GOOOAAAAAL!

This guy is awesome, and he has balls. Of both kind! I love the victory run he does. Maybe every time I successfully make the ferry on time or eat shit on my bike I'll do that run.

Today is Friday. My sleep schedule is fuuuucked. I've been so physically sleep-deprived lately that my body is sore. For some reason my brain, which usually gets tired first, is up and active but my body is the one protesting. Yesterday I accidentally took a nap on the couch for an hour and a half. That's bad when you get home around Six, sleep until almost Eight, and have to go to bed at Eleven. I think I fell asleep around One and had to get up at Five-thirty. Ugh.

I got up late but somehow made it to the bus on time showered, dressed, and packed up with My Girl Friday underneath me. Nothing wakes you up like a quick bike sprint twenty minutes after coming awake. It's probably an evolution thing. Anyways, I made it on time but the bus rack was already full. I'm glad the public buses have them, but two muh-fuckin' spots is not enough. And as gas prices rise it's only going to get harder to get a spot. Yesterday there was three people with bikes waiting for the same bus, and I had to do some serious covert hovering to make sure I got my spot.

So I waited for the next bus. If I'd been riding Jenny, I may have left her. Maybe. But My Girl Friday is too purdy and I would cry a little inside if something happened to her. I walked up and down the line of idling buses, asking each driver if they were going into Norfolk. No luck. Thirty minutes later the next bus came, and after sitting across from a girl obviously bound for an office job (that I swear was staring at me) I caught the next bus and settled in for a relaxing ride with Rilo Kiley. "Salute My Shorts" (the song, not the show) made me feel a lot better this morning.

I got stopped again at the gate this morning, and after pulling my bike up onto curb and producing some paperwork I was allowed into the base. The police officer advised I had to keep my helmet on at all times in the base and added amicably, "You're saving gas money... going green." I pulled a sweet one-handed wheelie off the curb and manualed all the way to the stop light. Actually, I battled with getting my pedal flipped over and my foot in the toe-clip. Damn things.

Training is back on, have a good weekend if we don't speak again.

Piece.

- David

Love/Hate

I love Tom Waits. I hate that I won't be able to see him this time around. Anyone have some quick money they can float me?

Tom Waits is my religion.

- David

Watch the whole thing, the end is great.

Pussin' Out

Macaframa from MACAFRAMA on Vimeo
Seriously. Today I was pitiful on a bicycle. Unlike any of the fine peeps you see in Macaframa videos.

Perhaps my suckiness was due to getting up ass-balls early, or the lack of any water for the entire day. Bad diet? Poor constitution? The heat? It doesn't really matter. In the end, it was just plain horrible.

Hampton Blvd suuucks for bike traffic. But unfortunately I have to take it for a few miles on the way home for work. It's an unsafe road, especially during traffic. And I'm used to traveling along Virginia Beach Blvd! But in the week I've been taking Hampton I've had more angry buzz-bys than in months of my old commute.

So I've opted for a kind of shortcut. I catch the bus for a few miles until I can get on the calmer, gentler Colley Ave and then bike from there. I could argue that I'm being safer, but a small part of me feels like I'm copping out. Whatever. It makes my commute more enjoyable.

Anyways, today I missed the bus by forty seconds. As far as this little piggy can tell they come every thirty minutes. I couldn't decide if I wanted to wait until 5:15-ish (traffic was looking really backed up, which is also why I was late) or just suck it up and bike it. I reluctantly decided just to pedal home, not wanting to get home super late. Also, I was antsy and didn't want to stand around in the heat.

Head wind + three lanes + full traffic + angry commuters = So Not Fun. I can taste the exhaust most days. A few miles in I pulled into a parking lot and decided to just wait for the bus. I was cranky and didn't feel like dealing with people's roadrage bullshit.

While I was waiting and staring disdainfully at the constant stream of traffic, what did I spy coming down the lane but a thick woman on a bicycle. "Motherfuck," I thought. There I was admitting defeat when this lady on a commuter with panniers, biker shorts, and a bright green jersey is sticking it out like a pro. Sigh.

So I manned up and got behind her. I think she was probably a little put off by this kid on a fixed gear following her for about six miles. And not only that! After a few miles I tried to get in front of her to take my turn blocking the wind (in the industry we refer to this as "pulling") but she either didn't want to keep up or misunderstood my intentions.

I get a good distance between us as I (attempt) to sprint up the bridge and then the fabulous traffic on Hampton decided not to let me get into the left lane so I can get into calmer seas. Fack. I take the next right off of Hampton so that I can catch a light or something and navigate a break in the traffic to get to my road. But wait! There's a god damned grass median in the way! Lordy.

After sprinting through a short hole in the line of motor vehicles barreling across my path I hop onto the median and wait for another hole in which to complete my maneuvers. And here comes my friend again! In the correct lane! Hitting the green light perfectly! Smooth as butter. Siiiiigh. Now I'm in behind her again, trying to keep a respectable distance but still use the power of numbers to keep traffic at bay. One cyclist: Angry, disrespectful drivers. Two or more: At least a safe distance.

Finally our paths separated and I yelled a friendly goodbye to try and show her I wasn't a freak. She seemed to understand, at least enough to smile and say goodbye back. Then I navigated my inefficient path through Ghent and finally home. Hot, sweaty, and annoyed. Probably one of the worst commutes I have in memory.

But still, I wouldn't give it up for anything. Tomorrow will be better. Oh yes. Tomorrow will be better.

Rant over.

- David

Car-ectomy

This morning a guy named Loren who works for my dad took off for Idaho in Misti, the truck I've had for about three years.

She's a good truck; I just haven't been able to afford her for some time. She's going off to my dad's farm where she'll probably work harder but get better care. I'm slightly terrible at taking care of vehicles.

It's kind of like I had this pet elephant. Or perhaps a donkey. Yeah, pet donkey is better. She was handy, and a good worker. I'll miss her a little, but I'm not sad she's gone. I just wish it would have happened under different (less damaging) circumstances.

Anywho. Kasey's dad was able to come through in a pinch and get her car all fixed up and street legal for us (thanks Kenny!) so as a couple we possess internal combustion, but as an individual the only transportation I possess comes from chains, gears, thighs and calves. Vroom vroom.

Speaking of trans-poor-tation, I've been taking the bus in the morning to my new job at the naval base. Getting up at 5:30 in the morning? Shitty. The bus ride itself into work? Pretty nice, actually. I listen to music, I sit in a clean, air-conditioned bus and relax for an hour before a short mile or so bike ride into the base and to the building I work in. Then after work I change and bike the 8.5 miles back home so I can still keep my girlish figure. If I can get access to a shower on the base, I'll bike in as well.

For the next three weeks I'm in training from 8:00am to 4:30pm, then I get my real shift. I'm hoping for something good. It's always a worry when your department works 24/7. A night shift can jumble up your whole life, and being on the opposite schedule as 99% of the world is very strange. Although it can be fun. For a while. I think four ten-hour shifts would be pretty sweet. Here's hoping.

Welp, it's gym time. And then shower. And then errands, and then, who knows? Have a good Sunday.

- David

I'm alive, just not in

I'm alive, just not in front of a computer I can blog from all day long.

New job seems fine, pending a few concerns. More later.

- David

Untitled

This won't be repeated, explained, or expounded upon.

But you're fucking up.

Evo-viewtion

Everyone has their little idiosyncrasies. Kasey counts things repeatedly, in little patterns. Riley sleeps on her back. My brother is very particular about certain textures. One of mine is thinking about human evolution and how it pertains to the current moment. When I'm picking out food, when I'm going to the bathroom, when I'm getting sick, etc. I'm always wondering what my body is doing/thinking from an evolutionary standpoint.

Like for instance, today my body probably thought the following occurred:

I woke up and ingested twigs and berries (whole-wheat toast with jam) and some seriously filthy stream water (coffee). Then apparently there was danger or food, as I furiously fled or chased something for about thirty minutes (the gym).

After that I found some clean stream water and rested a bit before chasing down something big enough to fill two bellies (biking to Ghent for huge burritos). The Fuel Imperative fulfilled, I then set about fulfilling the Reproduction Imperative. Details aside, once completed my body shutdown for digestion and repairs. All in all, from a biological/evolutionary standpoint, a good and complete day.

As soon as I'm done with Spook Country I'll be grabbing the tome you see above, which plays perfectly into my preoccupation. Alliteration! And rhyming.

Tomorrow I'll be driving out my new work route to make sure all is fine and dandy with bridges and traffic and whatnot. 8.3 miles, son. Each way. Gonna be goooood. There's no way to puss out on miles like if I had gotten into the base three miles away.

Peace out, have a good weekend.

- David

Hookah

I'm bored and have an oral fixation. Plus I figure how-to videos are kinda fun.

The tinfoil and ember system is so that the tobacco doesn't burn directly and in addition to the water the smoke stays smooooooth. Really very flavorful and enjoyable. You can read the Wikipedia entry for hookahs here.

- David

P.S. The lighter I use is totally boss. Kasey got it for me. It has a sailboat on it, it weighs in at thirty pounds and has three jet engine flames throwers. She done good.

Necessitās

Needs seem to come in waves. Sometimes you feel a lot of need, other times you don't.

I need to talk to my dad about the truck. I need to apologize to my grandma for the same. I need to move my bike seat down a tiny bit, but it's stuck. I need to start working. I need to save money. I need to vacuum. I need to feel fulfilled. I need $7,000 for massage school. I need to meditate again. I need to go to more concerts. I need to send in my paperwork. I need to shave the dogs. I need more tattoos. I need to find Kasey a local job. I need to find Kasey a bike. I need to find Kasey. I need to take the recycling out. Badly. I need to donate a bunch of old clothes. I need to get my hip and knee looked at. I need to go back and cry during Rilo Kiley. I need hardwood floors. I need to be better. I need to get a tux. I need to go to Boston. I need to do yoga. I need to get home.

- David

Post Concert/Nap/Workout

Weeeeee.

- David

Glowing

Glowing, originally uploaded by BodhiDave.

Pics of the show are up, along with a short video for anyone interested. Click the photo above for more.

The show was amazing. We were up right front and center and deservedly so; I think I was on my feet for five or six hours waiting. The two opening bands (Benji Hughes and Thao With the Get Down Stay Down) were surprisingly entertaining. Especially Benji. I'm going to have to get me some of that.

They played all of my super favorites. It was intense for me, I almost lost it once or twice. They played wonderfully, and Jenny's voice was perfect. A great performance all around.

If anyone's interested in going and needs a buddy, you know where I am. I'm up for seconds.

- David

Rilos Kiley!

Woo!

- David

Cruisin'!

- David

Last Lazy Week

...hopefully.

- David

Change of Venue?

Being between jobs like I am, I've had some time to think about what I'd really like to do with myself. Computers is great and all, but it don't really turn my crank no more. I love technology; just today I spent hours messing with GPS software. But it's moved more into the Hobby section of my brain.

So what then? I have this (two year) degree in computer networking and information technology. Should I build upon it? Try to divert it into something else? I didn't even have the money to pay for that schoolin', how am I going to get anymore?

If I can be honest for a moment, I'd love to be a masseur. I have awesome hands after all, and I think they'd be good at massaging muscles instead of keyboards all day. I like people, and I like helping them. I especially like helping naked people who are paying double-digit dollars an hour for my services. I bet it'd be lots of a fun and pretty damn satisfying to be directly bettering the lives of my fellow human beings.

I don't think it's very likely though. Even though there is an accredited massage therapy school (based on the principles of Edgar Cayce!) in my area, and even though there is a bus route that would take me nearly to the front door and back for $1.50. *sigh* Maybe it'll work out. And maybe monkeys will fly out of my butt.

Whatever happened to indentured servitude? "Hey Mr. Spaman, if you help put me through massage school I'll work for you for three to five years." That'd be pretty cool, even though according to Wikipedia the system has a whole bunch of flaws.

Anyone interested?

- David

*Edit*
Oooh, the whole course is actually cheaper than I thought...

Jim Gym Dgim

I'm not one to go to the gym. We've lived in this building for over a year now and this is only about the third time we've used it's workout facilities. I just find it hard to motivate myself to go down to a (fanless, might I add) room and exert myself in place. I'd hop on the bike for a trip from the living room to the kitchen (and I have, actually) but something about running/biking/elliptical-ing in place just seems silly to me.

That being said, the gal and I are making an effort to get down there once or twice a day for at least twenty minutes of exercise and so far we're two for two. Kasey wants to get in shape (even though I think she looks more than fine) and I'm quietly horrified that I'm losing all my hard-won returns from biking to work every day for about nine months. If I can be frank, my legs are a major point of pride for me, and even though I'm not that fast or powerful, I'm pretty happy with my current performance on the bicycle. Losing that would suuuuuck.

My gym needs a fan though. Or four. Fer real. The sweat just sits on me and does not transfer heat away like it's supposed to. So then I'm sitting on a recumbent-style machine (ugh) clawing at my clothing like it was strangulating me. I'm sure the other gym patrons are grateful for the chemical-harsh Clorox wipes provided by the management, cuz today I would have left that machine covered in David Evidence. Twenty minutes of "Performance" and I had some shaky legs. Six miles. Two-hundred and seventy calories burned. Clothes drenched.

Personally, I think a lot more people would get healthy if they started riding bikes. It is hundreds of times more enjoyable to be outside, actually moving through the air and the world, with changing scenery, than to be indoors reading a magazine or watching TV while you move in place. I don't know how people can do it on a regular basis. Conversely, I make up errands and excuses for myself to get out on a bicycle whenever I can and keep fit while eating absolute crap while doing it.

It's bed time for me. My lovely and lively assistant is lying next to me and her purdy back needs a'cuddlin'.

Take care.

- David

Me So Lazy

All I want is some S'more Poptarts and something good on TV all day long. It will be sweet, sweet meditation.

- David