It pains me

Suffering from back pain sucks. It all started Friday when the boards for our deck decided to fall out of the back of my truck. As I was frantically trying to get them back in, I strained my back. Well it didn't stop me from working and not knowingly compensated all weekend with my lower back. Whilst lubing my chain for my ride to work yesterday morning just lifting the seat and twisting I felt the pop in my lower back. It almost brought me to my knees. I can't believe the irony of this. I am not sure what is hurting more. The pain in my back or not riding due to the pain in my back. Sure hope this Ibuprofen helps...

dropped chain

People are really strange here. Trying to figure out this biking community. I wave to everyone on a bike, so you would think the other would wave back? Does this fall into the lines of the timidness expressed in the TX driver? Can't take hands off the handlebars? Can't nod the head? Eyes must stay focused or can't focus? Bumper sticker say "Keep Austin Weird" Well guess what guys, that ain't gonna change quickly here. You all are weird....
Well I was approaching the 11th light today on my morning commute, having only caught 5 green. And I saw that traffic was moving toward me. This is a blind approach to the light and can only be seen about 100 feet before you get to the intersection. Since traffic was moving and looked as if it had just started I thought "Great a green light". So I start revin' it up and just past the tree that hangs over the road to obstruct your view I see Yellow then Red. Crap. I am in the big ring and 3rd. shift to the small ring so I can at least start on the uphill when the light turns green and low and behold the chain drops and no momentum to pick it back up. I nearly feel over getting my foot out. So stuck at the intersection on an uphill with no chain. Just had to get the hands dirty. Glad I did it since I have been neglecting maintenance. I will need to clean my bike up soon. Anyway ended up 5 for 13 for the morning commute.

10 to 2

Late start to the morning for me so I commuted with the 10 to 2 crowd. Less people but more need for medication. Wow, these people need to go to driving school. They always think they are doing you a favor by camping out at a stop sign to let you go when they have the right of way. Cars and trucks will hurt if you get hit. Efficiency is not the realm in TX. Gas guzzling SUV's and trucks is the way here. Oh Austin is so green, BullShit! They are still part of TX and texans could care less how much gas costs. They will keep buying it and parking on the interstate during rush hour everyday. I love riding across the interstate and seeing how many of these people are wasting time by sitting in their vehicles to get to work or get home everyday. No wonder our nation is obese. Lazy, lazy, lazy...
Enough of that. Had a nice ride home on Thursday 7 for 15. First 8 lights I caught green or somewhat green. Great ride on Saturday. 25 miles of undulating asphalt. I don't think I went a half a mile without climbing or descending. Just glad to be riding. 5 of 13 this morning, so the 10 to 2 commute is looking the quickest. Can't wait to ride home when it should be 100 F. At least it is dry. After living in New Orleans, it's weird to not be drenched after a ride.

Riding again

Well more like commuting. Finally got my lazy ass back on the bike and am commuting 11 miles to an from work. I think everyone in Austin or even TX is on Prozac or Zoloft or any of those pills that make you happy when you feel sad. Drivers here are spacey. I actually feel safer riding my bike to and from work than driving. I have found a route that is pretty much has continuous bike lanes, although cars are aloud to park in them and occasionally you get the nut job who drives in it. Today there was only one jerkweed who honked at someone who was giving me space as I was forced into the lane by a parked truck in the bike lane. Guess he forgot his meds this morning. I have several routes to choose from and encountered 12 lights today. Caught 5 red so pretty good morning. I am sure the ride home I will encounter more red lights. A few weeks ago I was 12 of 15. Looks like Contador will take the pink jersey to Milano, if he doesn't crack on Gavia. What does Johan have that no one else does? Hmmmm.....

Riley

Riley
Jan. 24, 2000 to Dec. 4, 2007

A very rough night as one of our family was put to rest early this morning. Our Pooh-bear, Fuzzy-man, Super fuzz, Big Fuzz, Beaver dog, the Fly catcha' amongst many other nick names. He responded to them all. We want to remember the happy times with him, which was all the time. Watching him carry a huge log around then devour it later. Playing ball non stop. Howling with us and the sirens. Enjoying the Blue Hole with his buddy Cash. I wanted to let you all know about him, because as you got to know him better you found out what a great dog and companion he could be. So when you see a log you don't think is possible for a dog to move think of our Fuzzy Elvis. He has left our house but not our hearts.

Wacky

Man o man are people screwed up. check out this nut job's "artistic voice". Why can't television just have a TRUE view of how America is really doing. Just a thought.

Double wammy

The uphill trudge to work was met with headwinds of 20 and gusting to 30. Nothing to hide behind just kept head down as much as possible. The cooler temps were the only good thing this morning. At least I wasn't drenched in sweat arriving at the goolaug. What a screwy place this is. Makes me wonder if I really made the right decision. It was the only option at the time so we will see how this works out for at least a year. Our home is progressing and hopefully we will meet the Dec. 15th projected closing date. Keep your fingers crossed.

Revolution

We need to get that mf out of office... Just listen to Keith Olbermann. He's got it right you right winged fools!

Can you do better?

I don't think it could be said any better....
"Congressmen who willfully take actions during wartime that damage morale, and undermine the military are saboteurs and should be arrested, exiled or hanged!"
President Abraham Lincoln

Here here!!

Existence

At Tulane.... No longer. the guys there have pulled my email account so I no longer exist at Tulane University. I feel a little empty over this because my great grandmother always wanted me to go there. Although I didn't go to school there, being employed there can almost replace that. I guess if I was an alum or donated a ton of money I could have kept an account there. Time to accept Texas as home... Naaa! Southern Louisiana is the place for me. Coon ass through and through!

Scary things

My memory! Finally got to my old computer and can log in. I believe we are all in line for the dreaded CRS disease, it's just how close to the front are you? I must be getting there rapidly. Rode to work this morning and got to the office and picked up my towel and clothes to go downstairs to take a shower and forgot my pants on my desk. Had to put all my cycling stuff back on and truckit up stairs then back down. Glad I left them here yesterday or I could have been pantless today. Not a good thing with the way people are around here in TX. Back in New Orleans I probably would gotten away with it. I might need a small note pad to carry around with me. What day is it? At least I can remember that down at the right corner of the screen. Happy Halloween everyone.

Policia

Never there when you need one but always there to hassle you. Traffic had no problems going around me yesterday morning until the cop got behind me. I thought at first this guy must have some brake problems. Turns out he was just hitting the button on his intercom to get me to move. Hey dumb ass there is a curb right next to me and if I move any further over to the right my pedal will hit it and I will surely end up on the ground and under your tires. He finally came on his loud speaker and told me to turn in the parking lot so he wouldn't hit me. No one else had that problem. Where do these guys learn how to drive. Of course... he was probably late for the hot doughnuts down the street.

Double letter states

They have to be the worst drivers. It hasn't failed here. Everytime I have a close call with some ignorant motorist their license plate is from Mississippi (the worst), Tennessee or Pennsylvania. I haven't had problems with Hawaii but not sure how that would go. Is it something with the double letters? The level of education? or down right stupidity. I think the later because I don't like traveling through any of these states in the first place. It has to do with the drivers. All the drivers ed flunkies have congregated to these states. It's got to be the repetitive letters.

aan

Another day and another blog about not much. Got in close to 60 miles this weekend and my legs are sore. Not used to the rolling hills I have been pounding. I really haven't rode the hills out west yet but plan to do so someday. Got my sights set on the Wurstride. It will be nice to suck down some brews and feast on some brats at the end of a long ride.

Traffic

Too much early morning or for that matter anytime traffic. Not used to all the vehicles. I guess I was spoiled with the levee in New Orleans. Speaking of NO, I was back there briefly to retrieve some equipment. Man was the food ever good! You take things for granted when you are somewhere for a while. But going back, I went to Mandina's on Canal. Got the seafood platter with grilled fish and shrimp. I totally recommend getting the fish and shrimp grilled instead of fried. I ate dinner and lunch the next day on the same tab and was full after each. It was wonderful. That amount of food here would have cost me an arm and a leg and wouldn't have even come close to the flavor. Still looking for the good food.

I know what it means...

A few weeks ago we had to say good bye to New Orleans and have been missing it since and will continue. The day we drove out C couldn't even speak she was so broken up. I had tears flowing down my cheeks. It really didn't hit me why I felt so bad, but now I know.

The people. There are far too many stories to talk about in a simple blog, but to all you guys on the levee, my neighbors, the local dj, my coworkers, the bus drivers, the supper club, the artists, the musicians, the professionals, the blue collars, the unemployed, etc. Just to pass by any of you there and you get a smile and "how ya doin'?" Next thing you may be having a beer with them at a local bar or even in their home. Tasting some food off their table or offering some off yours. I miss sitting on the porch and conversing with whomever walks by, tossing a few back. The ease with how the city went about. Most don't get it and it isn't the most efficient way of going about business, but that's the way it is.

To all you suburbanites, You Suck! This life sucks and it will take you down rapidly. I just hope our house will be done soon so we can move closer to the city. Maybe we will see Austin in a different light then. But now, I see the green city isn't so green. Most democratic Texan city is very conservative, what's up with that? Music scene? I miss the tuba guys on the corner practicing into the night, give me some Funky Liza. Where is Chris Rose?

I know what it means...

Last levee ride

Well it looks as if I have done my last levee ride as a New Orleanian. We have a contract on our house and have to vacate this Friday. Lots of crap going on with the move as we have had inspectors a plenty come through yesterday, appraisers today and more inspectors tomorrow. I am spending my days looking for housing in Austin. Looks like we have a place far from town. Not the New Orleans commute that I am so used to. Suburbia life is going to suck! We have a home being built, but due to all the rain TX construction has been delayed. I sure hope Austin will have safe roads for riding. Due to the population increase there I have found quite a few vehicular accidents involving cyclists. Could be a stressful commute down the road. I will definitely look forward to another day up on the levee, but until then got to find somewhere to ride.

Erin gone no rain

Well Erin passed us up without a drop and it is still damn hot. Got out to the levee, late as usual, and had someone pass me as I was warming up. I should say loosing up the legs as it was all ready in the mid 80's and I was sweating profusely. I jumped on his wheel and went for the ride. He was down on his tt bars so I sat in. After a few miles he let me take the pull and I asked if he was done or heading out further. He said he was going to the end, so I pulled until I met the group, just past the parish line and jumped in with them for the return. For the days of summer here it was unusually windy and we had a cross head wind on the return. It was a nice workout but sometimes a little of "what the @#$% are you doing".
At work now and starting to pack things up for the move to Texass. At least they are having a wet summer. I better not say too much or we will get crushed by Dean. Speaking of not saying too much, why is this snippet from Cheney just making headlines. What a hypocrite. 1/20/09 isn't close enough, get rid of 'em now!

Storm's a brewin'

We are looking at Tropical Disturbance 34 in the Gulf and Tropical Storm Dean out in the Atlantic. I wish 34 would turn due north and drop some rain on us. Man is it hot. The AC just won't shut off and it is 84 in the house. As for Dean, he can stay out in the Atlantic and head north for some of those hobnobbers up on the eastern seaboard.
Finished a short ride today in a full soaking of sweat. Seems to be a pretty repetitive experience these dog days of summer. Met up with Elyse at the zoo, she has been out of commission for the last month. So we rode out slowly to Florida chatting about photography and bike racing. I decided to turn with the group and head home, problem about having to go to work. I was pleasantly surprised to find the pace civilized. Good since I have no form right now. I found out from Randy that Tulane made the top 25 of US News for recovering schools. They actually headed the list. At least they made some list.

Sweatering

It has been so hot lately I feel as if I am wearing a wool sweater on my rides. Had a nice dinner at The Pelican Club downtown saturday night which lead to a late sunday morning ride. Kind of dehydrated due to the many cocktails consumed whilst eating a delicious meal. Richard sure knows how to cook but not to good about showing up for rides. This morning wasn't any different than the last 2 weeks of sweltering heat. 20 miles and completely soaked to the bone. If we don't get some rain soon I am going to have to water the roof for some relief. Anyone out there wishing to buy a house in NO? We are selling and heading to Austin with new job positions. Got to sell, but the market really sucks right now. Insurance, taxes, economy, crime,... just depressing. Somebody help!