Category Archives: Personal

I wrote this the evening after I found out I’d landed a new job, but couldn’t share it at the time because I hadn’t yet told my former employer.

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This morning I got an important phone call. It was a job offer from Razorfish — arguably the pre-imminent company in my field. It’s something that’s been in the works for a few months, but was never any kind of sure thing. When my wife and I were first considering Chicago, it …

I announced it on Twitter already, but the whole point of this blog is to talk about things that matter to me. My career definitely fits that criteria, so I’m thrilled to announce that I’ll soon be joining the UX team at Razorfish. I’ve admired their work for a long time and am both proud and intimidated to be brought onboard. I don’t know of anyone doing more meaningful or interesting work in the industry right now. I. …

For the last year it’s been a tradition that nearly every Saturday I drop by BlueCat Motors to see what’s going on. At first, I often felt very in the way. Me and my camera, snapping away. Was I really supposed to be there? Was what I was writing on their blog doing them any good? A year on, I can’t imagine my week without at least one visit to BCM’s Prior Ave shop. I have two more weeks of …

It’s news that I’ve shared in a lot of other outlets, but I’ve neglected to post it here. My impulse is to try to write up something long and expansive on the why and where for, but it’s not really necessary. The story is this: my wife got a great job in Chicago, and I’m going with her. We’re both really excited about the adventure of it all. We have a couple friends there, but mostly it’s a fresh start …

All the things that can be said about the passing of the Apple co-founder Steve Jobs have been said at this point. I couldn’t begin to summarize his legacy like Stephen Fry does so brilliantly in this essay, or pay a better aggregated tribute than Wired or Fast Company or a dozen other tech sites have. All I can say is that I find his death profoundly sad. It’s sad because of all his accomplishments. He was a Tesla, an Edison, a Lindbergh, a Van Gogh. It’s sad because he created a company I admire, that makes products I enjoy and rely on.

Over the years, my blog has evolved into a handful of regular features. Mainly recommendations, significant new experiences, and lots and lots of the Ride Log. This season has been what sports fans would call a rebuilding year. I’ve spent far more time procuring and working on bikes than actually riding them. It’s been fun. It’s been unexpected. It’s been frustrating. I’ve written about some of these mechanical adventures, but I think it makes sense to spin these stories off into their own series. Thus is born the Wrench Log.

June 23, 2011 — On a cloudy, unseasonably cold afternoon for late June, I did the seemingly unthinkable. I sold my Vespa. The sky looked like it might rain if it could muster up the motivation, but at that moment it couldn’t be bothered. I stood in the doorway of my open garage, waiting for my prospective buyer to show up. I was a little early. She was a little late. In the driveway in front of me was my 2008 Vespa Grantourismo 200L, the bike that had saved scootering in my life. Yet here I was about to sell it. I’d been so busy getting the Vespa wiped down and prepped that the significance of the moment was almost lost on me. This is it. I’m really selling this thing.

We all knew this was coming. If all goes according to plan, I’ll be sans-scooter here shortly. I’ve realized that I’d much rather ride a small motorcycle day-to-day than this fine piece of italian stamped steel. It’s no commentary at all on this fine machine, or on scooters in general. It’s simply the best route for me at this time. I’ll have other scooters, and soon — there’s no doubt about that. For now, this one has got to go.