Three Ride New Years

I've had a nice New Years holiday.

Friday I got off work early and rode the Shoreline trail with Jolene. It was sunny and in the 50s. The trail was mostly dry. On the way home we were treated to this nice sunset.



Saturday we went ice skating with the in-laws. It's a tradition. We all had fun. But I missed skating with Jolene, the skates hurt her leg where the metal bars are. Afterward we had soup.

Then I went for a ride. I did the River Loop (I think that's what the lunch crew calls it). Up watertank, up Betty, Belt, down Frank and Johnson's Hole and the connector to Nun's Park, then up the BST and down Indian Hills. The north-facing BST was, surprisingly, dry and really good shape.

When I started this ride my legs were a bit sore from the ride the day before. And it occured to me that it's been a good while since I've done rides on back-to-back days. I thought it somewhat perverse that I enjoyed feeling of the previous day's ache as I climbed.

I haven't been riding much with the new job and winter, so I wondered how my legs would do on the climb up the Bridal Veil BST. To my surprise I did OK. It seems my fitness hasn't completely evaporated.

Coming down Indian Hills I caught another nice sunset.



Today we got our Pass of Passes at Trafalga and did a round of miniature gold while we were there.

Then I went for a ride (yeah, 3 in 4 days). I just missed Shammy but met up with Mark and Bry at the Altar. We went up to the puddle then went down Crank. I was considering going over to Dry Canyon but there had been some serious patches of ice on the way up and I didn't like the thought of encountering ice on any of the steep declines down Dry. We finished off with the Race Course and headed home.

Riding the last two days of 2011 and the second day of 2012 has been a nice way to send off the old and start off the new year. I hope 2012 is a good year for all of you.

Fortress of Solitude

I made a serendipitous discovery today. The bathroom on the 2nd floor where I work was ocupado so I went up to the 3rd floor. As I walked in I was taken aback by this sight:



I don't think I've ever seen stalls that extend to the floor. I'm not as bathroom observant as the Elder Statesman, but I think I would have noticed and remember something like this. Has anyone else seen this?

At first I thought it looked claustrophobic, and I wondered if there would be enough ventilation - that's kind of important sometimes. But as I settled in to do my business I realized I liked the extra isolation.

I now dub this bathroom the Fortress of Solitude.

And the stall doors had this appropriate latch to indicated occupancy (since you can't peek under):



I feel like I just experienced the bathroom of the future. Well, at least 5 years from now.

Now my curiosity is piqued, do the bathrooms get better as the floors go up? I must know, or get used to disappointment.

Update: The 4th floor also has Fortress of Solitude stalls, but the 5th floor does not (Sorry Brannen).

Bathroom Flowers

As I reported Sunday, the bathrooms at the new job have fresh cut flowers. I was told they are changed weekly. This was last week:



A right lovely arrangement, if I do say. Smelled good too, a big plus in a bathroom.

Monday morning I went to the bathroom, even though I had no business to do, just to flower situation. Sure enough, new and delightful:



If this is some twilight zone / dream / matrix / alternate reality, leave me be. I'll take the blue pill, Morpheus.

The New, New Job

Wednesday I started a new job at Fusion-io.

It's kind of a new, new job because I'd only been at the last job at SecureAlert for 5 months. Working at SecureAlert was OK but I didn't love it. So when I got an email from Fusion-io informing me of another open position I went in for interviews. I say "another" because I interviewed at Fusion-io back in February but didn't get the job then, although I was very impressed with the company, products and people.

So now I'm at Fusion-io and really like it. They treat their employees very well. The break room has free soda and other drinks. Lunch is brought in 3 times a week. They sent a welcome package to my home with a hat, bag, water bottle, ear phones and a nice card.

My cube is better than any other place I've worked and came with a glass and thermos with my name on it. My PC is high end with dual monitors, and it arrived the day I started.



I work on the 2nd floor and have a window just outside my cube. The view isn't amazing, but it's nice to have any view at all.



The bathrooms are clean with automatic toilets and sinks (with auto soap dispensers) and include a feature that shocked and delighted me. (Dug, you better be sitting down for this.) Fresh cut flowers. As I washed up the first time, I smelled a floral scent but thought it might just be the soap so I looked closer and was amazed to discover the flowers were real. I mentioned this to a co-worker and was told the company has fresh flowers brought in each week. I'll check out the new arrangement Monday.



By lucky timing I was able to attend the group's team building event with Jolene. We met at Orson Gygi for a Chinese food cooking class. The instructor explained all the courses we would be making then turned us loose. Gail, Jolene and I made Salt and Pepper Shrimp. I'm not into cooking but I did my best chopping peppers, onions and garlic. Also helped with Chocolate Wontons and deep frying the Orange Chicken.



When it was all cooked we ate. There was plenty of food. The Orange Chicken was my favorite.



After the meal we went to the Desert Star Playhouse and watched a spoof on It's a Wonderful Life.

Jolene and I had a good time and got to know the people in my work group.

It's been a tumultuous employment year for me. At the beginning of the year I was laid off from the start-up I had been with for 4 years because they ran out of money. Then I was unemployed for 3 months. Then I was hired in 3 days at SecureAlert and worked 10+ hour days the first month. And now I'm working for a company that didn't hire me the first time around. Life takes strange turns sometimes.

Spontaneous St. George

Jolene and I had been going back and forth on going down to St. George. On the drive home after a nice Thanksgiving dinner at my parent's house, we decided to do it. Friday morning we packed up the car and headed south.

After dropping off our two youngest at the in-laws we rode Prospector from the Cottonwood trail head. Such a fast, flowy trail.



Then we rode Church Rocks both directions. Here I am chugging up a bumpy slope.



A little ledge dropping.



Then Prospector back to the car.

The next day we met up with Andy and Rhonda to ride Barrel Roll, Precipice, and the Rim trails on the other side of the gulch.









Jolene had done the Rim trails, but this was her first time on Barrel Roll - she liked it.

It had been a long while since we last rode with Andy and Rhonda, it was good to see them again.

It was well worth the drive to get in some Dixie single-track with sunshine and mid-60s (perfect not-too-hot, not-too-cold temperature).

We have an invite to go back after Christmas, we just may do that.

Mid-Week Moab

Wednesday I went to Moab with Jolene and her friend Susie. This would be Susie's first time riding in Moab. Always fun to take someone to Slickrock for their first time.

Here I go up the first steep ramp.


And Jolene.


As usual, I opted for the half pipe instead of the switchback.


Dropping into the Wooly Gully.


The last two trips I didn't make it up Cogs to Spare. I thought I had it on the first run this time but my tire was wet and sandy from a puddle and spun out right at the crux, rotten luck. I made it on the 3rd try. Here's the crux.


Finishing off Cogs.


We still had some daylight so on the way out of Moab we hit Bartlett Wash. I hadn't done Bartlett. I thought it would be a bigger area, but it was still fun. A slickrock playground. Here's Susie riding back down with the full moon above.


Had burgers at Rays on the way home to give Susie the full Moab trip experience.

Driving up Price Canyon the van slipped out of gear a few times then dropped into "limp home" mode which meant 40 mph the rest of the way home. Just glad the van didn't die.


Saturday I saw a message from Shammy saying the foothill trails were perfect. With the rain I thought they'd be a mess. So with daylight fading I changed and rode into the hills. There was some snow and little mud up high but overall it was good. At a muddy spot coming down Crank the front wheel slid and I fell over, banged up my side and forearm a bit. Finished the ride down Rollercoaster and Bramber. Fun ride.

Helloween 2011

When October rolls around and the air gets cooler and the night comes sooner I look forward to the annual Helloween night ride.

Race/ride genius Rick started it some years ago. This year Rick was slammed with work so I pinged the group to gauge interest. Several people replied so it was on. It had been a few years since we rode Corner Canyon so it was the easy choice.

When I showed up a little before 9 I was glad to see bikes and lights. (You never know how these things will turn out.) People kept coming. We had a quick huddle, picked the best costumes, picked the route (with no small disputation), took a group photo then headed out.


I still shake my head in disbelief that Miles rode all night in that gorilla suit, and on his shiny, 2-week-old Pugsley.

We went up Corner Canyon, west on the BST, up Potato Hill and up Ann's to the top for a regroup. Went down Ghost then up Canyon Hollow and another regroup. The hard men went up Jacobs, the rest of us did the Rush joy ride then Creek View back to the EQ. Dug's video shows the action.

The traditional nightcap is breakfast food, ala Dennys or Village Inn, but Dug tempted us with In-N-Out, good call.

Ryan mentioned he'd brought some big boy big wheels if anyone wanted to take a run. I've been anxious to try them after seeing the crazy Squaw Peak videos so I was instantly in. Ryan took the maiden run down north Suncrest while I followed in his SUV. It looked OK so I did a run.

The big wheel was more stable than I expected. I thought it would be kind of squirrelly with the plastic rear tires and all. It handled 45 mph down the S curve just fine. Maybe I'll give Squaw Peak a run some night (hi dear!).

Rick, it worked better when you had the reigns, put 2012 in your calendar now.