CafeChatNoir

Improvisation-style comedy goes to work

Wow. What an incredible way to waste money and annoy your employees.

Say there have been layoffs, or two sections of a company are merging - improv can help lighten the mood

Please.

Link courtesy fark.com

New stuff in the Photo Gallery. Note to self: Get second memory card and go w/higher res at all times…

: Not an axe murderer or machete wielding psycho.

Had a real nice time, not quite warm enough for the turtles to be out and about, but Huntley Meadows is really pretty. And filled with some seriously hard core birdwatchers. I’ll definitely head back when the weather is warmer to see what else is out and about.

Now, time to go see what we’ve got as far as pictures go.

So, yeah, I’ve been tired as hell all week and finally figured out the cause - it’s all the work related stress finally leaving my body. Certainly better than getting sick, which was what I suspected in the beginning. Same thing happened when I quit DynCorp back in 2001 - for a good solid week after I put in my notice all I did in my spare time was sleep.

But, today, I at least gave myself an actual reason to be tired. Good brick workout, 30 minutes on the trainer and then 1.5 mile run. Top that off with a hot shower and some dinner and I am more than ready to crash out for the night, despite an exceptionally long nap this afternoon.

Field trip to Huntley Meadows tomorrow, followed by getting a boatload of housework done that didn’t get done today (slept in, puttered around, took a nap, worked out, puttered around more instead), and a trip up to the LBS to talk about road bike options.

But first and foremost, more sleep.

I really should be in bed, but I’m kinda glued to the Eagle Cam at the moment. (It’s also better than most things on TV these days.)

Oh, and if anyone out there happens to know that is an axe murderer or something like that, now would be the time to let me know, as we are going to Huntley Meadows this Sunday to look at pretty nature related things and such. Given that it’s a marsh/swamp from what I can see in the pics, it would make a great place to dump a body… Seriously, I’m really looking forward to it, both for the chance to finally get to meet Dan (who is quite literally just down the road) and it looks like a great place to go take some pictures.

The eagle is now making noises, maybe calling for a shift change? The dog is utterly confused.

For a 4 hour day, today lasted much, much too long. One of my coworkers did point out that I look more relaxed already. I don’t doubt it. 10 workdays left. (I’m taking next Friday off!)

Well, the sun seems to be setting in British Columbia and Mom eagle looks like she’s about to crash out for the night, I suppose I should do the same.

Eagle Nest Cam

It’s in the pacific time zone, so it’s still light right now and the feed is live - it apparently goes into replay overnight. In the forums there is a sticky topic keeping track of who is on the nest - currently it’s Mom.

Link courtesy the My Cup of Joe forums at BeginnerTriathlete.com

Bird Flu in Maryland

OK, so fotojack has come through with the pics, and once again, I apparently cannot race and not look like a complete dork…

took this one. As he pointed out, “See you’re so fast you’re invisible!”

Somewhere mid-course. Damn, that is some beautiful form. If you’re 6 years old. Or named Phoebe.

Just before the finish, you can’t really tell, but I am hauling ass big time.

This is our BT’er that got hit last week - if you are familiar w/the area and have any info, or see a red car with some damage on the front around there, do give the cops a call.

http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=103580&ran=153797

Wow, my give a damn is SO broken today.

Senate Panel Recommends Abolishing FEMA

So in the process of this whole abolishment & rebuild & reorg, nothing is going to get done because no one is going to know who is supposed to do what, and god forbid something else happens, it’s going to be even worse. Stock up on your own supplies and have your bug out plan ready…

Greed - Not Kindness - Gets Things Done

Interesting article - I wonder how many greedy folks were involved in getting the pop tart I had for dinner? (Yes, I normally eat slightly better than that…)

Link courtesy the Rural & Country Living board @ Fool.com

Decided to spend the afternoon at Kidwell Farm This and more in the Photo Gallery

Not that I actually needed it, but it’s nice. Went into work this morning to an email from our former Pres/CEO - he’s resigning his position from the Board of Directors. That was basically his last active tie to the company. He was a great guy, and I still wish he hadn’t left. (His wife was exceptionally ill and passed away this spring, so I don’t blame him a bit for leaving.) In his email, he gave out his personal email address, and I have no doubt that if anyone tries to contact him with it, they will get a response - that is just the type of person he is.

If you’re going to go to a bar and act like you’re single, you may want to not get busted by your wife in the process.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And the answer to the burning question of “Does cutting over to part time do anything for burnout?” is “Not so much.”

Had a good talk w/my boss today, last day will be 5/12, told her I’d even come into the office for the duration, as I’ll get more done there than here. She’s bummed but very understanding.

Even better than all that, I got outside on my bike for an hour when I got home. :-D

Performance Bike is great, except when they don’t have the things you actually need, either in shop or online. I try to go with my LBS as often as possible, but some things they have to order (and will do so gladly) but that’s still time waiting. REI to the rescue - my stuff will be here by Thursday and thanks, , I got to use my gift card for my new trainer. (The dog will NOT be happy, of course, maybe this will get him over the bicycle fear if he sees me on it and that everything is OK.)

Over at BT, they’d added a couple mini graphs, one of which was actual vs planned training time, the other just total volume. Well, there were some kinks in the system and they took out the actual/planned graph for a while… Now it’s back… Nothing quite like that instantaneous visual confirmation of “You’re a slacker” right when you log on… Yeah, I’ve got some work to do this week, especially since I decided to make today a total recovery day.

Another cyclist got hit by a car this weekend, during the Worldgate Sprint Tri on Sunday - the bike leg was on the WO&D and apparently not all the road crossings were police or volunteer monitored… (I’ll spare you my thoughts on that) One of the cyclists approached the intersection, there was an SUV coming, the SUV flashed it’s lights at him, he said it appeared to be slowing down - the cyclist then went through the intersection and got hit. The driver said he flashed his lights to show he was coming through the intersection… Fortunately, the cyclist wasn’t hurt, but the bike was run over, and he DNF’d for his first tri. So, note to cyclists, apparently the flashing of headlights now means “I’m going to hit you” - so be careful.

And just read that one of the BT’ers that got hit last week got hit again TODAY - only minor injuries.

In more amusing news for the day, Bush & his entourage discover their hotel has already been booked by The Rolling Stones - so, I guess W will be staying at the Vienna Motel 6. It’s OK George, they’ll leave the light on for you.

19 days until Virginia Run. I really need to get some transition work and a decent brick in this weekend. In the meantime, I could use some more sleep.

Points for originality (photo via Yahoo)

Yeah, so once again I’ve gotten the “I’ve never met anyone quite like you before”.

I think it’s mainly because I confuse the hell out of people.

The Race Report is up! Seriously, what a fun course that is - almost all downhill - gotta love that.

Honestly, I thought my time at Cherry Blossom was a fluke, and as much as I would love to beat it, I wasn’t really holding out for it at all, and just wanted to go out and have a good time more than anything. Just like , I’ve got the good muse on one shoulder and the bad on the other, and we’re rolling along something like this…
Bad: Hey, hey, I think we may set a new time for 10 miles!
Good: We’re not thinking about that! We’re having fun!
Bad: No, really, I think we can do it.
Good: LALALALALALA, I’m not listening!
Bad: Sure, but look at the watch, we could actually beat it!
Good: Would you STFU already, you’re gonna jinx it if you keep mouthing off about it!
Bad: Oh. Yes, just having fun!

There is no Guinness quite as good as a post race Guinness.

Unofficial time of 1:51:14, but unless the chip time is near a minute and a half off my watch, looks like I may have just sweetly beaten my Cherry Blossom time.

Back after 10 miles and brunch. :)

So, I’m doing my usual packet pickup day breakfast thing, and there are two women at the table to my right, bemoaning the relationship status (or lack thereof) of one of their daughters. (They were loud. Couldn’t miss it if I’d tried.)

Basically it came down to this: Daughter is selfish because she likes her life the way it is and enjoys being single. Mom cannot fathom how one can enjoy being single. Cue my beating my head into the table at this point.

Now for sure, I am not in the “a woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle” camp, but jeez, there is nothing wrong with not being in a relationship, or not even being interested in having one for that matter. Hell, look at me - no actual serious relationships, not really looking for any actual serious relationships, and yet, a happy fulfilled life! I’m certainly not anti-relationship by any means, but it’s not necessary. I’ve got enough going on right now to keep me very busy as it is, and then trying to work that around someone else? The gentlemen I’d be willing to do that for are few & far between, and the results to date have been disastrous anyway.

In more important news, I have my jungle boots for the mud run and plenty of time to get them broken in:

IBRAHIM AL MARKHUR, Iraq - One misplaced cell phone and one savvy interpreter equaled one dead insurgent, several pieces of intelligence and a whole lot of captured weapons.

Link courtesy fark.com