at work if he thinks that'd help

til next time

Couple of days

Here's what's happened since last Friday...

Saturday Morning Bfast Ride - was good. Overdressed (warm) and was kinda crappy roads but still fun to get out.

Sat afternoon wrapped xmas gifts

Sat afternoon it snowed and lasted until the late night

Sat nite - Company Xmas party and coworkers band afterwards fun

Sunday - Shoveled a boatload of snow again, tried to fire up the Triumph almost went over but did not

Sunday - Packers won, Dallas and Seattle lost

Monday Works been the busiest it's been in weeks same for today

Monday workout 2 went really good - I'm increasing lifting wt reg now

Tonight is workout 1

TGIF

Randoms...
Wednesday night workout 2 was good
Thursday night cardio had me stepping back on the treadmill.
Things were good for while but after 10 minutes of running I had to stop due to uneasiness in side. But was a good feeling to run.
Tonight is workout 1
Tomorrow is Saturday Morning Bfast Ride.
Temp is gonna feel around 14 again at 8:30 AM with possible snow.
Hope the sun is out and the winds are calm
Company Xmas Party Sat night
Have to call one of the painters back to schedule a viewing of the stang.
That means I have to bring up the cycle and fire it up - easier said than done w/ the amount of snow in yard.

Trunk Monkey

Monday nights workout 1 went well - still can not lift close to 100% due to side pain but was able to try the the treadmill out for a couple of minutes. That felt good.

Tuesday night workout cardio went well too - I thought I was going to be able to run on the treadmill but was kinda sore from the short jog on Monday so I decided to do the Elliptical instead, which was still good. Got home and had to shovel a ton of snow. After I was done shoveling, my t shirt was almost if not more soaked than after my cardio workout. It felt like I got two cardio's in last night.

Tonight is workout 2 -

I think I may switch it up a little next week.
Weighed in at 219 - hopefully on our way back down after being up too long.
Random -

HogBlog

Radoms;

SoWisco Painter has emailed...the transfer may still happen

New Health Insurance group plan at work - more money

Been doing a little reading on XC skiing

Bit slow at work, very spotty projects

Going to start on my NewYr's Resolution list soon

Workout 1 tonight

Snagged this from someone elses blog...oh how times have changed...

6 Degrees 2 Bacon - Saturday Morning Bfast Ride

Pics on Dano's Report
Saturday morning breakfast ride was really cool...make that cold - at first. We skipped the trails and went right to the beach in Black River. I wasn't sure how it was going to be, especially on the way back seeing that the NW winds were behind us and then you add the stop where some of your gear can be wet and cold after you eat. I was nervous about that and asking people if they were going to stop. But the sun was out and the lakefront was quite scenic. So we're getting pushed by the wind, in the sun - Perfect. Beach started a bit bumpy but smoothed out. Deeper pockets of drifted snow made it a real workout as you'd be going along real easy then you'd hit the drift and have to put in some real effort to keep the momentum high. Lots of fun.
So we're heading south on the beach and I hear that the 9 of us are just going to Oostburg and not to Cedar Grove. Fine by me. I still have the trip back in the back of my mind. Heading down the beach I'm in front of the group just buzzing along when I see a big patch of ice. I motion w/ my hand slightly and then start to cross this skating rink....I'm about two bike lengths in and I again put up my right arm/hand to motion to the group that there is ice...I lift my arm right arm and then I lose my front tire to my left arm which takes me out. Slip Sliding I'm like Oh NO not again!?! Thinking that I'm out in front, sure enough, another goes down. I curl into a ball waiting to get run over but thankfully I did not. I didn't hurt myself either thankfully. The other slip slider hit the ice a little harder (plus has a good 15+ years on me in age) and felt every bit of it. I felt bad as I sort of felt responsible for the bail but was kinda reassured it wasn't me...just the ice. We all had a pretty good chuckle and off we went.
On the back same spot got someone else that was walking across it. Spiro's got some components to sell but I'm not sure if this is the best time to be spending cash that I don't have. I'll have to call him this week to back out. Sucks cause it's most likely a really good deal. Oh well. This is another one of those times that I this car project is making life difficult. W/out it I'd be clear to make the deal but w/ I have to watch every frickin penny. And it's been this way for a couple of years. I can not wait until this thing is done. And as I get more and more back into the swing of things w/ riding...I tend to ask myself is this really what I want? Sure everybody loves the restomod thing but there is a reason not everyone does it. Cause it costs a shit load in money, time, effort, etc. I know for sure it'll be super cool/fun when done but days/situations like this really put one to the test. Plus I haven't had an email reply yet from the painter in SoWisco that was up for the trade. I'm hoping that he's trying to see when it'll fit into his current jobs or something.
Anyways today was fun. I'm glad I went. I feel like I did something. It was a new experience.
Last nights weight lifting went well also. I hope all this effort pays back 10 fold - with the exercise and car.
Gotta do a couple misc chores around here -basically just gather up and take garbage to the dump. Then I think I may rest for while as we have couples bowling tonight. I hope my fingers hold up. I hope I hold up.
Packers/Raiders tomorrow in GB. Snow is forecasted - should be good. Go Pack!
Til Next time...
PS - There was a lot of finger pointing and head shaking on our ride. A couple of people took pictures of us. They kinda think we're nuts which is funny. I did too at first but again, once the blood is pumping it gets a lot better

Fisher Foto from '01

Good Cardio Session last night.

Warm Up - Bike 10 min/100 cals

Core - cruches, knee ups, side bridge, reg bridge, swimmer? for low back muscles

Elliptical - dam thing gave me a blister (can't wait to get back on treadmill)

Cool Down - Bike 10 min

Workout 2 tonight

Randoms -

• Going on 13th week no smoking, longest stretch ever? most likely
• Coughing attacks still in middle of night
• Snowed last night - have to shovel path to lower soon to be ready for any visitors
• Still no word from Painter in S Wisco
• Side still swollen and sore but I should be ok for a mellow SMBRide

Here's a photo from 05/11/01 of my MTB, which hopefully will someday be my winter ride only, assuming I get a 29er soon.

It was my only mode of transpo for a couple of years and I must have put tons of miles on her. She is basically the same minus the front shock, which is now an old rigid GT fork, and the seat (which was chewed up by Biggen's ma's dog when I visiting her once).

This has been one trusty ride for many miles...and I'm glad I dusted'er off and get her back out this year after a couple of years of hanging around. This frame has really good geometry and is very nice ride. The Fisher Folks really know what they're doing and I hope to get one of their 29" MTB's in the next year or two.

Santa Died

Work Out 1 was tough last night due to sore side. Reg & Incline Benching was the most difficult but I made it through.
Bike 10
Core
Workout 1
Bike
Helmet light arrived so now I can ride w/ the group on the Tuesday night rides...when I heal a bit more I think. I'm still unsure for SMBRide.
Other Random thoughts this morn...
- It's getting really cold out
- Winter driving burns more fuel
- New Holstein is further away than it appears
- Scales can be discouraging
- Chest colds that last for more than a week suck
- I really dig this song and the video is one of my all time favorites
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8645756801978804954&q=OK+go+do+what+you+want&total=1668&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=1
Tonight is Cardio - burn baby burn
Santa's Dead

Glad I went again

I was really tired after work yesterday and was wondering if I really wanted to go to South or if I should take a break. So I stopped at home after work to check the mail and grab a snack. Opened the fridge and saw the roast I took out a couple of days ago to defrost sitting on the shelf in a bowl and thought I better cook that before it goes bad or something. So I took it out along w/ some carrots. Chopped up the carrots along w/ an onion, put the tenderized beef round on some foil w/ the veggies in a casserole dish. A little freshly ground pepper, pinch of salt, some Italian seasoning, minced garlic (dry shaker), and a dash of soy sauce. Oven at 325* F and wrap it all up nice and tight. Throw the lid on dish and toss all into oven for 3 hours, this was at 3:15. Munch a little salad and off I go.

Get to locker room still feeling drained thinking to myself that if I can get my HR up I should be good. Go directly to bike and start. HR gets up after a little work.

Bike - 12

Core

Ellip - 30

Bike - 10

Real good

Picked up Shermann Got home and the house smelled fantabulous. Food was real good.

Work Out 1 tonight - Cya

Photo is from July 26th, 2000 - This is how I got my scar on my head. Ultimate Frisbee game.

Frankenstein looking

Neighbor Friend Ben

Growing up in my neighborhood meant that late afternoon fun was stopped around 5 or so for dinner. My neighbor Ben would come over to our house after he was done eating and press his hands and face against the screen door to look in and say "Can Naffen come back out and play?" (that was his version of Nathan) I recently put up a theft deterrent system in my area at work and that's what triggered that memory. Fun Stuff.

Here's a strange thing that happened in the middle of the night...due to my extremely annoying dry cough I'm experiencing and my banged up side I popped a couple Tylenol PM's and did two shots of Vick's F44 so I could sleep good. Well I went down at 9 and woke up at 1:45 or so and did my normal getting up routine. I walked to the bathroom, started the shower and stood there in this zombie type stage...waiting for the water to heat up...then went to the bedroom to grab some shorts and when I walked back in the bathroom and looked at the clock I was like it's waaay to early to go to work. So I shut everything off and go back to bed. Weird. I still woke up early and got to work by 5:30 this morning. I don't know why.

Last nights workout 2 went better than anticipated. The core stuff was probably the most difficult and I did kind of go a little easier on everything else but I do have to say that I'm glad I went because it felt like it stretched it out some and glad I didn't 'baby' it. I've been showing off my bruise to whoever I come in contact with like I'm in middle school or something. I think it's now as purple as it's going to get and it's kinda swollen. I'm still staying positive and hoping that the pain will be subside enough for SMBRide.

Tonight it's Cardio and I think I'll Bike longer then do core slowly, then see how the Elliptical feels. I know I can not run on treadmill cause it hurts if I do any bouncing at all. Even walking fast is painful. Just have to play it as smart as I can.

Waiting on word from painter in Burlington for Mustang. I'm going with Silver. Will have to order this soon and then the OE radiator support will have to be modified like so....modification.
And something random from the misc file. The car will look similar to this when completed.

Still Sore

I'm still recovering from a pretty good crash on the SMBRide. I'll try to describe the incident for ya...it was a pretty chilly morning Saturday so I get all my gear together, get half dressed and load up the Jeep to get to the meeting place trying to leave myself a couple of minutes cause I don't want to be the one that holds up the group. Make it there w/ a little time to spare, good size group for such a cold day. If I had to guess I'd say about 20 riders all bundled up.
We get moving and it's about a 10 minute ride to the entrance of the trails we hit. For some reason I'm super pumped this day and was feeling great...dressed properly and the exercise during the week is making me feel strong and healthy. As we are about to descend into the single track trail I take my position at 4th going in following the really fast and at the start of main pack. So we're flying through the woods and all is great. Come to the section of the trail that is all tree roots, big frozen slippery roots that act as speed bumps. My bike is pure rigid...no suspension. Make it past the first section of roots and come up to the seconds. I'm getting bucked up and down when finally I feel my back tire heading for the sky...we're going super fast and my ass end is shooting up. I knew instantly that this was NOT GOOD. Well faster than you can say "ahhh shit", I'm flying through the air like I hit the eject button on a fighter jet. Everything is a blur. Then smack -"UGH" . Woah. I get up, pick my bike up and get off the trail faster than you can say "Rider Down" cause I know that there is about 15 bikers coming down the trail really fast. As they're going by they ask "nate, you ok?" "ya thanks", I reply. The whole group pasts...I spin the bars to untangle the cables, jump back on and start the chase. Immediately I can fell something. "That'll leave a mark" I say to myself.
What happened was I landed right on top of a 6" high frozen tree root on my left side love handle which made my body bend an unusual way.
I have a stupid cough that won't go away and it hurts every time I cough or laugh. So the whole group makes it to the beach. I'm trying to stretch it out but it's not working. I can feel every little bump. As we were on our normal way to Cedar Grove a rider was having trouble shifting (the severe cold can make the bike do weird things) and a couple other guys weren't into doing the full route so cut off early straight to Oostburg for bfast. I pain was getting worse in my side. The four of us got to the restaurant about 30 minutes ahead of the group and I decided to call Larry for a ride home since I was really starting to fell the crash.
Then it snow like crazy later that night.
Sunday had me pulling the snowblower out. Fired right up. Made two complete passes, was throwing like a champ...then it literally blew up. The engine case blew apart. Snow blower is now junk or scrap. WHY MEEE!!! But as I walked away I knew that this type of shit always happens either the first blizzard or with really heavy wet shit like that crap we just got hit with. Reminds me of the time we had a blizzard a couple of years ago and I was driving down Lakeshore drive and saw a very angry guy toss his little snow blower like a shot put - he was not a happy camper -well neither was I seeing that I bought this used last year and only used it about a dozen times. Oh well. So I swallowed a bunch of Ibuprofen and got the shovels out. It actually turned into a good sweat - I had to find somthing positive about the whole thing.
Afterwards I made a big batch of chilly and called it a day. Trying my best to rest and recover.
Tonight it's workout 2 or just cardio depending on the side...it's so tender that it unpleasent to even walk today.