Sold The X Bike 04Jan19

Sold my only really light steed... the Fuji Altamira 2.1 CX cross bike at 18#. May it shred in Idaho for Ted soon. I only got ~$700 despite the bombproof build and upgrades but I was not using it (choosing the Broadax for rides it used to do). It shipped out FedEx today.

New Year - New Laws - New Trials 01Jan19

First off, HNY to all. Arcane rules have been withdrawn and now grocery stores can carry real beer. Sure they are still prohibited from carrying real wine or booze, but Costco isn't. I am all for the success of my local liquor store but they need to find access to the more esoteric varieties to progress - I am not for undue protection. To test whether the major labels would dominate the rollout, today I hit the closest Safeway to buy stuff for dinner (the burrata and heirloom salad was yummy) and to check out the beer selection. I was pleased. I scored a strong new entry from Odell, better than the Blue Dream, Can-O-Bliss (yeah, they went there) - it's a MIPA, mountain IPA, and #11 from Luponic Distortion series from Firestone. Both are worthy and the Can-O-Bliss is very good... it mates well with the negative temps and my latest CD ripping project (I found ~100 more discs I'd not yet cut to FLAC) - sheesh.

Over these chilly days I also am trialing Amazon Music Unlimited and Pandora Premium, both offered me 90 day free trials and have increased their bit rate on HD streams to 192Kbps "mp3." These are not lossless as I'd prefer but the catalogs are surely big and as my hearing deteriorates, it may be sufficient. Nah, who'd pay $10-$20/mo to listen beyond the reach?

Sold A Flybox 28Dec18

I'd listed a collector's edition flybox on eBay that I'd bought ~20 yrs ago at a charity auction in Phoenix. Today it sold for $100! Woohoo. It is pretty cool but I'd never use it so didn't need it. It's a Richard Wheatley Millennium Limited Edition Fly Box 7610FX In Hand Crafted, Gold Anodized Aluminum.

Miley's Back 24Dec18

Lest you live under a rock you'd note that Miley Cyrus is back releasing stuff; this time it is with Mark Ronson of various award nominations fame (including Gaga on Shallow and others). They've been on all the shows including an official release of Nothing Breaks Like A Heart, a stop on SNL with Sean Ono singing War Is Over by John Lennon, and covering Ariana Grande on BBC Live Lounge. I do expect more this season but all of it thus far is very good... great singer.

SNL / War Is Over / Lennon

BBC / Covering Ariana Grande

Nothin' Breaks Like A Heart - Official

Not A Field Trial - Crusher Rig & Pigs 24Dec18

Well it was not a field trial but I did mount the ARB awning and trial it in a config similar to my expectations. I didn't install the tent portion as it was cold - wait, maybe that would've been a good test. I do have a "Y" connection on a regular propane tank and can drive two of four possible accessories at a time (heater, wok, grill, stove)... that stuff works too.

Frankly, the awning is not for the feint of heart. The aluminum poles are insufficient in gauge and the way they work with a twist-hold for telescoping is finicky. My camper awning poles are thicker with a better telescoping scheme. The awning poles bowed bent on first install and would not return to fully retracted - that made putting the awning back in the aluminum box a tight fit. I made mods to my camper awning and sense I will need so so do here. Nonetheless - it goes up fairly quickly and is decent. I installed it on the roof rack with Thule Mighty Mounts for oval OEM rack bars and then used ARB own brackets connected to those. It all seems fine.

I've adorned the rod rack with some sweet designer rainbow and brown pigs - since I'm always hunting them. All the dirt is courtesy of Summit Co.

Winter Solstice Snow With A Break 21Dec18-22Dec18

Yohanans came to Breck for the winter solstice and I joined them to ski, with all the men - Jim, Mitch & Nick. I arrived early enough for a half dozen runs before they arrived - but I therefore knew where some stashes remained from the Thu 10" snowfall. We had a fine afternoon on a very nice day. We enjoyed some brew at ORB and caught up with Wilks (no pics) as he returned from Kedrowski's talk on Everest and then dined at the "new" Pho Bay II together.

Matt and Alexa came out too to hit the snow but unfortunately MLC broke his wrist on the last run back to the car and spent time at St Anthony's before anesthetizing with ORB. Poor dude.

Too, as Kala and I declutter and "downsize" I've chosen to turn over my business library to Ross. I think the last time my friend Scott was here he looked at the shelf and just said "rid thyself" or something like that. It's a nice kit mostly replaced for me now with river maps and tying & fishing guides. I'm always one who takes continuing education and instruction so well. ;)

Summit Stuff 14Dec18-16Dec18

I headed to Summit Thu night to catch the tail of the snow which fell on Wed PM & Thu AM. I had a nice day a Keystone even catching some just opened runs of powder and even caught a clear shot of all of Breck from KS. That afternoon & evening I had a keen outing to ORB and the Western Tavern with DD... always enjoyable. Saturday was a work day where some of the IoT items were updated and pictures were hung. Sunday was a bonus day where I skied with Matt & Alexa (dang the kid is fast) and taught them how to tune skis...