Saturday, August 25, 2001

2001 Ford Focus ZX3 Pictures

The color is called "Twilight Blue" and has a little of those metallic sparkles in it. As soon as I pulled up this evening, the 3 little kids up the street rode down to the next corner on their trikes and gawked at the car for a few minutes (it was obvious that they were really intrigued, not sure if it was the car itself or the cargo box on top that was so fascinating).



posted by Wuphon's Reach at 8:14 PM

JVC KD-SH99 MP3 Car Audio Installation

Well, we got the new radio installed this morning (I'd only had the car for 20 hrs by the time we started swapping out the radio). It went pretty painlessly since we ordered everything from Crutchfield and they include a nice fit kit. We had a moment of panic when we were getting ready to plug everything in because the connectors don't look identical, but they do fit and they do make the required connections. Start to finish took about 2 hours and was the easiest radio that I've ever installed. I'll probably swap the speakers out next spring to match the nice JVC radio.

Looks pretty, neh? Sounds even better!




posted by Wuphon's Reach at 7:59 PM

Fitness Update - 197

Okay, not as much of a fluke as it might seem... looks like the weight is gone.

Went over to Rocky Ridge Park this evening to check out the trails (I needed an excuse to take the bike out on the roof carrier again and I needed to work off some stress so that I could chill as my brother suggested that I needed to). Spent a little bit of a time attempting some of a trails (maybe 1/2 hr) before realizing that I need to work on my sprints before I can really tackle some of the more difficult sections. Fortunately I recover in a minute or so after pushing my heartrate all the way up into the upper 180s (I try to limit myself to the low 170s as a peak rate).

A few of the trails are a nice packed gravel, very easy riding (except for the up and down), but the majority of the trails in the woods are bare dirt rock gardens with foot sucking stones the size of small dogs nipping at your heels. It's tough to find a good line. At one point, after a long and rocky uphill section, I was in my lowest gear and just couldn't go any farther so I had to put a foot down. The two gals walking down the path were amused and we chatted briefly about the hilliness before moving on. The best thing about the ride today was that I didn't crash (took my time, powered through the technical sections getting over anything up to 4-6 inches no sweat).

So now I have a nice glow, I'm chill, and I'm relaxed enough to work on my blog!

posted by Wuphon's Reach at 7:55 PM

Balcony Garden Pictures

Close-up of my yellow mums right after I watered them (so the leaves and petals have pretty little water drops on them.

Another close-up

My herb garden is doing very well, sage is on the left, sweet basil is on the right. (Anyone need any? I'll never use all of it!)

posted by Wuphon's Reach at 7:54 AM

Fitness Update - 196.5

Huh, new low reading (probably a fluke...)

posted by Wuphon's Reach at 7:10 AM

Friday, August 24, 2001

Car Update

Picked up the car at lunch, too until a little after 2pm to get all the paperwork signed, and things straigtened out with the service department (who are waiting on a part). Then rushed across town to the bike dealer to get my Thule rack and cargo box installed (only 2 hrs late for my appointment). Fortunately, they were gracious enough to put it on anyway but it took about 2 1/2 hrs for them to do it (glad it wasn't me, it would've taken me all weekend).

I'll post pictures tomorrow (I promise!)

posted by Wuphon's Reach at 9:38 PM

Coffee, more coffee!

Hmm, guess I have been blogging pretty heavily today. Gee, all that on getting up at 5am and only drinking one cup of coffee... (and no, it wasn't extra strong)...

Must have had a lot on my mind when I woke up (the dreams were odd last night, lots of strange situations that meant nothing after I woke up).

posted by Wuphon's Reach at 10:40 AM

Car Update (bad news, good news)

Well, I'll at least have posession of the car this weekend... but I have to take it back on Monday to be worked on...

The AdvanceTrac diagnostic light is on and the mechanics are having trouble getting good info from the factory on how to fix the issue. Supposedly, the wiring diagrams are incorrect that they got from the factory (this is a new option on this year's model). Fortunately for me it only affects the traction control and ABS brakes (which are disabled). So at least I can pick up the car at lunch, get the roof rack put on today, and get the car stereo installed tomorrow. I need to remember to get all this in writing that they'll fix everything under warranty and that my acceptance of the car is contingent on them getting it fixed.

posted by Wuphon's Reach at 9:12 AM

Fitness Update - 198.5 (again)

Looks like it's an official reading now because I didn't go riding yesterday and I'm fully hydrated (maybe a little too much). Looking back to May 1st, I can now say that I've been losing about 1 lb per week since then at a pretty steady pace (looking at the chart it's a pretty steady drop with no big peaks or valleys). So I probably have another few weeks before I hit the next plateau (maybe in the low 190s?). Looks like I may be shopping for a size 34 waist before too long (I was a 40-42 last december, my one belt was at the outermost hole); I'm going to have to buy a new belt too (or start punching holes in it so that I can make it tighter).

I'm trying to convince myself to get a gym membership so that I can work on my strength training this winter (maybe add 10 or 20 lbs of muscle mass, I have no idea of what a realistic goal would be).

posted by Wuphon's Reach at 7:39 AM

Internal vs External

You'll notice that I say stuff like "I choose not too".

I used to be pretty well beaten by externals (meaning that I felt like someone else was responsible for my misery or that I couldn't quit smoking because it would be too hard). I was good at using the "blame game" to keep from making changes. (In one of my work-related seminars we were told that if you blame somebody else you've just given away your control over the issue.) So when you hear someone making excuses or blaming something else; they're making themselves helpless (victim mentality?)... which won't do one little thing to change the situation unless luck happens to go their way. That's the best way that I can describe someone who's an "external"; who let themselves be ruled by external pressures and end up like a toy boat in the open ocean being blown to and fro. Externals will get discouraged as soon as the first failure or setback occurs if they're trying to make a change (such as in weight loss).

"Internals", on the other hand, try to avoid the blame game. They may say that a situation had an impact on them, but they believe that they are responsible for how they react even if they can't change the outcome. Maybe internals have a better support network (comprised of other internals that reaffirm that setbacks are a normal part of the process)? I think "internals" are good at saying "I choose ... because..." and I think the "because" reasons are important (a tree can't stand against the storm just by saying that "it chooses"... nope, it'll stand up "because" it has firm roots that go way deep down... um, maybe not the best analogy). I'd also say that internals make plans to effect change, they choose when and how to fight the battle rather than letting it be dictated to them.

So can you be "internal" without relying on God inside? I don't see someone who relys on God on the inside to necessarily be an "external" or an "internal", but I think it makes a whole lot more sense to be an internal with divine assistance. (I can do all things through him who strengthens me.) Human nature is frail, no matter how hard you try to be a internal on your own, you'll eventually become discouraged by focusing on the times that things didn't go your way (you may bounce in and out of external/internal motivations).

I used to be the self-reliant SOB who was determined to do it all on my own. Well guess what, I ended up being "external" instead of "internal" (even though I believed that I was internal at the time). Defensiveness was the dominant trait because I only had my values to measure whether I was doing good or bad, so every time I encountered opposition I had to spend emotional capital defending my decision to myself (not to mention defending it from the attacker). My reactions to those attacks gave evidence that I was an "external" even though I was trying to be "internal". I guess that's the end result when you're trying to please those around you (you have to be external by definition in order to have even partial success).

Things are different now that I've decided that God's values are better than mine (I still screw up, often, um make that very often, like really really often...). Once I set that foundational rock back in place, deep down, I had a way to measure my decisions. An anchor point that I didn't feel that I had to defend. Now when I get attacked I don't take it personally (let God get upset since He made the rules); I can let the attack wash over me while I concentrate on why the attacker feels the need to attack me. (Before I would have focused on the attack or situation itself because of it's impact on my self-worth feelings.) Oh, you can still get me upset, but I take responsibility for being upset (I had a choice to be upset or not). So having that absolutely fixed point gives me something to hang my internal motivations on and to measure my progress with (makes it easier during the setbacks to see how much closer you are to the goal than when you started, even if you're sliding backwards at the time).

posted by Wuphon's Reach at 6:04 AM

Smokin' Habit

No, I won't be picking up the habit again. I choose not too. Fortunately, I'm not often in any situation that might tempt me and I only have one friend that smokes (we don't spend spare time together ... and I can smell it on their breath which turns me off). Cleaning out my car last night I found some packets of the nicorette gum that I used to quit in the glove box (they looked really disgusting in the packaging after being baked and frozen for 4 years). Maybe I should have kept that packet to remind me of what it took to quit. Fortunately (or not), I can also still clearly recall (even after 4 years) how cigarettes taste when you've got a head cold but are jonesin' for that nic fix (imagine eating a stale butt including the filter, maybe multiple).

Interestingly enough, I've found that most ex-smokers are really turned off by cigarette smoke, usually more than non-smokers (this at least holds true in my case). Also, you'll never fool an ex-smoker parent... now that we can smell again, you can bet we'll pick-up on the slightest whiff and we know most of the tricks (having used them ourselves). I even notice it on my clothes after being at a resturant where they allow smoking in a nearby section.

posted by Wuphon's Reach at 5:35 AM

Getting volunteered

Okay, on the whole I'm glad that I got volunteered to help out with the church website because it's going to force me to meet new people, work with new people, and remind me of my lacking people skills that I need to work on (since I always seem to end up in a position of leadership). Plus, it will keep me plugged into the church so I don't feel like such an outsider at times. I've been a little worried that since I broke up with my last girlfriend that I would start making excuses not to attend service on Sundays and gradually stop coming. I've combated this so far by having a group of close friends that I like to sit with during 1st service (that I know will always be there so I don't end up sitting by myself). It's worked pretty well, I've only missed a pair of Sundays in the past few months, and I've only ended up sitting by myself once.

posted by Wuphon's Reach at 5:26 AM

5 more hours

I should be picking up my new car 5 hours from now (can't you tell I'm just really excited?)... (and hopeful too)

posted by Wuphon's Reach at 5:22 AM

Thursday, August 23, 2001

The Evening Wander

Nothing much happening today... I had a meeting with a couple other people at the church to start reworking their website (they've lost their previous webmaster due to other engagements). So that's going to start eating into my free time.... I'm trying to be good and just be a helpful grunt instead of stepping in and running the show (those who know me know that I like a tightly run ship, at least most of the time); especially since it's not my show to run. (I got 'volunteered', but I did have veto power over my name getting dropped in the hat.) The other technical person seems pretty sharp and it will be a good way for me to learn my way around a Linux Apache web server using PHP (I come from the dark side, a.k.a. Microsoft's IIS).

I spent the evening cleaning out my car, checking under the seats, emptying the glove compartment... all in hopes that my new car will be fixed tomorrow so I can pick it up. (I will be very dissapointed if it's not ready.) I'm hoping that the fact that I didn't get a phone call today means that it's ready, not that they're keeping me in the dark again.

I can't say I can fault my brother for considering taking up smoking as a hobby, especially since I smoked for 7 years (during and after college). I will say I'd rather see him get addicted to running again, but it's not my choice to make. I originally started because I thought I was too much of a goody-two-shoes and wanted to have something in common with my best friend in college. It was a bit of an expiriment to find out what addiction was like from the inside. (Walk a mile in a man's shoes...) Now that I've successfully quit for 4 years and 4 months (I think I quit April 8th of 1997, but I'd have to check the day), I have a prettty good handle on what it took to make it stick (I tried a couple of times without success or support). My success enabled my co-worker in NY to also quit about a year later (successfully too).

Things that helped me quit were a supportive girlfriend, a very supportive close friend who is like my own private cheerleading section, the idea of trying to explain to his kids why I smoked when they got a little older. All that, and I had finally decided to quit and make it stick (did it cold turkey along with a half box of nicorette).

Sometimes I think about starting up again, mostly when I'm tired and by myself, but my cheering section is still part of my life and would drag me down to a local lake to soak my head if I started again... Now it's just an occasional reminder that I'm still a recovering smoker (I always will be) and it keeps me from passing judgement on anyone else who struggles with addictions. Since I quit, I've also come up with a few dozen things that I can do instead of starting up again that will make me feel better (such as go ride my bike and raise my fitness level). Endorphins are so much more fun than niccotene ever was...

posted by Wuphon's Reach at 9:02 PM

Wednesday, August 22, 2001

Things to do in Harrisburg this weekend

First up, Yahoo!'s guide to the Harrisburg metro area.

State Museum of Pennsylvania - Tue-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun Noon-5pm, free admission

Witaker Center - $9.75 adult admission, Mon-Sat 9:30am-5:00pm, Sun 11:30am-5:00pm

posted by Wuphon's Reach at 6:49 PM

Pop-up windows

I know everyone hates pop-up ad windows, but sometimes they make a site design cleaner when the user wants to see something close up.

Combined HREF and JavaScript - <a href="blogarchive_2001.html" target="myarchive" onClick="window.open( 'blogarchive_2001.html', 'myarchive', 'toolbar=no, location=no, directories=no, status=no, menubar=no, resizable=yes, copyhistory=no, scrollbars=yes, width=600, height=350, left=30, top=30'); return false;"> (note: I've inserted spaces in the javascript portion to make it more legible, but they should be taken out when you use them on the web page)

posted by Wuphon's Reach at 10:46 AM

Things to do in Baltimore this weekend

Yahoo! Baltimore's Museums and Exhibits - quick listing of all the museums and exhibits. The Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Associated site is the one you've probably seen commercials for lately (remember the warthog being picked up and dropped into the tower, "something for the kids..."?). There's also the Maryland Office of Tourism web site.

Baltimore Zoo - Open daily year-round 10am-4pm. Extended hours May to October (10a-6:30p on the weekend). $10 adult admission.

National Aquarium in Baltimore - July and August 9am-8pm every day, $16 adult admission. You can purchase advance "timed" tickets that can be picked up at the will call window (if you don't want to stand in line you can choose a time that you want to enter the aquarium) through Ticket Master (there's probably a small convenience fee).

Maryland Science Center - Summer hours are Sun-Wed 10am-6pm, Thu-Sat 10am-8pm, $18 adult admission (includes IMAX)

USS Constellation - Open daily, 10am-6pm, $6.50 adult admission

Fort McHenry - $5 adult admission

Walters Art Museum - Mostly closed for renovations, grand reopening October 19 2001

Baltimore Museum of the Art - Sat-Sun 11am-6pm $7 adult admission


posted by Wuphon's Reach at 10:17 AM

Fitness Update

Well, looks like the 198.5 reading was a fluke (probably came from being too dehydrated after a ride), so I haven't officially hit the 200lb target yet (maybe another week or two). No problem, I'm perfectly happy as long as I feel that I'm making progress overall and that my fitness level is improving.

I did go riding yesterday (even with dinner plans). Things were a little stressful today at work, trying to keep on top of things and dealing with the new car issues (first you tell me I'll get it Wednesday, now you're saying the shop needs until Friday to get it ready?); and I had a good bit of anxiety from first date jitters. So I figured it would be a good idea to go for a hard and fast 10 mile ride right after work to get rid of some of that stress (take it out on the trail) and to be nice and relaxed for the evening. Going down I did the ride in 22 minutes and came back in 21 minutes (13.95mph) which was under my target of 45 minutes (13.5mph) for the ride but above my (current) dream time of 40 minutes (15mph).

Took a good pratfall at one of the road crossings though. Usually, it's enough to just slow up, check for (mostly non-existent) traffic and then charge across the road crossing. No such luck yesterday, right as I rolled up to the crossing there were cars coming in both directions so I had to do a quick dismount. Now, I wear toe-clips that are not tightened (I have big feet that barely fit in the toe clips as it is so I don't have to tighten the straps) so it should have been perfectly simple to pull the right foot out and lean to the right when I came to a stop, neh? Ha! As soon as I lost momentum, I made the mistake of steering left instead of right and leaned the bike over (as in, laid it down with me on it) on the left side (where I was still strapped in). Fortunately, I managed to get away with just scraping off some skin cells with the path gravel. But you feel like a clumsy idiot doing it and picking yourself back up (I was saved the embarrasment of being witnessed by any passing cyclists, just had to endure the glances of a few passing motorists).

On a side note, I had a really good time at dinner last night...

posted by Wuphon's Reach at 6:46 AM

Car Update

Well, my car is in (like I said before), but they called and said the AdvanceTrac warning light is staying on so they need to put it in the shop for a few days to keep it within warranty. My timeline for getting ready for vacation just shrunk by another 2 days (at least I'll be able to pick it up Friday morning).

posted by Wuphon's Reach at 6:46 AM

Tuesday, August 21, 2001

Car Update

yeah! my car arrived at the dealer late last night! (so I won't have to change my vacation plans for the 3rd time) They're expecting dealer prep to take a day or so and I should be able to pick it up in a day or two.

posted by Wuphon's Reach at 9:55 AM

Monday, August 20, 2001

Fitness Update

Yeah, I went riding this evening (the storms held off). Now the bad news, I didn't go as far as I planned (I wanted to repeat Saturday's 33 mile ride). But I did go as far as Glen Rock (27 mi in 117 min) which is my normal ride length. My left calf kept threatening to cramp up (probably a little dehydrated) so I had to make sure I concentrated on form so as not to aggravate it.

The first 20 minutes of that ride are always tough. All the contact points immediately start complaining and you begin to wonder if you're going to be able to find a comfortable position for the next 2 hrs (in fact, you begin to doubt the wisdom of riding at all). But after the first 15 or 20 minutes, the endorphins start kicking in and you forget about your contact points being sore and start concentrating on your breathing and your spinning rate. The next 40 minutes until turn around go at a pretty average clip, not fun but you're getting there and you know you can do it once you pass Hanover Jtc.

The last 40 minutes of the ride are the most fun. The adrenaline and endorphins are coursing through your system and I spent about 8 miles trying to keep up with somone who was just a little bit faster. The euphoria sets in and you feel like you could keep riding past the end-point of the ride. The 2 hour after-glow when you get back home is a nice effect too which tapers off nicely around bedtime.



posted by Wuphon's Reach at 11:30 PM