Executive decision - 10/15

Okay, so really it's supposed to read 9/14, but I've made what they call the 'executive decision' to include the first day I rode the bike to work (on a sunday to time it out) in my count.

I mean, really it just makes it easier to account for the days.  That 4 day week really buggers things up.  Plus the percentage maths works out much easier when it's on the '5s'.

8 out 12

And soon to be 8 out of 13 as I wont' be riding tomorrow either.

I went to bed watching the light snow/rain come down really hoping it would disappear by the AM.  It hadn't.  But it looked semi dry enough that I could possibly have gotten to work relatively dry.  But by the time I was actually ready to get going it definitely was pretty wet.

So, that means that tomorrow I'll be driving too (have a workshop across town) and so long as I ride on Friday I'll be at 9 out of 14 in total... if

9 out of 14 = 64%... or a D... blech, I don't get D's.

8 out of 11

Keeping up the ratio, whether it hurts or not.

So far it's 8 out of 11 days.  Which is good.  But I'm sore... which is bad... but will lead to good right?

I spent most of the weekend just 'recuperating' and getting as much sleep as I could.

It's supposed to rain today - be the first time I've taken the bike in the wet... hrmm.  As long as it's wet going home and not into work, I'm fine with that.

Maybe I should post my weight and see how it drops.  I really liked how last time (a few years back) when I biked that people who hadn't seen me in a while would comment "wow, you've lost weight".

Gotta keep up the ratio

... don't I?

Been 2 weeks now with my biking to Worksop for the track record is slightly better than half.

First week I couldn't because of snow and rain on the Monday.  And then for some reason I couldn't on the Friday (can't remember why right now though).

Second week was only a four day week, and I couldn't bike on Wednesday because of the  After Business.

So that makes it 6/9.  66%  My goal is to stay above half, and maybe if I could get to 75%.

Reason I was thinking about this as it snowed again this morning, which should throw off my ability to bike tomorrow, but it looks as though it is warming up (there was sun when I started to write this, but raining now). Anyhow, I am hoping that the weather will play a role in whether I bike this season, but hopefully a small role.

Oh man I ache

Oh man do I ever. This is a tale of an out of shape dude with a hectic schedule and an attempt to get healthier.

So it's not secret that I'm out if shape. Officially I'm about 40 lbs away from my ideal bmi, but really 20 from where I used to feel "in shape". The last time I really felt great was when I was biking to work, so I figured with my new job (did I blog that I had a new job get?) being so much closer to home that it was time I bought a bike.

Sure I had a bike already. I had lent it to a friend for their riding, as I wasn't using it, but the last time I took it into get some tune up the store owner suggested it might be cheaper to throw it away.

Anyhow, I was determined to get a new one. I went to one shop and although I was sticker-shocked I still wanted to see what was available. Nobody came out to see what it was in was looking for. Eventually somebody came out from the back, but even still waiting nothing to me. No sale for you.

Undaunted, I did another Internet search and found that another shop nearby actually had some decently priced rides; so I motored on down to the shop and we chatted and he put one on reserve for next to test ride the next day. Great customer service! And a great price (always like it when a store understands your budget and doesn't scoff at it).

So I go to great bike. The next day I timed my ride to work. 18 minutes. I planned out the morning and was really ready. But it rained. So I decided to wait.

Here I is Thursday and I've ridden 3 day in the row now. Feeling beat. Exhausted... generally tired. I knew it'd be a while before I would be into it, but today it was like -5C when I met the house. You can really feel that temperature difference.

By playing at band tonight felt great. However,  sweated like to dog. But not looking forward to biking tomorrow (forecast of -8C). I may drive. But hey 3/5 ain't back for the first week.

Geek Status - +1 Level Up

So, I'm sure people know that I'm a geek (remember, not a nerd; nerds wear glasses).  So I've just furthered my own stereotype by volunteering to guest post for a great blog:



I decided to write for this blog a) because they asked for volunteers; b) it's a great blog about Android, but has that Canadian flavour.  I always found it interesting, albeit a bit behind on the posts (it was only one guy at the time).

So, what to see my thoughts on what I think about the state of Android in Canada?  [should this be a topic for debate?  as I'm watching the Leaders' debate]  Check out my articles by following this link [not sure how to automatically import them into here].

Growing experiences

So I guess I should write something about having played with the symphony.
It really was a great experience. I wrote a while ago bout when I played with them previously, but that was for playing Scottish style medley; my style kinda thing, this time it was definitely a symphony deal.

The piece of music chosen was a Peter Maxwell Davies piece - Orkney Wedding, with sunrise. Anyhow, it called for an actual concert A chanter. The piece seemed easy enough, but it was the hardware that was to be the issue.

Turns out a guy I met in Macalester had one, and had even played the piece before. Small world. So he rented it to the symphony and sent it on up. I spent most of the time learning to play the piece properly. From the mp3 that Arthur sent me, it was only 90 seconds. I should be able to handle that right?

It was pretty simple. Right up until I had the hardware. I didn't give it much thought, which was a mistake. Turns out the chanter was all sorts of fun.

The drones he sent were just set weird, the balance of pressure made it hard for the chanter, but easy for the drones. This meant that the drones would have to be WIDE open in order to play, which meant it sucked and lot of air. Couple that with the fact the drone reeds wouldn't fit in my stocks because of the ash plugs so I had to put together a set hastily (with much much help from Rory - seriously, without him the whole thing would have sucked majorly).

So aside from some hardware issues, there wasn't much else for difficulties. I did have trouble counting out where it was that I started, thankfully Stephane was there to give me my cues. It was really good in the end. I would tune for a minute then rest for about fifteen. Without a moisture control system the pipes would get soaked super easy.

When I was cued to go on I was quite nervous. But, as they say, you aren't measured by how well you do in your best scenarios, but by how you handle yourself when the going gets tough.

My piece was kinda neat. It was explained that the score is set up as 3 parts: getting together, getting drunk celebrating and then the sobering sunrise. That's when I step out and signify the rising sun in the morning. From what people who were there (including my parents, but they might be biased) it was a pleasant surprise and sounded really good. Apparently it was also in the paper, but I can't find it.

All are part of growing up really. But not just aging, but growing in ability and diversity of my skills.

I had been feeling really bit of a funk for a while with my piping - being pipe major can do that. But I didn't think I was really progressing... but thanks to Pierre Schreyer for the recommendation to play, it has pushed me.

Couple that with the last weekend's activities in Winnipeg and I'm ready to be excited about playing again.

I'll save the discussion about the SFU weekend for another blog post.

*note: that's not a picture of me, I didn't have any, but I'm sure it looked like that!

The Resistence [i.e. Fun with Music]

saw this on Facebook, and I'm stealing it

1. Put your iPod on shuffle.

2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.

3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!

 

IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?

house of the rising sun (be good tanya's cover)

 

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?

hornpipes (royal scots dragoon guards)

 

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?

Courage - live

 

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?

Showacho [Medley]

 

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?

We're Going to Be Friends

 

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?

Will Ye Go Lassie, Go?

 

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?

Smokin' in the Boys' Room

 

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?

Gift Shop

 

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?

She Didn't Know

 

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?

Listen

 

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?

I Wanna Be Sedated

 

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?

Magic

 

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?

Amazing Grace

 

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?

Alasdair Gillies Master Piper

 

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?

Medley (note it starts with "Up to the Line")

 

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?

Slow Air / Hornpipe & Jig

 

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?

Speed River

 

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?

Medley [David Urquhart Travel - European Championship 2001]

 

WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?

Solo (Stuart Liddell - Blue Cloud / Mason's Apron)

 

HOW WILL YOU DIE?

When the Weight Comes Down

 

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?

Vaccination Scar

 

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?

Reunion

 

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?

Courage

 



WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?

Pride

 

WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?

Killed Myself When I Was Young

 

DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?

At the Hundredth Meridian

 

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?

6/8 Marches

 

WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?

Donnie MacGregor/The Clumsy Lover

 

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?

The Resistence