Cookies & chocolate, bikes, and happiness (not necessarily in that order)

My life has been full of cookies & chocolate, bikes, and happiness lately (not necessarily in that order). My new friend has re-introduced chocolate to me and customers are still bringing in cookies to the shop each day. They must think because we ride bikes so much, we can burn it all off quickly. I say, the more I eat cookies the less I can ride! There must be a happy medium somewhere?!

As I sit here I am eating cookies with my coffee.

I've been cutting back on the drinking and increasing my focus on training. I'm getting MUCH stronger and my confidence level has grown as well. I truly enjoy cycling and am glad I found something I am good at and can master over time.

This weekend is extremely exciting. Tonight, my friends are throwing an Ugly Sweater Party and you know I'm going all out, all of my team members are coming in town for our Team Training Camp, and MY GURL Danae is coming back home to stay for a few days. I haven't seen her since Mary and I went to NY...it feels like it was a year ago!



My first neice! Addison on the right with her mom, Lorie



My (favorite) nephew Jake - getting cleft pallet surgery next month

Happiness. I had dinner with my mom, Tony, Josh, and all of Tony's kids and my nephews and niece. I realized by the end of the night that life is so much more enjoyable when you are truly happy. Everything is so much easier and simpler. There is a special person in my life who has shown me so many wonderful things. Finding my inner happiness is one of them. Finding true happiness with another person is also one of them. For the first time in my life, at the ripe age of 24, I've finally found someone I can look in the eyes with a smile and get an even bigger smile back. I'm telling you all, the simple things in life are sometimes the most important.

Let the Sponsorship Begin!

I am now an official team member of the first-ever all women's cycling team in St. Louis - Team Revolution.

This is huge, folks. Look at their website and you will know why.

My last day at the law firm is tomorrow. I wasn't getting paid enough and my boss was just way too difficult to work with. As for the future, all I care about are taking the LSAT on Saturday, then the many festivities planned afterwards. More on that later.

For now - I'm keeping myself happy with good music, a sweet Mazda 5 rental car while mine is being fixed, bicycles, Jameson whiskey, and awesome friends that always seem to be around the bend no matter how treacherous my path may be.

This is a big thank you to anyone who sends me a small birthday message on facebook/myspace, takes me out for my birthday, buys me a card, calls me, texts me, comes into contact with me only once a year, writes me an email randomly after not speaking for months. I'm sorry to say that I'm the type of person who cuts off constant contact with friends when I'm going through a rough time. What's beautiful is peaking out of those rough times and seeing shining friendly faces at the surface.

Wow, alot of enlightenment here. I love you guys.

Ti Quiero

...ti quiero...that's all I've been repeating to myself lately. It's Spanish for "I like you", but it's a different meaning of "like". Those who speak Spanish to their fellow Spanish speakers only use this phrase if they really care about the person they say it to. I met someone, a beautiful woman, probably the most beautiful woman I've ever come into contact yet. Ay-yay-yay, mama mia! All I can say is the timing was perfect. The previous woman in my life was the queen of bad timing; this woman is the master of perfect timing. More to come...I don't want to jinx anything.

So I was in a car accident on Sunday - the day before my 24th birthday. It was totally my fault (and slightly my car's fault, along with mother nature, and whoever paved the road to be slick when wet, and the other guy's fault for being in the wrong place at at the wrong time). I was turning right onto a street where he sat at a stop sign and my brakes locked up and I slid right into his STEP-BROTHER'S truck. More damaged was ensued upon the huge F-150 than my 4-door. He was super nice, even though he was in the middle of moving to a new house he just built. Whew! I get my car fixed tomorrow and my insurance company is providing me with a complimentary rental car in the meantime. Awesome.

If you were wondering, because I know you were, I was on my way to my grandpa's house. Actually, I was 2 minutes away from his house when I slid. I picked up a fishing pole to use for next weekend (not this coming weekend). This new woman in my life and I are going to a remote cabin somewhere in Missouri to fish, sleep, mountain bike, hike, enjoy, enjoy, enjoy, enjoy life, and relax. Ahhh I can't wait. Until then, I take the LSAT on Dec. 1st...this coming Saturday. Please send all remorse letters to the following address:

Jessica M.
Heart

Thanks!

So, my birthday was yesterday. The special Latina took me out - good times, good food, I wore a dress, makeup and heels and looked hot. Tonight - a good friend is taking me out. I love this. Friends are amazing. What's even more amazing is when someone you love with all of your heart treats you worse than an acquaintance you see only once a month. Amazing. And even more amazing than THAT! is when I finally can truly say that I am over her. Now that is beautiful my friends, that is beautiful.

Alright, so it looks like I opened up a bit here. I hope you enjoyed it all.
Thanks to all of my friends who sent me birthday messages (first to mind - Sarah Mulford-Kinkade=blogger for life). To those who forgot, no worries. Buy me a drink next time you see me out, I love it when others pay for my drinks.

Love you all, and for the first time in 1.5 years - I love myself:)

Runny nose but my wheels still roll

2 weeks from the day I got my cold and my nose is still both running and stuffed up at the same time. Weird... but hey, my wheels are still rolling. My friend and I joined the Trek store gang on Turkey Day and we rode some hills near Castlewood and 109. I didn't have much air in my tires because my pump broke and putting air in my tires was the last thing on my mind. Let's just say it was rather difficult getting up hills without much help from my tires.

I rode my track bike to the gym this morning and was glad to see a guy leaving on a fixie. It's nice not having as many riders out in the winter time because you don't have to worry about some jerk tailing you or trying to get around you. It's also nice because it reminds me of how devoted I am to the sport, and how devoted the few others riding in 10 degree weather are as well. I hope more people learn that investing in warm clothes that will last them at least 10 years can bring much joy to their winter off-season.

I can't wait for our Manchester team ride tomorrow morning - we're hitting High Ridge. It's beautiful once we get to the top and traffic is usually slow on Sundays. I love my boys:)

I'm asking for a 'cross bike for Christmas. Wish me luck! Or, if you would like to donate my mom's address is....

Movin' and shakin'

After an entire week of having this nasty cold that's supposedly going around, I finally hopped on my bike tonight after work. Luckily Brian had already assigned this past week as my off week, so I was able to let my body recover from the cold and riding. I feel great (even though I still have annoying nasle congestion) and can't wait for the Turkey Day ride from the Trek store on Thursday morning! I love making those boys cry for their mommies.

I had a great weekend. I had a productive session with my psychologist, hung out with several friends, partied Saturday night (along with landing a date for Friday), and slept in. I also was able to stop by the 'cross race at Queeny. I'm thinking of asking for a 'cross bike for Christmas. Any ideas?

Work is going well. I'm improving my skills and am starting to finally get comfortable with everything.

I don't have too much to talk about...mostly a bunch of personal thoughts about my brother being back home, my date for Friday, a current friend I have feelings for, and the fact that I'm finally starting to SLLLLOOWWWLLLY get over you-know-who. It's taking a while, but the process has finally been initiated.

Ok, I need to move on to my Full Circle Organic Beef Burger. mmmmmm. Leave the hormones for the bedroom!

Pick you poison

Tuberculosis or separated collar bone?

Smurfette Cyclists, aka, my best friend Lindsay Wetzel received both! Trick and treat!

She just got done battling TB (which was misdiagnosed by many incompetent numbskull doctors), and once she finally healed after years of misery off the bike, she separated her collar bone during a cross race. You should have heard me scream through the car window when I found out. The entire neighborhood jumped. Please post nice things on her blog, which the link can be found to the right of your screen:)

I'm glad I am forking out money to have Brian Jensen train me. The results are astounding. I am not only in control of almost every muscle in my body now, but I have a sense of strength I never had before. I am much more aware of my body and my abilities.

Hey, so life is good. My new job is cool, I get along with my boss(es), coworkers, and am easily adjusting to the new schedule. I have met a couple of new friends, am working on bettering current friendships, and learning to deal with a past "relationship" as well as my anger towards my brother. I'm feeling good, even though sometimes I find myself losing hope.

A new friend of mine bought me an amazing book - James Frey's "A Million Little Pieces". I know of the controversy, but who f*ing cares?! I'm sure others have gone through these fictional situations and have lived to tell their story. I just have to say that I have never cried so hard while reading a book, not even Mitch Albom's books.

Work hard, play hard, read hard, sleep hard, strum softly, and drink softly:)

Demon Days

My days haven't been demonic lately, but they have been a tad blue. I'm having to end something I wish I wouldn't have to end. I put alot of time, effort, emotion, and dedication into it and never received much in return. It was pretty much a one-sided effort on my part and many miscommunicated (or unsaid) words from the other part. This is tough, really tough.

In other news, the Brandi Carlile concert was amazing. I rode my scooter to the Pageant and had VIP parking on the sidewalk:) Brandi will keep growing as a musician; it's obvious in how steadily her style changes. Next week is Nickel Creek and those folks definitely know how to get down.

My training is going really well. Brian has me doing mainly technique workouts and after 3 weeks I can already feel the improvements. I've been occasionally waking up at 6 to ride before work and it's neat seeing so many cyclists so early in the morning. I don't want this to come across rude, but I feel like the true cyclists are those who have lights and cold weather gear so they can ride all year long. Dedication is shown when one can wake up at 5 or 6 to ride in complete darkness, howling winds, and through neighborhoods with crack dealers hollering at you.

This weekend is blog-worthy. I have so many fun events planned - finally! Because of [paragraph 1] I am learning how to make myself happy again and therefore made sure to be social for the first weekend in a long time. Tonight I'm hanging out with my ex, Jess. Tomorrow I am working out, getting my haircut (lawyer style but still keeping it hip), getting brunch with Beth and Laura (old HS buddies!) and spending the rest of the afternoon with them, then getting drinks with the Conley twins who want to introduce me to a hot bartender. My cousin was going to have a wedding shower that evening, but her fiance's relative died and they are flying to Belgium to visit his family. Sunday is my last day at the bike shop, so hopefully we will go out afterwards and grab some beers to reminisce over.

You may be wondering how my brother is doing. I don't really have an answer. He wrote my mom saying he is doing well and needs music put onto my iPod I lent him and also wants cigarettes. I hate the fact that he's smoking and wish he could divert his addictive behavior toward running and cycling.

Oh, and I called the psychologist to schedule an appointment (mainly because of paragraph 1 and paragraph 5). My mom is sick of hearing about it, and rightfully so, and I think this woman will have more to say.

Bike on!

Century Shmentury

I did my first century yesterday. More to come. I am grabbing coffee with a friend in a few minutes...

...ok, so we started the ride around 7:30am at the Schafly Taproom. It was a nice start because J.D. and I sat behind the Bicycle Fun Club crew who led the way. The route was clearly marked with pink arrows, but it was much easier to keep a steady pace behind riders who knew where they were going.

We only ran into a few mishaps. Getting off the first ferry was a bit humorous, and slightly annoying. All of the riders rode off of the ferry onto the road, but it started with an uphill climb. As you can guess, many could not shift down and either unclipped or fell in front of other riders. I managed to stay clipped in and ride away from what felt like a route covered in land mines.

Later when Damian was pulling J.D. and I along the ENTIRE Alton river road, he rode across railroad tracks diagonally to avoid getting his wheels stuck, and ended up riding too close to the curb and flew head first into a dirt ditch. He hopped back up with a bloody leg and dirty jersey, but was determined to score some chicks with his new road rash (and perfectly unscathed bike).

Riding back along the river and on a desolate Illinois highway was rough, mentally. My feet were KILLING me and the wind was relentless, but I managed to pull for a while and felt strong. Once we rode into the city our moods changed. The Rams game had just let out and people were everywhere. We swerved through traffic and pedestrians and ended up finishing right at 100 miles.

J.D. and Damian, I couldn't have done it without you guys. What a blast! I just need to wait another year to do a century...my feet need some rest!

When G-d opens a window he closes a door

I have some good news and I have some really really bad news.

I was given a position at a law firm and am taking the offer. This is a huge step for me and the best I can make right now. I am studying for the LSAT in December and am extremely excited to make this change. I have always wanted to be a lawyer; I remember as a child going to my dad's mock trial classes when he taught at Cor Jesu. This firm is amazing, Garnholz and Ricci, and full of powerful women who I'm sure will change my life. Lynn Ricci was my college professor who I greatly admired and I am honored to be working for her.

I also begin using Brian Jensen as my coach on Oct. 1st. This is another important part of my life. I am finally taking racing seriously and know that I am in good hands. I enjoy having a training schedule because I can see my progress (or lack thereof) and track it.

The bad news - my brother has refused treatment and is somewhere in St. Louis with a dead cell phone and maybe a few pairs of pants-no car, no money. This is the first time I have really discussed any of this to more than 3 people, and the reason for that is because I don't have the energy to say it. I have so many thoughts and feelings I could burst, but bringing them out of me is too exhausting. I still haven't cried, haven't punched a wall, maybe drove my scooter a bit too fast in the park or hammered too hard up a hill on my bicycle, but really haven't expressed my true feelings. I guess I'm just waiting for it to finally happen and am not forcing the emotions out of me.

I also don't have too many people to talk to. I can, of course, talk to my parents but they are exhausted as well. My Danaesy listens well and understands, and some other friends sort of understand...but really I'm wondering if I should go back to the psychologist my family has been going to. I really don't want to fork out any money over something I didn't cause...but am wondering just how long I can last feeling like this. Any ideas?

Song of the week - "Talk Show Host" by Radiohead. iTunes it if you don't know it.

I left my heart in Iowa City

I received a long-awaited email from Lindsay's boyfriend David this week. He told me that the Don't Quit Your Day Job plaid kits are available! I first spotted these kits when visiting Lindsay in Iowa and ever since have wanted a set. Here is the link to the images: http://www.flickr.com/photos/helpingfriendlybook/104300427/. SWEET! Thanks David!



I met the Discovery Team. Yep. Wow, what a well-rounded group of guys. They all have very different personalities that seem to mesh really well off and on the road. Tony Cruz made the biggest impression on me. I can still remember this tan California dude telling me in his best fake hick accent, the story about the 3 males in suspenders leaning against their pick-up truck in middle Missouri. As the peloton rode by the men, the men (leaning against the truck with their hands in their belts) muttered "faggots" to the racers as they rode by. Little did they know who these men really were...

I've been riding my bike like a rock star. I feel great on the bike and am glad I didn't completely crash now that racing season is over for 2007. Brian Jensen will start coaching me in October (now called Biketober), so that will be exciting. I decided to get a coach because I truly have no idea how to train. And if I want to get stronger and smarter, that's the best choice to make. I am stoked!

Long, Long Time

I was sitting at my computer returning emails and decided to play some music from my iPhone. I turned on Erin Bode and realized I hadn't checked her website in awhile. I visited her site and saw a rather interesting news blurb on the front page. It read:

"Erin Bode Group Legal Support Fund
Erin writes, 'I am sad to tell you that the future of the Erin Bode Group is in jeopardy. We have added a link for contributions to our legal support fund. As soon as I am allowed to give you more details, I will. Until then, if you care to help today you can use the link below to donate. Any amount will be greatly appreciated.'"

No one can find any further explanations of her legal difficulties; even STL Jazz Notes wrote about the vagueness of the situation:
STL Jazz Notes

Your guess is as good as mine. All I know is that this woman is incredibly talented and would be greatly missed if she was unable to perform anymore. I hope this all clears up so she can focus on her career.

Gateway Cup and such

This past weekend was a blast, and went by too quickly. I raced Gateway Cup for my 3rd year and it was definitely the fastest year yet. A few Pro Women came into town to race and that picked up the pace, as well as the field being quite large and perfect for numerous attacks and breakaways (one in which I failed to bridge up). I placed an exhausted 19th and 15th the first 2 days (add continuous lack of sleep and full day of work onto those days as well), but came back strong the next 2. I didn't place on the 3rd day because I got a flat with one lap to go, but held out for 11th on the last day. That race hurt so badly, but I dug it out for the field sprint. All in all, I loved racing with the women and had such a blast before, during, and after the races.

I was also approached by a team who wants me to join, and am talking to another team about potential spots as well. THIS was my goal. I wasn't too particular about where I placed, but more focused on doing well enough to grab some teammates. As some of you already know, or have already read, I want to go pro and need to get on the right team to get me there. I've already decided which team I want to go with, it's now time to see if it can happen. More on this as it progresses...

Not much is going on this week for me. I'm done racing until the 22nd and will catch up on sleep and the usual household chores. My best friend Mindi stayed with me and helped clean my place while I was working...but I still have more work to do:)

Oh, and I got a new phone number (and phone). If you did not receive my text about it, call my old number and I have the new number listed in my voicemail response message.

Sleep, bike, food!

The following thoughts have nothing in common

Forest Park is one of the greatest spots in this city. My friend and I walked in it last evening as the sun was setting and I realized how important the park is to me and so many other people. Not only is it the largest in the US, it also hosts professional tennis matches, has a great golf course, nice running and biking trail, and let's not forget the AMAZING museums. The history behind the park reaches way back to the 1900s, and it still resembles it's ancient look while staying modern. I'll bet everyone in this city has a memory or two of doing something spectacular in the park. I know I do.

I want to go pro. I'm getting stronger and smarter on the bike and want to continue my improvement. I will cat up soon and am ready to take that next level. However, I need to find the right coach and team. I really want to go to a training camp, so I have contacted the USWDCP for information. If you have any advice, ideas, or openings, let me know.

M.I.A.'s new album, Kala, is FANTASTIC! You can hear a definite growth in her songs. She kept her usual style, but experimented a bit more. I highly recommend going to Vintage Vinyl and buying it - you get a free headband with the purchase.

My friend and I are planning a 3 day ride for the fall season and I am STOKED! Does anyone know of a nice place in the US to ride in the fall? We're open to ideas.

Gunshot heard in Tower Grove Park

...and as I rode Charles in Tower Grove Park, he blew his front tire off the rim. This, of course, happened just as I rode by an unsuspecting runner. The little man told me he thought he was being shot at. I had to laugh...all the way home...because he said that.

So, I fixed the tube and found out the tire was ok to put back on. I rode over to Mangia with Eggo (riding bikes with friends who ride bikes is WAY fun), then rode over to the Black Thorn to meet Truckey and her boys who are friends. We watched the Cardinals lose horribly to the Marlins (THE MARLINS?!) and laughed about scary mothers and racist south city hoosiers at Friendly's.

My CT Scan looked normal to the radiologist, but I still have to hear from Dr. Dooley. I think it will be normal. I just have to deal with post-concussion symptoms, such as my tinnitus being worse, lightheaded, tired, etc. As long as I can ride my scooter, do intervals on Baby Bomber, and race I am happy.

Newest member to my 8 bike family - Charles

My co-worker gave me an old Royce Union 3 speed internal hub cruiser for FREE. I never knew life until I met this bike. He is dusty, with fenders, great tires, super comfy saddle, and Euro-style brakes. I shall name him Charles. I have been dying to find such a bike since I got back from Italy. The Italians all ride old, klunky cruisers EVERYWHERE and look so happy and comfortable on them. I now know why. I can't wait to ride Charles to meet some friends for beers tonight. I have about an hour until I start running errands...I'm going to go for a quick ride.



I'm getting a CT scan of my brain this afternoon. I'm not worried. In Madison, a co-worker of mine slammed my head against a concrete wall and gave me my 5th concussion. I was nauseas afterwards and have had killer headaches since (it's been 8 days). So, my neurologist, Dr. Dooley, decided it was best to check for slow leaks of blood in the brain. Excellent. I don't think there is a leak, but it is procedure and therefore another waste of hundreds of my dollars. Oh how health insurance in the US makes so much sense!

Italy, England, Missouri, Wisconsin

Pleasant and tantalizing events have been taking place in the past few months. I went to Italy...

...and England...


...and carried my enthusiasm into the Missouri State Criterium Championship...

...as well as the Vespa store...

...and continued all the way to Madison, Wisconsin for Trek World 2008. I spent most of my time working hard, studying new products, and spending time with the newest, most profound addition to my life-a person who graces this earth each time he opens his mouth or moves his body.

Basically, my trip to Europe changed my life for the better. I am more optimistic and happy than I have ever been. I've hit a few road bumps along the way, some bigger than others, but manage to keep it rubber side down. I now have new friends, better friends, and supercalifragilistic friends who unfortunately do not live in St. Louis (you know who you are).

My family is doing well, work is going well, I've been riding my bike like a monster, and reading a fantastic book about Sandra Day O'Connor for some extra strength conditioning.

Over and out

Because of my uncontrollable charlie horses the past 2 mornings, I have decided not to race in Washington today. Bummer. I was riding extremely well and ready to smash the competition, but when the body speaks I must listen. My next race isn't for a couple of weeks, so that should give me plenty of time to rest.


In other news, I submitted my T1 to FGG. And as I am typing this at a coffee shop, a hipster is riding around on his fixie without a helmet trying to fit in by using toe cages and wearing all black. Excellent. Maybe I should go ask him if he knows who Major Taylor is.


Ma Balda visited and dropped off her art I bought. I will post pictures once I load them on my powerbook. The panels actually connect to each other horizontally, so I will post a picture of the art once I get it hung. It is BEAUTIFUL!! Thanks Mary:)





I also painted something. My friend Katie is vegan and has taught me more than I could ever imagine about vegetarianism and veganism. So, I decided to dabble in the paint and whip something up. It's my first attempt at painting, please remember:)

Her Morning Elegance

Ma Balda is coming to town!!!!! My good friend Mary is gracing St. Louis with her presence tonight and tomorrow. She won last year's BFAs at Webster University for best piece of artwork and is coming back to visit this year's BFAs and start a fight...well, not really...maybe it's the free wine. She will also be hand-delivering the piece I bought from her, which is actually the piece that helped her win last year. I will post a photo of it when it arrives.


So, supposedly Nickel Creek is back together. They are playing a show up north at the Interlochen music center, but I will be coming back from London at the time. I might go later in the month or early August to see them play; unfortunately, they are not coming to St. Louis again this year so I will have to make a road trip out of it (or take the train)! This band has helped shift my life into something amazing. I had never heard their sound before, and as every album changes so do I. No artist has ever moved me as they do, and I'm extremely grateful I can somewhat play their songs on guitar. Now I need to get my hands on a mandolin!


Isn't this weather unreal? I can't remember the last time it rained for a whole week. It might put a slight damper on this weekend. I'm going to a family event/Derby Party this Saturday at my mom's and was hoping to go swimming in her pool, but that might not happen. If anyone has recommendations on finding some sweet hats, let me know. Sunday I have a race in Washington, MO. It's a Circuit race meaning it's shorter than a road race but longer than a criterium. The loop for this race is 4.8 miles and we go around 5 times. I talked to Carrie and Team Rev. won't be there, so it will be interesting to see how many women show up. In the Tour of St. Louis this weekend we didn't have many women racing with us and it made for a rather boring race (although the payout was nice). The payout for Washington is great as well so it should be fun. I also want to check out the town - I love exploring old towns and seeing how the buildings were made. I don't think the history buff in me will EVER leave.


I should have a good weekend. Last weekend was a tad tumultuous. My brother called us crying from Indiana - his lacrosse coach for De Smet died of a heart attack at breakfast while they were at a tournament. Then, my good friend Katie told me she broke her face mountain biking. She has to get a titanium plate put in her cheek bone area next week. Then, 2 nights ago my buddies Nick and Greg were on a training ride when a lady illegally drove into their lane and gave Nick a seriously deep gash on his shin and basically totalled his bike. Greg is ok thankfully, but I'm not sure how his bike is. I noticed on the past 2 rides I've done in the past 2 days that drivers are really sketchy. Way too many people were recklessly swerving around me, turning in front of me too late, and not yielding when they should. The barometric pressure needs to start lifting!

From cast to fast

Oh those days were miserable...





...now I'm smiling. If you listen closely, Louie Armstrong is playing his horn on Broadway...





If you want to see some interesting photos from the accident and the aftermath, check out my photo site:
Bullhorn Brunette

Honorable Brandi Carlile

Brandi Carlile - Late Morning Lullaby live at SXSW. Her entire album - The Story - is mindblowing.

Saturday off = productivity

I'm finally off on a Saturday because I was supposed to race Tilles Park, but because it rained/sleeted/slightly snowed all afternoon, it was cancelled.


Therefore, I was forced to continue organizing my new apartment situation (and buy some food, DVDs, a CD, espresso maker, and espresso grinds along the way). My first move was getting coffee with Mindi and catching up on the past few months. Mindi and I go WAY back (ok, only about 3-4 years) and first met at a bicycle race under some rather interesting circumstances. All you need to know is this chick is GOOD people - you should know her, and be her friend too.


My next task was...ah...to hard to actually type...so painful...must use photo...



After that fiasco, I proceeded to show Yolanda, my favorite cashier at Whole Foods, my new tattoo. She keeps telling me she wants an orchid tattoo, but needs to first grow the orchid seeds she owns. Keep working at it girl, you can do it. I then decided to use the $10.84 Borders gave me for buying about $400 worth of merchandise, and bought about $40 more. I ran into an old co-worker, Shawn, while leaving and decided to go snowboarding with him and our friends next winter in BC, Canada. Sweet. I then proceeded down the "Brentwood Avenue" to REI to say hello to my buddies Rob and Eggo who work in the bike area...to discover Eggo was not working there FOR THE SECOND TIME I VISITED TO SAY HELLO. Anyways, I owe her a beer and it was fantastic seeing Rob - good vibes and good Gary Fisher talk.


Next, I visited Schiller's to have my digital camera fixed and Pentax looked at. My Canon Elph SD400 has been dropped (I just dropped it again while picking it up to see which model number to type, excellent) and slightly cracked and will not take photos any longer...





...and determined that the cost to ship it, have it estimated, then repaired (if possible) would be just as much as buying a new, better, cleaner, working digital camera. So I splurged and bought the SD1000. Now my postings should bling. If you like good, quality customer service this shop is almost as good as ours.


I then proceeded to use my new hand-held vacuum to clean up all the tiny wingdings floating around my apartment; you know, the huge amount of items Swiffer cannot pick up (bad marketing). Oh, and Viviano's sells large quantities of QUALITY Italian wines and olive oil at CHEAP prices. Dig it. Now the only thing I need to organize is the increasing mound of clothes in my room. A few of you reading this know just how obnoxious it is...but cleaning the kitchen is SO much easier!


Tonight: ciabatta & olive oil, Chianti, and live jazz. No rainy weather is getting me down. The only thing getting me down is the Post Office/US Gov. Supposedly, it takes 10-12 weeks for the government to create passports, even though the website says 4-6 weeks. What are they doing in DC?!

Oh, happy day

Happy day after tattoo day! Pictures soon to come...

I've unfortunately decided NOT to ride to work today. I'm slightly paranoid about messing up the tattoo in the rain, otherwise I would love to hop on the T1 and get wet. I'll have to sit on the trainer tonight and finish watching Ken Burns' "Jazz" DVD set. It's phenomenal, I recommend it to anyone; at the least it will give you good dinner conversation starters.


The Team Revolution meeting went over well last night. I love standing back and watching the women interact, get a feel for who they are and what they want out of the club. These chicks are hella fun and completely enthused - exactly what we want!! I'm glad Carrie is starting the club again and doing it even better this time. I foresee expansion throughout the US for this team/club.


Big ups to Truckey for Gaucho fries, spirits, and brilliant conversation.


I will post tattoo pictures soon.