Doubling The Gold In Wyoming

We seemed to be following the storm in Wyoming.  First hail in Fort Bridger, then this.  Right in the center of the interstate, a rainbow.  The Super Vivid setting on my camera came in handy, intensifying the colors in the stormy sky.  We were driving right into the end of the rainbow.

Then, as if by magic, it multiplied.  At the other end.

And isn't that where they say the gold is?


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: Down Louisiana Way, Where The Blue Dog Resides
2011: Crossing The Park To 5th Avenue
2010: All Work, All Play
2009: Was My Mother Hot, Or What???
2008: The Fiddleheads Of Maine
2007: Fifteen Dollar. We Make Nail Nice. No Probrem.
2006: Road Testing The Girl
2005: Ed Time

Pinged

As we sat on the fuel island in Fort Bridger, Wyoming, the truck was being gently pinged by hail during a brief hailstorm.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: Adventure To Adventure
2011: The Mixing Of The Bitter And The Sweet
2010: A Great Start To A Weekend In New York
2009: Sing Sing Singin’ The Incarceration Blues
2008: Flame Sandwich
2007: Contradiction
2006: Every Eight To Twelve Seconds
2005: Sorry, no post for this day.

Under All Is The Land

You know how you always hear people say, "I've got two words for you...." and then they give you the two words to describe the situation, the person, the product, the feeling, the whatever?

Well, I'm hard pressed to come up with two words to describe realtors.

Lazy and incompetent?

Unprepared and inept?

Lackadaisical and feckless?

Useless and worthless?

Doesn't matter which words you use, they generally all mean the same thing and they all increase the level of frustration when having to work with somebody who displays those traits.  

Did you know that the National Association of Realtors has a Code of Ethics? It turns 100 years old this year.  I wonder if any realtors have actually read it.

Over 70 years ago, the National Association of Realtors president, Cyrus Crane Willmore, declared in a speech, "Property ownership is fundamental to our way of life.  The first five words of our Code of Ethics should be impressed upon the minds of every man, woman and child in our country. They are, ‘Under all is the Land.’"

Under all may be "the land", but deep under the exterior of many realtors seems to lurk "the universal character flaw".

And if I had to pick one word to describe that flaw, I'd go with LAZY.  Yes, in capital letters. 

If you're trying to sell a house, or a piece of property, let me fill you in on a couple of things.  I'll count 'em down for you.

10.  It would be nice if you've actually been to the house you're trying to sell.  When I call on a house or piece of property and the listing agent says, "I've never actually been to that property.", it's all I can do to not hang up on them mid-sentence.  In case you're not aware, there are a bazillion real estate agents and all I need to do is pick up the phone to find another.  If you're not interested in selling houses/property, find another profession. Maybe a night shift security guard where you can sit on your ass for the fifty-eight minutes of each hour you're not walking the property you're "guarding".

9.  You should never list a house without a photo.  Never.  Ever.  Seriously, people?  You're trying to sell a house on the internet without a picture??  It's bad enough I have to do 80% of your work by researching online, looking at listings, narrowing my options and presenting you with what I want to see.  If you didn't have the keys to these places, I wouldn't even need you.  So take a fucking picture.  It's the least you can do.

8. While on the subject of pictures, since almost everyone has a camera phone and/or an actual camera on their person at all times, why don't you take a few minutes and walk the property and take a few more pictures of the place?  And while you're doing that, keep in mind that I don't need to see eighteen pictures of the backyard patio.  I'd like to see the kitchen (from various angles), every bedroom, every bathroom, the living room, family room, garage, laundry room.  You know, the parts of the home I'll actually be living in?

7. If you're taking a picture of the exterior, try not to let me see the side view mirror of your car in the version you post on the listing.  Try to create some illusion that you aren't so lazy that you couldn't be bothered to get out of your car.  Because if you're too lazy to get out of your car to take pictures, I'm guessing you're not going to be much of a fireball when it comes to looking for property for me.

6.  Listen.  Listen.  Listen.  If I tell you I hate kids, don't take me to a house next to a playground.  If I tell you I don't want a trailer, understand that I also mean I don't want a "manufactured" home.  That's not a home.  That's still a trailer, just without the wheels.  I will answer any questions you have, so try to have some questions.  You know, the kind you learned how to ask in all those real estate seminars you go to?  You can't determine my needs from a ten question survey your secretary hands out.

5.  I'm not your friend.  Even if I am your friend.  Because in this situation, you're working for me.  And as your friend, I do expect some special treatment.  Because I'm essentially giving you special treatment by choosing you to represent me.  You know, since we're friends and all.  But that doesn't mean you get to kick back and do less.  You should be using your pull and hopefully your knowledge, to get me the best deal.  Nothing is going to suck more than for me to know you're taking it easy because you think I'm so easy going.  Or because I'm fun at parties.  Or because I'm an awesome cook and you know you'll be getting some eggplant parmigiana out of the deal.  If you can't do the job, I'll be happy to go with someone else.  Because I'm capable of resisting your "c'mon, let me be your realtor" pout.

4.  If you can't provide the service I'm expecting, tell me up front.  Don't waste my time.  I'm very specific when it comes to what I'm looking for.  If you're not up to the challenge, don't take it.  And if you are up to the challenge, don't be surprised when I send you a list. 

3.  According to a joint study conducted by the National Association of Realtors and Google, real estate related searches are up 253% over the past four years and 90% of home buyers search online during their home buying process.  Try to remember that when you're crafting your ad.  Describe in detail, and if possible, with correct spelling and grammar, the features of the home.  A garnite countertop is not as appealing as a granite one.  And if you can find someone in your office who's smarter than you, ask that they proof it before you post it.  And don't forget about the photos. In my case, 100% of my research is done online prior to looking at a place in person, and I want to feel as if I'm standing inside that house before I even get there.    

2.  Come prepared.  The first thing you should do is send me listings via email so you don't waste my time showing me stuff I've either looked at myself online, seen via drive-by, or walked through with another agent (yes, there have been others before you).  Then, once you know that I haven't seen what you have up your sleeve, come with print-outs.  You should have at least ten, but it would be nice if you did some of your own homework and presented me with a surprise or two.  Show me you really know your stuff.  Show me your "I've been a realtor for 10, 25, 30 years and know this town like the back of my hand" statement is really true.  And don't try to bullshit me because I do my homework.

And the most important, utterly essential, monumentally crucial and least utilized action of all, is the one I've saved for the number one spot.

1.  RETURN PHONE CALLS.  RETURN PHONE CALLS.  RETURN PHONE CALLS.  Is that clear enough?  And how hard is that to do?  If you did just this one thing, you'd probably have more business than you can shake a stick at as some country folk might say.  Seriously though, if there's a realtor out there who can give me a good reason - not a shit reason, a good reason - as to why it's so hard to return phone calls on listings with YOUR name on them, I'd love to hear it.  It's bad enough you're not available when I call on a property you have listed, it's even worse when you don't call me back.  Or you call me back so many days after that I've forgotten which property I even called about.  If you can't handle the number of properties you have listed, perhaps you should decrease your workload.  

Most people have a limited amount of time to dedicate to the endeavor of looking for a place to live; they have jobs, families, responsibilities.  Maybe they have one or two days a week to go out and look at stuff.  Or like me, has to make time to travel to the place I want to look for a home or piece of property.  You should be making our search easier.  And instill confidence in us by showing you can help.  Returning a phone call can do that.

House hunting is not a hobby for most people.  They're not shopping for shoes.  It's a big financial obligation, it's an emotional process and it's stressful.  If someone is looking for a house, it's a safe bet they need that house.  Don't fuck with their time.

And don't forget to post photos, dammit.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: Squinty Eyes? Check. Big Smile? Check. Ed, Happy? Check.
2011: The Last Great Italian
2010: That’s So Cherry
2009: Crouching Eddie Hidden Lamb Friday
2008: Help Me Understand
2007: Take Two Lattes And Call Me In The Morning
2006: It’s Never Too Late For A Good Sale
2005: The Original Goldfish

Two Telephone Poles And A Cloud

I took this photo somewhere along US Highway 191 between Moab and Green River, Utah.  I'm not really a fan of the western United States, as the landscape is usually too barren and stark for me, but there are places like this that have really picturesque scenery. 

And I took this from the window of a moving vehicle. 

Imagine what one could do with a tripod and perfect lighting.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: I’ve Yet To Make Lemonade
2011: Alien Ribs Of The North
2010: White’s Bastard Cousin
2009: Jake
2008: I Might Have To Be Put In Restraints For Our Next Conversation
2007: People Who Are Happy To Help You Drown In Debt
2006: I, I, I
2005: Sorry, no post for this day.

Super Smooth Ride

Yesterday we took this bridge...

 

Across this river...

 

To ride this trail...

The pedestrian bridge at the north end of Moab is where you'll find the pedestrian/bicycle bridge that crosses the Colorado River, which is where you pick up the Moab Canyon Pathway you see in the photo above.

The pathway runs thirty-five miles to Canyonlands National Park, but we only rode it a little over two miles to the entrance of Arches National Park.  We didn't go in the park - we're saving that for another trip - but the ride was nice because just as we began, the sun went behind the clouds and the temperature dropped dramatically.  As if they knew I was coming.

This photo of the park entrance was taken with the super vivid color setting on my camera, but the dirt and rocks really kinda are this red. 

With this five mile round trip plus the mile or so we did in town before this, we rode about seven miles.  I can't even believe I just wrote those words, because they mean I traveled a distance of seven miles propelled by my own legs.  Who'da thunk?

So, uh, you know, someone really should call those guys over at Guinness, because I'm sure there's a world record in here somewhere. 



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: Handling Meat For Over 144 Years
2011: Investing In Your Investment – Part Two
2010: Here’s Your Sign
2009: A Mini And Me
2008: Wild In Tennessee
2007: Isn’t There A Third Evil?
2006: What The Hell Is This??
2005: Sorry, no post for this day.

I'd Follow Him Anywhere

Here's my Eddie taking the lead.  He rides faster than me, but really I just like him in front so I can yell to him from behind. 

"Turn left up there!"

"Slow down!  I'm falling behind!"

"Where are you going??"

I have this theory that my voice projects better in front of me, rather than having to turn my head - risking life and limb - to holler over my shoulder behind me.

Sometimes I think he pretends not to hear me.  But I have a bell.

And I'm not afraid to use it.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: Yes! We Have No Bananas
2011: Investing In Your Investment – Part One
2010: A Tank Full Of Freightliners
2009: The Sad, Sad Future Of Our Young People
2008: Sighting The American Idiots
2007: Orbiting Out Of Control
2006: Passing Through Life
2005: Texas Pride?

So Serene, Even Serial Killers Would Be Drawn To It

Parked on the edge of town, today we took our bikes and explored Main Street and its surroundings in Moab, Utah. We must have ridden ten miles.

We rode the Mill Creek Parkway trail several times - to and from one of our destinations, and then another time because it was the only way we knew how to get to a particular street - throughout the day we went to a bike shop, a bakery (the BEST oatmeal cranberry cookie I've ever eaten!), for lunch, another bike shop, and to the grocery store. 

Ed rode back with a watermelon in the backpack - tied to the bike rack, not on his back.  I didn't trust myself with it because it was pretty big and I thought the weight of it on the back would throw me off balance.  I'm just getting used to the bike, you know.

The bike path cut through a lot of these places, and where there wasn't a path, the streets - with the exception of Main Street - were wide and devoid of traffic.  On Main Street, which is essentially a state highway and traveled fairly heavily - including those pesky 18-wheelers - there are some areas that have a bike lane or a wide parking area on either side where bikes can ride.  There were some areas where we had to snake around parked cars, but we made it work.

Although it's almost always too warm for me, the weather has been relatively nice and riding the bike creates a nice breeze.  I only seem to get hot when I stop.  Thankfully, there were a lot of trees on the bike path and the streets are tree lined, so I had many shade spots.  And there were no serial killers, which is always a plus.

Let me explain.  The Mill Creek Parkway path was pretty well-traveled, but there were a few areas obscured by trees.  I joked with Ed saying "and this is where the killer comes", which is a running joke between us about the places people go which would seem the most obvious areas for a killer to emerge from.  That's when he said, "Yeah.  Like The Mill Creek Killer." 

"Oh my God, yeaaah." I said. 

The Mill Creek Killer is a serial killer from an episode of Criminal Minds. 

Super creepy.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: Time To Lounge
2011: You Can All Stop Complaining Now
2010: This Puss Doesn’t Have Bots
2009: Milling, Spinning And Bleating
2008: What Happens When You Have Too Much Time To Think
2007: Eddie Rides A Polar Bear Friday
2006: Lite Brite, Making Things With Light
2005: Texas Pride?

Boom! Color.

Moab, Utah


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: Little Dragonflies Alighting Upon My Ears
2011: Snuggling On Hold
2010: Confessions
2009: There’s Nothing Like The Humor Of A New Yorker
2008: Anne’s Land And Beyond
2007: Butter Me Up
2006: Master Backer Or Master Bater?
2005: Not By The Hair Of My Chinny, Chin, Chin!!

Escape From Texas

Today marks two full weeks in Houston.  And we're finally gettin' out!  The weather has been surprisingly nice, not too hot, and after buying the bikes we were able to get some riding in and I finished up with the bike bags. 

Here's a small sampling of the buttonhole I made for the straps, which are going to secure it to the wheel and then the underside of the trailer:

I will post more pictures of the bike bags when I get a chance to photograph them on the truck.  We'll be taking the bikes out at our next stop, so I'll try to remember.

We have a team run that's taking us west, and another after that that'll send us back east.  Finally.  I briefly mentioned in a past post that we're going to Montreal in June with our friends Marlaina and Greg.  Greg is a huge Formula One racing fan and the boys (Greg, his brother, and Ed) are going to the Montreal Grand Prix. 

Marlaina and I have other plans.  I bought some new clothes, I have a tentative menu planned for the week, Marlaina and I have hair appointments that she made for us, and we'll be doing stuff like shopping, lunch at cafes, maybe a spa day, and working on the book project we've been talking about.  She even has a sewing project lined up for me.  Anything but car racing.

Next stop, the high desert of the Colorado Plateau.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: Like Cattle In A Penn
2011: Another Day In The Trucking Life
2010: Ed Prepares For The Italy Trip
2009: Strolling Along The Atlantic
2008: Eddie Chatting It Up Friday
2007: The ABC’s Of Me
2006: After The Storm
2005: The Essence Of Me

Cinco Canciones I Love

I listen to a lot of music, and some of my favorite songs are Spanish and Portuguese language songs.  Check out the videos of the five songs (cinco canciones) I like best, all of which are sung in Spanish.

Quisiera Ser
Alejandro Sanz
I don't know when I discovered this song, but I've loved it since my first listen.  My favorite part is when he pronounces "silencio" the Castilian Spanish way, with the "th" sound, so it sounds like "silenthio", how they do it in northern and central Spain.


Suave
Luis Miguel
I discovered Luis Miguel in the early nineties when I was working for the Westin La Paloma Resort in Tucson, AZ. He was staying at the hotel and I was given tickets to his concert that night. I had no idea who he was, but I went anyway and the concert was fantastic. This song is from the album the year of that concert and it's still one of my favorites.


No Me Ames
Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez
I happen to think Marc Anthony is skinny-creepy, but I really like this song. And Jennifer Lopez can make anyone look good.  When she's on the screen, who cares about the other person?


Mi Tierra
Gloria Estefan
This song just makes me wiggle my hips, even when I'm sitting. And because I know almost all of the words, I feel so cool singing it, like I actually know what the hell I'm saying.


Oye Como VaTito Puente
Most people know this tune done by Carlos Santana, and his version is just fine, but I happen to love the sound of the original.




~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: The Path To Christopher Street
2011: It Was A Dark And Stormy Night
2010: More “Holy Crap!” Than “Oh Dear”
2009: Eddie So Hot He’s Cookin’ Like Guy Fieri Friday
2008: Maybe She Should Hold Off On The Pet Ownership
2007: It Must Be A Sign
2006: Keeping Time With His Ticker
2005: Yo! Yo! Yo!

The Real Way To Save The Planet

Recently my friend Vicki was telling me about some of the behavior problems in the middle school her kids go to.  Seems 90% of the arguments, out-and-out fist fights, bullying and teasing starts out on Facebook outside of school hours, and then continues in the classroom and on the playground (or whatever they call it these days).

She said she was talking to one of the teachers the other day and told her, "That's why my kids aren't on Facebook and will never be on Facebook as long as they live in my house." 

"How does that work?" the teacher said.

"How does what work?" Vicki said.

"How do you get them not to go on Facebook?" the teacher said.

"I tell them they can't be on Facebook." Vicki said.

"And that works?" the teacher said.

"Yeah.  Why wouldn't it?" Vicki said.

The teacher seemed perplexed.  As if telling a kid what to do and expecting him to do it was a foreign concept.  Vicki said it took restraint not to say, "Are you kidding me??  You're a teacher, and a parent, and you don't know how to control a kid??"

That's one of the biggest problems with parents today.  They have no control over their children.  Kids don't listen.  They're not afraid of getting in trouble because the parents don't discipline them, so there are no consequences to face.  They rule the house.  They throw tantrums.  The refuse to do what they're told.

Too many mothers are more worried about how they'll look to other people if they flat out told their kids to shut up, sit down and listen.  They don't want to "bruise" their child's self-esteem.  They don't want their kids to think they aren't "loved".  They don't want to punish them for fear of what it'll do to them when they grow up.

WHAT???  If you're lucky, your discipline will help them be a decent adult.  They won't grow up to be bigger versions of the little brats they are now. 

Every once in a while, your kid needs a good smack in the mouth.  Shit, nine times out of  ten, I want to smack your kid in the mouth.  I'm appalled at what kids get away with these days.  There are too many mothers who are worried about the reactions of a kid they already know is a problem and one they already have trouble controlling.  In general, parents today suck.  They certainly aren't the same quality as my parents.  Or my grandparents.

You might not be able to control your kid when they're eighteen or twenty-five, and you can't be held responsible for what they do or say when they're thirty or forty years old.  Hell, I know that first hand - my mother is often not thrilled about what I say, do or even write on this blog, but I'm FORTY-FIVE years old.  I can essentially do what I want. 

But when I was seven, ten, sixteen?  Living under her roof, eating her food, using her electric and generally living life as a kid?   Getting smacked in the lip was a regular occurrence if I stepped out of line.  If my mother said I wasn't talking on the phone for a week, I wasn't talking on the phone.  If she even looked at me funny, I knew how far I could go before getting in trouble.  And you damn well better believe my parents controlled every aspect of what went on in our house.

If you think telling your kid they can't have a Facebook account isn't possible when they're in seventh and eighth grade, you not only have big problems, you're likely a shitty parent. 

For the sake of others, grow a pair and take your responsibilities seriously.  Try not to send another little asshole out into the world.

There are too many out here already.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: Lunch At The Park
2011: I’ve Got A Crush On You
2010: The D’Angelo Bros. Outfit The Navy
2009: One Day A Revered Indian Chief, The Next Day Wagon Train Eye Candy
2008: Not Exactly The Best Way To Reach Out To Your Community
2007: Carny At The Junction
2006: Mother Superior
2005: Great Expectations

Cottage Industry

Hotel room, sewing machine, scissors, my project materials, and CSI Miami playing in the background.

The makings of a modern day sweatshop.

I have been sucked so far into Ed's "let's-mount-the-bikes-all-I-need-is-a-cover" project, that last night I felt as if I were making t-shirts in Bangladesh.  I was up until five in the morning, creating a bike cover crafted from weatherproof canvas material sourced from auto accessories.

Ed was up too, watching TV and playing video games, and every once in a while he would look over and say, "Done yet?"

At one point I got up to refill my glass with Diet Coke and he said, "What are you doing??"

"Please, sir, I want some more." 

"Get back to sewing!" he barked.  Joking, of course.

It's not as if he could have helped at that point since only one person can sew at a time, but when I was done, he helped me lay it out so we could take a look at it.

I have to say, I'm pretty damn spectacular.

Today we messed around fitting them on the bikes to see how they'd secure to the trailer.  I still have some work to do - grommets or buttonholes or something to thread the 1" straps through.  Tomorrow I'll hit the fabric store to see what they have. 

Then I'll sit back down with my sewing machine and finish what I started. 

It's like Project Runway:  Trucking Style.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: The Whole World
2011: Weekend Retreat
2010: I Might Even Give It An Academy Award
2009: Two Poles, One Man, No Fish
2008: When You Don’t Have Time To Make More Than One Trip
2007: A Mother Of A Mother
2006: Could You Love William Perry?
2005: Herding The Blogger Sheep

Mommy And Me Kickin' It At The Yacht Club

My mother and I at the Mamaroneck Yacht Club in Mamaroneck, New York.  Even at seven months old, I knew the cool places to hang out.

My mother is four months pregnant with my brother.  Are you diggin' that maternity dress and those mod shoes? 

Happy Mother's Day, Mommy!!  Hope it's a wonderful one!



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: Dinner At The Diner
2011: My Guitar Hero
2010: The Competition Is Getting Fierce
2009: A Little Smooch Makes Everything Taste Better
2008: The Greatest Spectacle In Racing
2007: Jalapenos Basking In The California Sunshine
2006: Millions Of Miles Of Knowledge
2005: Midnight Snack

Does Anyone Have One Of These I Can Borrow?

Typical Swiss Mountain Cabin with the Wetterhorn in the background.  Photo courtesy of Grindelwald Tourismus

I would give my left pinkie to be sitting in this chalet, in this snow, at the foot of this mountain, right this very minute.

I don't know many people (maybe two) who prefer cold weather to hot.  If I were to post my desire to be here on Facebook, I would probably be in the 1% of people who feel the same way - the only time I'll be in the 1%.

I never look forward to summer.  Ever.

The only thing I like, is that I can wear flip-flops on a daily basis.  Other than that, not looking forward to the sun, the sand, the heat. 

Once June 1 hits, I will be counting the days until Fall.

PS:  If you have a ski chalet, shoot me an email.  I'll leave baked goods when I depart.  :)



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: Built Like A Mack
2011: Luxor-ious Seating
2010: Sharing A Moment
2009: When Sunny Gets Blue
2008: Putting The Friendly Back In The Skies
2007: White Squall
2006: Free As A Bird
2005: The Heat Is On

And Then The Rains Came

We are still working on the bike mounting project.  It's evolved something like seven times already.  We picked up the bikes today - after we bought them yesterday, we left them at the shop so they could put the fenders and racks on (and my bell!). 

We rode around a bit, went to the hardware store, then back to the truck to figure out what we were going to do.  We were in the bike shop parking lot but needed a bigger selection of stuff, so we decided to just put the bikes in the sleeper and head over to the Home Depot we'd been parked at for the last few days.  After getting what we needed in the store, we decided to go for another ride before working on getting the bikes mounted.   

It was still hot - we're in Texas, after all - and I was already sweaty, so I figured I may as well get some wind on me to cool me off.  That's the thing about humidity, compared to somewhere dry like Arizona.  In Arizona, the air is hot.  Like a blow dryer.  Arid.  An oven.  So even when the air is moving, it's still hot.  Hot wind.  It's miserable.

But in a place where it's humid, even though it's hot, once you get that wind going - whether by a fan, a bike ride, or an open car window - the air is cool.  It's cooler wind.  Until you stop moving.  Then you're drenched from the humidity again.

Speaking of drenched... 

After our ride, we started working on the bikes again.  Almost two hours in and the sky was getting black.  I kept saying to Ed, "It's gonna rain."  Then, "Wow.  There's a lot of lightning.  And thunder.  It's really gonna rain."  He said, "And?"  So we kept working, against my better judgement.

I started picking up all the stuff around the bikes - the straps, velcro, chains, rubber tubing, bike locks, lights, etc. - and put them in the truck.  I had a feeling that the sky was going to just open up.  Then I felt drops.

"I feel drops!" I said to Ed.

"Well, I don't feel 'em."  he said.

"That's cause you're moving and I'm standing still.  Oooh, there's another one.  It's gonna rain." I said.

"So you're telling me it's raining over there, on you, but not over here on me?" he said.  We were forty feet apart.

"I'm telling you I feel drops.  Just hurry up, we've gotta get the bikes under the tarp."  I said.  I swear, I'd make the best damn drill sargeant the military has ever seen.  I am bossy AND loud.

"Ed!  Drops!!  I feel drops!!  It's going to rain any second now.  WHAT are you doing??  Get the bikes, c'mon!"  I said.

We unrolled the felt pads, Ed standing on the trailer, me on the ground.  I picked up his bike and handed it up to him on the trailer.  The drops were steady now, but small.

We put another felt pad on top of that bike, then I handed him the other bike.  He placed that one on top and we unrolled the other felt on top of it.  The drops were getting bigger.

Then we put the tarp on, frantically trying to cover all edges, and the sky opened up.  Torrential rain.  Biblical rain.

I ran to get my umbrella, which turned out to be mostly useless.  We ran to get bungees, Ed opening the side box, me holding the umbrella over our heads.  Our backs and legs were getting wet.  My feet were completely underwater, my leather ballerinas sucking up water. 

We finished as a bright flash lit up the sky.  The bikes were covered.  Dry.

We were SOAKING WET. 

We got back in the truck, peeled off our clothes, twisted the water out of our shirts and my capri pants, put our soaked shoes on paper towels up front.  And it was still raining.  We were clearly done for the day.

We've been here nine days already, and probably won't leave until Monday or Tuesday.  We'll ride more this weekend and finish mounting our bikes.  I think we've almost got it figured out.

Our biggest issue at this point is a bike cover to keep the road schmutz off the bikes.  We have an idea, I just don't know how it's going to work yet. 

Tomorrow is another day. 

And for once I'm hoping it'll be sunny and dry.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: When You Need To Point Out Which One Is Herb
2011: A Road Diverged In The Wood And I Lived To Tell About It
2010: I’m A Researchin’ Fool
2009: The Closest I’ll Ever Come
2008: Who Is He Kidding?
2007: The Captain Of My Vessel
2006: Baking Is Fun!
2005: Sticks And Stones

Bike Shopping Part Deux

So yeah, uh, the bikes Ed bought a few days ago?  We returned them.

After lunch yesterday, we went to two bike stores and rode a few other bikes and decided we kinda liked them better than the ones Ed got.  The ones Ed bought were from Target, inexpensive and readily available.  We thought they'd be a good idea for starter bikes because they were cheap.  But after riding some other bikes yesterday - like the ones we've test ridden in the past - we decided we wanted real bikes.  Quality built, warrantied, and a brand that could be serviced all over the country.

We brought them back to Target last night.  Today, we went shopping again.  And I found my lover once again - the Trek Pure - she's the one showing off in the front of the line in this photo:   

I got on the bike and I just knew.  She fit my culo like a glove.  I felt as if I were sitting in my living room.  The way the bike is built, the pedals sit forward of the seat, creating a more comfortable pedaling position.  The bike has seven speeds - why do I need more than that? - it's got sturdy thick tires, comfortable hand grips and when you're riding, you sit in an upright position.  It's wonderful.  Effortless.

I like effortless.  I'm not interested in being Lana Armstrong.  I want to get on my bike and tootle over to Starbucks.  Ed is used to riding.  He used to do it daily.  Miles and miles.  Like twenty to fifty miles at a time.  The bikes he's owned are serious riding bikes - Cannondale, Bianchi (high-performance Italian bikes), Specialized.  He gets on a bike and it's like the old saying - it all comes back to you.  The way he took on the parking lot during our test ride, you'd think he was training for the the Tour de France.  I barely got it out of third gear.

This is my very comfortable, very grandma Trek Pure Lowstep.  The color is Candy Orange.  I want to lick it.

Ed got the Specialized Crossroads Sport, which has 24 gears, and tires that are a bit narrower and bigger than mine.  The color is Charcoal, nicer than plain black, sort of like smoke.  And he loves it. 
 

We got fenders for both bikes, and a rack for the back of each.  We'll buy lights and maybe a flower for my handlebars.  And definitely a bell.

Because if they don't see me coming on an orange bike, they will most certainly hear me!


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: Well Worth The Mess
2011: Reading Time
2010: A Mother Of A Flood
2009: Hail To The Driver
2008: Eddie Shows His Good Side Friday
2007: Go Bananas!!
2006: Shmuley Says
2005: Fangboner

In The Shadow Of Al

My mother was talking to me about my brother and said, as if she's never seen it happen before to any human on earth, "You know when he doesn't shave for a few days, he gets a four o'clock shadow??"

"It's called a five o'clock shadow, mom."

To which Ed pipes in, "I get a 2:30 shadow."

Then I asked her about her backyard, where my brother was doing some landscaping work, "Did he flatten that whole area?"

She said, "If you were listening the other day when I told you, I said he did the whole thing with the skid row."

"You mean the skid steer?" I said.

"Oh my God, I don't know what's happening to me."

"Nothing's happening, Mom.  You've always been this way."

"I have?" she said. 

"Uh, yeah.  It goes back to over twenty years ago when you thought the name of the group Boys 2 Men was Boys R Us."

She was genuinely surprised, as if I were talking about someone she doesn't know.

Oh what fun we're going to have when she really gets old.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: Uphill Semi-Battle
2011: Happy Mother’s Day!
2010: Back On The Road And Sleeping Like A Baby
2009: Peeping Ed Friday
2008: It’s Obvious Where My Sense Of Style Comes From
2007: End Of Season Snow
2006: At Least She Isn’t In The Cubicle Next To YOU
2005: Mother Lode

Year Nine Is Off To A Sparkly Beginning

Today is my 9th birthday.

Blog birthday, that is.

Can you believe it?  I've never done anything for nine years.  Well, except complain.  I've been doing that for about 40 years. 

But almost everything else, hasn't made it this far.  Other than when I was a child, and the choices weren't mine, here are a few things that haven't lasted more than nine years:  

I've never had a job at the same place for nine years.

I've never had a boyfriend for nine years.  (But will this summer when Ed and I celebrate our ninth year together!)

I've never owned the same car for nine years.

I've never had a hobby that I continually practiced for nine years.

I've never owned a pet for nine years.

I've never lived in the same house, uninterrupted for nine years.

I've never had the same hairstyle for nine years.

This may sound like a list of regrets.  It's not.  I've never really been one to want to do the same thing year after year.  I look at people who've been at the same job for fifteen, twenty or thirty years and think, really??  You've worked there for thirty years??  I couldn't even imagine that.

Of those who haven't changed their hair since high school?  What?  You're still rockin' the crunchy perm, the mullet, or the Dorothy Hamill?

Other stuff it isn't so bad if it's done long term.  If you have a good relationship, it's nice to be with someone for a long time.  If you have a hobby that makes you happy, I say do it every single day.  If you've lived in the same neighborhood or family home for years, awesome - that's actually something I like hearing about - someone who lives in the same town and has kept ties to it.  I don't think you should insulate yourself and never get out of that town, but having ties or being in the same area is kinda cool.

But this daily writing thing, even if it's just a photo or story about my mother or complaint about the Arizona heat or trucking story, it's not easy.  And I've got this thing, like a golf game, to challenge myself to absolutely write something on this blog every day.  I probably should have thought of that when I named it The Daily Rant, but I didn't.

And I may be biased, but I'm going to say it anyway...

Reading this blog is a helluva lot more fun than watching someone play golf. 

Trust me, I've watched golf. 

I think.  I may have fallen asleep.

Whatever...you know what I mean.  Go, read!  You've got eight years of archives to delve into.

Start here.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: Seven Years And Still Ranting
2011: Don’t Worry, Daily Rant. I’m On Your Six
2010: So This Is What Niche Feels Like
2009: The Sum Of Its Parts
2008: Look At Me, I’m Three!!
2007: A Trucking Style Birthday Celebration
2006: A Perfectly Uninteresting Event
2005: The Day The Blog Began