Dreamer>>>> Sending Out An S.O.S.

So studying lately has caused me to listen to different music that has been gathering electronic dust on my hard drive.

Let me share my two outdated but recently upgraded artists in my playlist of fun...

1. SUPERTRAMP

Song You May Know: Breakfast In America, Dreamer, Give A Little Bit

2. The POLICE

Songs You May Know: Roxanne, Message In A Bottle, Every Breath You Take

In addition, I also recommend, for your studying or reading time pleasure:

The Killers

Augustana

Chicago

Coldplay

Jamie Cullum (eh.....)

Andrew Bird (you have to like a little Indie/Alternative... but it's great stuff)

Jane Monheit

Seal (who just knocked up Heidi Klum.... again)

Yellowcard (if you like noise)

Summer Adventure???

I'm taking a break from studying to share a summer adventure I hope I get the chance to plan and do... make a weekend trip down to the: Mammoth Cave National Park

So, I've been there before, as a small child (5th-6th Grade) but the grandness and awesomeness (for lack of a better word) seemed to be lost that young. It rough when your parents say you are going to see caves in Kentucky when all your friends are telling you stories of Disney World and Downey Park. Anyways.... when your parents and grandma are somewhat members of / part of the Central PA Rock and Mineral Club, they tend to like trips like that. (yes, we have a room in the basement full of rocks. yes, I have my own rock, shell, and fossil collection. Yes, my grandma has an even bigger bedroom in her house full of rocks and hundreds of these!. Yes... don't hate).

Tangent alert...back to caves. I think it would be an awesome outdoor adventure. Drive down, camp, hike/bike the trails, and take cave tours. Downfalls.... 10hr drive and $$$.

I would like to take the Wild Cave Tour. Duration: 6 to 6½ hours. Caving Distance: 5½ miles.

Physical Challenges: Free-climbing cave walls; lengthy crawls through areas as
tight as 9 inches high; walking in a crouched position; hand and knee crawls
over jagged rocks and dirt; crawling through wet areas; twisting into and out of
tight crawlway openings.

Sounds like a blast to me.... and did you know...

Mammoth Cave is the world's longest known cave. In fact it is so long that if the second and third longest caves in the world were joined together, Mammoth Cave would still be the planet's longest cave and have nearly 100 miles left over!

Finals Week...

Finals week has commenced,

Failure is not an option.

ps. As a Golden Girls fan, R.I.P. Bea Arthur

Paris-Roubaix, how about that....

So I realized I never replied to the Paris-Roubaix prediction post. I did indeed watch the full 2hr live coverage on VS Easter Sunday, and the last 45-60mins was worth it. I would have liked to have seen Hushovd, Boonen, and Hincapie duel it out in the end... even Hushovd and Boonen, but those cobblestones are wicked, and merciless. I don't quite know why Thor wiped out so bad coming into that turn with Tom Boonen and couldn't catch back up, but props to Tom Boonen for sticking it out the last few Km's to hold the lead. What a guy. I didn't predict that one.

Poor Hincapie, I think that if he wanted to pull off a win, it had to have to be this year. When he got that flat and tried to bridge the gap to the leaders, NO ONE would help him at all. He led the peleton and tried to pick up the pace for miles, with no success. Quickstep and Cervelo Test Team weren't going to help him, that's for sure. He said in a post race interview that he can't end it like this, and that he'll have to be back again next year to try again, but that's going to be tough. The man's getting a bit older (don't hate me for saying that all you "getting older" people who may stumble across this blog)

Good race, I enjoyed it. I still don't know how their bodies survived 5+ hours on the bike, mostly on muddy, rocky, bumpy cobblestones. Amen to everyone who even finished.
Now for some Boonen:

Don't be Lazy. Don't be Impulsive. Don't Litter!

Please Don't Litter. I just spent 2 1/2 hours today cleaning up Queen St./Baltimore Rd. for Adopt-A-Highway. I can't even describe the amount of shit (for lack of a better word) we picked up today. It was slightly depressing, but in the end, it felt good.

Top Things Picked Up Today, in order:

1. Beer Bottles/Cans
2. Plastic Soda Bottles
3. McDonald's/Fast Food Bags
4. Candy Bar Wrappers
5. plastic/Styrofoam cups

If you note, all these top 5 trash items collected could have easily been kept in your vehicle until you arrived at your intended destination. Don't be impulsive, let that soda bottle in the cup holder until you reach your house, then throw it away. It's not a hard task. I can't believe that people can consciously just throw trash out the window. (It's also scary to think all the beer bottles and cans that were discarded were most likely from a vehicle... in other words.... don't drink and drive either!) If you are a litter bug and don't care about throwing that small Snickers wrapper or McDonald's coffee cup out the window on your drive home from work because you don't care about the environment, I hope this post offends you, because I don't care. I hope a groundhog that gets your broken beer bottle down it's hole picks that thing up and shows up at your door and stabs you in the ankle with the broken pieces... get the point? Don't Litter!

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This is a simple illustration I fabricated tonight, in my 3/4 sober state, after having a lovely evening with some good friends and my favorite lady friend (who is also known as my girlfriend). I believe it is self explanatory if you know the current situation. (And for those out there wondering... Kappa Kappa Psi (or KKY) is not a brand of "super strength" personal lubricant.) ;) ha ha, don't ask. I've always been interested in psychology (maybe that's why I had 2 years of it in High School and got a 5 on the AP test...) but it fascinates me how one person's opinion can have such an effect on impressionable people who (to be honest) don't really care about the outcome of important things. That's all.

SoCoYo was a disaster today... post on that is also imminent.

Shiny New Toys

I just got these in the mail. They are mine. They are Shiny. They are Light. They are TIGHT (unlike my black Diadoras...) and they have a Carbon Fiber Sole. And did I mention they are Mine? :)

Switching cleats and giving them a test ride SOON!

This shiny toy is also on the mind... Diamondback Overdrive (aka. 29'er). Merv's Bike shop has a pretty good deal. Little heavier than what I was looking for but....

Paris-Roubaix Predictions

I don't know why, but I'm thoroughly excited for the race this evening. All the road races I've tried to predict involved (my man) Mark Cavendish and were sprinter stages or the Schleck brothers in mountain stages, but this one is tricky.

I think George Hincapie (another favorite) is strong this year, especially with Astana. He did very well in the Tour of California this year and I think he's a strong rider all around, but... does he have strong team help like the Cervelo Test Team???

Then there's Tom Boonen. Will there be a repeat? As much as I'd like to say maybe, I don't think so this year. Even with his bike (named after the race) and Sylvain Chavanel.

I wouldn't count out Fabian Cancellara.

But, this year I'm predicting: Someone from the Cervelo Test Team.

Roger Hammond - Heinrich Haussler - Thor Hushovd

It will be a battle between Haussler and Hincapie, but I think someone from Cervelo may take it.

> to the mountains we go...?

I posted these photos for no reason at all. ;) Just a few things I have been looking at lately and thinking about more lately.... may have to make a trip to Merv's not just to aimlessly look at the MTN bike selection next week. hmmmmmmmmm Wonder what Rider Big E would say if he knew I was browsing this section of the biking world? ha ha

And, Price Point has that sweet deal (in my opinion) on those shoes and pedals....

Easter Sunday

Sunday plans (tent.):

Wake up and go to early church with Mom!
Visit Grandpa and Have Brunck
Light relaxing ride around Hershey
Do some GIS homework (maybe)
Color Easter Eggs (because I want to)
Watching Paris-Roubaix on a LCD projector I rented from the Library today. woot!
Dinner with the Family
Ship
Deer Hunter 2k5 with Jon?

In other words... finally a Relaxing Day!

Tom Boonen

This is a simply AWESOME picture. LoVe iT! Those legs...

Tom Boonen is the man too; world champ, a little badass, a little euro metro, & a great racer. We're just going to forget about that little cocaine incident. oops.

Think Tight...

I just got back from a short (windy) ride, and it dawned on me that everything in the world of cycling is... tight. Here are a few examples so you don't think I'm crazy:

tight clothes (Spandex everywhere!)
helmet has to be tight
shoes have to be small and strapped tight
chain has to be tight
cables and shifting mechanisms have to be smooth and tight
spokes on your wheel rim have to be pulled tight
handlebar tape has to be wrapped tight
seatpost and handlebar clamps have to be tight
water bottle has to fit tight into your water bottle holder
sunglasses have to fit tight
for us cyclists of the male gender, our "dangling man parts" are compressed tight!
hell, even my spare tube is wrapped tight.

Just something to think about. enjoy.

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It feels amazing to get small little messages like this in your inbox. Made me smile all day. That's why it's been saved in my inbox for a while now.

Ok seriously - u are amazing - u surprise me more and more each day..... and I'm falling for you so hard its crazy.... i can't stop thinking about u and when i look into your eyes- i melt inside. (Sentence omitted). I have faith in this relationship - good things will happen. I've felt so happy these past few months and i honestly think its because of you. You have saved me from so many tears and breakdowns - all you had to do was smile.... you are my sweetie and my Cody and i hope you stay here with me for a long time..... seriously... You are WONDERFUL!

Always,Your Angel ♥

and that's that. Not going to say who it's from. ;)

DON'T be a hater...!

Crocs, I gots them.

I got this color, conservative I know, but it's because the SU Book Store was having a 25% off sale and this was the last XXL pair left.

Please don't be a hater.

Contemplating these for this summer's outdoor adventures... plus a rubber sole for pedal action!