This makes me smile.

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Where's the Snapple Bottle?

Stuck on hold with a cruise line about a cabin issue that's their fault. Now 50 minutes on the phone! And I really gotta pee!



OMG CRISIS!

These days there is much stress and sadness in my life. Not sure why.

Last night on the subway, I saw an ad for pubic hair dye. Somehow I think these things might be connected.

Top Ten Artists on my iTunes:
1. Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - 17 spins
2. M.I.A. - 14 spins
2. Spank Rock - 14 spins
4. Sigur Ros - 11 spins
5. Beirut - 9 spins
6. Bis - 8 spins
6. Amy Winehouse - 8 spins
6. Lambchop - 8 spins
6. Bettie Serveert - 8 spins
6. James Brown - 8 spins

Two free shows in NYC tomorrow:

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists

or

Brian Wilson

Which to choose?

Because I don't have actual weekends to speak of, I thought I would include Thursday through Monday. Why not?

With Max, my houseguest from France, in the house - Joe and I decided to take Max for a day in Coney Island. We got him Nathan's, we walked around the beach and chilled out with Beer and music on the beach, watching the Wonder Wheel and the Cyclone roll around and around.

He left later that evening after a tour through Brooklyn. And Joe and I went shopping at Trader Joe's. This is seriously an amazing place. I went to the one on 14th Street once and got scared off by the hipsters. But, there's always something good to find at the one in Queens and it's just 15 minutes from my spot.

I don't remember what happened Friday. I think work and not much else.

Saturday was my ride from hell. I didn't leave the apartment again until Sunday when I noticed that there was festivities for Bastille Day, which was actually yesterday. We went to catch the end of the Petanque tournament in Brooklyn and the french spot was mobbed, so we went down the street to a nice restaurant called Apt 138 on Smith Street. The dinner was good, but the Tomato Mozzarella salad was too much pesto all around. Still a really good meal and a nice recovery evening from Saturday's disappointment. But i didn't get the Merguez frites that I really wanted on Sunday at the Petanque tournament.

So last night after work, I went to Bar Tabac, on the corner of Smith and Dean in Park Slope. Had my Merguez/Frites and drank them out of Kronenbourg and had my first random bar conversations in years. Which was nice.

And that's what I did on my summer vacation!

Top Ten Artists listened to 7-6 to 7-13 on my computer.

1. Girl Talk - 15 spins
2. Gnarls Barkley - 13 spins
2. The Clash - 13 spins
4. Whale - 12 spins
5. Sigur Ros - 9 spins
6. M.I.A. - 7 spins
7. James Brown - 5 spins
8. Bettie Serveert - 4 spins
8. Parry Gripp - 4 spins
8. Lupe Fiasco - 4 spins

Yesterday: 48 Miles. Week: 81, Month 204

I tried to make a ride that would have been between 68 and 72 miles. I did not make it, having run out of gas completely at 40 miles and had to take the train back. I had to make some realizations. I will be unable to handle the AIDS ride. The route basically has three days in a row with distances over 75 miles, and then three difficult days in hills and mountains. No day will be under 60 miles.

Given that my distance riding seems to max out at 50 miles at a time, I just don't think that this is something that is really going to work. So this morning, I officially dropped out of the ride. And frankly, I'm kinda crushed by it.

I haven't wanted anything as badly as I wanted to do this. And it's just not going to be possible. I'm sorry.

Miles: 18, Week: 33 (26%), Month: 156 (31%)

I didn't want to get out of bed today. I didn't want to get on my bicycle. The first couple of miles hurt a little and didn't do so well. But about six miles in, I just started feeling good. Two miles from home, I didn't want to stop riding. I wouldn't have, if work wasn't standing in the way.

Tomorrow? Planning a loooong ride. Initial estimate for the mileage is 68 miles. You can see the map of it here

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=118430187400796596490.000451b743383b83c3bba&z=11

It's all in preparation for the Empire State AIDS Ride. I need to raise $3500 for this ride and I'm about half way there. Your donation will help put me over the top. If you can help I would be most obliged. Thanks to friends like Crystal and Matt and Cray, I've raised $260 this week. I'm looking to raise another $240 by the end of the weekend.

If you can help, please do! You can donate securely by clicking on this link: http://ESAR6.kintera.org/RexKickass

And thanks!

We have an unexpected houseguest from France. His name is Max.

I worry about being a good host sometimes. I showed up and he'd already ate. So we ate in front of him. Then we got him a little toasted and I passed out.

Miles: 15, This Week: 15 (12%), This Month: 138 (28%)

Yesterday, with imminent houseguests, there was no time to ride. I needed to bring my bicycle into the shop for a quick adjustment to the front end. After 200+ miles on the new bike, the front end got a little loose and I needed them to check it out and answer a couple other maintenance questions as well. I was tired this morning and a little dehydrated, so I cramped a little at first. Sometimes those first three miles are the hardest of a ride, because you don't want to be on the bike.

I went over the Williamsburg Bridge again, and being mid-morning on a weekday, it was pretty empty. As I get more used to my bike, the hills I ride are becoming more handleable. It's odd to think that four months ago, I had to walk my bike up half the span, now it's a question of speed going uphill and if I can maintain a decent pace. It still hurts, but it's a good hurt these days.

I'm doing this to train for the Empire State AIDS Ride, a 560 mile bike tour between Niagara Falls and New York City. This week is do-or-die fundraising week. I need to raise $500 this week to put me within a reasonable distance of my $3500 goal.

I have started strong with $185 raised this week. Any help you can provide would be great! I'm asking for friends to donate a flat fee of $30 per person. Clicking here allows you to donate online securely.

Thanks!

There shall be no ride today. Bike needs some maintenance and I have to take it in tomorrow morning, also I need to get a better shoe to protect my feet some. However, good news on the fundraising side.

This is "Do-Or-Die" Fundraising week. I need to raise $500 this week to get me close enough to my goal that I can comfortably feel like I will be able to get near my fundraising goal of $3500 to make this AIDS Ride happen.

So far this week, I have raised $185.00 (almost 40% of goal), which is a great start! But the truth is that I need your help to make this ride happen. The money I am raising is going to be split among five different charities, that help fight AIDS locally, in Africa and in the laboratory. Your help is greatly appreciated! Any donation you can provide would be wonderful. You can donate securely at my ride page, http://ESAR6.kintera.org/RexKickass

Thanks again for all your help.

As decided by my iTunes for the week ending July 6

1. Justice - 12 spins
2. Jurassic 5 - 11 spins
3. Amy Winehouse - 7 spins
4. MF Doom - 4 spins
4. Pharell - 4 spins
4. Jens Lekman - 4 spins
4. James Brown - 4 spins
8. Marlena Shaw & Diplo - 3 spins
8. The Sugarcubes - 3 spins
8. The Pixies - 3 spins

Miles: 25, This Week: 123 (98.4%), This Month: 123 (24.6%)

Riding is kinda awesome. It's fun to get out there and just ride sometimes. Was dreading today's ride for some reason. Can't really explain why. Just in a sour mood and the thought of getting on my bike didn't appeal. Yet, after a few hours of procrastination, I did what I had to do and got on and rode. I was originally planning on just two rounds in Prospect Park, instead of the 25 mile ride I really should have done, because I was being a Gloomy Gus. But, after a few miles, the blood got flowing and the energy turned positive. Two laps became three which became four. Each time on the hill, I got a little stronger too. Near the end of my lap, I pass a corner of the park called "Drummers Circle." Today there was a Drummers Circle too. Usually, I avoid them as new agey crunchy granola territory that I wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole. But, the spot was filled with East Africans which meant great polyrythm and it was quite a sight. 30-40 drummers at the scene. Made things neat.

As for the fundraising side of things, it is kind of approaching a critical mass situation. If I can't raise the minimum fundraising goal of $3500.00, I have to either make the difference up myself or I am not allowed to make the ride. I'm way behind on where I should be. I've raised nearly $1250 so far and getting pretty nervous that I'm going to find myself falling way short. I'm at the point where I need to make travel arrangements for myself and my bike to Niagara Falls. In order to believe that I have a shot at getting within a reasonable distance of my fundraising goal, I need to raise $500 by Saturday. If I can't do it by then - I'm going to have to drop out of this event. So I really need your help.

metaljunkie kicked the week off strong with a $35 donation. What can you give to help?
Click here to donate securely.
And thanks.

Dear New Jersey,

What we had was special. Four years is a long time to be together, and our times were special. But every time I see you now, it's better than the next. Every trip a bigger hassle, and frankly, you've changed. I know it was my idea to break up... but I'm worried. Maybe we just need some more space.

I'll always remember the homeless men who wanted to make out. And the long drives together on the Parkway late at night. But I think we might need some space.

Peace out,
sox

Miles Today: 50, This Week: 98 (78%), This Month 98 (20%)

After three tries, I finally got in my first 50 mile ride of the year. The first time, the heat kept me from it. The second time it was my knee. This time, with a new better bike, I was able to make it happen although it very nearly didnt get past the first mile. On Broadway, someone cut off two lanes of traffic and actually clipped my bike as it past. Fortunately, it only touched my brake lever, but it was still scary enough.

My route consisted of heading down Broadway to the Williamsburg and over that, up Avenue B to 14th St. 14th St crosstown to the Hudson Greenway and all the way up to Inwood and back down to 54th, where I detour into Central Park for a lap around the park. Back to the green way, around the Southern tip of Manhattan and up the East River to the Williamsburg and back home via Broadway.

Felt great for 85% of the ride. Really started to wear down on the Williamsburg though heading back. Had to stop for a minute because I thought I was gonna throw up. I did learn a couple things though. I need better shoes. And I need to stretch more. Tomorrow is a recovery day, Sunday is another ride day, I think I'll be looking at like a 30-35 mile range with a start to planning for a 60 mile ride on Thursday.

I'm training for the Empire State AIDS Ride this August. I'll be riding 560 miles from Niagara Falls to Manhattan and I need your help to make it happen. This summer I am looking for 100 friends to donate $30 so that together we can fight and end HIV/AIDS in our life time. Thanks to friends like yelang, I only need to find 74 more people to step in and help out. Can you be one of those people? If you can, you can donate securely on my ride website, just click here.

Miles: 18, Week: 48 (38%), Month: 48 (10%)

Today was a bit of a let down. Was a little groggy getting on the bike, a bit underhydrated, led to some cramping and slowed me down enough that I didn't have time or the will to make a third lap happen on Prospect Park's loop.

I love that park. I hate riding laps. There's a hill on Prospect Park's loop that I should be able to handle fairly easily. I handle a worse hill coming back from the park with no problem, and the Williamsburg Bridge is steeper and longer too. But I can't seem to handle this particular hill. I think it's because I know its coming and I dread it so much that I overthink and underdeliver on it. The plus side is that I officially broke 30 mph on my bike for the first time, hitting a max speed of 31 mph on the downhill side of my second lap.

There's a block on Franklin that smelled like curry for a while, then cinammon, and then yesterday dill. Today, I turned my head at the right time and noticed that there's a spice warehouse right there. So now I know why. I've done this ride about a dozen times or so, yet I seem to discover new things on it almost every time.

Blah blah blah, Empire State AIDS Ride. Blah, blah, blah, help me raise money. Blah blah blah, donate here.

Miles: 17, Week: 30 (20%), Month: 30 (6%)

Today I ran out to Prospect Park and did laps. Nothing really unusual. Some cramping from my right quad and a little knee strain as a result. However, now that I have my computer, I have noticed a couple things that are good. My speed is increasing significantly. Including 10 miles of street riding and red lights and all, my average speed was just under 13 miles per hour. Don't really have a lot to say about the ride, it was a good ride and I feel good and all in all it was good.

I'm doing this to train for the Empire State AIDS Ride. And I could use your help to make it happen! You can donate securely at my website, just click here.

As heard on my iTunes through 6/29.

1. Sade - 11 spins
2. Dengue Fever - 10 spins
3. Gnarls Barkley - 9 spins
3. Cold War Kids - 9 spins
5. The Breeders - 6 spins
5. James Brown - 6 spins
7. Sigur Ros - 5 spins
7. Bjork - 5 spins
9. Jens Lekman - 4 spins
9. Bis - 4 spins