Yo - That is One Pimped out Bike...

Greetings Readers

It has been forever and ever, but I guess it is time for another quote.

"Yo. That is one pimped out bike you got!"
"That is a tricked out bike dude"

Let me tell you readers - comments like that make the 1665.00 bones I spent all so worth the cost. Those two comments were from two teenage boys (age 14+) riding their BMX bikes the other day. Of course their bikes had mag rim (are they still called that?), posts on the back tires so someone can stand on them while the bike rider pedals away and a nice color scheme.

Yet, I casually roll up to them and pass the rider who said that my bike was "Pimped out" and then the other boy in front of us looked back and I soon passed him and that's when he said "tricked out."

I am telling you that's all it takes for me to be happy all day. Matter of fact, I was happy all day that I treated myself to lunch at Chili's and then an afternoon Mocha Frapaccino with whipped cream.

Last week a lady said "Pretty" to me. I make most of the walkers, runners and other bikers turn their heads to look at me, well my rims. Shallow. Oh yes. But I am taking it all in. I am loving the attention I am getting with my HED rims.

Sometimes, I acknowledge the other riders, and should someone say something to me...

Oh oh oh, I have stop wearing my earphones while riding Andrea and the new HED rims. I want to hear all the comments I know that I am going to get while I am showing off my rims. I can not actually believe that I am not wearing any earphones while riding anymore. There is not a day that goes by that I do not get a comment about my bike.

Yes, you heard that right. I am showing off my rims as much as I can. As long as it keeps me happy then I am going to continue to so until Fall/Winter when I am not going to be showing off the rims until the following year.

Speaking of showing off. I take a long route to work (or more to the point, I try to figure out the longest out of the way route to work, but not too out of the way route to work). I take the long route home. I go out of my way to show off my rims to as many people I can. I do a lap or two laps in the two strip malls nearby where I live by riding slow. I look at my reflection in the business windows and see two, as my ex-co-worker would say, "just so awesome" rims and my stellar thighs being reflected at me. Ha Ha. I see what people see when they see me.

What's even better (or sad) is I try to catch red lights so I can stop and people can see and talk to me from the vehicles about my rims. I am all for not running yellow lights. Who knew that I would make it a point to stop at stoplights as opposed to riding as fast as possible so I would not get a red light. Matter of fact, I could be a "poster biker" for all about stopping at red lights should there ever be an advertising campaign.

Which leads me into the next segue way - speed. I am riding ever so casually. I am going below the average speed. The reason is that so everyone can get a look at my rims. That's it. No other reason for going slow. Well, I did go fast the other weekend, but that was because I wanted to see how fast I could go and also wanted to show off that since I have those rims I should be going faster than anyone else. My road bike is being treated like a beach cruiser, since that is what I am doing - cruising.

About 90 percent of the bikers are passing/riding me by and I have no desire to catch up or speed up. Or should any bikers be biking in the opposite direction I can see them turning their heads at me to see me and my rim. Well, perhaps not me, but my rims. I love the long head turn or the fast crank of their head to see me and my rims before it is too late. Sometimes, I acknowledge the look of the rider. Other times I can see them looking at me and my rims from the corner of my eye, but without giving an indication that I see them looking at me.

In my opinion, I am getting more than what I thought I would get out of the rims. I bought the rims for how much they cost, but also for the way they look and the carbon fiber in the rims. I was also hoping to get the looks/comments from the serious cyclist, which I am. But more importantly, to me, is that I am getting comments from non-riders, casual commuters, RTD riders (yep, I ride slowly through the RTD passenger zone when I can), grocery shoppers and people waiting for the green light at stoplights.

I do desire attention and now I am getting the attention. Do I deserve the attention? Who knows, but I am enjoying the attention.

The only drawback is that I have to take off the HED rims at work since I am afraid of leaving them locked up at the bike rack in the underground garage. Or if I am out riding I can not make any stops anywhere since I am afraid to leave the bike chained up and perhaps someone stealing the rims. I do live and work in the nice area of the surrounding suburbs of Denver, but I am still very, very cautious. Also, no need to tempt someone with my rims.

until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Happy Birthday to Me

Greetings People

Happy Birthday to me.

Let me get right to the point of today's topic

“Something” has once again inflamed a passion in me to compose a blog about “something” I have addressed in the days of old. Nevertheless, I have to broach this subject every two or three years, basically whenever I get a new circle of friends. Or when someone discovers the other side of me.

Let us commence with an example that has inspired me to get my creative juices to ignite for 2007.
I am not sure how to initiate this blog, but let me embark on how all this transpired down in my hood of Englewood, Colorado.

As I stated in yesterday’s blog I at long last got around to utilizing the gift card that I acquired from RTD.

Well, I began the 10th day of January earlier than usual. Perhaps I was hoping to get a call from my mom, since I do not know when their day starts these past few weeks. We have had five newborn calfes in the past four weeks and my parents have been busy trying to keep those newborns alive – the cold, the snow, the ice chopping, feeding, etc. I have digressed so let me return to the story at hand.

I even left early for work with a little spring in my step. The morning temperature was cool, but not cold. A slight wind was blowing in from the North with the winter sun shining ever so brightly, but providing no warmth in the bitter beginning of the winter season that started on December 21.

This is where the story truly commences - I go into Starbucks with my own Starbucks “old school” coffee thermos in one hand and gift card in the other hand. There was no line for ordering, which is an amazing thing since that is very unusual for that Starbucks location. I walked up to the register and speak the line of dialogue I always say when ordering the only order I get at any Starbucks store.

“A large Mocha Frap with whipped cream in my own container and that’s it.”

I spoke clear and slow, since I have encountered numerous incidents as the one I am going to recount to you faithful readers, here and now. So, while I was saying the above rehearsed sentence I reached out to the cash register woman operator (the young 20’s college student working at Starbucks so I have spending money) presenting my gift card, from RTD, as expenditure for the Mocha Frap I have been thinking about ever since obtaining the gift card.

“Would you like a scone or muffin?”

What the fuck I thought to myself. I know what I just previously said and I looked at her and reiterated what I said – word for word not fifteen seconds ago. Readers, I will recite myself in this sort of circumstance so the person who is serving/helping me does not have to inquire for a third time. If she/he then has to ask the exact question once more I will give that person the look of “I am not going to repeat myself so you better consider about getting off that pedestal that makes you one step closer to god than me because I have all the time in the world since you decided to challenge my initial request.” I was not going to repeat myself for a third time nor will I start a new line of discussion.

Readers, this is like a double-sided sword and there is only one side or the other side. There is no middle. One may say that this is a conundrum. However, for me this is a situation normal for me and I am willing to challenge my last word of conversation. Period.

As I touched upon before, even before getting to the door of Starbucks, I departed out my front door with a spring in my step. I even got up earlier than usual to have ample time to go to Starbucks this morning, so there was no “attitude” to begin with. In layman terms, nothing has yet to piss me off on this fogless morning. I had woken up with a layout of my morning’s agenda, feeling like a new man and no chip on my shoulder.

Now, back to the story… there was an awkward moment of silence for her. However, for me the taciturnity was nothing unknown and nor was I going to utter one more word of dialogue. You could parallel my stance to Rosa Parks saying those infamous words “I’m not moving.” Or as a “brutha” would say “Did I stutter fool?! I’m not moving. And if you choose to continue you will be taught what I learned from the school of hard knocks. For real.”

After that short moment of silence she starts to ring my order up and after a second or two she appeared, to me, that she was done ringing me up. What I noticed while she was ringing me up on the register she did not ring up my discount. Word. So, I say to her “Is that the total? I did not see my discount for bringing in my own thermos.”

She immediately knew I “got her” (busted her), but she indicated that she was not done and then depressed a few more buttons on the register and my new adjusted total came up, with the discount. Oh yeah, no smile came to my face, but oh how that lifted my getting “pissed off” mood. I mentally chalked this up as another win in my “Customer is always right” column and took my gift card back and dropped no money in the tip jar. I know the discount is only a dime, but she tried to fuck me out of a dime, when in fact she fucked herself and the barrister out of that dime, plus more when she had asked that million dollar question With me walking out my front door feeling like Jaci spent the night, I might have left a dollar tip on the Mocha Frap order. We will never know though nor will I give a second thought about what could have been.

Yes, that is what I wrote. I left no tip. She fucked that up when she asked if I wanted a scone when I had clearly stated…

“A large Mocha Frap with whipped cream in my own container and that’s it.”

And she had the audacity to try and get me to say something more or answer her only question she asked.

And that, my friends, was the morning episode of my mother’s birthday in this brand new year of 2007. Now, when my mom says did I remember her birthday this year I can say “Hell yeah that was the day I went into Starbucks with my gift card from RTD to have my Mocha Frap with whipped cream.” Hah hah.

With my morning incident presented to you I am pretty sure I have gotten your attention. Whether for the good or bad I could care less. I am responsible for my actions, but more consequentiality, I am not the submissive person in this affair. I was the dominant person. I am not succumbing to “the man”, nor to a life partner, the wife, the children, the girlfriend or age. I have not become jaded to the world nor been oppressed by anyone else. I have not forgotten where I came from and where I stand with my morals and myself. Meaning, I will take no shit when I do not have to.

I am an equal opportunity person to everyone I meet, but there is always something that will either make me respect you or not give you the benefit of me, yet being only as cordial as I could be. There are a lot of things I wrote down that you readers would disagree with, but before you call the kettle black, meaning me. You better take a look at your own life before judging me by the stories I communicate to you readers.

Yes, I understand the cashier may be required to say “anything else?” or offer something else or it’s free according to their policy. Fine. But, I repeat, when I include in my conversation words such as “that’s it” or “I only want this” or “and that will be all” that means that. Do not ask me for anything else. Depending on the day I may be having I might be the sarcastic son of a bitch I am when I am on the bike and say something like “Did I ask you for your phone number? Well then, I guess you know the answer to both questions that have been asked in the past 15 seconds by both of us.” This customer is right and I dare you to try your luck with me, because I promise to give you my undivided attention of me getting up in yo face. Or if am pissed off/foul mood I will become like a bitch and give the old silent treatment. Silence is such a powerful tool for me and I will often implore this method.

You may be thinking to yourself “What a son of a bitch. Not leaving a tip.” Again I say, you better get off your high horse or you better get off that step that makes you one step closer to god, because I ask you readers how many of you tip a fast food joint worker? I am proud to say I do, but only the regular fast food joint I go to for a gallon of Sweet Tea – Chick-fil-A. In addition to tipping, I also managed to get the two I deal with a 10.00 gift certificate to Starbucks. I did this act out of the respect I get when I go in there for my gallon of Sweet Tea. These two employees immediately start my order and I do not have to say one word on what I want. That is service my friend and there is no need for tipping them since society deemed them not people to tip, only waiter/waitress, bartenders, etc. The day any of you readers tip a fast food worker then you will have earned my respect and my attention to any issues/concerns you may have about me. Otherwise you better recognize.

Note, I have never stiffed a waiter/waitress out of tip money. I will give 15 % percent no matter how bad of a service the waiter/waitress may have provided. I was a waiter back in the day and I know from experience firsthand on waiting and tipping. There are a lot of people who tip less than 15 %. The government requires that we account for 15% of income made. Back in the day, I was earning $ 2.01 an hour plus tips. I am not sure how much that has changed, but that is pretty rough if you can not wait tables. Me? I made 18 to 20 percent when I worked about 95 percent of the time. More and less other times.

The cashier girl, well young woman, at Starbucks provided a service by taking my order and ringing me up. However, she did not make my Mocha Frap. She only gave me about a minute of her services. After that my order was in the hands of the barrister for the rest of my visit. Should I have still left a tip in the jar? Fuck no. Do you let a puppy piss all over the house without acknowledge of how wrong that was. Fuck no! You exert dominance, as the dog whisperer Romero would voice. So, the next time they see my thermos, my face, and remember not to ask a fucking question when I state “that’s it” they have learned not to question this customer. You may think I am a face among thousands that visits that certain Starbucks, but alas I have a certain something that one can not help to forget. Character. Okay, okay, now I am full of it, but I do have that certain impression on most people.

You may be saying to yourself “ I should have apologized to her” Fuck that. I do not apologize for her not listening to me in the first place. She did not offer any apologies to me for asking a question she knew she asked nor saying “oops sorry, I was not listening to you”

Readers I will pause for now since this has already gotten pretty lengthy

until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Happy Birthday to my Mom

Greetings People

I have to post this message even though my mother will not even know this nor would she be able to find her way around the internet to this blog site, but here it goes.

Happy Birthday

There, I have it on record that I did not forget her birthday and I can use you readers as my witness to this well wish.

However, you readers will have to wish my birthday tomorrow.

Soprano's on A/E tonight.

Oh, and this morning I finally used that gift card I got from RTD last month. If you new readers need any background on this please see an earlier blog about the gift card.

I got my favorite drink there - A large mocha frap with whip cream in my own container. Which means I better get my discount for bringing in my own mug and I do not want them to use their paper container to put my Mocha Frap in. Also, when I saw Large that means Large, none of the venti, or whatever words that Starbucks uses for small, medium, and Large sizes. I bring in a large container, I say Large and you charge me for a large and I say that's it - it had better be Large and that's it. When I say "that's it" it means that's it. I do not want a scone, I do not want your muffin, I do not want to try the house blend. Do not do the semanics retort on me. Do not pull the know it all, I'm young, going to college routine and asked me what was I ordered again when I clearly and slowly said when I ordered and handed over my thermos to you.

As you can probably tell readers I can not put up with that sort of attitude or ignorance.

Readers, I almost got on another roll and I better stop and let this go, for now. Perhaps I will return to this since I started to think about this more and more.

Anyway, until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

The RTD Light Rail incident in Lonetree, CO

Greetings People

Well, I guess... er I know, my mood has gotten better, improved one might say, over the past 24 hours.

As I have mentioned in the past, I think. Well, maybe not on this blog, but sometimes "It is the little things in life that might bring a smile to your face"

Well, I walking to the light rail station after work yesterday. Still full of piss and vineager one might say. Actually, I would relate myself to was that I was walking with attitude and the chip on my shoulder from when I woke up was still there. Oh yes, sometimes you wake up with an attitude and that stays for the whole day. As was the case with me on this particular day. So, I was walking with my head high, taking long strides and with the face of "Don't fuck me with" mood all over.

A woman was "pacing" from which I saw from a distance, but I thought she was just waiting for the light rail started making a straight line for me and I knew she had her sights on me, but I gave no acknowledgement of her. I kept my eyes straight and my stride was still strong. Then, those immortal words were spoken by her "Excuse me. excuse me." I had picked up my pace so she actually had to pick up her pace in order to intercept me from getting by her. Oh, I nearly lost my cool. I did not want to do a survey tonight, nor could I fucking care less about how you have no money and need to borrow a dollar to get home. As you readers know, I have my Russian "girlfriend" asking for money and you know that outcome. I was not even going to give any money away - especially today. And more importantly no dollar to an American woman this evening.

So, getting back to story I turned my head to her, showed my "who the fuck do you think you are?!" face and said "yes" in cold, terminator voice. She then start a speel and I gave her less than 10 seconds in my mind to wrap it up. She said she was sorry on behalf of RTD and please accept this gift from her, RTD. I might of mentioned before - I was wound up, like a crack ho needing some drugs, and I said something to the effect "what is the catch?!" I was still having the attitude and I was not going to give her any of my information nor was I going to sign any papers. She said "Nothing. free." Immediately, I got rid of the attitude and came down from the archs of heaven and joined the rest of the human race on earth and said "thank you" with remorse in my voice. I managed a smile and became submissive in this conversation. I think, I said sorry for my initial "coldness", but I did follow up with more thank you's since the initial thank you I said.

The gift was a $ 5.00 dollar gift card to Starbucks. I hate to say this, but that $ 5.00 dollar gift card turned my day right around. Not just because of $ 5.00 dollars, but the gift itself. I thought and have been thinking about buying my Large Mocha Frap with whipped cream in my "OG" coffee mug from the 90's tomorrow.

In closing, yes I am human and yes I have my days where I want to be left alone. I realize how bold it was her to approach me in what I am sure she saw hostilty in me. She took her chance with me and now I post my "I am sorry" to her even though she will never know most likely.

Until the next time readers...

Daryl Charley

The Fallen Athlete