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Let me share my two outdated but recently upgraded artists in my playlist of fun...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

4:00am "MOM'S A LITTLE STRESSED RIGHT NOW!!!"

Yes, you read that correctly, it is 4:00am Monday morning and I am officially pulling my first collegiate "all-nighter" This is pretty much a good representation of me at the moment (minus the cigarettes and amphetamines).

You may be asking, if I have so much work to do, why am I blogging... good question. Because when you have the mindset to stay up all night, you can relax more and take your time (which you have more of now anyways). ps. That made sense... just read it a few times.

What am I doing you ask... none other than a 10-15 page Final Research Paper for my Race, Ethnicity, and Crime Capstone class. It's like your Senior Paper... aka, The Big One! I'm not 100% pleased with it, but I think it will do. I put a solid 12-14 hours of work into it already.

I am also doing 2 G.I.S. labs that I have put off for a week. It's not that the labs are hard, they just require a lot of trial and error at some points and are very time consuming. But, Surprisingly, I would take a tricky GIS lab over a paper any day.

PS. I decided about 3-4 weeks ago that I am going to go for a Certificate in GIS... Woot! Can anyone say... Resume Enhancer!!! jk.

It's not that I have procrastinated (well, a little on the paper), it's that I have been EXTREMELY busy this semester... more than anticipated. VPM of KKY, cycling training and races, 2 bands and learning a new instrument, and some difficult school work. Everything, including 3 tests and 1 paper seemed to stockpile this past week/weekend. Plus, this week when I'm suppose to be relaxing and enjoying my trip to Myrtle Beach, all I will be thinking about is how much I can't afford to miss class Thursday and Friday and what work will I have to do next?

As for cycling...... single speed is near completion and some BIG purchases are imminent, hopefully in time for PSU weekend! Will post training schedule for the next few weeks in a few days. I feel fat, lazy, and my head hurts. That = too much sitting on my lazy overworked ass and not enough cycling.

Why "Running in the Rain"

Why the title "Running in the Rain" for my blog. These pictures may explain...

Now, this is a partial view out the back window of my tiny apartment. I like it. You can't see the rain that came today or the cool stone wall along the bottom. I like looking out and seeing nature and trees. Campus dorms are boring and city scenery is depressing sometimes.

So, the pictures don't do my wet-ness justice. I was soaked, because for the first time in months it has been warm enough to go running out in the rain. I don't know what it is, it's just... fun. Try it sometime. The harder the rain, the better. Just let your stress wash away and have fun. Don't worry about getting wet. Get some exercise. I guess you could say (if you are one of those philosophers who pry deep into things) sometimes we all need to just go out and "run in the rain". Just get away and do something random and unexpected.

There, that's not exactly what I wanted to say, but it will do. So don't ask, just run.

Project 1: Single Speed *Update

Almost done...All I need is the conversion kit (which is ordered), Pedals (coming Sunday), and a brake....
Decided to go with sweet Blue and Black $9 Hutchinson Equinox tires from PerformanceBike (which match perfect) and Merv hooked me up with a sweet old aluminum TT stem from his parts drawer. I also splurged and got amazing natural cork color handlebar tape.

If I had the $$$, the ugly Scott saddle would be gone. Ideally, I would get a sick real leather saddle, but they are wicked expensive. One from here will do! Oh well....

"Thing That Annoy Me" for $1,000 Alex

Things that annoy the piss out of me... (please excuse the colorful language). This one has been building up for a while now...

1. Take another 20 seconds and put your shopping cart back. Literally, the big designated rack of carts was TWO parking spaces to my right in this picture. If I see you leaving your cart, I have no hesitations about physically getting out of my car and calling you out... Fair Warning!

2. Graffiti in public bathroom stalls. I don't like pooping in public places, but sometimes, it's gotta happen. This lovely pic of boobs, Phillies, Frat letters, and "gay mamma" references was taken in THE LIBRARY. First floor library stall. HOW OLD ARE WE??? at least 13th grade. It's just annoying. I wouldn't mind a mural of the sea, or forest, or sky, or anything painted on the stall walls by the art dept., but this is not art.... it's 7th grade.

3. The Hershey Bears HOCKEY team getting Pro CycleOps indoor spin bikes. It's just not fair. get some new sticks or pads or water bottles. This was obviously just a ploy to aggrivate me at work.

4. People hopping on the elevator to go to the second floor. I agree with Dr. Goates about this one. If I have arms loads of things to take up to the 4th floor to my room, it's acceptable. Or, if I park near the main entrance of Stone Ridge and it's already on the first floor, it's acceptable. But when I just get back from a ride, my legs are slightly burning and I hop in the elevator and another twat (or twat-ette) gets in and hits "Floor 2", I feel like going postal. Your lazy ass can't walk up 1 flight of steps while I just biked 20+ miles. Soon, very soon, I will start to say something if this continues to be done. Fair Warning!

That's all I can think of right now.... I'll be sure to update soon.

>>> Done Vida <<<

I donated blood today. It was horrendously nerve racking... for nothing. I get a little queasy around blood coming out of my body... and other peoples, so I guess that's what stopped me these years. Not the pain, I've done worse to myself (no, I'm not a cutter, just clumsy sometimes). Such a big build up for the end result. Matt, my nurse? was awesome, thanks to him for "striking oil" the first time. Overall, I'm a little disappointed in myself for not donating earlier in life... to save a life. (Ps. Kevin Watkins, I hate you for telling me horror stories before I went). Special thanks to a lovely lady for being there for me. ;) you know who you are! It meant a lot, thank you.

I urge everyone to donate blood when you get the chance, it may be a little prick and bruise, but the person getting that blood is probably going to be in much worse shape than you.

Also brings up the question... do you think anyone has ever given blood then went to the E.R. and got their own blood put back in them? That would be crazy.

Become an Organ Doner too...

Big Flat Climb

Felt cooped up and bored, and stressed out, so I decided to ride this Sunday...

It was fun. Part where it says "Beastly!" was truly... beastly (for lack of a better word). Kept it like 7-8 mph the whole way up... probably could have ran faster. Yikes, but I made it up! Woot! The fast descent was kind of scary too... maxed out at 43mph. Working toward ~47mph on a descent, but haven't been brave enough yet to take my hands off the brakes... oh well.

Project Single Speed

Project #1 is in the works!


It reminds me of The Six Million Dollar Man (yes, I'm old enough to remember watching re-runs at my grandparents house when I was a "wee lad")

"We have the technology, we can rebuild him...."

(The Technology)

Anyways... the frame's at the bike shop this week... bottom bracket's getting a lube job! Should be back by this weekend.

For a visual of the final result... (only mine will be a sexy blue)!

All that's left to get is the conversion kit, which is probably the most important part, a cheap used road brake from somewhere (because I want to stop... it's not a fixie), and tires.

Speaking of tires.... found these on E-Bay and I really want them!

One more small problem, the rear wheel I'm planning on using is currently on the road bike because my Neuvation R28 Aero4 is broken. But the new one is being shipped from CA as we speak!

Estimated Project Completion Date... 3.30.09

Frustration...

I don't know what it is lately. So many things are just making me SO frustrated!!!

1. I broke my NEW rear Neuvation wheel at the Princeton Crit. Race. I fell, and a spoke (nipple attached) ripped right out of the rim. Rim is cracked, which, = broken and no good.

$160... Gone. Toast. In the great words of Monty Python from the "Dead Parrot" skit (2:20 on)...
I have an "Ex"-wheel....

2. My classes this semester have been ok, but now in Brass Class we are learning Trombone. I don't like the Trombone, I don't like how it looks, how it sounds, even how you play it. In addition to my loathing of this instrument, the one I borrowed has a bent slide, now I need to rent another one. $35.

Plus, Physics class is slowly becoming a disaster. The professor is a sweet little old Russian lady who used to teach at a Aerospace Military Academy in Russia. Intense. But she throws up notes way too fast and goes at lightspeed sometimes, and I barely understand things as is.

3. Now, today, I lost 3/4 screws that hold my cleat onto my road shoe. In the middle of a ride none the less. Ughhhhhhh. It's enough to make me scream. So I rode 5 miles home with my heel on the left pedal, praying my right leg wouldn't give up on the uphills.

4. I have noticed my OCD getting worse lately, which is bad, because I have been getting better with certain things.

• I now set/check my alarm clock 5 times (instead of the usual 3 times).
• I am now putting my phone on silent before class at least 2-3 times.
• I am unusually checking my e-mail every chance I get... probably twice every 30 mins if I'm at the computer.
• I'm locking my watch into place 2 times now before I head out.
• I've been a lot more anal about my bed being made... (it's not tucked in now, which is slowly wearing at my nerves).
• Finally, a new tick I've noticed, I align and re-arrange the pile of newspapers that are stacked outside the elevator of Stone Ridge. Who does that?

5. I am slowly going broke... fast. I have a lot of money to collect which won't be bad, but with no time for a job, the funds disappear quickly. And if I can't get my wheel fixed for free or with a discount... that's going to be $160 that I don't have.

Livestrong... when life throws you lemons, make lemonade!

Delicious Treat

My girlfriend got me Peach Rings at an actual candy shop... and they are so good. I have a slight obsession with peach rings and these are extra tasty. For one, they are soft! I usually get them pre-packaged which means they are hard, stale, and smashed from being crammed in a box with (god only knows how many) other bags.

These are amazing, my own little snack bag. Thank you Brielle.

Peach Rings, I got's them...

Navy Race Report

So, this was last weekend, but I forgot to post the report...So we got there barely in time to register, sucking down fluids and gel, and throwing on clothes 20min before the start. I was putting my shoes on when I heard "10mins till Mens D..."

Yea, and it was cold. So, the pictures above are from the start. As you can see, I'm stretching at the start line. Also, I was still stretching and straddling the bike when the announcer yelled "Go". Shit. Then (in this last picture) you can see me in dead last, with everyone tearing off, and me struggling to get clipped into the pedals. Shit, again.

Well, I got lapped eventually, but on he last lap, I caught the guy who was in front of me (1/2 the race) on the down hill and did a BEASTLY sprint to blow him out of the water to the finish. So I'm proud of that.

So, in conclusion, Terrible warm up (my ass and calves hurt for 2 days) and terrible start, but the most important part was, I had a LOT of fun and it was my first collegiate race, and I didn't die. Good day.

Princeton / Rutgers Day I and II reports coming tomorrow after we get home.

The Last House on the Left

Well, I see that they have re-made another classic horror film...

I have seen the original, like many re-made horror flick originals (Dawn of the Dead, Assault on Precinct 13, The Hills Have Eyes, and Texas Chainsaw Massacre, etc.) and there are few (I think) that measure up to the originals. Yes, we now have the technology to show people getting chopped and mangled, but back in the day, there was more suspense, you didn't look at something and just see CGI effects (although I'm not dissing the technology and new films, don't take it that way).

This re-make, though, is going to have to step it up, big time! The original The Last House On the Left was (for lack of a better word), insane. Really crazy. If you've seen it, then you know what I'm talking about, just awfully insane. So I am excited to see the remake and see if it has the "shock" factor as the original.

Some good horror movies to watch, or just crazy movies to watch before you die would have to include...

1. The Shining (with Jack Nicholson) (still one of the only moves that still can really scare me)
2. The Evil Dead (just a terrible movie, effects, story line, and claymation all terrible, but a must see, for the laughs)
3. Cannibal Holocaust (don't ask, if you love animals or don't like nudity, not for you)
4. Stephen King's "It"
5. and finally, the original "Psycho"

ps. The Ring and The Grudge were legitimately scary movies, if you watch them alone in the dark, everyone I have talked to says they are "stupid" or "annoying"... I formally disagree.

pps. I watched The Mist last month as well, much better than expected. I liked it.