Shaking Scared, my dear Readers

Greetings Readers

The Present - I personally do not believe in the bucket list.

Flashback - 39 hours ago - I had to leave work early, well technically on time, since my contacts came in and I needed to pick them up.

I left work about 4:30 PM and then I was the leaving the eye doctor about 5:00 PM or so. I was in familiar territory that I bike regularly in, but since the season is now Winter and the night is fully here I have to be more alert when biking at this hour. Especially so, with the 5:00 o'clock after work rush hour, December, and people trying to get home.

I was unsure which way to get home - take one of the main thoroughfares? Take the residential streets home? Take the round about way home, which means zigging and zagging home, but the safest way home.

Oh yes, I had the reflective yellow and white vest, My front bike light, my back red bike that someone said if someone lived on the moon that they would be able to see my bike back light flashing from Colorado. LOL. I also had my green flashing light, which is attached to my backpack. That light was acquired the day before the 24 Hours of Boulder and I have to admit I do like the light. So much so, that I am actually using everyday. The only thing that is missing is my bike helmet. Nothing more, or less, that I can say about that.

I do admit that I did not cross at an intersection. So, I am to blame for what almost came to be.

There is a Tokyo Joe's in this little strip mall and thought to myself - maybe.

Full dark was here traffic was stacked going South on Yosemite. Going North, there was no traffic. Instead of heading to the next light I decided to cut through the vehicles that were stopped since the red light was on.

Readers, you know the roads. Usually there are two lanes. The on the right side of the road there is not a lane, per se, but a turning lane. Usually there is a sign indicating right lane must turn right. You just can not use that lane to keep going straight. Albeit, whether it be street sign or the white markings on the road indicated with a white turning arrow or the white line indicating that you must turn right. Buses except, of course.

That was where I decided that I was going to cut across. Traffic was stopped in both lanes going South and I knew that cars are to turn right - suppose to anyway.

Side note - "I have the right" - You know Readers that is one thing I can not say in this situation. First of all, I should not be cutting across vehicles waiting at a stop light. After all - it is fact that is where bikers have a greater chance of getting hit. Whether it be cutting or weaving in and out through stalled traffic may be ok to you. It is not. And yes, I know this.

Well, I looked at the stop light - still red and I could still see the green light on the cross traffic. Traffic is at a standstill on where I want to cross. Looking good and safe. I casually road in and through the first lane nearest the lane going in the opposite direction. I did not make any eye contact with any drivers since I was looking at traffic around my area. I get to the second lane and cross in front of a SUV type of vehicle. I could not actually see over or around the vehicle, yet I kept the same speed I was biking at. Not normal biking but probably faster than I should be going while cutting across through two lanes of stopped traffic.

I reached the final lane, which is a turning lane only. I saw a pair of headlights coming down the turning lane. I kept going. In a second. Yes Readers, in that one second I noticed that one car was not going to turn right.

I acted on instinct. Again, being aware of my surroundings is something I do and I would have to say that was the only thing that kept me from being a statistic. I managed to stop, turn my front wheel to the left, put my left foot down. I said, I was two inches from being hit, but I think it was an inch.

I stopped so fast, but again Readers, as I wrote I was biking faster than I probably should have been. My back end of the bike came off the ground and was threatening to flip me off. The bike swung to the left and was going to swing into the car and taking me with it.

Another second later the car was already at the stop light turning west. She was gone. Yes she. I saw her scared face barely, and I did not even have time to cuss or anything else.

Wow.

Another second later I get my foot on the bike pedal and try to pedal to the side walk, but I could not get on the bike pedals. I was shaking pretty badly.

Readers, I really scared myself on what just happened. And what might have been. And I do not get shaking scared at all. That I can remember.

I tried to get pedalling knowing the light is going to turn green. I could not do it. Still straddling the bike I walk the bike to the entrance of the strip mall and then take a few breaths.

I did not look around. I was concerned for myself. I could fucking care less what people just almost witnessed or what not.

In this strip mall there is a liquor store - Fuck Tokyo Joe's. I needed a drink. Something to calm me down. I grabbed a 6 pack of 2 Below and carefully biked home on the sidewalks and residential back streets to get home from perhaps getting hit again.

I was still shaking slightly when I arrived home about two miles later.

Getting back to the first sentence of this post - I am not going to create / do a bucket list - due to this very close incident. Fucking close Readers. Hmmm... let me talk about a bucket list on a future post though.

Yet, I did think about the last words I said to some people in my life. Most good, a few bad and well... last words, in a sense.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

A Very Nice August Surprise

Greetings Readers

Let me take you off the beaten path - for a bit. Not that this is something new.

There I was last Sunday, up before dawn, with the fan going on the window sill blowing in the early morning air. Yes, cool air, but not as cool as it is going be in a month. Pretty soon I will be putting in the fan away for the summer. I digress.

I was enjoying the coming of a new day and the faint blue glow on the horizon that indicates that dawn is approaching. I was pondering what I was going to do for the day, but I was pretty well limited. Why? Well, I had to be in my glasses since my eyes were acting up. Yes, I wear contacts and something was irritating them this morning. I thought this was going to be a day to just stay home and do some things that I have putting off for a while.

I stood out on the balcony looking to the East and listening to the birds starting to chirp and sing in the coming of a new day. Beyond those sounds I can hear the automatic water sprinklers "click, click, click" and the faint gurgling of a water fountain nearby. Nothing out of the ordinary. For me very soothing. I am also not alone on the balcony - I have Heidi. Poor Heidi. With Rebecca being the new woman in my life and Tracey now being the girl who I go out with regularly Heidi is hardly in the picture anymore. Heidi is not forgotten in my book. She has stories to tell and yet to tell.

Why this particular account? Nothing really and I can not give you a reason why readers that I elected to tell you. I am not going to say that this a regular thing I do every day, but it is something I do almost every day. Nope. I do not drink coffee out on the balcony, but I do have a Coca Cola or Sweet Tea from Chik-fil-A. This of course does not count the bottle of beer, glass of wine or Frozen Margarita that I have on the balcony at other times. I have to say that this is favorite place that I go and it is also the favorite place in my humble little abode. With the kitchen right behind in my list of favorite places.

I progress in time and an hour later - I came back from the store with some breakfast materials and the Sunday Denver Post. This is also something of a weekend ritual. Breakfast and the paper. Some say that print is dead. I disagree. I still enjoy the paper and I hate to say this, but I fucking like looking at the Sunday Ads. Yes, pretty shallow. I like to see what is out there and what is possible to buy. I do not dream. If I see something that I want I will get or save up and get. But, beyond looking at the ads, I also like the Sunday Comics. Granted, paper industries are shrinking the comic size and getting rid of other comics readers are not reading anymore, but I still buy the Sunday Paper.

I did enjoy the Sunday paper more, but with the newspaper industry shrinking the TV guide it is worthless. The TV guide is very thin and they have put in Monday thru Friday on two pages and then sub categories for Morning, Afternoon and Overnight. The only details that they have left alone was the weekend programming and evening program. Otherwise, most of the listings have "Varied programs" which helps shit to me when I need to set my VCR and/or DVD recorder to tape a show/movie. Again, I digress.

I grabbed the first section of the Sunday comics that is always covered with an "Ads flyer" so you have to open to page 2 to start reading the Comics. I opened the paper and I see my favorite Sunday comic second from the top of the page. "Opus". Opus is a character from Bloom County, which is a comic that I grew up with. Berkeley Breathed is the creator. Bloom County was/is funny and I still have numerous original clippings from newspapers of the comic stored in a box. (I am recalling from memory so forgive me readers if a name is spelled wrong) Steve Dallas, Milo, Bill the Cat, John Cutter, Hodge Podge, Portney, Rosebud, Milquetoast(?) Binkley and one of another my all time favorite characters - Oliver Wendell Jones.

I have to admit I did not breathe for a couple of seconds. There was the nighttime galaxy, a huge telescope and sitting next to the telescope with his glasses on - Oliver. (Pictured on my blog today) Oliver Wendell Jones. I also got a lump in my throat and perhaps a bit watering of my eyes. I was extremely happy seeing my old friend. Yes, I consider this cartoon character my friend - a true friend. Oliver looked the same, but with the coloring and shading of the Comic it appears that there is grey in his hair, which would make sense. But it is not, just the shading to give the night and comic some definition. I read the first pane slowly and continued to do so throughout the comic. Oliver was discussing, er doing all the talking to Binkley, Steve Dallas's son and Opus (the usual suspects). Oliver was making us think about things and make us wonder. That was/is Oliver to a T.

Tis the little things that make us happy. I am so glad Oliver finally made an appearance. As well as Binkley did on/around Memorial Day of this year. That was even more touching because of the mood of the comic and topic. Opus was doing what I would be doing if I could. Two new/old characters have made an appearance in Opus within four months is so, as a former co-worker would say, "awesome". Prior to these two characters we have also been re-introduced to Steve Dallas and Bill the Cat.

Thank you Mr Breathed. I am a loyal fan and you have continued to keep me entertained and bring a bit of joy to my life. I am not disappointed that this is a Sunday only tradition. Yes, I want more, but I am not complaining at all. Something is better than nothing - in the particular case.

This entry took more than that I thought it would so I will save the entry I was planning to do for a later date.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

My Russian Woman and new DVD player

Greetings People

I think that I am almost up to being well. I have a slight cough, I am still blowing my nose like crazy and I have stopped taking any medication. All this is a good sign and I do not have to worry about having a relapse.

Although, today I woke up in a foul mood. Well, let me tell you I think that it started yesterday afternoon and I was getting pissed more and more every hour. Nothing to mention since there are many people who might read the reason why I am fucking pissed off. No need to bring any more conflict into my life. I have learned that you have to let it go.

Oh by the way, in case one of you readers are wondering if it is the person who did not say "thank you" to me when I held two doors open for you. It is not that, but as you can tell I am still not over that. I would probably let it go if it was one door, but two doors and no thank you. Well, that is just plain rude. Oh yes I know who this person is and I this particular face is hard not to remember.

Guess what folks? My russian woman has email me that she is coming to the US and wants some help with some money to finance her visa. I was laughing hard at this. I was laughing so hard that I was coughing, since I am still sick. Oh, I am not that easy. ::snicker:: I guess I better let you on this. I had googled her name (information) early in our correspondence and guess what - she is a scammer. Apparently, she sends out emails to guys, and yes I saw the same exact emails that were sent to me that were posted on a scammer identification site. I also saw the same pictures that were sent to me that were sent to other people. I also read that other guys that did post to the site did send money to her. How stupid are these guys. If you are desperate guys - stay in the US, go to bar/nightclub or something local. Sending money to a foreign woman and expecting her to come for you alone is a "sucker bet" Get off the computer and go socialize with the real world. There are women, US women, out there looking also. Yes, you got an email from a foreign woman that says you are wonderful, she tells you about her "life", she sends you pictures of herself, etc. I started emailing with her about two months ago so now it two months into emailing back and forth and I was just waiting for the day she was "going to come to the US and she needs money". hah hah. I could of busted her on this, but I did enjoy getting her emails. No loss for me, except to enjoy another experience of life. She was leading me on, but more importantly I was leading her on, by taking two months from her life. I guess we will see or not, since I have given her this link in one of my emails.

That is another thing. I am sure that any emails they send are full of information and I am sure that all the info is bogus. Anyway, I have responded to a few, to make sure that she knows that I am still interested. 99 % percent of the time I never got any answers to my questions I asked. She can write a email, with such adverbs and colorful adjectives, but the sentence structure was awful. I responded with bogus information also and never pledged "my love" to her. I said this and that, nothing concrete. Just like a pen pal.

Oh alright, I better get going, but let me see if I can find some pictures to show you. She is cute though - if it is her =) Nothing dirty, but pictures of her in different poses. Oh, I could go on and on this subject. Perhaps this is something I can talk about indepth later. Thinking about this more and more I could actually talk a lot about this. Kind of interesting when I have started to think about this more and more.

As I blogged the other day about my new contacts I decided to buy an impulse gift for me and that was a portable DVD player. Yes, I do like it. It is no name brand, but for 90 dollars I could not resist. You know what this is really? - that is the $ 90.00 dollars that Julia could of had in order to help her cause to get to the US just for me - HAHAHAHAHHAHA. I will think of Julia everytime I watch a movie on my portable DVD player! Now my friend, that is my love pledged.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete