All Wet

Nature is uncontrollable.  I don't think I am breaking news to anyone.  Today reaffirmed this for me.  It rained for a bit, then after it was done raining it torrentially freaking down poured.  Luckily I was in the van, though.  I was dry until all of the riders mutinied against the terrible weather and decided to catch a ride in the van with me, which meant I had to load all 10 bikes on roof rack of the van.  In the pouring rain.  Awesome.  The best part was the gas station/pizza parlor/sandwich shop (all crammed into about 120 square feet) that would not let me in because I was too wet.  We were parked there and I was a previous customer as I had purchased some peanut butter M&Ms.  So, 15 miles of driving in my wet soaked clothes later I was finally able to dry off and feel civilized again.  Unfortunately there are not too many folks out at the stops we have been at and I have not been able to take that many pictures since it has been pouring rain.  Tomorrow looks to be much better and I will be on the bike so more tales from the road as well as pictures to come.

My Office

Sometimes work is work.  This is the view out of my "office" window for the day.  It is near impossible to have a bad day at this office.

The great thing about helping others enjoy their bike ride is that I must enjoy my bike ride as well.  Today it rained and it was a little chilly but eventually the rain gave way and eye protecting squints gave way to comfort bringing smiles.  The group is a normal size for this ride.  9 folks from all over the country and of varying backgrounds but all are agreeable and meal time is a flurry of stories covering everything from epic bike rides to raising children.

I don't have many stories but I do have pictures and there will be more to come.  I did have a crab roll and a clam cake for lunch.  I guess that is somewhat notable.  My brain is a little mushy, so I apologize for the poor writng and lack of story.  Tomorrow should be better.

Vacationland

It is officially Fall and I am in a place that I have never been this time of year.  Everyone who is not from California always complains that there are no seasons there.  That is true.  Being a California native for my entire life I have come to know that "seasons" is a nicer way of saying that the weather is dismal and undesirable for about 6 months each year.  I don't say this out of arrogance or malice, it is just science.  No one dies when sleeping outside in the horrible 50 degree lows of California in January yet there are appendages and lives lost each winter in areas that have "seasons."  I'm just saying.

Ok, now that I have pissed off all non-California dwellers let me offer an olive branch with my admission that the North East is absolutely beautiful in the Fall.  The colors, the weather, the general feel are all so unique and majestic that I can almost understand living through death inducing cold.  Almost.

For the next two weeks I will be supporting a group of fellow cyclists riding through Maine and New Hampshire. My office will be a breath taking backdrop of reds, oranges, and shades of other colors that nature decides to create and push to the fore only once a year.  There will be pictures and video to come, but for now I only have my words as we have been prepping the hotel to receive the riders and I have not had a chance to really snap many pictures.  I can include pictures of the hotel, but Hampton Inns don't vary much so, use your imagination.

Just Another Day

Scaring Matt

My Unemployed American Life

Ah Yes, the Outcome...

My day in court ended in a fine show of the California Judicial system.  The judge called up groups of five and in my group of five I was called upon third.  The first two in front of me were appearing for some fairly serious fines and were not very respectful of the judge.  I grinned a little inside, knowing that my infraction was not as bad as driving without insurance or running a red light, and the fact that I said "your honor" and was very polite, if I do say so myself.  I asked the judge if there was a way that I could plead not guilty, but not have to pay the fine since it was more than I could afford.  The way it works is, you pay the fine when you plead not guilty then when it goes to court if you win the case you are refunded the fine.  The judge smiled at me and said, "if you plead guilty I'll waive the fine."  Before he could finish his sentence I sang like a bird.  "Guilty as charged your honor," came out of my mouth so quick I surprised myself.  Sometimes things work out well.  Now if I can find out how to get out of my $60 parking ticket, hmmm...