Since Mike’s started using a bike on his commute to work, I thought it’d be nice if he had a smooth ride (and he was talking about a road bike anyway). So I resolved to finish working on that old 10-speed road-bike that’s been sitting against our patio wall. In the middle of re-greasing the rear hub assembly, Mike shouts over to me asking if I’d like to go donate blood with him. I figure sure, why not? I’ve got enough time before my class that I can finish working on the bike when we get home.

So we swing over to the blood bank. The usual questions on my military service since 1977 (from a nice lady who was a marathon cyclist) and they had me up on the chair waiting. I’m just hanging out so look over at Mike in the next chair grimacing. Turns the lady drawing from him put the needle in too deep, skewered the vein, and found muscle (ouch!). My lady, on the other hand, was the picture of deftness. A nurse for seven years, she knew what she was doing ^_^ . Didn’t feel a thing when she pulled the needle out. Then the usual instructions on no exercise or heavy lifting for 24hrs, drink plenty of fluids…blah blah blah.

Get home, finish working on my bike, and cycle over to class only marginally late. Hehe…wasn’t until I was half way to class I realized I was drinking coffee before I left (something that dehydrates was probably not the fluid they were talking about). Cycle back home, relax for a while, then start one dinner for myself, Mike, and Mom (flipping around an iron pan filled with potatoes, onions, and sauce for 30 min can’t possibly be heavy lifting, right?). And after diner a nice bike ride around SCU with Lisa (hardly exercise, I promise ^_^ ).

Fun couple of days.

Yesterday Mike and I (with V-dawg’s help, natch ) changed the brake’s and rotors on the Stratus. That evening about two-thirds of the Manchester and Park houses had a night of cartoons and games.

Today I was mistaken for a grad student twice. Is that what hair does? Makes you look older? Or just more downtrodden? Commuted up to Palo Alto for Foothill’s Intermediate Chinese three course and to hook up with some of the gang for Maria’s birthday (oh! Maria! Maria!). Went out for Thai. Ooh….so good and so spicy ^_^” . Fell asleep on the bus commuting back down, but woke up in time to hop off at Monroe.

Props to Mike for shrugging off the burden of automotive transportation! Today was his first day (of many, I hope) as a bike-and-train commuter. We’re going to try to hit up some bike swap-meet this Sunday and find him a truly fly ride (hopefully with spokes with clickity-clacks ).

Did I have time to stop today? Yes…but precious little. Most relaxing moment of the day: sitting outside of a Marin cafe with some friends sipping an amazing espresso between bites of a wonderful sandwich of grilled zucchini and mushrooms on focaccia. Eyes closed, bay breeze, sun….oooh, baby was it sweet.

Awake at 6. Phone, shower, dress, breakfast, commute to SF, drive to the Marin Civic Center with Pres and Pat (meeting Pat’s friend Pat ^^ ). Saw the building, the architecture, some of Wright’s sketches, took a bunch of pictures. Then off to Sausalito for brunch. Coffee and sandwich *swoon*. Then a rush back to the caltrain station so I could hope to make the 2:07 train to Santa Clara so I could make my 3:40 class. Didn’t quite make it.

Long-man, mench that he is, drove me down home to Manchester. Cooled our heels a bit then I was off to class. Took a bit of a spill corning too quickly to make a bike parking space and landed on my cell phone. Still usable, but I cracked the display. Got the insurance though so it’s all good (assuming Cingular isn’t going to be a bitch about it).

After class I rode around for a little while. Took some pictures from the Arts and Science building for my Views from SCU series. At 8 the JSU was meeting with the Multi-Cultural Center (MCC) to discuss the JSU joining. Their big pothole is the JSU as a religious-minded club as opposed to a cultural organization. Between Katie’s list of cultural events and my rants on latkes I think we sold them (though we were grilled for about an hour). We’ll see.

After the presentation I went back to Katie’s place for her sader on this, the second night of pesach. Last night we had an amazing family dinner. Tonight, I learned how to make boiled potatoes, Russian style, from Katie’s Michael and Jason, bless his afro’ed heart, brought vegan wine to the sader. Some dinner, some wine, some bored games. Good way to unwind.

Now….I’m off to shower. Between the warm day, the cycling, an hour under the spotlight, Katie’s sauna of an apartment, and the ride home (part of it racing Jason’s car from my bike), I could REALLY use a shower.

I love it that it was bright and blue and sunny yesterday and this afternoon we’ve got nothing but clouds and rain and wind. Gorgeous. The rain and the wind made for good company as I pedaled to Trader Joe’s down Bascom. Currently, my legs aren’t as sore as my arms and shoulders. We’ll see if that changes tomorrow

I’m sure AJ would have strangled me for seeing what I was out with. Black pants, black jacket, black t-shirt, black hat, black shoes, black socks. The only thing that wasn’t black on me was my skin and my boxers (a dark blue, if you’re curious, though the rain that soaked through my slack no doubt darkened them more).

But I obeyed all the traffic laws and won the day!!!

Hurra!

Well it was bound to happen sooner or later. At about 6:30 this evening a pickup truck making a right turn onto Stevens Creek just before 280 bumped into me. I’M FINE. Bike’s fine, cell phone’s fine. I’m fine. Even had Mike check me out after I got home; certified fracture-less ^^ .

It was a dark intersection, the guy was looking too far left to see me, by the time his eyes were in front of him again so was I, evading left since I saw him pulling out when he shouldn’t have been. My right arm pushed off against his hood, I didn’t fall, the only thing to hit the ground was my cell phone and my feet.

He got out of his truck, gave me his business card and offered to pay for any damages, which were minimal.

Only thing that I walked away with, in addition to the card, was a neat story and the ability to say I was hit by a truck ^_^ .

On a more cheerful note, Mike and I made a bunch of money playing Texas Hold’em this afternoon at Garden City. I found out how great it is to be listening to my MP3 player and not the other players when I’m playing cards. My last hand I bled four other players who went to the river against my constant betting and pocket aces.

Got to meet Preston for lunch and will be getting together with some of the Old Guard for a friendly little home game.

Yep….a fun day and an interesting night with more to look foreword to.

Haha…got to spend about two hours on my bike today. Groceries from Trader Joes and A sandwich from Lee’s. Two hours. Fun Fun Fun ^_^

Well…I managed to be utterly brilliant and take the rear rim of my Magna out of true when I went up a particularly large curb yesterday so now it’s got a bit of a wobble. I’ve done what I can to get it ride-able again (and ride-able it is), but I’ll be taking it to the cycle shop across the street when they open on Tuesday and getting it professionally trued. Only $16….probably worth it.

*sigh* back to the thesis…shortly

I love the things I notice when I’m on my bike. I was at the intersection of Benton and Lafayette (on one corner of the university) and on one side of the corner I could smell dank, on the other, laundry detergent.

Oh you college kids and your wild Friday parties. ^_^

So much fun (pain) on my bike today.

After classes and some paperwork stuff at SCU, Frank and I went up to Fremont Older, he to hike, myself to bike. It was hard as heck for me to get up those steep hills. I’m sure tomorrow I’ll have some new muscles giving me grief. I couldn’t make it nearly as far as Frank and I had to turn around before I wold have liked.

What I did do, though, was bike from Fremont Older, down De Anza, left on Stevens Creek to De Anza College. Across from where I met my buddy Preston. Pres and I went out to have a nice early dinner with our friend Pat. Frank picked me up from the restaurant to grab Yuriy and his car from the ER (don’t worry, he’s fine, ladies). Frank took me back to my bike which was at about 85 and Stevens Creek. I had been planning on strapping it back onto the bike rack and driving it back with Frank but something told me I hadn’t suffered enough for a day.

So I get my bike, gloves, jacket, and head out. Shot straight down Stevens Creek from 85, under 280, past the car dealerships, past Santana Row and the mall, over 880/17, left on Bascom, under the 880 ramp, and finally to HOME!

8 miles. 40 minutes.

Loving it!

…….I need a shower

Found out that the ride to the local Home Depot isn’t nearly as difficult as I was anticipating. What mostly sucked was the underpass on Lafayette. It was fun going down, but the traffic and complete lack of bike lane made me a bit nervous. Next time I’ll find a way to get there with side streets perhaps.

Outside the home depot was another 21-speed mountain bike with full suspension, but in sexy black with front disk brakes. I got the tool I needed and on the my way out ran into the owner of the other bike. We chatted a bit while getting our locks off and gloves on. Good times.

Got my hike with Frank tomorrow…planning on bringing my bike up the trail….oooh yeah.