http://web.mac.com/bbergie/iWeb/site/Blog/Blog.html Brett Bergie Calgary, Alberta iWeb 1.1.2 http://web.mac.com/bbergie/iWeb/site/Blog/Blog_files/image.png http://web.mac.com/bbergie/iWeb/site/Blog/Blog.html http://web.mac.com/bbergie/iWeb/site/Blog/853DF355-73C4-4D84-839B-0C5CBD617DF1.html http://web.mac.com/bbergie/iWeb/site/Blog/853DF355-73C4-4D84-839B-0C5CBD617DF1.html Sun, 20 Jul 2008 09:24:07 -0600 Yesterday, I pedaled my fourth century ride of the season. Three companions and I set out early from Calgary and left the city limits mainly by navigating a paved network of narrow trails and bridges through densely forested parklands. As we took to the roadways, the landscape around us opened up a spectacular vista of rolling hills lightly dotted with trees and set in front of the Rocky Mountain range, which was largely bereft of snow caps. We first traveled westward for several kilometres before turning south to add a loop through the foothills. Shortly after we changed directions, we intermittently came across ranchlands that were dusted with snow, mostly in shaded areas but also on rooftops. The appearance of snow was a surprise to us all, and we enjoyed the juxtaposition between our own lightly clad bodies and evidence that suggested much colder conditions. In the foothills, we enjoyed lighter motorist traffic and a winding road that cut through dense forests. In this region, we climbed long hills and sped down fast descents, all the while absorbing scenery that seemed uniform--hills and forests--for much of the time, but it occasionally revealed open spaces and pleasing views of modestly sized bodies of water. We arrived in Bragg Creek at around noon, where there was an incident involving horse dung and my cleat, and where we stopped to enjoy conversation and refuel. After a short period, we rode northward out of the town at a quick pace, thanks in part to a long subtle descent. We continued heading north for about 30 kilometres, all the while enjoying an uninterrupted sight of the Rocky Mountains over our left shoulders. After a long descent into the next town, we arrived in Cochrane, where we again stopped for a brief period, this time over coffees and on an uncovered patio. We were less motivated to quickly resume our ride at this point, in part because of the distance already clocked and because the longest climb of the day was just ahead of us. However, we mustered the determination to again mount our bicycles, and within minutes, we found ourselves at the base of the long climb out of Cochrane. It took us about 20 minutes to reach the summit, but the ascent was beautiful, offering striking views of the town and the Bow River Valley as we progressed to the top of the relentless climb. The roadway was smooth, and notwithstanding its views, its great attribute was its gentle hairpin corners. After reaching the summit, we pointed our bicycles eastward and pedaled the last leg back into Calgary. By the time we reached the urban core, we had successfully completed our goal, having cycled a full 160 kilometres. I ended my ride still feeling reasonably strong and worthy of the Yellow Jersey, which I bore on the ride. http://web.mac.com/bbergie/iWeb/site/Blog/796BB702-2C52-410F-9A76-1EDD6A786B00.html http://web.mac.com/bbergie/iWeb/site/Blog/796BB702-2C52-410F-9A76-1EDD6A786B00.html Tue, 15 Jul 2008 19:27:02 -0600 I finished reading Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice this evening, my second perusal of the novel. I have such a fondness for the story, in part due to characters that come alive through intricate character development and in part due to a clever plot that sends the characters in an uproar each time serenity seems at hand; that is until the end, when bliss triumphs over impropriety, interference, and abhorrence. I take great delight in the novel’s prose; the writing is, after all, the force that compelled me to start the text again, rather than satisfy my yearning for the story by watching its 2005 motion picture, which Beatrice and I own and otherwise view frequently. I’m in admiration of Austen’s word usage, so precise and so descriptive; even in the context of complex society and social situations, the words so well capture the mood and fully detail the characters’ reactions and inferences, reducing comprehensively the likelihood of erroneous interpretations by the reader. Constantly, I found myself reviewing over again passages that contained such memorable phrases, phrases that gave me pause to reflect on their meaning or smile upon their satisfying arrangement. And through it all, there is this marvelous story, interwoven with conflict, deceit, stoicism, harmony, love, and clever wit. I can think of no more satisfying a read. http://web.mac.com/bbergie/iWeb/site/Blog/BAA61A41-5D0D-4DFF-8A18-63B3A6706F99.html http://web.mac.com/bbergie/iWeb/site/Blog/BAA61A41-5D0D-4DFF-8A18-63B3A6706F99.html Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:47:43 -0600 I’ve been on the new MobileMe service for a few days now. After Apple’s rough transition from .Mac, it seems that all is running reasonably, but I do expect performance enhancements as Apple’s Mobileme team continues to work out the bugs. Overall though, I do approve of the experience. The interface of the web applications--Calendar, Mail, Photo Gallery, and iDisk--is responsive and easy to use. In particular, I like the push features; while I don’t have a mobile device like an iPhone or iPod Touch, I do like how quickly my notebook computer and the web applications automatically sync. As someone who depends a great deal on calendar programs to manage my schedule, I’m particularly pleased with push calendar, which allows me to edit my calendar remotely, and when I return to my Mac notebook, its calendar will be synced to “the cloud” and vise versa. I can see that I will get much use and value out of this upgraded service long after its newness becomes old. Now, about that iPhone ... :) http://web.mac.com/bbergie/iWeb/site/Blog/97ACDDB7-C950-4B4C-B692-5B8DDB2F22DB.html http://web.mac.com/bbergie/iWeb/site/Blog/97ACDDB7-C950-4B4C-B692-5B8DDB2F22DB.html Sat, 12 Jul 2008 16:18:18 -0600 Beatrice is hosting one of her out-of-town friends this weekend, so I availed myself of the opportunity to spend time on the saddle of my bicycle. I departed early this morning, heading west out of Calgary on Hwy 22x before turning southward on 22 at Priddis. From there, I entered the Foothills region, where the landscape changes from reasonably flat prairie to steep rolling hills dotted with trees and set before the Rocky Mountains. As I approached Millarville, my ride shifted west again. Here I found myself deep in the foothills: where long ascents seem to outnumber much anticipated, long-lasting descents. The climbs took their toll, as my pace invariably decreased near the top of and over each crest. Fortunately, the worst of the long climbs was limited to only a 12-kilometre stretch along Hwy 762, yet while short, relative to the rest of my ride, it was definitely the slowest 12-kilometres of the trip. I arrived in Bragg Creek, where I stopped for a coffee and enjoyed a snack on the patio of the Cinnamon Spoon. After a short pause, I resumed my ride for the final leg back to Calgary. While I faced off against a headwind, my pace remained respectable, rarely slipping below 30 kilometres per hour, in part due to the flatter terrain. I arrived home after clocking 5 hours and 50 minutes of riding time, completing just over 160 kilometres--a Century (100 miles). http://web.mac.com/bbergie/iWeb/site/Blog/CB2067FA-122B-485D-87FE-53012FC9788C.html http://web.mac.com/bbergie/iWeb/site/Blog/CB2067FA-122B-485D-87FE-53012FC9788C.html Thu, 10 Jul 2008 19:56:09 -0600 Wearing my stetson, jeans, and cowboy boots, I joined several of my colleagues from work this afternoon and attended Day Seven of the Calgary Stampede Rodeo Competition. This rodeo is a premier competition on the circuit, so I was able to see some of the sports finest cowboys and cowgirls (including world champions) in a variety of competitions, including tie-down roping, steer wrestling, bareback riding, barrel racing, saddle bronc, and bull riding. The excitement of the rodeo never captured me from what little exposure I had previously spectated on the television. Seeing the events live, however, was a much different experience--and I found myself fully engaged and captivated by tenacious cowboys and brute beasts. I enjoyed each of the events, but the bareback riding competition edged out the others as a favourite of mine. Those horses seemed to buck far more rapidly and rhythmically than the other animals, making their unwelcome riders suffer sharp thrusts and appear lifeless as their bodies were tossed around in a seemingly involuntary manner. However, a neighbouring colleague made it known to me that the cowboys actually employ a technique: kicking their legs forward and upward with each buck, oftentimes provoking the horse to buck harder and earning themselves more points in the process. This technique became more apparent to me after having it explained, of course, and watching the slow-motion replays on the giant video displays. It was a very enjoyable afternoon. I will definitely follow the competition as it unfolds between now and Sunday, when it is scheduled to wrap up and all of the big prize money has been distributed. I hope to have an opportunity to see the rodeo again. http://web.mac.com/bbergie/iWeb/site/Blog/7D736BEC-7441-423F-B230-AEFE23A2786B.html http://web.mac.com/bbergie/iWeb/site/Blog/7D736BEC-7441-423F-B230-AEFE23A2786B.html Mon, 7 Jul 2008 18:01:17 -0600 The Calgary Stampede opened on Friday with a grand parade that encircled the downtown core, effectively shutting down office towers and businesses for the better part of the morning. For several hours, horses, marching bands, and floats advanced at so slight a pace along streets bereft of motorists yet crowded with spectators densely assembled along curbsides. Beatrice and I encountered the parade on our way back from breakfast out. We paused at an intersection not far from our apartment as the parade’s ensemble passed by. After a short time, we elected to return to our apartment and spectate the affair from our balcony, a most advantageous setting clear of the obstructions on street level. The Calgary Stampede is a boisterous celebration of cowboy culture. Its essence in this prairie city is near omnipresent. Very few occasions can be had within the city’s limits free of the sight of stetsons and boots, the sound of steel guitars and fiddles, or the smell of flapjacks and sausages. By no small measure, I must confess, this is the great distinction of the Stampede: the city’s comprehensive embrace of it. While Beatrice and I have yet to enter the fairgrounds, we are already accumulating satisfying Stampede experiences, from the parade that opened the fair to the free country concert we attended on the plaza next to our mutual workplace. With still more days ahead of it than behind, this Stampede holds much promise for revelry and memory-making, a promise that I am eager to fulfill. http://web.mac.com/bbergie/iWeb/site/Blog/B650F8FB-1745-4D02-9140-F4006700B691.html http://web.mac.com/bbergie/iWeb/site/Blog/B650F8FB-1745-4D02-9140-F4006700B691.html Sun, 6 Jul 2008 20:35:51 -0600 It was a delightful weekend. Hospitable weather prompted much time spent outdoors. I cycled with friends on Saturday morning and then in solitude on the morrow. Following my ride this morning, Beatrice and I walked along the Bow River, paid a short visit to Prince’s Island, and then read on the patio of a coffee shop in the Eau Claire district. So much good fortune this weekend, at so little a cost: a brisk pace on the bicycle was interrupted briefly by a puncture. http://web.mac.com/bbergie/iWeb/site/Blog/28CA72B3-3BF1-4984-8AC0-4F2C0E1BE14D.html http://web.mac.com/bbergie/iWeb/site/Blog/28CA72B3-3BF1-4984-8AC0-4F2C0E1BE14D.html Tue, 1 Jul 2008 07:58:38 -0600 Somewhere today, a squeaky pulley fixed at the top of a long freestanding pole rotates in short intervals. With each rotation, colours are given a loftier place and significance. A light breeze catches and unfurls the flag, revealing red and white, and a symbol representative of our true north strong and free. Happy Canada Day. http://web.mac.com/bbergie/iWeb/site/Blog/74E74977-DD10-4AE7-9060-FD54075199E5.html http://web.mac.com/bbergie/iWeb/site/Blog/74E74977-DD10-4AE7-9060-FD54075199E5.html Sun, 29 Jun 2008 11:47:30 -0600 It’s been a satisfying weekend. I began both days on the saddle of my bicycle, cycling out to Bragg Creek for coffee before returning to Calgary to complete my respective journeys. In total, I rode scarcely under 200kms, divided evenly over both days. This morning, I had the unique experience of riding alongside two deer, who were running parallel to hwy 8 on my way back to Calgary. There were about 50 metres between us, but we were exactly aligned as we raced at 33kms/hour (according to my speedometer). We stayed in this arrangement for approximately a kilometre, at which point I observed a fence blocking their path ahead. In the service of my vanity, I popped my chain into the big chain ring, got up off my saddle, and pushed my speed up to 45kms/hour. My efforts put me well ahead of the deer before they let up and turned southward upon reaching the fence. “Gotcha,” I exclaimed. The deer were an arresting sight; my attention belonged only to them for the time we shared together. They were very lean, and their muscles protruded with each stride: beautiful, beautiful creatures. I couldn’t help but wonder if they were also being playful with me, as they ran alongside my bike and me for such a sustained period. I like to think they were. http://web.mac.com/bbergie/iWeb/site/Blog/8AD69226-397C-4986-96F1-6472C72CD8B2.html http://web.mac.com/bbergie/iWeb/site/Blog/8AD69226-397C-4986-96F1-6472C72CD8B2.html Sun, 22 Jun 2008 19:08:32 -0600 Earlier this year (approximately three months ago), I began my recovery from a rare condition that caused me to lose approximately half of my body’s blood count. My condition was serious, and the experience profound. I dare not speculate what could have been had I delayed seeking medical care any longer than was the case. Since my release from the hospital, there have been follow-up appointments and tests, all of which have yielded satisfactory results. Still, I have obsessed about making a full recovery, anxious to put this experience behind me. I have defined a full recovery as when I’m able to engage in rigorous activities, free of the residual effects of blood loss, mainly premature symptoms of fatigue. Following a couple of weeks of rest, I resumed running. Initially, I struggled to run a fraction of the distance I could complete in the days leading up to the introduction of my condition. For a sustained period, running small ascents brought on instant fatigue, forcing me on many occasions to complete climbs by walking. I was frustrated but also patient; I came to the understanding that I would continue to experience bouts of feebleness until my body could restore normal levels of red blood cells, those that carry oxygen through the blood stream. After several weeks, I resumed cycling, getting out for brisk rides on the city’s trail network. My hill climbing was at first weak, but not nearly to the extent I had experienced with running up small climbs. Otherwise, I felt reasonably strong on the bike. I began riding longer distances and at a greater frequency week to week. My cycling from this past week has convinced me that I’m back in good form, and I’m ready to declare it: my road to a full recovery is now complete. Monday, June 15: 77kms Tuesday, June 16: 50kms Wednesday, June 17: 167kms Thursday, June 18: 163kms Total: 457kms