Bike Update!!

It's been awhile since I've updated. Work has been busy lately and I've just been to lazy when I get home. Meh. Anyway, I have been keeping up with the fixed gear project. For the most part the project is going really well. The wheels just came in today and I'm hoping to order the crankset/pedals/chain this week.

The only frustrating thing is that I bought a Schwinn frame. Schwinn is notorious for using odd sized parts. So its been really hard to find a decent stem (part that holds the handlebar to the frame) at a reasonable price.

In the picture above, my hand does a decent job, but I just don't think that setup will hold up on the road. Especially if I'm changing songs on my ipod and holding my cellphone with my hands... Anyhoo, I'll keep you updated.

After seeing the bike nearly assembled, I now understand the appeal of riding brake-less. The simple, clean form is really appealing. I've given some serious thought to going brake-less. And If I do I can be justified in buying this newer/cooler helmet ------->

OK, I probably will get some brakes, but I'm still getting this helmet. :)

DC Primary day aka Royal Rumble

Tuesday is primary election day in DC. Not to offend any of the people running, but the race everyone is concerned about is the Democratic mayoral primary. This one matches the incumbent Adrian "fleet feet" Fenty against councilman Vincent "Vinnie don't call me Vince" Gray. DC has enjoyed higher test scores, population growth and less violent crime under Fenty, but his techniques have come under fire. From his policy on firing teachers to his spats with the council, he's been pretty much viewed as a jerk (the people at his parents shoe store, Fleet Feet, are also jerks. Not that it has anything to do with the election, but I just wanted to mention it. I mean seriously, if you're not a marathoner they don't even look at you)

I haven't really paid too much attention in the past, but the consensus is that Gray has been a good councilman, but some question whether or not it will transition into being a good mayor. Despite Gray's qualities, this election seems to be about people that don't like Fenty. In recent weeks Fenty has appeared more humble, but it seems to be too little, too late. Gray is expected to win. Big. We shall see...

Sadly enough when I sat down to do my research for the races (the first time I ever did this for a local election) I realized that when I registered to vote back in the day I didn't choose a party affiliation so I will missing out on the Fenty-Gray battle royale :(. The election is essentially canceled for me.

Like all great stories there is a twist. There's no Republican candidate for mayor, so there's a real possiblity that if enough Republicans (there are about 7 of them in DC) write in Fenty, he could be back for the general election in November. Rematch! Rocky II anyone??

My Harrowing Q'doba Experience

For those of you that don't know I have an irrational fear of crowded/loud lunch places. I know, sounds lame, but I can't help it. So I'm pretty much to blame since I suggested Q'doba for lunch.

When we get there, I ordered the chicken quesadilla. Like I always do because I either can't read the board or am too busy talking/joking to pick up a menu. When I get to the front of the line a freeze and all I can say is "aaaaahhhh quesadilla".

For those who haven't been, Q'doba is kind of like Subway where you tell them what you want and you move down the assembly line, so they can add what you want to your order. This is what usually happens, unless you order something special, like a quesadilla.

I ordered and was instantly asked what I wanted. I knew what they were gonna ask(whether or not I wanted guacamole, salsa or sour cream), but because of the overall noise and the high-pitched, quick talking woman behind and the counter the question came out as "you want rataatat tomatatata!?!?". All I could answer was "Huh?" At this point the woman was clearly annoyed because my slowness had dissrupted the delicate balance that is the Q'doba assembly line. She asked again. This time I just said that I didn't want any sour cream. I don't like sour cream, and guacamole has no taste for me. It might as well be made from paper. I would have said no guacamole as well, but I would have looked like a freak if I just sat back down at the table with just a quesadilla and some tomatoes on my plate. It's all about looking cool. That's how I roll.

After this crucial decision is made, all you do is wait to get your food and pay. There are 2 registers. This is maybe the 3rd or 4th time I've eaten at this Q'doba, and each time I do this guy, who I guess is the manager tells me to move from the first register line which is moving along nicely to the second which always has some type of issue that holds it up. I think its where the new guy works. The like sending the difficult customers here.

After I pay, I stand waiting for my food. This place has been designed to get people in and out, not to stand around waiting for food, so my options for standing are by the exit door, next to the soda fountain, in front of the bathroom or I can be a creeper and stand next to someone's table. I chose creeper. To be fair, I tried the first 3 options first and after being bumped and given dirty looks for blocking someone's route, it was the only option. Passive aggressive stares don't hurt me.

So the woman with the food comes out and she's got two quesadillas. One with no sour cream and the other with no salsa. I go for the first one and before I know it some guy goes Kanye West on me and cuts me off to get it. There's one left now and the woman is looking at me like an idiot because she thinks i messed up the order and once again threw off the machine that is Q'doba. After I tell her what I want she goes to the back and returns with the plate. Good. Let's eat. When I sit down, it was just a quesadilla. No salsa, no guacamole, nothing. *sigh*

Moral of the story? Still thinking about that one.

Hurricane Earl Kinda Sucked

Hurricane Earl "hit" over the holiday weekend and I've gotta say that it was really over hyped. All we heard last week was how it was gonna hit, hard. It was all over the news, my parents called, it was a big deal. Then on Friday we got our part of it. It was overcast Friday morning. That was it. I know the coasts got some bad weather, but the reports were literally "the hurricane is gonna hit this morning and it's gonna be horrible, but your beach vacation will be ok later this afternoon". Ok I'm paraphrasing. Over hype report of the year for me.

And speaking of weathermen/reports, what was the deal with Al Roker on the Today Show? On Friday morning they had the standard "stick the guy in the storm to show the viewers that it's raining" segment. This one was weird though. It was stormy and everything, but the camerman was way off in the distance and behind some tall grass. It was almost like if huge wave came, NBC was ok with Al being swept away, but that was an HD camera, so keep it safe. It felt more like watching a security tape, than a news report.

Seriously though, I shouldn't make light of the hurricane. It caused some damage and power outages...

in Canada.

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

The Cardinals were in town this past weekend to play the Nationals, so like any displaced fan I went out to see them. It was a Thursday-Sunday series and I was able to get out for Friday and Saturday's games. Despite the cards winning in front on me Friday night, the series was a disaster. One game they blew a 9th inning lead another they lost by 9 and ended up losing 3 of games over the weekend.

Even though the weekend was a total fail on the field, I managed to have a few bright spots. First of all I caught a ball. I was kind of a brat before the game, so I made sure we got to the game at least an hour early to catch batting practice. We got there at the tail end of the Card's bp. We walked to the right field seats and no sooner than we get there, a ball is flying right at me. I caught it bare-handed. It was definitely one of my coolest moments ever. The section cheered me and some random dude came up and high fived me. Oh yeah.




The second thing I'd like to call out was the great atmosphere. It's not Yankee Stadium but, for a last place team the Nats sure know how to get fans out. Both nights awesome crowds especially for a team in dead last(see Major League 1 and 2). Although I'd to think it was because the cards were playing, it was really because of bobblehead night saturday and fireworks friday Whatever works I guess. Btw, we had awesome seats for cheap both nights. We actually used a 40% coupon that expired last summer. Go figure.



Its not the last thing I liked, but this post is getting long a you're busy people :). Anyway, the guy with the arrow on him was as extremely loud as he was southern. And it wasn't the fact that he had a southern accent that made him funny, but it was the fact his voice was the perfect combination of high pitch, twang and loudness mixed together. The beer man that he ordered from got all of these correct as he mocked while giving him his change. The whole encounter was funny and uncomfortable at the same time and last about 20 seconds too long. I guess you had to be there

My other job

Seen this commercial yet? Watch closely.




The other day at work someone told me that they thought they saw me in a commercial. They said it was one where "I" was dancing and there was cartoon in it. I played it off like I hadn't seen it. Then, my mom called and asked me if I had a pair of red pants. I asked her why and she replied that there was a guy dancing in a commercial that was wearing red pants and it had to be me. So... my secret is out. That is me, I own the red pants, and those are my awesome dance moves. Are there Emmy's for commercial actors??