Ornoth

Sigh. The predictability hurts us.

What was your biggest accomplishment this year?

Probably the thing I’m most proud of is succeeding at raising $3,555 for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through my participation in this year’s Pan-Mass Challenge ride. Other noteworthy accomplishments include biking up several hills, including Evans Notch, Great Blue Hill, Mount Wachusett, South Uncanoonuc, and Pack Monadnock; the progress I’ve made getting back into writing for DargonZine; and my exploration of Buddhism.
 

What was your biggest disappointment?

Oddly, the PMC also provides my biggest disappointment of the year, when I crashed out of the event and had to go to the hospital to get stitches. My other cycling disappointment was bonking hard on the way back from a ride to Gloucester. I was also disappointed in that I only had enough submissions to send out five issues of DargonZine this year, and we lost several of our veteran writers and my close personal friends, including Victor, Pam, Bryan, Stu, and Rhonda.
 

What do you hope the new year brings?

The obvious and biggest desire is a new job. Other than that, I hope that the DargonZine crew can finish up the big story arc we began writing at the 2003 Summit, so that I have it to print this year.
 

Will you be making any New Year's resolutions? If yes, what will they be?

I don’t think so. I just finished making two birthday resolutions (regular Buddhist meditation, and transitioning to skim milk), so I don’t think I need additional resolutions. Maybe I’ll eat a little less red meat, since that would probably be the next logical step in improving my diet, but I don’t think that’s big enough to make it a resolution.
 
I will say that I find it disappointing that although people always ask what new resolutions you’re making, they absolutely never ask how well you kept your old ones. As someone with some actual strength of will, I find it sad that most people fail to control themselves and honor their commitments. I think I’ve kept all my resolutions for the past three years (and they haven’t been “gimmes” at all).
 

What are your plans for New Year's Eve?

I was thinking maybe I’d go to the Lizard Lounge to see Flynn, but probably I’ll stay home. I haven’t bothered cultivating many friends, and I’m so not the party type.

A week ago I participated in my third Pan-Mass Challenge, a 2-day,
192-mile fundraising bike ride to benefit the Jimmy Fund and Boston’s
prestigious Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

I would have posted an update earlier, but I wanted to get the ride travelogue done, and it hasn’t been the usual pleasure to write. Although the first day was good, this year’s ride ended in a painful crash early on the morning of the second day of the two-day event. My ride ended when I went to the hospital to receive treatment for my injuries: abrasions all over my right side, a huge “road rash” on my right hip, and a puncture wound to my right elbow that required two stitches to close. I’m disappointed, frustrated, and feel pretty beat up, and I’ve still got $550 left to raise. Get the complete, unabridged story in my travelogue, and see the photos of the crash site and my injuries.

What's your favorite piece of clothing that you currently own?

That'd be a toss-up between two things. My Shimano cycling sandals (yes, complete with clipless cleats) have served me admirably for two years, including two Pan-Mass Challenge charity rides, and have probably seen about 3500 miles of use. The other is this year's Pan-Mass Challenge rider's jersey, which is pretty ugly and lacks the history, but it still means a lot to me for what it stands for.
 

What piece of clothing do you most want to acquire?

A kilt'd be nice, don't you think?
 

What piece of clothing can you not bring yourself to get rid of? Why?

So many... My Cavariccis, my Concussion Ensemble tees, my Sapient S&P 500 tee, my old basketball shoes, my rubber shirt, my 1983 Billy Squier concert tee, the old DargonZine map tee (circa 1987)...
 

What piece of clothing do you look your best in?

On top, probably the baseball jersey in my "thoughtful" userpic. On bottom, probably cycling shorts. Although I suspect I probably looked good in my Veassllurd barbarian SCA costume: a fox pelt cut in half, with the fox's head and ears as a loincloth and his tail covering my backside...
 

What has been your biggest fashion accident?

Even though I'd been with the company five months, we didn't have a "boot camp" until then, so I got to go through it as a veteran. Amazingly, on the day the co-CEO was to speak to us, another new hire showed up wearing the exact same tie as I was wearing! I had to make a lunchtime trip to Sears of all places to salvage my reputation...