All Blog Posts
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Service Now Meetup
Hung out on a service now meeteup to see what kind of apps can be built in service now. They demoed a time tracker app that was vibecoded and created toast popups. Pretty cool.
I'm calling this Work From Home, since I don't actually blog about work, but thought this looked pretty cool.
Mike.stockman@bizsolutions.tech meetup on SNOW https://www.linkedin.com/in/sai-venkatesh-sure-759659188/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/sai-venkatesh-sure-759659188/ www.linkedin.com/in/lenardt
This post (Service Now Meetup) was last edited 2 days, 4 hours ago.
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The Weekend Wrap
The weekend was pretty dope, even though my bestie wasn't here!
Outings: First Friday Drum Circle, Drove out for a run at my favorite trail, Lunch at my favorite Coffee Shop (Xtreme Bean), Sunday Morning Drums are Life Drum Circle, and Lunch at The Henry with some friends from Sunday's drum circle. That was a pretty wild luncheon! Everyone had such great stories, and hanging out with that gang was fun. I don't think The Henry was ready for a group like us though.
I finished watching Fallout Season 2 Saturday morning at 12:30 AM. I abruptly woke up for good on 3:30 AM Saturday morning. That sucked, but I got a 5K run in along with some work around the house. Crashed at 8:30 PM and slept till 9:00 Am Sunday morning.
Fixed: Underground Sprinkler Line, toilet, and pool filter top thingy (well taking it to the shop).
This post (The Weekend Wrap) was last edited 3 days, 6 hours ago.
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Skateboarding and crying
After around 2000 attempts, I pulled a very ugly frontside 50-50 to tail and dropped back in. After pulling the trick, I realized I was the only one at the park, there was no one to celebrate my accomplishment with me. It was very hot, the middle of the day, with the sun shining brightly all around. And there I stood, alone at the edge of the bowl smiling broadly. I packed up my gear to go back to work but what I really wanted was to call Mike. I wanted to scream out with joy and hear Mike’s laughter and his appreciation that I learned a new trick that I’ve been working on for so long. Mike would not have laughed though. He would not have even answered the phone. He has been dead for over a decade. Fuck Mike! I needed someone to validate me! I needed someone to say "Cool!" I actually did feel that primordial "need" for some acknowledgement. This was weird, as I normally don't feel like I need to be heard, but I worked on this for soooo soooo long, I just wanted a nod from another like-minded soul. So after a few minutes of full blown tears of joy and yearning for my youth, I got my shit together and texted Gavin. Gavin immediately replied back to congratulate me and sent me some vid of him doing a sick ass styled out rock and roll. It was a tumultuous afternoon of me earning a badge, remembering the dead, and reviving the relationships with the living. Gavin really came through, and he'll probably never understand how much joy he gave me by acknowledging that my efforts paid off.
Here's my dope ass front side 5050. HaHA its so lame, but I did it! -
This week started out with a bang!
Monday was a holiday, so Tuesday started out with tea, then I gathered my mobile office gear and heading up for a two day camping trip to enjoy the final dying legs of spring. Summer hasn't fully hit, so I thought why not. The trip ended early, as some issue came up with mobile devices that I manage, so I need to get home to release a few of them. So, Wednesday-Friday were a blur, but I did get a dishwasher installed in the rental. Also, woke up early today to run the second Sunrise Series race, which started at 6:30 AM. Now I'm chilling with Buffy at Sips in Scottsdale, getting ready to plan for the next few days.
I recorded the audio from a DJ set from EDC for Alice In Wonderland so I could listen to it during my run. It definitely helped me run faster than I otherwise would have.
Here’s me and the gang after the run.I also went Skateboarding at the Gilbert Skate Park. I did 40 rollins on a medium sized rollin location. I also popped some frontside ollies too.
Later, Buffy and I watched the OKC and Spurs game at Helluva. That's the first time I've ever watched a whole game at a bar. Three beers too.
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Kilby Block Party Day 3
The weather took a turn, but we persevered until we didn’t. It started out cold, and got colder. And Windier. We hung as long as we could. The band Flipturn was so good, fast loud and had an incredibly dynamic drummer. They were awesome. It sounds nothing like their Apple Music songs though. We left before it ended, it was raining pretty good, but mostly just cold. And windy. We still saw all of these bands though. Three day festivals are pretty rough to get through, and we almost made it!
Mustard Service, Hannah Cohen, Glom, tops, melodies echo chamber, granddaddy, freak slug, and flip turn.
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Kilby Block Party - Friday
Just got in the Lyft and heading to the airport. Buffy and I are nervous for the flight and traveling, we got vip for the festival and fast pass for tsa, so just hoping things go smoothly. Just gonna read my book.
16 hours later…. Omg Modest Mouse was amazing and Snail Mail was so authentic. It was the right thing to have Turnstyle be the headliner. Absolutely rocking! Even the vip section had a mosh pit. I didn’t do it though, people were just kicking and punching, like it was some black flag show from the ‘80’s.
Nobody was practicing at the skateboard park, contest is tomorrow though.
Turnstyle
Got a nice bike ride home after.
Some of the kick ass bands we saw. It was sunny and bright and the evening was absolutely perfect.
Hotline TNT, Dry cleaning, Rit Momney, Snail Mail, Beach Bunny, Japanese Breakfast, Patie Gonia, Modest Mouse, Turnstile
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Happy 25th to my oldest
To my son.
Happy Birthday! At this time 25 years ago, I had just landed in Detroit, for a weeklong work training that I was doing for a client. Mom called me to say you were going to be born so I told work about it, they were so happy for me. I jumped on the next flight home just in time to head down with mom to the hospital so we could be there when you were born. Mom was in the delivery room with you, while I hung out with other haggard looking dads in the maternity ward. It was one of three greatest days of my life to first meet you on your birthday!
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A new site for longevity conscious shoppers
Okay, I’ve been wondering why I couldn’t find any quality backpacks lately. One company now owns them all!
I’ve been thinking about getting my Oakley backpack fixed, and now I’m wondering if it has a warranty‽
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Saturday Night - reflecting on the weekend (already)
Last night was a whopper, got tickets to Lauren Spencer Smith. The VanBuren was packed, and it was all women, so many beautiful people (except for me). My wife fit right in with the demographic: Young, sexy, singing outloud! The music was awesome and we had a blast! #vanburen #laruenspencersmith #livemusic #fun #blog
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Its a Monday - Work From Home But at the Trail
Started out at Xtreme Bean for work, then heading out to work trailside at Hawes. After work, I got in little sister to bit sister for some jumps. Its a Monday - working from wherever! Lucky me!
This post (Its a Monday - Work From Home But at the Trail) was last edited 4 days, 21 hours ago.
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Update: Lampman Fixed My Lamp!
My bff ended up going the extra mile and bought a new controller with a remote and totally set up my lamp so it now does all kinds of cool colors and blinks, and fades! I’m so happy. A while back he gave up on it because its old controller had no markings and he couldn’t determine voltages and such. But he really came through and just replaced it and the wires too.
#blog #lamp
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Exercising in Different Countries (#boasting)
I added a few rides from my sporttracks.mobi over to strava so I could make this cool map using statshunter.com plugged in to my strava. Pretty nerdy, but here's a look at where I've been. Note that my garmin did NOT Work in Russia.
#travel #exercise #strava #statshunter #cycling #running
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First Friday Drum Circle
So much warmth and friendliness in the downtown scene. The group drummed and drummed, and the rhythms were bumpin! So much laughter and smiles, I am lucky to be part of that energy
Me enjoying some amazing Pad Tai before things get started
The drum circle with people dancing and having fun -
CanonCameraConnect can drown in a portapotty
Fuck off #canon. No, not gonna give you access to me and my location. Go fuck yourself. I deleted the app. Why do they need my location. People need to start understanding how privacy works and stop using shitty company apps. Now I gotta find a USB-A cable, lol #fuckcannoncameraconnect #blog #fuckcanon
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So bad even the lamplighter can't fix it
I'm sitting once again at one of my favorite 3rd spaces. I need to stay out of the news, been dreaming about fucking with ice agent cars, and bombs dropping from the sky. How are people not revolting already on this shitshow of a country.
Anyways, my cool led floor lamp was so broken, that even my main guy and bff in this world, the star fixer of complex multi-million dollar corporate tech world machines, and favorite person, could not fix my cool-cheap-amazon lamp. I try not to dwell on it, but it truly is luck of the draw with what we spend on. There's no way to research the internal circuitry of lamps or modern electronics. You just buy and pray. I guess, most times, it does work out. Its just notable when it doesn't.
Lamp disassembledAnyways, I got some mountain biking in, but I didn't camp this week as I wanted to as I had some time sensitive work that involved massive downloads, and my satellite really isn't meant for that kind of work.
#baddreams #mountainbiking, #blog
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Decadence Recap. OMFG - That was Fun
I scored my pre-paid shirt, which was size medium, but was actually like a XXL on me! People were so friendly in all the lines and at the shows. My Earplugs really really made the whole thing possible, so kudos to me. Heck ya, those things are so amazing. After two days and 12 hours of Shows on the rail, my ears ring the same amount as they always did.
It was pouring rain after Griz, I hit the toilets and headed straight over to the outdoor stage to dance in the rain. Holy Fucking Moly that was fun!
More to come! Here's a list of all the DJs I saw. Griz was Amazing, and in fact, it everyone was so good. I'll detail it out later. The sound at the Conservatory was the best IMHO. Super strong bass, with crystal clear highs and subtle mids. Perfect for my ears.
Here's me over at the Playhouse, dancing in the rain with 10 of my best friends!So um, here's all the artists I saw across both days...
Day One, Tuesday Night 12/30/2025
The Conservatory
- 6 p.m., Gio Lucca
- 7 p.m., Brunello b2b Kinahau
Grand Palace
- 8:10 p.m., Adventure Club
- 9:15 p.m., Sammy Virji
Royal Ballroom
- 10 p.m., Whethan
- 11:05 p.m., Hamdi
Grand Palace
- 10:35 p.m., Sara Landry
- 12:10 a.m., Knock2 (Definitely One of my Favorites)
Playhouse
- Midnight, D.U.T.C.H.I. (On the Way out - so fun)
Day Two Wednesday Night 12/31/2025
Grand Palace
- 6 p.m., Carrie Keller
- 6:50 p.m., Pedroz
- 7:55 p.m., Kaskade (straight up Techno)
- 9:15 p.m., Mike Posner (Wow, singing and guitar playing)
- 10:20 p.m., Tape B (that BASSSSSS SS SSSS SSS S S S S)
- 11:40 p.m., Griz (NYE countdown set - sax, trumpet trubone, and two backup singers. Total package of a show - I would have paid just to see that for two hours)
Playhouse
- 1 a.m., Peachy Keen (This was like pink kittens on stage having fun and pumping out some punchy rips while we danced in the rain. I finally had room to dance, so that's what I did)
The Conservatory
- 1 a.m., Wax Motif (after dark set) - (Insert dancing motif here! wow, I don't know why I got so dancy all the sudden, probably the 6 plus hours of being glued to the rail for all the other bands).
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Saturday Datenight and such
We went out to dinner and a play tonight after picking up and delivering a new washing machine to our kids’ house. The dinner was at Glenrossa, at Rolling Hills and the play was Raijovic at Tempe Arts center. Both were outstanding. I really felt bad for James who was so innocent at the beginning of the play, and later reunited with his sister.
Hanging out for tea with Buffy. Watching WSL big waves in Portugal and texting Lynn who was there
Dinner and Sunset
The set for the Play -
December 2025 Todo list and Jay Kelly Movie
We watched the movie Jay Kelly (George Clooney/Adam Sandler/Laura Dern). Jay Kelly is a movie star who's re-thinking his life choices and his relationships with his two daughters, he somehow manages to not fully kill his relationship with his manager (Adam Sandler). My takaway is that life choices have consequences, and Jay was a narcissistic selfish asshole, and his manager was an idiot for expecting water from a rock.
Thing Code Time Status Fix Shark Vac Maintenance 15 minutes In progress Dig Out Tree Stump 1 Yardwork 2 hours Future Dig out Tree Stump 2 Yardwork 2 hours Future Build Office Closet Shelves Household 3 hours Done Don't do anything Nothing 4 hours Done -
Saturday Wrapup
Yard work, tea, calendaring out my week While enjoying the company of Buffy, then off for a mountain bike ride, nap, then off to see a few bands with Perry and Mark at Yucca. It was a good day!
Strava ride: 13ish miles:
https://strava.app.link/vtLQkjXDHYb
This post (Saturday Wrapup) was last edited 6 months ago.
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Micro Norovirus At 3:00 am
Awoke with a start in the middle of the night.
Time to dart for the room with bright lights.
Sitting should be pleasant but the smells not quite right.
Deep in my heart, temporary pain and blight
This post (Micro Norovirus At 3:00 am) was last edited 6 months ago.
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Last week was so exciting compared to this week
Video Example This week was a blur of blah, but I did build out a platform bed and installed cabinets for my van.Last week though... Basketball game, concerts, chilling with my best friend, and making new friends.
#vanlife, #music, #guitar, #blog
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Another reason to travel - brain growth
Here’s are some encouraging findings from an article I read about travel and brain growth, even in old age: The human brain rewires itself every time you navigate unfamiliar places, no matter your age
Scientists have discovered that navigating unfamiliar environments triggers measurable physical changes in your hippocampus, the brain region responsible for spatial memory and learning.
When you navigate somewhere new, these neurons don’t just fire differently.
They multiply, form new connections, and strengthen existing pathways.
Your brain is not a fixed entity that inevitably declines.
It’s a dynamic organ that responds to how you use it.
Every time you navigate somewhere unfamiliar, you’re voting for a brain that stays plastic, adaptable, and structurally sound.
This post (Another reason to travel - brain growth) was last edited 4 days, 21 hours ago.
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We saw Lucias live at Crescent
Lucias. Live in a very small and packed venue. Very intimate. We met some super nice people and the show was incredibly real and emotive.
#livemusic #music #show #club #datenight
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New Week, new ride
I got out for a ride at South Mountain, since my work has me bogged down trying to solve a performance issue, and I can’t really travel while testing this stuff. I built out more window covers for the van, so a couple more then I can build the bed frame, which should be fun. Anyways, I got a cool pic of some runners….
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First Friday Drum Circle - So Much Fun
Went to my first First Friday drum circle last night. It was loud and fun. The rhythm was always great, and two of the junjun guys were so good, and really got the beats started, with escalating tempos that really brought in the crowds for dancing. So many people jumped in and grabbed drums and bells, it was all such a great vibe. So many dancers! Highly recommended
Here, it looks like a drum line, but that's just how big the circle was.#drumming, #blog, #music, #drumcircle, #firstFriday This post (First Friday Drum Circle - So Much Fun) was last edited 7 months ago.
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Lunch - so unhealthy
That new pastry looks so unhealthy!
Ummm…
I’ll soon know how bad it is. -
Next Project - Install Dashcam
A dashcam showed up at our door and my wife said "install this!, but not like you installed the one in your van, lol."
Okay, so here's a video I'll follow, its not this exact car, but same manufacturer...
#dashcam #todo
This post (Next Project - Install Dashcam) was last edited 7 months ago.
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When loved ones' loved ones pass
She's not in a better place, earth is a better place. I'm just plain mad. What is so special about life that people have to leave it to make it sacred. I didn't spend much time with her, but my friend did, and his wife, and their kids, and all the other loved ones who cherished her. I'm frustrated that they don't have her any more, and that I don't get to hear any more stories about her and how great she is. It just makes me miss her so much. She was and forever will be a Tempe original.
Also, for some unknown reason, I'm exceptionally excited to meet Daphne, my friend's new dog! Daphne is probably also in mourning, but I know she's going to love living with my friend almost as much as she loved living with her original human mom, who was one of the Tempe Greatest of All Time.
This post (When loved ones' loved ones pass) was last edited 7 months ago.
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Running in the desert
I got a run in at South Mountain. My legs hurt and were a little shaky as it’s been a minute. I was wearing my Portugal Nazare hat.
Here’s a picture of me wearing my Portugal hatOh how I miss Portugal! #blog #running
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Don’t make Monopoly Jokes with Bank Managers
The dealership that I bought my car from put way too much money in my bank account. I made a joke to the bank manager about a bank error in my favor. The bank manager gave me an empty stare. It was awkward. #Banking #Monopoly #Joke #unFunnyJoke
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Tuesday Wonders and Troubles
I made it through my first day at work yesterday, the jet leg wasn’t too bad. I woke up at 3:30 and then went to bed at 8:20 PM. I made it through though.
I also made a to do list when I woke up at 3:30 yesterday morning and I actually got quite a bit of that done. I checked in with Gus and Alton got some of the pool work done and I even learned something at work, just kidding.
How are the biggest thing I gotta work out. I used dumbbells and my legs are so sore today. Got a surge of testosterone though.
Also, I hit the Halloween drum circle in PV tonight. I skated for an hour beforehand at the PV skatepark.
So fun. Large turnout and lots of people in full costume. It was great. They had a potluck and someone brought Donuts too! So fun.
I got to park on the boxvan section too
#drumcircle #vanlife #skateboarding #blog
This post (Tuesday Wonders and Troubles) was last edited 4 days, 21 hours ago.
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Lisbon Thursday - Surf and Boco De Inferno
Got up early, and chilled for a bit, made breakfast, then we fastened down our surfboards and headed over to the beach for some mellow wave action, because that's all I can handle. Lynn gave me some good tips, and I got up a couple of times. I got to use some of my new Portuguese to ask the surfshop girl where the bathrooms are: Onde fica a casa de bahnho. She literally rolled here eyes and said: next door and pointed. Well mission accomplished.
Next up we went to Boca De Inferno to check out the awesome portal where the ocean unleashes its fury through a hole in the rugged wall of solid rock. The waves slam in through the opening and crash against a back wall and froth around.
Boca do Inferno
Our Ride with the Surfboards
Me on the beach
Beautiful Sunset from Lynn's patio.
Got a great shot of fireworks from the triathalon party going on downtown where Buffy is staying.This post (Lisbon Thursday - Surf and Boco De Inferno) was last edited 7 months, 3 weeks ago.
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Lisbon Wednesday
Today was a funfilled affair, starting with a zippy drive through Cascais Portugal ending up at a delicious lunch place (Bar Do Guincho) with a view overlooking a scenic and iconic surf spot. I enjoyed my first shrimp burger and sweetpotato fries and a cold brew. We watched 3 and 4 foot waves begin to turn in to 5 and 6 foot waves, and dozens of surfers lined up to take their crack at the fast moving breakers, which often broke left and right so two surfers could hit them.
Me enjoying the view down to the surfVisited a World Heritage Site by UNESCO within the "Cultural Landscape of Sintra": Quinta de Regularei. It’s a palace and a chapel and an amazing park. The well is incredible, and the circular staircase here is a wonderful piece of architecture.
Looking Up
Looking DownChapel was amazing.
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Travel Day (it just disappeared)
...got on plane... 18 hours later... sore bottom... ...uber... ...traffic... ...WINE!
A special thanks to the flight crews and airline executives who made this travel thing so easy!
Tried an English beer. 5stars!This post (Travel Day (it just disappeared)) was last edited 4 days, 21 hours ago.
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Tempe Tornado Town
So a massive microburst hit Tempe, trees down, block fences blown over, windows shattered and cars crushed. I even heard a roof was lifted off of a house and set down on another. Flying debris blew out one of our windows. Crazy. #tornado #tempe
Massive Tree Falls on Cars
A window smashed by debris -
RIP Coach Jesse
Please Rest. You deserve it. Since our dinner two years ago I thought about you a lot. Wishing a peaceful rest. You and your family played a vital role helping our family stay sane. #fuckparkinsons #rip
A rare link to instagram for Jesse. Such a wonderful person. rare insta link
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My Walkup Song for The Year
I have a shortcut on my phone that starts my 2025 playlist. This #lsdream song is the first song. Each time I listen it’s starts this song, I love the gentle rising energy and flow so much!
Lsdream and Liquidstranger Take a Trip by Lsdream and Liquid Stranger
This post (My Walkup Song for The Year) was last edited 4 days, 21 hours ago.
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Trip Report: Tour of the White Mountains 2024
The last few days, I've woken up to the beautiful sounds of the breeze blowing through the tall ponderosa, and the sun just starting to peak over some distant unnamed ridge. Thursday (Travel Day), Friday (Workday) and Yesterday was a full day of racing. It was a full day of race prep, racing and post race festivities. I woke up and headed to the venue for a breakfast sandwich and watch the 50 milers start, then I raced for 4.5 hours (don't ask), then I chowed down some leftovers and had a couple of brews while mingling with the crowd. I finally headed back to camp, and spent some time talking to other campers. I was in bed by 8, and I am quite sore today. I'm mostly packed up, just wanted to get this post up while things are still fresh in my memory.
The race was long, rugged and very very very windy. Most of the downhill sections presented a very strong headwind, so with the exception of the super steep stuff, there was no coasting!!
My Strava, shows that my ride was always second best
The VenueI caught the picture as the moon was rising over the forest. A car came by on the remote fireroad and its headlights illuminated the background.
Almost a Full Moon
Breakfast This morning#vanlife, #remoteWork, #travel, #cycling, #racing, #Arizona
This post (Trip Report: Tour of the White Mountains 2024) was last edited 4 days, 21 hours ago.
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Phoenix Mercury win semis
I met Buffy and Becky at the arena to watch the Phoenix Mercury win their semifinal best of five matchup. They are going to the finals! We’re hoping Devin Booker was taking notes as he sat courtside watching a team that knows how to win, win. #wnba
Game Time for Phoenix MercuryThis post (Phoenix Mercury win semis) was last edited 4 days, 21 hours ago.
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Going For A Ride - Testing Out My Elbow
I had to count backwards to get motivated. Haven't ridden in a week... I've done some runs though... I'm kind of, sort of hopeful that my elbow hurts too much to ride too hard. That would be the easy way out of doing the 35 mile race this weekend. I hope it doesn't hurt though. Damn I'm lame.
Post Ride Update: elbow did great until a jump at the end. So… no jumping.
This post (Going For A Ride - Testing Out My Elbow) was last edited 4 days, 21 hours ago.
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Cait wrote this about autism
original post by Cait On Mastodon
Cait writes this about Autism: When RFK Jr. "investigates" autism, be aware that he is deliberately and knowingly engaging in eugenics.
He's literally looking for ways to eliminate people like me from the human race.
I'm autistic.
So when you ask "what causes you?", you're positioning me as something that needs to be investigated. Something that needs to be "cured", which is to say, eliminated. Because I think in a different pattern than some folk do.
When someone says, "X causes autism, so avoid X", they're saying, "or your kid might have (gasp) autism too!"
This is eugenics. It's Nazi stuff. Not an exaggeration. A "science" under the Nazis.
We are not broken. We do not need fixing. We just think differently. But we have always been around. That dude that wrote an eleven-volume handwritten guide to every herb in one county in England, or wherever it was? Telling me he wasn't one of my people? GTF.
We are and always have been productive and innovative members of society. If anything, we should be seen as an advantage to the species: diversity of thought is better thought. Not ours or yours better - but ours and yours are.
We aren't a threat, we're not (for the most part) needing round-the-clock specialist care - but be human, will you? If someone needs that, maybe give it to them? Because they're people.
This post (Cait wrote this about autism) was last edited 4 days, 21 hours ago.
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Beachside Supergirl Day 2
The title of today’s chapter is Beachside Supergirl day two. Saw incredible music some amazing surfing fun scene with tons and tons of people. The DJ competition was awesome. The volleyball was amazing and the girls flag football was OMG so fun to watch. The zoning girls ramp was super busy with skaters.
Surfer Girls, and Article Sound System were awesome!
Tonight’s beer brought to you by Artifacr. beer 1 Artificial by Artifac
beer 2 Treevana by virgeoun.
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San Diego Road Trip - listening to Mel Robbin’s 8 things
Roadtrip Blog We’re slogging through the desert to get to Ocean Side, San Diego. Listening to Mel Robbin’s podcast. She told me to program my brain. I have to program my brian and direct my mind. It puts your brain in a positive light. After counting backwards from 5, lol
- Today is going to be a great day.
- Something cool is going to happen to me today (creates anticipation).
- No Matter What Happens Today, I Can Handle It.
- An Exciting New Chapter In My Life Is Starting Today.
- I Need To Give Myself More Credit For How Hard I’m Trying.
- I’m Allowed To Be A Work In Progress.
- If I Keep Showing Up, Life Will Reward Me.
- I Have An Important Contribution To Make To The World.
This post (San Diego Road Trip - listening to Mel Robbin’s 8 things) was last edited 4 days, 21 hours ago.
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I’ve watched these waves a few times now - so powerful in so many ways
Heading to Portugal in a few weeks this video makes me feel so centered, I can’t wait to visit this beautiful place called Nazarene.
This post (I’ve watched these waves a few times now - so powerful in so many ways) was last edited 4 days, 21 hours ago.
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Having to leave this beautiful place of Sonoita
We had a wonderful time yesterday, bought a loaf of fresh sourdough bread at the farmer's market and carried it around with us to all the local wineries. The Wine here is pretty gosh darn good, there were a few we didn't like, but still pretty good. Dinner last night at Milics was amazing, we had the Salmon and Chicken plates, and they comped us a desert to celebrate our anniversary.
It’s the rodeo here, so we're surrounded by cowboys, always dressed to the finest button down and wranglers to go with them boots.
Sadly, leaving the casita was rough. It was the furthest away, and we were right up against the grape vines at the winery.
This post (Having to leave this beautiful place of Sonoita) was last edited 4 days, 21 hours ago.
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What is a Tarrif in simple terms
A better question is, why now? Or why not hire more staff to monitor the sub $800 purchases if you’re worried about drugs coming through. Terrif = keeping the working poor on their knees, blowjob ready.
This post (What is a Tarrif in simple terms) was last edited 4 days, 21 hours ago.
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Tampering with my bearblog look and feel - no
I was thinking about fancying up my blog, this blog by Silvia has some great ideas for the CSS, and how to set up the pages to take advantage of the css and it looks freaking awesome. Unfortunately, I just don't think I have the time and patience. I just want my blog to be fast light, and clean. I do love the look and feel of Silvia's blog, so maybe I'll check back from time to time for some cool ideas on how to do that.
This post (Tampering with my bearblog look and feel - no) was last edited 4 days, 21 hours ago.
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Card Freud was detected, lol
Well, card was used for a zero dollar balance (boo), which my bank detected (yay). This all seems like a bad dream hence the Freudion slip. So lame, now I have to go get a new card since that was permanently banned based on the fraud. Now I can go get a new card. I have errands to run anyways, so all good.
This post (Card Freud was detected, lol) was last edited 4 days, 21 hours ago.
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Night out in Downtown for dinner and Jazz
Went out with friends for dinner and jazz at The Duce. Arrogant Butcher was amaze, drinks were swell and the rooftop bar is awesome. There’s a storm blowing south of the city which really cooled things off.
The four of us
The Band
The rooftop patio
This post (Night out in Downtown for dinner and Jazz) was last edited 4 days, 21 hours ago.
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Mahmoud v. Taylor - the beginning of the end
Mahmoud v. Taylor Is the beginning of the end of public education.
Religious fundamentalists who aren’t wealthy enough to send their kids to religious schools/home school can now shape the content of their local public school.
This is no longer true: Public education is a public benefit, and the government cannot “condition” its “availability” on parents’ willingness to accept a burden on their religious exercise.”
Also this is now too much for some people to handle: “Exposure to ideas with which one disagrees is not coercion; it is the foundation of a pluralistic society and core to the mission of our public schools.”
we’ll see untold amounts of quiet censorship on the part of schools and educators related to the materials available and used in libraries and curriculum–this is a case about religious liberty and public education.
The 6-3 ruling will certainly be used by book banners “concerned parents” to begin opting-out of anything they wish to in public school curriculum under the guise of religious freedom.
This post (Mahmoud v. Taylor - the beginning of the end) was last edited 4 days, 21 hours ago.
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What to do in a pet emergency
I found this great article that I think will be helpful for my kids, especially my daughter in helping with their aging cat.
Try to only use after hours clinics for the following things, and call ahead to confirm they’re open.
Difficulty breathing
Seizures or collapse
Continuous vomiting or diarrhoea
Bleeding that won’t stop
Inability to walk or stand
Swollen abdomen
Ingestion of known toxins (chocolate, xylitol, medications, etc.)
Unresponsive or unconscious behaviourAlso, start a pet emergency fund or be prepared to use a loan shop for a quick cash loan.
This was the article I saw.
This post (What to do in a pet emergency) was last edited 4 days, 21 hours ago.
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Finally getting back out there after Covid
I spent the week hanging out with my enemy, covid. The most serious of fuck buddies. It'll fuck you over if you don't stay on top of the vaccines. This time, it was four days of headaches, fever, chills, and fog. I'm back now, thanks to science, advil and my beautify Buffy helping me out. It's been about a year since my last booster and flu, obviously, that is too long to wait.
Yesterday, I walked a 5K to finish out the Arizona Sunrise Series of races (didn't go to the venue, just did it in the neighborhood).
Today, I got back on the bike, I have less than a month to train for my 35 mile race coming up in September. My ride was a solid hour(ish), just trying to spend time in the saddle. Got in a few climbs but mostly, just flat gentle pedaling. I needed some inspiration, so I got a shot of the spare tire that I'll spend the next 12 months working on
I swung by the old Childrens Hospital, it may be undergoing renovations, but said renovations appear to be fully stalled out. I'm hopeful that these poor dead trees will be put out of their misery soon, and they'll be replaced with some beautiful and tasteful desert landscaping.
Dead MulberryFinally, after the ride, I grabbed a quick breakfast at my most convenient 3rd spaces. Its an affordable, cold safe-haven for thirsty desert dwellers with a half bucket of time to kill.
Starbux 3rd Space - for hanging out and cooling offI then headed downtown to Encanto to engage with my fellow djembeists.
The Drum Circle was heated, both in tempo and temperature. It was very meditative, transformative and emotionally rewarding to let myself get in to the hypnotic rhythms and occasional chants with my fellow hand drummers: https://www.drumsarelife.com/
Quick Clip of Youtube video*edited: fixed tags This post (Finally getting back out there after Covid) was last edited 4 days, 21 hours ago.
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Att class action lawsuits
How can I file a claim for my share of the AT&T data breach settlement?
On Aug. 4, the Kroll Settlement Administration announced that affected AT&T customers can now file claims against the proposed $177 million settlement. Claims can be filed online at telecomdatasettlement.com.
After clicking on Submit Claim on the settlement website, you'll be asked for a Class Member ID. That number should be in the email or mailed notice you received about the settlement. You'll also be asked to provide an email address, your AT&T account number or your full name.
If you don't want to file the claim online, you can download and print the PDF forms for either the first data breach announced on March 30, 2024, the second breach announced on July 12, 2024, or the overlap form if you were part of both breaches. Printed and signed forms should be mailed to: AT&T Data Incident Settlement c/o Kroll Settlement Administration LLC, P.O. Box 5324 New York, NY 10150-5324.
Settlement claims need to be filed by Nov. 18, 2025,
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From an article about aging
Here are my takeaways for when or if I retire:
Continue with academics - can always take a class
Stay in shape - walk, ride, whatever
Stay in touch with friends
Stay in touch with family
Volunteer \That’s it.
This post (From an article about aging) was last edited 4 days, 21 hours ago.
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OMG VOX sheds light on dairy farm horror
This box news story about coke branded protein milk absolutely disgusts me, and breaks my 59 year streak on farming nietivity. I’m going back to vegan sources of protein (can’t kick a Lima bean in the head and force it to stay pregnant its entire life while ripping away its babies the second they’re born). I’m gonna leave out all the bad parts of the story, but
Paywalled article. vox article on dairy farm horrors
Excerpt: Along the way, Fairlife removed humane care claims from its bottles, and earlier this year, it took down a lengthy yet vague web page about its animal welfare commitments. Of course, no one at the top of these companies actively wants animals to be abused, but the continued investigations reflect a structural reality of animal agriculture: Mass producing cheap animal products is all but impossible to do humanely. Dozens of investigations into the US meat, milk, and egg industries have revealed that the constantly growing demand for cheap animal products — combined with virtually zero legal protections for farmed animals and captured regulatory agencies — means that efficiency and profit are almost always prioritized over animal welfare.
This post (OMG VOX sheds light on dairy farm horror) was last edited 4 days, 21 hours ago.
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Anatomy of a blog for me
rando thoughts according to Steve.
So here we go.
I'm really starting to dig this bearblog. So lightweight. I seriously just wish that kb article was easier to find. I spent so much time fucking around guessing at the logic.I am ready to commit though. I am very satisfied with this and the potential for how this will fit in to my flow is so much better now that I understand it a little better. I'm looking forward to getting going on this.
here's a link to nothing hahaha
This post (Anatomy of a blog for me) was last edited 4 days, 21 hours ago.
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hold the phone, it’s working
I’m a dipshit when it comes to setting up an and c names for dns. I gave up in feb, but really want a way to post thoughts and pics. Support for bearblog was not helpful, but maybe I’ll try again. It takes 2 hours each time I try though. That is a big roadblock to making this work.
Update - neverfucking mind.
I think. Stay tuned. Shit. Never mind. Still SSL error. I just realized that it'll never work without the paid version.
Update 2 - even paid version fails
So frustrating. I want to use this site, and even without the domain name, it rocks, but man, this should work...
Update 3 - kinda working after going pro
I could add the domain in again, then I set my domain dns up like this: Okay, after going pro, I was able to add my domain again to bearblog, then set these up: This actually gets me halfway there. It’s a shaw1 cert, so firefox will let me continue, but its not fully secure. Fuckin-a
I’m not getting any problems any more
The devices I’ve used go right in with no complaints. I’m calling it good! Yayayay
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Some Remote Work from a Wet Desert
We had a reprieve from the heat courtesy of a hurricane coming up from the Gulf of Mexico. There's nothing like camping in the rain, so I took the liberty of heading north for a few days. The temps were a bit cooler, but the humidity ended up being too high, so I left after a couple of days. Not before enjoying some incredibly powerful rain, thunder and lightening.
Catching up on some reading after a full day of work
The Angstrom Studio surrounded by storm
Wetness, oh beautiful wetnessThis post (Some Remote Work from a Wet Desert) was last edited 7 months, 2 weeks ago.
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MBAA Race - White Tanks
rando thoughts according to Steve.
The White Tanks race was awesome. Great weather, fun course, far enough out of the city that it feels remote. I didn't camp with the main campers for this race as I went out a few days early to work and pre-ride (and relax). I could have moved my campsite over on Friday at lunch, but instead I stayed where I was. Because of that, I was a bit isolated from rest of the group. In one specific way, that's exactly what I was hoping for. I suspected some friend that I made during last years race would be there (and they were). The group was super nice and inviting, however, they were very political and outspoken, and I just didn't want to deal with that. When I met them (2024), we still had some semblance of a democracy left, but this year, 2025, I realized I had no room in my life for people who think billionaires need tax cuts, and that schools should be defended, and us woke Americans should be ashamed of ourself and STFU. Uggg. Anyways, I regained my composure after that race, and camped with the main campers for every other race. I met, and raced against, some amazing, brilliant, thoughtful and empathetic folks along the way. Stories were shared, parts were borrowed, and friends were made.
Here's me getting ready to start the race.
Here's a snapshot of my campsite.This post (MBAA Race - White Tanks) was last edited 4 days, 21 hours ago.
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To View Blog Lists by Year and Month
Per this guid and thanks to yordi, I can view my posts by month. Very cool
Great BlogJust paste this in to the footer in the settings section.
I haven't learned how to type html so ...
Type "Less than" and then the rest here: script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/froodooo/bear-plugins@0.0.44/bear/blog-posts.js">
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My Daughter Graduates!
My wonderful daughter graduated from beauty school and now she’s off to conquer the world as the most amazing colorist ever born!
This post (My Daughter Graduates!) was last edited 9 months, 2 weeks ago.
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Bike Commute To Downtown
Here's a pic from my bike commute to downtown. Many times, I'd take the express bus, then ride home. That way, I would have to spend 30 minutes cooling off in the server room when I got to work.
Waiting at the Express Bus Stop
Riding Home
On another commute a few days later - after a wet monsoon storm -
My 50th Birthday Party!
We had a big party for my 50th birthday. It was great having all my family over. I tried to get pictures with everyone, here are just a few that turned out. I think everyone had a great time, and I hope you were there. It went late in to the night, with tunes pumping and kids running around everywhere. One of the greatest times of my life, surviving cancer, having so many family and friends, and I had just formed a band with my friends, Gus, Nate and Alton. Soo many good memories!
I made sure anyone one who wanted to graffiti up our art board.
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Welcome to Freakin' Russia
I'm going to split this out as I start migrating my blog over to bearblog. I'll create separate posts with a few pics from each day. #Russia was a fucking trip, especially 'cause you can't go there any more unless you live there. Damn, these few posts are gonna bring back some great memories from traveling with my mom: #travel, #family
ITINERARY I VOUCHER ID# 126399 LOCAL CONTACT: MARLIS TRAVEL, MOSCOW 43-A KRONSHTADTSKY BLVD, 12~499 MOSCOW, RUSSIA TEL: (7-495) 456-66-06 FAX: (7-495) 453-43-68 CELL FOR EMERGENCY ONLY: (7-903) 968-0617
CONF. BY: MARIA KOLESNIKOVA MARLIS TRAVEL, ST. PETERSBURG LENI GOLIKOVA STR, BLD 47-3, STE 100 ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA 198255 TEL: (7-812) 492-9360 CELL FOR EMERGENCY ONLY: (7-911) 092-8282 CONTACT PERSON: DARIA MAKEEVA
1.-July 22 St Petersburg Arrive in St. Petersburg (LH 3216 AT 12:40PM). Meet your private driver at the waiting area after getting your suitcases and clearing customs. Transfer to the Dostoevsky Hotel where you will have a superior twin room. Remainder of the day is at leisure.
July 23 St Petersburg 9AM- 12PM. Panoramic city tour by private car and guide features a drive past Nevsky Prospect; the monument to Peter the Great; St. Isaac's Cathedral; Peter & Paul Fortress; and the Winter Palace, which houses the Hermitage Museum. St. Peit2ysbürg at Da-wn
July 24 St Petersburg 10AM-1PM. Privately guided visit to the magnificent State Hermitage Museum in the lavishly decorated winter Palace. One of the largest art museums in the world, the museum boasts masterpieces by Leonardo Da Vinci, Raphael, Rembrandt, Monet, Picasso and Matisse. As the collection is housed in the palace, you wil have the opportunity to explore the rooms where Russian royalty lived. The remainder of the day is at leisure.
July 25 St Petersburg 9am-2pm. Five-hour tour by private car and guide to Peterhof - the former summer residence of Peter the Great; it is called a true "Versailles" by the sea because of its palaces and numerous beautiful fountains and statues. Founded in the very beginning of the 18th century by emperor Peter the Great, not far from his new modern capital St. Petersburg, Peterhof was intended to become the most splendid offcial royal summer residence. Its wonderful parks, 176 fountains of various forms and styles and four cascades, majestic palaces, numerous gilded statues of ancient gods and heroes, remarkable collections of sculpture, paintings and works of the minor art make Peterhof a veritable gem of Art. Remainder of the day at leisure.
July 26 En Route Transfer by private car with driver to the train station for train to Helsinki (TRAIN # 35 4:30PM-9:58PM). First class train tickets booked by Isram's local offce Marlis Travel will be provided locally
This post (Blogs and Thoughts) was last edited 4 days, 21 hours ago.