Happy Halloween 2009

Greetings Readers

Once again we Readers are at that time of the year that is looked forward to by so many children. I know that we all have sometime in our past. And perhaps some of us are now taking children out on this Halloween for the first time

Halloween

This is another time to stick up for the “little people.”

Literally.

What I mean is that I usually buy the full size candy and give them out to the trick of treaters in my part of the neighborhood. I do not know how I got into this ritual, but somehow I did and never have strayed from this Halloween tradition.

As traditions go – the other tradition is watch Halloween 3: Season of the Witches. Again, this is something that I do every year. This year will be no different.

For this year, I decided to get King Size Reese Peanut Butter Cup Candy. The price was 10 for 10.00, which was a perfect price for me to spend. To me a dollar a candy bar was worth my money. Not only am I saving money, making up for my sins; I will be making some very happy little children later this evening...

until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Busted on the LIght Rail Train

Greetings Readers

The Sun has made an appearance in all her glory - finally. Anyway, let me tell you Readers about this incident in my past....

Some of you faithful Readers know I have my moods. Most times it does not take much to piss me off. Yes, I admit and confess to that; after all I would be liar to say that I did not.

This incident happened the day I was leaving for our Ranch in New Mexico. I did all the work at work that I needed to do before leaving for my short vacation. I went home and got my bags then left for the bus station that is located downtown.

I went to the bus stop that is located near me since I would need to take the bus to the Arapahoe Light Rail Station.

Eventually, I got to the Light Rail Station, but I missed the Light Rail Train going North since the ticket machine was fucking with my money. I hate these fucking machines – you cannot plug the money right after another. You have to actually let the coin go in and wait about 2 seconds before depositing the next coin. Otherwise, if the coin follows the first coin to closely the second coin will be returned to you. Your fucked when the Light Rail Train is there and you have coins galore to feed into the machine. Needless to say I was fucked.

Bye bye Light Trail Train.

Damn.

So, I got my upgrade ticket and had to wait for the next Light Rail Train going to 18th and California. I was the only one waiting there since I just missed the Light Rail Train. As I waited a Light Rail Train going South arrived. Soon all the Light Rail Train Riders that needed to get off got off. All, but one with a child headed to wherever they were going.

I waiting at one of the entrances I normally board at. While I noticed the person with the child in tow was standing near me about three feet. I did not acknowledge this person, because I could care less. Although, I did wonder why this person was not going wherever they needed to go. Nor did this person go to the ticket machine located at the other side of the Light Rail Station.

About 10 minutes later the Train that I needed to get on was coming into the Arapahoe Light Rail Station. Since I was there first I was first in line to board. Yet, this person walked without so much a look at me to indicate that she was going to cut in front of me with their child. Readers, I have no problem with letting a person get ahead with me with a child in tow, but not to so much even acknowledge me as “please may I cut in” look or something to that effect.

Nope. Nada. Nothing.

Not that you have to guess; I got a bit pissed off. Then to top this off when the Light Rail Train was about to stop there was two bike riders; a man and a woman (probably in their early 20’s) who were getting ready to get off with their bikes.

The person who cut in front of me without so much as glance at me started to go into the Light Rail Train without letting the bike riders get out first. The guy immediately made this person trying to board the Train stop them in their track and made no effort to move. That person with child in tow immediately moved out of the way just enough to let him out with his bike.

Now, here is the fucked up thing. Readers, while the wait was about 10 minutes not many riders showed up, which meant that there was about 5 other entrances to the three other Light Rail Trains that were connected together going to 18th and California. Of all places to board this person chose the entrance I was waiting at and to cut in front of me. That is messed up Readers.

As soon as the guy was off the Train that person with child in tow immediately boarded the train. The look on the woman biker’s face was the pure “What the fuck” look. I could not believe what I just witnessed either. As soon as the person with child in tow was clear the woman with her bike was able to disembark. Yes, I waited until the woman and her bike was off the Train before I got on.

That person with the child in tow took the middle seats between the doors of the Light Rail Train meanwhile I took one of the small seats near the end of the Light Rail Train cars.

Soon the Light Rail Train was off and running. A thought occurred to me this person did not buy a ticket while I was listening to my Ipod.

Then, it was not even 15 seconds later that person with the child in tow pulls out a cell phone and then starts speaking in a language I did not know. This person was not talking normally, but at a loud enough volume to bother me and one more rider on the Light Rail Train.

I was already pissed at this person for cutting in front of me and now to be talking too loudly I was getting more pissed off. To get me going I started talking out loud about how I could not hear my music for someone talking too loudly on a cell phone.

That person with child in tow and cell phone firmly against their ear ignored me or did not even know that I was talking out loud about them. I probably looked ridiculous myself. Oakley’s on when there was no sunlight, my earphones in and me just looking like “do not even think about fucking with me” look on my face.

Two Light Rail stops later “the man” boarded. I was getting more pissed off as the seconds rolled by and I still could hear that person talking loudly on the cell phone in a language I could not identify. “The man” then asks me for my fare. I pulled out my ticket upgrade and my bus transfer and held it out in my palm to “the man”. I did not look at “the man”, but just continued to look at the person with the child in tow with the cell phone firmly placed against their ear.

Out of the corner of my eye I could actually see “the man” really checking out my tickets. I could care less at the moment, but would have if I were not focused on the person with the child in tow. I would say about 20 seconds later I hear “thank you” from “the man” and at that moment I looked at “the man” and pointed at that person with the child in tow “they do not have a ticket.”

“The man” nods his head at me and then walks to the person with child in tow.

“Ticket please” I hear the “the man” say to the person with the child in tow.

At this point I push stop on my ipod, because I wanted to see what was going to happen.

“Excuse me, ticket please,” I hear “the man” repeat himself.

The person with child in tow did not even look at “the man.” The person with child in tow just kept talking loudly in whatever language they were talking in to the person on the other end of the cell phone call.

“Ma’am.”

She looks at with him while talking on the cell phone.

“I need to see your ticket.”

“Ma’am. Your ticket please.”

Eventually, she hangs up the cell phone and then starts to look in her purse. Two stops later, she pulls out a bus transfer ticket.

“Ma’am this is from this morning. I need to see a current ticket please.”

“Do you understand me? What is your name?”

She looks at “the man” without saying a word.”

“Your name please”

Readers I am going to sum up the next part. “The man” asked her for her Date of birth. Where is she going. To no avail. Soon, “the man” got her to call whoever she was talking to get some answers. “The Man” was not going to walk away and give up.

“The man” has a conversation with the other person on the other end of the call and soon it was worked out that she was getting off at Broadway – he also got her name.

When the Light Rail Train eventually arrived at the Broadway Station I saw “the man” get off and then the woman with child in tow got up to get off also. As the woman got up she looked directly at me – “the death to you” look and it was at that moment I smiled my pearly whites directly at her. She eventually turned away, but when she got off the train she stared me down from the Broadway platform. She knew she was in trouble with “the man.”

This was due justice in the world – the ying and the yang.

For her incredible behavior for cutting in front of me, for not letting one of the bike riders to disembark from the Light Rail train first and for talking so loudly on the Light Rail Train and being rude to other passengers this was her punishment for being insolent to others on that faithful evening.

Now, you Readers may think this was my fault, but it was not. If I had not said anything to “the man” he would have asked for her ticket anyway. The woman with child in tow may have been doing this type of thing for a while. Perhaps the woman with child in tow may have been getting warnings up to this point. Perhaps. You can not claim I did not know you had to buy a ticket when there are usually more than two ticket machines located at most of the Light Rail Stations.

Yes, I got a certain satisfaction when “the man” walked her away from the Light Rail Train at the Broadway Station. Call it fate. Call it what comes around goes around. Call it karma. Call it you just “f’d in the A.”

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

I'm Bad Ass, Nationwide Readers!

Greetings Readers

Yours truly made the bike ride home on Lily without incident... well I did get splashed with slush from head to toe. And you know what Readers, I really laughed at myself when I got doused in slush. Nornally, this sort of thing would not be fucking funny to me. However, for the past 24 hours I have been happy as a clam on the Mountain Bike. I have been riding with a smile. Even more I have been talking to people who are on foot that smile and laugh at me; as well as approach me for conversastion. Even when I got home I had to laugh at myself on how soaking wet I got from that one vehicle that splashed slush 6 feet high and I bet about 10 feet wide. The driver was probably laughing at me also for what he/she did, but I did not mind.

You faithful Readers know I dislike this type of interaction most of the time, but I am having a grand ole time on Lily and going the distance as being that hard-core biker I am in the past 24 hours. Matter of fact Readers, my nipples are hard up (and not because of the cold =).)

I got home yesterday afternoon since the office closed down early. I had the rest of my pizza I ordered the other day and then soon fell asleep. I work up in time for Nip / Tuck and then sort of slept off and on until 6 AM this morning. The office was on a delay scheduled so that meant I could leave for work about 9 AM. I think everyone else took the day off or the office was closed.

I bundled up, got ready for the snow;not the cold since that was the least of my worries.

I headed out with Lily and soon I found out how difficult that morning bike ride was going to be. side streets were not plowed and basically had little traffic so I was weaving in one set vehicle tracks trying to stay vertical. I wish I could have biked near the gutter, but the snow was too deep and the sidewalks were not even an option.

The only option to take Arapahoe Road to the Arapahoe Light Rail Station. No through the urban subarbs. As when there is this much snow and type of condition there is the only thing I can do - I ride into the oncoming traffic that way I can see what is coming to me and more important not be run over by a vehicle from behind. Tedious venture, but I biked as fast as I could with the low volume traffic and then pull over to the side of the road and waited until all traffic pass by. As soon as that is done I ride like a madman once more.

Unfortunately, I did go horizontal. At least I went "fwoomp" into the snow (more than a foot deep)and did not actually kiss Mother Earth. I got up laughed at myself and decided to take a picture of where I fell over sideways on Arapahoe Road (which is pictured).

Eventually, I made it to the Light Rail Station and decided to take another Bad-Ass picture of myself at the water fountain near the Arapahoe Light Rail Station.

And that is pretty much my bike adventure riding this morning in Englewood, Colorado in the midst of the first heavy snow storm of Fall 2009.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

The Coming of the Storm

Greetings Readers

Bad Ass

Or so I do from time to time think of myself upon Mother Earth.

Yet, I know from a different point of view I was stupid. Your view depending on how you see the world from your eyes, as well as read.

As living as a true American I have that freedom to view myself how I want to others as well as have a voice (an opinion).

Yet, let me be truthful to myself I seriously fucked myself on my ride home.

I did not leave to go home until about 8:15 last night. As I waited for the parking garage door to open fully I saw the gleaming wet pavement from the sodium arc streetlights and knew that either rain or snow awaited me.

Neither really. It was that pellet like sized hail that was falling in the late evening night. I soon quickly found out that the wind was blowing from the West and North and steadily.

When I did turn to bike North I immediately felt the pellet like snow hit my face and it hurt. Also, on my exposed legs I felt the stinging of the pellet like snow hit my thighs. It did not hurt, but I would soon feel the pain of the pellet like snow hitting my thighs.

I rode about 100 yards when the intensity of the falling snow picked up dramatically. I knew at that moment I had to alter my course and head for the Light Rail Station.

From earlier this morning when listening to Fox News 31 I heard that the storm that was forecasted to come to Denver was going to start in the evening. No, definite time was given, but I thought that that storm would be well after 8 PM. Alas, I was wrong.

I made it to the Light Rail Station and waited in areas that were dry (in a manner of speaking) from the current snow falling. I was not cold, but I could feel the cold. Meaning, I was not miserable – yet.

Matter of fact, I was in good spirits. I was taking Light Rail and I was relatively dry, for the moment. I was so feeling the moment I decided to take a picture at the Light Rail Station and was hoping to use the light sources at the Light Rail station to show how heavy the pellet like snow was falling. I think I was able to capture that moment.

Soon, the Light Rail Train came and I boarded and warmed up a bit. Again, I was not cold, but knew that I needed to get warmed up from being outside for about 15 minutes.

While sitting I decided that I needed another picture of me out in this weather. Although where was I going to take that picture at. Then, it occurred to me – that new water Fountain that is located right off the Arapahoe Light Rail Station. I knew that the fountain would be on as well as the lights that are located in the fountain.

I reached the fountain around 8:30, I estimate, and the place was empty. Good. I tried to find a nice picture-taking place and soon located a spot where I could place the camera on auto timer and then pose.

I took several pictures; most without the flash since I knew from previous experiences that the flash at the distance I was going to pose at was not going to help. I was worried about blur, which I did have on more than half of the pictures I took, but I was able to actually get a few pictures I liked. They probably could have been better, but I am more than okay with the results I got. All in all, at least all the pictures did not come out blurry.

I really liked when I was able to get the orange and red lights captured in the picture. The purple, green and blue did not have the “effect” that caught my eye. By the way Readers, the falling pellet like snow was falling harder, but also changing over to snowflakes, which meant that the air was getting colder. Good, but not good.

So, I spent several minutes at the fountain taking timer pictures and soon the time came to ride home. There was no thought of heading to the nearest enclosed RTD bus stop. Actually, I was not sure that the bus on that route was even running anymore. So, instead of taking the chance with the thumb up my ass I knew I had to suck it up and ride home (all downhill.) Well, the snow and pellet like snow was falling in a mix. I was wet from all the picture posing and my exposed legs were wet and cold.

So, me riding west into the night was tough. I had to hold up my right had to block the snow from hitting my eyeballs. I had my Red Iridium lens on my Oakley’s, which meant I could not wear them at night since that lens blocks out light. I had not gone about 50 yards when I felt each of those pellet like snow hit every part of my expose thigh. It really hurt, but I think that was to the cold actually making my expose part of the thigh cold. Reflecting on the moment, I think my thighs were actually tingling from being so cold.

Here is where I had a choice. Ride fast and feel the stinging of the pellet like snow hit my thighs. As well as feel the wind cooling my body down. What did (or did not) help was that my ride was basically all downhill. I could get home without really pedaling, but that is not what I wanted. As long as I felt that I was moving my legs I felt I was able to keep a bit warmer longer while pedaling.

The other choice was to ride slowly. The softer the pellet like snow would hit my exposed thighs and the less I would feel the cold air when riding. The negative part about this choice is that I would be longer out in the night as well getting colder and wetter.

What did not help Readers – as I was riding through Greenwood Village I stuck to the streets, as opposed to the sidewalk. Hardly any traffic and I did not know the lay of the sidewalks in the dark. I would rather ride in the streets and street gutters where I know the terrain as opposed to the sidewalk since I hardly ever ride on sidewalks.

Well, Readers that was a mistake. Big fucking mistake. Apparently, it was a bit warmer in the DTC area, which meant that there was snowflakes, pellet like snow and rain falling all at the same time. Needless to say when I rode into the street gutter I rode into a gutter full of water – cold water. That cold water soaked my shoes instantly as well as get splashed on my legs and the back of my back from the rear tire. Not to mention the front tire that splashed up water into my face and chest. In a manner of feet I was soaking wet. Fuck me. I knew better, but I just did not think of expecting that until it was too late.

The last mile was tough Readers. The closer you know that you are home the further it seems away when you are miserable or in my case, cold, soaking wet, thighs tingling and wondering if I am going to damage some skin from the cold weather and cold elements.

And that Readers, was my ride home from a picture perfect Dawn morning. I have also included a few pictures from this morning, which I took the time to snap a few shots of me in all my glory.

On a serious note, I have decided to take off my Pink Bracelet (supporting the Komen Foundation.) Wearing that Pink Rubber bracelet was to support the Komen foundation, but more importantly to show the world the few women in my life who were diagnosed with breast cancer and survived affected me indirectly. As well as the ones that did not and for that reason also is why I especially wore that pink rubber bracelet.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Lily and Daryl at Dawn

Greetings Readers

Just another picture of me and Lily at the point of sunrise; almost. I thought what a beautiful sunrise this morning and the angle of the picture does not capture the colors as well as the clouds showing the colors of the coming sun.

Anyway, the morning was great, well more than great - no wind, in the 40's and the coming of the Dawn was so tranquil.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

An October Monday with Lily

Greetings Readers

I had to leave the humble abode early this morning due to end of month "stuff."

According to the news weatherperson, not meteorologist, Crystal Eggers (Fox news channel 31-Denver), she had said the is coldest morning by far yet this fall. I do not know, but that did not keep me from only wearing biking shorts.

Today, I wanted to wear biking shorts;no long biking pants.

I woke up early and onery today and was going to show it - whether it be biking or at work today.

Since I was leaving for work pretty early I decided to catch Light Rail so I could get to work early and get the "party started." Oh, and it really was not that cold. Cold, but not cold cold as Crystal predicted. Perhaps she was hungover and her veins were still constricted from the night before - hah hah - I do not know, but I am just saying that it was not that cold.

I had to take Lily this morning due to what happened to Andrea yesterday - that was fucked up and I have yet to post the post, but will do so tomorrow; if not too busy.

Lily was ready and I was ready.

And that my faithful Readers was the ride this morning. I decided to get some pictures of myself in the early morning on the last Monday in October 2009.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

A Fatal Fall Blow Out

Greetings Readers

You know I should be pissed. Well, maybe not just pissed, but fucking pissed off. Yet, I am not.

Every year, we come to the year that I despise. Well, perhaps despise is too strong of a word to use. I just dislike this part of the year. Why?

Those beautiful autumn leaves that were once hanging oh so beautifully in whatever tree(s) they bloomed from early this year are now a sight I hate to see. Those Gold, yellow, red and eventual brown and gray color that were hanging on the branches are now on Mother Earth. The wind, the rain and the snow dislodge them from the branches and they have fallen to the ground for their final resting place on Mother Earth.

It is at that moment that I hate those autumn leaves. Those leaves pile up in the street gutters as well as the sidewalks that do not have a private residence to rake up those leaves on the ground.

When there is a layer of leaves on the sidewalk or gutter I do not have a clue what those leaves may be hiding. I may ride that particular route every other day, but I still be careful of how fast I am riding through those leaves. How do I not know that county maintenance may have started work that day and dug up half the sidewalk or took out a portion of gutter to re-set concrete / asphalt so that portion of the gutter is brand new.

When the sun goes down I even become more careful since I do not want to ride through a dark part of the sidewalk that is littered in leaves since I imagine there will be a hole and I can actually see myself hitting that hole and going over the handlebars to kiss Mother Earth.

In addition to that hazard there are some leaves when they dry up they turned brown, dark gray and a dull orange. Not a problem, except when those leaves fall in area that was landscaped with rocks of those exact same colors. Riding at a regular speed through that area becomes somewhat of an adventure since I am trying to avoid riding over any rock; even though it may be a leaf that I have just avoided. What is the sad part is that I probably avoid every leaf and then Murphy’s Law happens; I actually ride over a rock. Fuck me.

That’s not it Readers, in some areas I ride I know there is debris – whether it be a smash can, a plastic bottle, wood, a partially destroyed hub cap, wire, or even a storm grate. I know where these items are so I know where to ride. Which means, I know there is something under the leaves in that particular area.

However, the other day I gambled in this particular area I ride in regularly. I saw the pile of leaves in an area that I knew that area was “clean” from anything the last time I rode my bike through. I slowed down a bit and that’s just a reflexive response I do when riding through leaves.

I had my Ipod and music blasting but I faintly heard something metallic hit my rim and felt the tire instantly go flat.

In a split second I knew the biking gods have extolled some vengeance for something I have done in the past year. There was no need to get mad, but I knew it was probably a long time coming that I had some sort of blow out like this. Now, if you Readers, faithful Readers, have read recently you will know that I had did something to my back bike brakes.

I was unable to come to a stop in time, but by the time I did the bike tube got dislodged from the inside of the bike tire. The bike tire partially came off also.

Fuck me. I was almost home to my humble abode. Far, but not far. With what I saw (and what you see in the picture) there was some serious repairs that needed to be done before I could start riding Tracey again. My thinking at that moment was to basically forego fixing the tire and just carry Tracey home. Why not. After all, if I can do the 24 hours of Boulder last year for a total of 50 miles in 24 hours I can walk a bike home in a mile.

The situation was not funny at the time, but thinking about it now it is sort of funny. I knew my “rules” I laid down and for me not following them this was the price for not following them.

Anyway Readers and fellow bike rider(s) in Denver, Colorado area - the leaves are now everywhere and hazards exist underneath them leaves.

In closing Readers, the leaves may hide something underneath them, but also be very, very careful when taking a corner on a bike. Those leaves are just as slippery and soon you could find yourself going horizontal and embracing Mother Earth. Again, I know from experience and I am passing along these “pearls of wisdom.”

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Blue Mountains

Greetings Readers

The Cold indicator

When you actually think about this it is such a worthless “extra” on a fucking cheap ass beer. Well, perhaps not to this beer drinker.

Really, why is there a cold indicator on a beer bottle to tell you if you beer is cold enough to drink?

I personally know that a beer is still good to drink cold when just bought from a liquor store and brought home. Once I get home to my humble abode and very little time has elapse I am not not going to drink a bottle of beer. After all, is it not common to pop open a cold one to celebrate the end of another workday? I have personally partake in this ritual more than once in my life.

Yet, every now and then I see that commercial with cold filter beer with the so-called promise that the “Blue Mountains” will appear when the beer is at optimum drinking temperature.

The Blue Mountains will appear when the beer is ready to drink at the temperature it should be at.

That is fucked up if any consumer believes that. We human are stupid, well some of us are, and for us to be told how to drink our beer is fucked up.

What I thought about was one of the reasons for the “Blue Mountains” indicator is – it is for an alcoholic. Though for this reason you have to assume that the alcoholic only drinks alcohol at a cold temperature. So, this alcoholic perhaps buy his/her 6-pack at lunch or after work and stores their purchase in the truck of their vehicle.

As you know Readers the trunk is a good place since there is no sunlight actually penetrating the trunk. Whereas if you left the 6 pack on the front seat (or back seat) the sun’s ray will shine upon the 6-pack to warm up the beer. Also, the vehicle becomes a temporary greenhouse with all the glass and will eventually warm that 6-pack of beer.

Let us pretend that alcoholic will not drink a warm beer. Fine. The Alcoholic puts the beer in the fridge to get the beer cold. Now, there is a waiting game - perhaps the alcoholic begins checking the 6-pack every 15 minutes. No visible cold mountains yet.

And you know why? Well, according to the “Blue Mountains” in the refrigerator getting cold the beer inside the bottle has to get cold for the beer bottle label to get cold. The cold, I think, from the refrigerator is not enough to activate the “Blue Mountains” on the label since the beer is most likely still warm to counteract the cold on the outside of the label.

That being said – here is the flaw. More often I put some bottles of beer in the fridge to get my beer cold, cold for my preference.

I decided to take a 7-11 slurpee cup I bought years ago that works on the same principle. When the cup gets cold the cup “changes” and shows that the cup is cold for optimum slurpee experience.

12 minutes later the cup was showing the “optimum” drinking temperature, yet the water in the cup was not “optimum” drinking temperature. The freezer did its job, which is to freeze. However, the freezer does what it knows – it freezes from the outside to the core – in that order.

So, the “optimum”-drinking drinking indicator was activated correctly, but too early for “optimum” drinking temperature.

With that being said, should any beer drinker put these bottles in the freezer or a container full of ice the “Blue Mountains” indicator will be prematurely activated to the icy cold temperatures of the freezer or to the ice cube bath container. And should any John Doe / Jane Doe actually believe in the “Blue Mountains” indicator they are in for a surprise when they open that bottle of beer an expecting a cold bottle of piss. Oops, Sorry Readers – I often think of that beer with the “Blue Mountain” indicator as piss beer. The beer will be cold, but not “optimum” drinking temperature.

In closing, do not be tempted to buy that “Cold Mountain” activated label beer for that reason of being reliant on the “Could Mountain” label indicator to indicate to you, perhaps falsely to indicate to you, when to drink their beer.

You Readers have enough common sense to make a cold beer enough for you to drink or know how long to refrigerator or freeze a beer to the temperature you want to indulge your beer at.

Readers – after thinking and writing about this I think I am going to have to perform a test of that “Blue Mountain” indicator beer. I just cannot believe that I am going to have to buy that “Blue Mountain” activated label beer. That is fucked up just thinking about me buying that beer. And what is worst that after the test I perform I am going to have to drink that beer – After all I do not think I am going to be able to resist not drinking that cheap ass beer since I did buy it.

By the way Readers - The first picture of my 7-11 cup you can see Bruce Banner without the "cold" being applied to the cup and then when the cold indicator "kicks in" Bruce Banner disappears and then all you see is the face of the hulk - in white (on his chest).

Fucked up.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

First Mountain Bike Ride of Fall 2009

Greetings Readers

Yours truly knew that the snow was coming, but what I did not know was how cold the evening was going to be. If the temperatures were going to drop below freezing then I seriously did not want to ride any road bike. I was in no fucking mood to go horizontal and embrace Mother Earth. Most of the time I have no problem riding my road bikes in snow - after all I thrive and boast and get a certain "smugness" when I am that hard core / Crazy bike rider going down the road on a sheet of ice or 12 inches of snow with my biking shorts (as opposed to my long bike pants.)

I was not cranky, I just did not want to slide on ice and go down. Readers, I am not saying that I would not go down on Mountain bike. All I am hinting to is that my road bike tires are about 1 inch wide. (I think, if not less - I really do not know off the top of my head. Even though I should know) Anyway, I do refer to them as my skinny road bike tires. This skinny road tires have less surface area and less contact than a mountain bike tire to the road. I think my Mountain bike tire has to be at 3 inches (or more) wide.

Ever since getting that Mountain Bike... I know Readers her name is Lily, but for the new Readers in between last winter and this fall I better refer to the Mountain bike as a Mountain bike as opposed to Lily on this post only. Otherwise, I might confuse the new Readers I may have picked up since the beginning of the year.

The tires held up pretty good since winter / Spring, but the tires had basically about 20 psi after the long storage (no riding Lily)

Boy, I was out of breath pumping both tires up to about 65 psi, according to the writing on the side of the mountain bike tire.

The morning before heading out to work - it was snowing and the wind was slightly blowing, and I decided to catch the RTD bus stop near my humble abode to get to the Light Rail station.

I forgot Readers how much of a bitch it is to put in and take out a Mountain bike tire on the RTD bus bike rack. The Mountain bike tires, well mine, had to be actually forced into the rack and with some extra muscle pulled out from the rack when you are taking your bike off the RTD bus bike rack. I also forgot how heavy a Mountain bike is to all my road bikes. Urgh! Thank goodness for Jenny, now not my so new neighbor, otherwise I would not have been working out since June of this year. Oh, that is another story for another time Readers. I may have written about Jenny, but I can not remember how many posts I have posted about her. And no Sam - there is no stalking (or any derivative of) going on by me.

Let me get back to blog post at hand...

I was actually cold yesterday. And fucking wet when I got to work. Soaking wet to the thong I was wearing. Kidding Readers no thong, but I was soaked down to the underwear. My long biking pants, my thick white tube socks, my bike shorts I also had on, my gloves, and my three bandannas I had on were just wet. The Natalie Merchant stocking cap was alright. The Oakleys were okay, but were sort of useless since the water beading and running on the lens was making my vision not so clear. Yet Readers, as much as I wanted not to wear the Oakleys on my face I kept them right there. Why? Well, I paid xxxx amount of dollars and by gosh I am going to get my money's work when I can. Oh, I was wearing the clear orange lens since it was dark when I left the house and knew the day was going to be overcast so I changed out the lens that morning. I know stubborn, but I want to sort of keep that image of "yeah I am all that and a bag of chips," hah hah.

Fast forward.

Time to go home and the only two things I had dry were my white tube socks and my long biking pants. Everything else was damp. Damn. With a struggle I put on my Nautica long sleeve running jersey and then over that I put on my biking jersey. I lost my breath when that dampness touched my skin - but only for a few minutes.

Soon, I was dressed to the 7's and was leaving the parking garage. I immediately felt energized. I decided to take the scenic way home (via bike trail) as opposed to riding streets and sidewalks, or the Light Rail.

It was almost dark, but there I was still wearing those Oakleys for the sakes of wearing them. However, it was snowing a bit more than a bit and the wind was blowing from the North. Which in effect, blew the falling snow into my eyes when I tried not wearing the Oakleys for a bit. This time I really had to wear the Oakley lens and of course they helped more than expected.

By the time I got to my humble abode I was more wet from the snow, water puddles throughout the landscape and side streets. Yet, I was smiling and really did not care since I was just happy to be riding (and perhaps saving $ 2.00 for RTD bus fare.)

I stripped down to my birthday suit and had everything hanging from where I could to dry out my attire and backpack I was wearing that evening. Of course, I have some beach towels I specifically bought for this scenario years ago and laid the beach towels down near the front entrance of my humble abode to protect my tiles entrance from water dripping, mud, snow or autumn leaves; as well as the carpet near the entrance of my humble abode.

I thought about a hot shower, but instead I turned on the TV, grabbed my comforter and wrapped myself up and sat down on the couch. Just sitting there wrapped in my comforter was a very nice feeling. I could literally feel how cold my skin was when I moved positions and felt the outside of my thigh against the other leg - I was cold.

And that Readers was the account of the first true snow fall (for me) this Fall. I was out of town, vacation, during the first snowfall this Fall. We have had some light, light snow fall a couple of days this fall, but nothing I would not call that "first snow" of Fall for me.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Laughing at the Bus Stop (and elsewhere)

Greetings Readers

Alright Readers, the weather sure changed from the early morning of the day to when I got off work close to 6:00 PM last night.

There was a heavy mist and visibility was down to a mile, I estimate.

I only had my biking shorts, light windbreaker, fingerless gloves and 2 bandannas.

In so many words I fucked myself for my bike ride home from work.

I was cold, shivering and there was a light rain mist falling.

I will admit Readers; I was cold.

I got off the Arapahoe Light Rail Station and headed (rode) to a bus stop I know of that is an enclosed bus stop; as opposed to just a bench. This bus stop has that plastic breakaway clear wall that almost encases the bus stop to protect us riders from the elements.

I was there waiting for about ten minutes when I saw a bus coming around the corner. I immediately left the enclosure and got my bike ready to load onto the bike rack on from of the RTD bus.

The bus stopped and I loaded my bike onto the bike rack. I walk in and then I hear the bus driver talking, but muffled since I had my earphones on and the music was a bit louder than usual.

I take out my earphones.

“You want the 105?” he said once more.

“Uh. No” I replied.

I apologized for making him stop and for me not looking at the LED display on the front of the bus. I took my bike off the RTD Bus bike rack and once more apologized and thanked him for telling me.

I know the 105 bus runs out here, but apparently they must have adjusted the bus route when the 465 (or was that the 405) was discontinued a few months.

I went back into enclosure and stood moving to the music to keep myself warm and the blood circulating throughout my body. I had my arms crossed to keep myself warm as much as I thought I could.

There I was – freezing and shivering like a hard-core bike rider, but a fucking dumb hard-core rider who didn’t dress accordingly. I cannot argue that, though I am not dumb, I just did not count on the cold front to get into Denver in the afternoon as opposed to 8 PM when the weatherperson said this morning. Yeah, yeah, yeah I knew fucking better, but I did not listen so now I am paying for not listening to the weatherperson.

I had the Scorpions currently singing “The Zoo” and I was moving to the music and silently singing to myself watching the intersection traffic as well as the photo cameras taking pictures of vehicles running the red turn light arrow. Readers, the two flashes from the stoplight camera are pretty bright in the dark.

Soon, I saw a person, a man, walking down the sidewalk towards the bus stop enclosure.

As usual I had my earphones in, music playing and basically was okay with freezing my ass off, but sort of in a foul mood since I really put myself in this situation. I knew better than to leave my humble abode without bringing my Natalie Merchant stocking cap, long biking pants, and full-fingered gloves. But no… I had to be the “cool” guy who rides like it is not cold.

With that being said I was no mood to be talked to by any stranger; although the bus driver was an exception since the weather was cold and misty, raining and basically I did not want to ride home. I wanted a warm bus.

The stranger slows down as he approaches the RTD bus stop enclosure and then dumps something into the trashcan outside and then steps insides the enclosure with me. I never made eye contact with this person. I was busy observing everything else, besides him. He was not important and I did not want to be asked any questions. I know I was destine to hear the question “Hey, have you been waiting long?” or the infamous “Do you got the time?”

Yep – My fucking luck, but not really. As I have blogged in the past I have no fucking clue why people ask me questions that have no bearing on their life at that moment waiting at the bus stop. How is my answer going to affect their life at the bus stop?

I was still moving my hips, swaying with my legs and had my arms still wrapped across by body while listening to the end of Scorpions singing “the Zoo.”

Then, I hear the all too familiar formation of a question.

“What bus are you waiting for?”

I pretended not to hear him. Yet, as I was not looking at him directly I can see that he is looking at me to obviously get my attention that he is talking to me.

Readers, after three obvious direct looks at me I pretend to notice him for the first time and I hear him ask the same question once more, but I was looking at his mouth.

“I can’t hear you, I’m sorry.” I politely and softly say without missing a beat of the music while looking at him and his mouth.

He looks at me, but his look was utter amazement as if he has never heard anyone say that to him before.

After I said that, which I said without smiling or sarcasm, I went back to observing the intersection traffic. Then, the next song to come on my ipod was a nice song from the 10,000 Maniacs – “Don’t Talk.”

“I can’t fucking believe it.” the guy says out loud to himself. I heard him, but pretended not to hear. He was not mad, but it was like he really could not fucking believe that someone / I actually said that – to him especially.

Then, there is a quick laugh from him. He then walks out of the enclosure and then back into the enclosure. Meanwhile, I am doing everything possible not to let him know that I heard him and not to look at him.

He laughs again and says out loud to no one, or me “That’s a fucking good one.”

Now, I am trying to keep from smiling from his laugh. His laugh was classic Readers. Short, but his laughing was about to make me laugh.

Even though this stranger was probably pissed off or was pissed off he was laughing at what I said to him. He did not cuss me out or give me the “death to you look.” His look right after I said “I can’t hear, I’m sorry” is classic. It made the situation funny for him, which in turn made it hysterical to me. Even more so after I caught my bus and left him at the bus stop.

“Fucking good one,” he laughs again. He sits down on one of the benches in the enclosure and then opens his bag and starts looking for something.

About 15 seconds later he locates whatever and then shakes his head in disbelief and laughs without saying a word.

Readers, at this point it is so fucking funny to me that I am literally dying to keep a straight face. One might say my Poker face.

Readers… oh Readers… I am laughing as I am writing this post right now.

He was looking for his phone and apparently when whoever answered the phone on the other end this stranger says

“Hi, I am at the corner of XXX and XXX can you tell me when the 105 comes to this bus stop?”

He utters another short laugh at himself while I imagine that RTD person on the other line is looking up that information for him.

Readers, I had to bite my tongue and the inside of my mouth so I would not smile or worse yet laugh, because he was laughing.

After a couple of minutes he is done with his phone call to RTD and then hangs up. He laughs at himself once more which is further making the encounter much more funnier than it should be.

Finally, bus 66 turns the corner and I leave the enclosure and he laughs while I am walking out. I put my bike on the bus bike rack and then board the bus. As the bus doors were closing I heard him laugh for the last time.

As soon as the bus goes about 30 feet or so I started laughing out loud like it was the funniest thing I heard. What made me laugh even harder was the hearing the guy laughing at himself or the situation. Once I thought I got myself in control on the laughing I would start laughing out loud once more uncontrollably.

I even thought about the situation. This guy did not miss a beat. After I told him I could not hear him – he did not cuss me out, he did not give me the fuck you or he never got really mad, he just laughed at himself and then resolved the situation by calling up RTD himself.

Readers – this is just too fucking funny to write (recount) this up for you. I am seriously laughing out loud at this incident and blog.

This is so not like the guy who asked me which way the elevator was going. This guy is not “whipped.” He did not get the answer to his question, but at least he looked for the next option available to him.

Now, with all that being said “My answer to his question is not going whatsoever help him. Here is the answer I would have given to him, if I chose to answer his question.

“66.”

How is that information going to help him? I am not saying if he did ask me “Did the bus 105 come by?” I would have answered him, but I only react by the moment that whatever the situation is going on at that moment. I could have said to this stranger.

“The 105 came by about 10 minutes earlier.” Again, I could have, but then again maybe not.

I do not know Readers, but I know that my answer to his question was not going to benefit him. Matter of fact, what if this guy was a RTD bus stop serial killer who’s MO is to ask people what bus they are catching and if a certain digit is said well that was the trigger to harm someone just for saying a certain digit. Yeah Readers, that may be far fetched, but logically how does what bus I am waiting for affect him?

Yet, another stranger in my travels upon Mother Earth seemed to ask another seemingly simple question, but a question they had no business asking in the first place.

I got off the bus at my stop and soon I was laughing my ass off on Arapahoe Road. It was just so funny to me. I was even thinking about that guy probably had unlimited minutes, which means that phone call did not cost him and he actually used his phone to his benefit.

I dropped my gear off, changed my bike to another bike and then headed to the store for my dinner to cook last night.

The laughter got worse Readers. While I was shopping in King Soopers people looked / glanced at me and I would let loose with another round of uncontrollable out loud laughter which was the laugh of someone laughing at the funniest thing in the world. I never looked back at those people, but I can imagine them looking at me with that “what is so fucking funny,” look or “are you laughing at me,” look, which made the moment even funnier. I laughed all over the store – the meats area, the Coca-Cola aisle, the refrigerator area and then the check out lane. I looked at the people who looked at me first then I would burst into another of round of out loud laughter. A young couple, a black guy, a woman in her sweat pants and slipper, A mom and her teenage daughter, a King Soopers employee – I did not care, but anyone who made eye contact with me - I laughed out loud since it was so funny thinking about my RTD bus stop incident and me just laughing when people looked at me. I made sure that I did not look at anyone directly in the eyes in the store like I normally do, since I know I am going to see that same exact blank look that stranger had at the bus stop.

In closing, that laughter yesterday was the best thing to happen to me in a long while, probably since the last time I had sex. Hah hah. And that’s not the same laughter I was doing yesterday.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

My First Dress Work Clothes Ride - ever!

Greetings Readers

Well Readers - I bet you may be wondering why I have my street clothes on as opposed to my ususal biking clothes?!

The story with the picture coming soon

This particular morning I had an early morning meeting at another building that the company I work for rents. Unfortunately, there are no showers located on site.

As some of you Denver, Colorado residents now know that the weather has changed. The mornings are cool (as well as cold.) None of this matters as to why I decided to wear my work clothes that morning.

I really do not know why.

What I have done in the past is put my work clothes in one of biking bags and then changed in the restroom. Most of the time I do not work up a sweat so there is not an issue with changing directly into my work clothes in the handicap stall.

Yet, this morning I did not want to do that. So, I actually showered at home, on a weekday morning, which is unheard of since I do use the shower at work.

And let me tell you Readers me being and trying to uphold the hard-core rider look that I am known for is all right. Yes, during the Fall, Winter and Spring cold days I try and make the effort to ride only in my biking shorts. Most of the time it is okay, other times it is not. I pay for my stubbornness and the “I know better than to leave the humble abode in only my biking short” attitude. I may be freezing and shaking from the cold, but as soon as I walk through the lobby or go through the parking garage a smile and certain smugness comes over me.

I may walk taller and show confidence all for the sakes of anyone who may bestow their gaze upon me. Shallow, but Readers it is whatever makes you happy. And that Readers is what makes me happy.

For example two winters ago there was a snowstorm that fell through the night continuing into the morning. I rode my garage sales mountain bike through about 12 inches of snow since the streets I rode were not plowed right away due to the storm dumping so much snow in such a time period.

I enjoyed myself and even got a workout from riding on a Mountain bike trying to ride in the powder snow.

Let me get to the point. I reached the lobby of where I work and then stepped in through the doors. I was dressed warmly, had my bike lifted since I do not want to leave tire tracks over the lobby floor and I had a layer of snow all over me.

A few people to this day recount the day that I walked in that door. They saw me with my bike in the air and me shaking myself like a wet dog to shake off as much as the snow I could on the entrance’s mat. To me that ride was just as any other ride, but to those select people who saw me have commented from time to time on that day and what they saw.

Readers, getting back to the story – I dressed in some nice blue jeans, my button up shirt and put on my tie. I put on my light windbreaker and then tied a bandanna around my right jean near the ankle. Nothing fancy mind you, but this will keep my nice jeans from getting caught in the bike chain and crank or from getting some of the bike chain grease on my nice jeans. Oh yes Readers, I learned this from past experience, I think over a decade ago on how your jeans can get ripped with a new hole getting stuck in the bike chain or worst yet a black bike chain grease mark that is about 5 inches long.

I did not put on my Natalie Merchant Stocking cap since I did not want my hair to be messy or full of static. All my usual biking gear (and clothes) was put into my backpack since I was going to be riding home after work in them.

I left the humble abode and soon remembered that I could not bike the way I usually do. I had to take the ride easy. More importantly I had to make sure that I did not work up a sweat and not to perspire too much between the area of my back and the backpack I was wearing.

Readers, for those that do have to commute in their work clothes I give you some kudos.

However, there is something to be said you can have bike riding gear that you bike in and then change at work. There are options.

I know – well I do not want to change in the restroom? Why should I bring an extra set of clothes? And so forth.

I do not disagree and probably have an answer for each of those questions you ask.

Bottom line, I could care less. In the past 13 years I have chosen to work at places that have showers available. That was only one of two requirements when I was consulting in the DTC area.

So, I rode slowly and casually to the building for my offsite meeting. I have to admit Readers I was so self-conscious of my appearance that morning wearing and riding my work clothes to work. I felt that every vehicle that past me or drove towards me in the opposite direction we looking and thinking about me. Probably not all, but I know some vehicles were – I just know.

What thought did “pop” into my head was that I probably looked like one of those Mexican bike riders that work in a restaurant that bike to and form work and have their bike chained up outside the restaurant. Except, I was on a $1,900.00 (When new of course) road bike. Definitely, not that type of Mexican rider working at a restaurant that would be riding.

Readers, I am stereotyping, but right up/down the road there are a lot of restaurants and behind the restaurant or if there is a bike rack there is customary Mountain bike that a Mexican restaurant work would ride. Granted, in two of those restaurants I know by sight that they are Mexican. Otherwise, the other restaurants I cannot confirm the ethnicity of the bike’s owner chained up outside the restaurant.

Getting back to the story. I finally reached my destination and that Readers is really the end of the story. My back was damp a bit, otherwise I was okay. Well, my nice jeans and thong I was wearing made my ride a bit uncomfortable. Just kidding Readers, I do not think I could wear a thong while riding my bike. Kudos to the women who I have glimpsed the thong they were wearing while riding on a bike showing above their biking shorts or pants.

And now to the picture on today’s post – I figure what the hell I better get a picture of this hopefully one time event of me in my work clothes riding with Rebecca. I saw that the picture did not capture my bandanna wrapped right leg, but I did wear and I looked bad-ass. Hah hah.

In closing, it was a bitch to have a tie on. So, the next time I now know to not to wear a tie while riding and the tie can be put on when I reach my final destination.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

24 Hours of Boulder - 2009

Greetings Readers

Sorry Readers - this year I am unable to compete.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

T-Minus 16 hours and 30 Minutes

Greetings Readers

I have not made a decision, but and will play it by ear. Perhaps, I will make an early morning decision

until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Wal-Mart Repo's

Greetings Readers

When I was on my short vacation last month I heard a story that really was pretty impressive.

As perhaps most of my Readers know that times are a bit tough these days. Jobs are hard to find and to get since there are now about over 300 people, 300 qualified people applying for the same job in Corporate America.

Now, I do not know the effects of getting a job at a restaurant or fast food place since I do practically see “we’re hiring” signs every week.

As well as trying to find a job, the cost of food as risen. I cannot believe that I actually am buying a 12 pack of Coca-Cola for $ 4.00 at King Soopers or Safeway. Those stores have actually equaled the 12-pack price at a convenience store. It used to be that the convenience store price was much higher that the grocery store’s price.

However, I have found that some things have not gone up, but actually down in price. Of course we can account that to supply and demand.

With that little intro - my Mother informed that Wal-Marts in the New Mexico area that are located in the middle of nowhere had become a haven for repo men / women. For example, there are Wal-marts in Gallup and Grants, New Mexico. Depending on your point of view on Wal-Marts these Wal-Mart’s have destroyed the small businesses in these towns due to Wal-Mart being able to offer prices lower than their competitors.

Now, either the consumers are forced to shop at Wal-Mart or will shop at Wal-Mart since there is a Wal-mart. Again, depending on your point of view of a Wal-Mart in a small town this is either good or bad.

Getting to the point of the blog. Apparently, not too long ago a person and/or their family went to Wal-Mart to shop.

When they came out their vehicle was gone. Repossession.

Now, I know it is sad, but in reality if you are not paying your car payments then by all means the financial institution can repossess your car.

Obviously, when the repossessions first started by that one repo man / woman it soon became good knowledge to tell other repo people on how they could recover the vehicle(s). Just wait at the local Wal-mart, which is what they did. Apparently, tow trucks and repo people waited at Wal-Mart.

My mom did not tell me the actual procedure of what the repo people did. I do not know if she knew at all. That is not the point.

When I initially heard this story I was pretty impressed. Meaning, yes it was smart for the repossession people to figure out a way to get a vehicle back. It was sad to hear the people who did go into Wal-mart and then come out only to find their vehicle gone was sad, but remember this would not have happened if they made their car payments.

Apparently, this tactic was getting good results for the repo people, but I guess something happened and the Navajo Nation got involved with only the Wal-Marts that were upon Navajo Nation land.

Now, the repo people are not allowed to use this tactic upon Navajo Nation land where there is a Wal-Mart located on.

I do not have an opinion if that was good that the Navajo Nation interceded. However, what got me thinking was how many other places in farmland America is this happening where the Navajo Nation is not located. What is to stop these repossessions from taking place?

Are the repossession people similar to Bail Bondsman? Both parties need to protect themselves from being out their money in a manner of speaking. The Financial institution wants its vehicle back since the buyer has not been making payments, which is valid. The Bail Bondsman wants to make sure that he/she gets their client to court for putting up a bond for their client.

Anyway Readers, what I just wrote is about all I know and heard about the repossessions of vehicles at Wal-Marts where they are the only place that is known and cheap to other small businesses in those small towns in New Mexico located on the Navajo Nation.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Love in a Elevator

Greetings Readers

Nope. There was no love in the elevator, but I hope I got your attention.

This blog is about the elevator and another “incident” in a manner of speaking that happened within the last week to me. I was in a building that had four elevators.

The morning opens with me getting on one of the elevators and going up.

I am the only person in the elevator. While I was in the elevator I was digging in my backpack looking for something. What I was looking for is irrelevant to this story, but what is – is that I was busy looking for something. Meanwhile, I feel as well as hear the elevator come to a stop on a floor. A floor mind you that was not my stop. I hear the elevator ding on the lobby of whatever floor the elevator was stopping at. From the corner of my eye I can see a person standing right in from of the elevator that the elevator doors just opened from. Other than that I am still digging through my stuff in my backpack looking for what I need.

“Is this elevator going up?” I hear a man’s voice ask.

I do not know if he was talking to me nor did I care. I did not hear the courtesy “excuse me sir” or “pardon me sir,” or the “excuse me.” After all, if I were looking at him then I would visibly know that he was probably asking me the question. If had said, “excuse me”, then this whole incident would not be written on this particular post. However, he did not and well I have a story for you Readers

Getting back to the story… I was currently preoccupied with locating what I needed to find in my backpack at that moment. I could care less what else is going on around me. Though, I am not oblivious to my surroundings.

Readers – there may a right way or a polite thing to do and I do not disagree with you Readers.

I could have easily looked up and responded in my most polite way ever and say “yes.”

I could have looked up and said in that Robert DeNiro attitude in Taxi Driver and said “Are you talking to me?”

I could have looked up and said “No, this elevator is going to Cambodia” without so much as a smile.

I could have looked up and said, “Well, what does the elevator light indicate outside the elevator show?”

I could have look up and said, “No, this elevator is going sideways” without missing a beat or a smile.

I could have looked up and said, “why don’t you take off those sunglasses yourself and see which light indicator is pointing outside the elevator.

And the list goes on and on. I have blogged about this before and I probably will continue to do so in the future.

Anyway, in a manner of seconds, or before the elevator doors closed between us he was able to figure out the answer to his own question he asked that morning and got in the elevator with me.

Readers, I have many, many moods and they vary from time to time and day to day. One day I could be the kindest person in the world and yet the next day I could the prick of your nightmares. I don’t discriminate on who I am nice or mean to – it all depends on the moment.

Now, when I was looking in my bag I had no clue whether who the person in the corner of my eye was – meaning a male or female. I was pre-occupied and that was that. When that person spoke then I knew the gender immediately, however that did not stop from searching for what I was looking for.

Most of you probably will say I should have answered his question, since that is “right” thing to do.

I disagree. When that person spoke and became a man I quickly thought to myself that a man should not be asking another man for directions on which way the elevator is going – especially so since he is not asking for directions to the Federal Building in Downtown Denver or the Chatfield Corn Maze. Meaning, I would tell him Take I-25 for x miles until you get to street x, then turn right go x blocks… as you can see where I am going with this. That type of asking directions is complex and is okay for a man to ask another man for directions.

However, the directions he was asking for was so simple that a kindergarten student could figure out which way that particular elevator was going for him/herself. Either the elevator was going up or down. Period. Whenever, I hear a man ask a simple question such as that I wonder if his girlfriend or wife has him whipped to a point he is not able to function without her when not around her.

I had no obligation to answer his question, especially so when he did not say excuse me to interrupt my backpack searching that particular morning. I was not rude either since I was technically not being addressed personally; meaning if I was looking directly at him when he asked that question and did not answer his question then that would be rude. Matter of fact Readers, he was rude for not saying “excuse me” before asking a question that was most likely intended for me. Readers, I cannot assume that he was asking the question at me since I was not looking at him. Even though I was the only one in the elevator how do I not know that he was asking another person in the lobby that out of my view from inside the elevator?

I am not required to look at every person who asks a question when I am not looking at them. Readers, I am being general on this. Obviously, this does not pertain to my friends or at the place I work at – just general areas in public with total strangers.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Toy Story 1 and 2 in 3-D

Greetings Readers

I am not a fan of Tim Allen. I did not watch his show when it was on TV – what was it called… the Home Improvement Show, I think.

Anyway, I had no desire to see Toy Story when it first came out. And I didn’t.

Then, Toy Story 2 came out, by then I think those movies with that type of animation was getting respect as much more than a kid’s movie. Before seeing Toy Story 2 in the movie theatre I did see Toy Story on DVD. And I have to admit to you Readers, I was so wrong not to see the movie just because of Tim Allen being one of the main voices in the movie.

Thinking back I actually think that Toy Story 2 was the first Pixar movie I saw in the movie theatre. Matter of fact Readers, I was impressed by the visuals as well as the story of the movie. However, what caught me off guard was the adult content that was “hidden” in the movie. Even though the movie is geared for kids is it also very entertaining for the adults.

I found myself laughing along with the other adults when the kids were not laughing at the movie. We shared something in common and that made the movie so much more pleasurable.

Here we are Readers – 2009 and now Pixar has re-released Toy Story and Toy Story 2 for a limited engagement of 2 weeks. There was no question – I was going to see the movie period. What was different for this re-release was that you get to see both movies for the price of one ticket. However, that one ticket was going to cost money extra since the movie was in 3-D.

Yes, I have the DVDs in my collection, but I wanted to see the movie in the movie theatre. Although, not because of the 3-D.

Before actually seeing this movie I have never been to a 3-D movie since the late eighties. Back then you wore those paper 3-D glasses that have one red lens and then one blue lens in the cardboard frame glasses. That was the 3-D I knew of. Matter of fact that was still my thinking until I actually got my first pair of 3-D glasses with my movie ticket.

The 3-D glasses were actual glasses. A plastic frame that sort of look like the Ray-bans of the eighties. However, the lens looked like just any ordinary lens. Clear. No red and blue colors – just a clear lens.

I bought a big tub of popcorn since I was going to be in the theatre for over 3 hours.

I went into the 7 PM showing on a Monday night. There was Monday night wrestling, there was Monday night football and then there was the decisive post game series of the Rockies playing the Philly’s and needing a win to stay in the series otherwise their season is over. So, I was hoping almost all of Denver were at home watching one of those three events.

With all that going on I was the only person in the movie theatre watching the Toy Story movies. I thought that was pretty cool. I had the big screen all to myself as the way it should be.

Soon, the previews started and I put on the glasses. I did not have a clue when I was suppose to put them on. I watched the preview and tried to see if the trailers were in 3-D. It looked 3-D, but I could not tell if the glasses were working or not.

Then, the big screen showed that now was the time to put on the 3-D glasses.

The first movie trailer in 3-D started paying. Holy fucking shit – that was fucking amazing! The movie trailer was “A Christmas Scrooge” or something like that and was an animation movie coming out at Christmas in 3-D starring the voice of Jim Carrey.

One snowflake that was in 3-D was floating in and out of the movie screen and was literally floating in 3-D right in front of me. That whole trailer was amazing to see in 3-D. It is amazing how technology has changed since the last 3-D movie, which technically had nothing like the impact I was witnessing in that movie theatre.

Objects, people had true 3-D depth. There was even the sense of riding an icicle in 3-D at high speed. My mind actually believed the rush of speed.

Soon, the first movie started.

Then, a ten-minute intermission after the first movie was over.

And then the second movie started and was over about 90 minutes later.

I was fucking awed by the 3-D experience. I laughed, smiled and really enjoyed myself watching both of those movies once more. I have seen the Toy Stories over and over, but I pretended I was seeing this for the first time. I did enjoy hearing the voices of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, John Ratzenburger, Don Rickles, Kelsey Grammer, Estelle Harris and Wayne Knight.

I also liked the voice of Randy and Sarah singing again.

I absolutely enjoyed the 3-D. There was depth. There was such detail in the 3-D that I was looking all over the movie screen to see all the effects of 3-D in the movie. What was even more impressive was that even though the movie gave 3-D to objects and characters – they were even able to make the light from a flashlight in the movie 3-D. They made smoke in 3-D. Even the sun’s rays they could occasionally be made in 3-D.

You probably have these two movies in your collection and thought to yourself why should I go and see these two Toy Story movies in the movie theatre. True. But Readers, I think you will be pleasantly surprised and will soon find that the 3-hour plus in the movie theatre will go by quickly. I was worried about fidgeting in my seat since I know both movies by heart, but I think I did not because I was caught up in the 3-D experience.

The movies (double feature) was worth the $ 12.00 dollars I paid and I am glad that I was one of the few to actually catch the limited engagement of Toy Story and Toy Story 2 in the movie theatres.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

The Pink Bracelet

Greetings Readers

The Pink Bracelet.

I am a firm believer in the Komen Foundation.

Anyway, after work this past week I was in Safeway buying my dinner I was going to prepare when I saw this Pink Bracelet, which I have taken a picture of, at the check out stand.

Pink, yes. But, with my second hand experience with having someone close to me having Breast cancer I knew that I had to buy a couple of those bracelets. Two dollars apiece is what the price was.

After that, for about two days I contemplated about donning a pink bracelet. I hate to admit this, but I will so. It is Pink and I do not want my sexuality to be questioned at work or with my friends about wearing a Pink bracelet. Otherwise, a total stranger I could care less about. I have blogged about the Livestrong bracelet in the past as well as the Obama bracelet I donned right after the DNC convention in Denver, Colorado.

I really, really wanted to wear that pink bracelet to show support and involvement with the Komen Foundation.

However, here is the fucked up way of my thinking. Do you Readers recollect that I have two Pink bike Jersey (Pink was the color of T-Mobile back in the day with Jan Ullrich) and I have two pink T-Mobile Jerseys in my closet)? I have no problem wearing those pink bike jersey when I do. No thought what so ever to what people may be thinking.

In addition, to the pink bike jerseys I have two Pink Ties in my wardrobe, which I have been alternating wearing one each week. Again, I wear without so much as worrying about what people thought or evening questioning my sexuality.

I do not believe that “Pink is the new Black”

I just wear the Pink items that I have, because they look good when I do wear them and they do not seem out of place on me while wearing.

Back to the story, these two bracelets, these two Pink Komen pink bracelets are causing me to question what people might think when I start wearing the Pink bracelet.

In the end, I have elected to put on the bracelet for one week to show the world my support of the Komen Foundation. In the first two days I saw people, my friends, my co-workers notice the Pink Bracelet on my left wrist. I was so self-conscious and saw each of their eyes pick up on the new accessory on my left wrist. Most glanced real quickly and then soon forgot; a couple of others commented and we talked about the Pink Bracelet. They knew what the Pink bracelet meant as opposed to just an accessory. It showed that I knew about breast cancer and when asked about it on my own personal experience I told them how I was affected. Matter of fact Readers that is one of the reasons why I have an issue with relationships and wondering if I will have to follow in the same footsteps I did over a decade ago. To this day I am still affected and I have not forgotten that part of my life.

In conclusion, I have one Pink bracelet hanging off the side of my monitor and the other bracelet is on my left wrist. I am becoming okay with wearing with the bracelet, but I will only wear for a week; perhaps one more week since that was the amount of time that I gave the Obama bracelet on my wrist. Again I am sticking it to Mr. L.A.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete