Last Day of the First Month of 2009

Greetings Readers

I did stop by and see the Qdoba girl, but you Readers I will have to tell I only went for the sakes of going. I made the first move and I waiting in the beginning for a response, but nothing has happened since December.

No biggie. Life has gone on and believe me Readers there are a lot of women out there. Anyway, the hair was kind of teased up and that's about all I can say. She was working the register, but other than that I was all business.

I already knew that I was going to take my dinner to go. With that in mind I decided to be the customer and not be the talkative person that she knows. I am not embarrassed about being there after the Christmas Card incident. Hell, as I stated before I was there first and I do not planning on going to another Qdoba's farther away. I liked this place since it is a hop and a skip away from my humble abode.

I think I made eye contact a few times, but other than that I made no small talk. She asked her customary "How are you doing tonight?" and I replied "I am doing good." And I made no question to ask her anything else. I did see a nice ring on the left hand, but then again I am not sure if I saw that ring before. Never-the-less, that is a moot thing since I am not really trying for something with the Qdoba girl anymore.

In closing, the few moments I did see her I really did not see her.

Changing subjects - I never did show you Readers my Jack Daniel's merchandise that I picked up at the National Western Stock Show a couple weeks ago. Of course, you Readers will from last year will see some of the same items I purchased last year.

I know I just blogged about this recently, but I will re-list on what I bought at the booth. Two Large bar mats, two small bar mats, 2 black Bandanna, 1 metal Jigger, 2 Caps and one Black T-shirt. I will admit that the bandannas, the jigger, and one of the mats I will keep for myself. Otherwise, I plan to give the rest of the merchandise to my brother and a cap to my Dad.

This is nothing new for me since I have blogged about this before.

Oh Readers, I lost another bet so now I am down 9 bottles of beer. I know, I know sucks to be me, as my ex-old boss would say when things don't look good. The Australian Open Men's Final is tonight and I have picked Nadal to win. Yes Nadal, but in order to have a bet I had to choose him in order to have a bet. Again Readers all in good fun. I thought I would never say this, but I guess I am going to "Go Nadal." Damn, I can not believe I said this about Nadal who has to pick out his short from the crack of his ass almost every serve.

Tada - Another good deed last night. I was getting another ticket for Light Rail, when a Dad with two children asked me when the next E line was going to be hear.

"I don't know." I replied "I take the next train since it does not matter what line I take."

"oh ok. thank you anyway." and started to walk away.

I started to bike away then I said "Excuse me. Where are you going?"

"Downtown. Pepsi Center"

"Well, you could take a train down to either, Belleview, Broadway or 10th & Osage and then take another Light Rail train from there."

"Really?" he responded

Then, me being so kind as opposed to the rudest person ever known

"Although it is rush hour, people are getting off work, so should you decide that you and your children risk the chance of not getting a seat in the Light Rail Train at those stops. If you catch the Light Rail Train here you are almost guaranteed of getting a seat here."

"Your probably right. Thank you very much for the information and your help"

"Not a problem. Have a nice evening with the children."

Was that not an over and beyond of doing a good deed for me? Or was that something unexpected of me?

By the way Readers - It is time for the 31 days of Oscar on TCM

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Place Your Bets

Greetings Readers

As the blog post title reads - Place your bets with me. I am game on Australian Open matches and the Superbowl, but only if you not taking the Pittsburgh Steelers. Those black and yellow are my team to win. I have 90 percent belief that they are going to win, but there is that small chance that Arizona could pull it off. After all, who knew that Arizona would even be in the Superbowl.

Now, it has been about 9 days since buying my Mountain Bike. And for the past nine days I have been riding that Mountain bike. I really have to say that I do love my new Mountain bike. I have been riding down concrete steps/stairs. I have been riding down the sides of hills. And I have riding like a Mountain bike rider as opposed to deeply trained road biker.

So, this morning - Friday - today was going to be stellar day. Meaning, the sun is going to be out and it is supposedly going to be in the high 50's. Amazing, since the beginning of the week were in the single and negative digits here in Colorado. And I have to admit I was cold for a few of those days. Even though I rode to work and felt fine, I just did not want to ride home after work. I do not have a clue why I felt this way.

Perhaps, I was still asleep and I could not feel how cold it really was. Who knows. What I did know that I felt the cold and I was not properly dressed each day. I forgot this, or neglected to wear that, or felt I did not need to wear this. It comes down to how much clothing and stuff that I want to haul around. And I do not like hauling a lot of stuff.

I made a few bets today and I expect to make a few more.

And this is a picture of me on Andrea on the bike rollers in my humble abode. Trying to set up the camera, beat the 30 second timer and get going and balanced on the rollers is pretty tough before the picture is taken. Needless to say, it only took two tries. This is me on the rollers that I bought last year? Or was it the year before. I can not remember. Although, I am sure that I have blogged about the rollers. Anyway, I wanted to share to you Reader me riding the rollers in Winter.

By the way Readers, I know that I have my Oakley's on the top of head, but if I do not have them on I feel naked when I have my biking gear on. Silly? Perhaps, but I just got to have them regardless.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

And Another Good Deed

Greetings Readers

Well, being on Australia's time for LIVE coverage has finally taken its toll on me last night. I had to crash and get some much needed sleep. I was getting very weary and fading throughout the past few days. In the Australian Open we have reached the Quarter and Semi Finals of the Australian Open.

With so few players left there is not much to say or write about. I can say this and say that, but I would be sounding like a broken record. For the women's Finals it is going to be Safina vs. S. Williams. For the men's we only have Federer confirmed this morning with his win over Roddick.

Another Good deed by me. I was waiting for the bus this morning at one of the bus stops I would catch the bus at. It is in the shade and with the wind blowing a bit and the temperature around thirty, I think, this morning I was a bit cold. As I was waiting and I was the only one waiting I saw that the bus stop was full of trash laying around the area. With me being me I decided that I am going to pick up the trash. All the trash at the bus stop. I did have my gloves with fingers on so I did not actually touch the trash with my fingers, but with gloved fingers. I picked up the newspapers, an empty 2 liter bottle, a couple empty 20 ounces bottles, and all the cigarette butts I saw around the waiting area.

Was that not a good deed? I ask how many of you would have done that? I bet most would not. Matter of fact I bet most, if not all, would kick the cigarette butts off the curb and into the street. Whereas, I picked up the butts and disposed properly in the trash receptacle attached to the bus stop. This was kind gesture that I did this morning and not the rude thing I did. I know for a fact that most of you would have waited and waited until bus came. Believe me Readers, this is not the first time I have done this, but I do not do this regularly either. Just when I feel like it. I am not saying that this offsets any sins, or get me into heaven, but you know what I did do a good deed and that is what counts - in anybody's book.

By the way, if any of you Readers feel or think that I just put someone out of a job, then you have an issue. Whether it is with me or perhaps yourself. I cleaned up one RTD stop and believe me - only the trash can and items of trash that seem big enough to get cleaned up get cleaned about every week or so. So, with me doing this good deed I should not have put anyone out of a job.

Speaking of good deeds - I told you Readers and my friends of me helping out that couple at the machine kiosk at a Light Rail Station the other day by getting them tickets to get out of the cold quickly. Yes, I did a good deed for other than myself. Yet, it was also brought up that I could have been rude.

That is true. I do not deny that could have happened. Yet, as I have pointed out in the past with you Readers and my friends beyond this blog I told you I have days that I have a "do not fuck with me" attitude. Or "don't bother me" attitude. Or I "just do not want to help" attitude. I have my reasons at those moments. But, none of those "attitudes" that I have been known to share about happened - I helped without any bad / ill thoughts and thought nothing more of it. Matter of fact, I have not been expecting any "Thank yous" or in the words of my ex-co-worker "just so awesome" from anyone.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. That is me. I have told you Readers all of my adventures dealing with the Good and the Bad - even the Ugly.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Gran Torino

Greetings Readers

As the Blog post shows - Gran Torino. I finally got to see this movie. I enjoyed this movie pretty well. Overall, this movie is very good, but not great. There is story, but the movie really focuses on Clint as opposed to the story and the title of the movie.

This is a drama, though there is/are some funny lines, DEPENDING on your point of view. I did laugh / chuckle smile at some of the dialogue by Clint that is offensive, but otherwise I kept a straight face and no laughing since this is drama movie and in the movie there were serious scene that would not make the lines funny.

I do recommend the movie if you are a Clint Eastwood fan, but I would not recommend this if you take offense to racial slurs, whatnot. And that is strong "subject matter" that brings this movie into a very good movie.

Clint did a good job, but I really do not see any sort of nomination for him or the film. It was just a very good movie. And the racial subject is a strong presence in the movie, but as the movie goes further you understand, I hope, that is what makes this movie the movie it is about. Without it - there would no very good movie. You may have not/will not like Clint's character in the beginning of the movie, but in the end you will/should.

As my in personal life - you Readers who have read about me may have thought / said / think that I am rudest person ever known, but if I / we really know each other then you would really know that I am not rudest person you have ever known. After all Clint helps out someone in the movie, which I would hope in all of our books that is nice thing to do for someone else. As opposed to thinking about yourself.

Speaking of nice things. The other day I was going home on Light Rail and I was getting my ticket from the machine kiosk when I went to the machine kiosk next to another machine kiosk that was being used by a young couple going to the Avalanche game downtown.

I touched the screen fast since I do know what to push in order to get my ticket. The young couple saw me do that and spoke

"Boy your fast!"

"Thanks, but I know what to push"

"Hey can you help us get a ticket to Downtown - Avalanche game."

"Sure." I walked to their Kiosk "One way or Round trip?"

"Round trip."

"How many tickets" I ask

"Two"

Then, I started pressing buttons on the screen and about 15 seconds later I was done.

"Thank you very much" the woman said"

"No problem"

"Thanks bud" he said.

And that was another good deed I am sharing with you Readers. I ask how many of you would have done that in single digit temperatures at night? Yes, this couple would have eventually gotten their tickets without my help, but I helped them get their tickets right away since the Light Rail train was coming up and I would hate for them, hell for anyone else, to be waiting for another Light Rail Train in the icy, cold blowing wind in the dark. If you think that if I was the rudest person ever known - would have I helped that couple out?

Sorry, I am not going to tell you the race of the couple since that is irrelevant - the subject is that I thought about someone else besides myself and in my book that is another good deed. I spent that extra minute or two in the cold helping that couple out as opposed to getting my ticket and walking to the Light Rail train to get out of the cold and into the heated Light Rail Trains.

Urgh - I lost another bet and now I am down a six pack of beer. Well, there are only a few more days left in the Australian Open, but not sure with the players left that I want to bet. We will see.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete.

Happy Chinese New Year 2009

Greetings Readers

Well, I guess I need to a re-cap of some the things that I have done this past week or so.

I did go to the National Western Stock Show a couple of Saturday’s ago. The weather was perfect and I decided to take a couple of buses down to the stock Show. I had thought about taking my bike down, but I wanted not to worry about my bike and what sort of clothes to wear. So, with that in my mind, I had to take a couple of buses and then walk about 8 blocks to the Stock Show through “the Barrio.” I walked tall, with confidence and perhaps more importantly - in the morning.

Soon I reached the Stock Show and I was getting my General admission ticket. Already there were long lines to the booth to purchase tickets.

The stock show was already packed at 11:00 AM in the morning. I knew where I wanted to go first, but I made a beeline to the booth that I usually get my Jack Daniels Lynchburg Lemonade. Sure enough there were the other Jack Daniels – Single Barrel, Gentleman’s Jack and just the regular Jack Daniels. And the only choice of pop was Pepsi. As I said last year that is just fucked up. No one should forced to be drink Jack and Pepsi when everyone knows that Jack only goes with Coca-Cola. Suffice to say I will not be ordering any Jack that I have to drink Pepsi with. So be it I can drink Lynchburg Lemonade and be okay with that.

I then made myself walk around the expo as opposed making a beeline to the Jack Daniel’s Merchandise booth. I knew where it was probably going to be and I brought enough money to buy anything I wanted to buy. Actually I have been saving all year for this one day of the year that I buy Jack Daniel’s merchandise.

I hate to say it was only about 30 minutes later when I reached the Jack Daniel’s Merchandise booth. Of course I was in awe. I saw a lot of stuff and I saw the same girl from last year that helped me when I was buying merchandise. She did not recognized me, which I am sure she would not since she probably sees thousands of people for three weeks each day. I would have to say that she kind of cute and would not mind knowing her, but my chances are so low it is not even worth trying.

In the end, I bought 4 Jack Daniel’s bar mats, a shirt, 2 Bandanna’s, 2 Jack Daniel’s caps and a Jack Daniel’s metal Jigger. I spent about $ 130.00, which was way under what I was expecting, but I think that was due to me not really buying anything new. I made small talk with her and told her that I remember her from last year. Nothing. And that was that.

I also went to the Coor’s Merchandise booth, but there was nothing really that caught my eye. Last year I bought a Coor’s wall Bottle opener and an Anklet for a future girl friend I decide to give this to.

I went to the PBR Merchandise booth near the main arena and bought a couple of large PBR stickers. Their selection was not even good, so I just bought those two PBR stickers and commented on how the selection was poor.

About 15 minutes later it was time to eat. I was thinking about going to the booth near the stockyards where I ate, but I wanted to try something new. I was thinking about the two booths between the main arena building and the expo building. One booth has barbeque of all sorts and the other offers pizza and a large sausage.

The barbeque was what I wanted, but the presentation that I saw did not look good. It looked like something from a cheap place that would serve that. The sauce looked watery and thin. Uh-huh. No way.

I walked to the Sausage place and decided I am going to have delicious looking large sausage. After all I love hot dogs from time to time and who does not like bratsworth sausage?

Five minutes later sitting on the stairs and munching on the sausage – it was not worth the eight dollars I spent. Yes, it was good sausage, but that was that. It was spicy, but only from the Jalapenos seeds that were in the sausage. I ate about 7/8 of the sausage, and then threw the rest away.

I decided to go and get my pork chop on a stick. After all, years ago I know that is something I enjoyed. Sure enough the pork chop was good and surprising enough I ate the whole thing, even after eating almost that large sausage.

I did take a picture of the area that I was sitting at while eating my pork chop. There was this guy who job was to keep the regular people on the north side of the walkway and keep the south side of the walkway just for cattle that is being walked from the stock show area to the stockyards or vice versa. Some of you Readers would call me rude, but from what I saw for about 30 minutes there are ruder people than me. I lost count on how many people, young people, would walk under the rope that separates the walkway in half. Would I have done that? No. After being a part time cowboy and also a loyal National Western Stock Show supporter I have no reason to be rude and cross under the rope just to walk on the other side where you are not suppose to walk.

After that I took in a few free shows and walked underneath the expo to see the different cattle and then called it day.

I did have a great time. No great hot looking women caught my eye, but I saw a few with nice faces. Body wise, nothing to really write about.

Fast forward to this past Wednesday I bought a new bike. A new Mountain bike. GT Avalanche 2.0. I have named her Lily after the woman I lust for in the mornings on the show I try to watch each morning. Lily is blue with white here and there. Can you believe that I actually bought a Mountain bike?! Me? A Mountain bike. Who knew? Yet, I think it was because I enjoyed my $ 25.00 garage sale mountain bike from two years. Unfortunately, last year something stripped and I had to total out the bike since replacing the bike part would cost more than what I bought the bike for.

Now, days later and with some mud on the bike I can now see why Mountain Biking and mud all over you go hand in hand. Saturday I was able to ride in a park area that had mud. With the snow melting with the warm weather this past week I was riding in an area that was going to be muddy. At first I did not want to get Lily muddy, but then I thought what the fuck. Between Wednesday and Saturday I have been trying to keep Lily clean. After all she is brand new. But when I started riding through the muddy area a feeling came through. I was pretty excited about riding through mud. After all I cannot ride through mud especially on a road bike.

Getting muddy was a new experience for me and any bike I own. I smiled and then rode through some grass in order to get some of the mud off the tires. In the past few days I have rode off curbs and did jump some two-foot jumps. I also was able to ride up a side of a hill (and down) and also jump up from the street onto the sidewalk from the curb. Pretty fucking cool since I cannot do that on road bike.

The only thing right now that I hate is the small crank. I am not used to a 42 teeth crank. After all Readers, I ride in large crank ring and pushing the hard gear rings on a ride bike. With Lily I have been riding in the big ring, but I have not been able to ride the same way as I do on a road bike. I feel like I am doing twice, if not, three times the amount of pedaling on a Mountain bike as opposed to a road bike. I love the shocks. And I have to say I like the disc brakes on the Mountain bike. Although, I asked for the cost of disc brakes and it seems that is going to be an expensive part to replace when it goes out. The guy says a decent replacement is going to cost me $ 80.00 to begin with.

I have been riding Lily since Wednesday and I have to say right now I am really enjoying riding Lily. Did you know that I saw one of those hub cabs on the sidewalks and I rode over that hub cab on the sidewalk? If I was riding my road bike I would have ridden around the hub cab, but on the Mountain bike I rode over the hub cab and split the hubcap into three large pieces. I have to say that it felt good.

I am out of breath when I get to work and that is because of the extra pedal strokes I am doing. Do I mind? Yes, but I knew that this was expected so there is no reason to complain. After all having a Mountain bike you do Mountain bike riding and most likely need easy gears to do Mountain bike riding. Whether going up the mountain or down the mountain.

Oh Readers, I have won three bets in the past month and I was able finally to collect, even though I was no hurry. My friend and I made a trip to the liquor store this past Friday and I was able to cash in my winnings. 9 bottles of beers. Boo yah! I got a six-pack of victory beer and then three different bottles of beer at Lukas Liquors. And I also bought me a six-pack of Winterhook beer from Redhook. Let me tell you Readers, I had to leave some work clothes at work since I had no room in my backpack to take all the stuff I needed to take home. I thought about leaving some beer at work, but I have to admit I wanted to take the entire beer home. Fuck my clothes.

I did not get to see my Qdoba girl this past Friday. I have to admit that I had a couple of beers while going home and I knew that I was not going to repeat the incident I had a few months ago after consuming alcohol before seeing my Qdoba girl.

Oh Readers, on Thursday I saw Mike and he saw me. I asked what was up and he told me that he had twenty dollars. I knew that he probably wanted me to go to the store. With me being me and not “the rudest person ever known” I told Mike give me about 10 minutes and I can go to the store for him.

10 minutes later I arrived at his humble abode and he told me what he wanted – 8 piece chicken dinner, 3 Diet Mountain Dew two liters, 2 frozen Totino’s pizzas and 2 pop tarts. I said no problem. After all I may be rude sometimes, but at least I make up for it by helping out others in need. How many of Readers do that? Specifically, to the Readers that call me rudest person ever known. You never tell us Readers of your good deeds that help the needy. Helping out at the DNC is not really a good deed, so forget about mentioning that. You are helping out a “party” and not a person in need. If you can tell me of a good deed in the past week please tell me, otherwise look in the mirror and see if you can see inside yourself and decide whether or not you are selfish and call people “rude” when yourself you are ruder than me for not doing anything for anyone besides yourself.

And tipping a waiter or barrister at Starbucks is not a good deed in my book, unless you tipped more than 25 percent, then perhaps I will accept that as a good deed.

Today is the start of the Lunar New Year – Year of the Ox. I did buy some stamps of the New Year and they are, in my ex-co-workers words, “just so awesome.” You faithful Readers know that I collect and follow the Chinese New Year Stamps that are issued each year. I guess, I can take a picture and show you Readers the new commemorative stamp offered by the USPS.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

The Australian Open 2009 - Day 5

Greetings Readers

I sort of put it together, but I guess I was blind to it. Australia and the Australian Open are where tennis players say their goodbye for the last time should this be there last year. Most of the time the players have told the world of their intentions, yet there are others that do not. Sometimes - between the Australian Open and the French Open players are tested and know whether or not to continue playing tennis.

Marat Safin has made it known that this is probably the last time and the last year that he will play Tennis professional at the Australian Open.

I have to be honest that his honesty was refreshing to hear. He knows that his tennis playing is not up to par and it is getting difficult to keeping playing tennis when he is not playing his best. Hell, would you get day after day and train and not make good results?

These are a couple of pictures that I am going to miss from him when Safin retires. His shoulder shrugs, whether the shoulder shrugs mean, “What that fuck was I thinking?” Why the fuck did I hit it the ball that way” or is it “I cannot fucking believe the call!?” Oh yes, Marat has said fuck and has been fined. Fuck – he probably ranks up the top 5 of getting fined on the court for his actions and or words in the tennis world. Perhaps I should do some research on this.

Anyway, the match was between Federer vs. Safin and most of us were expecting a battle. There was was no epic battle, but there was the battle with Safin himself. He has beaten Federer before and yes it was in Australia that Safin beat Federer to be Champion of the great Grand Slam years ago.

The match was so-so. Good, but not great. Safin was in control and subdue. There were some moments of rage about to erupt, but Safin managed to control himself.

Until the last set of the match. Safin was losing and it was serve. “Fault!” Safin turns around and apparently the center linesman called a foot fault on his serve. Oh yes, Safin and the fans, as well as myself, could not believe it. But I have to admit it was the vintage Marat we wanted to see and it was about to show itself.

Safin walked back of the court and basically was standing right before the linesman and looking over the short’s lineman. The linesman did nothing, except to stand with his hands behind his back and say nothing.

Safin was pissed and it showed. Safin was talking, but no yelling. There were a lot of arm and hand gestures being done by Safin. Yet, the moment was not complete until you saw the linesman Adam’s apple go up and down. The linesman swallowed and you could see literally see it happening. Wow. Of course, I probably would have done the same thing swallow since you are probably forbidden to talk/confront to a tennis player on the court. Though, I do not know.

That is just one of the moments I am going to miss on court when Safin takes the court at any of the last three Grand Slam tournaments this year. I am going to miss his anger, him destroying rackets, him throwing his rackets, him destroying the tennis walls; I am going to miss him arguing with the chair umpire. I am going to miss that Safin walk and playing style that is just unique to him alone.

Should this be the last Australian Open you play Marat Safin thanks for making us viewers see a lineman swallow in fear as you towered in front of him.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

The Australian Open 2009 - Day 4

Greetings Readers

Oh my, oh my - "She Out!" Boo yah. Now, the Australian Open 2009 has truly begun.

The timer went off this morning and I was able to awake myself from going to sleep for about two hours. I wanted to see the two night matches Live at Rod Laver Arena. To say the least I was not disappointed.

I was able to shut off the timer and then turn up the volume on the stereo so I can hear the match of V. Williams vs. Carla Suarez Navarro. I would estimate that I was about 20 minutes into the match when I started to hear, really hear, that the match was getting good and the crowd was coming alive. I turned on the TV and I soon saw the two women battling on the court.

I saw this young white little woman on the opposite side of Venus and I did not have a clue, at the time who she was. Of course, now I know all about her - Carla Suarez Navarro. Twenty years old, from Spain and taking the play to Venus in Rod Laver Arena.

Perhaps at the beginning of the match Carla was getting warmed up and not to mention this is a new opponent that Venus does not know.

Towards the end, I was trying not to yell too loudly, but at 4:02 AM (Mountain Time) I pumped my fist, smiled, yelled "yes!"

Standing proud on the opposite side of the court was a smiling short, petite young woman who just upset Venus Williams at the Australian Open. Readers, I have made it no secret that I do not care for the Williams sisters and so to see one (or them) get eliminated is something I like. Meaning, the players that I am rooting for gets to advance further into the tournament.

And two, it shuts up those so bias announcers rooting for either Williams before the tournament starts. There are other players out there who deserve a chance to win and be talked about. After all, the tennis world is better and more importantly getting older for Serena and Venus.

When Carla won that match, she smiled, sort of pumped her first, but I think she was just so happy in the moment to take down Venus. Fuck it, we all would be happy to take down a top seeded player if we were not seeded in a tournament.

And my thinking - literally Carla was a "giant killer" like a female version of David and Goliath if there was ever one.

Since I was happy Carla won it was now time to watch the Brit - Andy Murray.

Holy shit what happened in the past five months? Andy Murray fucking looks like a well oiled machine. He's changed since last year and he looks like someone to watch out for. I really was impressed with the entire match this morning (our morning). Though again, he had a bit of a rough start when the match started, but perhaps that just him getting used to the court, and the player he was playing. Murray's match was over at about 6:00 AM Mountain Time. Easy put away for him.

Before coming to work I stopped by the store and bought some Lipton Pure Leaf Iced Tea. When I got to work I gave five of my closest Tennis watchers a drink on me. Wasn't that nice of me?

P.S. What kind of pissed me off was the post press conference. They showed Venus, but not Carla. Why? Then when referring to the match throughout the remaining time the Australian Open was on TV it was labelled "Venus Highlights" when in fact the highlights should have reference both players since it showed equal time on Venus and Carla. And then there is Pam, suggesting that Venus was not at 100% healthy and perhaps it was something else. When in fact, Venus just got beat - Get over it - praise Carla and stop talking about the Loser of the match. After all Pam, you are an American and knowing you from what I see on TV you talk about the winners and hardly the losers if they are not seeded (or ranked.)

until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

The Australian Open 2009 - Day 3

Greetings Readers

Day Three of the Australian Open and there have been some very interesting physical changes of many Tennis players in the past four months that I have not watched Tennis. New bodies, hair cuts and clothing

And the biggest change that is noticable right now is Marcos Baghdatis. I am so use to him having hair. And now to see him have a shaved head is kind of wierd. On top of that he is unseeded and his rank has dropped from last year due to some injuries.

Fear not, I as well as the Australian Tennis fans, are excited to see Baghdatis once again in Melbourne. Last year, as I have mentioned to the prior of the start of my blogging of the Australian Open 2009 I re-capped the ending of the Hewitt vs. Baghdatis match last when Marcos left the with the start of tears beginning and him walking to the locker room at 4:34 AM Melbourne Time.

How difficult was that to watch. An epic Battle. The Aussie fans love Hewitt since he is from Australia, but the Aussie crowd also like Marcos from two years when we Tennis Fans were treated to Marcos playing another epic match against another great tennis player in the finals...

Anyway, I finally got to see him in action this morning. Good to see his playing, but I have to say when he banged his tennis racket on the ground during the break it was good to see. Yet, he was fined 770.00 dollars for racket abuse. When he did that, he turned on the "afterburners" and won. Baghdatis will never be close to regular racquet abuse as Marat Safin does, but we tennis fans love to see that.

Way to go Marcos and I hope you do well and give us tennis fans another epic battle in Melbourne And a picture from last year.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

The Australian Open 2009 - Day 2

Greetings Readers

"Come on!"

And you faithful Tennis watchers know who says that phrase and technically who started those two words in Professional Tennis play.

After all, when he started saying this years ago many thought that he was being rude. In reality, he was saying that to himself to get himself pumped up and to keep his play the way he wanted to play.

Many people in the beginning thought that was "rude." Many people thought they knew him and assumed that he was being rude.

Yet, after a bit it later revealed that Mr. Hewitt was saying that to himself, even though he yelled those two words out with the arm raised and all fingers pointed at his face. There was never any finger pointing at the opposite side of the court to his opponent.

Here we are the year is 2009 and now we faithful Hewitt fans expect and want to hear those two words yelled "Come on!" with Hewitt's cap turned backwards on his head, arm raised in the pose with his fingers pointing to his face after winning a point (and perhaps the match.)

Welcome Readers Day Two - Not a day for me really to say much or had any desire to watch. I do not care for the Williams sisters, Nadal or any American player for that matter. But there were a couple of matches that I wanted to see - Amelie Mauresmo, Andy Murray (and hear his roar and see him flex his Biceps after winning like last year - oh yeah that's just what I might have done), and of course I want to see the "Monfils's shuffle" like he did at the US Open this past year after winning his match.

And you loyal Tennis followers have to wonder why Americans are not really followed. A few are good players - the Williams sisters, yet the others are not. Most are arrogant and perhaps that is because of general way Americans are seen (and I do not disagree.)

Hewitt - "Come on"
Safin - His Anger and Tantrums are what we like and expect to see
Santoro - his playing even though he knows he's over the hill, but give 100% play
Ivanovic - so Sweet and humble (unlike the William Sisters)
Federer - Earning his place among the elite Tennis players in history
Bagdahtis - becoming a fan favorite

as so goes the list.

As you can sort of read each of those Non-Americans have personality of something. Whereas the Americans I am going to list a few.

Roddick - give poor, poor post game interviews, pains for me to watch him being him.
S. Williams - "I am good and your not", but not literally said that way by her.
Fish - nothing really to say
Ginepri - friend of James Blake
Blake - I would have to admit the nicest American player out playing.
Scoville Jenkins - Young, up and coming player still new to the ATP so not arrogant yet and enjoys playing tennis. Go for it and keep it up.

Anyway, I think there were two upsets, but really only one and that would be Radawanska.

Otherwise, so far so good for the Australian Open.

By the way Readers it was hard to watch the Gonzo vs Hewitt match. Two years ago, Gonzo (oops Readers that is his nickname his real name is Fernando Gonzalez) was someone who met Hewitt in the semi finals if I remember correctly and I thought who in fuck was this guy. Arrogant and taunting the crowd since the crowd was for Hewitt since he is Australian. Now, Gonzo has made himself a present and earned the respect of me and a few others. So, when I saw that these two were going to do battle I did not know who to root for.

In the end I wanted Hewitt to advance since this is really his home country's Grand Slam tournament, but I think it was of injuries, a recent surgery and just getting old that Hewitt lost to Gonzo. Who knows readers this could be his last year if his hip does not heal, mend good. With that that is why I put Hewitt's picture on today's post.

"Come On!"

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

The Australian Open 2009 - Day 1

Greetings Readers

You loyal Tennis Fans, especially of the Australian Open, You do Remember Tipsarevic from last year?! His picture is posted first.

Flashback

If there was a match to sum up the Australian Open it would be the Epic Tennis battle on the First Friday (In the United States) that we saw two warriors take the stage under the Tennis lights of Melbourne's Australian Open. Note: this match does not over see the emotional match of Bagdahtis vs. Hewlitt last year, which to me was the match of the tournament.

He gave Roger a run for his advancement in the tournament and nearly, nearly, dethroned the number one player in the world, at that time.

Present

Day One has finished and now we American in the United States are waiting for 7 PM Mountain time for Day Two - LIVE coverage to begin.

Yesterday was an okay day and I would have to say it was good. Aussie Ana had me worried and it pained me to see her serving toss suck. And it sucked big time. In the end Ana pulled the win, but I am going to have to say she better get into form or else she will be going out of the tournament pretty early.

Now, onto the unknown seed, to us Americans anyway. An Aussie to boot, which Melbourne will love to support in the Australian Open. Unfortunately, we viewers did not get to see this match. Though the camera crews were able to get a camera over to the court towards the end of the match.

Bernard Tomic - 16 years old. That picture says it all. He won. And I liked how he won. Though, in the grand scheme of things he barely pulled the win out so I can not fully support him advancing to the next round. Yet, his next opponent did play a four and a half tennis match so Tomic does have that for him. Meaning his opponent has played longer than him. I do root for the underdog so I do hope that he does advance to the next round.

Bad news? Good news? I do not know and it does not matter to me, but many American players were eliminated on the first day of play at the Australian Open.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Being Rude and Being Kind

Greetings Readers

Something kind of bothered me in the past week or so. I know, I know what’s new – right?

You Readers think you “know” me, but in reality you only are reading about me since I probably do not know who you are.

Does that matter? No. Do I care? A bit, but I am not here to make friends with my blog.

So, when you say you know me, you really do not know me, but you only “know of” me. All you know of me is what I write and care to share with you Readers.

I am not looking for your approval. I am not looking for a new friend in my life. I am not looking for a wife, but am looking for a girl friend =). And the list of reasons could go on and on.

Almost three years ago I started the blog, not knowing where to go (or to begin) and it took a while for me to get into blogging.

What I have come to tell you Readers is the raw truth. Being Honest. And sometimes Honesty hurts. Sometimes being brutally honest makes me seem the rudest person you have read about – ever. I do not disagree.

And I can see how many of you Readers can come to that conclusion. After all, I make it no secret of my “rudeness” and my “issues” I come across and share with you Readers.

I share with the Internet my life and what comes across my path of life.

With us being Human most of us pick out the “bad” points of other people. Not all of us, but most of us do. Hell, I know I do. There are a few people, perhaps more than a few people that would pick out the “good” and say / comment something nice about that. But let us face the truth Readers, we like to pick and point out each other’s faults.

You faithful and new Readers have most likely read about my Grocery store issues, Light Rail Issues, Fast Food Issues, Bus Stop issues and so on. I do not have a problem writing about my issues.

Aside from all the rude issues I have written about I have written about some good deeds and things I have done that none of you Readers would even think of doing.

I am going to tell you Readers in the past year that I have done many good things that would not be considered rude.

I am sure that you Readers read that I used about 1/3 of my Tax Stimulus Refund check to help buy a calving table for my parents. I was not selfish and spend all the money for myself. How many of you Readers spent money on someone else that was not for personal gain? Perhaps like buying a gift for the boy/girl friend in exchange for a fantastic night of sex, which would be for personal gain since you are technically spending the money for yourself.

Did you Readers know that I baked over ten birthday cakes last year for my coworkers who are more than just co-workers? Again, no one asked me to bake a cake for his or her birthday. I did this without asking. I also asked the birthday person what sort of cake they wanted and it could not be a cake that was too exotic. However, when I am making a cake for the person’s special day – I add some alcohol to the cake to give it some essence of Kalhua, Amaretto or rum. How many Cakes did you make for someone’s birthday this past year? And buying a cake, cookies, and cup cakes from a grocery store is not really going out of your way since that is just buying something that you put NO effort in for your friends. And for this year I have made two cakes already.

Did you Readers know that even though I do not believe in Religion, in a manner of speaking (and I am not an Atheist), I still try to go to church once a month and I give a donation from 10 to 20 dollars? How many of you Readers can say that?

When I go and visit my parents in New Mexico at the Ranch I do help out at the Ranch. Even though I am on vacation - I am not on vacation. I work by either working on the dirt road, shoveling shit (cattle, horse, dog and guinea shit), picking up and burning tumbleweeds, feeding all the animals and more importantly I almost do all the cooking when I am at the Ranch. It’s my time to shine and do things for my parents as opposed to being selfish and do nothing while on vacation. I do have that option, but for me that is not an option. I ask many of you Readers how many of you do things for your parents when you visit them? And yes Readers sometimes I do not want to do any of those things, but after starting any of those things I forgot about not wanting doing them and actually start to enjoy about do them. Sounds crazy, but at the end of my vacation on the Ranch I feel damn proud of what I did on my vacation.

The homeless. Well, in my case I have one homeless person on my way to work when I bike a certain way to work. Just one. Every other week I try to give him some money. It may not be a lot, but in my view I have given him something, which is better than nothing. I do not know his name and I do not care, but at least I go out of my way and give what I feel like giving. Many of Readers probably see more than one homeless person and I have to wonder do any of you Readers do anything for any of them? Or even one the homeless – after all they are human too.

How about me giving twenty dollars (for gas) to a fellow runner after the 24 hours of Boulder? I did not mention this in my post story wrap up, but I was planning to take public transportation from Boulder to Centennial. However, as I was resting in the tent with “the bitch” I met and got know a fellow runner who came up from Colorado Springs and eventually asked him for a ride to I-25 and Arapahoe Road. He said no problem. Well, as he pulled in the Arapahoe Marketplace just off I-25 and Arapahoe Road I pulled out my wallet and forced him to take the twenty dollars even though he said no and do not worry about it. In my mind, he did more for me than he thought he did for me. For that - I was thankful and I had to give him money for his kindness. I ask how many of you Readers would have caved in and put away the twenty dollars in your wallet (purse) just because he said he wouldn’t take it?

Mike Shanahan was recently fired, which I did blog about. I was happy about that. I will admit yes I am happy that finally Mike is gone, but it is not entirely about him getting fired. I was and still am happy that there is going to be a new coach. Well, when I got my “Christmas Miracle” I bought a 12 pack of Moose Drool Microbrew beer and gave one bottle to each of my closest co-workers. That was me being nice and buying everyone a round of drinks. It was not the “cheap” round of pitcher beer for everyone. I wanted my friends to taste something new, or something they would not try on their own. That was not rudeness, that was I being nice. I ask how many of Readers would do that if the coach of your football team where you live was fired and was something that much needed after years of not making the playoffs? I am betting most of you Readers would just “talk” and not celebrate with buying the first round for people you want to share your happiness with.

Last month after giving my Qdoba girl her Christmas card I was about the happiest I could be that entire month. So when I saw my neighbor Mike in distress I asked him what was wrong and soon found out. I listened and then I said to Mike that I would go to the store to get him some Diet Mountain Dew since he could not do it himself. I ask you Readers how many of you would have done that for someone who is mentally handicapped after getting home from work?

Gift Giving – How many of you Readers give gifts when it is not their birthday, Christmas, anniversary, etc? I am betting most of my male Readers do not, at all! My Women Readers do since I know for a fact that I have gotten a bottle of Coca-Cola of out the blue. I give drinks (juice, water, soft drinks) out of the blue to fellow friends for no reason. Sometimes a person needs just that little gift to know that someone does care. And my brother – do you know that I give gifts to my brother each time I go and visit my parents? Bandannas, Playstation 2 games, Jack Daniels merchandise, and VCR tapes of taped shows I recorded to name a few things I give as gifts. And for my parents – I bring DVD’s, US Open Tennis merchandise, spices and buying groceries when I am visiting the Ranch to name some of the gifts I bring when I visit them. Again, are you Readers just as giving when there is not an event to give a gift?

Lunches – How many of you Readers received from your clients/vendors a “lunch on them” this past year? I received five this past year. If I am the rudest person you have ever “known” well you really do not know me. I ask again – how many vendor/clients have bought you lunch this past year?

And I could go on. I have written about “the Good, the Bad and the Ugly” My faithful Readers would know both the good and the bad. And if you are just tuning in you can access my history (archives) and catch up on my old blog posts.

What I just wrote I am not defending my stance/views, since there is nothing to defend. However, if you Readers think you “know” me you really don’t. I suggest that you take a long and good hard look in the mirror before calling and/or thinking that I am the rudest person you have ever read about. I know for a fact that your shit does not smell sweeter than mine. After all I know (or read) about what you have told me and I would have to say that celebrating one year (and perhaps two years coming this year) without driving does not make you special in my book. After all, I have been biking/commuting for about 12 years now. I do not need to state that. And I still have both of my vehicles, even though I get to drive them about once a year. So, you telling the world about how you rode a bike one year without almost any driving is not special. If you have to sell your vehicle so be it, otherwise I have no desire to sell my 86 Camero or 96 Amigo. One vehicle is a classic and the other has seven more years to become a classic.

In closing Readers, I am not perfect and I have never, ever made that claim. Yet, I have written about the good, the bad and the ugly, whereas other Readers have only wrote about the good. If you cannot write about “the bad” then perhaps you have some secrets. Or perhaps you are insecure about yourself, worried about how you may portray yourself to others, etc.

There is more I could add, but I think I have touched upon what I wanted to write about. Perhaps this is the year to blog about you to me and the rest of the world and let us read about you. Be honest. After all, we need to know if your shit is sweeter than mine.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

A Carwash Memory with Dad

Greetings Readers

Toyota Tundra. That is the new vehicle that my parents purchased about two weeks ago. And already the truck has traveled to Flagstaff and Denver from our Ranch in New Mexico.

The color is Maroon and it is a 2008 model. This is the second time that our family has owned a Toyota vehicle. Back in the 1980’s we owned a white Toyota pickup, but we got into an accident while on vacation. It was snowy and slippery. That was the accident that I chipped my collarbone and to this day if I move my arm a certain way I can feel what happened to my collarbone in that accident. If I remember correctly, we hit a pretty deep pothole that was covered by the snow on a road that is not plowed. Unfortunately, we were approaching a turn so when hit the pothole we fishtailed the Toyota and then slid into the corner and off into the gulch on the side of the road. I guess our heads hit the windshield, but none of us remember. Yet, we came out okay. We flipped (rolled) the truck and soon learned that we totaled the Toyota out. I cannot remember if we landed on the wheels, the side of truck or upside down. The accident was so quick and perhaps I was young at the time I just remember the fish tailing and then silence as we came to a stop. No screaming from any of us, just climbing out the cab and then flagging down a passing vehicle on a road in the middle of no where.

Wow, some things I have not thought about until I saw the new Toyota and remembered our first Toyota we had.

The new vehicle looks good. Sort of reminds me of a tank. It has that army look of a tank. Not the Toyota that I remember from the past.

Now, this is where I tell you Readers that my father and me had our moment when he was here in Denver.

My mom wanted the truck washed so we stopped at a local car wash that is near where I live. It was assumed that my Dad was going to wash the truck by himself, but I thought that washing the big truck in as little as time possible was not going to be possible. Unless we wanted to spend more money than it should cost.

About five seconds after my Dad got out of the truck I also got out and ran to him as he walking to the change machine. I asked him what he was going to spend. He said 3.00 for 4 minutes, if I remember correctly. I asked him a question “Do you think that is enough time?”

“What do you think?” he asks me in return.

I think that we should spend four dollars for 6 minutes (if I remember correctly).

“OK”

Soon Dad had the spray wand and I dropped the change into the machine and we were off.”

Meanwhile, I grabbed the brush wand and got ready for my part in the car wash.

I called out the time remaining every 30 seconds. At four minutes my Dad had rushed around the entire vehicle and then he said “your turn”

I switched to the foam brush at Four minutes left and allotted myself 2 minutes to entirely scrub the Tundra down. Of course, the brush wand did not start to foam up until 15 seconds after turning to the foam brush selection.

I hurried and I did not realize how fast the seconds started to tick away. My Dad was calling the time out to me and we agreed that he would rinse off starting at two minutes left.

I scrubbed the sides, the front and the top of the truck.

When the two-minute mark hit my Dad switched to rinse and then I used the remaining the foam on the brush to wash down the tires. I called out once more every thirty seconds until the one minute mark when I called out every 15 seconds.

We were like butter and toast we moved in sync and moved like we had a purpose.

When the time was up at the car wash I looked at my Dad and then the truck. We did a good job.

Oh yes. That was the moment I can truly remember and cherish until the end of my days about my Dad coming up this January in 2009.

This event may not seem big to you Readers, but to me this will last a lifetime.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

The Australian Open 2009 - Qualifying Round

Greetings Readers

Today (technically yesterday) is the official start of the Qualifying rounds at the Australian Open 2009.

Oh Yes! Readers another year has come and gone and now we are onto the first of the four Tennis Grand Slam in 2009. Every year it begin in Australia - Melbourne.

The website

http://www.australianopen.com

The official start will be on Monday, January 19 2009, but their time, not U.S. time. And you faithful readers know that this will be the hardest two weeks to begin the New Year with. Again, I want to see live action so that means that play will start late at night in the Mountain Time Zone in the United States. Of course I could catch the tape delay, but then I would not be satisfied with that alone. That being said I will be up into the wee hours of the morning and perhaps staying up all night and morning.

The biggest news for me is that Maria Sharapova will not be able to play and defend her title from last year. Apparently, she is still out with the same injury that kept her from playing in the US Open and the Beijing Olympics last year. And I guess to look further than that we viewers do not have to put up with Yuri. Woo hoo!.

I had to use the picture from last year when she won and the she lowered both knees to the court in victory. However, using this picture and the tone of my post it appears that she is "sad." I know I am bending the truth, but I needed a picture that was worthy of the Australian Open 2009 - The Grand Slam of the Asia / Pacific.

I hope, desire, that we viewers are treated to another fantastic first week of the Australian Open, especially the 24 hours of Friday and Saturday of the first week of play last year - that was spectacular! And the epic matches that lasted wee into the night (in the United States) and the Morning (Australia and United States.) Seeing Federer being taken into a 5 set match and then seeing Hewitt start his tennis match at Dawn in the United States was unfucking-believeable. Or in the words of my ex-co-worker "just so awesome!" Those tennis players that played in that 24 hours were tested to the best of there playing abilities. Who knew that Australia could have a "Super Saturday" on the first Saturday of a Tennis tournament?!

And was it not tough for us hard core tennis watchers see Bagdahti start to cry when leaving the tennis court when Hewitt eliminated him from the Australian Open 2008?!

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Happy Birthday to Us

Greetings Readers

Another year and "one day closer to death". As I state every year from that Pink Floyd song.

My parents were able come up from the Ranch and visit me for a few days. More specifically to celebrate the birthdays of me and my Mother this month. And also to go and see the National Western Stock Show.

I guess this I will not be able to go out and visit the bars and get some free shots and try to remember how I got home. Hah hah. I was doing good last year until the last place I went to. Thankfully, I was on foot and was only about a mile away from the place I drank the last drinks of my birthday. And no, I did not desire that, but it is that one say of the year and if I happen to get women bartenders I tend to get birthday shots =). No I am not handsome, but cute. Well, cute enough and able to talk a free drink/shot from a bartender

Getting back to the birthday. Most of the time, as a family, we tend to have a birthday dinner. This time around we decided to go and have Sunday Brunch. The Brunch was decided by my Mother and we decided to go to the Fresh Fish Company in Denver. Not a problem for me since it is an all you can eat brunch for about 24 dollars a piece. I am not worried about the price, but I am worried about the all you can eat crab legs they offer at brunch.

Oh yes, I make sure that I have an empty stomach so I can dine just on the Crab legs. They are are not King Crab Legs, but crab legs never-the-less.

About an hour and quarter later that was when the excitement happened. I was not sitting in a spot to see what happen, but sure as hell I heard the aftermath. Apparently, someone fell, fainted, slipped, who knows, but the next thing you know there is a person on the floor. At the time it happened we did not know if it was a man or woman. We could see the person on the floor and see that the person's chest is still moving up and down.

My parents had the view, but did not see what happened either. So there I was sitting across them mouthing silently "what happened? where? Did you see?" I wanted to be just like all the other gawkers, but I did not want to add to the event that was happening near us.

Boy oh boy the section of the restaurant fell silent pretty quickly and thankfully our breakfast was over. I feel bad for the people who might have just started eating. Or I feel bad for the people who were seated next to the table that the person who was on the floor was at. I even felt kind of bad for the manager that was on duty and what perhaps she was thinking happened.

And I guess that would be the excitement of me and mom's birthday. Yet, the other excitement would be shopping and spending the entire day doing it.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

National Western Stock Show

Greetings Readers

Well, it is that time of the year the National Western Stock Show arrives to Denver, Colorado.

I look forward to this event and try to go when I want to go. At times in the past though I did not want to go - just because.

This event has been going on for over 100 years, I think. 104th Annual event this year?

Not much else I can say about this.

Oh perhaps I better write a bit about what it is. Well, there are about three main buildings. One big building is like an Expo area where there are booths set up as far as the eye can see. Under the Expo is kept the Cattle, sheep and some pigs, if I remember. Oh not all the cattle are kept under the expo. There are the Cattle yards that are located just North of the Stock Show area.

The other building is the Main Coliseum where the main rodeo events are held. Just outside the arena still inside the building, are more booths and what not.

Then, there is a smaller building where the "other" events are held. And I have to admit this is the area of the Stock Show that I like. Ranch dogs compete in dog pulls, rounding up sheep, horse pulls, horse displays and all other sorts of shows that would not get into the main arena. I could spend almost all day here on certain event days. And the best thing - it's free (well included with ground admission).

On the other side of the Cattle yards is a much smaller building where the auctions are held for livestock which were brought in just for auction or for show and then auction.

I think that is about all I can really say. Well, there are a lot of Cowboys and Cowgirls and even better Hot Cow women. They can make a nice pair of wranglers look spectacular.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

The Chipotle "Incident" of 2009

Greetings Readers

So, there I was getting off late from work - another hectic New Year day (not even a week into the New Year) and I needed some time not to think. I went to Best Buy and then I went to another store and the headed over to Barnes and Noble to see if I can get a decent calender on sales.

Oh yes, basically every year I will try and buy all my calendars (that I want) after the New Year since most of the time they need to move inventory at a discount.

Now, the time was about 8 PM or so and I decided that I was hungry for a burrito. Yet, I was not going to go to "my" Qdoba's since it was not the time to go. With that I decided to go to the competition - Chipolte's.

I went in and knew that I was hungry for (desired) a steak burrito. Enough said that was my decision.

"I want a steak burrito - black" even before they asked what I want.

That's right - if I know what I want there is no sense in waiting for the "What can I get for you?"

The young guy went and heated up the tortilla, prior to making the burrito, in the steamer. While that was being done I decided I better look at the steak to see "how old" it looks since I have come after the dinner rush and perhaps they have "old" food sitting out. Hell, if there was a couple of hours left and the customers were not coming in I would not want to make a new batch of food since the restaurant would be closing, therefore making new food for no one would be a waste and costly to inventory (especially so during this time now - the Economy it is now)

I looked at the steak container and I saw a lot of pink and even red (seriously uncooked) meat. Even though the outside of the steak looked cooked and even burnt with grill marks the meat was red on the inside. And worst yet, when red "raw" meat is left out for a while it gets a certain ugly red color. I know that because I am a steak eater and I love my steak medium well and I know what and how medium well steak looks like when fresh and not fresh.

I made a face and ask the burrito maker if that is the steak. He said yes. I replied and then told him look at all those red uncooked steak meat. He looked and even took a couple out, as if to please me. No way I thought to myself. No way.

"I am going to have chicken. No way I am having raw steak in my burrito"

He complied. After scooping in the chicken in my burrito I immediately said without hesitation - "I want tomatoes, cheese and lettuce." He then asks what salsa? I did not say salsa - I said tomatoes, cheese and lettuce.

I immediately looked at the cash register girl and said "Chips - hot." She looked at me for about two seconds and then looked at the guy making the burrito. What the hell. I was the only person in line and she has no reason not to get the chips and salsa for me, while the other guy is making my burrito.

Well, she finally moved and then asked the guy making my burrito

"Steak?" she says

"Chicken." he replied

"Steak?" with the undertone that perhaps he said chicken in error and meant to say steak.

Meanwhile, I stood there like a spectator watching a tennis match. My head following the conversation from the meal line to the cash register and back.

"Chicken." he once more says

"Steak."

That was it. I looked at her and opened my mouth.

"Chicken"

And guess what she says "Steak" to me.

"Chicken!" I say a bit louder, slower and very clearly.

She smiles at me and then shakes her head as if she can not believe both of us.

Unfucking believable. Am I not allowed to change my mind?

I laid down a ten dollar bill while she was ringing up my Chicken burrito, which she saw me do.

"You want a drink?"

"Did I ask for a drink? I made eye contact with her and then moved my eyes to my ten dollar bill I laid right in front of her. I did not say another word.

Go figure.

And that my fellow Readers was another fucked up incident at Chipotle's. Which reminds me of the last incident I had at Chipotle's. I sent an email to the Corporate email website and to this day I never received a response back. Goes to tell you Readers Chipotle's not customer friendly, unlike Qdoba's.

Matter of fact, I am going to email this to them.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete