Orientation is finished and classes commence Monday. A ragged economy and limited success over the past two years are strong motivators for trying to do extremely well.

Having done quite a bit of work already I feel alive being busy again. My organizational skills have certainly taken a hit as there’s been so little demand for them since college. For example, one general notebook, to serve as sort of a facebook feed to review periodically, will be insufficient in light of no laptop rules in certain classes. (This rule is very, very good for me).

An additional organizational pillar is tagging, which is one small element I’ll be adding to briefs. Hopefully I can find a way to incorporate them into my third and final macro strategy, OneNote.

Beaming now that I’m back in school. Delighted to be meeting a set of friends with similar interests and attitudes. Boston, when sunny, is beautiful. But when rainy, you can run into this too.

Saying it cautiously, but I am in heaven.

This year the dates of the Tour fell perfectly within my month of twilight vacation between work and school. I missed the exciting prologue and first stage but then caught all but a few stages on Versus. It has been absolutely inspirational in getting me to push harder in workouts and has, like the World Cup with soccer, turned me onto cycling.

Here are my top 5 moments:

#5 – Armstrong’s 16 run

I was so mad at myself for sleeping in this day and missing Lance’s most dominant stage. An article talking about how his 38-year old legs were no match for those of the 20-something Frenchman who won got me the update and I got to watch the stage in the prime time coverage. Knowing that it was his last Tour made his long lead feel so legendary.

#4 – Contador’s 19 time trial

Stage 19 was actually the first time trial I got to watch, and man it was intense. Cancellara absolutely destroyed it and it was disappointing that his time wasn’t covered. But seeing Contador’s manager screaming, the 2009 champ picking it up, and his visceral facial expression on the acceleration at the finish makes #4.

#3 – Chavanel’s two breakaways in 2 and 7

With Armstrong out of contention by Stage 7 and me having no idea who any of these guys were yet, seeing Chavanel break away in the Alps and keep his lead, solo sometimes, was quite the spectacle.

#2 – Armstrong’s 3-crash day

I went into the Tour with a very typical, American, “go Lance” attitude. That never dissolved, but as the race ended it was accompanied by admiration for many other riders. His triple crash day was so very heartrending, but I really appreciated the consequences for me as a spectator: seeing his determination, opening an opportunity to learn about other guys, and being less, well, typical.

#1 – Andy Schleck’s chain in the Pyrenees

Ethically, the circumstances could not have been worse for Schleck. It was the final hill of the stage, the margin was tiny, and Contador’s adrenaline was likely through the roof as the attack against him was seemingly successful. Thus, the debate on whether the move into first that was made when Andy’s chain fell of is probably way thornier than past precedents set in yellow jersey changes via mechanical failure situations.

Regardless, as unfortunate as it was for Schleck, this event constitutes an amazing moment in sports. Apart from the practical angle of crisis management it has created an almost irreconcilable point of contention around the question: should he have waited? It created so much intensity in the remaining stages much like that of a Game 7 in basketball, baseball, and hockey or overtime in soccer or football. I’m lovin’ it.

Additionally

Cavendish is a god.

Livestrong is awesome too – really loved the jersey stunt in Paris. Incidentally I’m running my first race for a good cause and hope I can do a Livestrong challenge or two in the coming years.

The best looking jersey girls are either for the white jersey or final yellow (Jenn Sterger isn’t bad either). 30 Seconds to Mars does some great theme songs. Saw this brilliant video for the first time:

I want a bike.

Last night, after three years of separation, I had a drink with my wonderful friend from high school, Perry, at The Garage in Birmingham. We talked about the normal: love, jobs, places we’d been, and the skinny on our fellow graduates, but also had a very distinct chat about our attitudes over the decade as Catholic schoolers, people of Birmingham and Alabama, and people who put an extraordinary premium on things like pedigree, school names/rankings, and other debatably important properties. (ELITISTS!)

I left not so much a changed man, rather, our few hours’ of exchange had an effect of reinvigoration, one that is common after such meetings with old friends.

Their stories and advice are inspirational, the way they poke at your memory and put you back in places you had forgotten is magical, and, selfishly I suppose, the good feeling you get for knowing you’ve been a good friend by reuniting is warming.

Soon, in school, I worry that I won’t be able to take as much time to nurture these relationships, even via the internet. So if you are or will be an old friend, please don’t give up on me If you ask, eventually, I’ll put you down for a drink at some point, be it near or far, in the future.