Coalition turn out...

The other night was the local coalition meeting, and despite the
storm and cold, it was the largest turn out. We're in the process
of incorporating, and trying build the community. Strange to sit
around planning all the events for Bike Month (May) while it's so
cold. Almost triple the normal turnout, maybe everyone is just
going through withdrawls since the bike talk went way past the
meeting.

Now I rack my brain on how to build the coalition into something
that CAN make changes. How do you build the scene? How do you
get people other than the weekend warrior group rider out on
the road? I guess that's what I have the next three months for.
All I know is your scene begins with you, but half the time I
can't decide to even ride Critical Mass.

The BLUE show Febuary 6th

the witching hour...

The ride into work would normally be uneventful. Today it
justified 'the three foot passing law'. Nothing like getting
buzzed while well within a bike lane. And pushing studded
tires through snow, I'll never catch them at the next light.
I know the bad driver complaints are old, and something I'm
trying to eliminate, but the passive-aggresive honking from
someone turning into the university was almost too much.
If you really mean it, then honk well before you turn off.
That way I have a chance to stop and respond accordingly.
Anyways.... I was counting the last couple of blocks since
my toes were so frozen. I seem to discover a weak link in
my clothing selection with every temp drop. Today was no
exception, only it happened twice. Frozen toes to work...



Throughout the day I would see little snow flurries coming
and going. Everyone had some sort of remark for the guy that
rides to work. It's old. Like really bad background music.
As I suited up. Looking like a burnt version of the Stay Puff
marshmellow man, I rolled out just in time for the next wave
of snow. Maybe like a bad Northeastern version of surfing.



My other weak link in clothing you ask? Well you didn't, but I'll
tell you, not glasses, but goggles. I had to squint the whole
way home. It was great. Layered in snow. Plugging away with the
hum of the studded tires. A great thing when it actually WARMS UP
ENOUGH TO SNOW! This is one of those times that ties back to
being a kid. And as I got close to home I realized that I wasn't
the only one out here. I just hope their ride was as enjoyable.



Now what's the witching hour? Where do I tie it in? I didn't.
I didn't experience the witching hour, or the hour of SUCK.
That little window of time where I was riding to work on ice
then an hour later it was managable slush. But I avoided the
other hour when the sun goes down and that slush becomes
chunked ice. The hour never came, and my ride, as long and
snow covered as it was, made me feel almost guilty for taking
my time to get home.



So some lucky person waiting for me got to experience the other
'witching hour'. That hour around dinner time when little kids
go completely insane, throw tantrums, have meltdowns and finally
'bonk' right before dad walks through the door. I guess I avoided
two of them.

If you don't have kids, just laugh and dismiss it. You'll get yours
later. We laughed at the crazy mom describing 'the witching hour' too.

i wanna know what love is...

god, it's not this train wreck.
my tears are from laughing to hard.
I have to go now, ENJOY!

the fixed gear is dead (sorry)

With the release of Nashbar & Performance's fixed/commuter/
singlespeed/hipster-mode-of-social-change-and-identity.

Yes Jennifer, it's over. Like break dancing on the corner.
Your flannel and grunge cds. Your gold grills. It's all over.
It's now become one more identity that you can claim half
drunk at the bar, "yeah,I used to ride a fixed....".



Where will they all go?
Will they continue to ride?
Will track bikes be had for pennies on the dollar?

snow days again?

Yes.

But not fun for riding.

And I didn't realize it was going to become freezing rain.

And of course I didn't have studded tires (or ice skates).

design with Rob Forbes

Forwarded to me by mom. I'm not sure where I'm at with Mr. Forbes.
It's long, but worth a listen if you have some time.

work and idiots, hand in hand

people are idiots (in general).
I've come to accept this.
If you ride with that knowledge - that a driver WILL do
the MOST STUPIDEST act.
You'll probably live a little longer.

A year ago when Bush was still deniying a recession,
I was thinking,
"shit! it's gonna be like the depression era."
Time to start simplifying.

When Circuit City announced that it was closing doors,
there were no interested buyers, it became the topic of the
day. A couple of managers were gathered around talking
about the state of the economy and future reactions.

One exclaimed "well, it's retail. It's so easy to get a job!"

Wow! Are you really that clueless, or is that at a level of
plain stupidity? Really? Well, I guess maybe you could leave
your management position, and go work some random retail job.
But those positions have already been filled by other people
who have already lost thier jobs. Just plain stupid.



This last week was just weird. Secret faxes and phone calls.
Random secret discussions going on. Confidential packages
arriving. What the hell is going on? The lemmings that had
sense were worried. The others went about their business
like cows at a meat facory. It started on Monday, subtle
probing questions went unanswered. It finally hit on Friday.

Actually it leaked out online on Thursday. Eighteen percent
reduction, multiple closings, etc....

Nothing like living your day to day knowing there may be no
work tomorrow. Live it like that for a week. By the end I
could barely sleep. Everything was depressing.

On Friday two people left. A manager with two kids getting
ready for college. It's like watching someone fall out of
a lifeboat and drown. But because of that action, you now
get a spot in the boat. Suck. Unfortunately it goes by
seriority, not stupidity. So the manager with no clue about
the economy is still there as a reminder.



It's a cold year already. And 2009 will not be better. Quite
possibly 2010 will not be good either. It's going to be a long
bitter ride. I hope your job can't be eliminated, but it's a
good time to take a life inventory. I thought I was all good,
but now it's obvious there's still action to take. Good luck.



Now with the news that has been released in the last two days.
The writing isn't on the wall. It's a big f@cking billboard!
It's friends, family, and neighbors. People you ride with.
The other commuters you pass, or use to.

the prelude: the customer is NOT right

It's been -10 to the mid twenties for the last month.
Except for the couple days at freezing that I got out
to stretch the legs.
Five people occupy this small house, not including all
the four legged things.

Problem: The hot water heater started seeping last week.
Problem #2: I am not comfortable sweating pipes, and I
don't take chances with the gas line.
When you know the problem, the solution is usually easy
to slove. Usually.



I made a call to the best plumbing company. "$1350 installed."
It was almost laughable, but I wasn't laughing. This thing is
gonna blow anytime.

So I go to Lowes. $398 for the water heater, and $280 for the
install. That sounds alot better. I load it onto the cart and
head to check out.

"There's an additional $300 for a permit fee, required by the
city" the associate says.

"Are you f@ckin kidding me? The plumbing company told me it's
actually $15 but they charge $30. Not $300!"

"Sorry, the computer and my manager say it's $300."

"Well, you can keep your stuff then."

I check online with the city permits. Homeowner pays under $20.
The installer licensing is $300 for a 'B' permit - which they
should already have.

Call a different Lowes. Get a manager on the phone.

"It's anywhere from $120 to $300 if you live in the city"
she rudely says, as I question the permit amount.

This thing is gonna blow soon.

Call plumbing company back.
"How much just to have my hot water heater swapped out,
just the labor?"

"$125 for the first hour, $95 every hour after, $30 for
the permit."

Go to another store. Buy the water heater for $400.
Carefully drag the fat bastard down to the basement.
$168 later, I have hot water. But that was the biggest
pain in the ass. You screw with customers, you may make
some money, but eventually you'll loose more than you
made.

reading your diary....

The events in the last week and a half have left little time
for posts, or even checking in on other blogs. But there was
time to reflect on why. Why do I care? Why am I so interested?
You'll never catch me watching a reality show. But blogs are
an edited glimpse into someone's life, or interest. For this
community it tends to be about bikes. Then there's the
surrounding advocacy, politics, types of bikes, racers, bad
drivers, unsafe streets, hipsters, scenesters, commuters,
there's alot of tired old complaints and alot of new discoveries.
For here I offer more of a personal insight and maybe less of
the bike. Over thirty bikes have rolled or been shipped out the
front door, I found my love - a one bike guy I am.

So I hope you keep checking in. There is always something going
on, I just can't manage four or five blogs all for different
topics. So this becomes the do-all of thoughts, ideas, and
stories... bike related or not. Hopefully you can relate
and enjoy it for whatever it becomes.

THE SUV of BLOGS. That would be appropriate! Outdated and out
of style, rusty and semi-broken down. But for some reason,
still exists.




So for a more personal note. In the 'Must Reads', is my mom's
blog. Maybe you can find it. BTW - I have two moms (and yes,
two dads). The story there could fill an entire blog, maybe
even a book. What lies in there is who I am, why I sold over
thirty bikes, carry a camera everywhere, pursued showing my
'work', and have focused on simplifying my hectic life.

Thanks for sharing...
and entertaining.

johnny has a home

it was a short stay, and one of the easiest (even with FOUR dogs
running around). Johnny now has a new home & new chance.

I know it's not really bike related, but neither am I. Well, bikes
do consume most of my free time, and are an inadvertant identity,
but there is alot to life, bikes just weave themselves into many
aspects of most of our lives. Rambling on to new post....

snowballs!

actually one gaint snowball chasing be down a hill.
that's been my life this last week, and I'm just trying
to get out of it's way. Can never figure out why I'm so
irritable until I realize it's been fifteen hours since
I've even sat down, let alone relaxed. Maybe this week..

The BLUE show - Febuary 2009

Got word this morning that four works made it into the upcoming
'BLUE' show, Febuary 6-27th. One 'mini' goal accomplished. The
gallery usually accomodates 40 works in the main room, so that's
ten percent of the room (using my basic math skills to feel good
about myself, also why I don't have a cycle computer, and stay
away from my scale - lately).

speech writers

'Every man is either trying to live up to his father's expectations,
or making up for his father's mistakes.'

-Obama, refering to a quote that applies to his relationship
with his father, and alot of ours.



Yeah, that one hit close to home. And then while watching his
speech on tuesday, all I could think is "Damn, who is your speech
writer?" I don't know what you pay them, but well done! And if you
penned that yourself, well, then I'm blown away. If you can shape
up this government like you deliver speeches, I think we'll be ok.
At some point.

You almost got me. Got a little teary eyed, almost. Hopefully no one
will forget how we got into this mess. And he addressed that in the
speech. I'm impressed. Hope that was uncomfortable for W. He
deserved harsher words, but I'll take what was given.

Lets hope everyone can take those words to heart, roll up their
sleeves, and help make this a better, less self-absorbed, society.

too spent...

Just stop making lists.
Eat more.
More TV time while on the couch.
I'm just tired and worn out.

Then I find a picture of me from last years Commuter Contest.
SUCK!
I'ld post it to embarrass myself back into shape.
First I need to remove the innocent people from it.
You can referance this for now:



Someone really screwed up by letting me out the door like that.
All I need is a Primal jersey and a recumbent.
Now I'm tired and depressed.
It's time to breakout the trainer and mount up some slicks.

for now I leave you this: