Time continues to elude me to put a blog together. I can think of many excuses but are they really worth it? Probably not, it's just that other things have taken precedence over blogging. I truly have missed 'spilling my guts' for you to come and read. I love letting my fingers type away about some random wacky event that happened to me or some off the wall thought that runs through my head.

As for instance, I witnessed a guy a few weeks back, drive his car off of a 10 ft. wall at the Sams Club parking lot here in town. He was drunk off of his ass and tried to drive away afterwards, even though we was bleeding profusely. He probably would have done it too if his car had somewhat survived the 10 ft. fall. Luckily, his stupidity only caused him injury and not some innocent sober individual. He did however come very close to rear ending me a few times before he pulled the wannabe 'Thelma and Louise'.

On another note, my crazy roommate moved out and took the dog which had become mine over the past 3 years. Even though she had consistently said that he would be left with me and agreed that he had become my dog and clearly wanted to be with me over her. The shitty thing most of all about it was that she whisked him away while I was not home. So I didn't even have the chance to say goodbye to him. I am extremely happy to be roommate free but miss my dog terribly.

I have however made a new friend that has brought the biggest smile to my face and an abundance of joy. Everyday is better than the last. So even though I have told you this a million times, I have to say thank you for being a part of my life. You know who you are.

It's not the comeback I had anticipated or was planning on. However, similar things took control as they did when I took my departure. I am at a loss of words at the moment on where to start and what I want to actually say.

Summer is practically on the downward spiral into Autumn. I am really loving the temp's these days but could use the daylight that the summer brings. I am uber excited for a few folks. For Shawn and also Natalie for being back in the states. And for MLA for making it home to Chicago. I am not sure if she even stops in here anymore, it has sadly been a long time since we have spoken.

Hope that you all had a great summer and that you are going into fall with your head up. I certainly am, as Cyclocross and NFL seasons are among us.

Smashin Pumpkins - Disarm

Superstition

Do you ever come across a number randomly and you have some connection to it. Such as your age, birthday, house number or some other random number that you may have a connection to. Then think you came across that number for some reason.

On occasion I come across the number 37, which in turn for me is the number of my friends race car. He has been racing for several years. When that number comes up, I always say to myself that he is going to win his next race. Of course, it doesn't always have the result I wish upon but I keep doing it none the less.

I know this is totally useless but what the heck, this is just another random blog by me. Guess a bit of my wackiness is back along with my blogging.

Comeback

The time continues to escape me and I have become a stranger to this page. It isn't that I have forgotten or lost interest. I have been avoiding being here for a number of different reasons, not sure if they are legitimate or I have just not put forth the effort.

Anyways, Summer has been going well and after the bumpy(very) start of it I am getting back on level ground. More or less. Even though I have been absent from my page. I am still a regular visitor to the bloggers I have on my side bar --->

Lizzy, Chaya, Emily and a few others that I will keep in the shadows. So here it is, this is my return and I sure have some stories for you guys. I hope that you return as I definitely am back.

End of an Era

Mama don't take my, Momma don't take my, Momma don't take my Kodachrome away...

Crunch, Crisis or whatever you call it

I am referring to the country's economic status at the present. Well on Friday afternoon, it caught up with me. I am not to worried about things as of yet but it still is nagging at me from somewhere deep with in. I am trying to keep a positive attitude as I move on. Today's solo 50 or so miles in the saddle sure helped but there is nothing like riding with good friends. At least tomorrow's ride will be shorter and will be with others. Hopefully the wind isn't as bad as today.

Hope all of you are doing well during these times and just as it has been said many times before, be thankful for what you have and for having a job. I hope none of you has to get laid off like me.

Hoping to Help Chaya

This is what your lever and bar's typically look like. Notice the rubber part that extends down onto the bar, connecting with the bar tape.

This is what it should look like when you fold up the rubber part off of the hood part and away from the bars.

Here is an inside view after folding the rubber part up. As you can see my finger is holding back a piece of bar tape that was covered by the rubber piece. My finger is pointing at the screw you should see to tighten up. Your bar tape may be covering it up, that's why you might have missed it. Let me know please how things work out.

Johnny Cash - Hurt

Cannot find the words with how much this speaks to me in so many ways. Hope you enjoy.

Well hello there. How is everything going with you and those surrounding you? Things here keep progressing in a good light. The legs are getting stronger as I am being strict about my time in the saddle. Work is picking up again thankfully as well.

What I am most happy with at the moment is that I get to get out of town for the weekend and get to enjoy another love of mine. Dirt track racing! So this is where you will find me.

Hope you guys have fun with however you fill up your weekend. Whether that be battling the snow in Maine or hoping the trails thaw so you can go ride in PA. Catch you guys soon.

Back from...
Well where do I start? I had a marvelous time in Missouri and really hated for the weekend to end. It was great not having any schedule and doing things to fill the time however we saw fit. I really had a great time hanging out with Emily and getting to meet Taylor. Thank's a million to the Gibson family for having me. Hope I can make it out there this summer for a "float trip". Not to mention, enjoy some of those great eateries I was treated to.

Well, since returning I have stayed busy with my gym workouts and have been getting out on the bicycle. I am working my way up for a big race at the end of May. This one. It sure is demanding with the climbing. Need some more work on that but I think with the way things are going so far, I will be ready by the time race day comes.

The weather has been decent here, for the most part anyways. I see MLA is still getting pounded with snow and her future is still in Limbo. I am glad though that she was able to celebrate another year and her surgery went well.

I hope you all are doing well also and thank you for continuing to stop in despite my lack of posting. Talk with you guys soon. On another note are you guys on twitter? If so, would you let me know. I would love to follow you there also. I have a link to my twitter on the side bar. ---->

Chalupa Supreme!

Downhill Extraordinaire

Well headed out to Missouri tomorrow by way of Albuquerque and DFW. Getting away to see some friends from my Navy days. Plus I am carrying on my tradition of going somewhere new in January since 2003. I want to let you all know that I am more than willing to go and see you if the invitation is presented.

Hope you all have a good time working on Thursday and Friday and have a nice weekend. Are you going to be watching the Super Bowl? Who's your pick to win?

What an experiment

Have you ever wondered how much you change physically in a year. There are many factors involved. I had heard of an experiment and decided to take it on.

Well on January 1, 2008 I started taking a picture of myself everyday for the year. It started off with much excitement and dedication. I managed to complete it somehow. I will look back on it with happiness of my completion but never could see myself doing it ever again. I managed to get a picture all 366 days with it being a leap year and all. The main drawback for me was having to upload the pictures onto my computer and then onto my Flickr account.

Well it is complete now, so if you care to take a peek or watch them in a slide show click here.

Let me know what you think if you would please.

Oh my...Say what?

The Knack - My Sharona

Seven Months is a long time

For you Olins as you head out to set sail. Take care and hit it hard. Hope you get some vids of you riding at sea.

East Coast = COLD

How are you Easterners dealing with the bitter cold that is all over the news. Yes MLA you are included in that group. Have not heard from you in quite some time.

Hope all is going well and you (MLA, Chaya, lizzy)are staying as warm as possible. Not to mention the millions of others who call the east coast home. Feel free to throw your two cents in.

Congrats to Shriver

Matt Shriver was the first to get the nod for CX worlds after the automatic selection of National Champ Ryan Trebon.

Now for the rest of the team that is due to be announced tomorrow...

Way Cool

Not to mention at least some of the bail out money being put to use because of someone actually using their head and hoping to make a difference.

Bike to work.

As I said before I love bicycles...

I love bicycles

Anchors Away

We don't talk as much as I would like. Life gets in the way and we both realize this. More so with you, as you have a family. However the texting back and forth and the comments via Twitter are a great relief. Even with it being a long time since we saw each other at the Bremerton airport.

With that I sure am going to miss being able to talk to you by texting something random like what size do you ride? Or talking about the "very hard training". I understand that it will not be forever but 7 months is quite the spread. I know I have a few more days so let's just make the most of it.

I wish you the best with the deployment, being away from the family and the endeavour that will be in your mind that you plan to tackle upon arriving back home.

With the country facing a poor economy at the present, unemployment is through the roof and businesses are closing left and right. With that a question comes to mind. Do you think the major corporations will be spending millions of dollars on 30 seconds of airtime for commercials during the Super Bowl this year?

To me that sounds no different than the GM executives flying to D.C. on their private jets to ask for Bail Out money. Then again I think I am getting the Jane's Addiction syndrum.


I will leave with this. It is interesting and wonder if it actually has a hope of getting off the ground.

You have got to be kidding me...

I thought I had heard just about everything that had to deal with the bailouts. Then I come across this. Absolute ridiculous but why should I be surprised honestly?? Hope Chaya doesn't mind me stealing her blog topic.

Unibrow anyone?

No, this is not a picture from the movie Nerds or the Italian I saw with Russ one day. This is good ol' cycling in Venezuela.

Katy Perry - Hot N Cold

Sorry but I find it catchy...

I did not intend on ending the year I did with a serious lack of blogging. Things don't always work how we want however. I had a wonderful holiday season, I just didn't make the time to put anything here. How were your holidays by the way? Make any new years resolutions? I made a few but with no offense to you, I am keeping them to myself.

I don't believe I ever shared this before but started going to the new gym here in town and I can not get enough of it. Today is my off day but I was there yesterday and Sunday.

Do you guys twitter? Or have you heard of it? I was introduced to it and that led partly to my lack of blogging but I'm not complaining.

I plan on blogging more this year than last year, wish me luck!

Let me know how you are all doing, would love to hear from you.

In closing, I have to say Thank you very much to the Chief for finally successfully sending me a Christmas card.