Having a tooth extracted is no fun. But it makes me appreciate good health insurance. BTW, if you get a "Dry Socket", make sure you:

1) Get painkillers

2) Get antibiotics

3) Don't make any frigging plans.

Happy New Year all you fat bastards! This is OBVIOUSLY the reason why as HARD as I work out, the facts that remain are:

1) I am 40

2) I cannot eat like I would at 20

3) If I hear another 20 year old tell me "Its EASY to lose weight" I am kicking them in the nuts.

Nuff said!

Ok heres how my life has gone. I lost something like 20 lbs Bicycling. Had a good summer, so figured it was time to get a motorcycle. after all, I need something that gets goood mileage for my 100 mile round trip St cloud business trips...Right? RIGGGHHHTTTT! Good excuse to buy a bike I say. Anywa, I was taking my 2nd test run on this thing. Was going to take it to a mechanic to get it checked out, and Lo and behold, I tipped it over, and in the process of trying to right it, fell over with it.

I didn't hurt...Until I tried to get up. Then I proceeded to pass out, woke up in...You guessed it...AN AMBULANCE.

Diagnosis: Torn Hamstring and adducter muscle. Prognosis: Out for 1 month, then light weight bearing. It happened the end of august, and I am now bicycling again, albeit 15 LBS heavier.

DAMMIT!

BUT..I did buy the Motorcycle, and speajing of which, its time for a ride!

My New Toy

Bike Log

Mileage-18.36

Temperature-99

Time: 1 Hour 15 Minutes

It was HOT today, so I took it easy. Got a little sick at the 3/4 way point, so I took a time out, and drank fluids-Headache and palpatations went away, an was able to continue.

Observations:

1) I LOVE it when I yell "passing' to pass someone and they point of wave. Because of IPODS, which YES I own one (But don't wear out on the road because I NNED to hear cars/DOGS/People) It helps when my warnings are acknowledged!

2) Old people need to get off the goddamned road if they are too impaired by old age or other maladies to drive. One almost caused SEVERAL accidents today.

3) Never bomb a hill on a city street unless you are willing to get hit. Use your brakes, and save the bombing for the parkways. (See the "old Person" reference above. I was bombing a hill when the old fart almost killed me)

Bike log:

7/14/06-

Temperature: 95 Degrees
Mileage: 18.42 miles
Time: 1 Hour 9 Minutes
Average Speed: 16 MPH
Total Miles since Bike Purchased: 3,428.10
Miles to date this season: 1,428

People I had to yell at because they were going the wrong damn way on the bike Path: 3

Update: Shes OK

I just ned to be more patient. Dude called and she DID have some dental work that needs to be done, needed a few stitches cuase the teeth went through the lip, and was shaken up, but the X-rays came out ok.

She was lucky.

Alot of those accidents end up alot worse!

Since MY accident:

Number of Dumb-asses I had to yell at about Dogs off leash: 2

Number of Shit-for-brains I have to tell off for going the wrong way down the one way bike path: 4

Number of people i have to go yell RIGHT in their ear to let them know I am passing due to them having their GODDAMNED Ipods up too high: Too frigging many to count.

Is Amanda OK?

Well, here's another reason to wear a helmet. I was on the bike trail, and I came up on a pretty girl who went over the bars. Her teeth in the front were gone, but we didn't tell her. She in shock, and we called an ambulance. The whole Fire Department came. Get this-She was VISITING from St Louis, and her and her Boyfriend got seperated from each other, so she was looking for him.

Me and about 4 others spent the next hour looking for this guy. Never found him. We had his cell number, but the Guy hasn't called back yet!

Now I am bummed out!

Oh well!

I hope Amanda is ok!

Safety Tips to help you ensure a safe Bike ride:

1) Slow down around blind corners-This will ensure that some idiot weekend tourist won't end your ride abruptly!
2) If you are going to let a pedestrian cross the bike path, make sure you signal a stop so the bikers behind you don't pass you and hit the peds! (I am speaking from experience here)
3) Make sure you yell at idiots who have their dogs off leashes. Hurt their feelings. It's ok. You are doing all of you a favour!

More to come!

As if people can't get any stupider:

I got back on the "horse" tonight, and did 30, but on he wat home in the dark, I pass a guy with get this....On a bike...Talking ON A CELL PHONE with 2 fishing poles with hooks a swinging!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know you are wondering what I said:

"Listen Dude...You are gonna KILL someone with THAT rig, and I don't want it to be me. Get OFF the damn phone and STOW those fucking hooks before someone gets hurt!"

It was cathartic!

I fixed the link to the "Tribute to a Serious Inline skater".

http://twolf1920.blogspot.com/2006/03/tribute-to-serious-inline-skating.html

Read the 2 previous Posts, then link to this one!

As for my previous post on "The Duality of a Bicyclist" I have made a modification to my attitude:

If someone by either direct action or the LACK thereof puts me, themselves, or their PETS in danger, I shall tell them LOUDLY where their fault lies. If that hurts their precious feelings I don't give a rats ass, nor will I care one whit.

I do however have some bactine for thier fucking feelings! I figure their feelings don't make help my headache that hasn't gone away for 3 days, nor do they pay my doctor or bike repair bills.

NUFF SAID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://twolf1920.blogspot.com/2006/03/tribute-to-serious-inline-skating.html


There is a reason this link is here. Please go back and read it. I am a FORTUNATE bastard as I have survived an accident that should have killed me.

Heres the lowdown:

Monday eve, I was biking down my usual path. No wind. I was FLYING, and very happy to be doing so. I was 1/4 mile away from my house when I happened upon the park that the path leads me by, and there were people with dogs WITHOUT LEASHES ON running around.

I saw them. I slowed down.

It didn't matter. A large pooch slid unmder my front wheel causing me to skid my backl wheel out. This in turn whipped my head into the blacktop...HARD. My helmet was destroyed-Cracked in 7 places and the band broke off in 3 places.

I was wearing my helmet. It saved my life, or at LEAST from eating food through a straw, and speaking gibberish while slobbering on the nurse that would be feeding me and changing my diapers for the rest of my life.

I have been having short term memory loss, and am having a hard time reacting to things quickly, not to mention a bad headache, and bruises all over, but I AM ALIVE, and basically coherant.

The reason I am wearing a helmet now was the recent and tragic death of Carl Comperoni at the Metrodome. (See the Above Link) I was there that day without a helmet on. I have worn one ever since.

Thanks Carl. Your death DID save one life. I will never forget it!

The duality of a Bicyclist

So I am doing my normal 20 mile run, and I have a set route I take. I KNOW where all the "danger Zones" are-IE Blind corners on the paths, Parkways where the motorists act like pricks, etc. Heres some situations where my "Duality" comes into play. Meaning my "Hardcore Bicylist" side, and my regular "Human" side.

My "hardcore Side" has very little patience. My "Human Side" has much more, but lately being that my time and $ are sacred, my "hardcore side" has been "coming out" much more than usual. Here are some examples:

I am approaching a blind corner in a narrow bike path corridor, so I slow down, because usually this is where accidents can happen fast. Sure enough, heres grandpa and grandma rounding the corner with big ol gramps barreling toward me. Heres what my human side would say:

"Whoops-Heads up there big guy! Be careful going around these corners. They are dangerous!"

Heres what Hardcore Biker DID say: :"Heads up! I said HEADS UP!!!!! Stay on your side Dammit! Thats how people get hurt!!!"

I suppose I could have been nicer right? Problem is, I know the route so well, and have at LEAST 2-5 Near misses each week, and its always some jokers on the wrong side that almost kills me. BUT

I forgot how many mistakes I made when I first started biking. I need to remember that not everyone is into it as much as I am!

Minnesota SUCKS sometimes!

Damned rain! What the hell? April SHOWERS NOT May Showers damn it!

Anyway, made 10 miles in one hour yesterday due to the fact that I lost my phone on the trail, and had to rush back to find it! The good news? The heart palpatations are getting less frequesnt. Losing 25 Pounds helps I am sure!

YESTERDAY:Another 17 miles-Previously did 5 miles on blades the day before, and 10 miles on the mountain bike on sunday...........I get heart palps about 30 minutes into it, then its touch and go the rest of the way. I have to stop and rest when it happens, but I try to work through them albeit MUCH slower. These damn (medical) tests better get done soon..........Been waiting for weeks!!!

Good GOD, I did 17 miles on the bicycle yesterday

What the hell was I thinking? I thought I was gonna DIE! I figured since I was BLADING for the past couple months, I could do it. Well I DID make it, but MAN was I tired. Shoulda done about HALF that I think! The 1st 60 degree day and EVERYBODY was out huffing on their bikes. So I take my cannondale in to get derviced-The big ring had warranty repairs and they also warranty repaired and relaced my clips. So I got new toe clips, new big tru-vativ crank ring, and innertube replaced FOR FREE. Gotta love Eriks Bike shop!!!

NORMAL! They say my Stress Test came out NORMAL, and this means just as you have a noise in a car engine that goes away when you take it into the mechanic, the tests will continue!

Watch the Monkey do tricks!!!

So they hooked me up to the holter monitor friday. I wore this thing, and OF COURSE just like a person who hears a noise in his car that goes away as soon as he takes it to the mechanic, I had very little palpataions occur!

Of course at bowling today, I had a pretty bad occurance. BOWLING! I said BOWLING!!!

NOT biking...NOT BLADING....

FIRGGING BOWLING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

God help me!

Next on the Discovery Channel: I go get my stress test at 7:30 AM Monday!

RIP RAY!

So whats going on this month man? This sucks! I get a phone call from a Insurance guy I work with, and he tells me that Ray, a gentleman I have done business with twice in the past 2 years has died. This hit home for one of many reasons, many too numerous to mention. I am glad that I went to the wake, and the funeral as it was a BEAUTIFUL tribute to a life cut short WAY too early. I hpe that when my time comes, I make HALF the impact that this man had on his friends and fam.

I was sad and morose over this all week.

Hey Heather and family! I am thinking about you!

http://www.legacy.com/TwinCities/Guestbook.asp?Page=GuestBook&PersonId=17171065