Cyclocross Dreams & Star Wars

There is a Star Wars marathon today. I have been so lazy and so unmotivated to do anything today that I have watched 4/6 movies today... I'm blogging then leaving the house.

I helped out at Iron Cross VII yesterday. It was amazing. The worst part about it was I now really want a cross bike. I was the same way last year after the race, and this year made it worse. I was debating getting a cheap touring frame, adding my old triple Shimano Sora parts and adding some nobby tires to an old wheel set. TERRIBLE IDEA. I've learned from my road bike that you can't start cheap. If I am getting a cross bike, I'm doing it the right way. Problem is, the "right way" involves $$$. I don't have $$$. damn.

I am completely impressed with this.....

And when I say impressed, I mean jealous. Some may say this is a little too much. Some may say a little too excessive. cheating??? No, this is awesome and something I would do. I also like the Garmin as well. Declaring a Minor next semester in GIS.... this kind of stuff is fascinating to me. Love it.

Speaking of bikes, saw one of these, liked it...

Saw lots of these....

want one of these (If I have an extra 6k laying around.....YEA RIGHT!!!)

The final final word....

11/13/2009

This is the ending of a great movie. If you know the story, you will hopefully correlate that with what's been going on this semester.... a tragic story of revenge, and hopefully it will end the same for me. That's all I will say.

The Final Word...

This is my senior year. I have never been a depressive person, at all. This year, I seriously debated ordering some Prozac multiple times.

I have kind of felt like Caesar (minus the death part). And it has been almost a full year since the stabbing and I still can't get over it. I don't know why. Maybe because everything around me reminds me of it. If you like honey, but get close to a nest of bees and 6 sting you really bad (all at once one the face for dramatic effect), you're not going to keep going over to the nest no matter how much you like honey. My problem is, I go hang out around the nest every single day.

As mentioned before, this is my senior year, and I have come to realize that I don't have to be every one's friend. I've been trying to do that the past 3 years. Especially being DM the last 2, it kind of goes with the job. I (unfortunately) don't really care anymore. My final word is, If you don't like me the way I am, I'm not going to bend to like you, so just stay away and piss off. It's sad to say, because I have made so many close friends over the years, but I don't really care anymore. I might stay in contact with 2 after I graduate anyways...

I will say one thing that may come as a surprise and shock a few people. I am only in band this year for a FEW select reasons.

1. For Brielle, if my girlfriend wasn't in band, I would not be.

2. For the Trumpet Section,.... they keep me sane. Thank You Guys and Girls

3. To go to California. I know the Director of Bands wouldn't pick a person for concert band in the spring if they quit marching band. It's how it works... and I really want to go to CA with the CB and BD.

If the right combo of these criteria were not met by now.... I wouldn't be in Marching Band and Wouldn't Regret It For A Day.

People need to stop telling me "Get Over It", they need to "Get Over" the fact that I will never be over it.

Also, I will go on the record and say I blame exactly 2 people for ruining my senior year. I hate these two people with a fiery passion and I will never forgive them. One I still kinda respect and I have to be nice to, and the other is completely cut out of my life. Not just because of the band thing, It's also because I fight with my girlfriend constantly over trivial things that could have been avoided with the right decision.

This is my final word, you (being the reader) will never hear of this topic again... word.

The Farm Colors of Fall....

These pictures are from a ride Wed. with Mr. Jon Marshall. They are good, but they don't incorporate enough green. Green Grass/Golden Brown Corn/Blue Sky. Love. It.

WTF is going on around here....

I don't want to say I'm becoming a scrooge....


but lately the dumbest things have been just pissing me the hell off!

For instance, this has been a long running pet peeve of mine. I hate going into the gas station to pre-pay when using cash. If I want to absolutely fill my tank, I don't know exactly how much gas to put in ahead of time, let alone the amount. What happened to faith that people will pay when they are done. Hey gas chains, there's a neat invention called VIDEO-CAMERAS! If someone steals gas, then blow up their license plate on some cool computer program that does that shit. So, I refuse to pay cash at stations that require this. If I only have cash and no cards, I guess my stubborn ass will be driving around lot looking for a respectable gas station.

that was long a long winded rant... thank you for your attention to this point.

NEXT, I got screwed at Hoss's. Apparently the "regular" portion means you want double and want to pay 3.50 more. The price listed said nothing about it being the "light" portion. I was pissed off, a lot, but didn't let the little Asian man catch on as I was interrogating him. Thus, I will never eat at a Hoss's again.

Finally. My last post (see below) prompted me to rent Children of the Corn. All I have to say is,

Dear Blockbuster,

YOU FAIL....

Sincerely,
CODY

All I wanted was this stupid movie. First, nothing was alphabetized correctly. Not even a resemblance of an alphabetization scheme. Next, you didn't have it... granted, the cute blonde working the counter was very helpful, but none the less; you didn't have the original. You DID have part II and a 2005 attempt at a remake, but why would someone want to rent these without the original. *frustrated sigh* Anyways, I moved on. I then asked for Deliverance which was out last time I was in. Blockbuster had it!!! As I was rummaging through the mess called the action section, the pretty blonde informed me that it was only on BlueRay. I was thinking, "go to hell" but what came out was "Oh, that's ok, have a good day". On the way out, the door reminded me that a rental was ~$5. Ridiculous. I cut my losses and left.

Instead of enjoying a movie and snacking on Hoss's left overs, I'm at home ranting. What a week.

Band Weekend From HELL is approaching. Don't expect a post for at least a week.

Fall Rides: Nice Colors, Creepy Corn

Yesterday and today, I went on two brisk fall rides. LOVE IT. Winter can delay itself all it wants. I've been riding more in wooded areas but the last two days I have been out in the farm country. I love the colors; the greens against the tan of the corn beneath the blue of the sky. Yesterday looked amazing (hopefully pics. soon).

One thing. On today's ride, I was alone and literally... I DIDN'T SEE ANYONE! NO ONE. I'm not joking. I was 45 minutes on farm roads out past Fish Hatchery and I didn't see one farmer. Not one person plowing, not one person hanging laundry, not one person cutting grass or even getting the mail. IT WAS CREEPY!!! I only saw 2 dogs and a few cars speeding by.

The absence of life and abundance of dead corn (along with the fact I was alone) made me feel like I had just entered this movie...... anyone else ever get this feeling riding aroun ship farmlands???

BIKE POLO

Attempted to do this today... (stupid guard practice had to cut our fun short)



It was fun. Need more skills, and a mtn bike, and a smaller gear ratio but it was a lot of fun! Thanks Zach, Matt, and random kid.

This is what it ended up looking like....

ImmAtURE...

Whoever did this is extremely immature and deserves to be beaten with a baseball bat.

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/60447327.html

http://video.ap.org/?f=PAPHQ&PID=kwXyxj9U_EjQwW_Csq_cdxsdnucsyFN3

I HATE (capital letters means it's important or I'm yelling) cruelty like this towards innocent animals (and children, but that's a different story and is partly why I am a Criminal Justice Major).

It really just makes me think about people. It's actually really really scary. That someone(s) can look at an animal and intentionally harm it.

like this... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUFJ_BNweVo This makes me sick to.
let's be honest, it's not the nicest neighborhood and she is probably a crack head, but to inflict such pain on a dog (that's even giving birth!) just to get revenge on a person is just sickening. AND his brother did nothing???

Now... these kids are fucked up and truly deserve a fate worse than death. Yea, I'll say it, I think they deserve to die. All three of them. If this story is true and there was an eye witness, they deserve to die. I'm even a christian and know that only god can decide life and death and god will judge you when it's time, so comment away, I don't care. You're not going to persuade me on this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWmoxzu7sCk&feature=related

Now realistically, I think they should get 15-20 each in a state correctional facility.

In closing, let me make myself clear. If you brutally torture and kill an an animal for sadistic pleasure, I think you deserve to die. If you abuse a child (sexually or not), I think you deserve life in prison. If you sadistically torture or kill a child (or person for that matter) because it gives you some rush or high... I think you deserve to die.

***NeW sTuFF***

Got a new PRO helmet at a great price (aka. NOT $230). Plus, just saw these awesome gloves on www.Bonktown.com for $20 and decided to go for it. New helmet, new gloves, matching 2009 kit, bike upgrades.... I may not be fast, but I'll look like I know what I'm doing!

SHIP!

WaLLs

In case you have been living under a rock... HERE are the happenings.

Now, let's make this clear. I am not trying to make fun of a murder, or the death of an innocent woman. This case just sparks a little interest.

Ok, here we go.

How does one go about putting someone in a bloody wall, in a semi-public place???

Lets say I killed someone in Shippen, or Franklin, or Shearer. I don't see giant man sized holes in the walls big enough to stuff a body! Such holes would cause great alarm to the students attending classes in those buildings and they would be repaired immediately (I hope).

Scenario #2. I made the hole in the wall to stuff the body. First, where did you get the tools to demolish a man sized hole in a wall. Second, no one noticed a giant hole in the wall for five days??? If I went to Shippen for class and noticed a 4ft hole in the wall ANYWHERE, I would ponder investigating or exploring this orifice. Even if you put a poster or desk or cabinet over this alleged hole, the smell of a dead body would permeate into everything in less than 24hrs. Smell something dead... believe me, IT'S BAD!

Am I missing something here??? If I am, please tell me so I don't look like an idiot.

BreAkING BaD

I have absolutely NO clue what made me think of this show this late at night, but it is so good, I though I would share. Watch and episode or rent a season, it's an hour better spent than watching Grey's Anatomy. I personally don't think it gets enough credit. I might even considering buying a season on DVD.... oh wait.... that's like.... expensive.... And I just decided to buy a $100 helmet. Damn.

Maybe I'll switch majors to Chemistry, accidentally figure out how to make REALLY good Meth., and sell it to buy bike parts, flowers for my lovely girlfriend, and Breaking Bad on DVD. Pure Genius.

RuMBliNgS In MY TuMmy

Ever since I got back to ship, my stomach hasn't been right. It sometimes hurts, it sometimes feels too empty or too full (in relationship to what I have consumed) and lately, I have been feeling bloated. (Too much info... I know).

I try to get a good mix of real food and dining hall food with as little fast food as humanly possible. Maybe after 3 years of eating Kriner Taco Salads, Reisner Meatloaf and Gravy, and CUB burgers and wraps... my body is just rejecting all university cooked meals. Oh well. Time to try to get to bed and "relieve some built up pressure" from the mid part out the back part. (Don't ask, it's late).

29'er Articles...

Superfly, indeed.

The Death of the 26-inch Hardtail by Matt Pacocha (singletrack.com)

&

29'er "Test" also by Matt Pacocha (velonews.com)

Two interesting reads..... I can't really say much because I've never really ridden long distances (or at all) on a 29'er hardtail. But I would like to.... a lot!

I would take the second "test" with a grain of salt...

Just In Case Facebook Blows Up...

Just in case Facebook suddenly dies, goes under, or completely ceases to exist sometime in the near future, I have decided to save some pictures. There are over 1,500 pictures of me tagged and I realized it would suck to lose them all. That's basically all of college chronicled in one place.

Anyways, as I was saving them to my external hard drive (great invention, they are a great investment for backing up all your shit) and I came across some pics that, well, made me cry so I had to stop. I've never blogged about this issue before and I won't start now. But here are the pictures I got too..... (which are in about 650/1,500)

There's memories that make you laugh. There's memories that make you cry. There's memories that make you happy and sad. Then there's the moments you are extremely proud of. Those are moments in time that you'll never forget, never get back, and create memories that are a breed of their own.

I guess what I've learned is, if you really love something.... I mean REALLY love doing something, don't ever take it for granted and make sure you always show just how much you love that thing. Always show how much enthusiasm you are willing to put into something.

(well, all that and certain short little annoying fat girls are backstabbers and two faced and can screw you over real bad, so always be nice to them... but that's a different story)

As Forest Gump would say... That's all I have to say about that subject.

Off to race my bike around at 10pm... woot!

GolDen ShoWeRs

While looking at old photos, I reminisced about all the fun places I have peed. That's just the fun part about being a guy... whipping it out and letting it flow wherever discretely.

• A Stream in Caledonia
• On the Back Porch of Stone Ridge on a Gasoline Fire
• Off a 4th Story Balcony in Penn State
• In the Girls Bathroom in the PAC and Hershey Park (it was 3am)
• At most Collegiate Bike Races Out of State Behind a Tree
• Near the Bleachers on the Rec. Field before Band
• In My Pants in the Rain (Completely Wasted) Coming back from a Party Freshman Year
• A Coffee Cup on my way from Ocean City to Deep Creek, MD (5hr drive)
• In a Lake
• In the Ocean (many times)
• On a Building Wall in Baltimore
• In a Little Blue Cup at the Doctors

Side Note: My roommate has informed me that Taylor Swift is invited to the house this weekend. Fingers are crossed...

Ou T DooRS

My favorite pics from this past week... If we're friends, full photo albums are on Facebook

W e E K E nD

It doesn't feel like the weekend... Well, it didn't feel like the weekend until I saw COLLEGE FOOTBALL! Woot!

I am so excited for the college football season that I pretty much ignored the Red Sox game that was on tv just now. (Well, by now, especially after the disaster last night and the AL standings, I've pretty much given up on the Red Sox).

The question is, will I make it to a PSU game this year? Fingers will remain crossed...

Well, today was pretty much amazing. I got up and left with Brielle to make a journey to Hamburg for the Hamburg Festival! After making a stop around H-burg to find out she will be a Godmother to a lovely baby boy Moxin, we headed to the festival! Woot!

No, the hamburger isn't a clever little alliteration for Hamburg (the town), It is because Hamburg has a Hamburger Festival! I had 2 delicious burgers today, and I didn't feel bad AT ALL! A brew with a burger would have been nice but the line was long.... like.... LONG.

In addition to the amazing burgers, had some french fries, a cople bites of water ice, and... Teaberry Ice Cream! It was perfect. There was also a show performed by Hawaiian dancers (some of which, can really shake their hoo has...) I also got a sweet pair of $2 shades from a nickle and dime store... they are pretty hip! Overall, had a GREAT day with Brielle, which is what I needed after some of the issues happening at Marching Band this past week.

There should be more festivals/town heritage parties. Europe has so much history that they have town festivals probably once a month for anything and everything. Free beer, good music, regional wine, dancing, costumes, history... I love it. They have 1,000's of years of history and can be responsible with heavy drinking. I'm jealous. I would LOVE to go to Germany for Oktoberfest... I guess I'll make that a lifetime goal, along with seeing The Collesium in Italy and attending a week of the Tour de France in France, and seeing a United match in Manchester or Arsenal in London.

(I added this because I found it and I think it's cool... I've always followed Premier Clubs but never really knew their place of origin.)

Back to College Football.... I love watching a close match with ranked teams. I like watching games with teams that have things to lose. It makes it more interesting. Blow-outs are ok, but when #4 USC beats up on San Jose State University College Blah Blah Etc... it is a little sad. I do like watching a ranked team just fall apart though. A top 5 team losing to an unrated poop school from nowhere USA is amazing. Right now, I guess I'll return to Georgia and OK State... Let's. Go. PSU!

BTW! mark this day in history... SU won a football game. Woot!

Day 3 Academics

It's only the third day of classes and I already found something interesting in my sociology book....

"There are two sides to the coin of freedom. On the one hand, there is enormous potential for prosperity and personal fulfillment; on the other are all the hazards of untrammeled opportunity and unfettered choice. Free markets can produce grinding poverty as well as spectacular wealth; unregulated industry can create dangerous levels of pollution as well as rapid rates of growth; and the unfettered drive for personal fulfillment can have disastrous effects on families and children. Rampant individualism does not bring with it sweet freedom; rather, it explodes in our faces and limits life's potential."

-Sylvia Ann Hewlett on how American Values of Freedom and Individualism are the root of some Social Problems.

Although she used "unfettered" twice in the same paragraph, it's very interesting.

Although I don't think our pursuit of freedom and individualism plays the most important part in creating social problems, there are some eyebrow raising little ideas in there.

I guess it also plays along with the idea that yes, we have freedom to say and write what we want (Thank You First Amendment), but we need to use these liberties wisely.

The morons who protest the war at Military Funerals or decide to go on religious crusades against gays in public telling everyone they are going to burn in hell are responsible for issues and upcoming limitations on freedom of speech. Let's be honest, there is a time and place for everything.

Justice Brennan said it best...

"It is poignant but fundamental that the flag protects those who hold it in contempt..."



ps, I can't find my SIGG water bottle..... I'm pissed.

I always miss the best stuff

On top of missing out on a fixer-upper cross bike, I also missed bidding on this by 3 hrs. It went for $52. Coupled with a carbon fork from BikeNashbar, I would have had a cyclocross frame and fork for under $200. Also, Jon found a great deal on Bonktown. Top of the line Time shoes with carbon soles and bells and whistles for $120. My CAT shoes are ok; light, stiff, but just not comfortable on top. There is just a shitty piece of fake leather between the straps and my foot... lame!

I also need some advice. I saw a friend today (a girl) who I kinda knew from classes the past 2-3 years and I barely recognized her because she lost a considerable amount of weight. She looked really good (not that she didn't before) and I said hi like a normal human being. The question is, do you say something about the obvious change in appearance? I was tempted to say "Hey, OMG look at you, you look great! How was your summer?" Instead, it came out awkwardly and went something like "Hey, wow, how are you, almost didn't recognize you..." I was afraid if I said you look great or mentioned about the weight loss, it would have implicated that I felt she was "big" before?

Do you also tell someone there's something in their teeth.... or does it depend the person?

Hello Again...

Wow. Well. For the past two-ish weeks it has been nothing but Band Camp (lame) for me. Apparently, I have been so focused on multitasking (ie. Marching, Breathing, and Playing Music) that I have completely forgot to blog. AND>>>>> I havn't said anything about cycling in months.

* side note: I'm deleting my twitter. What a disasterous waste of time. No one wants to know what I'm doing 24/7 anyways. (That's what AIM away messages are for)

BICYCLING.... READY>>>>> GO!

1. I missed out on buying a $35 fixer-upper Cyclocross bike. It was an old steel frame "cross" type frame a lady was selling from her driveway. It was blue and just my size. Due to my hesitation and need for approval from Jon, I missed buying it by 2 hrs. sigh.

2. The good news about the last post is that I saved $35 which may be going toward a MTN bike. Yes, I said that correctly. I got a semi- offer for a Gary Fisher 29'er fully built used for a GREAT price. So great, I may pay more just to seal the deal. I would need a test ride tho.... Fingers are crossed at the moment.

3. The single speed is complete! Woot! Rode it to classes today! I was kind of calming just riding to campus this morning, not worrying about traffic, or parking, or getting a parking ticket. All I'm paranoid now about is it being stolen... or having a wheel stolen. Bitches better not steal my cool blue Pokemon cards from the wheels either!

One slight design flaw with the S.S. Blue Pearl though.... the gearing ratio is horrifically wrong for the hills to and from my house to campus. I think I have it in a 54/16 right now. Need to jump down to a 30ish something in the front and tighten my chain. (It will work for now).

4. Well, over the summer, I lost no weight. I didn't get in 100miles/week. I only went 3-4 days on long (1.5hr+ rides). And I didn't weight lift before my internship hrs at Mechanicsburg. I did manage to work, work, work, go on a long expensive vacation, see a Red Sox Game, and survive my 21st birthday. Overall, fun activities for the summer was a success.... Bicycling.... epic fail.

This became evident when I went out with Chop, Mike, and Jon the other day. I could barely keep up and it was suppose to be a recovery ride for them. Long story short (and please excuse the colorful language).... I'm fucked.

5. Let's lay out some goals for the upcoming week. I'm going to try to do this weekly and see how it goes.

For the Week: at LEAST 65 miles (hoping for 80+) /// Make it to both of the scheduled SU cycling training races

For the Month of September: LOSE WEIGHT! (at least 5-7 lbs) I'm hoovering around 200-205 now, I would like to be consistently around 190. /// Start a work out regiment 2-3 times a week for now, then up to 4-5 days a week in the winter.


For the Year: Work Hard all Fall and Winter. Get good miles in before it gets cold. In the winter, train on the trainer, run, lift, and get more involved in MTN biking. Then when Spring hits, start Collegiate as a Cat. D (Cat. 5) and try to place top 10, or even top 5 in a race other than a crit. (ps. I hate crits, love circuts, hate crits). I don't want to be peer pressured into jumping into Cat. C too early. 2-3 top 10 finishes in Cat. D will be my goal! woot!

Off to lunch now... today is the first day of my last year.... it's a bit depressing.

You Do WHAT???

I've been thinking about career choices lately. PSP, D.E.A., Probation, Local Police, ?

I think of these options as I'm wandering aimlessly around Hershey Park like a soulless zombie.

I was also thinking. If someone told me that for the next 30ish years I would be working at Hershey Park as a Security Guard for the rest of my life... I would seriously consider riding the Super Duper Looper without the restraints. No, I'll go with the Great Bear... it's a little classier.

Anyways....... to my point. There are a LOT of things to do out there, and I have thought of a few jobs that would be amazing to have. Jobs that would make your classmates shit bricks at the 20th HS reunion when you tell them. Here we go....

Elephant Trainer

Professional Surfer

Beer Taster

Airplane Test Pilot

Skydive Instructor

National Geographic Wildlife Photographer

Ice Cream Flavor Inventor

Skyscraper Window Washer

Symphony Director

Skateboard Graphic Design Artist

Alaskan Fishing Guide

Blood Diamond Runner

Paid Civil War Historian/Researcher/Re-enactor

Coyote Ugly Bartender

Rock Band Groupie

Image Consultant to TV Personalities

Playboy Photographer ;)

Shrimp Boat Captain

Sneaker Designer

Hippopotamus Feeder at the Zoo

Antique Painting Restorer

anyone else have any?

Personally, I think it would be insanely cool to be a National Geographic Photographer or a Graphic Design Artist for Bikes or Clothes. Maybe I'll move to Puerto Rico and own a tobacco plantation or go to the Himalayas and be a Mountain Goat Hunting Guide...

I almost pissed my pants

Celebrety Deaths....

Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, Billy Mays!

I'm officially calling this crazy bitch is next... don't know why it hasn't been sooner.

Don't judge me, when you google image search "Amy Whinehouse" you will be thinking the SAME thing.... ha ha

MST3K

Back from vacation. lame.

Since I have decided to be an insomniac tonight, I noticed on woot! that they were having a special Mystery Science Theater 3000 DVD special. I got it. Yes, it's $50 but I am getting 12.... yes 12 (hopefully) very funny DVD's. (So it turns out to be a little over $4/DVD with shipping)

I don't think many people know but I love Mystery Science Theater movies. I used to watch an episode EVERY Sunday morning before church for a long time. Some times I enjoy a bad movie, but with those guys doing commentary on the already bad movie.... it becomes epic!

If you're ever interested (anyone who reads this) in coming over and having a beer and watching an episode... just let me know! Laughs are better with a group.

Vacation (sneek-peek)

Vacation this week.....

From Here ----->

To Here ------>
After I get home and unpacked and re-oriented with the real world..... my pictures will be posted! woot.