Nemo Malus Felix

Next goal… Riding that is

ethanbro — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 04:03:23 +0000

This is the ride I’m going to aim for with this winter’s riding. Hopefully things will align so that it and a few centuries can be in the mix for 2009. If not this winter (before it gets really cold) next year I’ll have the climb up 539 done from the 4-Hills Smith’s (or home ideally). This is a flier from last year’s race up, has some nice data on the elevation changes so you can appreciate the challenge I’ll face even without a bunch of competitors passing me. On that map there’s a loop I did do last season, from the triangle up Heartbreak Hill and back around. Heartbreak didn’t break me, was able to stay-moving and didn’t de-clip a cleat, although I didn’t exactly “race” up it, that hill is nuts! ~e

Good-times!

ethanbro — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 03:49:32 +0000

So, earlier today I went for a mtn bike ride out behind the casa. My wife and I got our house back in December of 2004, and are especially blessed that we’re close to the foothills. From my house near Lomas/Tramway I take Lomas up to Indian School, then East and up to the trail system parking-lot on the Eastern edge of Indian School street. On my bike it’s just short of 2 miles of climbing to the trailhead, and not too bad, being that it’s blacktop makes it kinda easy compared to some trails I’ve scaled (or had to push-it up!). From this parking-lot there are a few different trails you can traverse the foothills on. Today I chose my usual “back-yard” route. Across on 365a to where it meets 365, then South past Copper (401), and all the way South to where 365 ends near I-40. This part of the trail is sponsered by FOOMTB, and they picked well as it’s a technically-challenging bit of rocky single-track that can get your heart-pumping if you risk it quick-like (as I’m prone to do!) Where the trail ends in quiet neighborhood, it’s back to the house via residential streets the bump you back out to Tramway. From here (Encantato street) it’s less than a mile back home. I’ve done this route more times than I can count, it’s a 7.2 mile loop, and usually I take a few breaks to catch my breath. I knew I was doing good as I didn’t “take in the sights” (catch my breath) for very long at all this time around, less than 5 minutes total. The stoke-meter hit 7 of 10 on my overall-time: 54 minutes. I don’t think I’ve done that loop in less time, at least this year, and am pretty satisfied. Didn’t think I’d be in any sort of shape as I haven’t been on the bike (either road or mtn) for over 2 months, not that I haven’t wanted to, but life/work/family/etc managed a hostile-takeover of any remaining strength or energy I would have used to ride. The last few weeks since I left my wine-job I’ve been able to hit the gym 3-times a week, and this has to be why I did as well as I did. Phenomenal! Makes the sore abs/lower-back seem really worth it! Darn reverse-crunch and wheel thingy-ma-jobby did me a good turn as I wasn’t spending tons of time on the life-cycles. Other resistance strength training is in the mix as well, nothing to glory in, but a sweet way to maintain, especially when the pay-off is a better than usual loop-time. Good-times indeed. ~E

Tired boy…

ethanbro — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 02:08:16 +0000

So, do you know where Eunice NM is? Down there they have a Enrichment facility in build-up that I visited to attempt drumming up some business for a buddy’s industrial supply business. We’ll see if that flies, could use the commission! 13 hours mostly spent in the car down there and back, with a bounce out to WIPP and a Pot-Ash mining firm along the route. Drove through Hobbs, Lovington, Tatum (NM), Roswell, Artesia, Vaughn, Encino, and exhausted. Actually surprised I’m posting I am so beat.

Update: UI is awesome!

ethanbro — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 18:57:29 +0000

So for those out of the loop, yes, I am no longer at the winery. Good thing really, despite the not-yet-employed again status. Eventually Unemployment Insurance will hit and help make our 3 month emergency savings stretch 6 months.

Otherwise looking into the medical sales territory for a position as a rep. Your prayers are very appreciated, and if you have any leads for me to chase-down or people I should talk to please leave a comment and I’ll get back to you.

P.S. Turned comments back on, unsure how they got turned off before! ~e

been too long…

ethanbro — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 22:32:09 +0000

Well, had a moment and figured I’d go ahead and peruse my website. Not that i don’t want to post, but golly my life has gotten craze the last few months. Same job, new child (welcome Dexter!), older 1st born (Asher’s 2 and 1/2 now! more terrible than terrific), good-rep lost, new-rep gained (awesome), same baloney, spam, and steaks work-wise. Management, middle-management, just as advertized. Dilbert is spot-on, as is the strip “Retail” to my experience working at the mall some 10 years ago.

Had a pre-marital couple go through pre-marriage counseling with wife and I, they wed in a few weeks. Nice kids. Vitalized harmonious just like Jessica and I, by the assessment tool Prepare/Enrich we utilize as a part of our counsel.

In Choir at church for the Christmas season, most of the songs are ok, if not a bit too “white”. Obviously I attend a mostly Caucasian church and not really bothered by it or the “whiteness” factor, figure I should be blaming myself for liking R&B Gospel acts like Kirk Franklin and Israel Houghton. Also figuring with the 7-weeks or so we had from the get-go to learn and dial in the music we probably couldn’t get as tight as those choirs I enjoy from those artists. Praise God.

Otherstuff? Dunno, fishing for a better line lately, just had another birthday. Low-key as the Dexter-ness is far cuter. What’s 37 anyway? Three years short of the icky 40? 13 short of 50? Big deal! I firmly believe that when you are on-top of the responsibilities you have in your position/place in life, You are really only as old as you think yourself to be, only as old as you want to be in a sense. Age is relative once you hit adult-hood. not saying we don’t have any more opportunities to grow and mature. I saw a bumper sticker the other day, it said: “change is inevitable, Growth is optional” Too true! I’m still trying to figure out how to retire early and get back to playing all the time. Was never good answering the question: “what do you want to be when you grow up?” I always said retired, not fair (yeah right) the older people got to
Any readers left? Am I just writing for myself? I know I don’t at all deserve any who may have once checked in to see what I may have posted. Have been too far gone lately… Give me a comment if you’re out there.

can’t sleep…

ethanbro — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 05:12:24 +0000

So, last night I slept really fitfully, was tired most of the day, had a delicious REM level nap (80min) this afternoon, and now nearly 11p I cannot sleep a wink. I’m tired again, but just can’t turn the page and fall down to that comfy unconscious.

So here I am, posting. Found another internet music source while stumbling towards sleepiness. GrooveShark joins Digitally Imported and Pandora as my go-to music sources while connected to the internets. I’m not listening to it now, but found it a clean interface that might throw Pandora off the toolbar on it’s charming good looks alone. When I’m working and able to internet, I’ll usually have tunes going, especially if it’s numbers-related. I’d give it a listen right now if I wasn’t already concerned my keystrokes might wake the better-half.

Jessica is at that stage of not sleeping well in the progression towards a two-child family. I don’t mind so much my own sleeplessness when I hear of how bad she’s been sleeping due to the baby making life difficult unconscious.

I’ve got 6 hours now before my alarm goes off, and gladly I’m feeling much more droopy-eyed. Praise God. I’ll probably get a nap in when Asher’s napping and that will help before we burn flesh and such with fireworks tomorrow night.

God bless!

Ride scheduled…

ethanbro — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 23:07:39 +0000

Only a week in the life…

ethanbro — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 23:04:45 +0000

Hello, hello! right on, been only a week since my last post, and curious to find the last one never saved. Wondering also how the comments got turned off, as I don’t remember having done that. Oh well, life goes on.

Last week was killer, and not the good kind. Trained and did a ride-along with a rep up in Northern New Mexico, cover another reps route, be overjoyed with one and the complete and utter blessing of being able to invite them to the team, and not quite as happy with another. You know of course I have a team of 8 peeps to manage? There are days that are so ADC, or Adult Day Care. You who have not spent at least 6months in people management, or had children (mine are 2 and [-]3months) you probably cannot relate. Two long drives to T or C and back finished my week off, and Saturday couldn’t of come sooner. Had a melt-down of sorts in convo with my boss, we mutually decided if Jess would agree, adding her to the team in a very part-time manner would be a brilliant way to keep some of the “details” of my responsibilities in check. This would not only alleviate frustration on my end with aforementioned details and free me to concentrate more on my other duties, but please the office in Deming that was ready to string me up at times over my mistakes. God is so good!
Yesterday went to the flea with the fam, even had Asher’s “PapaBruce” along. Scored a better than current “travel-system” (Stroller, car-seat/car-seat base) for $35 buckaroos, a few non-fictions to add to the manager library, and a couple of trance/progressive CD’s for a buck apiece. Cannot complain, and all happily gained with less than $50 dollars. I love the flea, it’s like one-hundred garage/yard sales all lined up for perusal and purchases. Also gained Asher his first pair of DC Shoes (I can dream he’ll turn pro-skater at 11), what might those cost? $2! barely used, and clean/good to go! EEK even got him a starter skateboard that fits his 27month-size just right. Can life get any sweeter?

I oughta quit it with the procrastination here, I’ve work to do this afternoon to be prepared for the next 48 hours. Don’t really want to fire one of my salespeople, but it might just be the crisis they need to see God and His plan for them more clearly. Have another employee ready to be promoted, so that might commence this week as well. Eventually I’ll get back to my mid-week Bible study group. Naturally I’d be really excited about the study materials and direction the group has begun to take and I’ve been really too busy to be able to attend. My quiet time is still there though, Praise God for that!

New Discipline…

ethanbro — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 02:48:28 +0000

The wildest thing, I wrote a bunch here originally last Sunday, and now it’s poof! as I check in for another post. Interesting. Any suggestions as to why, my dear reader?