http://www.ihavethe.info Wed, 15 Apr 2009 02:42:11 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en The conditions were relentless this morning, rainy, windy etc.  Had my best rowing coach's voice bouncing around in my head climbing the rise coming away from my house...'You row the conditions.  The conditions don't row you.' Its gems like this one, implanted at 16, that can convince an otherwise smart person ... http://www.ihavethe.info/2009/04/14/small-reward/ The bedrooms, the LR and the dining rooms are painted.  The floors look about the best they probably have since...I don't know, the 60s? All the tiles are pulled from the porch. The kitchen and the breakfast nook are gutted.  All paneling out, floor tiles out, cabinets taken down(thanks Cullen!).   I gutted ... http://www.ihavethe.info/2009/04/06/almost-final-tally/ I was wrong about there being no surprises.  But this is the nature of home ownership, right? I found things this weekend...things that made me reconsider my otherwise universally warm feelings towards towards animals domesticated or otherwise. To start with,  I pulled up rugs in the family and dining rooms after our ... http://www.ihavethe.info/2009/03/30/in-which-i-reconsider-my-special-relationship-with-the-animal-kingdom/ 3 rooms painted, 2 rooms to go. I was on the ladder yesterday cutting out the top of the walls when it occurred to me why my entire body was achey. I haven't stood this much for this long in years.  I mean,  I work, sitting on my ass all day,  and then I ... http://www.ihavethe.info/2009/03/29/progress-my-ass/ ...because my digital camera died before I got any good pix of it, but the room was a mess.  Hideous wood paneling, a drop ceiling, and carpet that was probably put in when I was still in grade school. That's all in contractor bags in the garage now. Remember that time that I ... http://www.ihavethe.info/2009/03/28/you-are-going-to-have-to-take-my-word-for-it/ The walk thru went well, I think.  I mean,  I didn't find anything new that I need to demo.  Any new fixtures that were broken.  Any new cracks in the walls, holes in the floor or cieling. No surprises.  So that's good, right? Well, no really bad surprises: Surprise #1: The house has ... http://www.ihavethe.info/2009/03/26/always-be-closing-or-gardening/ Philip K. Dick. I got a copy of  '5 novels of the 60s & 70s'from the local library a few weeks ago.  I just got around to finishing the first of the 4 'Martian Time Slip'.  I'd read Man in the High Castle and Valis a while back but I don't ... http://www.ihavethe.info/2009/03/24/make-way-for-dick/ Why am I more sore on rest days then ride days? Didn't ride today but my legs felt leaden at times.  Otherwise, today was uneventful. I'm sure in a few short weeks,  days like today will be like unicorns. http://www.ihavethe.info/2009/03/23/calm-before-the-storm/ Did 51 miles in Upper Bucks this morning.  Got as far north as Ringing Rocks before I headed west.  Mostly I followed the Nockamixon Century route from miles 12 to about 50 something.  Then I took 313 straight back to Doylestown. Very hilly miles. Two odd things I saw: #1)A pack of pheasants making ... http://www.ihavethe.info/2009/03/22/a-bike-ride-and-some-shopping/ Brief update, since I've done zero writing this year. We're closing on a new house in Glenside, PA on Friday.  A house which is going to be awesome...once I get all the rooms painted, all the carpets up, remove I don't know 4?  rooms worth of wood panelling(God?  If you are ... http://www.ihavethe.info/2009/03/21/do-not-want-to-do-notblog/