Just Thinking

http://www.ted.com/talks/james_howard_kunstler_dissects_suburbia.html Would be nice if the city council members of Richmond would watch this. Richmond would have a nice downtown area if they could clean it up and reinvent it. Oakland could do the same thing.

Personally I'm still ticked at CalTrans for not putting a bike path on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. The bike path was said to be a go, but when CalTrans completed work on the bridge no bike path. Would be nice to ride into Marin County this way instead of taking BART to San Francisco and then riding across the Golden Gate Bridge to go to Marin County.

My Top 10 for Now:

1. #1 Crush-Garbage

2. Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound-Hank Williams Jr.

3. He Stopped Loving Her Today-George Jones

4. Apache Moon-Noko

5. He's Just In Love With The Beat-Akina Nakamori

6. Blue Jeans-Chocolate Milk

7. Let's Work-Prince

8. Freaks In Uniforms-HorrorPops

9. This Time-Whispers

10. The Distance Between You and Me-Dwight Yoakam

Confessions of a Rx Drug Pusher - Gwen Olsen

Riding

I have come to the conclusion that I cannot go on a bike ride with anyone. Seems like I ride too slow for some and too fast for others. I don't usually plan my routes. I don't usually know where I'm going until I hop on my bike and see how I feel. I like to ride a casual pace and to stop and take a picture if I see a good shot. I like to stop and rest at a place that I think is a great rest spot, who knows how long I might stay. Sometimes a bike ride turns into a short ride. My time, my way. Yeah I won't find anyone to ride with.

I like it better when it rains when I'm at work. Rain on my days off just throws things off. I really don't enjoy bike riding in the rain, though I might do it. Most of the times it turns into a gym day and catching up on some reading. Really hate being trapped inside. Never understood how someone could sit inside the house all day.

Sometimes I think it would be nice to have a bike for my moods. But that is not going to happen with limited space. If I had the money I could rent a storage shed and keep my bikes in there, but I don't like the idea of going to the shed to exchange bikes. So my Cannondale Quick has knobbie tires that can handle road and dirt. I also have my Brompton for rides that involves BART and riding in San Francisco.

My Top 10 for Now:

1. Love Will Find A Way-Oran "Juice" Jones

2. I'll Play the Blues for You (parts 1 & 2)-Albert King

3. Let's Get Radical-Gogol Bordello

4. Still The One-Headpins

5. Slave To The Grind-Skid Row

6. You Can't Bring Me Down-Suicidal Tendencies

7. Bloodbath In Paradise-Ozzy Osbourne

8. Cuite Pie-One Way

9. Sentimental Ol' You-Charly McClain

10. Ghost Love Score-Nightwish

Escapism

People have their way to escape from the routine of life. Life at times can be a pain in the ass. We go through and hope we over come and enjoy the fun that life has to offer.

Some people escape through alcohol or drugs and sometimes it just makes things worse. 

Some people escape through sports. They live through the teams they follow. Life not going so well, but at least their team is winning. Hopefully the team doesn't suck, because nothing is worse than watching a favorite team losing while one's life is the pits.

Some people use religion to escape. Yeah life sucks, but in the end everything will be okay. 

I escape through books or bike riding. I like when I ride on an empty quiet road. Love listening to the birds, cows and frogs. The thoughts that run through my head can be entertaining. Sometimes I wonder where they come from. I'm not purposefully thinking the the thoughts. Sometimes I think nothing. Weird having that short period where nothing is going through my mind. Just quiet. Until I realize I'm not thinking anything and start thinking. Bike riding is the best meditation I can think of.

I got off the sports bandwagon and now I cheer myself on when I'm climbing a hill I have no business being on. But I slowly pedal on and before I realize it I'm at the top. No I don't start my race down hill. I stop, have a sip of water, and enjoy the view. I earned it, why not savor it? Then I race down hill.

I always carry a book or my kindle. Never know when I find a nice quiet spot that whispers, "Come take a break here." Nothing like resting and enjoying a book. 

My favorite place to stop is Peet's for my jasmine green tea. I like to relax and enjoy the classical music. That is what I like about Peet's they play classical music. The only thing that Peet's lacks is something good to eat. Really don't feel like eating cookies. Best time to hit Peet's is in the morning when they have the breakfast stuff out.

My Top 10 for the minute:

1. Hell And High Water-T. Graham Brown

2. Stepping Stone-Duffy

3. I Was Made To Love Her-Bar-Kays

4. Boogie Man-Lee Press-On and the Nails

5. Time After Time-Cyndi Lauper

6. Here In The Real World-Alan Jackson

7. Come As You Are-Nirvana

8. Out On A Limb-Teena Marie

9. My Prayer-The Platters

10.  Jungle Love-The Time

Add inline skate wheels to Apple Jack. It does roll better now with the bigger wheels.

It is February and the San Francisco Bay Area is having spring like weather. It would better if I didn't catch a spring like cold. Living on the Nyquil.

I should have gotten a Brompton years ago. Especially when I was taking my bike on BART to get to work in Fremont. Would have made my life easier. But I wasn't even considering a folding bike back then.

Tip: don't throw away expired drivers license or health ins card. If the info is still accurate keep it for cycling baggie/jersey pocket.

My Top 10 for Now:

1. All By Myself: Johnny Burnette

2. Black Cadillac-Joyce Green

3. Rockin' In the Congo-Hank Thompson

4. Oooby Dooby-Roy Orbison

5. Lost To A Geisha Girl-Skeeter Davis

6. I'm Yesterday's Girl-Goldie Hill

7. I Really Don't Want To Know-Eddy Arnold

8. Flip Flop Mama-Eddie Band and The Stompers

9. Rock 'N' Roll Ruby-Warren Smith

10. Bottle To The Baby-Charlie Feathers

Brompton Fun

Not going to break any speed records on the Brompton. But the Brompton getting on the bike at the spur of the moment and enjoying the sights. It is so nice to have it in the car and ready to go at anytime.

I guess I attract the smart asses. A guy on his road bike built for speed told me to get rid of the clownut bike and get a real bike. I was able to yell back that, "I have a real bike." But the three bicyclist made my day when they told me nice bike.

Once I got use to the sixteen inch wheels I forgot about being on a folding bike. The ride is great and fun. Best thing is folding it up and taking it with me into an establishment. Yep no bike lock. All I can say is enjoy the ride.

My Top 10 at the Minute:

1. My Name Is Bocephus-Hank Williams, Jr.

2. Tally Ho-Jr. Walker and the All Stars

3. Stranger-Lili Haydn

4. You Got Me Where You Want Me-Lazy Lester

5. Just A Touch Of Love-Slave

6. Talkin' Out The Side Of Your Neck-Cameo

7. Fame-Irene Cara

8. Heart of Glass-Blondie

9. Keep It Comin' Love-K.C. & The Sunshine Band

10. I'll Be Standing By-Gladys Knight & The Pips