Have I ever mentioned that I went to St. John's?

In the areas of intellect, government, arts, sports, those of us from the shores of Lake Sagatagan are modern day Athenians.


http://citypages.com/bestof2006/outandabout/bestof2981.asp

If you brag, REALLY brag

Sometimes the anonymous eyes of the web glow in the dark....

So...I was looking through my page stats....kinda interesting. And creepy. It makes you wonder who would, and even why someone would google your name at 10:45 on a Tuesday night. Especially if they're in St. Paul. And if earlier in the afternoon some ghetto blaster didn't almost send you to meet Jebus with his pimped out Chrysler Concorde.

On a less creepy note my BMW motorcycle parts should arrive tomorrow. With any luck, sometime soon I'll be unsafe at any speed(more than I am now if possible).

The FLAMING LIPS are playing the MINNESOTA STATE FAIR.

Holy crap sweet Jesus!

http://www.parabellum.com/stores/showdetl.cfm?&DID=22&Product_ID=2&CATID=1

It's never too early to start thinking of spending money on my bike again. It must be spring.

My blogging buddies-

It's been so long. And I've missed you, but you never call.

But I figured I'd re-break the blogging bar seal and state my name, rank, and favorite cereal.

Big news:
1)I'm dating a girl again. She's nice, but a drama queen.
2)The Replacements reunited and recorded a couple of new songs. Dang. That means I'll have to buy the complete best-of disk they'll be on. Unless iTunes sells them individually.
3)I'm still playing piano, etc, and this summer I'll be playing with some jazz cats. Most likely piano, but I never get to play bass so I'm hoping for that.
4)Still. No. Car. Hate. People. On. Bus.
5)The bald spot is getting more noticeable. Pretty soon I'll have to use the Ron Popeil spray-on hair. Do they make it in shimmering red?
6)I've only listened to the first 5 tracks on the new Yeah Yeah Yeahs album, but I can say without a doubt I liked the first five tracks on their first album more.
7)I'm expanding to two cycling trips this summer-my regular Iowa trip in July, and the MS 150 ride in June.
8)It's only April and I'm wearing size 34 jeans! The bus sucks, but it at least keeps this bull too small to slaughter.
9)Still working for the state. Currently I'm writing online admissions software that allows potential students to apply to any of our MNSCU schools.

well, know you know what's up, and it's time for this fish, long thought extinct, to return to the deep murky brine.

Yesterday was the day where I question why I want to do this thing....Why would I want to ride my bike 500 miles.

Today I remembered why. The first town we rode into Spillville -this town was both home to a set of brothers that hand carved these incredible clocks and home(for a summer) to the great composer Dvorak. Plus, I ate a lot of pastries which helps.

Tomorrow is the last day and I'm glad.

Yesterday was a nice day-80 miles, about half of it with a tailwind, but I just got toasted.

You know you're sunburned when the zinc oxide cream you put on your ass ends up on your face to prevent more damage.

Today is a 74 mile day, I guess. I'm 17 miles into it.

I look SO dead sexy today.

My tan, taut body hurdled it's way across 62 miles today...and it was great. The temps are in the high 70s, it's sunny, and I'm sleeping in a house.

Yesterday we stayed at the home of a person that built grain elevators and silos. An interesting process.

Tonight I'm trying to rustle up some drunken debauchery.

If I do this next year I need to do it with someone that can really amp it up. I've kinda had enough of riding with a bunch of strange 40-60 year olds.

I'm kinda taking it easy today-It's noon and I'm only 30 miles into it.

Last night was exciting-we had 50-60 mph straightline winds with torrential rain in camp last night. I would have went inside, but if I wasn't in my tent I would have lost it and about half of my gear.

This might be my last blog for a couple days-we might not have internet tonight or tomorrow. But so far so good.

I learned that I might not be able to log my progress tomorrow-Iowa Telecom, who provides free internet and phone services to RAGBRAI wasn't allowed in the overnight town tomorrow or the next day.

But I'll make a post if I can.

Well, the first day of the ride is over.

I've got my tent set up(we're in someone's backyard), I've eaten a spaghetti dinner(at the high school), and the heat index for the day got up to 104 degrees. And I clocked in 71 miles, with my average speed being 13.7 miles per hour.

Tomorrow is going to be around 82 miles but it's pretty flat(1100 feet of climb versus today's 1800) and we should have a tailwind. Hopefully.

I got in at Le Mars Iowa today at about 1:00pm. I bought a new pair of cycling shorts(spandex, the best fabric known to man) and about 15 strands of beads.

I wonder if the Juvenile Diabetes people would be appalled by what I'm planning to do with the beads.

Well. On Saturday, I leave for Iowa to participate in my fifth RAGBRAI. As always, I will not only ride, but blog my way across Iowa.

I will discuss the merits and characteristics of horse manure, cow manure, bird shit, and pig slop. Hint: Horses are by far the best.

I will discuss the condition of my knees.

I will discuss the endless pasta dinners I will consume.

Blah, Blah, Blah.

I leave tomorrow morning.

I hate making fun of kids. But when one is stupid enough to wear these glasses, when they're 16 years old, I call it open season.

I'm not even going to comment on the fucking stuffed owl on his shoulder.





Am I evil?

This appears to be a pretty low key weekend.

Friday night I went with some college friends to dinner and Apple Valley's 4th of July Festival...

Yesterday I volunteered at the Walker for their First Free Saturday program. It was outside in the Sculpture Garden this month and I just got toasted. My pale redhead complexion can't stand more than 20 minutes in direct sunlight and I was there for 5 hours. So when I got home at 5ish, I just went to bed. I woke up at 11pm, and decided to get a movie. I ended up getting "De-Lovely" and "Bright Young Things." I watched "De-Lovely" last night.

And I watched "Bright Young Things" today.

I was planning on going to the Taste of Minnesota to see Bob Mould but I don't want to get any more burned.

I think tonight I'll just stay home and play piano.