Pets & Projects Updates

So I didn't adopt two cute codependent fetch-playing yellow labs. I'm just one of those people who takes pictures of other people's dogs. Only recently, though. It's like the ticking of my biological clock is leading me down an insane maternal progression, starting with plants, moving on to fish, thinking about dogs. And speaking of fish, I can't believe I have yet to introduce you all to Charley Gamma. It's like you get all excited about the first kid and then forget to take pictures when the second one comes along. Unless, of course, the next kid comes along eight minutes later, in which case the camera's probably still out.

Anyway, a few weeks ago I went out to buy more water conditioner and while I was at Petco, it seemed like the right time to bring home a new friend for Alpha Alfa. Charley's on the right. I also bought a "Caution Wet Floor" sign. Because I am a nerd.

So it's the rainy season again. It's not supposed to be but it is. In Seattle it is either raining and everyone's resigned to the fact that it's raining because it's supposed to be raining or it's not supposed to be raining (like in the "summer") but it's raining anyway and everyone's all like well, it usually doesn't rain in August, like it makes it better instead of worse. I would be much more okay with the weather here if people complained about it more. No one complains. I mean people live in New England their entire lives and they know that it's going to be icy and slushy and crappy all winter and into the spring and probably rain every weekend in the summer but they still complain when it happens, or complain that it might happen, or assume that the weather is going to ruin whatever outdoor activity they have planned. I haven't quite figured it out, but I've done a lot of thinking about weather and climate and culture. So you can look forward to hearing all of my thoughts on the subject soon when it gets dark at 3 pm.

On the upside, since it's been rainy the past two weekends, I've got a lot of work done on some projects I've put off all summer. I spent all day yesterday working on my project bike. My commuter bike, if you will, since, did I mention, it's been rainy and I don't really like commuting on the Speedster in the rain.

So I don't have a before picture, and it doesn't look that much different, but here it is after Phase I.

It's a singlespeed now, and it does actually work, which I am somewhat amazed by. There are still a couple things I need to do, though, namely get rid of the derailleur. You can't really see in the picture, but since I didn't have wire cutters or a wrench small enough to removed the final place that it's attached, it's just hanging off the top tube now. I also need to get a new chain, because last time I shortened a chain and reattached it without a connector, it definitely fell apart the next day and sent me flying, so I don't trust it. Most important, I've got to change the gear ratio because right now I can't even get up the smallest incline. And figure out the rear wheel situation, since it's pretty ghetto right now since I still have a 5 speed cassette on there. But once all that's done, I'll only be a freehub away from the darkside.