12 Years A Jigsaw Puzzle Slave

Greetings Readers

So, the unavoidable was handled last night.  I had to.  I just had to.  For the past 11 years I have to say maybe I have only worked on this puzzle once, maybe twice.  This 5000 piece puzzle has been the thorn in my foot for 12 years.  I was going along fine as with all my puzzles; however this time I elected to leave the sky and start elsewhere - sorry my memory of actually where I started is non existent to remembering where I started.  I imagine the big and probably my brother did the skyline.  I know that I did the water and that was something.  And then the sky.  That is where I left it - and now a decade later I have two puzzles I have bought for myself and that does not include the four puzzles that I have bought for my brother as well.  Of course the two that I bought are 3000 and 5000 puzzles.  For my brother I bought a 1000, 1500, and 2000 panorama puzzles.  The panorama puzzles are interesting - especially the one that I bought on Amazon that was shipped from England.  That puzzle was the Saint Mark Square of Venice - 2000 pieces.  I love the look as well as the color tones of the puzzle - the gold and black colors make the puzzle look wonderful. 

I digress. So, in order for me to start the puzzle I have to go through my puzzle ritual as well as getting ready to tackle another puzzle of interest.  Yes, if you faithful Readers are still around then yes you know me and my "rituals"  one could say OCD, but I would not label as myself as a "true" OCD, but hell yes I have my things that I have OCD on - example - the toilet paper roll as to put on roll over and not roll under.  I am not going to into other OCD things I have, but I bet I have mentioned them from time to time in this blog.

Anyway, I have puzzle containers and boards that I use when doing a puzzle.  Sure, I use space around the table/work space, but I also have my boards.  I need to have lamps as well since just one light source is not good enough for me.  The lamps also help me examine the puzzle pieces closer for color saturation as well as the shape and edge of the puzzle pieces.

I put the puzzle on the dining room table and saw that the puzzle looks great and I was able to put in a few pieces, but I still have that feeling that I do not want to try to do the sky  I am going to estimate that there is about 1500-2000 pieces left for the sky, but that is only an estimate.  I took a couple of pictures last night and I was impressed what I have done to date.  To date though is what it is - to date.  To date in the past 11 years I have done shit to the puzzle.  Though at least is out and I got a couple of light sources set up, but I know I need a better lamp source and a couple more surfaces for the puzzle pieces as well.  The jigsaw puzzle top is in the background of the picture.  You can good the puzzle and perhaps get a picture as well, but if I remember correctly the pictures that are on the net are not clear - more fuzzy.  Though perhaps that I change that with an update picture as the when I am done there will be a completed picture of this jigsaw puzzle.   By the way, when I was Amazon I saw that this puzzle goes for over $ 100.00 dollars or maybe it was over $ 150.00 dollars.  Which I know back then I did not pay that much, but probably close to a hundred, but again my memory of the price is non existent (though I remember buying from It's Your Move store when there was the the Southglenn Mall, which has been demolished for many years now in the suburbs of Denver, Colorado)  By the way - there is no review as of last week when I looked so when I get done I will write my review, post picture and then move on in peace.

I have made up my mind to do the sky now so I can start the other puzzle(s) that I just bought.  I am just hoping that I can get into my puzzle frame of mind and get those pieces into the puzzle.  Unfortunately, one puzzle piece got damage - an edge - Got sucked up into the vacuum and well it is damaged and the color is gone.  So the surface looks like the back of the puzzle.  At least it is the puzzle border edge and sky (dark blue) so I should be able to do something - a paint or something.  again I will worry when I get the puzzle done.  And I vow to get the puzzle completed before the new year of 2016, even with my Minecraft, fallout 4 and work.  I need to do this for closure as well as getting to start the 3000 piece puzzle.  If my brother is back into puzzles then I know that I can get back into puzzles as well.

Alright - enough for now and wow looking back at this entry I was able to write freely without feeling that I needed to write just for the sakes of writing  

until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Jigsaw Puzzle Non-Athlete

December 2015 - Puzzle Time

Greetings Readers

Tis been a while since my last post- over a year I think.  I actually have not checked, but that is what I am thinking.  Anyway.  I thought to post something since it has been a while and I actually want to track this endeavor.  I bought a 3000 puzzle just recently and I want to document the time and work on this puzzle.

I may catch up of some my life in the past year, but then again I may not.  A lot and not a lot has happened in the past year.  Minecraft, my life, work, personal stuff, news, PS4, Scorpions/Queensryche concert, the ex, Colorado, and the ... for another time I think.

By the way, here is a picture of the puzzle I am about to start on.

With utmost sincerity

Daryl Charley
An Aging Athlete

A Celebration Gift For A Big Occasion

Greetings Readers

I do not talk about where I work - only in Finance & Accounting.  Anyway, I just want to say that I, along with the rest of the people I currently work with were acquired by another company.  As of Last Friday, I got to celebrate in a manner of speaking.  And it is a god send that the ex is an ex since I am... well it is what Dave Chappelle (or was it another character?) is practically famous for a line on the Chappelle Show - "I'm ##ch ###ch!"  Which by the way thank goodness there is only one celebration instead of two this time of the year.  Yes, the ex had a birthday last week (and you know what I actually forgot what day it was-wow) and this year I have no responsibility of taking the ex out.  Last year we went to Las Brisas and I also got the ex a DVD player and the year before we went to 3 Maragaritas (and that was on a limited budget).  So, woo hoo one celebration for me this year.

I saw that the local liquor store that I go to... well used to go to regularly before starting the P90X program, had the Skull vodka on sale - basically 82.99 for 1.75.  That is an awesome deal since usually 1.75 is basically 100 dollars.  What even made this deal more sweet was that they had the gift set that I bought last year.  The gift set is 2 Martini Skull glasses with the 1.75.  So, when I saw that this was the same exact gift set I was excited.  I was kind of worried about getting them home safely, but knew I could do it.  And needless to say after some careful, slow and all sidewalks home riding the bike I did make the journey without incident.  The two newest ones are in the front and the two in back are the ones I got last year/

I did take a picture with all four skull martini glasses - in the immortal words of my ex-co-worker - awesome.  And of course placed the Skull vodka in the middle with the glasses.  Yes Readers, I did open that Vodka bottle to taste some of the best Vodka ever produced, in my humble opinion.

However, to recap last week.  I almost got sick.  So close.  Sore throat, cold, tired, lost voice and not feeling well.  When I felt that I was getting sick and I think I blogged about this.  I went to Sprouts and got Orange and Grapefruit Juice (The Simply Brand)  I bought four of them in the course of three days.  I also ate normally in a manner of speaking.  Not sticking to the P90X program.  I also had two sprites at work (16 oz) as well as water to keep my body full of liquids.  I bought some sirloin steaks on Friday so I had been having that all weekend.  And this weekend I slept and rested.  And I think that did the trip. And I did take one Nyquil capsule on Thursday night.

And to repeat I have not been doing the P90X program due to being in that condition.  Tonight though I am planning to get back on to the program.  I think I am ok now.

I did go to the store last night and got another 2.5 gallon of Deep Rock Water and some salad materials and chicken. 

Well, the weather has changed in Colorado in the past week.  I guess in the mornings it is now about 30 degrees when I leave the humble abode.  The days are now about 60 degrees - roughly.  The outlook this week ahead is barely at 60.  And of course the Daylight Savings Time ended so now it is getting dark right about 5 (little after of course)  What all this means is that I have to now wear my reflective riding vest, dress warmer and ride carefully on the sidewalks going home.  I do not have lights on my bike, yet.  Though I should be getting them this weekend or at least replace the batteries on the ones that still work.  Sometimes the winter and spring showers damage the lights I have so I have to buy new ones each year.

Update: that Halloween competition on that server I play on was cancelled.  Just as well I could not find a place to region a good size land.  I had the idea and that was cool.  Now, I saw that there is a winter competition and I have since then found a place of land (150 x 150 blocks)  I am in the process of putting up walls to surround the area so when I build no one can interfere.

Also, today I went on a bender on food-  For breakfast I had a Denver Omelet with 3 pieces of toast and for lunch I had spaghetti with meatballs, salad and garlic toast.   I needed to, I wasn't feeling quite right so I decided to get some "other" food into me.  And a fountain drink of Coca-Cola.  Again tastes funny, but it is alright now after finishing my lunch.  And my weight this morning is about 141.  I got back up to 143 a few days ago.  I took a another picture in another pair of jeans that I could hardly fit into about three weeks ago.  As of this morning I can fit into them, but with just a bit spare tire in the stomach and sides.  And as I have said before I just wish I took before pictures with me in each of these jeans I am now getting back into as well as not being able to keep them up anymore.  Anyway, for me this pair of jeans that now fit almost perfectly this is great results and showing the results of me following and doing the P90X program.  I forgot that I had button fly jeans until I put this on this morning.  Most of my jeans are zippers.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley

The P90X athlete ready to re-join program now

Coming back to blogger

Greeting Readers

Today was the first snow fall I saw for this 2014 Fall.   The snow was coming down early this morning for just a moment.  Not surreal or amazing, but a nice thing to wake up and enjoy here in Colorado.

I think I am going to come back to this blog.  I feel an urge.  Not a calling mind you.  Since my last post just a few days ago I feel the need to blog.  I do not have a theme/plan, but have an idea.  I have done it before and I think... i want... to do it again.  I have the time now as well as the freedom.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

P90X - Day 17

Greetings Readers

Alright. Back to the P90X Program. I know, I know, but the break in the program had to be done.

I am not reluctant, but I will freely admit that I went on what alcoholics call a "bender" with food last week starting Thursday and ending Sunday.

Now, today after being back in Colorado for the past two days I have gotten caught up on some much needed sleep and rest. I made an effort to eat healthy for the past two days at lunch. I have not gotten to go to the grocery store and shop for some food to eat since being back at my humble abode. With me leaving Colorado so suddenly I had to throw out the food I was going to eat and I really do not have anything to make that is not healthy. Well, let me put it another way I do not have anything to eat at all. I can not even say that I can eat junk food since I do not have any junk food in the house.

I know, I know I do have the wild rice - but come on Readers I could not wait over an hour for that rice to cook. That was not an option I was willing to bend on.

So, after work I was going to go to Sunflower and get some salad materials (for Lunch) as well as some vegetable... well P90X vegetable soup making groceries to make that soup. I know that I start that in the crock pot and I am okay for having that a couple/ few days. No problem.

I got to Sunflower at a decent time after work. I was excited in a manner of speaking...

Flashback -

My lunch run was pretty good after not running since Monday Feb 28, 2011. I basically have not run for nine days and for me to start up once more without any workout/ running was alright. All in all, I was two seconds faster on my lunch run counter clockwise loop I run. Today, I ran 35:05 and I was alright with that. I was not expecting to be slower than my run 9 days ago.

My goal, for now, is to go as long as I can by lowering (beating) my running time each time I run. So far so good, but I have not got that many runs under my belt, yet. I took longer strides and and tried to keep that going for as long as I could. I kept in check my wanting to run like Forrest Gump, so I kept a nice pace where I was comfortable with my breathing and stride. Though near of each run at lunch I pick a point and then "run like the wind blows" since I know the finish line is near and I want to stop that stopwatch with a faster time than the previous run.

And on this specific lunch run there is only one point on the course that I check my watch for my time. It is at a corner and basically once I reach this point I can see my place of employment and there is a gradual downhill run, but with a short little wicked climb. This is always tough at first when I started running, but becomes easier and I do not refer to a wicked little climb, but a little hill. Yet, in the homestretch of finishing there are two stoplights and there are many fast food places located in this stretch. With that said there is heavy traffic and I have to be careful to watch each driver turning in and turning out of these strip malls. I could become an statistic if I am not careful of the other drivers.

With all that said I do like running this part of the course - I can see the place where my run will end. I can smell the aroma of Kentucky Fried Chicken, Five Guys and some Fries (I do not specifically remember the name of that fast food joint) and there are a few other aromas that I can smell and remembered that I was eating the foods those aromas I am smelling on my lunch run just a month ago.

Well, I pushed myself towards the end of the run as per tradition. I was expecting to have a slower time (but not much) with me not working out or running for the past 9 days. I reached the start/finish point stoplight and I pushed the stop button on my watch.

35:05(.29) - Uh-oh. Since I did not look at my journal recently I can not remember what the actual time was the last time I ran on 02/28/11. However, I knew it was 35: something. Fuck me. I walked back to my place of employment cooling down and listening to music. Yet, I wanted to know if I did run a higher time.

I showered and changed as fast as I could and then got back to my desk. I open my journal and looked at the previous time - 35:07. I smiled big. Fucking two seconds faster. Fuck me. I could not stop smiling. I fucking beat my time. 2 seconds. It could have been one second. The point being I beat my previous time. It's all good.

Present - ...and that is why I was excited when I walked into Sunflower that evening.

I just could not stop thinking how I beat my previous running time.

I grabbed my Salad material - Leaf lettuce, Green onions, a green pepper, and radishes.

Then I started grabbing my vegetable materials. I was doing okay with the shopping, until I was getting/looking for the carrots, and celery. Sunflower, and I do not know if it just this Sunflower or all, but this Sunflower does not sell individuals celery or carrots. Both celery and carrots were being displayed in bags/bunches. At King Soopers and Safeway I am able to pick as many celery and carrots I want/need. I am not forced to buy a bag/bunch. Fuck me.

Prior to going in I already made up my mind this was the only stop that I was going to make tonight. I am not going to any other store for anything else. I made up my mind to do all my shopping at Sunflower.

Needless to say Readers - I called it the P90X vegetable soup, but it sure was not the P90X vegetable soup. I will admit this soup was potato soup tasting to the core. I added mushrooms, snap peas, white onions and a generous amount of black pepper, but that did not help the missing celery and carrots.

For any of you future P90X participants make sure you get all the ingredients as listed in the P90X Nutrition Plan Book. Otherwise, this vegetable soup will not taste like P90X soup - and personally I did not want to eat the soup. But I did. And matter of fact, this will be tomorrow's lunch so I will have to eat this soup tomorrow.

This is the price I am paying (suffering) for for not stopping at Safeway, which is practically down the street from Sunflower. All I had to do was bike 20 yards North and I could have been in and out in less than five minutes and not blogging about how I fucked up my P90X vegetable soup.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

The Denver Post Sunday Paper

Greetings Readers

I blogged perhaps a year or two ago about the Sunday Morning paper and me.

I had a ritual for every Sunday Morning.

However, that ritual was broken when the Denver Post Sunday Paper got smaller, the Sunday paper costs going up and the eventual disappearing of the Sunday comic I loved to read on Sunday.

Also, the news was not that exciting anymore. I admit the other reason why I bought the Sunday paper was for the ads. The ads. Sales and sales to be looked and analyzed over and over.

But, Damn if I was going pay 50 cents more to read a smaller paper when I can get the info from the TV and Internet.

Yet, February 6, 2011 I decided to buy another Sunday Paper. After all, it has been just a year since I bought my last Sunday Denver Post Paper. And I only bought the Sunday Paper back at that time for the same exact reason. Granted, I could have found the information that I was looking for on the Internet, but thought what the fuck I can splurge the $ 1.50 for one paper.

Note: Readers, I have bought many, many Sundays in the past two years, but those are the Albuquerque Journal and only when I am vacationing down in New Mexico.

What? Why did I buy the Sunday Denver Post Paper.

The only reason why I bought the Denver Post, that is, the Sunday Denver Post was for the announcement of the bike tour I did a couple of years ago. No drum roll. It is the announcement of the Ride the Rockies 2011.

I have to admit that I am now looking to see what the route would be the new year. I am not impressed by the route itself. And the starting line is not even a place I thought would be a Ride the Rockies start. Granted, I never new where the starting point of any Ride the Rockies prior to my participating in 2009. And there is an explanation why I did not care/know.

Last year, the Ride the Rockies 2010 started in Grand Junction and if I remember correctly ended in Salida, CO. I actually thought it was nice route and even thought about applying, but decided not to.

Anyway, here we are. I will give it a thought, perhaps two, but I do not think that I will be applying for this year's Ride the Rockies. I will have to look at the Mountain Passes as well as the towns that the stops will be at for me to even consider applying for a spot. I am not impressed and after all I can already state that I have done the Ride the Rockies.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

The Toy Crane Game Machine

Greetings Readers

That toy crane game.

It is the devil.

I am strangely drawn to this coin operated game when I do come across this in my travels, mostly vacation travels. Though, not in my everyday travels since I could have a problem if I did have toy crane game to play everyday.

Then again, in the part of town that I live in near Denver, I can not even think of a coin operated toy Crane game being at. Definitely at no local supermarkets – and that includes any video games of any sorts.

Well Readers, it has come to a sort of tradition… fuck it… let me be honest. It is fucking tradition that I play a certain toy Crane game at the local supermarket chain store – Smith’s – in Rio Rancho, N.M. I have to admit that whoever does stock the prizes in the machine does a pretty good job of stocking items that someone would want. Yet, with the, in my ex-co-worker’s infamous line, “awesome” prizes – there are the fucked up prizes that are not even worth the 50 cents that cost to play the game.

The many years of playing those toy crane games I can tell which toy crane machines you may actually have a chance to pick up / win a prize. What I mean is that there are some toy crane machines that the “claws” are “loose” when picking up the prize. Also, I have come across a couple of machines that the “claws” are greased. That further pushes the odds against getting any prizes. Yes – Greased – You can see the gleam in the lights when looking at the “claws” from a certain angle catching the lights in the supermarket. Furthermore, I estimate that 25 percent of the machines that I do play and actually get the crane to get a prize when the crane does retract the “claws” the machine will jerk to a stop and when it does that jerk is enough to release the prize I did get from the “claws” and drop back into the machine’s pile of prizes.

Oh, how that fucking pisses me off. But, as Paulie Walnuts would say – “What are you going to do?”

Now, I am not going to drop more than two dollars in one meeting. After all, if I try and try and get close I usually know it ain’t going to happen.

And this depends on the prizes themselves. You Readers may think that the prizes are just there in the machine ready to be won. Oh no. About 90% of the time the good prizes are strategically placed in the machine so that you / someone will have to actually get the piece of shit prize before getting the, in the words of my ex-co-worker “awesome” prize. Meaning that if you see that one prize you want and even try the “claw” will get the prize and start to reel in. Yet, when the “claw” retracts the prize, the prize soon gets hung up and gets released from the “claw” Whoever stocked the toy crane machine has purposely placed the prizes in the machine so that you can not get the “good” prize without getting the piece of shit prizes surrounding the “good” prize since the bad prizes have been carefully wedge around the “good” prize.

So, even when I see a prize I desire, I must go for the piece of prize since I am there to play – period.

I know it is a waste of money, but I can not resist. To me it is like a gorgeous blonde I meet and I can not resist not saying hi.

I would say that the game is game of skill, but it is a game of skill and luck – but more of luck than skill depending on some the factors I did mention above. The skill is looking at the crane and the possible drop point and contact of said prize you want. Of course, if the “claws” rotate during the descent of the “claws” then skill goes out the door and luck comes into play. Although, with my background of toy crane playing I have taken in that factor so skill comes back into play since I have taken in the account that most likely the “claws” will rotate during descent.

Anyway, coming to this blog post and why I decided to write about this. This time around on vacation I was able to win two prizes at the same machine on two different occasions on my vacation. The first time I wanted the Simpson’s Bart/Krusty the clown prize, but fucking knew that prize was unobtainable without spending a lot of money to get. So, I opted for a prize I knew I could get and lo and behold – I did. Basically, A rabbit in a purple hat – a soft top pop toy. I wanted to play the machine and I wanted to win so I chose the only prize I knew I had a chance to win.

Then, on New Year’s Eve, after dropping my brother off at Albuquerque, me and my Dad stopped off at Smith’s and saw that someone won the prize I wanted before, but I saw another Simpson’s plush toy. Again, I saw that was not going to be possible to get without spending money. Then, I saw a prize that was not too bad and obviously a prize I could get. 50 cents later and first try – I got the prize – a walrus – his/her name on the tag is “Blithe”.

And that Readers is another part of my life. No addiction, but I can not resist playing when I see that there are prizes that I want.

What? The Holy Grail? Currently, I have seen a few machines with South park plush toys. And I so fucking want. You know me – I am a die-hard South park fan and I want any South park collectible. So far, I have not gotten any. I would say I have gotten close, but in reality no. What it has always comes down to is spending the money in order to get that South park toy.

I do not play every toy crane machine. Only the ones I see with prizes I would want to have. Otherwise, if no toys look desirable I am not going to play.

What made this obsession funny this vacation was that I pulled out a roll of quarters and told my Mom that I was going to play until I won something.

LOL – I said this, but did not mean it. Consciously, subconsciously, I wanted my Mom to middle name call me.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

A Summary perhaps?

Greetings Readers

The many things that I do not like coming back from the Ranch is that I have to check all of my Internet accounts as well as emails that I was unable to access. This is due to the location of where our Ranch is as well as the isolation from the world where our Ranch is.

I was able to log onto my Facebook account for a few minutes and check one of the email accounts I have and boy oh boy I do not want to go through that mess. Though with one of my email accounts - that is my junk email account so most of those emails can be deleted right off the top.

The facebook account is just an everyday account that I mainly use for gaming for the two games that I play regularly – Farmville and Mafia Wars. I saw over a 100+ friend requests, which I did not even bother to even get started on answering / replying. There were two messages, but the one that I was hoping for was not there.

I checked the blog account – not anything new really, but the traffic has picked up since I have started to blog once more again on a regular basis. I do like to see that since I like to think I am sort of interesting to follow / read.

What I have written is just my personal stuff. I have yet to check my work stuff. I almost got the hankering to check, but thought I am going to find out in another day so another day can wait.

I have no qualms about this. Since I do not have access to the Internet that means I will not be able to be on the Internet. Sure, I do not like being incommunicado for such a long time, but I have learned to deal with this. I know that I saw a TV commercial that advertised you could have Internet access via satellite, but for me that is so far not needed in my life. I can not even imagine the cost, but really thinking about it how much am I going to utilize satellite Internet? Only the times that I am visiting the Ranch is when I can use this service. The parents probably could use the service also, but first they will need a computer / laptop with wireless connection.

That is the tip of the iceberg, I have the mail and phone messages to check. As well as stock the fridge and do laundry. I also have to get caught up on current events that have happened in Colorado, as well as elsewhere. Though, I did listen to the local radio station KTNN and got the hourly CNN updates at the top of the hour.

Alright Readers, time for me to continue catching up with my everyday life and I will let you get back to yours.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

T-Minus 4 days and counting

Greetings Readers

Here I am Readers, basically two years later to the day and the time to think about doing the event I tried for the first time two years ago.

There are thoughts. Am I ready? Should I do the run? Is the future weather cast going to be favorable?

It is the 24 Hours of Boulder - held of course in Boulder, Colorado.

I did check / watch the morning news the morning for the weather forecast and I see that the prediction is going be sunny. I did not see any rainclouds, snow on the weather forecast, which means that gives me the possibility to think about doing the run again.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Back From Thanksgiving Vacation

Greetings Readers

I welcome myself back to Colorado and to my blog, in a manner of speaking. And I have to admit that I did miss some of those blogs I frequent.

I do have a lot to write and catch up about, but then again it may be worthless information

The "Party Crasher", "Tiger Woods" and more importantly are you on "Team Jacob" or "Team Edward" - get the fuck out of here - I definitely could care less for that Burger King commerical

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Tiesto at Club Beta

Greetings Readers

Well, well, well, I have to admit - I still fucking know how to dance the night away, hook up, and stay awake for 40 hours plus.

Flashback – Over a month ago I found out that one my favorite artist was coming to Denver. At that time I did not have a clue where that artist was going to be performing at until about three ago.

Tiesto was coming to Denver and was on this tour to promote his new release Kaleidoscope that was recently released in the past month. More specifically Club Beta is where Tiesto was going to be performing live in the beginning part of November.

I was ecstatic with this news. Basically, this was a no-brainer that I was not not going to go.

Yet, about a week ago I found out that tickets were limited and that tickets were $ 60.00 dollars. It is a lot of money, but with Tiesto coming to a Club and not to (“The Can,” the Fillmore, Paramount Theatre, or the Denver Coliseum) I knew that tickets could possibly sell out before the day of show.

Thinking that I changed my thinking. I thought about it is $ 60.00 – hard earned money these days. Also, the weather – I was not going to go if there was snow and/or rain that day. I started to think of reasons that I could use as an excuse not to go.

Monday morning – I went to my financial institution and withdrew some cold hard earned cash. I still was undecided at that point, but I wanted to at least have the money available should I change my mind.

Later that day I was talking about the concert and how I was unsure if I wanted to go. First - $ 60.00 and two – the concert is at a club.

Soon, the “Fred Flintstone” whistle went off and I was still at work an hour later than I should be. I was still unsure of whether or not I should go to Club Beta.

I left work, caught Light Rail, then stopped off the local liquor store to get a six pack of beer just in case.

I was committed not going to Tiesto about 80 percent. However, on the third beer I thought what the fuck. I can go downtown and at least try to see if tickets are still available for the show. Worst case scenario I am out Light rail fare both ways – basically under ten dollars. Justifiable cost considering the cost of the ticket itself. Before leaving my humble abode I drank another bottle as fast as I could – cheaper drinking now should I considering drinking at the Club where the price of one beer is going to the price of a six-pack I just bought.

I soon got to Union station and headed to part of downtown that I Googled Club Beta was located at.

I soon saw a lot of people, young people, at this stone building. I soon found out that this was Club Beta. I could hear the thump thump of the club music playing. That sound was pretty incredible to hear and I know that was not Tiesto, but Tiesto’s opening act; which was no concern to me.

I located security person and asked him

“Is this where Tiesto is playing?

“Yes” he replied.

“Sorry, I have not been here before, where do I go to inquire about tickets being still available?”

“Go up there.”

“Thanks” I replied.

Basically, no line at the entrance. Either most of the people were inside, or these people outside Club Beta were waiting for Tiesto to take the stage or worst - the concert was sold out.

I went up to the counter talked loudly to the girl behind the booth and asked are tickets still available. She nodded yes and said $ 70.00.

I did not hesitate on the ten-dollar increase due to day of show. I was there at Club Beta, tickets were available and I was being drawn to the music that was thumping from the entrance of Club Beta.

I got my ticket, got a wristband (over 21 yrs old) and then got stamped twice on the back of my right hand and soon I was walking into Club Beta.

Readers, I have not been to a Club (Night Club) in ages (you’ll sort of know later). The atmosphere, the people, the music and the ambiance all made me coming down to downtown Denver on Monday well worth this day in November.

I immediately looked for the restroom since the beers I drank at home were going through me. Thank goodness I drank before hand – I was intoxicated and also saving money since I did not have to spend much money on alcohol at the club.

After the restroom break I headed back to club level (1st Floor). Readers, there is a balcony (2nd story), but I wanted to be on street level; specifically the dance floor so I can experience Tiesto as close as I could.

Before finding a spot on the floor I headed to the bar. I ordered a Corona – and was immediately $ 5.00 lighter.

I then started to look for an area on the dance floor that I could claim as “mine.”

The opening act was just finishing up and I soon found myself a spot. Not far, but not near, but so acceptable for me to be in.

I would say there was a few minutes after the opening act finished went Tiesto starting playing his music.

Wow. Fucking wow. The music was loud, but when Tiesto started playing the music went even high. The thump thump got deeper. Matter of fact Readers, I could literally feel the sound wave through out my body. I actually wondered about the damage this decimal of sound was doing to my eardrums and to my internal organs.

Yes Readers, when you get my age you wonder about these types of things. Whereas, and I do remember when I was younger, I could care less about the decimals. Matter of fact, I think it was goal to see how deaf you would be the day after a concert. The good old days – not. As I mentioned the music was loud, I mean loud. What made the damaging decimals worst was that there were four huge speakers (that I could see) that were position in a square on each corner of the dance floor in a building that is really not that big; at all. I really started to think how much hearing loss am I going to suffer for the next couple of hours.

Then, I saw the first girl, young woman that caught my eye. Oh so my type – dirty blonde, slender, pink bra showing from her shirt. Jeans. All those thoughts of what I am doing to my hearing were immediately forgotten. She was so oh my type.

I soon began to notice other hot young woman. But then I started to notice the guys and then I started to notice the people on the dance floor. Everyone looked young. I know I can pass for late 20’s even though I am late 30’s so I know I did not look too out of place, but I sure noticed the age difference of me and the rest of the people on the dance floor.

I think it took me about two songs until I started to get into Tiesto’s music and starting dancing. I soon got swept into the music.

After midnight the music was still pumping and I was still dancing away. I was moving and dancing my way closer and closer to the front where Tiesto was. There was the usual bumping of elbows and bodies on the dance floor between me and other people. You tend to ignore since the dance floor is crowded with people and touching between other people is expected.

Well, at one point I felt a left breast against my left side of the back. Yes Readers, I know when a breast is pressed against my body. I thought nothing of it since there were so many people dancing. Then, I felt the right breast being pressed against the right side of my back. Again, nothing was thought of it – basically I thought that she was probably being pushed and accidentally pressed into my back. A third time, I felt the left breast being pressed into my back and then I felt her hips being pressed/grinded into my ass. At that point I knew that this was no accidental touching. Though, at this point I was hoping that it was woman doing the pressing. Readers, you never know these days. So, I turned around and there was a cute young woman smiling, looking and dancing at me. What a turn on.

I was working up a sweat from dancing and the heat as well as body heat.

Soon, 2 A.M. came around and that was the end of Tiesto. Well, I think, that there is a Colorado law that probably states that a club must shut down at 2 A.M. Tiesto did not want to quit, but we did and we dancers did not want him to quit either.

That November Monday night, in my ex-coworkers words, was “just so awesome”. I am glad that I made the decision to go to Tiesto. After all, I would have never thought any more of Tiesto than I do now. Seeing him in such an intimate setting was a treat. There was not the usual concert sound set-up. I think that is what made the difference. And I would not have met Katie… or should I say that Katie would have not met me.

I got to my humble abode around 6 A.M. and as I walked in the door I smelled something different. I did not smell/reek of cigarette smoke? Wow. That is how long that I have not been to a club since smoking was banned here in Colorado in establishments. Now my clothes and I only smelled of sweat and sex in the past six hours, which I soon only had a limited amount of time to get cleaned up and get to work. How in the fuck was I going to work at work being up all night? Back in my youth I know I could this, but now I am so much older and these types of nights are hard now. There was no thought of calling in a PTO day, but just make it through the day and then get home and go directly to bed.

Listening to Tiesto’s music on my Ipod now I have a better understanding of what I am hearing now is nowhere close to hearing Tiesto performing these same songs live.

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

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

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

Bandanna Wrapped Handlebars

Greetings Readers

Well, perhaps the time is now bring up the bandannas. Specifically, the bandannas that are wrapped around my handlebars of all my bikes… well except the Motobecane and the Mountain bike.

This practice of mine started over 10 years ago and I have invested, I estimate, over $ 500.00 in bandannas on all my bikes. I replace bandannas when I feel they no longer can be used to wrap the handlebars. Or if I am using yellow or white bandannas I replace them more often since dirt and grease show up noticeably more than a dark colored bandanna.

The only two colors I do not use are the red and blue bandannas. I hope it is obvious to you Readers, but if not, then the reason why is because of the Bloods and the Crips – those are the two “gang” colors that the Bloods and Crips use. Granted, I am not riding in Gang territory, but every now and then I tend to ride in areas of Denver and surrounding suburbs that are gang territories of the Bloods and the Crips.

There are no specific set guidelines that I used for which color bandanna that I am going to use. Most often I would like the bandannas to match the color(s) of the bike frame. Other times I will color code the bandannas to the color scheme of my bike tires. In rare instances I will pick a color that is totally opposite of the color(s) on the bike for a visual impact on anyone who gazes upon my bike.

Just whatever I happen to feel like buying/getting I will get.

Getting back to the story. When I first starting biking I knew nothing what I know now. With that said, when I bought my first official bike jersey… first official expensive bike jersey, I was ecstatic. Spending over $ 80.00 on a bike jersey, which at that time in my life was absurd. I did not ride a bike like how I do now, so back then I was buying an expensive bike jersey that would hardly get worn for more than a few hours a week.

That being said, I wanted to take care of that bike jersey. Hand wash, no wringing, no dryer, etc…

Fast forward (or Flash backwards – depending on your point of view) – one day I got a flat tire and I had to repair the tire with a patch as opposed to installing a new bike tube since I did not have a spare tube in my saddlebag. As any seasoned bike rider that has changed a bike tire - it is a dirty job. Not only a dirty job, but also a greasy job – a dirty, greasy job. I did the deed and soon I had the bike tire installed back onto the frame ready to roll.

Later that evening as I was getting ready to launder my expensive bike jersey I saw that I somehow gotten some bike grease on my bike jersey. Around the back pockets and sleeve of the bike jersey. I could not believe what I saw, but I knew immediately how it happened after a quick assessment of the damage of what I done.

I did know how the damage to my expensive bike jersey happened since I had no more Kleenex that particular eventful day. I usually always carry some Kleenex for my allergies (hay fever, etc) or if my nose is running from the cold air. However, at that moment I was clean out of Kleenex. I probably did not think of anything else to wipe my fingers on. Perhaps I thought I would be careful not to touch anything else except my handlebars.

Needless to say, from that moment on I promised myself that would be careful and watchful not to further damage my expensive bike jersey. The bike chain grease on the jersey was okay, but oh so noticeable every time I look at my damaged expensive bike jersey. I cursed and cursed, but what has been done cannot be undone.

Well, perhaps months later I was riding and from time to time I had to bring a bag or a light jacket with me on my ride. Or perhaps it was a day that I had left the humble abode with long sweat pants and knew that later it was going to be warm enough to take off.

Even now when I am not going to and from work or to and from the store I will not wear a backpack or a shoulder back. I just do not like the feel of the pack on my back. I would say it is the weight, but I think it is the way that the weight in the pack presses against my back. I sweat; perspire, between the backpack and my back.

Note: This is the reason why I have never, ever worn my camel pack that I received as a gift many, many years ago.

With that one reason that is why I don’t wear a backpack and would not, unless going to work or the store – otherwise I had to improvise. Meaning, I had to think of an alternative.

Back in the day and to this day I do wear an oversized fanny pack. I guess like a back packer’s fanny pack. I learned from the many, many oversized fanny packs I could not just try to jam everything I wanted to in that oversized fanny pack. Ripped seams and zippers that no longer zipped up correctly started costing me money to replace each of those oversized fanny packs. And those back packer’s fanny packs were, and perhaps to this day, are expensive.

Then, the imaginary light bulb went on over my head. A bandanna. I tightly rolled my duffel bag I had and then I used a bandanna to secure that to the handlebar. To my amazement – it worked very well. Soon, I was tightly rolling up my pants, my jackets and securing them to my handlebars neatly.

And from time to time when I got a flat tire or my bike chain fell off the wheel cassette or crank I could use my hands knowing that I could use that bandanna I had or I could just untie whatever the bandanna was holding and then use that bandanna to put the chain on the crank and wheel cassette without worrying about getting grease on my fingers and/or hands.

I do not recollect on how long after I decided that I would wrap my handlebars in bandannas. Yes, bandannas. I knew that I was going to have to buy two bandannas in order to make the handlebars to look how I imagined I wanted the handlebar wrapped in bandannas to look. Sure enough when I started to wrap my two bandannas I knew that I was going to need two more for a total of four bandannas for the handlebars.

Back in junior high or perhaps on summer vacation during junior high I was taught how to wear a bandanna on your wrist – gang style, back in my day. These days, I do not think that wearing bandannas around your wrist is even gangster anymore. Though, I have no fucking clue.

Oh yes Readers, there is (well was) the correct way to wear and wrap and bandanna to show everyone you are “gangsta.” Not that you care Readers, I also know how to correctly wrap a bandanna around my ankle. Again, not sure if that is gangster in this day of age, but never the less I still know how to this day.

Now Readers, since I just told you I know how to correctly wrap a bandanna old school gangsta style, I decided to apply the same principle to wrapping my handlebars.

Wow. My wrapping became a piece of work to admire. To adore. And to be jealous of. I had to modify my wrapping technique a bit, but the results were more than perfect.

Readers, what I am saying is that anyone, should they choose to do so, can wrap a bandanna around their handlebars, but it takes someone such as myself to make the wrapping look exquisite and a piece of artistic art.

In addition to the artistic wrappings - the bandannas also provided another additional benefit. That was to keep those handlebar hole pluggers in place at both ends of the handlebars. I learned early in my biking career that those handlebar stoppers got easily lost – whether they wiggle out by themselves, or got dislodged by hard bump or was pried out unintentionally from a ledge or an edge and forever lost.

I get comments from time to time on my bandanna wrapped handlebars. I, of course, say thank you very much.

I will have to say that I do get the people who question why. Or why not use handlebar tape? Aren’t you worried about weight? And so on.

Again, I do it because of the initial reason I just blogged about. Yet, here is the sad thing to admit. Even if I do get my hands dirty and have to use the bandanna to clean my hands up, I will buy / replace the dirty bandanna so I will have a clean bandanna on the handlebars.

Everybody has handlebar tape, but as I know – I am the only bike rider in Colorado that wraps his handlebars in bandannas.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete