A tuesday with "Tuesdays with Morrie"

After dropping Caleb off at school this morning I prepared myself for a little adventure. I grabbed the Quantum, threw my book in my messenger bag, add wind in my face and cars flying by within inches of my side and i was in heaven. I rode from the house to Lake Seminole Park in Seminole, not a long trip but probably a 10 mile trip. I found my way into the back of the park where the fitness trail was and I went searching for a hiding spot just off the winding path where I wouldnt be bothered by joggers and people walking thier dogs. There is a little lake out there where there are a few park benches hidden away from the view of the trail. I found me a comfortable spot on a bench beneath a well matured live oak, I leaned the bike up against the back of the bench, took off my helmet, and dove into my book. Im reading this book, or should I say attempting to read it, for the 4th time. I have started it several times in my life due to one good reason or another. This time I started it with one thing in mind... to finish it. I read for more than two hours at my bench by the lake.
It is a searching of the soul. I have trouble with loneliness. Serious trouble that can cause me to get so lost in depression that i tailspin from life. I am uncomfortable being alone at times... and it keeps me from getting to know myself. Reading about Morrie Schwartz's life and death is giving me insight on what it means to know yourself, and the meaning of life. By taking from general
life experience, some christian and buhdist principles, and the love of family, Morrie teaches the meaning of existence. The book is teaching me how to be comfortable with my independance, and it is also teaching me to take control of my life, and not to worry about my own emotions or the influence of society on my life. I believe that a change in my life is emminent and though this book is inspiring me, it was the need for that change that drew me back to this book for the 4th and final time. Its time for me to study how to be the best person that I can be, not for a grade or to be judged by anyone but to give myself and my son the best lives we can obtain.
I am thankful to Mitch Albom for writting this book.. it is inspiring me to start reading other books that will help me to be everything I ever wanted to be, and not let the pressures of the world distract me again.
On a side note I had two flats today and had to walk to a bike shop to fix them... i laughed about it.

Green Ignorance

In my house we do not use paper towels... it is less expensive to use and reuse cloth napkins and bar mops, no reason to throw them into the garbage, we use a laundry hamper. And when they get gross and stained they move into the shop rag pile. In my house we do not drink bottled water when there is water coming from the tap, fill up the brita pitcher, and drink away. I do not use plastic grocery bags, i bring my own tote bags with me when i go shopping. Why do I do these things? If you have done any research at all, if you can see further than the nose on your face, you can see that we are killing our environment. We are littering our planet. We are a wasteful nation. and we are a nation dependant on non local sources.
Ignorance. that is a strong word. It pains me to see people who cling so arrogantly to this term when it comes to awareness. Why are we reaching for paper towels when a hand dryer or cloth towel is right there? Why are we letting grocers bag our groceries in plastic bags made from foreign oil when we can buy reuseable Green Bags for less than a dollar a piece? I cant even think of a logical excuse for this... it just doesnt make sense. awareness doesnt take but a few seconds of looking around. I weep for our nation when I read about the preventable waste we produce. Do some research, change your lifestyle, its easier than you think.

heres a good place to start... http://www.treehugger.com/gogreen.php

locally grown, fairly traded, eco-friendly, reused, recycled, organic.... change your life, change the lives of those around you, create habbits.

http://www.wvwd.com/Pages-Content/WaterQuality/MessageInBottle.htm

Urban Assault

Ok so we went for a nice little urban assault ride in Tampa. Here are some vids of Ian ripping it up... I had another really great video that i mistakenly lost and Im depressed about... but next time I will definately make sure i dont loose that shot.

Positive Grafiti

These are all within walking distance of the shop in south Tampa. There may be more but i like the idea. They make me happy.

New Camera!

I got me a new camera today because i was depressed about not being able to take pictures. Its a Canon A590 IS... its the begining of a beautiful new relationship and thousands of new pictures to come. I took a few pictures today just playing around and getting familiar with the settings. The image stabilization is an awesome feature and its going to be great getting those on-the-bike shots. hers my crazy pics.

these are from lunch at work today. Playing with the macro.

I need a camera!!! and other rambling.

Well... its hard to post often when i dont have a camera. I could just ramble on and on and on... but then you would get bored. I could just continue to post other peoples pics... but Im so picky and I like to take tons of pictures. well this month so far in a nutshell... the Coop bike night went well... i helped build a bike for a guy who didnt have one. I started building a classic 26" schwinn townie bike for grocery shopping and for my cousin to ride. It is bike to work week and i didnt ride my bike to work... doh. well pictures would have made this exciting. heres one lily took at the bike coop of me, dave, and the guy i built the bike for.

Pisgah NC... i want to go back

OK so... i went to Pigah State Forest in North Carolina. Me and my teamie Ron did the Pisgah Mountain Bike Adventure Race, its basically an offroad alleycat race an a HUGE scale. We rode to 4 out of 7 check points on our single speeds (mine is rigid) up nearly 8000 feet of climbing, just over 40 miles... or something like that according to Rons Garmin GPS, and we finished in nearly 12 hours. It was the most brutal torture fest i have ever put myself through, and I loved every second of it. North Carolina is beautiful and the trails are amazing. I plan on going back again as soon as I can.
I would give an entire race report and a play by play detailed evaluation of what happened but im still just so... ahh... I couldnt use proper words to describe it. It was one of the better experiences of my life so far. It was nice to get away from the daily grind of work and spend some time in the most beautiful wilderness in the country. I came home feeling recharged. Nothing can piss me off right now... theres no natural high like taking a vacation and riding you bike in a place like that.

BIKE NIGHT 2!

Free!!! i know that usually gets people excited when you start off with the word 'free'... especially when followed by the word BEER! well it gets me excited. Anyway... check this out... http://www.tampabikecoop.wordpress.com. FREE repairs, clinics on how to DIY, Vegan food, and yes if you come and say hi to me ill give you beer. :) ill be out there teaching people how to work on there own bikes so Big Man bike shop doesnt steal the world away with repairs that the little man cant afford. If you want to learn how to fix that tricky tick that you cant figure out ill show you whats up...

and for those of you still waiting to hear about my PMBAR experience... hold your fucking horses i need some sleep. and i need Ron to send me some pics so you can see it with your own two. Off to bed with me.