My pride got in the way

This Wednesday I thought it would be OK to ride home in the frigid sub zero cold. Scott Thayer and I were going to tough out the ride home together, using one another as a human shield from the freezing wind.
The temp leaving work that night were roughly 6 below with winds around 20mph .
The ride didn't seem too bad. In fact, both Scott and I commented on how toasty our feet were with new toe warmers in our boots. Honestly I wasn't that cold except for one little bit of exposed skin. Then we turned north and the crisp wind slapped us right in the face.
I bet you can all guess where this story is going.Yeah, frostbite.

See the nice patch of white skin under my goggles? That is what a minor case of frostbite looks like. I should have known better than leave skin exposed to the elements for over an hour when it is as cold as it was, but my pride got in the way. I just wanted to make it home. Bummer for me, because now I am going to have to deal with this for the rest of the winter.


Now playing: Patsy Cline - Today, Tomorrow And Forever
via FoxyTunes

Date Night

Last night Katie and I finally went to see Into the Wild at the cheap theater. I had been wanting to see the move for some time now and at $3 a ticket, I couldn't pass it up.
Sean Penn directed this flick and did a great job of following the book. If you haven't seen the movie or read the book, I would recommend doing either or both.

Now playing: The Ditty Bops - Wishful Thinking
via FoxyTunes

Too Cold for this Candy-Ass

This morning I woke up, grabbed a cup of coffee and turned on the local news just like I always do. The first thing I saw when the TV flashed on was the local temp, -4 degrees. Yeah I woke up like normal planning on riding, but screw that, 4 below was just too cold.

As I drove to work I thought that maybe I was getting soft with my new GQ lifestyle. At the end of the day I was asked by 3 other people (regular riders whose names I will not mention so they can still keep their "badassness") for a ride home. I know no one likes a candy-ass, but at least there were 3 other candy-asses in the car with me when I left work, and that made me feel better.

Now playing: Social Distortion - Live Before You Die
via FoxyTunes

Manzy Panzy

Tonight I went to get my haircut at a real salon for the first time in well, I don't remember when the last time was that I paid for a haircut. I don't know if that is sad or not. Anyways, not only did I go to a real salon, I went to an Aveda salon. I was told Aveda is nice. When I got there I was served a cup of hot tea and there was actually a good selection of recent magazine in the waiting area.

After I was seated, my stylist Gina gave me a nice scalp massage before we moved to the shampoo bed. Thats right, not a shampoo chair, but a shampoo bed. I guess the bed is fancier than the chair. I don't know if the bed gets your hair cleaner than the chair, I don't really care, it felt nice and made me feel all posh and shit.

On to the hair cut! Yeah, I really don't think I had that much hair to cut, so I knew I could forget about getting it styled. The main purpose of this trip was to eliminate the mushroom shape that was taking over my head. My stylist Gina did tell me I have a healthy scalp, so I have that going for me. After about a half hour of trimming, clipping, blending and texturing Gina spun me around and showed me my new look. All I can say is "Damn, Fryn Porky is Hot!"

Some of you readers may be fortunate to see the new, highly fashionable, and GQ Fryn Porky live and in person. All you less fortunate readers will have to wait for pictures to see Fryn's new do. Rest assured, "it's Hot". At least that is what my stylist Gina said, and I don't care if it is her job to tell all her clients that. Did I mention I have a Stylist?


Now playing: George Clinton - The Flag Was Still There
via FoxyTunes

Men are not to cry, so how am I to stop it...

On New Years Day, two armed men entered a Robinsdale, MN residence looking to rob the home. There was a struggle, a gun shot and a life was taken, all because of a senseless act of violence. In the end, a friend of mine was shot trying to defend his wife, his friends and his home from the intruders.

This tragedy has greatly touched a lot of people. My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone whose lives have been touched by Jamis Marks. Jamis was a great person and I will always remember him and the good times we had together.

The title of this post is from a Blues Traveler song, "The Mountain Wins Aging" . This was the first song Jamis and I heard as we drove home from Bozeman MT. at the end of a snowboarding trip during our time together at college. At the time the song seemed so fitting, now this line seems even more appropriate than ever.

To all of Jamis' family and friends, Peace be with you. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.