Pepper the shop dog

Eric (the mechanic & pro-racer) has this great dog named Pepper. She comes to work with him some days. She is this strange mix of Basset hound and terrier. Pepper is three times longer than she is high and it’s just hilarious to look at. She has a very sweet disposition and really loves her human. Since I’m here and not with my dogs (the idiots) I really look forward to Pepper’s visits. They make the day seem a little better and let’s face it life with a dog is much better than life without one. SO here’s Pepper. Aint she swell?

Civilization Redefined

I have always held with the popular definition of civilization that we are all taught in school. The whole first world, second world, third world thing. I’m not talking about people. We all know uncivilized people and behavior. No I’m talking about the definition of civilization. I have come to the conclusion lately that I need to redefine it. Here’s my new definition: If your cell phone works it’s civilized. If not then it is the wilderness.

I can’t begin to tell how frustrating it is to not be able to make and receive calls anywhere but in a two mile square area in town. How am I supposed to make business calls, call my friends/family or (most importantly) call my girlfriend? I am feeling very “away from my life” right now and it’s starting to make me a bit nutso. Last night I drove the 8 miles to town and sat in a parking lot for an hour so I could call my mom and then Meghan. It’s really pissing me off. If I were in Zimbabwe I would just accept it but this is a BIG CITY in the USA! What the fuck?! Why do I pay $150 a month to have the phone if I can’t get it to work? I am told that Cingular (not T-Mobile) works well here and I know they do at home so I’ll be switching later this week just as soon as my phone comes back from the guy who’s “unlocking” it for me (for a small fee of course).

Ok that’s enough bitching for today. Off to work. I sold like a crazy man yesterday and Rob was mighty pleased. Today, with luck, I’ll actually get to work on what I was hired to do.

Later,
Sam

I do so love my job

There are many reasons but today, dear monkeyfans it's this: I got a new set of carbon fiber cranks for my Single Speed.....for free!!!! Oh yeah I'm the man. Happy dance etc. We were going through one of the dozens of boxes of "I think there's some good stuff in those" and along with several awesome cranksets (including a brand new DuraAce double 10 speed ) and then these. They are for a double and just GORGEOUS....and mine, all mine. Rob just handed them to me and said "here you'll like these. They'd look good on a single speed." Oh and they do.

The unfortunate side effect of health food

Yes it’s tasty.  Yes it is good for you.  Yes it helps to make you into a cycling machine capable of mediocre feats.  But dear god does it make you crap.  I have been to the head more in the last week than I went last month.  Seriously it’s getting’ on my nerves.  I may go out tonight and eat some processed garbage just to clog things up a bit.

Later,
Sam

Yesterday’s ride

I got smoked. Flat out had my ass handed to me. I am so out of shape from the last few months off the bike it is laughable. I only put on a few pounds but jesus. At home (the lovely flat Midwest) I can do 25 miles at an average of about 17mph but out here in the mountains I suck. And suck and suck. My lungs are gone. It’s gonna take me all month to get back into shape. Oh and I am really glad I brought an 18spd tourer to finish this is no place to try and balls it out on my single speed.

today seems a bit off

I have been up for hours as usual. I got up and shaved, bathed and checked my email just like every morning of my life but there is an odd thing in the air. Maybe I’ve just been listening to too much Aqualung and it’s got me in a strange funk. Does anyone else think James Blunt is just a taxi ride away from suicide?

Vincent – my new roommate

It’s true. I have a roommate. He’s really quiet but man is he annoying. Vincent comes along every thirty seconds or so and touches me somewhere usually on my foot or arms. It drives me fucking nuts. But that’s his plan. To make me crazy enough to kill him but I’m not gonna allow him to take me there. Vincent will live and if he doesn’t it won’t be cause I do anything about it. Besides he’s the biggest house fly I’ve ever seen.

Later,
Sam

The first night here.

We had a great dinner. Rob’s wife Alicia made a bunch a frittata and a quiche for me since I don’t make with the meat eatin. They all had some of it and steak. We had a series of really great conversations about all the good stuff. W the wonder pshycho and Mel Gibson’s recent anti-jew moments. It was so much fun to be able to speak freely with co-workers without the fear insulting or having to “dumb down” a conversation. Books and film and crazy world figures plus food! It was like a dinner party. After dinner Ron and I got down to more work and went on with that for a bit.

Later I borrowed a phone so I could talk to my girl for a bit. I got five minutes before it died. Deep sigh. Today I am headed in to town to pick up some things I will need for the stay. I really only packed for a stay on a couch so I don’t have the sort of things I need for an apartment. Like covers. I froze my ass off last night. I put on every pair of socks I have and two shirts. Eventually I went and got the towels from the bathroom and used those too. I have had much worse nights for sure but I am just fried this morning.

Ok off for a ride I’ll be back tonight.

Later,

Sam

GRRRRR!

Well I worked in the new shop today. It was much with the good. There is a LOT to do. I thought I was disorganized! Rob set me up with the apartment in back of his very groovy house. I have all of the apartment type stuff. Kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, livingroom. Ya know the stuff. WHat I don't have is a working cell phone. The new TMobile I have hasn't worked since I left the Pa turnpike yesterday. NO SIGNAL!!! I'm in a city for fuck sake. Tomorrow I will go to the CIngular store and see what they can do for me. OH and while Rob has graciously given me free acces to his bandwith I can't get my email to send over the sat link. It's a common problem with the damned things but fuck. NO PHONE and NO EMAIL!!!!!

Still it is gorgeous here and they want me to fall for it and move. NOT gonna happen. But I can ride every morning here on a 12 mile circuit before work that should be really nice. Ok off to dinner.

Sam

I have arrived!

You may now begin your worship. The trip only took 11.5 hours.

Today I drive

I am heading east today. I am heading to Pa. to the new shop for a month or so. I should have left two hours ago but I just didn't feel the need to rush. So I have a 12 hour drive ahead of me with the dogs. They travel really well so it isn't that big a deal. I will continue to post while there and with any luck will be able to get some other writing done too. Ok it's time to make with the travel.

Later,
Sam

Escobar is no more- the movie

IF anyone gets the chance to watch it the History channel is doing a documentary called "the true story of Killing Pablo." It's about the hunt and killing of Escobar in the early 90's. It's really an interesting story and I have some friends who were in on that gig so you should watch. It will give you nightmares.

The need for more toys

My friend Gary and I have several common lusts. Cycling, Canoes/Kayaks and the most expensive of all….vintage Land Rovers. It’s the last one that I want to talk about today. I really want one. I have since I was a kid. I remember sitting and watching my little black and white TV and looking at pictures of the mercenaries in Africa (it was the 70’s and there were lots of those) driving around in their Land Rovers looking tough. It was my definition of cool growing up. Who wanted to grow up and be a firefighter? Not me baby. I wanted to be a professional soldier and travel the world blowing shit up. I’ve done some stuff in my life. I have one hell of an interesting resume but I’ve never owned that Land Rover. Never been to Africa either. The Rover bit I can fix…maybe.

Gary has owned and refinished two in the past. He and I have been talking a lot lately about getting a pair of them and fixing them up for fun. Now I have NO talent in that arena but Gary assures me that if I can fix bicycles, motorcycles and machine guns I can fix up a Rover. We’ll see. I have to admit that it does feed the daring adventurer in my soul. I want to take my cool Rover with its kayak mounted on top into the wild to do a paddle and then some camping and hiking. But then that is just the holiday fantasy isn’t it? I won’t get to live the life anymore just play on weekends. Still it’s better than getting shot at so what the hell.

Later,
Sam