Random

Looks like the cover has been finalized by ASME Press for Pipe Stress Engineering. The book should be published in a few weeks. The world tour starts soon after that.


Linda just returned from the state Latin competition in Dallas. Of the 86 or so schools that entered, her kids took home the seventh place trophy - Congrats, Sis!

Something I never thought I'd see, Kate in Manolos. Nice. The big question - to cuff or not to cuff?


Taking next week off as vacation.

This about sums it up...

Creamy Deluxe

I made fancy mac and cheese last night. 'Creamy Deluxe' it said. Sounded like a bad porn name to me.

The cute rabbit packaging belied the actual contents of the box - a cello pack of shells and a foil pack of cheese. I'm always fearful of mystery food in foil packages (unless it's Hostess Cupcakes).


Luckily, I was granted a reprieve and had dinner at First Chinese BBQ instead - seafood crispy noodles and beef flat noodles - yum.

The fancy mac survives to serve another day.

Alvin vs. Truck - Update 2

Wanted to show off the new baby smooth skin on my face. As you can see, my face is scab free now. Still have my shiner, but the overall look is a big improvement. My neck still hurts, but my doctor warned me about that when he prescribed more pain meds.


If you're wondering what this is a pic of, well, it's the last scab to fall off my face. If you look closely, you'll see the suture that was caught in it.


Unfortunately, the rest of the scabbing on my arms and legs are not healing quite as fast - although they are much better.



Here are a couple of pics of my bike. The top tube and down tube of my frame were crushed by my legs on impact and when I landed on them. The builder told me the frame was repairable, but may cost upwards of $2000 to do so. He recommended a new frame.



And let's not forget the helmet. It's hard to tell, but I apparently hit the front of my head and skidded a bit. The pics are kinda deceiving. If you look at the helmet closely, you'll see that almost every member was cracked, and the only things holding the helmet together are the internal skeleton and poly shell.



In case anyone is interested in helping me out with a new bike, one of the Vanillas I was lusting after at NAHBS has been listed for sale. The asking price is $7500, but I'm sure that includes shipping. Then again, maybe not.

The show must go on

Had my first match date today. Went to Maru for lunch. Had never been there before, but it turned out to be a nice place. My only requirement for lunch was that it be close to my house (since I have that neck brace thing). June picked me up in the morning to visit what I hoped to be my last lawyer to interview - a personal friend of hers from her briefing attorney days at the TX Supreme Court. He turned out to be a good guy, so I signed him up.

Afterward, June dropped me off at lunch to meet my date. I was a bit hesitant about the whole thing, since this person thinks my emails are hilarious. Nothing like setting expectations high. Also nothing like having your ex-wife drive you to your date to make for some interesting conversation. I guess lunch went well, since she agreed to drive me home (it was a nice day, so I wouldn't have minded walking). And to my surprise, she thought I was even funnier in person - go figure - it must have been the neck brace. Anyway, first meeting. We'll see how it goes.

Alvin vs. Truck - Update

I'm still healing from being t-boned by a truck while riding home on my bike last Sunday. It appears I landed on my head and slid on my face. Good thing I was wearing a helmet. Left eye is pretty swollen, and I needed a few stitches to close a cut over my eye. Here are a couple of pics from the day after the accident:



Here are a couple from mid-week, as I started scabbing up and the swelling started to go down around my eyes:



In the past week a lot of the scabbing has flaked off my face, and I'm more mobile now. However, my neck still hurts, and sleeping continues to be a challenge. And the black eye is still there. Seeing my doc in the morning for a follow-up. Stitches above my eye will probably come out then also. Here are some pics taken today:



Thanks for everyone's concern and support - My family and friends are amazing!

I'll post body shots and pictures of the bike and helmet soon. In the meantime, for some levity, if you've ever wondered what the lyrics were to Pearl Jam's Yellow Ledbetter... well, this may be as close as you'll get to an answer:

And one to grow on

Happy birthday, Kate

Rode down to 360 and Lakewood this morning. Actually, I started out doing the Spicewoods Springs loop, but the wind abbreviated that idea. Took Steck home and was surprised to find the city added a bike lane on Steck where it crosses under MoPac. Kinda handy.

Phone pics

Some random pictures from my camera phone. The resolution sucks because, well, it's from my phone.

Clinton museum - An Ultegra equipped bike from L.A. The cheap bastard didn't even spring for Dura Ace (and yes, I know he has no dad).


On my way to White Castle - Apparently, god (little 'g') makes house calls and brings his own ladders.


Art Institute of Chicago - I have a lion growing out of my head. I'm usually better at framing my shots, but self-portraits suck.


Downtown Chicago - I like slow shutter speeds. Makes things blurry and dream-like. In this dream I'm in a Dunkin Donuts having a hot cup of coffee and a custard filled donut.


St. Louis - I'm driving so fast that I start to bend light. It's a freakish feeling.


Entering the Ozarks (or was I leaving?) - You know me, geographically challenged. Notice I've slowed down considerably as evidenced by the upright trees.