Work Trips and Tripping Gamblers

Monday was another one of those 15 to 1 ratio days, except the client was late and we only met for 45 minutes. Nice. It is always interesting going to the SF airport. What a great place to people watch, travelers struggling to lug their oversized carry-ons and micro-suit cases.

There is always the usual victims, the frazzled coat and tie, hippy trustafarian on his way to Nepal, or whatever is the new cool place to go using grand-ma’s money. The retired gamblers on their way to Las Vegas to play the nickel slots. Great place to see all the latest in high tech gadgets, everybody’s got a freakin lap-top and smart phone. People would rather watch DVD’s on their computer than simply read a book. That always amazes me, all the good books out there and you can’t wait to fire up the computer and watch Die-Hard for the 20th time.

Seeing how it is Turkey week, the airports are especially packed. Alberta, Chicago, Phoenix, Eugene, Salt Lake City, they all do it the Airport shuffle. It is amazing how people can be so tan in November, and I don’t think I have ever seen so many little dogs in little dog carrying bags.

So many people, smiling, scowling, tired, little kids cruzing with their bags looking around at all the newness there is to see. Old men, black socks and sandals, college kids on their way home, short shorts and Ugg Boots.

Enough of that airport fun.......

Last Saturday I hooked up with Dan, Mike and Jim to catch the 5:30 morning ride. Put in three plus hours and be home for Soccer. I suggested 211 to Spring Valley and then home. Sounds good. I love 211, what a nice ride. A snaking little back road with minimal traffic, some climbs but nothing that will destroy ya. Mike and Jim had to turn around and be back by 8. Dan and I roll along and we get passed by a dude in a silver 1984 BMW and he waves with a gracious grin. How are you doooing. We ride on chatting as we spin the 25 up the steepest part of the climb, chatting, smiling, taking in the sunrise and feeling lucky to be out. Really, that is an important thing to think about, we are lucky to be out. With all that life deals you and other responsibilities it is such a luxury to have free time to ride.

We continue on and I tell Dan about how every time I ride this road somebody stops to ask me directions to the local Indian Racheria and Casino. You see Table Mountain Rancheria opened up a casino near Millerton Lake about 15 miles out of town years ago and it has become quite a monster. You can roll past there any morning of the week at 7:00 am and the lot will be packed. It amazes me still that people would want to spend their time doing that. Oh well, I won’t get on that soap box. The endless traffic that rolls past on Friant and Auberry probably think the same thing about me.

“Why in the Hell would you want to ride you bike all the way out here? Put some freakin clothes on you spandex wearing fag, get off the freaking road!!!” As the bags of fast food trash and cigarette buts are ejected out the sun roof.

Anyway, it always happens, they come off the 99 to the 145 miss the right hand turn that takes you down to Friant and end up in nowwheresville with a pocket full of cash and no place to lose it.

“Yeah Dan happens every time”
“Really”
“No doubt”

Just then the dude in the 1984 Beamer, comes rippin around the corner, slams on his brakes rolls down the window. In broken English…”Hey, yous guys know where the Casino Table is?” Stalls the car.

Dan can’t control himself and has to roll away to keep from laughing in the guys face.

“I am really lost huh?”

‘Yeah Man…..You are”

So I give the dude some directions and he is off to lose his rent money.

Who will it be next time?

Holidays….

I have one more thing to add…….Went to the mall to get the chillins some new shoes.

I hate the freakin Mall…….

Sight to behold

So, yesterday was my Birthday. I turned 35.

Don't really look into numbers so I can't really find any significance in 35. 5 tell 40, half past 30. Went for a 3-hour ride with 17 guys from the team. I was quite a nice size group. We just keep on growing ya'll, don't know what to say....Cool.



Got a few nice gifts from the fam and went to a very nice Dinner at Vini, Vidi, Vici down in the tower. Finn scored 4 goals in his soccer game. But the coolest thing of the day was this.



There she is on the bike....riding. Lovely!!

She Walks

Tracy got the Green light to ditch the crutches whenever she wants. Actually Dr Lindval said two more weeks with one crutch then .....crutches go bye bye. When he said it I was thinking two more weeks, F*%K that. But he went on and clarified, no, use them if you need them, don't want you to walk around limping.....feel it out.......test the muscles, cause girl...its going be a bit painful and stuff.

So, That was Monday and slowly this week they are going away. Nice, but she has had to deal with pain. Her muscles are sore from PT and her foot hurts. I guess three months with no pressure, then bang.....to have the ground pushing up on your foot would cause some uncomfortableness. Weird thing was, she went to her first PT session and rode the recumbent stationary bike, got a little sweat going. She said it felt really GOOD BABY.

That was Tuesday, on Wednesday she took a nose dive and had a horrible day. Discussed it with her homoeopathic chiro-doc-vitamin-herb-guru-dude and he tells her to take it slow, that after that long a period of time without any lactic acid in the system, then bang a big dose, it can send your mind for a loop. Depression, exhaustion.......He was right she felt it the next day, one of the worst days she has had in a long time. But once she heard from someone in the know that that is what was going on ...the fog lifted and she felt better knowing it was a chemical thing.

It is so great to see her smile and watch her walk a little. No crutches to get in the way of hugs. We will have to do something with those things. Suggestions Anyone?

Happy Belated Holloween!!!