A Woman From My Past

Greetings Readers

I would have to say that on Saturday, October 10 2009 that was the coldest day I have experienced riding out in the cold this Fall thus far.

I had to some errands and I really did not want to, but I had to since the bank closes early on Saturday and a sale ends on Saturday so I had to go and get what I wanted before Sunday. In addition, I was going to stop at a few other places on the way to here and there.

I was expecting to see a lot of snow on the ground, but alas very light falling snow in the morning and the air was cold enough to breathe in the cold into your lungs. No snow on the pavement, per se, but some snow accumulation in the shadows and the fallen leaves on the ground. Matter of fact, the pavement was probably warm so it melted the snow and turned into some patchy ice in the night.

I did go out on the balcony to test the air and temperature and decided that I was going to wear a light jacket, full finger gloves, and my Natalie Merchant stocking cap and then skin tight long biking pants. I brought along my ZZ Top Bandanna, but elected not to wear it since I would be going into several business that I might bring unnecessary attention to myself. Meaning, wearing a bandanna and a cap into a financial institution is something I want to avoid.

Anyway, the temperature was in the mid twenties, barely, but there was a noticeable wind blowing. My first stop was about 2 miles away and from that point on I would have stops between one to two miles apart. Enough time for me to warm up inside a business and then head out the door.

First stop – done, Second stop – done, although that portion of riding was the coldest. I could feel the wind chill and coldness biting into my legs. I could feel the cold air going down into my jacket without the bandanna around my neck. Third stop – done, but had a harder time protecting myself from the elements of the wind and wind chill. Little did I know that the wind chill temperature was at 14 degrees. I know when the temperature is about 10 degrees – I can feel the coldness and I can feel my skin tingling to the temperature. Mentally I am ok, but physically my body is reacting to the biting cold.

My last stop was at Best Buy and I decided to browse the store more than I wanted to. First of all, I literally had to warm up my body temperature core. I was minutely shaking uncontrollably and knew that I had to warm up my body before the 5 plus mile ride home. I browsed the music section, but that was one of the reasons why I was at Best buy. I had to buy the new Tiesto CD – Kaleidoscope that came out this past week.

After the music section I went to the DVD section. Boy Readers, it has been a long time since I bought a DVD and browsed the DVD’s. The Blue Ray DVD’s have definitely expanded. I remember about 2 aisle shelves of Blue Rays the last time I was Best Buy, but I saw about 10 shelves of Blue Rays on this visit. Unfortunately, the Blue Rays still have not come down in price for me to think of buying any Blue Rays.

After the DVD’s I headed to the computer and PS2 and PS3 games. I looked, but not really looked since the prices were high to me. About two weeks I bought Mercenaries 2 on PS3 (at a Used Game Stores) for about $ 8.00 and change; whereas a brand new copy was for $ 49.00 in Best Buy. And Readers I bought that game for $ 8.00 and it was so not worth it. I played that game for about 30 minutes or so and I have not played it since.

I would have to estimate that I spent about 30 minutes to 45 minutes in Best Buy and now knew that I had to get home. The sooner the better, since the temperature may be falling even more. Though, I had no clue. The only part that sucked was that between Best Buy and home was nothing. My route was through the suburban neighborhood and there was no commercial business (es) between Best Buy and home that I could “warm up” in.

However, just beyond the Best Buy was the Qdoba store that opened up about a month ago. I have been in that Qdoba’s once, but only once. The store design is all fucked up Readers. Anyway, I figure a Burrito and technically the last stop before the “long” ride home in the biting cold would keep me warm til I get home.

I walked in the new Qdoba store and walked all the way to the back to order my lunch.

I was looking at the menu and waiting for the lady in front of me to finish up ordering. Just warming up and trying to figure out at the last second what I was going to order.

Note: Readers, I am going to say this, but in no means am I racial profiling or race discrimination. In the four Qdoba’s I frequent “in my hood” the employees are mostly Latino, Mexican, or Hispanic.

While I waiting for the burrito lady to finish up I noticed out of the corner of my eye an employee, a Mexican woman I assumed, glancing at me while I was waiting for my turn. I paid no attention since I was just warming up and waiting.

The burrito lady finished up with the lady and then she asked what I want. Steak burrito – black.

Soon, I was handed off to the next person in line and lo and behold that Mexican woman who was glancing at me was my Qdoba girl. What the fuck?! Of course, I played it cool. I nodded and said hi. I gave no indication that I was happy or surprised to see my Qdoba girl. Yes Readers, I was surprised, but not happy. There was no happy smile and said “cheese and tomatoes.” I offered no small talk or any additional attention.

I made eye contact about two times with my Qdoba girl and then I was off to the cash register lady.

I finished up giving my money and then was leaving the counter when I heard “Thank you for coming in” from my Qdoba girl.

I did not acknowledge what my Qdoba girl said to me, but just kept on walking without looking back to the counter and soon I was out the door into the cold Saturday afternoon fall air.

Almost forgot as I was riding home I nearly forgot about the ZZ Top bandanna I had in my bag. I stopped, pulled that bandanna and wrapped it around my neck like a gunslinger and then rode off a bit warmer

After I got home it took about 2 hours for my body temperature to equalize. My skin in places would not warm up due to the extreme cold I experience that afternoon.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

My Blog - The Final Blog Post

Greetings Readers…

…For the last time.

I have decided to end this blog of mine. The Rise & Fall of an Athlete.

Looking back the title of the blog came so quickly to me back in 2006 when I first heard about blogging. Little did I know what blogging was going to mean to me now. Not an outlet, but something to write about on an everyday basis to the Internet world.

The Rise and Fall. Well, I have to say that there was a definite rise to my career in biking. Unknown to me at that time, my biking career was going to be more than I ever dreamed of. The Fall – well… there have been many “falls” and none I want to remind myself or you Readers about. They are there and will be there for the rest of my days.

I have biked many mountain passes in Colorado. I have traversed the winds of Wyoming. I have biked the terrains of New Mexico. I have done back to back 100 mile bike rides. I have done a century ride one day and then the next day run a Marathon. I have ridden "where the street have no name."

I started blogging on a whim not knowing what to expect nor where to go. You Readers can see my direction (or lack of) on when I first started blogging on blogger.com. I was scairt in the beginning. Meaning, I was not sure on how much to reveal to the Internet World. I was not worried about what people thought. I was worried about if my blogging was interesting.

I did not have a counter in the beginning, but later I did install a counter to my blog site. I was curious. Though I was not curious about who was visiting or how many times. And to this day – I could care less. Yet, I do like to see my blog counter go up. Who doesn’t right?

Well, it is now 2009 and now blogging has taken off more than ever. I have blogged more than ever I would have thought when I started back in 2006

I have had ideas. I have had arguments. I have had opinions. I have had disagreements. I have had followers. I have had anti-followers.

I have pissed off more Readers than you Readers know of. Yes, I have a lot of direct emails as opposed to comments on my blog site. I may comment on those who leave a comment. Then again, I really do not. Most Readers that do leave a comment are commenting on the moment not realizing the entire issue at hand, but Sam knows.

I do think I am unique. That may not be not right. But Unique. I do not say that I am right, but I do present the view of something I believe in. Readers, I am unique and I am very okay with that. You can say what you want to about my writing. About pictures of me. I am okay with that. After all you Readers are most likely seeing something that is new to you. Whereas, my faithful Readers know why I am commenting on some issue and/or comment.

You Readers have your opinions. Your comments. Freedom of speech is a wonderful thing - is it not? After all, I have voiced myself every once in a great while to a moving vehicle with such colorful language (ie: MotherFucker!), with either a smile or pissed off look on my bike. (Though, I know I am not the only person to do this and will not be the last) Later on, I remember cussing and perhaps using the middle finger was a wasted effort on my behalf - after all it is just word(s) and a finger - nothing more.

I have nothing to prove to you Readers. Yet, I do believe in “upping” you average Readers when I can. That’s my nature (or my major flaw in some Reader’s views). No one to blame nor do I have an excuse to give to you Readers.

Such as the HED rims. I paid almost two grand and I do expect people to notice. I am not the fastest rider, but I am the HED rider in South Denver area. Matter of fact, I am sure that you can ask any local Denver rider if they have saw me and my HED. rims they would know of me. After all, I know I am the only rider South of Denver to have HED rims. I got to be.

I am straying from the point of this post, sorry Readers. Thank you for listening to my rants. My surprises. My fortunes. My experiences. My issues. My problems. My Actions. My non-biking subjects. My RTD issues. My Qdoba girl. My Life.

In closing, I had no goal. I had no idea. I only had the idea to write about my life on biking and not biking. I perhaps touched a few people. I perhaps pissed off a few people. Overall, it does not matter whether or not you agree with my point of view.

Readers, I am not ending because I have run out of ideas, opinions, getting tired of blogging, can’t do it anymore, etc. I think with my picture finally getting posted another blog (minus the head shot – I guess I am that ugly) was very nice to see and sort of got me thinking to end the blogging with getting noticed and "Internet Famous". As opposed to calling it quits with no recognition. Just my way of looking and thinking about seeing and reading about me.

Damn – those HED rims do look just a nice with someone else taking a picture of me and Andrea!

I can not thing of any closing words, quotes or memories. With that said - time to bid you Readers and Faithful Readers a final farewell.

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

The Coin Dispenser Dilemma

Greetings Readers

This morning I got my confirmation Letter from the Ride the Rockies.

Not much else I can say about that.

Question Readers

So, let us say that you are shopping in a grocery store and you are now ready to check out.

A check out lane you chose is empty and has your name written all over it. Hah hah. Meaning, that check out counter is ready just for you. As the cashier rings up your items you see in the coin dispenser change - Matter of fact CHANGE GALORE. You can see three quarters, some other silver color coins and a few copper coins.

What do you do? What is the right thing to do?

I am not sure there is right thing to do, except to point out that someone left their change in the coin dispenser. I could even go further than that, but you Readers know what may happen. But, how would we know that the previous customer will return for his/her change. After all the coin dispenser give change out less than a dollar and a penny or more. No one is going to get rich, but in this particular instance that change, which lets us assume if unclaimed by the end of the day, I would bet would either go back to the store or perhaps being pocketed by the cashier. Granted, I doubt that a cashier would do that, but I have to list out the possibility.

With that being said, I saw the change and said nothing. The cashier did not notice or if the cashier did notice the cashier chose to ignore the change sitting in the coin dispenser. I stood there waiting for the final total and then gave the cashier my money for my purchases. The cashier gave me my paper money and then I heard the familiar change noise being dispensed to me. My change intermingled with the previous customer's change and I took it ALL. Oh yes, I took it all.

At that moment I was standing at the check out counter I felt that money that was sitting in the coin dispenser was going to be mine, barring any customer returning before I finished my check out with the cashier, since months ago I did this exact same thing. I was talking to the Qdoba girl, she gave me my paper money back and I totally forgot to grab my change from the coin dispenser.

So that phrase "What comes around goes around" does apply and the world, my world, is once more in balance and I feel I now have been paid back in full by not getting my change months ago.

P.S. Was I hoping that change to be mine? Yes, but if the previous customer had returned I would not be unhappy - after all it would their change. And change, less than a dollar, can not really go far these days, especially with me since I am going to deposit it into my Absolute bottles I have sitting in my humble abode that hold my dimes, nickels and pennies.

Remember Readers - The question is - What would you do? Not on what I did or thought.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

2 Days Before Valentine's Day

Greetings Readers

Valentine's Day is right around the corner and I do not have any true Valentines to give to anyone - really. That is a good thing since that means that I do not have to spend any money or give any thoughts on what I should get that "special woman" in my life.

However, as you faithful Readers know I ran into the Qdoba girl from my past last August and have been trying to really get to know her. Well, trying and not trying, to be honest. I have blogged about her since August and all those moments I have created by myself or with her directly. Some of it is good, some great and then there are the moments that I can not believe I pulled that shit. Believable me, oh yes.

Long story short, not love, but lusting after the Qdoba girl and I finally was able to express how I felt and gave her my number via a Christmas Card in December.

Presently, she has not called (as far as I know), nor came to my table when I have eaten there at Qdoba's, or given any indication after the Christmas card whether or not she is interested or not interested. Obviously, she has not acknowledged the Christmas card or if she has I totally missed the moment.

I have seen her a few times since the Christmas card, but have not brought up the card, nor flirted or shown any more interest than I have. One - not to show how much I want her. and two - not to be stalker like.

I could go on an on, but I think I have covered how I feel. So, now I would like to give something to her for Valentine's Day, but I do not know if she is truly not interested, interested, involved with a man or woman or waiting for me to make another move. I just do not know.

So that brings me to this. Should I go in tomorrow night and see if she is working and see what sort of reception I get or do I not go. If she shows interests then that would change my mind and I would get her something for Valentine's Day. However, if she does not show interest if I do go tomorrow then I need to basically put an end to the Qdoba girl lusting. Which I almost have done currently. I have actually thought about switching my Qdoba visits back to Sunday, which from the past I she did not work.

That would be easy for me since not seeing her would be okay and probably for her not seeing me would be good also. I do have new prospects with match.com and I have to admit I have gotten match with my type - blonde, slender and athletic. And even more so - the California transplant blonde - oh baby.

Although, I still could see myself with the Qdoba girl learning / teaching me some Spanish and learning first hand how to roll my "R's." with her tongue with my tongue. Hah hah. Now I am really reaching and dreaming. On that note I will let you go Readers.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Another Co-Worker from my Past

Greetings Readers

And another co-worker from my past as come into my life from the life of my Tele-Communications Inc. days.

This time the contact was initiated by my former co-worker via email. I guess I need to give you Readers a bit of a back story (and it does not matter to me to whether or not you Readers need to know).

Although certain Readers would say I am once again doing the stalking. Not. Then again, you Readers are entitled to your comments.

Flashback - About two years ago I was curious about Match.com. I joined up since it is free. Free meaning that you can look, search and set up a profile. Otherwise, in order to email or to receive emails to others on match.com, to see who is looking at your profile and other things you need to pay to get access to do those things on match.com.

Depending on how many months, what you want and etc, the cost could be as low as 26.00 a month or as high as 120.00 for six months. Granted, match.com does run specials from time to time and that is where it brings me to the point of the story.

There was/is a special for 25% the price of any type of membership you choose.

With that I decided to do the 6-month plan -roughly $ 75.00. Depending on your point of view that is a good deal or a waste of money.

Present - Well, about a few weeks ago I received an email asking if I was the same Daryl that she knew back in the day. Sure enough when I looked at her picture 13 years later I could see the face that I knew back in the nineties. I read the profile and was kind of amazed on what I read. No need to tell you Readers. Could be a mute thing to notice, but to me it was like "wow." without the exclamation point. Perhaps she read something in my profile that made her go "wow." without or with the exclamation point

I wrote back after getting her email and confirming that this was the same person that she worked with. I sent a short email asking a couple questions and gave her my personal email address.

Sorry Readers - I did not give her the blog email address, but I will. Unless, she decides to search the Internet then I am sure that she would eventually find this blog. There is no first impression, but I wanted to get the feel on what she, or even I, want to know about each other. We were good friends and did talk to each other about life beyond just work at the office on the 9th floor. Although, I do not think we were close good friends since she knew the same person I dealt with and to be blunt despised. Oh yes, I was 13 years younger and thought like someone who would call me the rudest person he/she has ever known. Young, dumb and full of c--"

I digress Readers. We both told each other that we would not date each other since that is not the real reason for contact. She wrote her reasons why and for me I wrote the reason why since she does not fit my type, which was one of the questions I asked her on how she found me.

Anyway, I did write back and now I am trying to find some time to write up a brief re-cap from 1996 to the present. I obviously do not want to tell too much or too little. From there I will gauge on how much we want to catch up or if this is like a "good to see you" thing.

P.S. Do you Readers my updates about the Ignorant Senor(ita)? I am still following that blogger and I have to admit it has been kind of dull - until the past two weeks. Anyway, I just reading the other day that the person that he/she was interested is gay/a lesbian. I am sorry Readers - it is not funny, but it's funny since the prior blog entries made by the ignorant senor(ita) showed how he/she just ate up the nice things about what the person did for him/her at home, at work, going out together, etc. Not to mention, the supposedly clues that were there but never he/she noticed before. But the reason why I find it funny is that he/she had mentioned that he/she this person's garbage and saw some empty fast food trash and thought to him/herself (and this is not a direct quote) "Oh that's so cool he/she eats at the same place I like to eat. We have that in common. That's just so cool."

I guess one could say that about me and the Qdoba girl, but I do not think I have ever thought that sort of thinking about the Qdoba girl. I do not even think that I ever wrote that "it's just so cool that the girl I like works at my favorite place fast food place I like to eat at." I did lust after the Qdoba girl, but I am not sure if I was looking for something "to relate to" with the Qdoba girl. My beginnings, and perhaps ending is that I just wanted to get to know her and see from there. Then again - I do not know. And may never know.

P.S. Readers - I needed a picture for the blog post so I decided to show you Readers the person who I named my new Mountain Bike after - Lily.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Last Day of the First Month of 2009

Greetings Readers

I did stop by and see the Qdoba girl, but you Readers I will have to tell I only went for the sakes of going. I made the first move and I waiting in the beginning for a response, but nothing has happened since December.

No biggie. Life has gone on and believe me Readers there are a lot of women out there. Anyway, the hair was kind of teased up and that's about all I can say. She was working the register, but other than that I was all business.

I already knew that I was going to take my dinner to go. With that in mind I decided to be the customer and not be the talkative person that she knows. I am not embarrassed about being there after the Christmas Card incident. Hell, as I stated before I was there first and I do not planning on going to another Qdoba's farther away. I liked this place since it is a hop and a skip away from my humble abode.

I think I made eye contact a few times, but other than that I made no small talk. She asked her customary "How are you doing tonight?" and I replied "I am doing good." And I made no question to ask her anything else. I did see a nice ring on the left hand, but then again I am not sure if I saw that ring before. Never-the-less, that is a moot thing since I am not really trying for something with the Qdoba girl anymore.

In closing, the few moments I did see her I really did not see her.

Changing subjects - I never did show you Readers my Jack Daniel's merchandise that I picked up at the National Western Stock Show a couple weeks ago. Of course, you Readers will from last year will see some of the same items I purchased last year.

I know I just blogged about this recently, but I will re-list on what I bought at the booth. Two Large bar mats, two small bar mats, 2 black Bandanna, 1 metal Jigger, 2 Caps and one Black T-shirt. I will admit that the bandannas, the jigger, and one of the mats I will keep for myself. Otherwise, I plan to give the rest of the merchandise to my brother and a cap to my Dad.

This is nothing new for me since I have blogged about this before.

Oh Readers, I lost another bet so now I am down 9 bottles of beer. I know, I know sucks to be me, as my ex-old boss would say when things don't look good. The Australian Open Men's Final is tonight and I have picked Nadal to win. Yes Nadal, but in order to have a bet I had to choose him in order to have a bet. Again Readers all in good fun. I thought I would never say this, but I guess I am going to "Go Nadal." Damn, I can not believe I said this about Nadal who has to pick out his short from the crack of his ass almost every serve.

Tada - Another good deed last night. I was getting another ticket for Light Rail, when a Dad with two children asked me when the next E line was going to be hear.

"I don't know." I replied "I take the next train since it does not matter what line I take."

"oh ok. thank you anyway." and started to walk away.

I started to bike away then I said "Excuse me. Where are you going?"

"Downtown. Pepsi Center"

"Well, you could take a train down to either, Belleview, Broadway or 10th & Osage and then take another Light Rail train from there."

"Really?" he responded

Then, me being so kind as opposed to the rudest person ever known

"Although it is rush hour, people are getting off work, so should you decide that you and your children risk the chance of not getting a seat in the Light Rail Train at those stops. If you catch the Light Rail Train here you are almost guaranteed of getting a seat here."

"Your probably right. Thank you very much for the information and your help"

"Not a problem. Have a nice evening with the children."

Was that not an over and beyond of doing a good deed for me? Or was that something unexpected of me?

By the way Readers - It is time for the 31 days of Oscar on TCM

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Happy Chinese New Year 2009

Greetings Readers

Well, I guess I need to a re-cap of some the things that I have done this past week or so.

I did go to the National Western Stock Show a couple of Saturday’s ago. The weather was perfect and I decided to take a couple of buses down to the stock Show. I had thought about taking my bike down, but I wanted not to worry about my bike and what sort of clothes to wear. So, with that in my mind, I had to take a couple of buses and then walk about 8 blocks to the Stock Show through “the Barrio.” I walked tall, with confidence and perhaps more importantly - in the morning.

Soon I reached the Stock Show and I was getting my General admission ticket. Already there were long lines to the booth to purchase tickets.

The stock show was already packed at 11:00 AM in the morning. I knew where I wanted to go first, but I made a beeline to the booth that I usually get my Jack Daniels Lynchburg Lemonade. Sure enough there were the other Jack Daniels – Single Barrel, Gentleman’s Jack and just the regular Jack Daniels. And the only choice of pop was Pepsi. As I said last year that is just fucked up. No one should forced to be drink Jack and Pepsi when everyone knows that Jack only goes with Coca-Cola. Suffice to say I will not be ordering any Jack that I have to drink Pepsi with. So be it I can drink Lynchburg Lemonade and be okay with that.

I then made myself walk around the expo as opposed making a beeline to the Jack Daniel’s Merchandise booth. I knew where it was probably going to be and I brought enough money to buy anything I wanted to buy. Actually I have been saving all year for this one day of the year that I buy Jack Daniel’s merchandise.

I hate to say it was only about 30 minutes later when I reached the Jack Daniel’s Merchandise booth. Of course I was in awe. I saw a lot of stuff and I saw the same girl from last year that helped me when I was buying merchandise. She did not recognized me, which I am sure she would not since she probably sees thousands of people for three weeks each day. I would have to say that she kind of cute and would not mind knowing her, but my chances are so low it is not even worth trying.

In the end, I bought 4 Jack Daniel’s bar mats, a shirt, 2 Bandanna’s, 2 Jack Daniel’s caps and a Jack Daniel’s metal Jigger. I spent about $ 130.00, which was way under what I was expecting, but I think that was due to me not really buying anything new. I made small talk with her and told her that I remember her from last year. Nothing. And that was that.

I also went to the Coor’s Merchandise booth, but there was nothing really that caught my eye. Last year I bought a Coor’s wall Bottle opener and an Anklet for a future girl friend I decide to give this to.

I went to the PBR Merchandise booth near the main arena and bought a couple of large PBR stickers. Their selection was not even good, so I just bought those two PBR stickers and commented on how the selection was poor.

About 15 minutes later it was time to eat. I was thinking about going to the booth near the stockyards where I ate, but I wanted to try something new. I was thinking about the two booths between the main arena building and the expo building. One booth has barbeque of all sorts and the other offers pizza and a large sausage.

The barbeque was what I wanted, but the presentation that I saw did not look good. It looked like something from a cheap place that would serve that. The sauce looked watery and thin. Uh-huh. No way.

I walked to the Sausage place and decided I am going to have delicious looking large sausage. After all I love hot dogs from time to time and who does not like bratsworth sausage?

Five minutes later sitting on the stairs and munching on the sausage – it was not worth the eight dollars I spent. Yes, it was good sausage, but that was that. It was spicy, but only from the Jalapenos seeds that were in the sausage. I ate about 7/8 of the sausage, and then threw the rest away.

I decided to go and get my pork chop on a stick. After all, years ago I know that is something I enjoyed. Sure enough the pork chop was good and surprising enough I ate the whole thing, even after eating almost that large sausage.

I did take a picture of the area that I was sitting at while eating my pork chop. There was this guy who job was to keep the regular people on the north side of the walkway and keep the south side of the walkway just for cattle that is being walked from the stock show area to the stockyards or vice versa. Some of you Readers would call me rude, but from what I saw for about 30 minutes there are ruder people than me. I lost count on how many people, young people, would walk under the rope that separates the walkway in half. Would I have done that? No. After being a part time cowboy and also a loyal National Western Stock Show supporter I have no reason to be rude and cross under the rope just to walk on the other side where you are not suppose to walk.

After that I took in a few free shows and walked underneath the expo to see the different cattle and then called it day.

I did have a great time. No great hot looking women caught my eye, but I saw a few with nice faces. Body wise, nothing to really write about.

Fast forward to this past Wednesday I bought a new bike. A new Mountain bike. GT Avalanche 2.0. I have named her Lily after the woman I lust for in the mornings on the show I try to watch each morning. Lily is blue with white here and there. Can you believe that I actually bought a Mountain bike?! Me? A Mountain bike. Who knew? Yet, I think it was because I enjoyed my $ 25.00 garage sale mountain bike from two years. Unfortunately, last year something stripped and I had to total out the bike since replacing the bike part would cost more than what I bought the bike for.

Now, days later and with some mud on the bike I can now see why Mountain Biking and mud all over you go hand in hand. Saturday I was able to ride in a park area that had mud. With the snow melting with the warm weather this past week I was riding in an area that was going to be muddy. At first I did not want to get Lily muddy, but then I thought what the fuck. Between Wednesday and Saturday I have been trying to keep Lily clean. After all she is brand new. But when I started riding through the muddy area a feeling came through. I was pretty excited about riding through mud. After all I cannot ride through mud especially on a road bike.

Getting muddy was a new experience for me and any bike I own. I smiled and then rode through some grass in order to get some of the mud off the tires. In the past few days I have rode off curbs and did jump some two-foot jumps. I also was able to ride up a side of a hill (and down) and also jump up from the street onto the sidewalk from the curb. Pretty fucking cool since I cannot do that on road bike.

The only thing right now that I hate is the small crank. I am not used to a 42 teeth crank. After all Readers, I ride in large crank ring and pushing the hard gear rings on a ride bike. With Lily I have been riding in the big ring, but I have not been able to ride the same way as I do on a road bike. I feel like I am doing twice, if not, three times the amount of pedaling on a Mountain bike as opposed to a road bike. I love the shocks. And I have to say I like the disc brakes on the Mountain bike. Although, I asked for the cost of disc brakes and it seems that is going to be an expensive part to replace when it goes out. The guy says a decent replacement is going to cost me $ 80.00 to begin with.

I have been riding Lily since Wednesday and I have to say right now I am really enjoying riding Lily. Did you know that I saw one of those hub cabs on the sidewalks and I rode over that hub cab on the sidewalk? If I was riding my road bike I would have ridden around the hub cab, but on the Mountain bike I rode over the hub cab and split the hubcap into three large pieces. I have to say that it felt good.

I am out of breath when I get to work and that is because of the extra pedal strokes I am doing. Do I mind? Yes, but I knew that this was expected so there is no reason to complain. After all having a Mountain bike you do Mountain bike riding and most likely need easy gears to do Mountain bike riding. Whether going up the mountain or down the mountain.

Oh Readers, I have won three bets in the past month and I was able finally to collect, even though I was no hurry. My friend and I made a trip to the liquor store this past Friday and I was able to cash in my winnings. 9 bottles of beers. Boo yah! I got a six-pack of victory beer and then three different bottles of beer at Lukas Liquors. And I also bought me a six-pack of Winterhook beer from Redhook. Let me tell you Readers, I had to leave some work clothes at work since I had no room in my backpack to take all the stuff I needed to take home. I thought about leaving some beer at work, but I have to admit I wanted to take the entire beer home. Fuck my clothes.

I did not get to see my Qdoba girl this past Friday. I have to admit that I had a couple of beers while going home and I knew that I was not going to repeat the incident I had a few months ago after consuming alcohol before seeing my Qdoba girl.

Oh Readers, on Thursday I saw Mike and he saw me. I asked what was up and he told me that he had twenty dollars. I knew that he probably wanted me to go to the store. With me being me and not “the rudest person ever known” I told Mike give me about 10 minutes and I can go to the store for him.

10 minutes later I arrived at his humble abode and he told me what he wanted – 8 piece chicken dinner, 3 Diet Mountain Dew two liters, 2 frozen Totino’s pizzas and 2 pop tarts. I said no problem. After all I may be rude sometimes, but at least I make up for it by helping out others in need. How many of Readers do that? Specifically, to the Readers that call me rudest person ever known. You never tell us Readers of your good deeds that help the needy. Helping out at the DNC is not really a good deed, so forget about mentioning that. You are helping out a “party” and not a person in need. If you can tell me of a good deed in the past week please tell me, otherwise look in the mirror and see if you can see inside yourself and decide whether or not you are selfish and call people “rude” when yourself you are ruder than me for not doing anything for anyone besides yourself.

And tipping a waiter or barrister at Starbucks is not a good deed in my book, unless you tipped more than 25 percent, then perhaps I will accept that as a good deed.

Today is the start of the Lunar New Year – Year of the Ox. I did buy some stamps of the New Year and they are, in my ex-co-workers words, “just so awesome.” You faithful Readers know that I collect and follow the Chinese New Year Stamps that are issued each year. I guess, I can take a picture and show you Readers the new commemorative stamp offered by the USPS.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Being Rude and Being Kind

Greetings Readers

Something kind of bothered me in the past week or so. I know, I know what’s new – right?

You Readers think you “know” me, but in reality you only are reading about me since I probably do not know who you are.

Does that matter? No. Do I care? A bit, but I am not here to make friends with my blog.

So, when you say you know me, you really do not know me, but you only “know of” me. All you know of me is what I write and care to share with you Readers.

I am not looking for your approval. I am not looking for a new friend in my life. I am not looking for a wife, but am looking for a girl friend =). And the list of reasons could go on and on.

Almost three years ago I started the blog, not knowing where to go (or to begin) and it took a while for me to get into blogging.

What I have come to tell you Readers is the raw truth. Being Honest. And sometimes Honesty hurts. Sometimes being brutally honest makes me seem the rudest person you have read about – ever. I do not disagree.

And I can see how many of you Readers can come to that conclusion. After all, I make it no secret of my “rudeness” and my “issues” I come across and share with you Readers.

I share with the Internet my life and what comes across my path of life.

With us being Human most of us pick out the “bad” points of other people. Not all of us, but most of us do. Hell, I know I do. There are a few people, perhaps more than a few people that would pick out the “good” and say / comment something nice about that. But let us face the truth Readers, we like to pick and point out each other’s faults.

You faithful and new Readers have most likely read about my Grocery store issues, Light Rail Issues, Fast Food Issues, Bus Stop issues and so on. I do not have a problem writing about my issues.

Aside from all the rude issues I have written about I have written about some good deeds and things I have done that none of you Readers would even think of doing.

I am going to tell you Readers in the past year that I have done many good things that would not be considered rude.

I am sure that you Readers read that I used about 1/3 of my Tax Stimulus Refund check to help buy a calving table for my parents. I was not selfish and spend all the money for myself. How many of you Readers spent money on someone else that was not for personal gain? Perhaps like buying a gift for the boy/girl friend in exchange for a fantastic night of sex, which would be for personal gain since you are technically spending the money for yourself.

Did you Readers know that I baked over ten birthday cakes last year for my coworkers who are more than just co-workers? Again, no one asked me to bake a cake for his or her birthday. I did this without asking. I also asked the birthday person what sort of cake they wanted and it could not be a cake that was too exotic. However, when I am making a cake for the person’s special day – I add some alcohol to the cake to give it some essence of Kalhua, Amaretto or rum. How many Cakes did you make for someone’s birthday this past year? And buying a cake, cookies, and cup cakes from a grocery store is not really going out of your way since that is just buying something that you put NO effort in for your friends. And for this year I have made two cakes already.

Did you Readers know that even though I do not believe in Religion, in a manner of speaking (and I am not an Atheist), I still try to go to church once a month and I give a donation from 10 to 20 dollars? How many of you Readers can say that?

When I go and visit my parents in New Mexico at the Ranch I do help out at the Ranch. Even though I am on vacation - I am not on vacation. I work by either working on the dirt road, shoveling shit (cattle, horse, dog and guinea shit), picking up and burning tumbleweeds, feeding all the animals and more importantly I almost do all the cooking when I am at the Ranch. It’s my time to shine and do things for my parents as opposed to being selfish and do nothing while on vacation. I do have that option, but for me that is not an option. I ask many of you Readers how many of you do things for your parents when you visit them? And yes Readers sometimes I do not want to do any of those things, but after starting any of those things I forgot about not wanting doing them and actually start to enjoy about do them. Sounds crazy, but at the end of my vacation on the Ranch I feel damn proud of what I did on my vacation.

The homeless. Well, in my case I have one homeless person on my way to work when I bike a certain way to work. Just one. Every other week I try to give him some money. It may not be a lot, but in my view I have given him something, which is better than nothing. I do not know his name and I do not care, but at least I go out of my way and give what I feel like giving. Many of Readers probably see more than one homeless person and I have to wonder do any of you Readers do anything for any of them? Or even one the homeless – after all they are human too.

How about me giving twenty dollars (for gas) to a fellow runner after the 24 hours of Boulder? I did not mention this in my post story wrap up, but I was planning to take public transportation from Boulder to Centennial. However, as I was resting in the tent with “the bitch” I met and got know a fellow runner who came up from Colorado Springs and eventually asked him for a ride to I-25 and Arapahoe Road. He said no problem. Well, as he pulled in the Arapahoe Marketplace just off I-25 and Arapahoe Road I pulled out my wallet and forced him to take the twenty dollars even though he said no and do not worry about it. In my mind, he did more for me than he thought he did for me. For that - I was thankful and I had to give him money for his kindness. I ask how many of you Readers would have caved in and put away the twenty dollars in your wallet (purse) just because he said he wouldn’t take it?

Mike Shanahan was recently fired, which I did blog about. I was happy about that. I will admit yes I am happy that finally Mike is gone, but it is not entirely about him getting fired. I was and still am happy that there is going to be a new coach. Well, when I got my “Christmas Miracle” I bought a 12 pack of Moose Drool Microbrew beer and gave one bottle to each of my closest co-workers. That was me being nice and buying everyone a round of drinks. It was not the “cheap” round of pitcher beer for everyone. I wanted my friends to taste something new, or something they would not try on their own. That was not rudeness, that was I being nice. I ask how many of Readers would do that if the coach of your football team where you live was fired and was something that much needed after years of not making the playoffs? I am betting most of you Readers would just “talk” and not celebrate with buying the first round for people you want to share your happiness with.

Last month after giving my Qdoba girl her Christmas card I was about the happiest I could be that entire month. So when I saw my neighbor Mike in distress I asked him what was wrong and soon found out. I listened and then I said to Mike that I would go to the store to get him some Diet Mountain Dew since he could not do it himself. I ask you Readers how many of you would have done that for someone who is mentally handicapped after getting home from work?

Gift Giving – How many of you Readers give gifts when it is not their birthday, Christmas, anniversary, etc? I am betting most of my male Readers do not, at all! My Women Readers do since I know for a fact that I have gotten a bottle of Coca-Cola of out the blue. I give drinks (juice, water, soft drinks) out of the blue to fellow friends for no reason. Sometimes a person needs just that little gift to know that someone does care. And my brother – do you know that I give gifts to my brother each time I go and visit my parents? Bandannas, Playstation 2 games, Jack Daniels merchandise, and VCR tapes of taped shows I recorded to name a few things I give as gifts. And for my parents – I bring DVD’s, US Open Tennis merchandise, spices and buying groceries when I am visiting the Ranch to name some of the gifts I bring when I visit them. Again, are you Readers just as giving when there is not an event to give a gift?

Lunches – How many of you Readers received from your clients/vendors a “lunch on them” this past year? I received five this past year. If I am the rudest person you have ever “known” well you really do not know me. I ask again – how many vendor/clients have bought you lunch this past year?

And I could go on. I have written about “the Good, the Bad and the Ugly” My faithful Readers would know both the good and the bad. And if you are just tuning in you can access my history (archives) and catch up on my old blog posts.

What I just wrote I am not defending my stance/views, since there is nothing to defend. However, if you Readers think you “know” me you really don’t. I suggest that you take a long and good hard look in the mirror before calling and/or thinking that I am the rudest person you have ever read about. I know for a fact that your shit does not smell sweeter than mine. After all I know (or read) about what you have told me and I would have to say that celebrating one year (and perhaps two years coming this year) without driving does not make you special in my book. After all, I have been biking/commuting for about 12 years now. I do not need to state that. And I still have both of my vehicles, even though I get to drive them about once a year. So, you telling the world about how you rode a bike one year without almost any driving is not special. If you have to sell your vehicle so be it, otherwise I have no desire to sell my 86 Camero or 96 Amigo. One vehicle is a classic and the other has seven more years to become a classic.

In closing Readers, I am not perfect and I have never, ever made that claim. Yet, I have written about the good, the bad and the ugly, whereas other Readers have only wrote about the good. If you cannot write about “the bad” then perhaps you have some secrets. Or perhaps you are insecure about yourself, worried about how you may portray yourself to others, etc.

There is more I could add, but I think I have touched upon what I wanted to write about. Perhaps this is the year to blog about you to me and the rest of the world and let us read about you. Be honest. After all, we need to know if your shit is sweeter than mine.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Helping the Neighbor Out

Greetings Readers

I never did tell you Readers about what happened after right after I got home from Qdoba's and giving the Qdoba girl her Christmas Card.

I was feeling pretty good and happy about myself since I finally went out on a limb and took a chance. Whether or not something happens or not at least I finally did something as opposed to nothing.

I got home and I see my neighbor walking towards me. He looked frazzled.

"Hey Mike. Everything ok?"

"Hi Daryl."

Readers, Mike unfortunately received a head injury which damaged part of his brain and left him mentally disabled. Yes Readers he told me what happened. That was pretty strong of him to tell this to me when I got to know him. It is sad story and going from being okay to mentally handicap would be devestating for anyone.

"um..." Mike could not speak right away.

"Go ahead, take your time." I said to him.

Well, Mike pulls out his wallet and then asks me that he needs some Diet Mountain Dew since he has no more in his fridge.

"Let me drop off my work stuff and I will be right back and go to King Soopers to get you some Diet Mountain Dew."

Readers, he does have a sister that does come over that helps him out and does take him where needs to go. Also, the RTD handicap shuttle does drop by every now and then to take him where he needs to go. Apparently, this is one time that both were not available. Then again, I did not know.

What I did know, I was feeling pretty good about myself and you know what Readers I wanted to be nice.

I emptied my back pack out, used the restroom and then headed over to Mike's place.

After reaching his place and talking a bit with him, he gave me four dollars and told me what to get, what size and he even mentioned what aisle number it was in.

Readers, I have to admit that Mike needing his Diet Mountain Dew is like me needing some Coca-Cola. I have my moments that I have to absolutely have to have Cola-Cola. I am able so there is no excuse for me not to get the Cola-Cola myself. In Mike's case he does - I would hate for him to walk to King Soopers, which is about .66 miles away from our neighborhood. Also, there is snow, ice and it is dark. Mike has told me in the past he has walked to King Soopers a few times, but only in the day light.

Anyway, I have gotten to know Mike over the past year when he takes his dog, Sophia, out walking. So, when I saw he was in distress and I immediately asked if he needed help, regardless if I could help him or not.

About 20 minutes later I was back at his place with three 1 liters bottles of Diet Mountain Dew and his change. He said I could keep the change (and it was not much), but I told him not a problem and left it on the counter since Mike was sitting comfortably in his recliner watching tv with a blanket on him.

I was cold from the night's winter cold air, but feeling very warm from giving the Christmas card to the Qdoba girl and getting a bit warmer inside me for doing a good deed for a neighbor.

Who could as for more right?

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Qdoba Girl - 7 Days later...

Greetings Readers

I am nervous, very nervous. It will be just about a week since giving my Qdoba girl a Christmas card. Also, suggesting that we go out for a bite to eat or grab a cup of coffee even though I do not drink coffee. Readers, I will force myself to drink coffee if she does agree to go out for a cup of coffee.

But that is jumping the gun.

I am wondering how my visit will go later on today. Oh yes Readers, I have to go tonight. I have to go since it is my regular thing to go to Qdoba’s every Friday now. I am assuming that if I do not show up I might cause my Qdoba girl to think twice about what happened last Friday.

Believe me, I have been thinking about what I did last Friday and the train of possibilities that are now in motion. What if she says she’s involved? What if she says no to me? What if I made things awkward? What if she called and I was not home? What if…?

And so goes the list. I have talked to my friends and they have all agreed that I need to go to Qdoba’s tonight since that is something I do regularly. Then, they have all agreed that I must not, DO NOT, bring up the Christmas card. Let her bring it up, and then I can comment on it. Then, make sure I dine in. Do not make the burrito to go. This will give my Qdoba girl the opportunity to talk to me at the table in case she does not talk about the Christmas card while serving me.

All sounds good, but then I am seeing the other side – what if she outright shoots me down. I will be sad, but I need to know. After all, all this time I have been trying to ask Qdoba girl out.

I have been joking/talking with my friends about if it does not go well I will be crying on their shoulders come next week. Hah hah. Yes, I am kidding. I am not putting everything on this girl. I will be okay, but like anyone else I am subject to being rejected.

Our relationship on the whole is great. Me as the customer and her as the producer - things are going great, in my view. I order, she makes and we talk as if we are close friends. I do (did not) want to ruin that, but as I wrote Readers I am finding myself looking at her more and more each time I see her. Not love, but lust and yes Readers I do find her as “my type.” Although my friends are surprised it is not a blonde.

In closing if she says no, I will try to sway her. Yet, I bet I am going to have to change my Friday visit back to a Sunday visit, which in turn I will not see her. Though this is from the top of my head. I do not want to cut her out of my life, but that may be the only thing to do. And I say this since I was at that store first. Also, this Qdoba’s is the closest Qdoba’s to my humble abode

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Qdoba - Christmas Card Incident

Greetings Readers

I was a mess for a whole week. Well, not a mess, but damn it was hard to pick a Christmas card out for my Qdoba girl.

The card could not be serious, no word “Love” in/on the card, could not be suggestive (i.e. Like I got stocking stuffer for your stocking), and it could not be stupid funny. So, there I was in two different specialty card stores the past week.

Let me tell you I wanted one that was “To a Friend”, but I am not sure that we are even that. Yes, I know that we both known each other for a while (Over a span of five years or so), but hell we did not know each other’s name until just two months ago.

We said hi to each other, she serves me my order, I say “Thank You” and that has been our “Friendship” over the past five years or so.

Oh by the way Readers, where my Qdoba girl works is probably the only restaurant that I have to be so not me. I have to be nice, not that it is that hard, but yes I will admit it is a challenge in itself. Because you know I can find something to complain or basically make you be the person you were hired to do. After all I am the customer!

Anyway, the Christmas card was hard to pick out. I even had to ask some other customers (women) their opinions on whether this card would be too much for my situation. And believe me that was not hard asking women who I did not know for their opinion. I think all were helpful =),

That was half the battle.

The next part was not writing something wrong. As you make or not make out I have posted a picture of the Christmas card I bought and all the writing I added to the inside of the card.

Boo-yah! Nope, damn that was hard trying to figure out what I wanted to write and say to her. There was a lot I wanted to say, but I also to have to hold back on other things to say or not say.

So, all week I was trying to figure out what to write in the card. Come last Friday I was about two blocks from Qdoba’s already freaking out when I remembered that I did not write my final note in the card. I did write what I was going to say on scrap paper, but I actually did not write in the card.

So, I had to turn around and go to Office Max or Office Depot and buy some pens since I did not have any in my bike back pack. Well, I needed some new pens anyway. A few minutes later I was outside in front of the store in my biking gear, bike shorts, nervous and on top of that getting very cold so writing in the card I was shaking from the cold and pure nervousness.

Five minutes later I was biking up to Qdoba’s with my Charlie Brown Christmas card with my personal note written in the card. I was scairt! (Slang)

I open the door and see that my Qdoba girl is working. And looking good and the same as last Friday.

Yet, when I got to the counter I saw the twinkling of a diamond or Cubic Zircona earring in her left ear lobe. I also saw a smile and her stand a bit taller when she addressed me. I also notice a sparkle of light in her eyes. Although that could have been my imagination. Yet, I doubt that.

Readers, I really do not know what I said or talked about. I remembering me saying something about working long hours at work since it is month and year end close. She said that she has been working longer hours and cutting down staff hours because of cutting costs of labor.

I was nervous and not paying attention since I had done everything I said I was going to do and here I was. I pulled out my wallet and Christmas card at the same time and kept them out of her vision. Just in case I chickened out. Oh yes Readers that was a possibility I did take into consideration! So, if any of you Readers do hear a “cluck” on a Friday evening in the South side of Denver – that be me.

She helped me throughout the line, my Qdoba girl did not pass me off to the ingredient person. Thank goodness.

Basically, we were done with each other and this was the moment to give her the Christmas card.

Then

1. What if she opens the card right there?
2. What if she asks me if she can open the card now?
3. What if she asks me if she can open the card later?
4. What if I dine in and wonders if she should open the card?
5. What if I make her uncomfortable with the whole card thing?
6. and so forth.

Mind you Readers, all these possibilities played out in a few seconds and then I figured out that I will not dine in. I will take it to go therefore making her or me uncomfortable with the Christmas card I am planning to hand her in the next 10 seconds.

“Happy Holidays” Or something to that effect and then I hand her the card.

I have now passed the point of no return. I am out there! No turning back. I can not undo what I just did.

I see her face light up a bit, a smile and a she says “Thank you” and I think that is all I can remember. By the way Readers, I was sweating in places that I never knew. Hah hah.

I walked out of Qdoba's hopefully like I was like "The Man" and not too fast. Oh yes, I was thinking “Oh Fuck me – I did it.”

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Qdoba girl - 20 Days Later

Greetings Readers

I had a destiny with the Qdoba girl. After all it has been over two weeks since I had last seen her. Not to mention that I was a bit “drunk” when I last saw her. And I was acting funny, talking slowly and trying to speak clearly, and using my hands to also talk when I last saw her. Wow – that was a fucked up moment with the Qdoba girl. Fuck me is what I say non-chalantly.

Readers, you have to imagine that I was a bit worried, to say the least. I remembered my last encounter with my Qdoba girl and, in my view, it did not go well and I am sure that she and everyone knew that I was a “bit tipsy”

All day I was thinking about not going or going to Qdoba’s. After all - the last time I saw her was two weeks ago and I really have not thought about Qdoba girl, in a manner of speaking.

I was okay with not knowing how she might or does not think about me since my last visit seeing her. After all I was sort of fucked up at that last meeting and I knew, I knew, that I should gone straight home. However, to me that Qdoba girl is something special to me. And I had a destiny to see her on “our” Friday. So, the alcohol won and I walked into Qdoba’s to see my Qdoba girl.

Getting back to the present – I decided that I was taking Light rail and the bus home, with a visit to Qdoba’s. Or so I planned.

Yet, getting back to my Qdoba girl. I wanted to see her since coming back from vacation for I am not sure how she might see me now (or ever since that last “incident”). Then again, I did not want to know how she felt about me. After all, I think I only thought about her twice while on vacation when I saw a falling star and like a child wished upon it.

Being back from vacation I was okay. Mentally, I was almost constantly thinking about Qdoba girl before my Thanksgiving vacation. On what transpired the last time I went to Qdoba’s. How I have acted in front of her. How I have flirted, but could not back it up. How I was thinking, to me, that she is all that and a bag of chip. What I was going to do the next Friday I go Qdoba’s. Etc.

You see Readers I was thinking all this and more. I was also thinking that she is too beautiful to speak to (or perhaps that she is out of my league), so this visit I imagined that I was talking to a friend or a sister if I had a sister. And you know what Readers? It worked. I was cool. I was calm. More importantly I was myself, well the nice side of myself.

I was on foot, which meant I was dressed nice and planned to look sharp since my last meetings did not go well. Meaning, I did not have my biking gear on – jacket, gloves, bandanna, cycling pants, Oakleys, etc. I had my long black overcoat, white scarf, my I.O.U. sweater, jeans and the new sneakers I had bought for the 24 hours of Boulder. I was pretty sharp. I think I left off the earring so I was very business like.

Although, I was hot wearing the overcoat, but that was only because I thought it was going to be cold as it was yesterday. And yesterday I was cold biking home.

I was a bit scairt (slang), but I “manned up” and walked into Qdoba’s.

I made eye contact with her when I saw her behind the counter upon entering Qdoba’s. I broke eye contact first and then saw that the place was about 1/3 full and all were eating – happily it looked like to me. Qdoba girl was finishing up with a customer and I was the only person next. Good. Matter of fact, as my old ex-co-worker would say it was “just so awesome.”

“Hi how are you?” she asked me with a smile and a sparkle (perhaps a gleam) in her eyes.

Flashback – The entire day I was planning my line that I was going to use on Qdoba girl. “Hey if you get a moment come on over to my table if you get a minute so we can catch up” or “Come by my table when you a moment and we can catch up with each other” and so forth. Matter of fact, I took the bus, as opposed to light rail so I could practice out loud my line I was going to say to my Qdoba Girl. I was talking out loud on the bus, but I was the only one on the bus. Crazy. But I figured if I cannot say out loud then there is a real good possibility that I was going to “flub” my line. I was not embarrassed about talking out loud. After all, I had to nail my line I was going to use.

Then, “Christmas card” popped into my head. This is the time of the year that you could give a card that would not seem out of place or awkward. After all, Hallmark thrives on this part of year, besides Valentine’s Day, of selling cards.

Hmmm. A Christmas card to my Qdoba girl.

Present – “I would like a Steak burrito – black”. Readers, ordering was nothing like my last visit when I was ordering my burrito in an alcohol state. Yeah, I was a bit fucked up, but we are all human and do things we normally do not do when lusting or in love with someone.

“How was your holiday?” I asked.

“Good.” She looks at me in her look I just adore “How was yours?”

“Good, I went to visit my parents in New Mexico for Thanksgiving.”

“Oh, I went to my Mother’s place with my sister for Thanksgiving.”

“Really? Did you cook?”

“Me?” she responds questioningly, but with a smile ”No, I do not know how to cook.”

Readers, when she said this last sentence my brain was working on an answer or a response to that statement. I could remark on that statement. I could ask a question about that. I could make “light” of that statement. Perhaps three seconds later I came to a decision – no joking, smart-ass or sarcastic response to that question. After all I have to appear “good” in her eyes and not the person I truly am when you know me.

“Really?” I respond

“I know. I have worked at Qdoba’s for the past seven years and I do not know how to cook”

I am resisting any come on line. I am resisting all lines I could say about how I could cook a meal for you. Note – Once more all her co-workers (employees) seemed to have found other things to do while her and me are talking at the counter. No one was waiting to be served. It was just she and I.

“Interesting” I say with a smile and as if I was commenting on something not that interesting. Go figure.

“What would you like in your burrito?” she then asks

Readers, just like Forrest Gump would say, “Me and Jenny were just like Peas and Carrots” That was Qdoba girl and me – we were like peas and carrots again. I was myself. I was seeing her as just a friend and not like the girl I want. I was holding the winning card and I knew it. Oh yeah.

We talked a bit more. She asked me if I was eating here. I responded perhaps not.

“I need to get going before it gets cold”

“Oh, I have not been out since I got to work today.”

And so goes this conversation, which I will not bother reciting since it is really not that pivotal.

She is ringing my final total and all the while I managed to pull out my post-it note out of my wallet and had it post it to the top of my wallet.

Christmas card.

That flashed in my head. The conversation had been going well and I was a trying to figure out what to do in the seconds I thought I had available.

“I can’t remember. You want something to drink?” she asked me.

“No thank you. Not this time since I am going to take it to go. Otherwise, if I am staying I do normally have a drink.

She rings me up. I give her money, she gives me back my change (paper money) folded in between my receipt and I hear the change dispense in the change machine.

We look at each knowing that is the end of our conversation. Is she waiting for me to ask something? Is she waiting for me to make my move? Is she waiting for another question about what we just talked about? I do not know, but I kept my hand over the post it note just in case so she would not see it.

The time was right as I was ready, but a Christmas card was blinking in my head.

“Alright I guess I will be seeing you.”

“Yes, you will” or something to that effect she responds with a smile.

I turn and leave, without taking my change from the change dispenser. Readers – Fuck no I was going to let that go. No fucking way I was going to say that I left my change in the change dispenser. Change was less than a dollar and my conversation with the Qdoba girl was a perfect ending to the day, to the week and the past twenty days. Fuck the change. Let her remember our conversation and not me “complaining” about my change I left in the change dispenser.

Overall, I am happy. My heart was beating fast, since I was expecting the “cold” a response from her. For example – I was expecting to hear “Hi, what can I get you?” with a cold demeanor. Readers you know what I mean – the look and talk that really implies “I’m not interested.”

But I got the…

“Hi how are you?” she asked me with a smile and a sparkle (perhaps a gleam) in her eyes.

One word - Ecstatic

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

The Qdoba "Alcohol" Incident - Part 1

Greetings Readers

I have been putting this off for a bit. Another “Qdoba Incident,” but not like the complaining incident.

For the past week I have been kicking and calling myself names about how I fucking complained about my “free” burrito I was entitled to. I wondered how she now felt about me. I wanted to know how she felt, but then again I did not want to know how she felt about the last “incident.” I was a mess and felt that I should have let go the error Qdoba caused. It was after all only $ 7.00, but it was 10 prior visits to earn that free burrito.

Now, I have had the past week to reflect, plan, and to ask how to recover from my past incident from my friends. Of course, they laughed and smiled at me when they heard of the “Qdoba incident”

Anyway, I told the story over and over to the people who do not read my blog and I pretty much got the same reaction.

Well, by Wednesday I decided and came to the conclusion of what I needed to do and perhaps what the problem was/is.

I was sober.

Yeah. I was sober and I apparently was trying to score while in a sober state. After all, my past history shows that I have done better with alcohol in my system as opposed to no alcohol when trying to score.

Well, between Wednesday and Friday I had to come to a plan in order to get a drink in me. Do I go to the liquor store and buy a bottle and basically drink behind a tree? Do I go to a local bar? Do I bring a bottle of beer from home? Getting a drink before seeing the Qdoba girl was getting a bit more difficult than I planned to.

Yet, overall when I spoke to my friends about what I planned to do they were in agreement. After all, I am uptight most of the time and a drink would loosen me up - a bit. Be a bit more approachable. Yet, all my friends warned me not to drink too much. I replied that one beer is not going to make me drunk.

So comes Friday and I was ready. It was cold and it was only cold because of the wind. I was freezing. I had to take Light Rail to shorten my trip. I arrived at the place I decided to get a drink. Just a short hop and a skip away from Qdoba’s.

I walked in and saw that I was going to be the only one at the bar. Not a problem since I had a goal in mind and I was not looking for someone at the bar to “hook up” with.

I ordered a draft beer – Odell’s wheat beer. The bartender asks me what size. For a few seconds I wonder, then decided I might as well as go to the largest size available. Why not. After all I am only having one beer. I think it was 33 ounces. Sounds like a lot, but manageable.

While drinking my one beer the bartender made conversation. About biking, then running. I, of course, gave only what was pertinent to the conversation and said no more. The bartender was over 10 years younger than me, but I made sure that I did not come off to conceited or the “I am better than you” attitude, which I am, but know when not to use/say that.

I would say it was about 20 minutes of me sitting at the bar taking my time drinking that tall glass of beer, when I see two blondes take the two bar stools one bar stool away from me. I was about ¾ done with my beer and just minding my business since I had a goal that evening – the Qdoba girl.

I then hear “yeah this guy bikes also” I turn and look at the bartender. The two blondes look at me. Five minutes later everyone was impressed with I do on and off a bike. On how hard-core I am, but do not act like I am hard-core.

I grabbed my mug and see that there are about two swallows of beer left and I have been drinking for about 30 minutes.

Finished. “Well I guess it is time for me to go.”

“Really?” one blonde says.

“Can we buy you another beer?”

About two seconds pass in my mind. Of fucking course, but then the reasoning side of my brain tells me that the Qdoba girl is waiting for me to make an appearance.

I look at my watch, but honestly Readers I did that just for the sakes that I could stay for another drink. After all, I was getting a beer for free! “Well, Ok”

15 minutes after that I had finished another tall glass of Wheat beer and I was starting to feel good.

The bartender comes over and holds out his hand. “Hi, my name’s ##### and thanks for sharing.” Or something very close to that. “I have to close out my drawer now.”

I was taken back for a second or two, but I put out my hand shook his. “My name is Daryl and thanks.” And “here is your tip.”

That was that. Or so I thought. I see him pouring a drink, but not paying attention.

The bartender turns around and says “Here’s one to keep you warm on your ride home.”

Damn.

I was buzzed, but this shot was going to get me further buzzed.

What the fuck - you only live once.

Needless to say – I said goodbye to the two 21-year-old blondes. After all I had a destiny with the Qdoba girl. Oh yeah Readers, my friends said I should have said at the bar with the two blondes, but again I had a “Friday date” with my Qdoba girl. The two blondes were cute, but not cute enough for me to stay and try to score with one, or both of them.

I got on my bike and proceeded to head to Qdoba’s, but knowing that perhaps I should go straight home due to how buzzed I was getting, on an empty stomach. I do admit I was shakily riding home on my bike. I was nearing Qdoba’s and I literally felt the shot kick in. I saw Qdoba’s and I also saw the path home. I knew I should go home since I did drink more alcohol than I planned to.

At the last second I turned my bike into the parking lot and saw myself pedaling to Qdoba’s

From outside the restaurant I saw my Qdoba girl. I pushed opened the front door, caught the eye of my Qdoba girl and had the biggest alcohol smile on my face. I did the reverse nod to her with a smile on my face and never broke eye contact with her. Even though she did.

Fuck me. The alcohol was in control...

To Be Continued

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

First Snowfall of Autumn

Greetings Readers

If I am thinking clearly then today is/was the first snowfall of autumn this year. Sure, we have had some frost and hard frost, but no real accumulation of snow in Denver, Colorado.

I have to say that I was skeptical of snow actually falling in my area of South of Denver, but as I got up and looked out the window this morning – I immediately thought to myself “that’s fucking great.” I am sure that it was not real cold, but I did not want to deal with snow – at all. With that frame of mind there was no way I was going to bike the entire way to work. No reason, I just did not want to.

So, with the snow falling I decided to wear my bike shorts and that’s it. I figured that the air was warm enough and not terribly too cold for me to put on my long cycling pants. Again, it was just the state of mind I was in that morning. I did shove my long cycling pants into my backpack for use when I go home from work that night.

And it did not help that I was hung over from the night of drinking.

So, if you have seen or clicked the blog picture post for today you can see my “winter” beater bike at the RTD bus stop. By the time I got the bus stop my brakes were iced over and useless. I was using my infamous “Fred Flintstone” foot stop.

A few people saw me riding into work and commented on me riding with shorts only. Yes, it was cold, but not cold. Very manageable to me.

I had heard it was going to be in the 30’s this day and to me that is very manageable to ride in. What I did not hear that is was going to be windy. Fuck me. Oh yes, when I got off work at about 4:30 or so the wind was blowing gustily and I only had my wind breaker, bandanna on my head and thinsulate gloves on. And I had to go to the bank to get some spending cash.

After all, I had to go to Qdoba’s to see my Qdoba girl. Though this time around I was not ready since the last time our meeting did not go well, from my point of view.

And that story will be told later when it happens, which I am not sure that it will happen. I am just psyching myself out right now since according to me I had to do what I had to do last week when I saw my Qdoba girl last Friday.

“Principality.”

P.S. Readers for the next Amazing Race I chose the “Frat Boys” to be eliminated. They are not smart and somehow they are making it further and further in the Amazing Race by luck and chance. Well, their luck has to run out - and soon. My co-worker chose the “dating couple” no reasoning behind that she shared with me. But I have to agree that they do seem like the next team that would be the weakest.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

The "Qdoba" Incident

Greetings Readers

As I walked into Qdoba’s last Friday I saw that the place was a bit busy, busier than usual.

I saw my Qdoba girl and she was looking just as gorgeous as the last time I saw her.

I saw that she was manning the first station on the line – meaning that she was the person greeting each customer and asking what he or she wanted to eat.

When my turn came I was acting pretty customer-like, meaning I was not too friendly since there were other customers around. I just did not want to make our meetings too friendly in front of other customers. Her co-workers I was not worried about at all.

I said “Steak burrito – black” and she started getting my burrito together.

About 20 seconds later she passed me off to the next person whose job on the line was to add all the ingredients to the burrito, main dish. I was unable to say, “see you later” or “bye” since it was busy and there was a line behind me. We made brief eye contact before she greeted the next customer, but that was all.

Then, the ingredient woman passed me off to the cashier lady who rang me up. I said “Steak burrito, chips and salsa and a large drink” and she responded $ 10.65.

I gave her a ten-dollar bill and a one-dollar bill for a total of $ 11.00. I got my change back and proceeded to head to the table that I ate at the last time I was in Qdoba’s (Two Friday’s ago).

I was happy to see my Qdoba girl and the happiness showed on my face. Not to mention that this was going to be night that I am going to make my move.

Well, something occurred to me while I took my first bite of my steak burrito. I picked up my receipt and looked at the receipt.

Flashback – I remember from the last visit two weeks ago that I had reached my free burrito status. What that means is that I have bought 10 burritos so with my loyalty card after my 10th burrito I get the next burrito free. Anyway, last week my Qdoba girl was not there so I only ordered chips and salsa, which meant I would get a “free” burrito on the next visit.

Present – I see on the receipt that my meal cost about $ 3.65 and according to the receipt I gave the cashier lady four dollars. Readers, as I just wrote I gave her $ 11.00 dollars. And believe me, since I knew I only had a ten-dollar bill and some ones, since I planned to go the bank for some spending cash this weekend because I was broke. Yet, I was not able to get to the bank, therefore I made sure I had enough money to go to Qdoba’s that evening.

There I sat with my left hand holding the steak burrito and my right hand holding the receipt. I shook my head back and forth in a no-no motion.

I thought to myself “fuck me.”

Why could not this have happened on the second burrito, the seventh burrito or the eighth burrito purchase? Why did this have to happen on the “Free” burrito time? Why?!

Damn. My faithful Readers probably know what’s going to be the next thing I do in such a situation I found myself in.

I looked over my left shoulder and still see that there is still a line and they all are busy.

I turned my head back to the front sitting position and bowed my head in what I was going to do next.

Readers! I am not a fucking “cheap bastard.” Yet, there I was thinking about what I was going to do next. Granted, they charged me for my free burrito and basically that is about $ 7.00 dollars. I know Readers – it is only seven dollars. But. Yes another but. But it took me 10 visits at the cost of about 8 dollars per visit to get my “free” burrito. In the grand scheme of things, and yes my accounting side once more made an appearance, multiply 8 (8 dollars a visit) times 10 (each visit) and you come to $ 80.00 dollars. It took me roughly $ 80.00 to earn my free burrito.

If it was any other visit besides the “free” burrito visit I would have fucking let it go. Yes, I would have fucking care less. Yet, this was the “free” burrito visit and I really earned this “free” burrito visit.

I grabbed the change that I grabbed out of the change dispenser when I paid for my meal and headed up to the cashier lady that checked me out.

Just my fucking luck that I had to address the person who did not speak English well and apparently she did not understand English well. And Readers you know this is what I hate about the fast food places I visit. I am happy for immigrants to get jobs, but on the other hand I want to be understood and be able to understand what I may have to say should I say more than what I want to eat.

If you cannot speak and or understand English then you should not be in a position to be dealing with the public. As I have just written there are instances that require for us customers to address the employee who helped “us.”

As I spoke and explained what I just noticed the cashier lady just looked at me.

Readers, it took great resistance not to act like I would normally do when in a position such as this. Believe me I was just itching to say, “Give me someone who understands English!” or something to that effect. But. My Qdoba girl was just down the line and I sure did not want to look like a fucking rude customer in her eyes.

I make no apologies to you Readers or anyone else. I am rude every now and then, but believe me Readers I just do not get rude for the sakes of getting rude. Usually something sparks of the rudeness – whether unintentionally or intentionally.

Man oh man – I was submissive and not being me when trying to explain to the cashier lady what I just noticed on my receipt. My number one priority was not making sure that I was not looking like a fucking rude customer in front of my Qdoba girl.

Well, the cashier lady did not comprehend and soon enough what I did not want happen happened.

My Qdoba girl comes over and said something to the effect “How can I help you?” or “What seems to be the problem?” in the most nicest way. By the way, she was fidgeting in front of me and I think this was due to the way we know each other. Then again, it was probably just me noticing. I do not know. She moved her hands in front of her, in back of her and then crossed her arms. Meanwhile, I was thinking, “Damn, she had to come over herself.”

Oh Readers, since she came over no one was manning the burrito station, which meant every customer in line was looking at me and her. I was holding up the line with my issue.

I quickly explained what I noticed when I got back to my table and then what I just said to the cashier lady. My Qdoba girl speaks Spanish to the cashier lady. There were about three quick conversations. Meanwhile, no burritos are being made.

I know, I know I probably should have let the “free” burrito go, but it was principality. Just like the movie “Friday” – “…principality, Smokey”

I was being so not me, I did not want Qdoba girl to think anything bad about me, but I also did not want to pay for my “free” burrito.

Now, this conversation was about a minute or so then Qdoba girl reaches into the cash drawer and pulls out $ 7.00 dollars and hands me the money.

I said thank you, but then I thought I wonder if she thought I was trying to rip-off the store. I was not. Or perhaps she was thinking “let me get this guy (customer) out of my fucking hair so I can get back to the line of customers that were waiting” for her. I do not know.

I said something to the effect “are we cool?” she nodded yes, but I thought not.

I go back to my table with the $ 7.00. Damn Readers, I felt like an ass, but I did everything right.

Well, perhaps not all right, since perhaps I should have checked my receipt before leaving the cash register. But, I just saw my Qdoba girl and as you faithful Readers know she is one the top things on my mind these days. Everything else is basically second to her.

I got back to my table and immediately thought to myself I should have let it go. Now, I look like an ass. Now, I cannot give her my phone number. I mean how would it looked if I try and give her my phone number after bringing up I was charged incorrectly for my meal. I just fucked up the rest of my visit to Qdoba’s that Friday. I can only hope that she comes by my table and says something.

Damn. Damn. Damn. Why does this sort of shit happen to me? Why?

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete