Happy New Year!

To anyone that might actually read this: happy new year!

I was home for the holidays, visiting with family. I had a great time, but learned exactly why I'll never move back to New England - too damn cold! I was home just long enough to experience a New England-style blizzard, as well as contract a very popular stomach virus that had been going around - woo hoo! Aside from the storm and getting sick, it was really great to be home and get to see most of my family.

New Years Eve celebrations were fun, but nothing to write about (even though I intend to do just that right now). Annie and I had a few drinks at home and then met up with some friends at a local bar called Tom and Jerry's. We all decided that it could be classified as an upscale dive bar: not quite a dive bar on the inside / outside patio, but location and exterior aesthetics could bring it there alone. What did you get up to for New Years Eve? Let us know possible cool ideas for next year in the comments section!

My bike and truck after a morning ride
on the Cady Way Trail

With the intermission between semesters, I've had some time to have somewhat of a life outside of work (even though that's quickly diminishing). I've finally been able to get back on my road bike and start logging some miles. For Christmas, my parents got me a bike computer so now I know exactly how far I'm riding and how fast - simple, but very nice to know! Since getting back into it, I've been doing a little shopping online for clothes / accessories at www.realcyclist.com. If you're into biking, you HAVE to check this site out. Their prices are great, shipping is typically faster than advertised (and often free), and they have an online chat support which actually connects you with a human that will give you legit advice on different items. To me, great customer service is something worth pay extra for. When you get great customer service and really good prices (and awesome sales), it's a no-brainer. Anyone like to ride in Central Florida? If so, post a comment and let's organize a group ride!

Not a whole lot on the horizon before the cruise (36 days and counting), aside from work and school. More updates to come when cool things happen - with the new year here, I plan on posting more often! This weekend I will be heading to a local winery to spend a day drinking decent table wine and smoking great cigars, after a nice morning bike ride, of course.

Until next time!