Arthritis?

Almost looks like my forefinger, doesn't it? Too bad, but it's my left pinkie. My doctor says the tendon on the bottom is shortening, so it hooks when you look from the side.

I haven't played in a week. And I want to finish Three Pieces in the Shape of Erik Satie. Pieces one and two sound good, but two pieces don't make it with Erik Satie.

Riding with Louie

Just got back from a ride with Louie Sanchez. The Wednesday night right with Mike was rained out, and tonight Mike and many others are heading down to Donaldson Center for a Time Trial. I hate Time Trials. A Time Trial is 20 to 25 minutes of pain that a body should not endure voluntarily. Imagine tensing one muscle in your leg for more that a few minutes. Multiply that muscle by a dozen. I've seen guys bent like rigid crowbars after a time trial that had to be lifted off their bike.

So that left Louie and me to comb the area around Paris Mountain for places to hurt ourselves. I was lucky to have him, because he is a rider that loves to hammer for extended periods, head down, riding the lactic pain train. I sat sheltered in the pocket of calmness right behind him, enjoying the 30 miles per hour express.