Blink

Malcolm Gladwell's new book, "Blink" is a fascinating read. It describes the power of thinking without thinking. By way of example he describes two different tests to get at a deeper understanding of a prospective job candidate. One test is the traditional interview = 1.0 hour. The second test was a review of the individuals living quarters = 5 minutes. The second test revealed greater accuracies about the individual than what could be understood in an interview. That's why I'm fascinated by people at the grocery store. Have you ever been at the supermarket and just watched what people had in their baskets...attempting to understand each customer in line ahead of you? I do think people are what they eat...and therefore eat what they are. In a "Blink" I offer a glimpse at my fridge down below...

Top Shelves = Clif nectar bars, Hammer Gel, enzymes, liquid oxygen, biking water bottles (ready to go);
Middle Shelves = egg whites, ginger, miso, green curry paste, oj (for marinade), olive oil (in the fridge?), salsa, mustard (Dijon);
Lower Shelf = Almond butter, Acidophilus (powder), Green + powder (for smoothies), sundried tomatoes, tapenade;
Bottom Shelf = Soy Milk(s), Coffee, Pom, Fuji water, Lemon Juice, Salsa.

Certainly the contents, placement and order says something. I invite you to comment.

Carless and Careless

I'm still waiting for my new car to arrive. I am now living in the desert, which is a collection of retail shopping centers strewn together with long roads at low density with lots of distance between one location and another. I'm biking to work. I'm biking home. Its very cool. I feel so purposeful in my mission to bike to and from. Yeah, it would be easy to take that ride home; many have offered. The only fuel needed is the extra banana in the morning, the second cookie in the afternoon. Small price to pay for energy and it tastes good. I guest being car-less is far from being careless - unless I try to bike home at 9pm without the aid of a light. Here is a video I took on my ride this morning. Glorious.

Me Foodie

I ate a Janos tonight (probably one of the most inventive chefs in Southwest if not America) where the menu celebrated foods from the native soils of Arizona and Mexico. It was 3.5 hours of grand bliss. Here is our sampling menu:

• A Grilled Shrimp atop Cheve-Manchenco Polenta
• Heirloom Tomatoes and Crab with Blue Corn Croutons
• Roasted Salmon with Fresh Herb and Cilantro Mole
• Pan-Roasted Duck in Star Anise, Clove and Cinnamon
• Spice Rubbed Barbacoa Lamb in Seed Mole w/Tiny Lamb Tostada
• Oaxacan Bread Pudding with Ancho Caramel Ice Cream.

Each was paired with a fabulous wine from (gasp) southern Arizona or parts of Mexico. Okay...I didn't think you could even drink wine from Mexico - let alone love it.

I'm a foodie...I SO admit it. Its a good thing I like to bike.

Frickin' Floyd Landis

Unbelievable!
I had a most amazing day on Mt. Lemmon today.
I climbed like Frickin' Floyd Landis in the 2004 Tour.
You know what I'm talking about...
When Lance had to tell him to slow up. Yeah...that was me

Slaughtering my Mile Post (MP) 5 time at nearly 10mph climbing over 2500 feet...I was feeling at the top of my game. NO one, I repeat, NO one passed me on this Sunday morning (with a plethora of riders out). YES, a few tried...early around MP 1 or 2.

Climbing to MP 11 (road goes to 24), I circled to crank out a descent - hitting speeds over 40mph. At MP 10 (1 mile behind me), I noticed a guy was obviously taking a run at me (probably a later start, but I like to think I was holding him off). The guy was fit, cut with a gruff boxed face, wearing a smile and just a baseball cap. The gent gave me a warm salute as I raced by.

WAIT A MINUTE!!!!!
I know that GUY!
That is Frickin' Floyd Landis!!!!
Holy COW!!!!
ROCK ON!!!!!

Now I was fully intoxicated by my endorphines and the idea that I had riden the same mountain with a BIG TDF rider - AND I managed to keep him behind me on the massive Lemmon climb (okay...so it nice to dream).

Yeah, its hard to beat fall riding in Tucson!

Killer Hike

I did an agro hike today (short for very aggressive). This was a Canyon Ranch level 5 (means lots of vertical) and we cruised 11 miles, climbing 4,000 feet to Aqua Caliente Peak. It was glorious. My quads will be sore for days. Here is a snap I took of my dear friend Deb, who actually gets paid to do this stuff. Pretty cool.

Cowboys, NRA, Veterans, Contractors

Driving home (in Tucson) from the store this afternoon, I came across this truck. I kept thinking sesame Street - which one is not like the other - but I think they all fit. I had to whip out my camera...because I like to capture the beauty as well as the ignorance of America. I'll let you decide where this one fits.

Birthday Girl

Today I turned another year older. Yes, its my birthday. I pretty much have spent it and am spending it with myself. It IS magnificent. I biked up mount lemmon, spent some quiet moments at home, got an herbal wrap and am now headed for 100 minutes of Thai massage. I will top this day with a great meal at home...with some spicy miso stew, followed by the darkest, deepest piece(s) of chocolate. Oh...and this year I did manage to beat my twin sister in calling her then singing..."Today its your birthday...duh na, nuh na nuh na...Its my birthday too Yah!" I love doing that...and we chuckle about it every year.

Oh...no picture as Alaska Airlines lost my luggage, which had my camera and a few birthday gifts from Seattle.

Trophies

In cycling there are badges of honor (at least for mountain bikers) that we call trophies; collection of bruises, scrapes, scratches that accompany epic stories. I thought I'd capture the visual below (about mid quad - just below tan line).
This trophy, along with a sore shoulder, shin hematoma and a bloody knuckle were the trophies that accompanied an awesome descent on the back side of Red Hill in Cashmere this past weekend. I'm just starting to feel the soreness...as I recall the grand day out. Oh...I did kinda flex my calf for the picture. Aren't the bamboo floors in my house cool?

Cashmere

Sunday my dear friend Mark and I did my favorite mountain bike ride; Cashmere. The day started out a little rocky when fixing blueberry pancakes for Mark, I proceeded to scorch his thumb by handing him the hot plate from the oven (ouch). Then loading of the vehicle, I had two flat tires before we left Seattle. However, after landing at the trailhead...we both realized all was good as the ride would be magical. We climbed, and climbed, and climbed...and after Mark fractured his chain (surgery had him riding with two less links and a few less gears - and I'm only talking about his bike), we had a phenomenal ride. Mark, never willing to give up...was seen here rolling over with his bike after trying to ascend a wall, and I do mean a wall.
Driving home, with great conversation...Mark did the quick pull in to a small little apple stand run on the honor system (no attendant). We picked the freshest apples and pears and snacked on them during the ride home. I love fall in Washington state; fresh, crisp apples you can't get anywhere else.

Seattle Bumper Stickers

One thing I love about being in Seattle is reading the bumper stickers. This weekend I saw a few that made me chuckle or take note, including:

• Bush's Plan: No Child Left a Dime.
• Visualize Whirled Peas
• Your Hummer Looks Stupid
• Even the Devil Can Quote Scripture
• Hybrids Kick Gas!

Flying

I'm flying home. Its a great thing after you've been traveling weeks on end. I can ususally sleep pretty well on flights, except when the guy or gal next to me snores. It also bugs me when the person next to me has brought nothing to read and tries to read what I am reading. Or they are clearly hungry and are waiting for you to offer them a bite of what you brought. In general...people are pretty well behaved on flights. Inevitably you have the yahoo that just has to get out of his seat after the plane has landed and is still taxing down the run way. Hellooooooo, do you see anyone else up??? Don't you hear the flight attendants (and everyone else around) screaming at you to sit down? And where do you think you are going??? People are odd sometimes. I guess that is what makes travel interesting.

Re-building Miami Beach

I'm in Miami Beach today and have been all week. Its October 6th, 8 in the morning, 85 degrees, extremely wet, windy and yet I'm here (tropical storm just blew through). I'm posting this artful picture of the project I'm working on (since last year some time). Its great to see that we are actually adding to the old historic (yes 1957) building if you notice the windows at the top - rather than working more demolition. We are done with the demo phase. Any how...its a $500 million dollar project. HUGE! Doesn't really look like it...but it is. Trust me! People have paid some pretty crazy prices for these small spaces that are totally bling'ed out.

TDF Video Blog

Okay...
I've managed to do my first video blog! Wooooooooooo hooooooooo.

You can bet there will be more to come. The music rocks!

A day with LP

Today as I embrace another great weekend (in Seattle), I recalled last weekend in Tucson. Yes, it was one of those days that I felt good about, full of so much. Here was the schedule:
04:30am - rise and breakfast
05:00am - ride to mile post 15 on Mt Lemmon (climbing 3700 feet)
08:00am - meet pest control dude to rid house of foes;
09:00am - drive to catalina state park, 90min horse back ride;
11:00am - stop by cost +, pic up metro mint water and Illy Cafe;
12:00pm - quick bite
01:00pm - power nap
02:00pm - facial at Canyon Ranch;
03:30pm - hair cut Canyon Ranch;
04:00pm - cable cross and some abs as I passed by gym;
05:30pm - met Dylan and wife at CR dining room for some good grub;
07:00pm - Thai massage
09:00pm - arrive home and pack for flight to Montreal at 6am
10:30pm - crash

Me Hungry

Okay...
I was looking at my pictures with Jeanette (in Miami) and this picture really cracked her up (for some reason). Actually when I started looking at it too...I laughed. I was laughing because my mouth was so full and I was chowin' on the biggest piece of nut and fruit bread...and Jeanette was amused at my "full eagle" sitting position.
Well...its still a fun picture.

Awaken

I'm having fun looking at my pictures from France. Every now and then I will turn it sepia, save it, print it and now post it. I like sepia because it will strip awake the noise of color and awaken your senses to the emotions within. Some how they seem more authentic. Here I am caught in the grapes...tasting, playing, and soaking up what could only be called "my vacation."

Viva

This is viva. Viva is a pure blooded irish setter. Sweet dog that lived in France and could only understand Dutch or French. Needless to say this dog drove me a little nuts because I couldn't control it and had no way to communicate to it...then I realized that "NO" is a universal language and that the dog was just high strung and didn't behave. Then I really started to enjoy the dog...because it was LIVING and with a name like VIVA...you've got to love her.

Back to the States

There is something fascinating about being away for two solid weeks; no TV, no internet, no news of home. The fascinating part is that the world keep spinning...but nothing seems to change. I had a phenomenial time away in France. I gained new perspectives about me, my world and how I function (or do not function) within it. I'm gradually going through my pictures to put together a trip DVD and provide a few images with my online journal. I really liked the following images...so far.

Out

Its the eve of my departure to France.

I'm tired.
I'm excited.
I'm ready.

I will be posting my journal entries (cell coverage dependent) to my tour de france blog located at www.picardtdf.blogspot.com. Catch you in a few weeks after lots of peddling, cheese, wine, bread, foie gras, etc.

Foe

As I travel back to Tucson, stirring up a bit in my house and the weather starts to chill...a few "critters" are finding their way into my lovely little home and being awakened. Well...this guy wasn't so friendly, in fact, when I blew on him he perked right up and started snapping his claws and jumping his stinger. The other one I caught in the house was so stunned by the poison he had to cross to get in that he was nearly dead on my bathroom floor. Well, this guy was another story...and its why I wear shoes in my house this time of year.

I immediately asked my assistant to see about getting some scorpion dope placed back at my house. This is what happens when you live in the wild (on 1 acre, against a wash and at the base of the foothills).