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velomech
Apr. 21st, 2008
09:42 pm - Sunday was GREAT! Today was eh.
maybe eh, is a bit of an understatement. maybe waking up alive not dead, having a healthy happy family is better tahn eh. Huh?
Yesterday was waaaay cool. I cant believe I had that much fun.
I rode with the usual suspects. Hall, Big willy, Sir rich, code red, newguymike, Big matt, Bling bling, Bobby trash,code red, crazy eyes, and big chris. Big chris had other ideas and halled ass from the get go.
I was on the IF fixie, I brake checked Bling bling, who caused code red to hit em, and b-trash to fall over and hurt his knee. he should have known better.
I got shoved off the trail a few times, hit, pushed, brake checked, kicked and checked for an entire lap. But I finished the lap. First I think. We hung out at the dead dog dip trying to get peple we didnt know to try it, some did, some didnt. the some that didnt consisted of one guy who had as much of a personality as the the dead dog skull that the dip is named after. None.
We would pass him then wait for friends, and when he would go by with his buddies, we would say hi, or give them a "good job" but he would never look up or acknowledge us. Not often you meet an asshole on a mountain bike. Unless you race sport or beginner, then chances are you race with about fifty of them.
anyhoo, we get back to the parkin lot, and after a cold beverage with the crew, I muster enough courage to ride the brakeless fixie.
I built a full rigid fixie with out brakes. Chapman style.
I didnt know how this was gonna work. Riding a fixie at yargo is tough enough, especially with the idiots that I ride with.
why I would try a no brakes ride is beyond me, but I felt it needed to be done.
So I did it. With all the shenanigans that went on, and all the elbows, I made it through. I did it at speed too, cause I got back to the lot first, sprinting a quickly closing code red, who is riding stronger than he ever has.
We drank another post ride cold beverage. BS'd, picked fights, and relaxed under a tree in the shade.
I got to bump into a lot of people I like, Scottish John, Kelly bear, his bud shaggy, Mofo, Wattson, Ridgeway, Kenny, J.J. whos fast as shit, but he betta not balk, cuz I'll be there.
Also, ran into Mike riding his SS Surly, he seems to be doing ok, he mentioned his life has taken some major tunrs latley. I told him I can relate, but we should be grateful to be here.
I rode a no brakes fixie at yargo.
I love saying it.
It wasnt as hard as I thought. If I do get to the SSUSA this may 3rd, I will race, or....maybe race is a strong word....participate, yeah thats better, I will participate on a fixie SS with no brakes. And I will not be last. That will be my goal.
I cant wait to tell dan and thad....
This morning was good. It's awesome waking up to your kids. not being a parent, it's hard to understand. I dont know how to convey what it feels like, except it's like waking up already smiling. It doesnt get better.
So, I got some coffee made, using the press I got from Cafe`ine. Pressed coffee, as if awesome coffee could get better?
Got to Sir rich's place at 8, got a crap load done at the job. Law dog called with not so bad news, got home in time for the kids game, The Hannah is a fantastic soccer player. They always put her in the first qtr as a wing, then after she scores and gets them on the board, she goes into goalie. Where she makes that house hers', and pretty much sends it back to 'em.
They won. I was stoked for them.
Shot home, via publix, grabbed some chicken and veggies, cooked up a storm, fed the kids, and now Im sitting here typing and drinking down a PBR, number two in fact. Number one was comsumed at dinner.
I think TomorrowI will wake up, and do it all again. Only with less pain in my legs.
Im really surprised at how fit I have been lately. I went from from riding 20 hours a week oct-jan to riding 2 hours a month, feb mar and april. 3 months of no riding really didnt have tooo much of an impact on my fitness. I can still pedal a bike for two laps at yargo, and that aint bad.aint great, but aint bad.
I think I will get to Sir richs around 8, maybe talk him into bkfast at cafe`ine, then get to work. Bail on him at 230, get to the shop for job number two, get some repairs done.
I feel like I need to say some stuff, so here goes.
Remove politics and religion from your life for one month. Just try it. If your still a good person in 30 days, maybe you should rethink your opinion of yourself.
Your probably a nice person anyway. Anyhoo, it would hurt to try and be better than the jerk behind you....
I hope we all wake up to do it again tomorrow.
Apr. 17th, 2008
09:25 pm - ok ok ok ok ok ....My day ended as AWESOME as it began....
So...I wake, good start. Deb made coffee, better start. I had to drive the 58 to work with Sir rich, which is HORRIBLE on gas, but the BMW needs a tweek, and I cant drive it without shredding my new tire.
SO, Im rolling down hwy985, south, chillin. 65MPH. Why? because it's cool with a K to go slow in the 58.
Get to work, Sir rich slams me for drivin the 58, which is ok, because if I had legs that white, Id be an angry SOB too.
We got a bunch of good work done at the job. I screwed up a couple cuts, The boss goes easy on me as Im learning. I framed a couple windows, which was cool. Ofcourse, I bail at 2pm to hit the shop for job number two. So I left poor Sir rich to deal with the crazy Home owner. Really crazy. I feel bad for his relatives, and im sincere when I say it.
Big matt came in, we had some cool conversation, it's not everyday I get to hang out with a PHD chemist. So I like asking questions on thursdays.
Got some repairs done, the phone rang 5 gazillion times. Started Ridgeways jabberwocky, spent 30 minutes fitting stems trying to get measurements right. Maybe get it finished tomorrow unless code red get to it first and steals my fun. Jerk.
Got to softabll practice, to get Sarah, The Hannah was at soccer practice with Deb.
I watched Sarah lap everyone on the run. Good stuff. Earlier in the day, a guy named Kevin called said he wanted meet me to get the mazda parts, I was shocked and surprised to find out he was coming to take the whole car!
So I rushed home from practice with Sarah. So a couple of dudes roll up in a suburban with a cool ass trailer with bbs's on one side. yeah, only one side. cool.
Kevin looks familiar his buddy Wayne googled me. I think Wayne has a lot of time on his hands, he new more about me than me.
After two minutes of bs'ing with these guys I like em. Then we start talking about autocross, and the 24 hours of lemons comes up. I ask if they are doing it, they say hell yeah, they have a bitchin civic that they raced in grassroots motorsports challenge.
I ask which one, they say superturd.
WOW. I know that car, it's the richard petty superbird clone made out of a honda civic. It's freakin awesome.
Check out www.grassrootsmotorsports.com for more info...good shit.
Not only am I stting here bullshitting with celebrities, but they accept a couple PBR's and we load up the MAZDA and they leave with it. I was so excited. I broke even on the car. After I was fretting about the bead decision, and about how we, I, really should have used better judgement, I got really lucky and broke even. Im so psyked.
Now I have room in the garage to work.
And I can pay my small business loan payment. Good stuff.
So, that was my day. It could only have been better If I got to ride and won the lottery...in that order.
cheers
Apr. 16th, 2008
08:51 pm - Another unbelievable day.
I woke up. So thats one more day to be happy about. I cooked the kids waffles, and sliced up some strawberries.
Dropped them off at school. Waved to some teachers who are jealous that I had a biek on my roof.
Stopped by code reds place, grabbed his stuff, grabbed him. Headed to yargo. Five minutes into the ride, my pedal hits a roots, I hit the ground, my head hits a mound of dirt. I sit up, spit a wad of dirt from my mouth, a look at my bleeding arm and leg and laugh. Code red is calling me an idiot, pointing at the root I hooked.
Fixie.
It will bring the pain. whats it like?
When it's all said and done, It's pretty much a crap shoot as to whether or not your gonna hit the deck.
I was looking forward to riding today. I wanted to get to the Dead Dog Dip. Gordon named the new challenge "Horse shoe Gulley" I found a dogs skull on the ground and promptly placed it on a tree at the top of the dip. I told Gordon tough luck, Im renaming it.
Dead dog dip. It took me three tries to get through it last sunday. Today was gonna be different. First try. I had been looking forward to it all day. First try, I ate it. No worries, Second try I'll beat my previous efforts by one.
Second try, I ate it.
Third time was the charm, but that just means I didnt get better. Which was a bummer and cool all at once. This is a new discipline, Im obviously gonna have to work at it.
I came close to eating it hard four times, pure luck I didnt go down more tahn once today. pure luck.
So, Im thinking it was a good idea to do this. Maybe I'll get better.
Stopped by the packy, grabbed some beers, grabbed some chicken tacos at taco's. Went by Code red's pad to drop him off and eat lunch. Got to work early.
Dickman and Gordon were their waiting. Fixed Dickmans bike...again.
Some people that came in that I like hanging out with....
Golf pro John.
Silver.
dickman.
Gordon.
Rob.
Lee.
Don.
Skip.
Josh.
Mike.
Brad.
Bob.
Couple people I like but forgot their names. Had really good conversations with all of em.
Golf Pro John said Dahlman is having beers and stuff on April 25th or 26th at his shop in dahlonega...be there or be niether round, square nor triangular....Much ado to follow knwoing that group of hoodlums!
Got some repairs done.
an on the spot or two.
Lee and Don came by again, showed me Lee's bitchin Cafe honda 750. It's dope. Got me motivated to finish my projects...Need ot figure out how to do it on the cheap. No worries.
Got home, Cooked some food on the grill, opened the first of four PBRs as soon as I cracked the flame up on the grill.
LOoked over at the asshole neighbor on the roof of his house. Whished I had a pellet gun.
Threw down at the dinner table, to many comments from the fam. I did an ok job on the grub.
Cracked open PBR#4, sat down in front of the laptop.
Deb doesnt work tonight, maybe we can hang out a bit, watch a movie together, make popcorn.
If I wake up tomorrow, aside from smiling real big for that, I need to shower and hit the road. Meet Sir rich, who bailed on the fixie ride today, at the job in the am. finish as much as possible, get to job number two, the shop. Make surer Code red gets out of there on tiime.
Big matt comes in around 5 ish. I have fun working with Big matt. We always have some good stuff to talk about.I have to leave early on thursday's to get Sarah from softball. Deb takes the Hannah to Soccer.
So, Here is hoping I and all of my family and friends wakeup in the am.
Apr. 14th, 2008
09:20 pm - Got up on time....
Getting up was great, it was even greater that I woke up on time.
Got to Caffiene before Sir rich, went to the job we are working at. Got a lot done.
Finished early, built Sir rich a off road fixie.
Been dabbling in it for a few years, but I think this is the week I go fixie fulltime.
It's really hard, and I need something to make me think. Something to make me struggle.
Struggle. Cool word. All fixie mountain bike rides are a struggle.
Im hoping to get some struggling in on wednesday, hopefully. As long as there isnt any rain on tuesday.
Hanging out with the kids before they hit the sac. Watching stupid kid shows, thats part of it.
Gotta get up early, meet sir rich at the coffee shop. Finish some stuff on the job. Then get to the shop to get some repairs done. Then get home and get the kids to practice.
Then, sit my ass down on the couch, think about life for the obligatory(sp?) five minutes, then pound a pbr and hit the sac. Kind of how this day went.
Destined to repeat it if we dont learn from it...
Heres a favorite quote of mine.
one of them life quotes....
"Just get the job done, so we can get to the next job"
Cheers
Apr. 13th, 2008
07:33 pm - Today was a good day...
I woke up. So, for starters I was cool with that. I also, got up in time to have a coffee and some toast outside in the sun with Sarah. Hannah Joined Sarah and I and we laughed and talked more. Then I decided since I had the lawn mowed, trimmed, blown, and edged....AND Deb was asleep, I could sneek out for my first bike ride in 45 days.
45 days ago, I rode at yargo. 27 days before that I rode as well.
So, I counted 6 bike rides in 4 months, including the last snake.
Today was a beautiful day. I arrived at yargo, got on my trusty IF fixie and took off.
The gearing I had was a little tough. 34X14. I cleared it all though, even did a new section that was really hard on a fixie. Some kind of gully death drop double thing. It took me three tries to nail it. I felt good after that.
I swang by Publix and grabbed some food for the grill, cooked up sopme good eats for Deb, Sarah and the hannah. We hung out and laughed a bunch, then Deb was off to work, and I grabbed the chillins and took them for Icecream. We laughed a bunch then headed home. I saw Papa bill drive by with Mofo's bike on the back with his and another, so they were probably out riding as well. Good for them.
I wish Deb didnt work on sunday nights, it would be nice to hang out more.
Im not looking forward to getting up early tomorrow. I have been working days with Sir Rich, as a carpenters helper, which is pretty damn cool. I relaly enjoy getting a paycheck. I havent in two and a half years so it was pretty amazing to go deposit some money two weeks in a row. I'm working to pay off some bike shop debts. It sucks. But after 2.5 years without pay, debt and banckrupty is right around the corner. Deal with it right? No worries.
Deb and I rented "Hitman" so I will watch that tonight before bed. It will be a nice change. Instead of watching old rally videos. Still, I really love watching old rally vids, and there is a lot of good stuff available.
I woke up at 3 am, a couple of weeks ago to watch teh F1 race live. That was a nice break.
I really enjoy my days now, But working two jobs really limits your sleep, and Sometimes I find myself reaching for the pillow when I could be reaching for a book, a bike, a beer, or a family member. Lifes about choices, doesnt matter which one I make, I have to live with it.
I volunteered at the last race, which was sweet, I got to see a lot of friends. My racing days are obviously over for the year. I was doing really well. Two races, tough ones, a first place and a second place. What the hell happened? Oh yeah, Life. Right.
So Jay came by the shop, and hilarity ensued. No sooner did Code red throw him a PBR, and the talk about politics and global warming started. It was all in fun.
I did make a good point though. Global warming is a fact. If you dont think so I think your an idiot.
Also, I dont think we caused it either.
One more thing, I dont think we can do anything about it. The earth cools, it heats up, it cools,it heats up, that just the way it is. Thinking it doesnt exist is just stupid though.
Mattycakes, Deb and I went to see Sonvolt at the variety play house on friday night, I really dig going on dates with my wife. I wish I could do it more. Sonvolt was awesome, but i really enjoyed Bobby Bare Jr. they kicked ass.
Deb and I got to go because my pops watched Sarah and The Hannah.
I just got back to my emails. I havent been on the web in a while, I have 2,883 unopened emails. Im thinking about just closing my email account. I have had it since 1995. Thats a long time to have an email account. I really dont need an email account any more.
Whats the worst that could happen? I asked myself that a lot in the last couple days. I have a phone. If any one needs me, they could call right?
I just keep repeating that, hoping I muster up the balls to do it. Tonights the night. When I finish this PBR, Velomech@Yahoo.com will be no more. Its been a fun ride. 13 years worth.
Im sure there is some one out there that would really dig that email addy huh. Velo Mech, It's slang in finnish bike mechanic. Even thoug Velo isnt finnish.
I hate my neighbors. I have awakened at three in the am four times now.
I walked over there after the second time. I asked the young felon living there to keep it down, or he would have to deal with my wife. I was so pissed I was shaking. I reallllly dislike disrespectful people. I mean really dislike.
I want to go over there and get physical. Not in a good way. I dont have a problem with confrontation. It's the last measure of course, but i have been in a knock down drag out ina while, and I could use a punching bag right now. A 25 year old, tatood, crew cutted, weight lifting, malboro smoking, bud light drinking punching bag.
Big Rich is a cop friend, and suggested I call them a few times first. I guess I will.
I havent felt like keeping a journal lately, too much going on. I think my bike ride today helped me refocus on stuff. I really enjoyed riding that fixie around yargo. It was really tough. Im really sore already. I havent hurt like that in a while. I like hurt. Hurt is good.
Only a couple more sips left. Im gonna do it.
Cheers and Beers.
HOdge
Jan. 23rd, 2008
06:28 pm - Oh, it only gets better...
Hard to believe, but true.
Im NOT a whiner. I can take anything you throw at me, ultimatley, I have it better than a lot of people.
Yesterday after dumping around $500 dollars into the car fiasco/macon breakdown, I was feeling pretty low.
Turns out That I spent $500 to find out the car I just got from bobby has a blown motor, two pistins are shot.
Not bobby's fault, not my fault, nobody's fault really.
Still, it hurts. I could have dumped that money into the mazda and had a drivable car. Oh, the mazda, dont get me started on fiasco. It's amazing how one bad decision can snowball into your nearly ultimate demise.
So, the car is still in macon. In a parkinglot of a bmw buddy of bobby's. Chris, super nice guy.
So, BAm Bam has volunteered his tow dolly and me and mattycakes will probably get it on friday, fi I can get out. Code red was off today, the shop was really busy. I did get Bobby's bike done, and some other stuff. I need accomplishment, it get a guy through the day and takes his mind off of stuff.
STuff like everything I own is in that phukin bmw 100 miles away. I cant ride a bike til I get that car, so, as for my training this week, there wont be any. I think tonight I might put on some sneaks and try and run til I throw up. I need to exhaust myself somehow.
Hoff can keep this whole freakin month, in fact, you can have feb as well bro!
Bobby said all I have to do is get the car back, and take a saturday off. He'll give me a motor, all I need to do is put it in. Thats some consolation, my car luck sucks.
One of my customers, Jeff, came in. He told me I neede to by an old vw bug. I told him, before I screwed up and got that freakin mazda, I looked for two weeks for an old bug under a grand, and had no luck. I would love an old bug. They are the perfect car, simple, cheap, bulletproof, and they sip gas. They also have the cool factor. You can fix anything from anywhere.
Not in the cards though.
I still cant feel my pinky toes, iM worried. They are normal color, but they sleep. SHey said thats ok, they'll come back. Ill keep my fingers crossed.
Gotta go, need to clean up before I leave. Also, I need to find a ride home or Im freakin walkin...I hate walkin. Although, it will burn some calories, I could run home, that would kill two birds with one beer can!
Oh, and before you think IM moping, Im not. like evryone else, I get asked "how you doin today?" a thousand times a day. My reply stays the same..
"Awesome, I woke up, my kids are healthy, my wife loves me, none of my friends died on me, it doesnt get any better"
Cheers and beers
HOdge
Jan. 21st, 2008
11:38 pm - Heeeellllloooooooo??????
Man, I havent sat down in front of the laptop in quite a while. Super busy.
Lots of changes at da shop, busy kids, busy wife, car after car of mine breaking down. Ten dogs running around the house. No cashola, no time, no patience...
Last weekend was thomson day. It was awesome. As long as awesome is cold, nasty, rainy, sleety, freezing, muddy, windy...wet.
Raise a hand if you got stuck in the mud. Thought so.
The race was insane. I started in 3rd to last. We did a parade lap into the woods. I figured I better get to the front asap, Once into the woods, the leaders would walk away from the slower folks. I passed all but four or five people before the woods, and nestled in behind a guy that was behind Odea. Oh yeah, Odea. I was wondering if the pace was gonna stay high, and my answer came when the dude in front tried to match the pace and faltered a few times, finally just letting me past. I shot past odea just because of the shape of the corner. Odea yelled out something about "simmering down" Which I thought was funny. Odea knows his pace and this was a 4 hr and 20 minute race, so he was settling into his own race. I have no idea what pace to ride, so I chased 1st place for two or three laps, getting closer by little bits.
When 1st place pitted on the third or fourth lap, I went flat out. Every 10 seconds I would look back over my shoulder fully expecting Odea or Lindner to come by. You cant give guys like that a single second, or they will rip you apart.
Man, I can not convey how stressful racing is. Constantly stressing about your pace, is it fast enough? How close are the fast guys?? at what point will I cramp??
The answers always come, and you never like them.
It was freezing. I was soaked. I couldnt feel my feet or hands. On the third lap, I lost all of my brakes, I kept stopping to try and adjust them. I was rubbing metal on metal. I tried to use my feet for brakes and kept falling off the bike.
I was sooooo beaten down by lap five. I wasnt eating enough, I was freezing to the point that I thought I was doing permanent damage to my feet. Really. On lap six, I ate it hard, going over the bars as I came to a climb, I couldnt feel my hands so when I reached for the bar end with my right hand, I missed and all my wieght went forward. Over the bars I go.
At this point, I wanted to give up. Unfortunatley I wont ever quit anything. If I think for a second I cant do something, I wont start it. I cant quit, I saw what it looks like when you tell your little girls you quit, and it's not something I want to see again. So, quitting will never be an option. I did start cussing myself for starting though.
Im actually kind of shocked that they had the race. At least dickman asked evryone, and he got a resounding "YES"...I also, regret telling him that they should keep it 4 hours and twenty minutes, after he asked if they should shorten it to two.
Dumb mistake. Next time opt for the short race.
By lap six I was getting pissed. I was in first, and I kept getting sent back out. I didnt want to do 7, I wanted off my bike. I was out of food and drink, and patience. Dickman, came over and asked me If I wanted to give up first? wtf? Im not giving up anything, So I started pedalling.Pissed.
No brakes, No feeling in my feet or hands.
I showed up to race, so I raced.
As I was finishing the last lap, I crashed for the billionth time, but this time when I went over the bars, I ended up upside down in a HUGE puddle, that was no less than a foot deep. Drowning came to mind, and the water was almost ice, so I got up quick. I said aloud to myself, "Nice way to finish a race Hodge" as if I was listening.
I was a little pissed that all the guys that said they were gonna show, didnt. If your gonna race your bike, you should race your bike. Not only when it's nice, or when conditions favor you or you have a better chance to win due to the course, you should show up and race no matter what. It's what you chose to do 5 months ago when you started training.
It's also more respectful to your competitors, it says to them ,that yeah, that race is important.
Ofcourse, the outcome of the race would probably have been different if a lot more fast guys showed up, so Im not that pissed. but still.
So, immediately after the finish, I went to the showers to try not to die. Odea warned me about water temp and my feet swelling.
OMG. I actually started moaning really loud because the pain was SO bad. My feet were purple, and they swelled up so bad and got so tight thought the skin was going to split. I was scared I was gonna have my foot rupture and I was gonna start bleeding. After the shower, I couldnt fit them in my shoes.
Ive never seen anything like it, I dont ever want to again. It was very painful, I liek to think pain is something I deal with pretty well, but this humbled me pretty bad.
Im glad Code red and mattycakes had my back, I would have been in deep shit without them.
You should check out their blogs for a race description, to see how tough the weekend was.
On the way back my car died, so not only was I wet and cold, I was stuck on the side of the road with matty and code red, and working on a car that was not to run for the next few days, unbeknownst to me.
In fact, I had to leave it in griffin GA, in a parking lot. So, yesterday, I put 320 miles on my wifes car going to junk yards and part stores and going down to try and fix it. No dice.
this am I went by Bobby thrash's shop to borrow some parts to try and fix it, and he felt I was getting in over my head, so he sent down Chris, one of his mechanics with me.
we worked on it for hours, still nothing. we ended up having to get it towed to a shop nearby, who happens to be a friend of bobby's. So, if my credit card is not at it's limit already it will be when I drive down to get it in the am. Phuck, I couldnt catch a break with a damn baseball mit.
Ofcourse, as soon as I say that kind of thing to myself, I remember I woke up today, my kids and wife are healthy and none of my friends died on me, so I should quit my bitching. Someone ALWAYS has it worse, remember that.
So, If Im lucky enough to wake up in the am, Im gonna poour a big ass cup of jittery joes coffee, go get my car, then go to work, and relieve Code red, who hasnt had a day off in two weeks. No, working the the wet and cold and mud over the wekend or racing in it isnt a day off.
So, WHO WANTS A PUPPY?!?!?!?
The mom has pretty muched kicked them out of the "Nest" so they have been eating soft puppy food for three days, come get one, they are freaking cute. She wont let them anywhere near her. We found a home for her already and one of the puppies is going to code red, whether he likes it or not. Hell, I might make him take two, he could use a little more stress in his life anyway.
Hoff is gonna try and get out of it, But Im gonna drop one in his lap for sure.
Who else wants one? Im gonna post a pic of each one, and their puppy names...
PLEAAAAAAASEEEEEEEEEEEE take a puppy.
So, Im pretty happy with my form, seeing as how I not riding the hours I should be, because of all this phukin around with shit, but NAte says I gotta ramp it up next week.
Also, I havent used any intraxcel, or rez-v in two months because I ran out. I did start using the dedicated athlete stuff, multi vitamin and epno, and so far its working good...
Still wieghin 151 lbs. I think for snake I will be a little stronger than last month, if I eat right, and sleep right, I might race right. I might break 3:25. Thats my goal. Race it smart. I definetly wont start the same time as my fast buddies, I would be too worried about keeping them in sight or out of sight...did I mention racing is stressful?
Im beat, I dont want to check my email, last time I glanced I have 1800 plus emails...most of which will be spam, but still, it's a whole can of worms I dont want right now...
Gonna go stare at the kids for aminute, then hit the sack.
Thanks to everyone for your help on saturday, and thanks to the thomson family for having us.
Cheers and beers
Hodge
Jan. 7th, 2008
09:18 pm - Today was a good day...
I woke up with enough time to get the commuter ready for riding. Seeing as how I dont have a car any more, well, not "Anymore", but not for a while anyway. It will be a while before I have the money to rebuild the motor. So, she will sit until I get the mazda out of the garage, and begin the awakening.
So, I got the commuter going. Gonna be riding to work, just like Hoffman, just like Dan, just like the rest of the world of cycling commuters. For a long time, it was the only way I got around. I got to commute to work today, which was nice. The ride home was ok, except for my lights dying with a mile to go. Guess I'll have to dig up a charger or something. Code red and his pops were working late and as I was installing my zip tie/electrical tape mount for my $2 light, Pop noticed that nothing less than perfection is good enough for anybody else's bike, but I used tape and zipties on mine...you get what you pay for, and seeing as how I aint paying myself to install some doodad, Im taping it on. good enough.
Deb rented the "Bourne ultimatum" , I watched it last night, I enjoyed it. TOnight we have "Balls of fury" Im really psyked about it, it looked good.
Randy got his purple hubs together with his purple rims, on his purple colnago...Ill get a pic up when I get a sec.
Code red reorganized the shop over the weekend with cracker, they did an awesome job. some of my stuff disappeared. It looks like a bikeshop agian. Im excited to go to work now. Also, we have a little bit more inventory. Got a lot done today, sized a couple people, did some on the spots. We were really busy, it was cool.
Gonna steal the wifes car super early. Swing into work, grab the SS. Ride back to chicopee, do some hours out there, then ride back to work all stinky.
I think I'll pour me a glass of Fat bastard Merlot, that "Santa" got me. Santas hot! She has been losing a little wieght, and you can start to see it. My wife is so hot. ( as code red would say)
A couple words of advice to get you through your day...
Say thank you if someone opens the door for you.
IF you come to a stop sign at the same time as the person to your right, let them go.
Look each one of your kids in the eye, and tell them that they make you very happy. Make sure your looking into there eyes when you tell them.
Pet your dog.
Think about everything that you screwed up really bad in the last week and laugh about it.
Say please.
Give your honey a neck rub, just because. (or because she puts up with you)
If you reach for something at the sametime as the person next to you, and it's the last one on the shelf, let them have it. be nice.
If someone does something wrong and you know it, say something. Dont be a coward. Remember, you did the right thing, cool or not.
Ride your bike. Drink your beer.
Cheers
Hodge
Jan. 6th, 2008
09:24 am - A big fat thanks to Lindner and Da Hoff!
They both madde a sizable contribution to the puppy fund over the weekend. Many thanks my friends. Deb and I are starting to think that some of the puppies may be boxer or st bernard mix...They are freakin huge, and only a 12 days old.
Yesterday was the snake. I met Hoff and Dan, and T.roy at the start. They looked pretty fit. I ended up crashing at bailey house the night before. As I did not have a car. Friday....and I say this with great sadness, the fifty 8 died on me. Yeah, I have only had it back for 6 months, and the motor was about to turn around 300,000, so I cant complain, but it did put me in a spot. Now, I have no car. So, I am relying on everyone else for a lift, and I will be riding to work until I get this latest issue resolved.
What a pain in the ass.
So, Bailey wakes me up at six, and brosche rolls in around 620. We hit the road and grab some macdonalds, hotackes and sausage, and burritos. This happens to be a much better breakfast than, lets say, Krispy kreme donuts!!! That was Jeffrey's idea of a nutritious balanced breakfast at the firewater 50. It didnt work so good.
So, I ate good yesterday am. We got to the lot early enought to catch the first shuttle. I ran into a lot of friends which is always nice. Wattson was there and looking fit, as always. I'll let the cat out of the bag right now, I wanted a time that was close to wattson. He wins a lot of local races and has pretty much set the bar around here. So I intend on using him for a target. It's an awesome rivalry, I think we will be exchanging punches all year long which is gonna be fun. The only thing is he races geared and I race single speed.
Still, I wanted to keep in in site, so to speak.
I also wanted to see how my time would compare to all the guys that were killing me all year long....Hoff, lindnder, Smeltzer, Wild bill and the bunch. Last year my fastest time was aroung 4:15. My goal was to break 4 hours. It was lofty, even though I was training my ass off, Im not used to big pay offs, just little baby steps of improvement. So, sub four would have been great.
To get to the start, we had to ride on a bus. I couldnt help but notice the bus driver was a lady, cut directly out of a bus driver mold. Brash, slightly loud and a little rude. Our bus was seriously over loaded in my opinion. If Dan's fat ass wasnt aboard, we probably would have been ok, but he was hovering over me in the Isle. Anyhoo, back to the bus ride of death.
Im sure you will be hearing about this from everyone, so here is how I saw it. We got on the road down the mountain behind some ahole in a compact car, going rediculously slow. The driver was immediately on the horn behind him. Yelling at him to go, and that busses dont stop as well as he thinks they do.
We were all yapping and having a good time until we heard the buzzer. Buzzers on a train or bus are never a good thing. All of a sudden things got a little quite. As we were careening down the moutnain faster than the car in frnt of us, the driver decided to go into the other lane so as not to run over him. Only problem was, there was a big white truck coming int the other direction and he was really fond of his lane and wouldnt move, so we narrowly avoided death there.
Then as we were finally almost out of the woods, that same ahole in the tiny car was still in front of us. by now I was wishing he was under us. the atmosphere on the bus od death was a little high. As we were coming to the bottom of the mountian he decided to slow down. On goes the buzzer again. That buzzer tells us that the airbakes dont have enough pressure to make brakes, so with out brakes, ther eis no stopping. Everyone was scared shitless. We watched the bus lady hitting the horn and waving this asshole to go, but it wasnt working. Niether were the brakes. So We went flying passed him into the oncoming trfffic lane, and pulled right in front of his ass. He got a couple of "he's number one" waves from some people and the bus driver was cussin up a storm.
I was honestly terified of going of the side of the mountian.
So, we made it to the start parking lot. My bladder almost ruptured, if it wasnt for dan and hoff distract me by waving bottles of water in my face the whole way, I dont know what I would have done. Thanks guys.
I was rolling up to the line and Hoff was in line for the toilet, and the rest of the Yazoo boys were waiting. I decided to go ahead an start and try and stay ahead of them. They usually roll up to me and pass me. So, I figured I would haul ass while the hauling was good.
I started with a bunch of Geared bikes. I got immediatly destroyed as the first couple miles is flat as a pancake, then you get a couple miles of straight up double track. I must have been dropped and passed by 25 racers right off the bat.
As we got to the climb, I decided I would pay any attention to anyone, and manage my own speed and ride my own race. I started to pass a couple of people...pretty soon it was a bunch of people, then I think close to 30 before I hit the woods. I caught Crazy eyes and Hall, then I htink I went by Hans. I wasnt exactly flying, but I was keeping a pace that was managable. Every single racers I came up on let me by, I asked politley, and got polite replies.
Really cool bunch of people. I caught Norma, and gave her props, she was drilling it. THen I thoght I saw Wild Bill, which I was thinking no way, As I came up on him, I asked "is that you Bill?"
"whos that? Scotty???"
"Yeah man"
"Good job bro!"
We exchanged pleasantries and I motored on. I got to the halfway point and hit the rest stop. I drank a bunch, ate a bunch and bolted. Well, I didnt exactly bolt, but I rode on. I came up on Brosche, who had flatted, but i didnt have a tool, so I could help. I think I lost about 30 seconds to a minute there.
I got back on and brosche told me I was only 25 minutes behind turner. There was no way I was 25 minutes behind Tommy, so I thanked brosche for lying and took off.
I steadied my pace. Climbed some while I was in the saddle. My body was really taking a beating. My tricepts were locking up, and my taint was raw. I was staring to second guess my fitness and my form, and my sub four hour goal. I remebered what Nate said. Keep my central nervous system firing and Ill be fine, so I grab some more sugary circus peanuts and a little lateer, I was firing on all eight cylinders again. I mosied up to the 8 mile left to go mark and that when I staretd to drag. I was eating and drinking really well, but It's the first race of the year and I was 3/4 into it. I was definelty on a bike with too tall of a gear. So my legs were straining. I starte to feel the beginning of a cramp or two.
As it turns out, I want passed by anyone until the four mile mark, when Chip came by. We both got to the hike a bike seciton at the same time, but he was pushing an even taller gear than I was, and even though we were WALKING he was dropping me. I knew I was on the edge of bonking. So, I tried to keep a decent pace and not get caught by anyone else.
I bounced off of a lot of trees and rocks. I came up on a guy who had just taken a header into some pretty big rocks and had some blood gushing out of his face. he insisted he was ok, but I grabbed his bike and leaned it on a tree. I told him he might be fine, and he might feel fine, but he should at least just hang out and chill for a minute. It would be the safe thing to do, and he did. I think I lost a couple minutes there, But it's only a race, and he was genuinely injured. Help before hurry.
As I was hittin the big rocks right before the tower, Hoffman had not caught me yet. This was the final crest befor ethe downhill to the finish. If someone doesnt catch you here they wont catch you. Last year, Lindner caught me here. I waas heart broken. I tried like hell to keep lindner from catching me last year, but he got me at the rocks.
So, This year when I had gotten there without being caught I was super happy.
There was a guy there, he said, 300 yards to the tower. I thought "Hell Yeah!" Then I felt three muscles all cramp at once. I started thinking "Hell no."
I pushed through the cramps and walked the big rocks. Then coasted all the way down to finish. Smiling.
I was thinking I broke four hours. In fact, I was so sure, that I made myself remember my start time. 10:59:30. I yelled that to Dickman, who was blabbering on about something on the mic, and he told me 4:30 hours...And I said dammit really?? He looked at his watch again, then up at me and said..."Oh, No....Um...3:30 Hours....Wow, good job hodge"
I did it. I broke 4 hours. My time was 3:31...So, Im super happy with my form, but I owe it all to my coach Nate. If anyone wants his info, let me know, he turned a fat slow old guy into a competetive old guy.
I Also kept clsoe to Wattson. Im thinking next time, I dont stop for anyone, maybe my fitness will be a little better, and I break 3:25.
Thats my goal, next month, 3:25.
Maybe it's doable.
I had an awesome freakin time, chili and cobbler afterwards, and a yazoo beer. Hoff hooked me up with a six of pale ale form yazoo, which is one of my favs.
I wish I could have hungout a little longer but my ride was leaving. The yazoo boys camped out and rode again today...good on you boys!
I have a recovery ride to do, and I need to play with the kids for a while...
Cheers and beers
And congrats to everyone who did a great 1st race and keep up the good work, it's gonna be a fun season!
Hodge
Jan. 1st, 2008
02:59 am - I got to ride this afternoon.
Im super happy about that. Ran into Kelly Bear, Scottish John, and The Big Simon. They were all out in the mud as well as me. I got to yargo to do two or three laps, but after the first two miles I decided even though it was twenty four hours after the rain, it was still to damn muddy to ride. I wasnt about to trash the trails these guys work so hard on, so I finished the lap and split. Shame too, cus I needed to burn off some stress.
Went into the shop to fix the vassago before the ride. I have a jacked up hub and it keeps breakin skewers. Code red and Pops were there chillin, or more like burnin. The Tai spicy basil chicken was doin some damage to the ol tongues. I went on my way. Shop was freakin spotless. Wish I could say I helped.
man, I got to tell ya, I think yesterday I was on the verge of some kind of mental meltdown. Maybe it was an anxiety attack. I was talking to jittery jason and E about it. They have both had them before, I think it comes with owning your own business. If I had to do it all over again, I dont know if I would. Lots of positives, but jsut as many negatives. It's a toss up.
If I didnt have friends like I do helping me, keeping me in line, and watching my back, I would have withered away a long time ago.I have it better than I think sometimes. At least I know it.
So, I got home, and the wife was awake, the kids were playing. Miss Ella, Bobby thrash's little girl called and asked if we remembered their new years eve party. I forgot all about it. Glad we were invited though, I had an awesome time. The kids play together well. Boobby and angela are awesome hosts. I only had two small glasses of red wine, but I did eat waaay too many of those pigs in a blanket...cant say no to those things.
I had some really good news today. I wieghed only 153.5 lbs. So Im not getting as fat as I thought. I had good legs strength today, but no energy and no HR. Im so jonesing to get on this EPNO, but John from dedicated athelete is still trying to get this years shipment in.
Sandy, the new mom is dealing well with the 8 pups. I think they have some pitbull in them. They are freakin beautiful. Only 4 more weeks and I can give them the heck away!
I hope i get to ride tomorrow, nice and long. four hurs minimum. Gotta get ready for snake. It's a beyatch. Thinking about camping friday night with the hoff, Dan the man, Troy, and the crew. hope it aint too cold...
Happy new year. I Hope it was good to you. I hope it wasnt wasted, because we dont get them back and need to make the most of each one. Mine, had craploads of stuff I am gonna try to forget. Fortunatley for me, most of it was awesome, and I hope I remember all that stuff.
Anyhoo. Good luck to you in the new year. Lets all start it off by waking up in the morning. From there it will be easy.
Sieze the day
Hodge
Dec. 31st, 2007
05:57 am - This sucks...It freakin 4:45 am...what gives?
I still can sleep. This is BS.I know the holidays get stressful but this is crazy. Everytime I try to close my eyes, Work stress pops up. Worry about rent, Taxes...all the usual bullshit assocciated with a small business.
Sometimes it gets to be too much. When you dream of moving and changing your name, I think it's time for changes, right?
I mean, there only so many late night WRC Rally videos you can watch on the internet. At some point something just has to go.
I freakin hate it. Stress. In all honesty, everytime it gets too over whelming I just start thinking about the kids. Then really, nothing seems to matter except that theyre healthy and having fun. Everything else takes a back seat. IRS who?
I have been sitting on my ass over the last week, given all of the wonderful rain, I havent ridden at all. I hate that. Probably one of the reasons I am having a phukin anxiety attack at 4:45 am on a sunday. I havent had a release of energy in a while. Once you get used to exhausting yourself physically several times a week you need it. Otherwise you aint right.
I loaned out my rear wheel on my roadbike otherwise I could have hit the road a couple times. So, mainly I need a dry trail to ride or Im not riding. Im gonna go hit YARGO in the am. try and do 5 laps nice and easy. See If I can remember how to pedal a bike. Gonna suck doing it on no sleep. Wierd shit going on for sure.
Im gaining wieght. Ankle is still sore. I havent taken a single supplement in three days. I ran out of nearly everything. My eating habits are sucking.
TO quote the immortal Freddy Mercury.."Bad decisions, I've made a few,I consider it a challenge to the whole human race that I'd never lose"...
Damn, Now that Im writing all this down, it sounds like Im throwing in the towel on some stuff huh? Im not, maybe it just sounds that way.
Think I'll start playing the lottery, seems to work for some people.
So, Deb took Sandy to the vet. Yay! A vet bill for a dog I dont own. Cant say Im psyked about that. aparrantly Sandy, the stary that just had puppies in my kitchen was getting overwhelmed, the vet said. 8 puppies is a lot for a young dog....no shit. Jeezuz! I went from having one dog to having ten, overnight. WTF. Someone at the shop commented on how my "Redneck" status went through the roof with that one.
Need to start making some serious life changes. Phuk Im sick and tired of typing. I need to sleep. If I take a sleeping aid, I wont wake up all day, and miss riding, and playing with the kids or the wife. If I sit here I wont get any sleep and I wont be able to ride...wish my life was a little more normal.
At least the puppies are cute.
Later
Hodge
Dec. 28th, 2007
10:27 am - uuuuggh.
I feel like shit. Im getting a head cold. I slept from midnight to 10:10 am.I couldnt get out of bed.
here it comes, sickness. Im pounding vitamins, and fuit, and veggies. Hopefully I will be able to hold it off. As long as I keep eating spicy basil chicken from the tai place next door, nothing can live in my body while that stuff is in there.
I think it is cooking the insides of my body slowly, man thats hot stuff. It's so good you cant stop eating it.
I was supposed to be up at 7am, go for a four hour mtn bike ride. I woke up when the alarm went off, look out side, pouring rain. Everytime it rains, I get fatter and slower.
I do feel an awful lot like fixing bikes today, only I dont have hardly any to fix. Thats the problem with ordering parts.
Sandy and her eight dogs are doin fine.
Deb called me at work yesterday in a panic. Sandy was breathing really hard and would stop panting. So, she called the vet. When I heard that I got a little worried. We dont really need a vet bill. Especially for a stray dog.
So, she didnt get any better and Deb ran her to the vet. gave her our story and she cut the bill in half. That was down right coolness right there.
The vet told her that sandy was getting overwhelmed. It happens to young mama dogs especially ones that have 8 puppies. Their bodies lose more than they take in, and they cant keep up. She told us to start her on puppy food, because its higher calorie.
I started her on ham and peanut butter. Forget that puppy chow crap. Ham, peanut butter and beer!!! Well, maybe not beer. not while shes pregnant of course.
Gonna go into work at 11. Nothin better to do.
Later
Hodge
Dec. 27th, 2007
08:58 am - I pulled a Hoff move sunday...
twisted my ankle pushing a big piece o shit car. Little bit of swelling. I figured I would take it easy, not ride monday...
So monday rolls around, 7:45 am. Im thinking Im gonna sleep late, go into work for a couple hours, have lunch with code red, and bail early to do some last minutes shopping.
Nope. The wife wakes me up when as she gets home from work. "Scott....Scott, SCOTT!!!"
"hnngh"
"WAKE UP, the dog had puppies under the house!
"WTF?"
So, I get up and go out into the kitchen.
A couple of weeks ago, some scumbag family dropped their pregnant dog off on my street.
We didnt have room in the house for a stray dog, so I kept trying to find a home for her, then I realized she was pregnant. All of a sudden NOONE wanted her, so it was either call animal control and let her get put down with a belly full of pups or make a place in the garage, and heat it, and feed her. We chose option number two.
So, back to how I got woke up. "Dad, I hear puppies cryin...I think they're under the house!"
"What?"
The Hannah woke up to puppies cryin, she has the ears of a ninja.
Over night the dog opened the side door of the garage, and crawled under the house. All the way back into the farthest corner. I have never been under my house. It's dark, and full ofspiders.
I hate spiders.
I have no fear of anything that breathes, snakes, gators, bees, tazmanian devils, fish...nothin. Spiders frak me out. I will put my hand on anything. Grab anything, and will kill anything I have too. Not spiders.
Dont know why, dont care. I dont do spiders.
So, we have lived in this house 8 years. I have never been under the house. Not even to brace the floor, and belive me, the floor NEEDS bracing. It was built in 73. So, she sags. and creeks. Pretty bad in some places. Despite all of the wifes begging and pleading, I have put it off. "spiders honey"
Well, it's 35 degrees outside on monday. The kids are pleading for me to go in and get the dog and puppies. Im like "No way, they'llbe fine, theyre animals, they have been doing this longer than us, theyll be fine."
The hannah looks up at me, her eyes starting to water, Sarah is pleading with me, and Deb, she is just watching to see if I man up and do the nasty.
"Dammit" I say, YAY!!! says hannah, Sarah who would normally be all over me for saying Dammit, is so happy it goes right by.
I gho and grab my garage overalls, and a flashlight. It's pitch black. After I got a fott into it, I realized Im crawling on sharp rocks and pieces of wood splinters...even some old tin cans...and Im surrounded by hanging insulation...Im gonna die.
I get to the dog, named sandy, by us, because of her color. Shes panting and worried.
I thought she was gonna have abround 3 or 4 puppies. I start counting...1....2.....3......4...5? holy crap....WTF....6.......7................
8 dogs! I went from owning one dog, two owning TEN! all in a week!
Nice.
So, I grab a puppy and bring it out side. I repeat this process 8 times. my knees an elbows are killing me. Just so you know, when Igot in the shower, my knees were bleeding...
So, now, I have a dog in the kitchen nursing 8 puppies, Yay me.
So that was monday. Xmas rolled around on tuesday, as you know. Kids had an awesome xmas. I get such a kick out of watching them. It's amazing.
Deb got me a nice bottle of wine and a book, Ill be busy for days.
I got her some Cd's she wanted...we keep it cheap between her and I, We do enough for each other throughout the year and Xmas is for the kids, to be honest.
So, My ankle was feeling ok yesterday, and I was feeling fat, and lazy, real fat. So, I got on the road bike, cuz all of the trails were wet and closed. I did the shop ride, which is around 55 miles. For the fist 30 minutes I was trying real hard not to get off and go home. Then all of a sudden, like a switch, I got happy. I enjoeyed the rest of the ride alot.
I think if I stay off teh bike for a day or two, then I focus on the stress and negativity that I have to deal with, and I dont want to do anything. Except lay around. Watch Rally videos on the laptop.
I think this may happen every winter...Im not sure.
So, THE SNAKE is this saturday, Ill be able to gauge my form. Im actually not looking forward to it. I have been waiting since september for it to get here. I have been training like mad. dieting, eating, sleeping, riding. For the last week, I havent wanted anything to do with it.
Wierd. I lost all motivation to race. I think it will pass. I hope it will pass. I want to be motivated and happy to ride my bike. I like to pedal in anger. I like being put in pain by guys, and putting guys in pain. I dont inflict as much pain as gets inflicted on me though.
Still, it's fun.
So, I didnt train this week as I should have for a race on saturday. Im gonna stay off the bike today, and ride easy on friday...get some good sleep. head out to the snake friday night, get a hotel with someone, or camp....
Gotta get to work early...hit the jobs section....I need to find a part time job....night probably. Get some bills paid off.
cheers and beers
Hodge
Dec. 20th, 2007
09:58 pm - It's not a blog! It's a journal, sheesh.
There is a difference. I dont know what it is yet, but I'll let you know when I figure it out.
Been a very busy week. I looked at the last post I made and couldnt belive how long ago it was.
I like waking up and recording how the previous day went, then predicting how the next day will go. Im never right.
I love my mom, I just dont like being around her, so QUIT FREAKIN EMAILING ME AND telling me im an asshole. I already know im an asshole.
On anotheer note, would somebody please help me. Two weeks ago, I noticed a brown fluffy dog, around 30 pounds hanging around the neighbors house. Nothing strange, lots of people come and go in that house, it must be one of theres.
A coupe days go by, and It's about to drop below freezing, and the dog is still outside. That aint right. It's ok, if it's an outside dog, and it has a dog house or covered kennel, but on the porch aint right.
Im not one of those people that likes to avoid confrontation just to make my life easier, there are enough of those assholes in the world. If you see a wrong being done, it's your duty as a human being to say something. Politely. If politly doesnt work, then there is always the alternative. Someone gets an ass whoopin.
It's your duty as a decent human being to look out for others, even if they are animals, even if the asshole is bigger than you, richer than you, meaner than you or one of your friends or relatives. it's your duty.
So, I go over to the neighbors house. I knock, she answers. I ask her politely if this is her dog or if she knows it's gonna be freezing tonight.
She says no, it just apeared there. She has been giving it water. Well, two days of water aint gonna cut it, so I tell her Ill put some food out and stick it in my garage over night.
I have a bean bag chair in there thats toasty warm, and a space heater.
SO I do. next day rolls around, and Sarah and The Hannah tell me it doesnt belong to anyone in the neighborhood. Hmmmmm.
She's a cool ass dog, so I start petting her. Thats funny, her nipples are huge, and puffy, If i didnt know better I say she was....oh no, not agian.
Two years ago, the OTHER neighbors dog got my dog pregnant. So, she had puppies. I dont like the OTHER neighbors, or there asshole dog. If I could, I would club the thing with my torque wrench and be doen with it. but thats another story.
So, two years ago, right. Shithead gets my dog pregnant. I dont think Molly(my dog) liked shit head very much, because she would chase him out of the yard all the time, and I think he had his way with her one day when we had her on her run. Against her will. Phukin dog rapist.
I was so close to snappin that dog in two. anyway, the day after she has her 5 puppies, shithead comes by. Our shitty neighbors to the right dont believe in leashes or fences or dog control...and they named their dog Bill, WTF?! Rednack asshole neighbors, everyone has em.
So, shithead comes by, any Molly goes crazy, Deb opens the door to take the trash out, and molly bolts. I pull into the driveway from work, to find molly laying dead in the street. Some people stopped to tell us they saw a car hit her and keep going. Karma asshole, you'll get yers for sure.
So, Molly had puppies and died the next day. We pee'd and pooped 5 newborn dogs. The vets said that we should just put them down because the chances that an inexperienced family would be able to raise 5 puppies without them all dying is slim to none. Number one mistake, never tell me or my kids something CANT be done.
So, we all took shifts, my two little girls and wife and I every 3 hours all day long for 5 weeks straight. They all survived, and all went to good homes, we kept one, Dash.
Back to present day, sorry for the detour. I look down, and Im hooping shes not freakin pregnant. I feel her belly, press a little harder and feel puppies. Dammit!
Not again. We really dont need another pregnant dog. Or puppies, or any more expenses.
So, I call over the next three days, over 50 shelters. I get nothing but, no's and cant do's, a lot of sorry's.
So what do I do, I called the HALL county animal control, they will just euthenize her. This is bullshit. So for the last two weeks I have been feeding, petting and loving on this dog, and it's a damn shame, she's a sweetheart of a dog. And no one wants her.
I know hwat happened, dogs dont just show up pregnant in strange neighborhoods. Some asshole redneck realized his dog was pregnant and drove her out here and dumped her. Some people suck. My kids realized this early in life. People put there problems and responsibilites on others. It's a fact of life, one they are prepared for.
Still, i wouldnt mind punching the guy in the throat, just for fun.
Anyone have any idea how I can put this dog in a good home? She's gonna have beautiful puppies, and she's a great dog. get with me if you think you can help me out.
http://pics.livejournal.com/velomech/pi
So I have been getting some good riding in. Havent had to get my ankle amputated like The Hoff. Shame, he had such a good thing going. Hey, at least he can still perform his second love, baking.
The shop is busy, we are getting some of the bills paid. Getting some bike and wheels built. Gonna get t work early tomorrow and start Brents wheels. Pine Cone lacing, gonna look supa dope, I have been WAITING to build these bad boys!
Today was Sarahs bday, I told her we would take her to the restaruant of her choice...she picked Ninja Steakhouse...I should have thought before I opened my mouth. It cost us 125 bucks!!! I had three hundred saved up for my car payment, but that just dropped a bit. Dammit.
Man, what we do for our kids.
http://pics.livejournal.com/velomech/pi
I borrowed $531 bucks from my bro, and bought this. It will get much better gas mileage then the 58. I have my work cut out for me though, I have never ripped apart a Mazda gearbox. It's in Savannah! SO, Im gonna borrow a trailer from bobby, and a truck from Randy and hit the raod. The cool thing is, it's an all wheel drive turbo. I have been wanting one of these for ten years, they are super hard to some by...finally found one cheap. Gonna throw Sarah in the truck to keep me company and head down to savannah on sunday am.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI
The night rides have been going great, lucky I have good bunch of friends to hang with. Makes it fun. My super powerful legs shattered my salsa skewer. It's all the roids im taking. My quads are now the size of my waste.I have to put one of them on the passenger seat in the car when I drive to work. I have been riding one legged. Im thinking about welding two vassago's together so I dont destroy a frame, If I use two, it doubles the strenght right? Maybe run four chains. Gotta do something, Im thinking this epo stuff is starting to kick in. Got some at the dollar store, good stuff. I punched my gas pedal through the floor today. Im thinking of strapping fifty pund wieghts to my feet, just to get a work out.
Nuff said. Actually today, I got on the bike, then got off after 45 minutes. Didnt feel it. Didnt feel like riding. Got off the bike and went to work. SOme days I guess I have to do what my body or mind tells me...I wanted a coke, and to get off my bike. So I did both, and I was happy.
Ronnie mac came by, he's still lookin fit...Randy camped out last weekend at three gap, then rode in the ice. Randy has the coolest VW westvalia camper....
I have been asking everyone that comes into the shop about the dog...Im gonna deal with it either way. Stepping up to the plate is what I do, and it's what I teach my kids, and we learn from example. So, I will handle it. A customer over heard me on the phone with one of the 5 billion shelters that turned me down. He said something I can definetly agree with.
"Champions adapt"
Well, Im a champion of two things, jack and shit, and jack just left town on a bus...
Still, Ill give it my best shot....damn...puppies...again...
Good stuff.
Good holidays on all of you out there, lets hope we wake up, we can take it from there.
Cheers and beers
Hodge
Dec. 15th, 2007
07:42 pm - woke up early, argued with mom, froze, yapped, worked, cried, beer
So, Sarah wakes me up at 7, I roll over, say "5 minutes, and roll back over. 25 minutes later, she wakes me again, now im late. I shower, hop in the fifty eight and go straight to Jittery Joes to get coffee for the SORBA XMAS ride at 10 am. I get in the car at 8.
8:20 roll around, I grab the Joe, I hit the road. Up 85 North so i can swing by the shop and grab a stand, table and som eloose ends for the ride. I forgot to do this before heading down to Jittery joes. Im swigging my coffee, driving along, all is well.
I run by the shop, grab the stuff I need, and am all of a sudden early, so I decide to swing by the house on my way to chicopee. I need to use the can, and I just got my copy of "Old school rodz" so Im anxious for some quality time.
I pull in the driveway and my Moms here? why? Oh yeah, she's pickin The Hannah up to tak eher out while sarah goes off to her birthday party, girls only, no dad allowed.
I walk in and Mom busts outdf 4 ...(ok,the previous typo is because Im choking on a beer and my hand is on the keyboard, my wife did something that irritated me, oh yeah, moved a pillow onto my arm while I was typing, and I threw it back at her, and said "Do you mind?" and she looked at me with that stare as I grabbed my beer and took a swig. She pulled somekind of jedi mindtrick on me, because I choked on it...and beer started coming out of my nose and she laughs and walked off, mumbling "HAH", I hate her.)
Ok, My mom busts out "Are you coming over for Sarahs bday party thursday?"
Im thinking, no, because we are taking her out to eat as a family, thats why she is having her party today, with her kid friends.
"I say sure, but we had plans."
Roll in one ear and out the other, my mom is crazy. Really. Paranoid, defensive, overly sensitive, crazy. If she invites you to something and you say no thanks, you hate her. You either hate her, or are conspiring to make her life hell. So she goes home to her husband, Tom, my stepdad, and in a few days, Im the evil son who hates his mom, and his stepdad, and that side of the family, and so on.
I tell her we kind of had plans, but if its only her and tom then fine.
She takes that as, "As long as you dont invite the other side of the family that I Hate, because Im better than them and their trashy, and Im a snob whos job is really only to ruin my moms life.
She sighs and says "FINE!"
"What about Xmas eve?" she asks. I say "Um, well, I was gonna swing by dads or something."
She says "Why do you do that?"
"Do what" I say
"Try and ruin everything, xmas eve is our night, it's my tradition."
"Um, It's my family, when do I get to start my tradition?"
"Scott, why cant you just come over!?"
"Because I wanted to do soemthing else"
"WHY!?"
"Mom, why are you acting like a fourth grader, I just want to do something with my family, and maybe go by dads..."
She cuts me off.."You did that lat year!!!"
"Because I wanted to last year, and the ten years before that we went to your house, I can do what I want, it's just means I want to go by dads, what is the problem!?!
"Your ruining the tradition!"
"ya know mom, Im getting sick of you insisting on stuff like this, and when we say no, we're the bad guys, who hate you and ruin everything. Would you think I hated you If I said no, because we lived in another state???? NO! You wouldnt becaue it would be reasonable, it's NOT REASONABLE THAT YOU MAE A BIG DEAL ABOUT EVERYTHING EVERY TIME A HOLIDAY COMES AROUND MY FAMILY DOES SOMETHING BESIDES GO TO YOUR HOUSE!!!!!!"
I turn around and walk in the bedroom, and slam the door. The last time my mom came over and started an arguement I lost my temper. I havent lost my temper since I was sixteen.
She started some bullshit about how the kids should not be riding their bikes to school, and how I forced them to do it, and was a horrible father for putting them at risk. I lost it. First of all, My children wanted to try it. They read a report about how kids are fat and lazy, and noone walks or bikes to school, because there are no sidewalks anymore.
It was a fun safe experience for them and the kids at school would stop asking them questions about it. They loved it.
Anyhoo, my mom over stepped her boundaries by accusing me of being a bad dad. bad idea. I looked at her and asked her to leave my house. She started in agian on how I was this or that, and I said, "Mom, I mean it, get the hell out of my house right now."
It didnt faze her, So I put my hand completely through the wall, pulled it out, and said "NOW."
She stopped talking. She left.
Im not proud of what I did, I felt like something was wrong with me for losing my temper. I thought I was being weak. Deb and I talked along time about what happend, it strained an already shaky relationship with my mom.
My mom, try's to change my childrens opinions, and her and my stepdad used to try and influence them. First, if you want to believe in god, fine, more power to you. I respect that. Some people take it too far, some people are honest, and sincere and really believe. It's a good thing. My wife goes to church when she wants, she takes the kids. Unlike most fathers who dont believ in god, I allow my kids to form their own opinions. I will never force anything on them. Thats bad parenting. Thats my mom.
I will never tell my kids to do something "Just because".
I am raising my children to think for themselves. Gather information and make their own decisions. Be their own person.
My mom disagrees with this. I disagree with my mom. She and tom used to insist on teaching them religion AND politics.
I wont tolerate that. The hannah actually said one day "Those people are going to hell."
Refering to non christians and gays. Needles to say, I corrected The Hannah, and then unleashed a world of pain on my mom and stepdad.
Shit went all to hell. They over step their boundaries. Their job is to be grandparents. Leave the teaching to me and deb. Thats our job.
So, back to the present. Deb comes into the room and asks me to calm down, I ask her if Im right? She says yes, and "Your mom is pushing the limits again." As I was walking into the bedroom, I lost my temper, and slammed the door. I walked into the bathroom and hit the door jam with my fist, I missed the door and hit the door jam. Knocked it away from the wall...
So, now, debs is standing there, my mom left, and she says, "shes gone, DO NOT put another whole in the wall"
I talk with her about our dilemna, It's a tough thing to deal with. I want my kids to have a grand mother but she brings so much negativity that my kids arent used to. I hate it.
Im losing what relationship I have left with my mother because she is losing her sanity. At least to me. I wish they didnt live near us. It's sad, but thats what I wish. Why cant she and tom just be normal, like my dad, or everyone else's mom?
So, off to the ride, mood ruined, blood pressure off the charts.
Get their, talk to a bunch of cool people. Threaten WATTson with an ass kicking all season, but he asks me if Im doing SS, and then I realize he racing geared. Oh well, lucky for you WATTson! Lucky for you!
Get to the shop, Cracker is their with code red. We were busy from the get go, and when they left at one point I had alomost 15 people in the shop for a LOOOOOONG time. I was fixing bikes, guys were hangin out and talking, matty was fielding calls, I was still fixing...
Finally, five oclock rolls around and the crowd thins. Somehow, Frank Frazetta comes up int the conversation, and I gogole him to show Swanson and Jay who he is and why he was one of my idols growing up. His intensity explodes out of his work. Good stuff.
Some how we start talking about opera, and How we love it and swanson tells me to google Paul potts...Here is a link.
But before you click it, let me clue you into opera, it's not for everybody. Yeah, it's gay to some people, it's annoying to others. I, however, love it. I love opera. Like anything else, it can be good or bad. even bad opera is good though. Good opera, great opera, is so powerful and so moving that it effects you. It will actually change your mood. Well, it does me.
I know for a fact, a bunch of you are gonna rib me, also, a lot of you are gonna think it's wicked lame, and super gay, crank the executioners or fiftycent...
Im not a music snob, like Cracker and I discovered today that code red is. I love pretty much all music, if its genuine.
So, back to opera. I have listened to a lot of great tenors,baratones and sopranos. Even though Im mostly tone def and cant play an instrument and really have a second graders knowledge of music, I still love it. My Nana used to sing opera to me.
Im not gonna go all "Im the man" and list the whos who of opera so I can impress you with my knowledge. I want to tell you, however, how I know good opera. If you can look at an opera singer and see in his eyes, that he has felt deep sorrow, he will be a good singer. If he has felt love so strong he wouold give ALL for it, or if he has suffered loss so great, he wishes not to go on, he will belt it out. And you will cry.
Why, because through his efforts to communicate through opera, you will feel great sadness or deep deep passion. It's painful, but you cant help but listen, and suffer with him.
SO, Paul Potts, Swanson says watch this....(get passed the gayass cheazy aerosmith song at the end...someone screwed it up with that fer sure...)
I click play. Jay is watching and Swanson is standing behind me. I watch an overwieght white guy in a crappy jacket and 5 dollar shirt.(whats funny is the judge on the left eludes to this in a later clip, and stole my words exactly, after I had said the very same thing to deb before I played it for her.) His shoulders are shrugged and his head leans to the side. I can read people pretty good. I look at him , and he looks like he gets beat down everyday so hard by life.He looks just like everybody else, jsut a little worse. Im intrigued. The woman judge say "Hello Paul, what are you here to do?"
Almost hesitantly he replys "to sing opera" as if their reply will be no thanks, next!
The camera turns to her, and the look on her face is "oh great, another opera talent"
The camera turns to the male judge to her right, and he looks over at her with an expression of, "god at least I get paid for this"
Then the camera turns to the other judge, the same guy who does american idol, the look on his face is "Ok, whatever, get on with it so I can say you suck"
The camera looks back at Paul, who couldnt look more down trodden, as he looks to his left for the que for the music.
Then he opens his mouth.
opera.
So poweful that I start crying after 15 seconds. I start crying, in front of Jay, and swanson. I feel like a phukin fool, but I love opera, and this, this is pure, powerful, emotional opera.
I have never heard of britians got talent, I watched Idol once before, I dont watch this kind of stuff on tv.
I was amazed at this guy. I have cried listening to opera, laying on the couch, lights out, noone else in the house. Some of the records I have would bring tears to a rock.
Im thinking, maybe if I turn my head a little they wont see, but then I started sniffling, and tears really started rolling so I had to wipe them before they got outta hand. I was a little embarrased and joked about it. Swanson and Jay were cool with it and found it funny. Both agreed though, that this guy sang opera.
He had kung fu, if you will, and it was good.
So, the camera pans back to the woman, who after 15 seconds is in total shock, then pans to the other two guys who, are thinking, someone stuck a ringer in here to throw us.
The camera then pans to the audience who are frozen freakin stiff, mouths open, eyes glued. Shock. Then As Im wiping more tears away, it pans to couple of old ladies, one...wiping her tears away. I dont feel so wierd.
Look closely at him, his demeanor, his dress, then at them, their arrogance, their impatience to "Get on with it" and then at the end, look at how stupid they feel for judging him, when they could have looked at him before he started singing anything, and if they had taken just a second to look into his eyes, they would have seen...opera.
Later
Hodge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DelJrP3P
Dec. 14th, 2007
08:39 pm - back to reality..a typical day in the life....
So, I wake up at 6:05 am. Kids are coughing. I roll over, the wife is missing from the bed. I roll over...6:10 and the kids are still coughing and havent stopped.
6:20....hack hack hack...6:30, thats enough. I get up, I walk into the the kitchen where the three female hodges are slamming stuff around and coughing coughing coughing.
They all look at me as I round the corner. "What the crap!?!..Will you freakin take some cough medicine!" I say in as nice a vice as I can muster...
"Oh, Sorry daddy, did we wake you?" I stare at them, and they know what is going through my tiny brain...."What do you think!?!"
"Sorry"
"I dont want sorry I want your mother to suggest cough medicine so you will stop coughin after a few minutes, not after 30 minutes, Deb, sound good?" (total sarcasm)
I get the look. I dont care because my wife and two daughters have double my IQ, but they lack even the teensiest amount of common sense.
I bust out the cough medicine, shove spoons down there throats, slap em each on the back of the head, throw the spoon in the sink while stairing at the wife the whole time. I walk away.
The kids are laughing, not coughing, funny how that works.
The wife mumbles..."G'night grumpy pants"...
"Its freakin morning thanks"
So, I get my clothes on, well more clothes anyway.
I walk out, and the Hannah hasnt brushed her teeth or hair. The bus is due any second. She gets her teeth brushed and starts her hair. I hear the bus.
"Dude, if you miss the buss, Im not taking you to school. You've had an hour, what have you been doing."
"I dont know" she says.
The hannah, hasnt missed a day of school in two years, and never more than one, in all her life. Tough kid. So it breaks my heart to be the "Bad cop"
My wife looks at me and says, dont be a jerk.
"I reprimand my kid because you wont, she's gonna miss the bus because you never scold her for wasting her time, and not getting ready. why am I being a jerk?"
I raise my vioce, and The hannah starts to worry, Im afraid shes gonna cry.
Deb says "Honey, just bring the hairbrush on the bus"
I say "No, brush your hair here, before you leave the house, and if you miss the bus, tough, Im not taking you to school."
Deb shoots me a look that I dont get too often, "No Hannah, just go catch the bus and bring the brush, daddy, can I talk to you?!"
Um, Im right, I know Im right, as soon as The Hannah leaves for the bus, Deb lays into me.
I reply with, "Sarah gets up, gets ready and hangs out for 45 minutes, Hannah walks around and wastes 45 minutes and rushes out showing total shit for hygiene. It embarasses our family and you let her. Almost everyday...What hell?"
Deb gets up and leaves the room. I get up and make a cup of coffee...no milk. Gawdammit!
"Why are we out of milk!?"
"Because YOU forgot to bring it hoome!"
"I got home at 11 OCLOCK!!" I say
"And YOU were supposed to bring home milk!"
"You were out all night running errands!"
"AND...YOU... WERE...SUPPOSED...TO...BRING...HOME...MI
"UGH! All we have is that flavored crap you use!
"Oh Well"
Right now, Im thinking, Take off, nuke the site from orbit, start over.
So, I pour in her flavored crap, take a sip of what was once black delicious coffee, and try not to gag. ew.
So I go grab my riding clothes. I walk into the bathroom where the box the kids came in is trying to put on make up.
"Im sorry"
"You should be"
"I said I was sorry, but your wrong, I just went about making my point the wrong way"
"Apology accepted."
"Y'know, I apologize when Im wrong, every time."
"So do I" she says
"No you dont, You never apologize when your wrong" i say
I turn around and walk away....She mumbles..."Cuz Im never wrong"
"Bite me"
"Bring it" she says....
"No" I say
I put the clothes on the red couch. I get my phone, "Hey, If I run out of gas will you come get me?"
"YEah"
"Love you bye"
"Love you bye"
For those who dont know, I have run out of gas in the fifty eight 4 times this month. I supposedly fixed the fuel sending unit in the tank, but have yet to figure out where "Empty" really is....so I run out of gas when the needle is on different lines????WTH?
SO, I go to crank the fifty eight, it wont start. It's parked inthe driveway on a slight hill.
I dump it into nuetral, roll it back, and point the front down hill. I get out, go look for the gas can in the trunk, which is huge and it's easy to lose anything. I fint it...empty. Or, as close to empty as you can get, and still have a few drops of gas in it. I gently pour the four remaining drops of fuel into the tank, careful not to spill any.
I lean into the car to hit the garage door opener, and bump my head. Dammit that stings. I go looking fo rthe lawnmower gas can in the garage. SWEET! I grab it, it's light. Real light, like empty light. There is a few spoonfuls of gas in it. WHich is probably why the lawnmower is still sitting in the middle of the back yard. It ran out of gas.
Jeezuz, day is going great so far. Pour the gas vapors in th efuel tank. Launch the gas can into the garage with attitude. get in the car, crank the 50 year old engine over, she fires up.
I coast out into the road, and down all the hills. Only touching the throttle when I have to.
I come to a stop sign and she dies. I say "come on sweetheart, half a mile"
I turn the key, she comes to life, a little rougher than before, I pull out, and Idle up the hill. As I crest the hill she starts to die....I kill the motor to leave some gas in the carb.
I roll into the gas station at the bottom of the hill.
I get out. I grab the nozzle and start pouring. As I take it out, $50 later, I look into the gas filler tube that goes into the actual gas tank, I can see the gas in the tank, and there seems to be a lot more room in there. I Decide I can squeeze more fuel in but I need to watch it go in. I think there was a massive air bubble in there, because the fuel explodes out towards my face and I look away just in time, I catch it on the chin, and all down my shirt.
Nice.
Im soaked in fuel...anyone got alight?
I look around, hoping noone saw how stupid I was...coast was clear. I look at the price on the pump, sweet, Im wearing two dollars in gas.
I grab my spare gas can and start pouring fuel in it, it only holds a gallon. As soon as I pull the trigger Gas explodes out of the can, all over my shorts and socks...I stare at my feet, and hold my breathe, because the vapors are all rising up toward my face.
I look into the gas station, the old lady working there is looking at me like Im an absolute nutter.
I feel like my day is going well. I pay, I get back in the fifty eight, turn the key, hoping I left enough gas in the carb to fire the three hundred and fifty two cubic inches of throaty fifties iron. She fires up, rough, and then smoothes out nice. I figure, Im sooo late. I was supposed to be at yargo at 8, it's now 9:25 am....wonderful.
I get in the car, reeking of 93 octane. (the car wont run on cheap gas)
Halfway there I decide to start changing into my riding clothes....I reach behind me...nothing. Look around...under the seats, nothing.
I pick up the phone, "Hey honey, Can you look on the red couch for me?
"Sure" She says.
"what do you see?" I ask
She giggles, "your riding clothes"
"Figures"
"What abut my shades?"
"what about my baggie of vitamins"
"Them too, You gonna turn around?"
"hail no!, I missed my ride yesterday, I'll ride in a tshirt if I need to, Im riding."
"Have fun"
"Whatever"
I roll into Yargo, I give the attendant Three bucks, i ask him how long he's gonna be there, he tells me all day. I give him three bucks for Matty when he rolls through.
I tell him he's rollin in a silver VW, bikes on the back, real ugly in the face.
He chuckles, tells me he'll make sure matty gets in. I say, "Tell him he's ugly"
He says sure.
I get out of the fifty eight, when I pull in the lot. I open the planet swallowing trunk, and low and behold, I ransid jersey and wet pair of shorts from two days ago. I struck gold.
Then I find a little red and white bottle of "Sport legs"....hmmm, maybe Im gonna have a good ride.
I figure I would need something to push this gear around yargo.
Last night I installed the 16t. Im running 58.3 gear inches, which is over 2:1 ratio.
matty rolls up after my second lap and we ride together for one lap, then get a burger and veggies.
On the second lap though, I was killin the 16t. I wasnt under stress at all during the ride. I could probably have gone witha 15t in back and been fine. Im happy.
Got to work, Barry the winemaker Underwood was there. Reminded me we have a Xmas ride at chicopee in the am, and I need to get Jittery joes coffee.
Matty brought his frame in, and Nate stopped by so we could setup his tubless system...It explodes sealant all over us several times. The quote of the week is going up on the board tomorrow, "Sorry Im just a homo roadie"...Thats the funniest thing I have heard in a long time. Im laughing, because I have sealant all over my face, and were are all standing in a huge puddle of white anti flat juice.
I hate tubeless systems, I wish they didnt work so well.
Finished up the night with some to-go spicy basil chicken with my dinner partners Matty cakes and carebear, and hit the road to go home and apologize to The Hannah, and hang out with the fam.
TOday I had one of the best rides in a looooong time. It was awesome. All in all, a rough start for sure, but thats typical in my life. I always tell my self, I woke up, Im off to a good start. None of my family or friends died on me, the dog is still here.
Doin ok.
Im almost finished with The Hoffs wheelset. Im waiting on a set of training wheels, we had made custom. He wont have to put his foot down any more. He'll be injury free for the rest of the season. The mouthgaurd we got him says Surly on it...well, it actually said Shirley, but we modified it a little.
Stay off the ankle you dummy!
LAter
Hodge, of the Clan HODGE
Dec. 13th, 2007
11:08 pm - 11:08 pm, just got home from work....
Im beat. Got tons of repairs done. Once the shop door closed, I got biddy. Little TCB, takin care O bidness!
The last few days have been stressful. Everyone has somebody in their lives that just makes their life miserable. Dealing with these people is very stressful. The person in my life, lets call this person, "The one who will remain nameless" doesnt live in reality. Serious issues, comes from a family with serious issues, and now Im caught up in it. I wont go into further detail, Im not immature enough to drag it out in public. The type of stress Im trying to describe is strange, Ive never had to deal with MAJOR troubles in my life.
I dont make enemies, I like people, and everyone has a good side. You can find something cool in everyone, well, except "The one who shall remain nameless".
Anyhoo, I have been dealing with a huge wieght, sometimes cant sleep, constantly popping into my head, just plain mood ruining. EVERYONE has to deal with bigtime stress, most of you have real jobs, that demands balancing family and work very carefully. Most of you have major bills, and without the big paycheck it would be tough. I know, because my friends are always confiding in me how they get through it. I learn a lot.
Back to the stress....Sometimes I get over run with feelings of helplessness. The best way that I can describe it is think of it as being a soldier. Your in a group of soldiers, and your seriously under fire. Your resources arent even a tenth of what the enemy has, but your fighting for whats right. You can feel it in your heart that your doing the right thing, and wrong is being done against you. At some point, you realize the chances of you surviving this are slim, because You dont have the resources to fight, so you kind of accept it and go out guns blazing hoping to gety lucky. You basically except your gonna die for a good reason, and you go down swinging.
This stress, or sadness your dealing with up until the point you accept your situation is overwhelming, BUT, then, once you accept it, the stress goes away. You switch the safety off, and you smile, real big.
Im smiling real big right now. It's like situations in life go by in segments, I just entered another segment. I feel liberated. Like I could take on the world.
Seriously. bring it on.
Unfortunately, I was supposed to ride today at yargo. COde red had to pic his better half up, so I volunteered to open the shop so he wouldnt be rushed. I figured I would fix the chain on my bike, and then bolt out for a ride then come back and get to work.
No dice. Both Code red and I got slammed from the get go. Which is ok, anything that brings in some income. Bills are due. So are repairs. So, today, I built two wheelsets, one rear hub over haul, 7 tire changes, 3 brake cables, two cassettes, One tube change, Fixed a broken remote shifter, three tune ups, one rear wheel retention, and answered god knows how many phone calls...it was a busy day. I left work at 10:55 pm. Im happy with I got done today.
Just that I didnt ride. So, here I sit, venting, staring at the Sherwood Forrests IPA to my left.
So sir rich came in for a bit today, and we discussed how if he were to actually race his age category, he would podium every race. Hes 52, and hes faster than any other guy out there his age. Seriously, he races Single speed, and doesnt care who he beats, it's all in fun.
I agree to a point. Once you have established that you can rip the other guys legs off, and leaving him bleeding and questioning why he rides a bike, then it's all in fun.
First, you have to establish the pecking order, then you can goof off.
I know this because the guys I want to race with have established the packing order, and Im at the bottom of it. Thats why they tolerate my smack talk and goofing around.
If I was kicking their asses, it would be a different story, I promise you. Smack talk would be considered bragging or threats. It would take the fun out it.
I feel really good about what the pecking order will be this season. I started to see some promise today when I was fixing my bike.
I have been running a 32x17 on my 29 inch wheels. it turns ot to be a pretty tall gear for around here. Sir rich asked me if I was going to put an 18 on the rear.
I thought about it. When I was at yargo yesterday, I turned a 53 minute lap, and I did all of the new section. I was only going 75-80%. My heart rate was around 170, my max is 199....I wasnt breathing real hard and my legs felt like springs waiting to expand.
I went up the power line climb in the saddle 3/4 of the way up, I got out of the saddle to increase my speed, but I was already at a cadence that was too high. Im not a spinner by ANY means. Like I said, im pushing a 32x17.
So, I looked at SIr rich and told him Im gonna put a 16t on the rear...
"Two to One!?" He said, kind of in disbeleif. But thats ok. I guess Since I have never ever pushed that big of a gear in the years Ive known him I can see where he is coming from.
I also thought he, like everybody else, probably thought I was phukin around when I said i was coming out this season to make a statement. Thats ok, because i can be a smart ass sometimes, and noone should ever take me seriously, unless Im advising them on bike stuff, I never joke about that.
So, back to the 16T. In 94, I built my first real SS. Since, I have never turned a 2:1 ratio, not even on a 26 wheel. I just never had the strength to push that gear up a lot of climbs and still have fun, it turned out too much like work.
So, before I left work, I put on the 16T. Im gonna see if I have a problem with it. But, to be honest, the only thing that was slowing me down at yargo yesterday was my gearing. It was too short. Im not baosting, cmon, I smack talk, I dont brag. Although, I havent been this fit this early in 10 years. There were a few times I was ok fast, won a couple races, but Im so much faster right now than I was then, and it's only december. Im so happy with how my training is going. It's gonna be awesome to go by my buddies in some races, my FAST buddies.
I know it's gonna mess with their head, and not in a good way. That actually makes me a little bit sorry. Seriously, I mean it. I love to see my friends succeed, or do well, and i think that if I actually go out stronger and faster, and I actually beat one or two, they're gonna think about it as an insult, or that they are doing something wrong, or whatever.
This thought crossed my mind when I started training back in september. Yeah, waaaay back in september when everybody else was winding down or starting cross. One of the reasons I started putting my wieght, training, diet, supplements and regimen on my journal was so my friends and competitors would have an idea of what I was doing. I have been hitting the supplements hard, and the bike even harder. I had 7.5 weeks of base. I have lost 16 pounds.
I have increased my power to wieght ratio, my lactic threshold and my Vo2 Max, significantly since my last tests. Im really happy. And I'll pee in any cup they put before me!
Namrita is a awesome nutritionist, I gave her a list of stuff that she could look at that I was doing. there were only a few things that she said I could do without that were closer to snake oil than supplements so I think Ill put a list up here. Im pretty confident that the stuff Im taking is helping, Im not gonna be one of those local experts that thinks they have some secret juice that works and NOT share it.
Im not hiding anything. I think supplements help, but since I got a coach, I think having someone that holds you accountable to your goals makes more of a difference.
I sleep more, eat more and ride more. Granted, I wear my body down more, but i give it more time to repair itself.
Here is my list of so called "Drugs"...keep in mind, I get them all from vitamin houses locally.
Im pretty sure none are on the "Banned" list...not that there is a banned list in any races im gonna do, that would be freakin hilarious
Rez-V
Activit daily vitamins
Goldenseal
IntraXcell
Vitamin C
Calcium +D
Body fortress Amino 3000( Thats the gayest name in the world)
Body fortress Super NOS pump (thats the second!)
I will be giving all of these up as soon as my dedicated athlete vitaimns come in. Im waiting, patiently. I think once I start those, Ill be better off.
I was on Creatine for four days, but when Nate found out he nixed it immediatley. It's no good, so if YOUR thinking about it, let me save you $30. Dont Bother.
I was also using a cream, that turns out, doesnt do shit. It was some kind of homeopathic Gel.
It had Mucana Puriens, terrestris something or other and some other unpronouncable shit...I couldnt tell any difference, so I bailed on spending another $35.
I can tell you this, I have been drinking shitloads of redwine, and eating TONS of red grapes.
They contain Resveritrol, not spelled correctly, I work in a bike shop, cut me some slack.
This is a naturally occuring something or other that inhibits estrogen in men. I have learned that recuperation is fueled/dependant on/by testosterone and cortisone, which dont get made until your 7th or 8th hour of sleep, thats why I have been sleeping alot lately. better recovery. Anyhoo, your body makes tons of testosterone, but it make almost as much estrogen, which your body produces to negate too much testosterone, so resveritrol actually bitch slaps the estrogen and pushes it out of the way for that stud, testosterone, to walk down the hall to your dmaged tissues, or something like that.
Used to be I didnt care, "whatever, just give me a bike, Ill ride it"
Now, since I set a goal, I have been Traing, reading, sleeeping, eating, training, learning, listening, training, improving, learning and training. And it's working.
Whats even more AWESOME, is all of my freinds that read this are phukin SICK AND TIRED of hearing about it.
It's not too late to start prepping.
So thats it in a nut shell. Dont slip up, Im gonna be right behind you, but not breathing as hard.
Gonna be a good season.
Later
Hodge
Dec. 12th, 2007
08:13 am - The Coffee is brewing!
Grind it up, fill it up with some agua, put in the last coffee filter we have, and wait for the heavenly elixer of life to start flowing from that magic machine that makes it all liquidy and black, smooth, a delicasy even. I love coffee.
I have my Pops and my Nana to blame. Every sunday am, when I was aged 5 to 9, my pops would get us up and we would head out to Donut Dip. He would get a coffee, black, and an old fashion plain donut. I would get a half and half, and a choclate glazed. My bro, being the chic that he is would get a chocolate milk and a some wierd ass donut. Jelly maybe.
My Nana would get up and brew a pot of what they used to call coffee back in the seventies. It's really more of an abomination against coffee than anything. They even had this stuff called instant. Some companies made Perculators, which, if any machine was designed to bastardize and whore out a coffee bean, this was it. These souless machines would brew the coffee from grounds back in on itself. Yeah, they had that cool bubble top funny bubbling action, but that was a disguise for what they were doing to those poor coffee grounds. Well, those coffee grounds werent exactly pure, they were mixed with OTHER stuff like sugar, to hide the bitterness, and preservatives and crap. Either way, I tolerated it as any 6 or 7 year old would because as far as I knew, coffee was the drink of the grown ups.
I would see them sip it, and take it in. Like they were waiting for some internal transformation. Sometimes I would see the jave induced Jekle and hyde transformation right then and there. My Nana would bring the coffee into the bathroom with a book, and chill out til nature took it course.
My mom, would wake up, if thats what you want to call it, and sleep walk her ass right over to the coffee maker. This became much easier for her after the "Mr. Coffee" was invented because all she had to do was put in the grounds, and set the timer. She would do the Zombie walk from the coffee maker over to the dining room table. She would sit there and sip her coffee until her eyes peeled open and her skin turned from white to olive color.
Growing up in my house meant waking up to coffee, the smell. Holy sheeaaht, if we ran out of coffee, the end was near. My mom would have a nervous breakdown. Dad would head out to the store to get more. The beast that was occupying my moms body would leave the second she gulped it down. Wierd how evil doesnt like coffee. (It doesnt wear a bonnett either...inside joke.)
My dad, he was a factory supervisor since I can remember. Only he was one of those supervisors that everyone liked, not the asshole supervisor most of us deal with. Anyhoo, in the seventies, and even through the eighties and nineties, they used coffee vending machines.
Only the real coffee whores would use these bad boys. You stick in .35 and you get to watch the cup fall, the coffee/water fill the cup. You could hit buttons for cream, sugar or any combination of coffee your dead tatse buds demanded. Usually by this stage in a coffee drinkers life, if you were getting coffee from a vending machine, no amount of sugar or cream could reach your senses anyway. The "black" button was always the greasiest and most worn.
My wife, who is just now rolling in from work, is a on her way to Coffee Whoreness.
She doesnt care who's coffee it is, how long it's been in the pot. She could care less if it was ground, instant or any brand for that matter. Although, She enjoys a really good cup of coffee. When we go to Jittery joes, she smiles after the first sip. Me too.
But, she has been known to exceed the boundaries of good behavior. She has bought, in the past, flavored coffee. From the super market. Flavored coffee is the winecooler of the coffee world. It was made for people who want to drink coffee because everyone else is. Unfortunatley, they dont like coffee, so it is bastardized with flavoring and other stuff to make it tolerable for sissies. "Hey, do you have bartles and James?"
Dont get me started on decaf. I wouldnt suggest anyone EVER drink decaf. EVER. Unless you just ate a huge meal, and it's 10 pm, and your really jonesing for a java, to complete the meal and satisfy the wants. Most important if you have to get to sleep and have to be up early. Despite what ANYONE says, you dont develope an immunity to caffiene. It's a stimluant, you cant develop an immunity. It's impossible. You can however get a little numb to it. Like a cup of coffee just wont cut it, so you drink two. If I have a cup of coffee anytime after 5 or 6 pm, chances are, Im gonna be watching some kind of poker challenge til 3 in the morning.
I wont do STARBUCKS. I JUST WONT DO IT. Unless I have to have a cup before a ride or race and the gas station down the road from where ever I am is out fo coffee. This is for all the so called coffee coiniseurs(SP?) out there. Starbucks over roasts there beans. Period.
If you like burnt coffee, then thats your place. the other 99% of coffee houses seem to have gotten it right. I love the reply I get from the idiot is trying to convince themsleves and me, that the whole city of seattle cant be wrong...."No, it's just stronger, more potent, you have to develop a taste for it. Real coffe drinkers agree."
Hmmm. Ok. I hear chewing used matches is nice. Licking the occasional ashtray.
It's burnt.Idiot.
They can slurp their test beanage all they want and spit it back in their little test cup til the end of time. If Starbucks buyers and roasters would actually go to their store and drink a cup, then go to, god forbid, another coffee house, and drink a cup, they would realize, it's burnt.
You have the whole world of coffee roasters, coffee houses, and then you have Starbucks.
In fact, The original starbucks coffe didnt taste ANYTHING like it does now, so Im told. It was actually good.
The founder is doing something coffee related, a new coffee shop or something. Thats what I heard.
My addiction is jittery joes coffee. I go to the Jittery Joes in buford. Jason and Eric do a lot for cycling. More than the actual company if you ask me, and it's supposed to be a cycling company. Either way, they have a majician of a coffee roaster. Charley. He lives in athens, and I met him once. Nice, kind of wierd, would fit right in with all of my friends. He's "the time to make the donuts" guy for coffee. Only a lot thinner, and kind of hippyish. I think he lives in the roaster. Kind of like Golum....."My precious.....my coffeeeeee"
Who cares, keep roasting that shit perfect Chuck mah boy, perfect.
Gonna go hit yargo, ride for a couple hours. Meet Flatfender there, and MAttycakes maybe. Do some "TRansiton", that's like base, sucky. I just want to ride my bike. Fast.
Who cares. Got a lot done at work, I did like a billion on the spots. Got a wheelset built, got to do one more today. Finish some tune ups. Also, got to finish some fork rebuilds. Lot to do. Code red made the mistake of going into work yesterday for a minute, which tunred into three hours....damn dude, dont go near the shop on your day off bro, you shold know better. In fact, stay off the roads that go near the shop. And sure as hell, turn your cell phone OFF!!!!
MAn, if we could charge like lawyers, that would be awesome, we would be making a lot more money, and pay rent on time!! What a concept.
I got permission to open an online store. My suppliers told me it's kosher as long as it istn abused, like some shops around here. So, we will have an ADDICIVE online store up and running soon. That way we can sell to anyone anywhere. Of course, we are gonna specialize in 29", Fixed and Single speed stuff. I think thats where our shop has been headed for a long time now. We dont stock too many bikes as it is. And we sure ashell cant compete with the other shops that sell there stuff way below retail. TO top it all off, I think OUTBACK bikes is opening a shop up near us. Peter's a good guy, I just dont think the area can support another shop. I mean, we jsut dont have the population in these parts.
Code red suggested we move south anyway...who knows. We'll see. Lifes and adventure right?
I need to remember to bring Flatfender a fixie rear wheel. He wants to give Offroad Fixie a try. Good luck, as far as I know, me, chapman, and maybe two other guys are stupid enough to ride offroad fixie aroung here, welcome to the club dumbass. Hope you have a good HMO.
My youngest, The Hannah, wrote a letter to Santa, my wife intercepted it. It was so funny to read. She's almost Ten, and the last question in the letter was..."PS, Do you really give coal to bad kids?"
Thats the funniest shit I Have read in a while. Also, she had a bunch really sincere requests that make you aware that you raised your kids right. 10% of the letter was for her, 90% of the letter was for other people.
Were doing ok with our two kids. Theyre turning out alright, despite how much I try and screw it up.
Sarah baked another cake yesterday, Im never gonna lose wieght this way. She needs to find another hobby. One thats better for ME. Maybe I can get her hooked on gambling or something....anything but this cooking thing...ugh.
Later
Hodge
Dec. 11th, 2007
10:32 am
I cant say, that joke wont go over in my house, Deb would modify it and tell it like this...
"I dont know honey, probably the same thing you tell a no good, balding, comedian husband, only he would have a busted nose as well."
So I dont tell blonde jokes in my house. She did get a kick outta the "School bus full of catholic school girls" one, that was freakin hilarious.
Yesterday I didnt ride at all, I just ate, worked, ate, came home, ate, took the kids to the bball game, ate...and all this time was getting fatter by the minute.
I must say though, parents ruin kids sporting events. fact. Parents are assholes, who live through there children and try to make up for their own failures in life by taking over their childrens fun stuff. True. I dont think there is ANY reason an adult should yell out in a game anything negative towards the other team,other player, other parents, or other anything. If the other team scores a shot, you should clap either way. They're kids, they are trying hard, and thats what counts.
Tonight I get to ride. As long as my mom can watch the kids. Deb has to work, which I wasnt counting on. Code red had yesterday off, and today and tomorrow. I forgot why. Im getting a lot done at the shop, Kryan was left with two things to do, hope he did em.
Ive had some parts to build my rear wheel for the Vassago but havent had the time, I have to do Paul Dardens wheels set, and a customer named scott to do first. Then I have Rusties shok to rebuild as well as Bob's. Finish up The Odea's roadbikes, Finish a lefty, Box and ship Code Reds old Cdale team bike...sheesh.
I have to put a new roof on the house when we get our tax refund, IF we get our tax refund. can I get a refund if I dont make anything??? I dont think so. Ahhh the joys of owning a business. I need to find that "Book of Joys" I keep hearing about, Im told that the joy of owning your own business is in between the "joy of getting paroled" and "Joy of Catching your spouce cheating"....sounds like a fun read.
I smell coffee, coffee that I made, as usual, because my wife hates me and just refuses to make coffee for me when she gets home from work at whatever o'clock in the am.
Im having a conversation with my wife as I type away. Seriously, If I could kick her ass I would. Here is a funny story, funny for her or you, not funny to me.
First, a little background on my wife. Aside form the fact that shes mean as a snake and hates me. She's the youngest kid of a bazillion...or maybe 6, who cares, anyway, she is the only girl. "aaaaah" you say, "now I get it" you say....dont Feel bad for HER, Feel bad for ME!!! good.
Many many moons ago, we were ruffhousing. We do that, I smack in her in the booty real hard, which she loves, even though she tells me she hates it. Then she'll punch me, and so on and so forth. Well, She got cocky and actually thought she was gonna whip my ass. So, I ducked a couple lefts and a right, and reached out and caught her wrists. I was pretty happy about that. Straight up bruce leroy, I would have made my ninja master very proud if he was real and not from a comic b