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Thankful
This Thanksgiving, I am home alone while Beth and the kids are in Nebraska visiting family. When you are wandering your house by yourself it is easy to get a combination of nostalgic, introspective and hopeful. I have so much to be Thankful for this year. I thought I would share some of the things with you.
1. I am thankful for my job at SAVE, Inc. I am surrounded by the most wonderful people each day and we are working together to end homelessness in Kansas City. I feel a profound sense of responsibility to our mission, our staff and our clients. That being said, without our mission, our staff and our clients I am nothing. My job allows me to feed my family, keep them safe and provide for them a future filled with options.
2. I am thankful for my wife, Beth. At the end of the day, everyday, I know that I am not alone in this world. Life is beautiful and life is hard. For the last 10 years, I have shared both the beauty and the hard times with Beth. She is as smart as she is beautiful.
3. I am thankful for pedal bikes. Pedal bikes made me strong. Pedal bikes taught me that I didn’t have to feel like crap. Pedal bikes taught me that I could be faster. Pedal bikes allow me to share time with my family in a way that teaches them something of value. Never give up, never quit, not even when you fall behind and don’t know how you will ever be able to catch back up. Pedal hard, pedal fast. Life gives you nothing for coasting.
4. I am thankful for education. Education has been opportunity for me. I am thankful for Nebraska Wesleyan and for UMKC. I’ve had education other places as well. I have learned from my clients, my co-workers and my supervisors. I spent a lot of time learning at Spellbound- from Bob and Randy. Education is everywhere, if you open yourself up, close your mouth and listen.
5. I am thankful for my children. My daughter Riley who is like her mom. Smart and anxious. Sure that she knows everything, but afraid to fail. She loves to dance and sing. She worries and cares for her brother and sister. She was the first. My son Connor carries with him a profound sense of optimism and hope for the future. He knows people and works them to get what he wants. He makes us laugh. When I look at him, I see myself. He loves his pedal bike and he loves to run. For Kinley, see below.
6. I am thankful for my daughter Kinley. I do not love Kinley any more or less than my other children. But, she is special for different reasons. Kinley saved my life. I don’t mean that she literally saved my life. But, when she was born I thought she might die and I thought Beth might die. I had been a shitty husband and a mediocre dad. I was selfish and I was cold. And, I was losing everything. In that moment, when she was born, I had a revelation or epiphany of sorts. After that, things changed. I treated my wife like she deserved. I became a great dad. I started pedaling. Thank you Kinley.
7. I am thankful for my friends. I have really great friends. Some new and some old. My friends are like my family. Always there, always honest and ever loyal. I am thankful for Nate Semm. He is my brother. We are dysfunctional and messed up, but Nate Semm calls me all the time and I love him. Doctor Benny and Eric, we looked out for each other. We kept each other safe. When we are back together, it’s like we never parted. I am thankful for Team Colavita/Parisi. Great guys. Great families. Britton, Levon, Joe, Kris, Jeret, John just to name a few. I am thankful for my friend Stephen Gray. Stephen has seen it all. Been there through some of my most challenging moments. And, he was a pretty good sport when I was gloating like a d-bag about my successes. I am thankful for Beth’s uncle Kurt. A guy that is so cool, he freezes fire. I am thankful for Mitch- he pedals bikes and practices social work. I am thankful for Sara. She works with me. She makes me feel like we are going somewhere big. Effing Solar Panels! I am thankful for Dave Thompson and Bob Moyer who taught me that games are more than games. I learned a lot about life from those guys. I am thankful for the brothers Hern. They play games.
8. I am thankful for mentors. I have had so many really good mentors. People who didn’t have to invest in me, but they did anyway. People like Susan Ruiz, Pete Zevenbergen, Zori Rodriguez, James Glenn, Guy Berley, Dan Davis, Mike Smith, Shawn Trimble, Sherrie Watkins-Alvey and Karen Suddath- just to name a few. I will do the best I can to pay it forward. Without their wisdom and knowledge, I would not be where I am today.
9. I am thankful for my mom Sally O’Neill. She never gave up. She makes the most beautiful art and she is so smart. When I was a kid, she taught me to think critically. She taught me to care about other people. And, when I was angry and cruel- she never left. Thank you Mom.
10. I am thankful for my dad, Rich O’Neill. My dad is pretty different. Always looking for something and never quite finding it- metaphorically speaking. But, my dad is an amazing guy. He can build anything- at least in my mind he can. My Dad cares about people too, and he taught me to care about people. He is the kind of guy that would drop everything he is doing to help a stranger out. My dad never gave up on me either. Thank you Dad.
11. I am thankful for my brother Scott. Only 11 months apart. My brother has taught me lots of things. My brother taught me that you can’t spend your whole life hating something you love. My brother taught me that you can heal, that all of us are worthy and capable of redemption. My brother built a business. I am thankful for my brother.
12. I am thankful for Sam and Lorrie. Sam and Lorrie believe in me and they give me chances. They know I am not perfect, in fact, they know the truth. But, they trusted me with their daughter anyways. They keep us all safe. They invest in us, make us work hard and hold us accountable. Sam makes the best beer and lets me drive ridiculously fast cars. For a guy like Sam, rules are more like like guidelines, and guidelines are not even worth reading. Sam took time to get to know me and do things with me- even before I was family. Lorrie keeps me in check. She reminds me that certain things are important just because they are important. When I see Lorrie, I see Beth, and that makes me smile.
13. I am thankful for my computer. I built this one myself. I runs really fast and I can lose myself for hours playing games or writing. I’ve always had computers. And, I always will.
14. I am thankful for Social Work. Social Work is more than a job. It’s a way of life. A part of who I am- an extension of my being if you will. For me Social Work is about change. Everyday I do the best I can do change. I am thankful for Social Work.
15. I am thankful for the opportunity to teach. I love to teach. Teaching is a reciprocal thing. I am always taking as much or more than I am giving. When I am with students, I am reminded of way I became a social worker, why I chose to help others.
There is so much more to be thankful for today. But, I’ve got cleaning to do, Star Wars to play and books to read. So, I’m done being serious. Happy Thanksgiving to anyone reading this and thanks to you for taking the time.
Gravel Worlds
Yesterday, I “raced” Gravel Worlds. I learned a lot about myself and about other people. The people who raced Gravel Worlds along side of me were awesome. I met so many great riders who were willing to ride with me a piece and to encourage me along the way.
Gravel Worlds is a 150 mile ride around the Lincoln, Nebraska area. I completed about 83 miles of this ride before “mailing it in”. I was making good pace, it was probably 1:15 or 1:30 when I quit. I’m not sure exactly why I quit. I could shout out some reasons: my back, my left knee, it was hot, etc…but the real reason is that I was not prepared. It’s like a guy who shows up to run a marathon without putting in the training. I expected to show up and finish without having earned the right.
They had lots of stops and way points along the way. I think Beth will ride it next year too, maybe shoot for 50 miles. I think next year I’m doing the full 150 or bust. I’m going to work for it and train.
The ride started at 6 AM. My friend, Greg, and his lady friend Lisa, gave me a ride out there around 4:30 AM. That was early. I rode over something and Britton had to fix my bike. That guy is always helping me out. After that I didn’t have any bike problems. I might have been sitting too aggressively, but other than that the bike felt pretty great. But, at mile 60 I started to experience a great deal of pain in my lower back. I would stop and stretch, but just couldn’t work it out. By, mile 83 at Malcolm, I was done.
The gravel was a brutal bitch. For a guy used to riding pavement, I was brutalized and smacked around by the terrain. I really liked the tires I had…some Continental File Tread cyclocross tires.
At first I felt defeated, like I had failed. But, now, I realize that I learned a great deal and I will be out at Gravel Worlds again next year and the year after that until I finish the ride. The things that were playing out in my mind throughout the ride were disturbing and therapeutic at the same time. I came into the ride feeling depressed and down. It’s been a rough couple of months at work, at home and with myself. To be honest, I’ve probably been depressed. I’ve been bailing on commitments. This morning, I feel free. Like I worked it out. Somehow, in a battle with my own body and mind, I feel clear again.
A shout out to a guy named Lance, a woman named Pam, the guy who gave me the motrin, Greg, Amy and Kit, Lisa, Britton and Melissa, Ben and Sophie, Linda who gave me a burrito…and Britton again for challenging me to get out there and try something new. Oh, and to Beth and my father-in-law for mobilizing like Seal Team 6 to pick me up in Malcolm.
I raced Tour of Kansas City, State Line Road Race, Tour of Lawrence and the Cathedral Criterium this summer.
Cyclocross starts soon. Manions is coming up at the end of September, the 28th. Best two days of racing ever.
Tour of KC, some pics and some product…
Beth and I took the kids and my Dad to the Tour of KC in Lees Summit on Sunday- June 23rd. It was a blast. I raced the CAT 5 Men and Beth raced the CAT 4 Women. I learned a lot and had a great time.
I started in the middle of the pack and came on strong, too strong, the first several laps. I hung on to first place for two laps and then spent some time in the top ten before some dude crashed into my rear wheel. Somehow I didn’t go down, just swiped a cone and bounced off the guy next to me. After that I had a hard time clinging to the back of the pack- eventually peeling off. But, I kept going. They were pulling anyone who got lapped, so I was trying really hard not to get lapped. With 3 to go, the pack finally chased me down like a wild dog and I was done. I am going to play things differently this weekend at the Tour of Lawrence. Maybe be less aggressive and more strategic. The biggest shock for me was that I was not prepared for my heart rate to be that high for that long.
Some pictures…
I am still really digging my Jamis Aurora. I ride it to work most days when I can, it has been a little harder because I’ve got to teach two nights a week and it is really heating up. But, I did about 70 miles of crushed limestone and gravel on it back in Nebraska. I rode the Homestead Trail, which goes from Lincoln to Beatrice on an old rail road line. If you live in Lincoln, or are visiting Lincoln and want to ride your bike I would recommend this trail.
Lots of races coming up.
Tour of Lawrence, State Line Road Race, Sunflower State Games and then maybe some Gravel Worlds if my schedule allows.
Jamis Aurora 2012- it’s fast and badass!
I rode this steel Jamis Aurora 2012 model for almost 3 and a half hours today. It was a sweet and smooth ride. It has solid components a mix of Shimano Tiagra, Sora and such. It has microshift bar end shifters, that took some getting used to, but work really well. I wanted something comfortable, but fast ( relatively speaking). After over 3 hours I still felt really good. Plus, I was pulling around 90 pounds of babies and stuff behind me. The rear rack is a nice touch. The shape of the rack is triangular, which is somewhat annoying when trying to attach saddlebags.
I haven’t posted about a product since those Mavic Drift shoes I bough at the tail end of CX season. I really like those shoes and I really like this bike. I will be putting some serious miles on it for sure…commuting to work, pulling the kids, McCoy’s on Mondays, maybe the Katy trail. More to come…
You must not quit, because it is not just about you.
I’ve had a pretty good Spring. The weather has been crazy, but it hasn’t stopped me from riding my bike and getting things done.
I did the Joseph Sheehan Race last weekend in Leavenworth, KS. It was advertised as a 52 mile road race from Leavenworth to Atchison, KS and back. I think it was closer to 56 miles by the time I was done.
I got to the race about 6:45 AM. The weather was great. It was beautiful. One of the best parts of the race was the bathroom at the Leavenworth Community Center. Not kidding. I had pre-registered, which was a good thing. My CAT 5 race filled up fast. We had 50 racers in my field. I met a couple of other Colavita guys at the race- only Yaktine races in my class- and probably not for long- speedy bastard.
We started the race about 9 AM. 50 guys, 50 bikes. It was a 2 mile neutral roll out to the start line. I did what I thought I supposed to do the first 30 miles. I didn’t pull much, I didn’t pedal unless I had to and I stayed in the front group (probably 15-20 guys). I used the hills to my advantage. I was frustrated because the guys kept wanting to race in a single file line and I was thinking we would have been better off racing 2 x 2. A CAT 5 race is kind of scary, guys were swerving all over the place in front and behind me. Dudes ripping out of the saddle and thrusting their bike back into my business left and right. But, I was having fun and doing well. I felt like I might actually cross the finish line with the front pack.
However, something happened about mile 30. We hit Atchison, I reached down for my water bottle, and when I looked up I had peeled off the back of the pack. I thought “shit”. I tried to pedal hard and get back to them, but I hit a hill and I was done. I felt angry and demoralized. I was alone. We had made so must distance between ourselves and the rest of the CAT 5 race that I couldn’t see anyone behind me either- for a while.
I kept riding. Seemed like every time I asked I only had 10 miles to go. I felt like the race would never end. Pedaling is a lot harder when you are all alone. I thought about quitting, throwing in the towel. I had plenty of opportunities. Could have even faked a mechanical, just to get out of the race. But, I didn’t. I kept pedaling. I kept pedaling because I started the race and when you start things, you should finish them. For me, it is about setting the right kind of example for my kids. That you don’t quit. You just don’t quit. Life can be hard, life can be easy. I think a lot of people are accustomed to an easy life. But, good things are rarely easy. It was just a stupid bike race, but if you start quitting the little things, it makes it easier to quit the big things- school, marriage, work, friends, etc. When you have little kids, it isn’t just about you. It is about them too, because they see and hear most of the things you do. They learn how to be from the way you are…so I finished the damn race. 29/50.
Not sure if I wrote about the Tour De Husker I raced back in March. But it was cold as shit, 25 degrees, with 25-35 mph winds. It sucked. Enough said.
My race schedule will vary depending on family and work commitments. But, at this point here is what I am thinking:
1. Salina RR May 18-19
2. State Line Road Race July 20
3. Sunflower State Games July 14
I am not sure if I want to race any criteriums. If I do, I suppose I will do the Tour of Kansas City and The Tour of Lawrence.
I’m toying with the idea of buying a couple of new bikes in July or early August. For sure I need a cyclocross bike. I may go with another Focus Mares AX 2, it worked well enough last year.
But, I think I will also treat myself to either a steel road frame or a single speed CX bike so that I can race twice a day next season. At this point, the Soma Smoothie, the Soma Double CX and the Handsome Devil appeal to me.
Perry Circuit Race
I had a great time at the Perry Circuit Race today. Took place just outside of Lawrence, KS at the Perry Dam. I raced Men’s Category 5. That is the entry level category for male road racers. I did pretty well. I did not get dropped (meaning you lose the pack) and I finished 17th of 38. Race was 4, 5 mile laps. To put things in perspective, the category 1 and 2 riders were doing 6 laps today. Ouch!
If I get pictures from the race, I will post them to the blog later.
The race started on a steep and curved decline that descended onto the dam. I thought I did really well the first three laps. I held on to 1st place for most of the race. But, even though I thought I was doing well, I was actually killing myself. I did a lot of hard work for the benefit of others. I ran out of steam on the tail end of the 3rd lap. The laps finished going up a hill, which was hard work. I suck at hills.
I started mid pack and waited to make my first move until I hit the bottom of the first hill. I surged to the front of the pack where I traded pulls with two other guys for a lap and half. On my second attempt up the hill, I went from the front of the pack to the back. It hurt, hurt bad. I need to spend more time working on climbs. At the top of the hill I kicked into the big ring and cranked it really hard down the hill and by the end of the dam I was back in first place. I traded pulls again, but I could tell I wasn’t going to be able to battle back to the pack again if I fell behind a second time. And, sure enough, after the third attempt at the hill I was nearly dropped. I gave everything I had to get to the back of the pack and I stayed there to the finish. Nothing glorious to tell about that last lap. I was done.
On the third lap, this dude kept halfwheeling me in the pace line. He actually hit my wheel, but I didn’t go down.
But, I had a great time. I look forward to racing more road. The Tour de Husker is in Lincoln, NE on March 16th and 17th- road race is the 16th, criterium race is the 17th. I am really looking forward to racing in Lincoln, my home town. I might play my cards a little differently depending on the nature of the course.
Been watching a couple of really good TV shows. Watching Game of Thrones, a HBO fantasy series based on the books of the same name by George R.R. Martin. Also watching Justified, an FX series about a Federal Marshall who gets exiled back to his home state of Kentucky. Both shows are good and worth a watch.
I think winter is finally behind us. We had over 20 inches of snow in Kansas City in the last couple of weeks. It was crazy. But, things seem to be warming up.
I have big plans for the Spring and Summer. I sold my cyclocross bike. I used the proceeds to buy trailer for the kids, looks something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/CoPilot-Model-Double-Bike-Trailer/dp/B000G1YO1O
It is ok, but it attaches to the seat stay, which sucks.
Also got a second bike for Beth, looks something like this:
http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebikes/street/coda/12_codasport_bk.html
And, then we bought one of these to put on the back:
http://www.amazon.com/CoPilot-Taxi-Bicycle-Child-Seat/dp/B000G22QHW
And, BOOM! We can now all go out and bike at the same time. We are going to spend a couple nights a week out together and probably a couple hours each weekend. Pulling that trailer ought to make me stronger.
I have to replace the CX bike I sold sometime before the end of August next year. In fact, I’m going to need it for Gravel Worlds in Lincoln, NE which is the third or fourth weekend in August. 150 miles of gravel in one day. I’ll probably die.
I am thinking of several different bikes, but the most likely contender is this:
http://www.focus-bikes.com/int/en/bikes/bikes-2012/category/cyclocross-8/model/mares-ax-20-5.html
The AX1 would be nice too.
Goals
When a new year rolls around, it is time to think about goals. Goals for work, goals for home, goals for not being a fat worthless pile of crap, goals for being a good father, etc. etc. etc. I need some goals. I am going to set some goals. I am going to tell you all about them.
Last year, I dropped 40 pounds, grappled with a new position at a new Agency, and joined a new cycling team. This year, I want to build on my accomplishments from last year.
The Cycling…
I want to pedal harder, faster and longer (dirty). I’m going to ride a bike to work at least 3 days a week. It isn’t far, 10 miles each way. But, it is something. I want to race in at least 4 road, 2 MTB and 12 cyclocross races. Beth is running now, so I guess I’ll tack on a few 5ks for good measure. I want to do the gravel worlds race in Lincoln, NE. 150 miles of gravel- 150 miles of gravel. I’m going to ride 40 miles on Saturday or Sunday 90 percent of the weekends in 2013- I bought these bar mits, so the cold shouldn’t stop me.
I also got a balaclava, which is not to be confused with the tasty dessert treat baklava. It also helps keep me warm. To top it off, by the end of the year I want to be able to do 50 push ups. Bam! There it is…
The job…
It has been an amazing year at SAVE, Inc. This next year I will be head first in supporting my CEO and my staff in managing some serious growth. I want to find ways to reward and encourage my many high performing staff. I have really good staff to a person. I want to do my CEO proud. She has high expectations and I am not going to let her down. I am going to be more focused this year. Check the boxes, dot the Is and cross the Ts. I am going to create a project calendar to help me stay focused and organized. Work made more sense when I knew I needed to see my clients, write my notes and get my treatment plans in on time. Now, my job is a gray, nebulous thing with moving targets and changes that shift like the winds. But, often the buck stops with me, which is a tremendous responsibility.
The family…
I want to take my lady out on more dates. My wife is amazing. She is really smart. She is really funny. And, if you have ever seen her in her red dress, you will know that she is smoking hot. She likes fondue, I don’t, but she does, so that is where I will take her. I will eat that fondue and I will smile, because I know that she loves me. I am going to play more board games with the kids. They have lots of board games, they always want to play and I always put them off. Not this year. We are going to play at least two board games each week. I am going to teach Connor and Riley to ride without training wheels. They are ready, I know they are…
I’ve got a brother. We don’t talk much. Went three years without talking at all. I am going to talk to my brother this year. I want to check in and say hello.
School…
I am not going to quit. I started this MBA and now I need to finish. I’ll be about 70 percent done by the end of 2013. Can’t stop now. Taking some decent classes. The core stuff is almost done. If I can suffer through finance and decision and supply chain management I am in the clear.
So, there you have it. Some goals, for all to see.
32 x 32, SS 29er and the best shoes ever…oh and some games.
Christmas was great. We went back to Lincoln. I drank some excellent beers and watched some awesome movies. Of particular note, I saw “The Hobbit” and “The Dark Knight Rises”. “The Hobbit” was mediocre at best. Seems like Jackson tried to take the movie in too many directions, many of which I do not remember from my over 20 readings of the book. The “Dark Knight Rises”, however, was a most excellent film. I am going to state right here and now that the Dark Knight Trilogy is the best trilogy of movies ever made- better even than “The Godfather” and “Star Wars”.
I should mention that I watched “Ted” and then I watched it again. I will probably keep watching it, it is that good.
I’ve been busting my ass for a year to the day to try to reclaim my fitness. I hit a milestone this week when I went to buy new pants. I am now a 32 x 32, which is not the smallest I’ve ever been, but it’s where I want to be. I threw out trash bags full of old clothes that no longer fit. My resolution for the New Year is to dress like I actually deserve a job. We are making some moves at work and it’s time to start looking the part. Long overdue say some…
I’ve been spending a lot of time on a single speed 29er I am borrowing from a friend. I am also trying to sell it for aforementioned friend. You can see it here:
http://kansascity.craigslist.org/bik/3479094892.html
It is a great time. I spin my legs and it feels great. I can also ride over anything. Seriously, if you buy this bike it will be the best decision you ever made. Single speed is simple; yet, profound. It is simple because all you have to do is pedal. It is profound because your mind travels to this place where you are one with your bike- as Bill Murray would say “total consciousness”.
I bought these shoes yesterday.
These are Mavic Drift shoes. For winter riding. Warm, really warm. It was cold this morning, but I was warm. You can buy them from Volker Bicycles. They retail for $200, but I think you can get them there for $150 or less. That is a damn steal. You hear me? I said a steal. I am going to race them this weekend. I know, I know, I said I was done racing. But, I can’t help myself. There is a race Sunday. It is this race.
http://kscycling.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/GrotePrijs2012-1.pdf
I got two new games for Christmas. The first is an expansion to the game “Dominion”. It looks to be good. I also got a D and D board game called “Ravenloft”, based on the world of the same name. It’s a dungeon crawler that involves flipping tiles and fighting things.
Things are all wrapped up.
I have not written anything in about 6 weeks. A lot has happened in those 6 weeks. I finished another semester of graduate school- chipping away at this MBA. I took an Economics class and an International Business class this semester. Neither one was particularly interesting, but as usual the faculty at the UMKC Bloch School were impressive. I also enjoy meeting other students and expanding my professional and social network. Next semester I am taking my studies in a different direction by trying out a couple of Public Administration courses. Of course, they count towards my MBA, but I wanted to feel out another side of the business school.
Work has been hit and miss. Couple of strike outs on some large grants we wrote several months back. However, we also continue to have some other big things on the horizon.
I don’t think I am going to race again this season. My last race was the Kansas State Championships. I finished 10th. Not bad. Admittedly, I crashed the first lap, went head first into the wooden barriers. That cost me some spots. And, on the final lap I gave a place to a teammate of mine so that he could win the Kansas Best Rider award for CAT 4 Men’s Cyclocross. He deserved it, he pedaled hard and fast for a lot of races.
Next season, I will probably race CAT 4 again. But, I’m not going to be so slow. I’ve got a couple of things up my sleeve for the off-season. I am going to spend a lot of time on a mountain bike trying to improve my technical skills. I feel like I lost a lot of speed through the turns. I am currently looking at a couple of different mountain bikes.
These:
Couple of guys I know are really pushing the single speed. I am borrowing this one from a friend and really enjoying myself.
http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebikes/hardtails/dragon/10_dragonone.html
I like the simplicity of the single speed. I just pedal. Seriously that is it. I also like cranking my legs really fast. It feels good. Really good. Volker Bicycles may build me something good. If you have not been to Volker Bicycles, you need to go. Full of treasures admittedly most of them are buried deep.
Team Colavita/Parisi (the team I race with) did really well this cyclocross season. You can read all about it here:
http://kscycling.org/kbcxrkbcxt/
But, basically we are the best, most badass team in the State of Kansas. Not sure I had much to do with that, but I certainly benefit from the knowledge and experience of the other riders on the team.
We got new team kits for the 2013 season. 
That is me with Joe Anderson, Johnny Pot Pie, and Matt Yaktine. Mark the Brit snapped the photo. We are in Shawnee or Lenexa (all the same to me). We road about 50 or 60 miles last Saturday. The ride ending with me eating shit in the parking lot of Union Station. Tore up my arm and my knee and hurt my bike. Britton talked to my bike and made it feel better.
I’ve still been riding to work. Not as much, but I am starting to pick up steam again. I feel like the 29er could be really good this winter.
I gamed a decent amount in November. I got sucked into Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition for the PC. I am ashamed to say that I logged in over 60 hours of play time. Got to the end, beat it and promptly uninstalled it from my PC because it was so good I wanted to play it again. It is thought to be one of the hardest video games out there, it seriously kills you over and over again but for some sick reason you go back for more, every single time. You can read a decent review of the game here:
http://www.gamespot.com/dark-souls-prepare-to-die-edition/
Not going to game again anytime soon. Too many other projects.
I’ve also been reading some really good Star Wars novels- The Thrawn Trilogy. Worth a read if you are a Star Wars fan. Of course, if you are a Star Wars fan, you’ve already read them because they are old- from the early 90s.
I’ve been thinking about getting a french press. I really like coffee. I don’t have a pot at home. I took it to work. I suppose I could bring it back. We are not using it at the office. But, why would I bring it back when I could just get a french press? If you know about coffee and you can point me in the right direction, I would be much obliged. In the mornings, I’ve been spending some time here:
http://parisicoffee.com/index.php?main_page=index_parisi
The Union Station location. They make really good coffee. And, I really like being surrounded by all of the Holiday decor and peaceful music. It is not too far from my office at all.
pedalfasteradventures 