Got yourself a gun

I hope everyone had a nice day spent chowing good food and loads of chocolate. I rode down to Lake Meade to meet Erin and Haley at Carolyn’s (Mother Legend) for a top-notch lunch with the Hebe clan. Mike, Eric & Julie were chillin’ when I got there. Before I go any further, I must say, you will never find a finer family than Carolyn and the Hebe boys, Mike and Eric. You too Julie! Thanks for a fantastic meal and downright good company. Haley loves her Easter gifts.

The ride down to LM was a bit colder than I’d hoped for and much windier than I expected. Mostly a solid cross-wind all the way with a smattering of full-on in-your-face headwind to boot. Good times. My balls still haven’t assumed their proper position.

After we left LM we cruised over to my sister's for a few hours. Haley got to see her Grammy and Aunt Shannon/Uncle Greg & Cousin D.J. and met O.G. (the Original Gus, my bro) for the first time. They had hoped that we would stay for dinner but Haley was getting grumpy and, quite frankly, I ate so much quality grub earlier that I just wasn’t hungry.

Once we got home I put the call in to Comcast to add HBO to my cable services for The Big Night. Cool thing was I got a little flyer/brochure from Comcast in the mail earlier this week claiming I could get HBO AND Cinemax FREE for 60 days. Even the fine print didn’t seem to have any catches in it. So, I mentioned it upon ordering and wouldn’t you know, there is no scam. It’s legit. For 60 days I get HBO and Cinemax gratis. I’ll believe it when I get my next billing statement. Stay tuned.

The Sopranos begin the final 9 episodes tonight. I was so thoroughly disappointed at last seasons episodes that I have a large amount of skepticism moving forward. We’ll see.

Auntie Em sent an Easter goodie box from Maui for The Little Woman. Haley got her first pair of Vans. They’re pretty sweet. For now they’re a touch big but this summer Haley will be the coolest little 6 month old in town. Oh yeah, Em also sent some candy bars, which I can only assume were meant for Haley’s parents, loaded with macadamia nuts and chocolate. Yum.


I almost nailed it. VisitPA.com goes 1st and 3rd. WTF Kylie??

Easter Bunny and Haley

Easter Bunny, Haley, and Easter Bunny

Haley and a picture of Cousin D.J. at the same age. Uncanny. Kessel genes kick ass!

Cousins hangin' out

Easter = chocolate!

Not much new to report. Easter is here but it seems more like dead-of-winter with the temps and all.

The Little Woman is growing daily. She’s getting chubby. Now that The Wifey is back to work full-time I have to watch her for a couple hours every morning before taking her over to Erin’s parents. So far that’s been working out well. Haley has had a couple meltdowns resisting the change but for the most part she’s been a little angel. She’s so much fun. I can’t get enough.

I worked my day off this week so that I could get an extra day off next week while The Wifey is off on her Easter break. Holmes Cyclery is busy as hell. Makes the day go fast.

Big MASS relay MTB opener Saturday. Question of the day; Does VisitPA.com sweep the podium? I see there are some strong teams but holy shit!, VisitPA is LOADED! Nate D and Kyle Buttwrecker guest riding to fill out the teams ain’t too shabby either. Now, about that 40 degrees and snow shower forecast….


Enjoy the chocolate easter bunnies this weekend.

Watching TV from the bed. Never too early to teach good habits!

Getting ready to go for a drive to the Grandparents.

Smile

Is it me or are weekends just way too short? After putting in some time at Holmes Cyclery Saturday Erin and I dropped Little Haley off at her Grandparents house so that we could dine out. We went to The Pizza Grille courtesy of The Legend (thanks Mike!). We always get the same thing when we go there. Erin gets a Greek pizza and I get a chicken cheesesteak. We split a Feta & Sun-dried Tomato Salad as well. Good stuff. Always yummy there.

Today we had scheduled to get some studio photos taken of Haley, which turned into a fiasco. I am somewhat against the whole idea of studio pictures. I know it’s just simply what you do with your child as she/he grows up. I could do without the staged artificialness of it all. Anyway, although Haley looked incredibly cute, she didn’t feel like smiling so the turd-head photog didn’t feel like snapping any pictures. In 20 minutes of attempting to coax a smile she snapped approx 6-8 pictures always a second or two late. It was a waste of time. The best pictures are always spontanious. We'll try it again somehwere down the road.

The cool part was we got to hang out with Haley’s other Grammy (my Mom) and then spent some time with Aunt Shannon & Uncle Greg (my Sis and Bro In-law) and Cousin DJ (my Nephew). It was fun to see everyone.

Also cool was riding The Fixie down to Hangover this afternoon for the picture thing. The weather was amazing and it was totally cool riding roads I haven’t been on in a LONG time. I could have been to North Hanover in about 32.5 miles using all back roads but I got there earlier than expected so I dicked around and ended up with 41 miles of fun. Did I mention I love riding a fixed gear bike?

Did I also mention I love riding because it affords me the opportunity to eat like an ass? Ride to eat. Words to live by.

MTV is running a lot of old episodes of Jackass. Never gets old.

"Check out my new Cape May sweatshirt!"

maRch 22nd

I feel like I had a productive day. Not sure if I actually did or not but the feeling is there.

I started off doing some light garage organizing. I then helped Hebe move some stuff. I followed that up with another awesome fixie ride.

I just can’t seem to get away from that thing. I rode my road sled to work Wednesday just to get a feel for something different but I was right back on the fixie today for 90 rolling minutes. One thing I love about it is no matter how you slice it, you just can’t fake a hard ride on it. Today was no different. My knees might explode by July but for now I’m loving it.

Oh, BTW, despite the 70 degree temp today, I rolled out with knee warmers. Word.

Young Haley turned 3 months old Wednesday! She’s growing like a weed. I’m now fully convinced that she’ll be taller than her parents.

3 months old!

Fancy new slippers

whatever

Despite all the sometimes fun, sometimes fascinating, sometimes sucky excitement in my life the past few months, I’ll be damned if I just have no desire to share it lately. Sorry.

Little Haley is growing fast and having a grand ‘ole time watching her parents make faces and funny noises at her provoking responses. We’ve taken tons of pictures but real soon we need to the official studio photog thing at The Wifey’s insistence. I can remember being drug kicking and screaming to such affairs as a young punk. Now I’m on the other end.

Is this the Sillies year? I’m ready for the roller coaster of heart break all over again. Two weeks.

Speaking of two weeks. 10-8. Ugh.

We drove to Cape May Thursday night in a miserable rainy mess. It rained all day Friday down there which sucked but not as bad as it would have sucked being here in the ‘Burg getting vomited on by a blizzard of white shit. Saturday was cool and breezy but I did get out for a good 90 minute ride on the fixie. It was actually a pretty hard ride. Dead flat on a fixed gear with some pretty solid head winds here and there. I enjoyed it though. No green beer was had by Haley’s parents.

Two things I need to do this year. One is read more books and internet less. I just ordered 4 books off Amazon. Two from this guy and two from this guy. I already own a few from Cahill so I know they will be good reads but Weisbecker was recommended by someone who told me if I enjoy HST I’d be good with this dude. Cool.

The other thing I need to do this year is take a legitimate vacation. I mean get in a jet and land in a time zone at least 3hrs away or at least leave the country. Hold me to it. Please

I’m happy to see the Pens aren’t going anywhere. I never really thought they would but until they hammered out a deal for a new arena anything was possible. I’m a Flyers fan which means I can’t root for the Pens but they are fun to watch and given Philly’s recent moves towards a much younger and faster brand of puck I think we could see a pretty intense rivalry in the next few years. BTW, Sid and his boys swept Philly 8-0 this season so I know it won’t be easy, just exciting to watch.

What's up with all the bra commercials on the teli lately? Not that I'm complaining about skimpily clad busty women running around with their hooters hanging out........have I said too much?

Hey Sweety

what a little cutie

Little Haley playing around

A new perspective on perspective

Not much new to report here at the Kessel Ranch. Young Haley is doing very well. She made a quick trip to the bike shop today on her way to CC. She really digs the scene up at CC. There’s always plenty to keep her attention up there.

Last Saturday Erin and I met up with Hebe and Benny to do some snow tubing at Ski Roundtop. Erin’s parents came over to our house to watch Little Hales while we were gone. This was the first time Erin was separated from Haley for more than a 15-20 minute trip to the store. I think they both did quite well. We had an absolute blast tubing. Thanks to The Legend for the hook-up on the passes. Good times. It’s been a little while since I’ve laughed as hard as that.

Sunday the weather crapped up again. Just the usual miserable snow/sleet/freezing rain/rain BS. I got my do-list done early and worked on my ass groove on the couch. I did hit the crapliptical for 30 minutes.

I got a new toy a couple weeks ago. This thing is pretty damn cool. I haven’t even come close to tapping into all the info I can gather from it. It seems to be dead-on accurate as well. After a ride I can upload the info and it will map it out to the T where I went. It's really quite amazing to look at it after the fact. I can’t wait to get it out on some real long hilly rides. Mainly just map out all the roads and climbs I’ve always done but now get an idea of elevation gains and gradients and whatnot. Fun.

I’m still rockin the fixie. I haven’t ridden anything else since I threw it together late last year. It’s a hard ride if I stick out here in my neck of the woods. It’s pretty rolling in my parts so I find out real quick just how lame my fitness is right now. No worries, it’s only late Feb.

I’m jonesin’ to go somewhere. Anybody want to fly me somewhere?

Little Haley will be 8 weeks old Wednesday. Holy crap she’s growing fast! She’s been a little angel so far. Just a few incidents of projectile barfing but even that’s kinda funny. She loves hanging out with her grandparents. Yesterday she fell asleep while my mom was holding her and later in the day she fell asleep while Erin’s dad was holding her. She’s getting lots of love from everyone. More and more she’s making little baby noises and smiling and making faces. I think she’ll be talking before we know it. Good times.

We’ve been delivering loads of fitness junk at Holmes Cyclery lately. The stuff is flying out the doors. The crap weather shut the deliveries down last week so Monday we had to play catch-up a bit. One particular loser, we’ll call him Nimrod, was less than thrilled that we cancelled last Friday because the roads were still crap and our van is awful in snow/ice. So we rescheduled for Monday. Turns out this tool lives in East Kabumfuk with roads that were still snow/ice covered and a quarter mile lane that was sketchy even yesterday. And he wanted us there Friday??? He’s got stuffed dead animals all over his house and guns and ammo and dead animal pictures all over the place. I’m far from a vegetarian. I love animals. They taste great. But, I never quite understood the mentality that this clown exhibited. A picture of a dead bear hanging on your wall???? Whatever.

I think it’s meant to rain today so I will attempt to resume normal commuting operations tomorrow. Temps are meant to be at least 40 for the next few days or so. Hopefully all this white shit will disappear. I picked up a Garmin last week. I think this thing will be lots of fun to play around with this summer on rides.

It’s official; The Legend resumes his affection for the dirt. I hope he does well. VisitPA has a stacked team this season. I wonder what KHam is up to?

My Little Valentine

That's what I'm talkin' about

270 per

Snow schmoe! I guess I need to go outside and do my Anti-Snow Dance. It's been working quite well so far this season. I'm really going to have to summon up a lot of strength for this weather event.

Today, while The Legend, Nate, and VisitPA Ray & VisitPA Nancy went for a mtb ride, I hung out on the couch with Lttitle Ms Haley. We had fun. I tried for the first time shoving a bottle down her gullet with moderate success.

Young Hales showing off her good looks for the camera again

This evening I powered up the crapliptical for 30 minutes so that I could eat some guilt-free Pizza Butt. That works.

Tomorrow, I dunno, maybe a ride on the fixie for an hour or so. Other than commuting I haven't ridden much at all this year yet. Of course we'll have to make a mad dash to the grocery store for the obligatory stocking up of bread and milk.

Maybe we'll cruise in to CC to hang out with all the ultra-spiffy yuppie losers and show off our B.O.B. Stroller. They do make a good egg sammy stuffed inside a bagel for roughly $12 or so(not really). I also need to do some V-Day shopping for not one, but TWO wonderful women. JC! I might be busy tomorrow.

I wonder if early dismisal/two-hour delay is in effect at Holmes Cyclery this week? Benny, warm up you shoveling shoulders!

Little Haley

Little Haley just waking up from a quick nap

Just to say I can

8 degrees when I left for work. 11 on the ride home. Although it was definitely chillier going home. My fingers were getting a bit nippy. Nothing too bad. Again, my point all along has been this; if you have the right clothes, riding when it's this cold is really no big deal. Yesterday the 25mph headwind riding in was the major roadblock.

So, Jessica, I'll give you credit. It was much colder in Wisconsin. BUT, did you ride to work at the Trek Compound??? Cheers. dk

Auntie Em

The Big Game has come and gone. I was entertained for the most part. Ho hum, really. I was more annoyed at the rainstorm during the entire game. Maybe the NFL could do us all a favor and think twice before putting another Super Bowl in a city where weather could even remotely be an issue. Doesn’t it rain in Florida just about every freakin day? Ever heard of Phoenix? San Diego? A dome maybe? Not only did it effect the game with fumbles and dropped balls but it also effected my Hi-Def viewing experience. The TV cameras were so wet and fogged up that I was watching a Lo-Def picture. Like I said, ho-hum.

Aunt Emily, this is for you. We told Little Haley about where you are and why you missed her grand entrance into this world. At first she was grumpy. I think she was upset with you.

But we did some talking and I think we convinced her to give you a pass as long as you give her lots of hugs and kisses and babysit her when her parents want to go out. That’s her final offer. She was a little happier after we calmed her down. She can’t wait to meet you. I hope you’re enjoying Maui.

Speaking of Maui. I'll try to keep in mind the sunny and 81 day they will enjoy as I ride to work with the thermometer belting out a whopping.......wait for it.........8 degrees. Lets not even factor in the wind. Enjoy.

Gesundheit

Little Haley is doing very well. I go to work every day missing her and can’t wait to get home and hold her. She makes me smile no matter if she’s crying or sleeping or crapping her pants. She’s an absolute joy.

Last night she slept over 6hrs and napped for 5 more today. I think she’s settling into a good sleep routine, which helps Erin out a ton.

Today I was out delivering junk all day with Ben. Good times. We drove down to Spring Grove to drop off an elliptical. I hadn’t been down there in years but it wasn’t until I caught a waft of that good ‘ol paper mill that I realized it was nice to revisit old haunts if only briefly.

It started to snow some late this afternoon. Nuisance type shit. If this is as bad as it gets then, yeah, snow is fine. I think I can still manage to ride to work in the morning. Looks like early next week is going to be ridiculously cold. Just the kind of stuff that I need to commute in, only to say I can/did.

Speaking of riding, January was weak. I’m getting soft. I can feel it. Weather, Haley, no motivation, new car, pick an excuse. They all apply. At any rate, I need to find that routine again.

The Wifey got some good news this week. First she found out she’ll be working full-time out of the house starting April 1st. Cool. Then, today she found out she’s getting a monster raise. Sweet.

The Original Jack-Ass sent me an email today with this link. Every time I watch, it gets funnier. I don’t know why really. I think I’ve watched it about 10 times in the past hour. Slow night on TV.

Bath time

Little Haley diggin' her bath.

Just one fix

The people are lashing out! There is genuine anger and resentment. This just keeps getting better. For every comment that's left on my post about the Honeycomb taste change there are 10 who take the time to google said topic and are directed to my blog without leaving a comment. I only hope that all these people would take the simple step of telling POST how we all feel about their crap decision. Just follow this link. It's cake.

Haley's got a new dress