H & G Asian Cafe

Greetings Readers

As I mentioned yesterday I am maybe getting sick.  Too early to tell at the moment.  And bottom line the throat is a little better today, but now I have lost my voice.  Well, if I try to speak it comes out croaky and choppy.  So, now I am whispering when needed in order to talk.

I got off work at a decent time last night and then headed straight home.  I was going to go to the grocery store, but I decided not to.  What was I really going to buy and how much do I feel like cooking after I get back?  I really did not want to.  Left overs?  A salad?  nope nope nope.  So, I decided to order delivery from my favorite little dive restaurant up the road, so to speak

H&G Asian Cafe - Here is the website

http://handgasiancafe.com/

I have not been since the last time I was with the ex and that could have been in June most likely.  I know I have not been since the last day I left the ex's place which was on July 19.  And since then I have not been motivated to go by and starting the P90X program that is kind of a no-no as well.  Lots of noodles in the dish I love.  I love you - Pad Thai Noodles and Summer Spring Rolls.  Oh yes, I love Summer Spring Rolls and that was a thing I kept from the ex.  Next thing you know I would be buying two orders and I would be down another 10 dollars basically if I had introduced that into our former relationship.  Not once did I even order when the two of us went to this restaurant/cafe.  Needlees to say, it was over two years since my last Summer Spring Rolls.  Oh baby!  Oh baby!  It was good.  I loved every bite as well as the sauce that comes on the side.  Granted, I never had a Summer Spring Roll from H&G Asian Cafe before, But when the former place - Lemon Grass Grill was there - yes I did have at that time.  I was not disappointed at all with the taste of the Summer Spring Roll at H&G Asian Cafe.  Nope nope nope.  The Pad Thai was delicious.  Yummy.  Better than plain sex.  LOL.  So, I ordered in last night and again that was to get food into me and try to get to bed as soon as possible so I can rest and get better.

I have some left over so I will eat the remaining amount tonight as well as the left over steak and wild rice from earlier this week.  Overall, I feel okay, just can not talk.  Sucks.

This cafe is nothing spectacular in appearance, but the food is better than great.  Good.

Though something just triggered a memory.  The ex's youngest child ate with us a couple of times and the first time I bought.  However, when I saw that he ate of the meal that I bought I was pissed.  This child just ate the rice and meat with Teriyaki sauce.  And did not eat any of the vegetables.  Also, he did not even finish the dish.   I paid almost $ 10.00 for his meal.  Anyway, from that point on if that specific child was coming to eat with us I was not going to pay for his Dinner.  Although, I did pay one more time, but we had ordered the family dinner plan so in the grand scheme of things I was okay.  This child as well as the second oldest child were fucking picky eaters.  And I mean picky.  And lazy.  One of the times was that there was, I think, a 5 party frozen pizza party pack in the freezer.  The second oldest one decides not to eat what I cooked for dinner and make himself a pizza for himself.  He takes the last pizza and leaves the empty box in the freezer until I stumble on it when I was putting my steak into the freezer.  How did I know?  I put the steak on top of that Pizza box and the pizza box caved in and my steak fell out of the freezer and onto the floor right in front of me.  You see Readers this is some of the shit that I put up with in the last year.  Readers, this is just a few things I mention - there are a lot of memories regarding said subject.  They do not eat vegetables.  They don't like additional items with rice when it is cooking.  They cook everything on high heat on the stove.  Yes, everything.  I can not even count how many times I saw those cooking burners glowing red.  And so on. 

Well, needless to say I got to loathe the children about this same time last year (or a bit earlier)  Inconsiderate children.  I am not their father so I had no right nor was I going to tell them what was wrong.  I have no authority.  Here is a confession from me.  The ex has four children.  Four.  I was so embarrassed by this that when my friends and co-workers asked about the ex I said that the ex had two children (not four)  Technically, there is two around, so to speak.  The oldest is up in Northern Colorado and the third oldest is living in another state from my last bit of information.  A nuclear family plus two children minus a father.  I did not want anyone to know that I was dating a woman with four children.  Even now I can not tell them that I lied about how many children the ex had.  It is embarrassing.  And looking back the ex really wanted me to meet all four of them.  I did not want to - and I only met the two I am talking about and the other two I did not.  Yes, I know their names and from bits and pieces who they are, but I do not know them.  The second oldest should have been out on his own, but still living with mother and the youngest child.  I tried to get the ex to get the second oldest out, but it was one thing after another with that child.  Drama story galore.  Getting into a car accident, rehab, living on the couch, Getting his apartment rent deposit stolen, getting in a work accident, getting robbed, his account getting "robbed", kittens, not working anymore, buying action figures as opposed to saving his money, etc.  Readers, this all happened in about a span of six months!

Getting back to the post - H&G Asian Cafe if you live nearby.  Give it a try.  I am sure that you will like.  It was comfort food last night and I enjoyed every bite I had.  Excuse me, I loved every bite I had last night.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Athlete who still might/may be sick =(

Seeing the Ex for the Last Time

Greetings Readers

Imagine this if you can.

You are asleep peacefully. 

The next thing you know you are awaken by the sound of a can of Coca-Cola being opened up not less than 2 feet from your head at 2:30 in the morning.  If the roles were reversed and it was me getting a Coca-Cola I would have opened the can in the kitchen before coming into the bedroom.   The is common courtesy as well just common sense.

This went onto my "101 things that piss off Daryl" as the ex wrote in one of her last emails to me after she went on vacation.  How could this opening a Coca-Cola in the middle of the night not.  We were the only ones in her place.  I just could not figure out why the ex did that.  It was mean.   And the thing is I work for a living whereas she was not.  She had not been working for almost 3 months due to...  Well she was not working. 

Here is the kicker the ex has not been working and she wanted to go on a vacation.  How do you go on a vacation from a vacation since she was not working.  Which the ex eventually did (and was the end of the relationship at that point).  She wanted us to go vacation and was not very subtle about it.  She wanted to go to my family's Ranch.  She had kept being bringing this up for the last 2 or 3 months of our relationship.  Bottom line, I work for a living and and I could not figure out how she was paying for stuff as well as making rent.  She has kids - gosh darn four kids so she was getting probably support of some kind.  I never asked what type since that is hers alone.  And if we did go on vacation guess who would have been paying for this vacation from a vacation.

There is a list Readers that things piss me off.  Although we all do I bet.  I am not going to say mine is less or more or mundane or complex.  And when the ex-finally said something to me it was finally in one of those last emails to me.  Mind you, she never mentioned this to me in person.  No communication on the ex's part.  So, this list exists.  Turning the radio station while ZZ top is playing.  Not cleaning the toilet bowl.  Not cleaning the kitty litterbox when it smells.  The ex sleeping all the time.  Not being able to watch a movie with alot of cursing and getting the comment that there is a lot of cursing and how can I wacth this.  Not letting me have me-time without any interruptions.  Checking Facebook in bed and the glow of the monitor keeping me awake.  The children eating my steak.  The children lying.  The drama that was made drama.  The same story over and over and over.  I couldnt keep beer in the refridgerator.  The children not cleaning up after eating.  The children watching tv and on the computer and playing a video game on another tv at the same time.  The children not cleaning up their dishes.  Ordering a drink everytime we go out (meaning coca-cola and not being satified with just getting water).  Using my washer and dryer machine almost all the time.  Changing the time on my watch.   The children not finishing their cans of Pop when I bought the 12packs.  Her making a school bag lunch while she eats my steak for lunch.  Getting on my computer without asking.  texting/talking while driving.  the ex's addiction to Facebook.  No job.  and the list could go on, but those are on the list and the ones that instantly came to mind.

You know what Readers - I might as well post the letter for you.

If you read the coupon, it expires Sunday, unless I read it wrong.

Since this gives me ONLY your name and not which email it comes from, I can only hope I am replying to the correct one so that I don't have to go through the trouble of sending it to all your multiple accounts.

For almost 2 years now, I have been listening to what you really need me to hear.  Let's just call them the "101 things not to talk about" or "101 things that piss of Daryl".  I've got it.  Most of it anyway.  I don't have all 101 things of each and have to learn what to add to either list by days like that Saturday I took you home feeling like you refused to want to talk.  Yes, I said "feeling".  What more could I do?

Well, there's something I really need you to hear from me.  No, not a Dr. John letter, don't even go there.  Of many, if not all of the 101's I've heard/learned from you, many contained something you wanted changed, either a way I acted around you, what I've said around you, what I should knock off saying around you, etc. etc.  I'll let the past be the past.  It's where it should be anyway and look at the recent.  We went to that Super Target together and I heard many times how you were going without lunch, expecting dinner to be a certain way, etc. etc.  I thought I had been holding up my end of the bargain by first asking you countless times if you wanted me to bring you something for lunch, pick you up, etc. etc. all to which you told me "no". so I got the brilliant idea of at least sending you a lunch.  I knew it wouldn't be much, I never once asked to be reimbursed (only accused of mismanaging money when you began to ask for details)  I didn't care if you threw my lunches away, went out with colleagues, asked me to pick you up instead.  That never was the issue and NEITHER was money.  The ISSUE was that I was making an attempt to once again change something I felt I was hearing you say you wanted changed, and I did this from my heart, out of love, as were the breakfasts, I was attempting they were ONLY about attempting to make your life a bit better with hopes of making you happy.  What I heard that Saturday was how my feeble attempts not only didn't make you happy, but that I failed epically at even trying.  I won't go into the kitten thing.  You know you offered to help financially and then changed your mind.  Whatever the reason, it is yours alone and I will not complain whatsoever about eating the loss.  In other words, before you bring it up, I want to say that it's a non issue. 

Yes, I've had an awesome vacation.  I've been to Navajo Nation (invited, of course), I've branded my first calf and it was a high.  I've been in the Southwest Mountains, yes, in the rain, but even wet, enjoyed being part of helping out on horse ranches, riding in semi trucks, been help at construction sites.  Stuff, I've either NEVER done or have not done in a long time.  I met up with friends and kids in Glenwood Springs and we had the time of our life.  What I found out, was that I have a LOT of friends and a LOT of opportunities before I head off to school on the 19th to spend some time away before I head back to school.  Here's what hurts and you and I both know this, I've just never expressed this.  I find it really hard to swallow that last summer while you called us an item, that you asked Deniese to spend your summer vacation with you at your cattle ranch.  And I'm the one who did the driving to light rail/bus, etc.  Another way I felt you were saying I, your girlfriend, was not good enough for such a vacation for whatever your reason, but your friend who was involved with another man was more than good enough for I won't say what I believe to be the reason.  How am I supposed to feel about this?  This time spent away, I've had a myriad of friends who know I am in a relationship with you, some even KNOW you, who feel I am more than worth the time to allow a small vacation at their ranches, etc.  They wanted me to ask you for your permission, but given your stock answer, "Do what you want.", that one was a easy give away.

Again, this is in no way a Dr. John letter, nor am I anxious to pack up my things. I just need to understand some things about myself.  I can't explain it well enough in an email, but all my life, I seem to have this issue of "not being good enough" and I really want to know why. Maybe I'll discover the reason, maybe I won't.  I did see a medicine man (Navajo Nation) who had some really great insight but I don't know how to lock that insight in to what I'm going through with this issue.

Anyway, I'm in the area for the weekend, just had minor surgery on my neck and will have another one on the 15th.  The MRI came back with the reason I've had so much trouble physically with my upper body and it is curable; only wish I'd done it years ago when the problem first cropped up.  Doesn't matter, I'm excited to finally have my physical health back!!!  This will be the only way to reach me for now.  I will be taking advantage of "getting away" until school starts, then back to the old routine again.  I really need for you to hear me and try to understand what I'm going through.

PS.  I'm up to half mile uninterrupted jog, better than my original goal by this time.  If not too late, going to try and jog the (Susan B Koman) Breast Cancer walk/run in October.

Later

This email was really the last time telling me what's what in her life after the ex dropped me off at home on that last day we were together in July.  I already had made up the notion that we were not a couple at this point.  And right after this letter I get a message from her facebook account "This is Mark get lost jerk" and then I had a Facebook post from the ex which I did not know was on my facebook for about 5 days when I did log onto Facebook that she posted a message and letting me know she removed all her posts from my facebook page and ended with "nothing personal"  It was at that moment I unfriended her then the ex- sent many texts and couple emails and she was pissed and went crazy.  I can only assume the ex was with this guy Mark at this point, probably cheated on me/slept with him as well at that point.  I know they were in a relationship as of 7/24/14 not even a week after the ex dropped me off at my place - the bed was not even cold when the ex jumped into the bed of another.   And I was faithful up until the end even after going home that Saturday in July and making many many attempts to get my stuff.  The ex indicated in emails and text the ex wanted to talk and the email above after 7/24/14 indicated "it" was not over, but apparently the ex was lying.  It was so over by the ex lying and cheating on me.  A month later I met Mark and the ex in person at my humble abode.

Looking back on the last meeting with the ex.  I showered and got dressed up for this meeting.  I was actually hoping to get good bye sex.  LOL - the joke was on me.  The ex looked kinda sad and ragged dressed in brown.  Anyway, I opened the door and had the ex's stuff at the door which I pointed to the ex.   The ex asked if she could come in.  I said no.  You are not going to look around my place for a walk through. The ex shook her head and then said no she is not going to look around.  I let the ex in and then at the doorway the ex asked for a hug.  I do not remember the hug on the ex's part, but I was kind of resilent then hugged the ex, but was not a true welcome back hug.  The ex took my hand and then lead me to the couch.  How are you,  Did you go to the concert.  I was asking why are you even asking that.  The ex says - Have you seen my Facebook page.  I said no I unfriended you remember. The ex looks at me lowers her head and the speaks - I met the guy who took my virginity. You know him since you and he were in a special ed class back in the day.  I am an evangelist.  Remember all those times in bed I was praying for you.  The ex's takes my other hand and says let us pray.  I immediately broke the hold the ex had on my hands and said you can pray for me when you go to sleep tonight.  I am not going to pray with you.  And this conversation is over.  I then proceeded to tell the ex that I knew there was someone in her life and told the ex it was that time you posted to my Facebook account and said nothing personal.  As on cue - the ex got defensive whips out her phone and starts to look for said post.  Here was another "drama" thing the ex does when I point out or accuse the ex of being wrong.   Meanwhile, I am standing up and hear a knock at the door - The shave and a haircut - knock.  I open up and it is a guy.  It does not take a genius to figure out who this is.  The ex gets up off the couch and then goes outside next to him.  The ex says this is Mark.  I shake his hand and do not even remember this person at all.  I still do not as of this blog post.  Getting back to last meeting with the ex.  I pointed the ex's stuff to Mark and then started moving it out the door for him.  Mark starts picking up the ex's stuff and starts carrying to the vehicle.  The ex says I hope we can be friends.  I dont want to end it this way.  I said I can't.  I hope you realize how mean you were the ex says.  I said Goodbye and then closed the door.

That is that.  I did not get mad, or beg, or cry, or anything - just smiled.  The ex may have been looking for me to do one of those emotions and even tried provoking me with some of the things she said in that short chat with me.  Oh I was not in a special ed class back in elementry or Jr/ High School.  I did remember though I did get put into some class after not performing well - but do not remember what class what for.  The Past is the past for me Readers. 

Readers, that was also the problem - the ex lives in the past.  I guess I did not realize this until the above event.  There is that past once more with the ex - I am with the guy who took my virginity. 

until the next time

Daryl Charley

The Athlete on Day One

A Grilling Split-Decision

Greetings Readers

Alright - this is going to be another what would have done situation.

Are you Readers ready? Remember, you have got to put yourself into my shoes, but you are not me - you are you. Okay, let us begin.

Let us say over the Memorial Day Weekend you bought some chicken and decided that weekend you are going to grill / barbecue some chicken at the local community pool.

You get to the community pool a little after noon and immediately see that the pool is packed with people. You walk to the area where the barbecue grills are located. You can already see that out of most them smoke is coming from the closed grills. You happen to see a closed grill with no smoke. You walk over and open up the grill - filled with food. OK. All the grills are being used. Basically, first come first serve. Not a problem. You leave just as quickly as you came since you got to go back home since you can not have raw chicken getting warm. Perhaps try again later in the evening.

Flash forward - it is after 6PM that same day. You do the exact same thing and it appears nothing has changed at the community pool, except the angle of the sun in the sky. All the grills are still being used. At this point you leave again - this time for good. Either grill at home or cook the chicken some other way.

Now, two days later you bought some steak two days ago and basically now it is time that you have to cook the steak you bought from the store.

You bought the steak on sale for 21.32, although the original price was 38.06. With all good steak being expensive these days you need to make sure you cook the steak the way you want it.

You decide that you are going to the community pool to use the outdoor grill at the pool that evening. After a full day of work earning that American Dollar and then some, you get home after 6 PM that evening. Your steak was prepped with a marinade and now is ready for cooking. It is about 6:45 PM that you finally get to the community pool. Immediately, you see that all the grills are available - you can pick and choose which one you want to use.

So, you choose a random one since there is no clear favorite that you want. Now, with this expensive piece of steak, mind you a package of three steaks being of New York Strip Sirloin Steak you decide you are going to cook this slowly and over medium heat.

After a while the grill is ready for you to use and all that time you were waiting for the grill to be ready all other grills filled up with other people and their dinner. Although, not a steak among them. Just hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken and bratwursts from what you can identify when looking around.

Your steak is the most expensive food there at the grill area. Anyway, with these steaks ready to be cooked you decide that you are only going to use the top rack of the grill as opposed to the bottom of the grill. One reason is to keep the steak as far as from the heat and two - to keep the steak juicy. Since you elected to cook the steaks this way you know that you are going to have a longer cooking time from the other people there.

Oh, before even coming to the community pool you packed a book since you know you are going to be cooking for a while and you wanted to keep yourself occupied. You also set your watch timer at 5:00 minutes since that is what you are going to go by and flip the steaks over.

Back at the grills, while you are reading and grilling you notice some other people showing up, but turning away even before getting to the grills since they can see that all the grills are in use. Although, you happen to see one person with a plate of hamburgers walking and talking on the cell phone coming to the grilling area without stopping.

The person eventually takes a table behind you since you can hear them talking on the cell phone almost right behind you.

About five minutes later that person leaves the area still talking on the cell phone and you now see that person is not holding their plate of hamburgers. You have to assume that person left their plate of hamburgers on the table behind you since you do not care to turn around and verify. You are still cooking and reading.

Another five or ten minutes later that person shows up again still talking on the cell phone. Whether or not that is the same phone call or not that is irrelevant.

Now, another five minutes later and at this point in the scenario all the grills are still in use. No one has left their grill nor finished cooking.

You hear that same voice that has been talking on that cell phone came from right behind you.

"Excuse me? I see that you are using the top of the grill. Can I use the bottom of the grill?" is what that person that has the plate of hamburgers and been talking on the cell phone asks you.

Readers - you have a micro-second split decision to make and answer this person. What do you say? I have laid out the facts as well as all what I remember.

Remember Readers, you have the background as well the luxury of what has been read and what you may have already decided. Yet, in life you never know what is going to happen in the future.

I do not remember word for word, verbatim, but I answered

"No, I do not want your 3.99 hamburger's aroma in my 38.00 dollar steak."

There was no hesitation in my answer to her question. I said no for many reason - for example another reason - I was there first. And all the other people came thereafter. Meaning, first come first serve. Basically, when a grill becomes available that person is the next in line to use an open grill.

Whether or not I am not using the bottom of the grill - I am using the grill. Two, how do I not know what ingredients are in that person's hamburgers. Three, the fat from the hamburgers are going to drip and that will cause the grill to flame below thereby causing the heat to rise as well as the possibility of fire flaming up to your steaks.

Now, you Readers are not the first people I presented this to. I actually asked alot of my friends and about 90 percent of them would have said yes - no problem. But, none of them even thought of the hamburger's aroma cooking into the steak. They did not have a problem sharing, but they did not think of that factor of the hamburger's aroma seeping into your steaks. And half of them did not think that the fat from the hamburgers will cause flame ups.

So, with most of my friends saying that they would have share the bottom of the grill I had to find someone like me. Hah hah - impossible, I know. Let me rephrase that - I had to find someone with a type C personality. And yes, I know of two friends who are Type C like me.

I decided to ask one of them since that is all I need the opinion of. I told the above story and here is their answer.

"No. I am cooking a special dinner and I do not want your hamburger's aroma cooking into my special dinner."

I was not surprised. Type C's are always thinking "beyond the path."

For example - you get into an elevator going down. You get on and soon after a few stops the elevator gets crowded with people at each stop. Eventually, the elevator is packed and you have not reached your floor. What are you thinking? Anything? Nothing? Could care less? Not the Type C's - they wonder about the other occupants of the elevator, the people next to them, and more importantly the weight of the elevator with the elevator car filled with people. How many stops are there going to be before you reach your floor?

Bottom line - I was there first and that person, or any person, needs to wait until a grill opens and was out of line asking me to use my grill I was cooking on. It is generally known that if something is in by another person you wait your turn until it opens up for the next person to use.

Oh one more thing to add - one friend asked me - What if your hot next door neighbor, and if she was single that you knew of, was that person with the plate of hamburgers and asked you to use the bottom of the grill you were using? I said I probably would have had said "no problem" without a second thought. They laughed and I laughed, but I will admit I would have most likely said yes and not said no. Discrimination - I know. I might have even said "Sure, but I am gonna need some sugar" LOL.

And yet - another friend pointed out that plate of hamburgers was for three's children dinner and I made those kids go hungry for another hour than they had to. My friends are relentless.

Now, time to end this blog post - by the way Readers that person who asked me to use the bottom of the grill was just an average looking woman about late 20's / early 30's.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

The Apology Letter (and last) to D

Greetings Readers

As I mentioned just recently in order to move forward you have to put the past behind you.

I have and thought to myself I might as well complete this statement by writing a blog post that will mean nothing to any of you faithful Readers, but only to that one person. I do not have a clue if she does read my blog, but there may be a chance that she does. Does that matter? I guess you faithful Readers may never know that answer to that question.

Hi D

This is not the first time that I was wrong and this will not be the last time that I will be wrong. I also do not like to give an apology for something that I did not do wrong initially.

I acted the way the way I did since the initial act was instigated by you. I felt that if you treated me the way that you did I could do almost the same thing, but in a different manner to you. It does take two to Tango and I know I have things I did to you that you could mention.

I gave you the silent treatment. Yes, silence is a powerful thing to do someone close. All I wanted was for you to ask me why I was giving you the silence treatment. I would have given you the reason why – no bullshit.

Like the reason I was mad at you for not keeping a couple of lunch meetings early in our friendship. Yes, something small and I understand that we all have emergencies and what not, but that was/is something I do not tolerate if the same thing happens over and over. Call it a pet peeve or not, but I do not like to be cancelled and cancelled upon over and over again.

I was mad for a time and then I came to you and explained why I was mad at you. If the other person was wrong I wait for them to come to me, but in the case with you I came to you and explained why I was the way I was. We mended the relationship, but with my character I can not forget that this event ever happened.

Well, this past year, you approached me in a manner that I was taken aback by surprise. I understand you got the degree and have that over me as education and status placement, but my placement in life is what I have chosen. Though, the one thing that I am not is an AA or an EA. I do not fetch coffee, I do not keep up calendars, and other things EA’s or AA’s are known to do for the person(s) they are hired to assist. You had a pissed off look and addressed me in a pissed off manner and I did not especially care for that.

Then, as the weeks past by and you noticed something different you used a mutual friend to try and talk to me through our mutual friend. That further drove the nail in the wrong direction. If there is an issue – talk to me directly, pull me aside, just do not involve any of our mutual friends into our differences. I am honest with you and can take most things that are said or thrown at me.

Sure, I would have apologized for my above actions in a heartbeat, but you never came to me at all. I could have went first to you, but after the first incident in our relationship I could not make the first move again. No matter what, in my opinion.

I enjoyed knowing you. As you know I made the effort to get to know you. And so as I learned of your martial status I did not let that deter me. And at that time I knew that I could not pursue you as a romantic interest – even though you are the woman I do desire – the hair color, the body, the voice and the demeanor.

I did flirt from time to time, but I hope never flirted any more than I should of. I never suggested let’s go for a drink, I did not inquire about your personal life. Though when I saw that one tattoo – it was an immediate turn on. But again, I kept the friend relationship to a minimum, even by not talking to you every day, which I could have done, but elected not to.

So, that is what caused my friendship with you to be cut off so suddenly. Now, I do and did apologize and I did call your phone number for the first and only time since you gave to me a couple of years ago and I left you a voicemail. I could have hung up, but I did not. I kind of remember leaving a voice message, but I do not actually remember what I said on the voicemail. Sorry. I was nervous, but my message was unrehearsed and my thinking on what to actually say was the tough part.

I could have said so much, but not knowing how you felt about me, what had happened and what you did not know – again I did not want to say something that could be perceived as something it should not. And I will admit that I may be thinking something else, but that is neither here or there. And as Prince sang “…it’s such a shame our friendship had to end…”

I do wish the best for you and I do hope that you give me a call, or send me an email to say something / anything from – a fuck you or you accepting my apology and tell me I am still an ass for acting the way I did to you. If not, I also understand your reasoning why not. I truly do.

What also bothered me, though not from you was that other people suggested that perhaps I was the one that made you question yourself. Or I was the cause for your troubles with giving you a bottle of wine. You giving me a couple / few rides home. I hope that was not the case. Again, I never asked about you and your hubby’s personal current relationship. I do not know if perhaps there is a therapist that you may be seeing for whatever reason(s). I do not know about your life except those moments you did share with me, which in my mind were not on a personal / taboo basis at all. Anyway, once those “seeds” were planted I could not help think I may have had something to do with your personal life. I hope not, but somehow I feel I did, but only by people even saying I may have a part. Consciously, I know I did not, but perhaps subconsciously I did do something that I am not aware of. If I did, I am very, very sorry. I am past that part of my life where I did have extra-martial affairs, but as we age so does comes wisdom and more thinking to the consequences of the act of an affair. Granted, I do have a lot of gorgeous married women friends and I do tend to flirt from time to time, but I think I know when I have / am crossed the line of going to far with a married woman. With your physical condition the last time I saw you – you were thinner than ever. I was worried, but also brought flashbacks to a woman I loved who is no longer in my life. Yet, that is another story, which I talked very little about, but affected and changed my life from that point on in my life.

You referred to yourself as a princess, I disagree. You are more than that – a desirable Queen. Though again that is something I never voiced to you - or could. And I could never call you a princess since I had a friend who referred to herself as a princess and she was that (but a whole more, but not princess like.) One princess in my life is plenty and I could not make two princesses in my life. If I were to be blunt you would be my “cougar.” Oh baby.

The only way to go any further is in my fantasies, but that is something that I will not share. We all have fantasies and I am not going to share about who I may be having fantasies about. (Not going to talk about that with you my faithful Readers… well you could buy me a couple of drinks and perhaps I might just slip about that subject.)

By the way, I know it has been two years, and like an elephant I really never forget things. Do you remember when I made Lasagna and I gave you a small Tupperware dish with a piece of Lasagna? I never asked for the dish back nor did I ask what you thought about my cooking. I am not worried about the Tupperware not being returned to me – at all. After all, my faithful Readers know how I personally feel about Tupperware.

If you need a reason, one reason, to contact me and are reading this blog, then that there is a reason (or additional reason) why you could contact me. Tell me how you liked/disliked my cooking. We may laugh. We may have uncomfortable conversation. Or we may say sorry to each other and see what happens. I do not know.

But again – As I was sitting with my family after Christmas in the living room – “in order to move forward mama always said you had to put the past behind you.”

I did see you walk out of my life before you were gone – walking to your vehicle. Corny as that statement reads but that is the last time I saw you. Sounds like a cowboy song. Or could just be life.

Take care and I hope the best for you in your life.

Yours Truly

Daryl

Readers, that is that. Readers, it took Forrest Gump to make me realize that I had to do the same thing. I have made my peace with myself and now look forward to a new year and a new age bracket to compete in. Hah hah. By the way, it does sound like I lost a love, but it is not. Just someone I cared about more than most of my friends - nothing wrong with that.

“and that is all that I have to say about that.”

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

The Ignorant Senor(ita) - Update 12/2010

Greetings Readers

The Ignorant Senor(ita)

Well, I happened to go to this blog the other day (that I use to follow off and on) and I see that he/she is almost in the same boat I am. Though a bit different. Blogging off and on, but he/she has some issues about coming out from his/her anonymity, maybe, again.

Fuck me Readers - That recent blog post on why, how come and what would - was like the terms and conditions on the back of the credit card statement! And talk about beating a dead horse - over and over! I get it. Your Readers get it. You obviously have issues about yourself and can not see them.

As Nike indicates - Just do it! Or shut the fuck up and move on.

Although, I do keep my friend's names classified. Those names are just as confidential as the nuclear missile arming codes. Although, I think I have posted a couple of pictures of my friends.

Anyway, he/she wrote a fucking epic post on why he/she keeps everything "secret" Believe me, I can understand and relate. But, then he/she wrote another epic post on what if he/she came out.

Though what I have read is no different from any other person's life and relationships. Your stories and relationships are not unique. But of course, other people's stories, lives, events are kind of interesting to read if you are looking for other things to learn, know, explore or just follow. Your friends are no different than my friends. I have friends that do not get along with certain other of my friends for what ever reason. I too have some cheap skate friends that do not tip 15%. I have friends that I desire. I have thought dirty thoughts about a couple of friends I have - come on who hasn't. I have friends who mean the world to me, but I never told them that.

I can write, spell, use big words, but I do not do that all the time. I mess up my sentence structures from time to time. I use the word their, when I should have used there. I try to type correctly and most of the time I will proof read my blog posts for grammatical errors. And I try to write more than a few sentences when posting. Though, I am not going to write a 3,000 word essay on every blog I post.

I do not think I have blogged about specifics of my sex life. I know I mentioned a couple of intimate desires, thoughts and things, but nothing about a specific sexual encounter I have had. I will admit that there is a desire to write about a sexual encounter I have had. Yet, that is personal. Excuse me Readers, I am smiling as I am typing this since I know that most likely will - I have planted (blogged) that thought and now that will probably bounce around until I do. And should I - I will tell you Readers - The aroma of her fragrance, the clothes she wore, what she was not wearing, her body, the way she looked, her lips... Whoa. I better stop.

I understand the Ignorant Senor(ita) being in their twenties, thinking they are more mature than they are. I will not argue. Matter of fact, I thought that way when I was in my twenties. I lived the life of a twenty something. I did all that. and more, I bet.

I also tell you Readers that I am flawed. I am an asshole. I am rude. I am pissed off. I was wrong. What he/she has not told his/her loyal Readers that he/she is none of that. He/She does not not say that.

I have told you Readers alot of myself, which if I knew you in person I would never tell you all of this. And if you know me and did Google me to find out what/who is Mr. Charley, I could care less. I know what I post is out there for everyone to see. You Readers have seen my nipple(s), probably seen a few butt cheeks, the type and color of some of the underwear I have. I am not embarrassed or ashamed. I blog like how I feel / act. My friends know that I blog and I have provided a few of them the link. I have told you Readers what turns me on about a woman and what not.

Again, the only thing I do keep secret is my events/interaction with certain friends. And yes Readers, the friends that I do write about on certain situations, I often give them their "codename" on my blog. They laugh and ask how did that name come up, but I really do not know. Bobbie Rae is Bobbie Rae, I actually believe if she was not who she is today - she would be a Bobbie Rae from the South. LaMont was used because of Sanford & Son - which me and friend just smile and laugh about since he is so not Lamont. hah hah. Pssst - yes Readers - he is so a Lamont.

What I do not do on this blog is gossip or talk shit about on my friends. It would be easy, I bet. But this blog is, and never, will be about that. I do gossip in my real life, yes I admit that, and do talk shit. We all "hate" or "dislike" someone else for whatever reason and I could blog about those people, but I feel that is wrong. But I do blog about the people I "hate" who ask me "what time is it" while waiting for the bus, while I have my earphones in, which he/she can clearly see.

Readers, I think this blog post is getting too long now. Anyway, I am not making a point, but this recent blog from the Ignorant Senor(ita) was about his/her secret identity, relationships and life. Again. Oh yes, again and again. In the beginning of his/her first blog was the reason why for the blog. Then, throughout he/she still has to bring up a few reasons why he/she can not divulge his/her identity and his/her friends. Matter of fact, his/her friend's names are not even fake names. An Example would be like, "The fuck up," "The Coffee Drinker" "The Canon Powershot picture taker" "The 5th time unemployed friend" etc. You get the idea Readers.

In closing, I could not read every word of his/her recent last post. It was the same story again. And the same analytical breakdown on why he/she can not come out from his/her secret blog. And once again too fucking long to read and think this is interesting (for the umpteenth time)

He/she has not blogged about about committing a crime. Well, he/she did blog about getting so drunk and passing out on a front lawn - so that would be the crime of public disorderly. He/she has not blogged about sleeping with a CEO/President that would / could create a scandal. I think he/she is worried about what his/her friends would truly think of him/her if his/her friends, that he/she does calls friends, could put a real person with the Ignorant Senor(ita) blog. Or he / she is really worried about all the things he/she said about her friends on the internet. Not down and out bad, but carefully written that he/she is better than everyone else in a nice condensing manner.

Sorry Readers, I can not stop typing - Again, that Tipping and the Ignorant Senor(ita) had with a couple of years ago. He/she has some serious issues about tipping. I do myself, but would not blatantly point that out who specifically did not tip 15 % on my blog with my friends. If he/she is worried about not meeting the 15% unwritten rule to tip (though not unwritten at some restaurants these days) after a friend's get together meal then leave extra. Yes, you should not have to, but shit happens. Some people do, some people don't - who are you to say that is wrong. And to make sure that you never have to leave extra tip do not go out with them again for a meal, except fast food (where we as a society do not generally tip fast food employees)

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

The Phone Call and eventual voicemail message

Greetings Readers

I made one of the toughest things that I have not done in a long time.

I called a friend (well, Readers that may not be entirely true since I was not friend material for most of the year) yesterday after finding out she was terminated.

She gave me her phone number about a year or two years ago and I have never called her since that time.

With me just finding out what happen, my current status with me as not being a friend and something else - I had to call.

Though before making that call it was actually making the call. It was like calling a woman for the first time to go out on a date. Was the phone number still good? Was she going to answer? What am I going to say? Does she even want to hear from me? What would she say to me?

When was a good time to call? Do I call from home? From work? Perhaps I should have a drink before calling after I get home. Should I call after 5 PM? And so goes the questions

Needless to say, I picked up the phone and started dialing a few times all day then stopped. Eventually, it was time to man up and get it over. Boy, I was nervous and was sweating under my armpits. Oh yes, that's how nervous I was.

I dialed and soon heard the automated voice indicating please hold while that party is located.

That was the longest 15 seconds, I think, that I waited.

It was even longer wait than my mom's voice last week saying "That another Charley died." I was so nervous after hearing that - fearing the worst.

Anyway, soon I hear her voicemail message and was kind of relieved that I got her voicemail. Though, the thought of what would be appropriate/right to leave was next. I did think for a microsecond of hanging up, but x'ed that thought.

Readers, I did not want to ramble with my voicemail message, but I think I did. I did say I was sorry, I also said I would be probably the last person who thought she would hear from. And a couple of others things. I said bye and that was that.

I was relieved after the phone call, but was shaking a bit. Did I do the right thing?

I know Readers I am being vague and not telling you what happened for me to be the way to her this year. If you faithful Readers know me then you know I do not like being treated a certain way. It happened with me from her and I did not like that. And Readers I could not not pretend that it did not ever happen. I was looking for a sorry or something, but that did not happen. Eventually, I gave her the silent treatment.

Yet, finding out I put all that aside and made the call. Perhaps she may call me back. Perhaps she will talk to me again. Perhaps she will tell me - Fuck you. Perhaps. If not, I do not blame her and I will understand.

I am sorry for the way I left her the last time she ever saw/talked to me.

And Readers this is another reason to add to why I do not care for the Holidays this time of the year.

Note to Nick - I guess your statement long ago to me - that I am the rudest person ever - is correct. She would agree with you.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Has the End of this Blog arrived?

Greetings Readers

I am not sure if I read the news on this blog site (blogger.com), but from the way that I have interpreted the news was that I will now have to buy a domain (since I have no domain - .com) in order to continue to blogging on blogger due to changes being made.

I am kinda of sad to hear this since I use the relatively easy publishing process. Sure, I had a website 8 years ago and thought that was the bomb. Since I discontinued my Internet service a long time ago I now have to pay for everything that usually comes with packages when you have Internet service.

I have Internet at work as well as the library and over at my friend's humbles abodes.

Why pay when I really do not need service? I made that decision a long time ago and I have to admit that after terminating service I was "lost" and kind of like "Oh my gosh how in the world am I going to live my life without the Internet?", but then I learned to live without. The expense I was giving up (back in the day I was paying either $ 20.00 or 24.99 a month) became my money again. Matter of fact, if I was to base my savings on $ 20.00 - times that by 12 and it comes to $ 240.00 a year. Taking in inflation, broadband (back in the day I was on dial-up) now the thing and much more expensive than dial up I think, Internet over a certain amount bytes which they may either had more money or cut you off I think an average cost these days would probably be $ 500.00, I think?

Sorry Readers, I got off track of the real topic.

This blog site. Again from what I just found out I think that in March my blogging days will be over. Unless I get a domain. I did check a few other blog services and I do see one possibility.

Then, I thought, my blogging for the past year has gone down. I have reasons, but do I really need to give you one? or ten? No. You Readers probably could care less. I know if the roles were reversed I would care less. Kind of like my ignorant bikers I follow... followed. Their blogging I think is over, but that does not stop me from stopping in from time to time to see if there is a new post. Ignorant was used and I did use as a label, but they did learn from their blogging when they did blog. Whether on there own or perhaps by my blogging and/or comments. I do not think of them as Ignorant anymore - they learn a lot as well blogged about biking. More so than myself about biking and I consider myself a hard-core biker.

I have a lot of unposted blog posts, but either they are no good to post, not finished, or I just have not gotten to post. I started blogging and blogged rarely in the beginning. Then, soon I blogged like a mad man thinking that I had to blog to get my blog post numbers high. Now, I am blogging rarely once more.

Is the circle complete? For me? I have not run out of blog topics. I have stuff on sport events. a topic about "Mr. Bent". Serena Williams threatening harm of a line judge at the US Open in New York. My views on Tiger Woods. A graffiti artist gets electrocuted while tagging a Transformer station in New Mexico and how this was sad and you need to feel sad for the guy (but he was tagging therefore it was illegal! A fucking tagging a transformer station - a dumb fuck). The White House Party Crashers. On on a former radio DJ that was on Alice - Jamie White. A "Mr. Dick". a few don't fucking bother me at a bus stop stories (my favorite topic to share with you Readers) and so goes the stories I have yet to share.

I have things to say - often blunt, sometimes rude, yet there are the nice, the generous and the few I got thrown under a bus (metaphorically speaking) stories.

I am in the dark and let me see if I can step up my blogging for this month and entertain you Readers for what could be my final days on blogger.com.

P.S. The picture is of the DTC area this morning looking Northeast from the Greenwood Village Movie Theatre. I am currently riding Tracey since Lily had something go wrong with her about two weeks ago. A nice morning ride to the Light Rail Station. Sorry the picture is not clear - I took of the flash and I can see that I was not holding the camera steady.

"The Beginnig of the End"

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Me an "asshole?"

Greetings Readers

The other day I decided to go for a run during my lunch break.

I was kind of pissed off and pounding some pavement tends to relieve some stuff. Just me and the road (well sidewalk if you want to get technical).

There I was running down the street when I came to my first intersection with a stoplight. The Green light was on in the direction I was running. However, the “red hand” signal for pedestrians was blinking off and on. Where I was going to cross.

Now, idling (but inching) that was going to turn towards me was a red truck. Both windows were open (rolled down), a dog in the back and a young girl looking in the opposite direction to see if a vehicle was coming her direction that she was turning into. Not once did she look in my direction to see if there was anyone coming in the opposite direction.

This scenario has played over in my life and will continue to do so after this day.

Well, by the time the oncoming car had past I was in the crosswalk with the red hand still blinking off and on and I had the green light. By law, I have the right of way. Any vehicle must yield to any vehicle and/or pedestrian that has the right of way in the direction the other vehicle/pedestrian are going in.

I was about three feet into the crosswalk when the red truck took off right into me. Not once did she even glance in my direction to see if anyone was coming in the opposite direction.

I yelled “Heads up” pretty darn loud since I had moments before being hit/run over. Readers, sure I could have stopped since I knew that she was not going to look my direction at all. I am pretty good at guessing at ignorant people who do not look both ways when they have to yield before turning. No point or point – I was not going to me whether I was going to get hit or not.

I heard the brakes lock on the red truck and then I give her “the look.” I said nothing since I did not need to say anything. Just “the look.” Well, “the look” did or did not help depending on your point of view”

I see her mouth form “You fucking asshole!”

Yes Readers, I was wearing my earphones and listening to some Tiesto. So, I could not hear her exactly say “You fucking asshole.”

Since I did not say the first words, because I was content with just “the look” I replied.

“Look both ways you Bitch.” And then I turned my head forward and I was running out of the crosswalk. By then the stoplight did change lights and the people who had the red light now have the green light.

I never looked back since I could care less what just happened.

Perhaps twenty yards later I noticed out of the corner of my right eye there was a vehicle matching my pace. I did not turn my head, but turn my eye as much as I could see (which was not much) and I could see the vehicle’s driver’s window down with a woman yelling/screaming at me.

I do not know why. I kept on running and where I was running. There is a middle concrete island separating traffic so I guess that kept me safe in a manner of speaking. Another twenty yards later that vehicle got into the turn lane to turn into a complex’s parking lot on my side of the road. All this time I pretended not to notice her.

Yet, I foresaw trouble. Since there was no oncoming traffic she had the opportunity to turn and perhaps really get into my face for whatever reason she was yelling about. I quickly slowed my running pace and hoped for on coming traffic coming around the corner. Sure enough the biking gods were watching over me. Three vehicles were coming and were going to block that person from getting to me. As soon I saw the vehicles coming I quickly turned up the pace and soon I was safely past that complex’s parking lot where she could have turned in to confront me.

All the time I never acknowledged her. I kept look straight ahead where I was running and with my Oakley’s on. I am sure that even infuriated her more.

However Readers, why was she pissed off and yelling at me? After thinking about it – probably that was her daughter in the red truck turning without even looking in the opposite direction that could have run me over if I had not yelled “heads up.” Or perhaps “sister” looking after another “sister.”

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

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

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