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

Thrifty or Cheap - that is the subject

Greetings Readers

Frugal or C.B. (a.k.a. Cheap Bastard)?

I have blogged about this a few times in the past. Some things I own I want the most for my money. However, in other people’s view I may seem like a cheap bastard.

For example, I was on the Light Rail the other day. I saw a sight that I found sort of humorous at first, but then quickly my humor changed to sadness.

She was eating one of those “lunch size” Lays Potato Chips bags when I saw her tip the bag to her mouth and tap the end of the bag, as such as I do myself to get all the little crumbs in the bottom of the bag. After all who does not like Potato Chips.

Then, I saw her turn the chip’s bag inside out so that the inside silver lining was on the outside and she proceeded to lick the inside of the bag. It was not sloppy lick or a loving lick on a body, but just a lick to get every taste from the residue of chip’s and salt.

I smiled at first since I think I remember seeing that in a movie once, or a TV show. However, to see that in real life was wow. Yet, those few seconds of smiling turned to concerned.

Why did she do that? Was that her only meal that she could afford? Was she trying to get her money’s worth? Did she have a problem with Lay’s Potato Chips? I know from my own personal life that I have been know to eat almost an entire bag of Lay’s Potato Chips in one sitting. However, I have never, ever licked the inside of any Potato Chip Bag.

To me that would seem gross. However Readers, I will admit that we all have had our mouths somewhere that would be gross to some, but to others not gross. What may be gross to others is not gross at all to others. I know that sounds redundant, but there are differences, however minute, between those two statements I just made.

Anyway, the reason for bringing up this story was not to ask you Readers whether that was gross or not gross. The question I want to ask you Readers was she being frugal or a Cheap Bastard?

Frugal for getting her money’s worth? Or was she a cheap Bastard for not having a second bag of chips or having a bigger bag of chips to satisfy her hunger?

Questions for which I do not know the answer(s) Readers.

With that being said let me explain why I started out with that story.

I have currently switched over to my winter bike, Tracey, since the rain and one snowfall have now started in Colorado. My brakes on Tracey were shot at the end of Spring this year. Matter of fact, I was stopping with my foot since the brakes were useless. However, since Spring was over I was going to be riding three other bikes as opposed to Tracey since Spring and Summer was here.

I go into the local bike shop up/down the road – depending on your point of view and look for a replacement brakes pads on my bike. Lo’ and behold the store does not carry my type of brake pads I need. However, they can find a suitable replacement braking system for me. Of course, at a price. You guess it Readers; I thought to myself “Fuck that”

That evening I went home and took off both pads and then flipped and switched the pads so that they were on opposite sides of the brake system. After all, road brake pads erode at an angle due to the angle of the rims. With that being said the worn out part of the brake pads was at the bottom of the brake system and the non-worn out brake pads were at the top of the brake system.

I have done this in the past and this was nothing new to me. After all Readers, when one has over 10 bikes in his collection replacing every item on a bike becomes pricey. To me this sort of short-term brake resolution is acceptable – and it works for me. Readers, I do not take any responsibility nor endorse this type of short-term fix. It is dangerous and should you do this on your own you do so at your own risk. I do not assume responsibility for this type of action.

Depending on how hard I brake this short-term fix can last for a few month, or could only last a month, depending on how hard I squeeze the brakes to stop.

Now the question, or perhaps a comment – Am I cheap bastard for not buying a replacement braking system? Or am I being frugal for getting the most out of my money for a $ 10.00 dollar brake pads.

I mentioned a couple of reasons why I think I was being frugal – owning many bikes, getting my money’s worth. To me this is justifiable for reversing and flipping my brake pads for getting my money’s worth. Yet Readers, let me refresh your memory Readers, I did go into the bike store to buy replacement pads. Yet, when that was not possible I had to come to a resolution immediately.

I could have gone to another store, but the evening was late. I know Readers, I could list excuse and reason after reason, but in this particular scenario I knew of the immediate fix and I took upon myself to fix the issue of no brakes. Of course, I could go the store the next day, the next week, but since I “fixed” the problem there was no reason to go the store.

Perhaps the answer depends on your point of view.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Walking Your Bike at Light Rail

Greetings Readers

I was at the Light Rail station about a month ago and I was running late for work, hence why I was at the Light Rail Station. Anyway, at the Arapahoe Light Rail Station the platform was literally empty of riders, except for the lone person at the far end of the Light Rail Station.

I did my usual thing. Meaning, I rode my bike to the far side of the platform. Slowly of course, even though the platform was empty. I had my headphones listening to my music.

That lone person was an RTD ticket checker. Well, he waved and walked toward me. I of course came to a stop a few feet from him.

I see his mouth moving, but could not hear a word he was saying.

By the way, nothing new to my constant Readers, but I was wearing my Bandanna around my head, Oakley’s on my face and probably looked like your typical bad ass rider. Hah hah.

Anyway, I internally heard myself say “Hold up, I can’t hear what you are saying” with my hand and finger held up in that all too familiar “hold on” signal.

Oh I knew this gesture was going to piss him off, but given my mood I could care less; though I probably knew how far I could push myself without actually getting in real trouble.

Yes Readers, I know the reason why he wanted my attention.

“You can’t ride your bike here”

Readers, as I have posted in the past I know that since I have seen the posted signs around the platform.

However, “There are no riders,” I respond.

“You can’t ride you bike here” he responds once more.

I respond and turn around to the empty platform “There is no one here” for which I indicate with my arm and hand waving in that direction.

I wish I could remember what was said but the adrenaline got a flowin’ in me. I was tensed and ready, but I was also playing chess on how to change from being on the defensive mode to the offensive mode.

He talked and threatened to write me a ticket, but all in all he was waiting for me to mouth off and perhaps say “do it then.”

In the end I said “ok” and then I walked my bike to where I was going to wait for the Light rain. When I say walked my bike, I was still straddling the bike, but had both feet on the ground. After walking my bike over I looked around to the lone RTD “ticker checker” and gave him the stare. In the end he broke the stare and then I looked away.

Minutes later the RTD Light Rail arrived and I got onto the Light Rail I needed to. You guessed it Readers; he got onto the same Light Rail Train. After the train took off the RTD ticket checker started checking tickets.

I was at the far end of the car so I was going to be the last one he checks. During this hour of the morning the riders were sparse and far in between.

He finally reached me and at this point I had my earphones in my ears once more. I saw his mouth move and knew he wanted to see my ticket. I pulled my ticket from my biking shorts and proceeded to give it to him.

However, right before I presented the ticket in the palm of my hand I closed my hand into a fist and crumpled that ticket into a small ball as hard as I could and then opened my hand for him to check.

Readers, I see his mouth move and I hear myself say, “Here’s my ticket” not knowing what the fuck he said to me. A slight pause between us and I continue “there is nothing posted indicating that I have to hand that ticket to you” stressing the word “posted” to him.

It was a high noon on the Light Rail, except it was early morning. He takes my crumpled ticket, which he does un-crumple to look at very closely. All this time I was looking at him in the face. Once satisfied, he hands the ticket to me for which I take back from him as if I was handling a “contaminated” ticket. I use my forefinger and thumb and hold this ticket like it was covered in shit. I made no effort to pocket or straighten the ticket in order to put into my bike shorts again.

Ho looks at me probably waiting for me to say something, but I know that from experience some times saying nothing has the needed the effect I wanted. I was like a statue with that one hand in the air with my Light Rail ticket and me staring him down.

Soon, the next Light Rail Stop was here and he was exiting the Light Rail car onto the his path in the world.

Now Readers, when I see any of you bike riders walking your bike on the Light Rail platform I now know the reason why you do so. You may have been given the warning I was given that morning. Or perhaps you were already given a ticket for riding a bike where you should not have been riding a bike. Again, I know now is why you do walk your bike on the platform.

Oh I know, some may say they are being courteous, which is true. However, being on a bike going less than 5 mph without pedaling and one foot on the ground pushing me along is also being courteous. I do not have both feet on the pedal nor am I pedaling and I am not riding and weaving among the platform riders.

A bike rider does not buy a bike to walk his/her bike anywhere. If given the opportunity we will do everything to ride our bike unless there is no other option to ride our bike.

To this date – I have made sure to take note of a certain RTD ticket checker. Also, I am still riding my bike on all RTD Light rail platform in Denver regardless of my previous encounter I have just blogged to you.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Bejeweled 2 & Peggle

Greetings Readers

So, that Bejeweled Game that I have been playing on Facebook has been pretty entertaining. Very much entertaining that I decided that was going to buy the full version at Target.

I wanted to see what the full version game was about and also I really did want to play at home for more than a minute.

The price was about $ 20.00 and well worth the money. Matter of fact, the game came with an extra game – Peggle.

Bejeweled 2 is pretty entertaining. When I loaded the game onto my computer there were four types of games available. Classic – meaning play until there are no more moves. Then, there is the timer mode – which you play against a timer. This is the best of them all. Next, there is the Puzzle mode – which is how it sounds. You have to completely eliminate all gems on the screen before you can advance to the next level. Lastly, there is the endless mode. As the word says – it is endless. Well, as far as I know, but I have not played the endless mode for an extended amount of time.

Subconsciously, I think I bought the full version game to get good at for when I play the one-minute game on my lunch break. I wanted to be good, but more importantly I want to be the best; meaning I want the number one spot.

I will admit that the full version game has helped me to play the game better, but not necessarily faster. I am able to see and strategize much faster and better.

I have concentrated on the timer mode of the full version game in order to help me out on the one-minute timer game. I have worked on trying to get as many points as possible without letting the timer run out and I have also worked on completing the level as fast as possible. Neither seems to benefit me more. Overall, just trying to get to the next level as fast as possible as been my goal.

I have owned the game for over a month and I have now unlocked two secret game modes. Pretty cool, I think. Matter of fact, I was so proud of my achievement that I had to take a picture of the computer monitor to show my proud accomplishment. I know what I had to do and I have to admit it took my brains as well as my quick thinking to open those two secret modes.

Now, the other game Peggle.

I did see that game on Facebook and was going to play, but when I clicked on the game it said I had to let them allow to download something onto my computer, which you know is a no-no at work. Well, perhaps a no-no, but that will be recorded and noted. Granted, it is only a game, but I do not need that. I was curious the first time around, but after that message had popped up I quickly forgot about Peggle.

Now, the Peggle game was available as an extra game with the purchase of Bejeweled 2. I was kind of happy to find out if this game was worthy of my time being as an extra.

I already knew the basic premise and that was to clear out 10 orange pegs on a board of 90 blue pegs from a ball shooter at the top of the screen.

After I loaded Peggle and was presented to play the game I clicked “enter”

I started the game with the only game available, which was a story mode. I think it only took a game or two to get the general game play down.

After that it is now history.

I have to admit I love the game Peggle. In addition to loving Peggle I was so moved that I bought Peggle Nights at Wal-Mart last month.

The two games are so similar and challenging. You clear the orange pegs, that’s it. Sounds easy, but there are also some rules that may have to be followed. Such as, you may only have three balls to clear the orange pegs. You may to score over 300,00 points or score under 125,000 to clear the level. Other rules you may have to abide by is you may have to clear three random levels, you have to beat the computer, you have to clear 55 orange pegs, or you have to beat 10 random levels in a row in order to clear the stage.

Those are the challenges, but in addition to those challenges you have an overall challenge – you need to clear all pegs (orange and blue) on the screen to earn the blue ribbon, which signifies that you cleared all the pegs with 10 balls or less. On Peggle Nights you have a red ribbon to earn which is you must score higher than the “Ace” score of the level. The “Aced” score is high and often unreachable without thinking on how to score more points with the balls that you have. Meaning, you have to earn “free balls” or score points with style points that are available as long as you can do the style points. Or better yet, you need to get the ball into the bottom basket to re-try that same ball again. Tough, but doable.

I think that the reason why I love this game is because it takes math and physics to play the game. Without knowing the angles and degrees which the ball may go (and yes Readers the physics are as in the real world) you will not get very far in the game. After all, Peggle will make you think on an angle that seems unplayable, but if you know the angle the game is yours; as well as the victory.

I forgot to mention there are certain things that will help you play the game – flippers, magic hat, multi-ball, ball path guiding, space blast and Electro-something to name a few things that help you on your adventures in Peggle.

In closing, I am almost done with Peggle, but I am having a fucking hard time trying to score 750,000 or over on the level of my choice. As of right now I have completed 74 of the 75 levels to become the Grand Peggle Master. I do not play everyday in order to become the Grand Peggle Master, but I have been playing in order to beat the game. On Peggle Nights I am about half way done with the challenges, but I am also working on the “Aced” and completing the entire pegs on each of the levels. Slow going, but at least I am giving equal time to all challenges. Yet, I will admit that the challenges on Peggle Nights are much, much more challenging.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Facebook

Greetings Readers

Facebook.

I am not sure what I can say about that?

In my opinion it is the 21st century version of “myspace”. Cleaner, slicker, and the unavoidable how many friends can you have option.

I joined earlier this year, perhaps in May or June, which I know I joined right before I did the Ride the Rockies. And the only reason why I joined Facebook was because of another friend from Classmates.com told me about Facebook and the reason why I should join up.

Anyway, Facebook is okay, although more dangerous than myspace, craigslist and blogging. You have personal info that you list in your profile. On top of that you have something like a bulletin board. You can post what you are doing or where you are. Just like Twitter. Twitter? I have no clue about twitter except you have the ability to tell followers what you are doing every minute of your day – for example what you are doing, if your taking a shit, or where you are at on the planet Earth.

Well, Facebook is sort of like an advanced Twitter I imagine. It lists when you post and it even lists how you posted, like via Iphone. To me and it has been done already – you are telling the criminals where you are and that basically your home is ready to be burglarized and/or trashed. Readers, I am not on Twitter and have no desire to Twitter.

Anyway, your profile lists personal information, as well as your friends, your interests, your likes and other programs that you belong to that can be listed on Facebook.

I know Readers that I have not been blogging, but it is not because of Facebook. Right now, my life is pretty busy and in addition I am just not motivated to write a post.

I will admit that I am on Facebook every other day. But only to play some of the online games that Facebook offers. I love that Bejeweled 2 with the one-minute timer. The game makes you think fast and you only have one minute to get as a high score as possible.

Another game I like is that Farmville. Simple. Nothing really to accomplish, but to me I am trying to get as high as of level I can get with what I can do for “free.” One of my Facebook friends has introduced me to Yoville, but that is not really interesting. I am playing, but not really concentrating on playing the game. I have a goal, but I am not going to share that Readers. It is a so-so game, but not my type of game.

Beyond that I joined the HED group, but nothing has become of joining that group.

I have 5 Facebook friends and I am okay with that. Hell, on my "myspace" account I have 4 friends.

I am not sure what else to tell you Readers – you can join posting things that are tests that rate whatever and can listed posted to your profile. You can send virtual “flowers” “gifts, whatnot, but to me that is just nothing. I do not need to send virtual water balloons nor do I need Facebook friends to show off how many friends I do have.

However, I will have to admit that I am able to see people I knew in my past – my high school graduating class, my ex-co workers I used to work with at various years in my life that have joined Facebook. I have clicked on various people’s profile and a few have their profile open for viewing, however such as myself you need to send a friend’s request and he/she have to accept before seeing their profile. Which does make sense.

Me? I have accepted almost all friend requests, except relatives. I do not associate with them beyond than seeing them perhaps once a year. I am not curious about their life, but I am sure that they are curious about me. Though I could be totally fucking wrong.

After all I am sure that some of you Readers know that you can Google a person’s name or subject and get whatever information is available on the Internet right there.

I did send one friend request to a person I knew in the mid nineties, but I never got a confirmation back. Do I care? Nope, but I would have liked a response back. Anyway, all my friends I have listed on my profile are the ones that requested to be my friend, which I accepted.

And yes, my personal information that is listed on Facebook is incorrect to a certain degree, just like a certain blog profile of mine. I have to protect myself from people.

In closing, Facebook is okay to me, but it is not the it thing for me. If you are follower of my blog and want a friend go ahead and send a friend request to me if you need another friend. Although, you will get less information about me. Hell, this blogging is me, but also only what I elect to tell you Readers. And I do like writing to the Internet world about my experiences, my views and me.

However, if you have any opinions of Facebook please leave a comment on this post.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Nip / Tuck - The Final Season

Greetings Readers

I just saw the trailer for the new Nip / Tuck Season on FX. Season 6 – The final season of Nip / Tuck starts in October. I knew about the ending of the series Nip / Tuck over a year ago.

I am excited since the new Season is here, but I am also sad that the final season is here.

As I have posted in the past I have come to adopt and care for Sean McNamara and Christian Troy. I know that there are fictional characters, but I have come feel for them. Especially so with last season – season 5. I was happy that Sean did not die, which I knew he would not since I knew that there were more episodes to come. What I did not know was how hard it was going to be for Sean to come back.

Yet, what the hardest part of the show was yet to come – for me. Cancer. Christian Troy was diagnosed with Cancer and unfortunately it is terminal. This news was in line with the final season so I knew that this plot line was justifiable. Believable is what I mean. In addition to what happened to Julia all the “new” plot lines were in line with my thinking.

I have to admit at the start of Season 5 with Christian and Sean in California – Hollywood I was worried about that season’s story line. In the end, the story line was good and kept me on my toes. Matter of fact at the end of Season Part 1 was worried on what would happen with the start of Season 5 Part 2.

Why there was a Part One and Part Two is because of the writer’s strike that year they were filming. I was not happy with the strike, but the cliffhanger of the season was perfect. Literally, Sean was dying at the end of the final episode, at that time. Yet, that was not the only cliffhanger of the season.

What I am trying to say I have been patiently waiting for the new and final season of Nip / Tuck and I have not been trying to find out when the new season is to start to do my own research of the new season. I want to be surprised.

Nip / Tuck to me is more than great. The music, the story, the way that the episodes are presented is perfect. There are some references to past episodes, which are great, however they also make you remember the bad things about the characters. Some story lines throughout the season are wow, while other are just so. Most episodes make me laugh, but other might make me feel remorse / sad for the character(s).

By the way, the Nip / Tuck trailer was not a trailer per se, but a trailer of Sean and Christian in the typical pre-season trailer for the new season of Nip / Tuck. It is not truly until the end of the first episode of the new season that we faithful watchers get to see previews of the upcoming season’s episodes in a series of clips. Titillating and exciting and leaving us viewers wondering on how those clips will be presented in a full episode in the upcoming weeks.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

An Almost Exact Repeat Incident at 7-11

Greetings Readers

You have read about this incident before from me at the local 7-11 I do frequent from time to time.

Unfortunately, this latest incident is no different.

I had visited this particular 7-11 days earlier, which I bought a liter of Coca-Cola for a good deal, minus sales tax, since sales tax is not included. Yet, down the road there is Jenny’s Market, which has the same price for a liter of Coca-Cola. However, that Jenny’s Market applies a sales tax.

Readers, I am sure that you have just come to the same conclusion I did over a month ago. I am all for paying the cheaper amount of Coca-Cola, especially now with this so-called recession.

I go into 7-11 with my earphones in my ears with Guns’ N’ Roses playing Mr. Brownstone in my head.

I have to admit I was in my mood that was “don’t fuck with me” and “I could care less” mood. Not a bad thing, but not a good thing. Meaning, I was in no mood to take any shit or I was in no mood to be polite. Not mean, just not polite. One might say no remorse.

“We have been dancing with Mr. Brownstone…” is what I hear when I walk into 7-11. Now, whenever I listen to Guns’ N’ Roses I feel myself get into the music and the lyrics - quite literally. I can feel the music and more importantly I feel the music take me to the music’s tone.

I walk to the refrigerator and grab my liter of Coca-Cola and walk to the register up front of the store.

As I have blogged before there are two registers and lo and behold there are two men behind the registers. Whereas the last time there were two women behind each of their registers they were operating.

Since I literally saw two people behind each register I walked to the register that is closest to the door, which is manned by a skinny guy. That is just common for me to do is walk to the nearest register to the door. Readers, the two 7-11 employees were standing behind both the two registers talking to each other from what I saw. Not what I heard what they were talking about since I was listening to Guns’ N’ Roses.

“…That old man was a real motherfucker…”

All of a sudden I saw that the skinny guy started to walk away from his register and counter. There was no acknowledgement that I was at his counter nor was there any sort of words spoken to me from the skinny guy (example: Sorry sir, but my register is closed). However, from the corner of my eye I see the other guy, a heavyset guy, move his mouth to me, but I have no clue what he was saying. Matter of fact, I could fucking care less since I was not at his counter.

Oh yes, Readers I had my Oakley’s on so I could clearly see what they and everyone else was doing around me. And of course they could not see where I was looking if I was looking around. Believe me Readers; I make it my business to know my surroundings since I tend to ride with earphones in my ears most of the time I ride. I am always taking in my surroundings and quite acute to all things around me. After all, my life on the bike depends on me being very aware of my surroundings since I am visually depending on what I can see and not what I can hear.

That skinny guy walks away from the register and counter he is/was at and I calmly wait for him to come back. Oh Readers, I already set my liter of Coca-Cola on the counter so my job as a consumer was done, in my view. Nothing new Readers, I grabbed my item and presented the item for purchase at the check out counter.

I waited and waited for about 10 to 15 seconds making no intention to acknowledge the heavyset guy at the other counter. Meanwhile, the skinny guy was tending the hot dog roller holder, but glancing at me now and then.

Well, about 20 to 30 seconds later, meaning after the skinny left the counter, the heavyset guy whistles at me, as if he was whistling to his dog. Oh yes, I heard the sharp whistle, but pretended not to hear it.

First of all Readers, I am not a dog nor will answer to a whistle like a dog. I was offended, but did not mention this to the heavyset guy.

I hear him, and I of course saw him say, hey over here.

I looked around as if I just heard him for the first time. I see him pointing and motioning that he is open and ready for me to ring my purchase up.

He points to his counter and I point to my Coca-Cola sitting on the counter. I made no move to his counter nor did he make any move to go and get my Coca-Cola on the counter.

Hell no, I did all the work by bringing up the Coca-Cola to the counter. There was no fucking way that I was going to move my item to his counter. He was going to have to get the Coca-Cola I physically brought up from the counter to ring up himself. Granted, the distance was just over a foot, but it was just a foot for him. After all, I am the customer.

I hear the heavyset guy talk, but I could not make out what he was saying. He then shook his head in a no gesture and then I heard myself say

“Well then, if you are not going to ring me up then I guess I don’t need it. And if you can’t walk two feet to get my Coca-Cola then you are going to have to walk farther than that to put that Coca-Cola back into the refrigerator.”

I did not move nor did the heavyset guy. I waited about three seconds then proceeded to walk out of 7-11 without looking back. Out of the corner of my eye the skinny guy walks swiftly to his register, most likely to ring me up, but at this point I was done with 7-11.

Eventually, I did go to Jenny’s market and pay a little extra on the sales tax, but there was a certain smug feeling on walking out of 7-11 holding onto what I believed in – and that is the customer is always right.

I feel I won that showdown that morning. However, it was brought to my attention that they heavyset guy could probably fucking could care less about me. Another friend said I actually lost the showdown since I had to go further to get a liter of Coca-Cola that morning. All these points are probably true, but the most important thing is I did not bulge on what I know was correct and either the skinny or heavyset guy had to put that Coca-Cola back into the refrigerator eventually.

I will admit though if my mood were different that morning I would have moved that Coca-Cola to the heavyset guy’s counter without any thought. I do not blame Guns’ N’ Roses. It was just the timing of the day, the music I was listening to and the way I woke up that morning - I was just ready for a confrontation. I was looking to step into “old” Daryl’s shoes once more.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

T-Minus 18 days at Counting

Greetings Readers

until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Bandanna Wrapped Handlebars

Greetings Readers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Jack Daniel's Birthday

Greetings Readers

Jack’s Birthday. Jack who?

Jack Daniel’s Birthday.

September – According to history, although I have not researched this history, no one know exactly when Jack Daniel’s birthday is, except in the month of September. This is apparently due to a courthouse fire that destroyed all records on file in that courthouse fire.

With that said, I saw in the seasonal section of the Liquor store the Jack Daniel’s Birthday Gift Box.

Now, here was the bad part. In the birthday box there was three random possibilities of what may be in the gift box.

You could get limited edition Jack Daniel coasters (set of 4). Or you get a Limited edition Jack Daniel’s shaker. Or you could get a limited edition Jack Daniel’s pint glass.

When I saw the possible gift I could get - I wanted the glass. Period.

Readers, in addition to the gift was the small bottle of Jack Daniel’s – the 750 ml bottle. I was not worried about the size or quality of the Jack Daniel’s, except the birthday gift.

Shallow perhaps, but if you faithful Readers know I am an avid Jack Daniel’s collector as well as drinker.

When I see an interesting Jack Daniel’s item I will try to get.

So, with the help of an employee of the liquor store we were able to get me the glass by checking the boxes that were on the shelf. I did not want to do this alone since it may appear that I was doing I should not be doing. After all, the liquor store provided a chart on how to get what you wanted in the “gift box” without opening the box. Or buying box after box to get what you want.

When I got home, I was rewarded with two, yes two, limited edition Jack Daniel’s pint glasses. I was happy. Well, more than happy. I am now able to display one glass in my Jack Daniel’s collection and then use the other pint glass at work (as well as display.)

Pretty fucking cool that I got an extra glass in the limited edition Jack Daniel’s Birthday Gift box.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Once More - Another Set of Oakleys

Greetings Readers

Well, as much I do not want to admit this to you Readers, well I left my Oakley’s down in the garage’s bathroom where I change for work and home and that was the last time I saw those Oakley’s.

Fuck me.

I noticed I did not bring my sunglasses with until mid-morning. As soon as I noticed I headed downstairs immediately. I grabbed my keys just to check my locker, but I already knew I rarely leave my sunglasses hanging from the clothes inside the locker. I was fucked already knowing that I was fucked.

I searched hi and lo, on the counters, under the bench and inside my locker. To no avail. Oh, before going down to the garage’s restroom I checked my backpack, which I bring to my work area just to be safe that I did accidentally put them in my bag.

After knowing what I knew I headed to our guard station and asked if anyone turned in some sunglasses from the garage. He indicated no, but will he be on the lookout.

Later that day I also checked with the building maintenance man, which I personally know. I asked him if he saw some sunglasses, but he also said no. Matter of fact, the few times I accidentally left my sunglasses down it in garage’s restroom and he was the next person to you the restroom he would personally bring them to my office.

I cussed myself and new that the sunglasses were gone to me forgetting them in the garage’s restroom. Within the hour I knew that I was going to be making a trip to the bank and then going to Cherry Creek Mall to visit the Oakley store once more.

There was no way I could not put this off. I was going to check with the guard in the morning to see if whoever took my sunglasses may have remorse and turn them in the following day, but I was not going to take that bet. After all, I am sure that anyone knows that Oakley sunglasses are very expensive and I would admit that if I found a pair I would say that 95 out of a 100 I too would keep this found treasure.

The imaginary Fred Flintstone whistle blew in my mind and knew I had to get moving before my bank closes and before the night gets too late and I get home very late.

I know Readers that I probably should have waited until the morning to see if the Oakley’s show up and have two pairs of sunglasses. Yes, I would have two sunglasses and perhaps spent money I probably did not have to. However, in this case I would have had an extra sunglass as opposed to not have any sunglasses for another day. Those Oakley M frames are me and I do not want to be seen without them on my face; or on top of my head. Ha ha. The joke is on me – I have succumbed to image is everything.

I met a beautiful young woman in her 20’s that helped me look for a new pair of sunglasses. I would say that it took about 30 minutes before I actually “built” my new Oakley’s I was going to owe that night. Oh Readers, at the Oakley store (in Cherry Creek) you are able to build your own pair of Oakley’s from what they have available. Choose your frame, rubber thingamajig, color of the lens as well as the style of lens you want. There is a good selection though depending on the demand on a certain style they may not have that part in stock. Which you guessed it Readers; they did not have a certain lens style in stock so I was forced to choose another lens style. They did order the style I want, but it will take some time before I will be able to get. Meanwhile, I was not leaving that store without sunglasses.

And so goes the rest of the night. I bought a new pair and eventually got home before 10 PM. A long day – miserable? A bit, but nothing new for me and I am surely betting that this will not be the last time that I have to go to Oakley’s again for another sunglass.

I checked with the guard the next morning and he checked the drawer where lost and found is to see if the other guards put anything in the drawer – nothing.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

My First Compact Disc (CD)

Greetings Readers

There was a conversation that a group of my friends were having the other day that was kind of interesting to think about.

I am pretty old now and when I was younger CDs (Compact Discs) came out while I was in High School (or perhaps in Junior High; I am not quite sure.)

CD’s were going to be the new thing in the music world. Clear and digital is what I think I can remember what was said back then. There were positives things being said, but me being me I am a pessimist. I thought about how easy one scratch could ruin a 15.00 to 25.00 dollar CD. I think CD’s were starting out at 15 dollars or higher back in the day, but then again to a teenager everything was expensive. And a dirty finger/palm print could also ruin a CD just like that.

Anyway, I was happy with my Cassette tapes Readers. Matter of fact, when I went to college with my portable stereo I brought along some blank tapes and needless to say that I recorded on all 20 cassette tapes within two weeks from other people who brought along there music from home.

Getting back to the story, well one night me and my best friend back in the day decided we were going to Aurora, specifically Buckingham Mall (or was that Square.) to go see a movie we wanted to see that just opened. A movie about vampires.

We knew that from previous outings in order to see a movie with crowd interaction; meaning more than general laughs, sobs, or jumping in your seat because you got scared you had to go to an area of town that drew in a lot of African-American people. I am trying to correct, but I guess let me say it flat out – you had to be in area of town where blacks are predominately in.

There were only a few places back then and any time we had to see a movie that we wanted to see a movie with a good crowd we headed to Buckingham Square or Aurora Mall to see a movie.

Those black people made the movie, as well as me and my friends experience, well worth than see a movie we wanted to see. Both man and woman will be talking and yelling out at the movie screen to the character(s) in a certain scene or just in general. Back in the day, white people did not do that. I know that some white people these days do that every know and then, but that is oh so not comparable to what me and my best friend experienced back in the day.

Matter of fact Readers, now I that I am much older I get agitated when I hear the cell phones, the candy wrappers, the whispering, and kids that do not long belong in a rated R movie. Boy, times have changed for me. Of course, if I was a premiere or a midnight screening then I do not mind at all since that sort of behavior is expected as well tolerated. Not to mention the beach balls that are being tossed around the movie theatre.

And once more I digress. So, after the vampire movie we saw I was pretty impressed by the movie’s music as well as the movie itself. I loved it. And present day, I have the original movie poster, not a reprint that you perhaps could have picked up at Target/Wal-Mart. Although, this movie poster was probably not marketable due to the portrait on the movie poster (posted on today's blog). I had to go to a movie poster store that was either in downtown Denver or I went to Cinderella City and bought my movie poster in the downstairs portion of the mall back in the day. Matter of fact Readers, the movie posters that I do own now were bought at Cinderella City or Downtown Denver. Back in the day when I was a teenager movie posters averaged about 20 dollars for an expensive movie poster; now that is just the starting price of just a mediocre movie poster. And I have the DVD as well as the VHS tape. However, the item, which is the subject of this post, is the movie soundtrack. On CD.

Near Dark. That was the first CD I bought. To me, buying your first Compact Disc is like the first person you ever had sex with – you never forget your first and how she had her first and second earth shattering orgasms one after another that literally soaked us and the … oh Readers too much information and way off topic.

Back in the day CD’s came in a long cardboard box that was 12 inches high, 4 or 5 inches wide and about ¼ of an inch deep. As you Readers know now, CD’s are just wrapped in the jeweled cases in plastic and have that annoying white tape (with the name of the album printed on the tape) and is a bitch to take off. Right Readers?! Not to mention the plastic wrapping itself. Back in the day all you had to do was open the cardboard box and shake out the CD and you are ready to play that CD.

Well, perhaps a week after the movie came out I saw that movie soundtrack in the store. I immediately knew that I had to have that CD, regardless of price. Even though I did not have a CD player I was going to buy that CD. I did by the Near Dark CD and I displayed that CD on my waterbed for about 6 months or so until I was finally able to purchase a CD player on my own.

To this day, I have that CD (but I have replaced the original CD jeweled case with a new one due to the years of getting scratched up) in my CD collections as well as in my ipods.

Almost the entire CD is great. Only one song on the CD just does not fit on the soundtrack so I just skip over that song in order to listen to the rest of the CD.

And that is story of my Compact Disc I ever, ever bought.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Back from Vacation

Greetings Readers

I am back from a short little vacation from our Ranch in New Mexico, The Charley’s Ranch.

I needed some time away from Denver as well as from Corporate America.

I decided to take about two days off and make it a four-day weekend.

There is really not much else to add that is any different from my previous visits to our Ranch.

I arrived in Albuquerque on Friday morning; we had breakfast, did some shopping as well as take in my Dad’s new Truck to the Toyota dealership for a check up.

My brother was working so he could not join us for breakfast, shopping or the weekend while I was at the Ranch.

Later that day when we got to the Ranch it was time to relax in a manner of speaking. Get settled as well as feed the animals on the Ranch – the cats, dogs, Guineas, the horses and some of the cattle.

I got my gear and headed into the bedroom that I normally sleep in. I also grabbed some of the grocery and started to bring in those too. We bought Smoked sausage, steaks, ribs, breakfast materials and some fresh green hatch chili and broccoli.

We were pretty tired so we just took it easy. I was tired from the bus ride and my parents were tired since they have been traveling for the past three days and have not had time to be at the Ranch.

Saturday. Apparently, today my parents had plans for me. Nothing unexpected mind you, but it is part of our ritual where I complain and talk like Forrest Gump

“I’m on vacation.”

Then, my mother says my first name as well as my middle initial indicating that I better not cause any trouble.

This is something that we do every time I am on “vacation.” It is funny, but not funny hah hah.

The calfs that were born earlier this year needed to have a respiratory shots in order to get them ready for selling. This will help the calfs when they intermingle with other calfs and cattle at the stockyards.

So, my parents let me sleep in while they rounded up the cattle in the morning.

Probably an hour later I got into my cattle clothes and got ready to go and work on the cattle.

Boy, those calfs got big; except for the calf that lost its mother the last time I visited the Ranch. That calf was still kind of small.

My mother, my father and I then started the work. Separating the calfs from the cows. Not as easy as you think. We soon funneled them into another fenced portion of the corral and were just about ready for the shots.

My Dad got the shots ready and I got the camera ready for their “mug shots” or record keeping. We had to use the big cattle chute since the calf table was too small to handle these calfs that were now larger than they were months ago.

Our cattle are not like other cattle. Meaning, we treat our cattle with care and do not yell, hit or chase cattle like most ranchers do. Our cattle are pretty tame and use to humans being near them. We try not to frighten our cattle when they are young or make the shots, branding, and spraying of the cattle a frightening experience for them to dread the next time we round them for the next time. Cattle do remember certain experiences.

Yet, such as myself there is always one cow in the group that is ornery. Readers, I am actually scared of this one particular cow when we get her riled up. She will look at you and will give the indication of charging when you get too pushy for her liking.

Other than that we use sticks to strike their hindquarters or head in order to get them go in the direction we want them to.

We finally got done about an hour or two later and this time I was injury free; however my mother got her hand caught while pushing a cow through a cow chute to the cattle chute for their shot.

After working on the cattle I got to smoking. Meaning, smoking those rib as well as the sausage for our dinner tonight.

Sunday – was spent moving things around the Ranch as well as cleaning up here and there in the morning. In the afternoon we had barbeque to go to.

Readers, do you remember me showing you the plaque from the 4-H club? Well, the 4-H club was throwing another barbeque and my parents were once more invited. I was actually excited to go since I have never been to a 4-H function or a function that was honoring my parents.

My parents made a donation of $ 500.00 to the 4-H club. What I found out that donation help out a young girl in high school to buy a sheep and helped her raise that sheep for showing.

What I did not know and what touched me the most about this was my parent’s contribution helped a girl who lost her mother on September 11 last year. She was staying with her stepbrother or brother since her father was abusive and she did not want to be with her father, from what I gather was said.

A 4-H member, the speaker of the group I imagine, brought over the young girl to the table we were at and personally thanked my parents for their help and also what was done with their donation. As you Readers can read I was touched that this girl came over and thanked and shook both of my parent’s hands for the sheep she was able to purchase and raise. I think what was important to me was that she looked happy and was happy. I do not know if this was the reason why, but I want to believe that it did since this young girl apparently seemed to have a hard life already – which her life has yet to begin for her.

After the barbeque, I wanted to fix some of the erosion that has happened around the road to the Ranch. This is my thing that I do – meaning when I do work on the road I feel I am contributing to the state of the Ranch as well as earning my room and board while I am on “vacation.” I also do most of the lunch and dinner cooking as every now and then I will cook breakfast, but tend to leave that up to my Mother.

Sounds kooky, but that is what I believe. I do not ask for help since this is something I do on my own. I grabbed a wheelbarrow, a shovel and two cans of Coca-Cola’s and headed off to the areas I was going to work on.

Here is the crazy thing Readers. I listen to my Ipod when working down there. Music and working seem to go hand in hand for me. Anyway, the weather is still hot during this time of the year and with that said the rattlesnakes are still out; meaning they are not in their burrows hibernating for winter yet.

I always forget that I cannot totally put in my earphones and crank the volume up. After all, without the music all that can be heard is the wind blowing and me shoveling dirt into the wheelbarrow. I would not be able to hear the warning sound of a rattlesnake rattling its tail should I come close to the area that snake is at or if that snake slithers into my area I am working at.

And should I get bit or anyone else, death could be very likely since the nearest hospital is over 40 miles away. Of course the older the snake the less likely; whereas if the bite was from a younger rattlesnake the bite is so much lethal than a full-grown rattlesnake. Yet, multiple bites from a mature rattlesnake are just as fatal.

I digress Readers. So, I have to be alert to any rattlesnake’s rattler when working with my earphones pumping music into my ears. There are a couple of other snakes that are where we live, but Rattlesnakes are the ones to be careful of.

Monday – Just this and that were done before I had to leave the Ranch once more.

Soon, the time arrived that we had to left the Ranch for Albuquerque. My brother has plans to take us out for dinner before I leave for Colorado.

As we left the dirt road of the reservation behind we sometimes make a stop at a Trading post for something to drink, since our drive to Albuquerque is about 2 hours further from that point.

I was not interested in getting something to drink this time around, but my Mother indicated she saw a Mountain biker and perhaps we should stop for something to drink and find out where that biker is riding. I have to admit I was curious.

I got out of the vehicle and proceeded to walk to the Trading post. I immediately saw the bike rider, a white older guy, and saw that he has the same bike set up as Colin, the guy I met in Salida in June during the 2009 Ride the Rockies. Matter of fact, the same heavy duty looking mountain bike with the same type of bike trailer rig. That bike did indeed look like it was ridden long and hard and yet this bike had the rest of New Mexico to traverse before the United States / Mexico border.

I looked, but made sure that he did not noticed that I was looking at him. Now, even though I was on vacation I sure as shit did not blend in with the locals. I looked and talked like a “white man,” even though I am 100% pure Native American Indian in this part of the Navajo Nation. Matter of fact, I bet I was only the only Navajo in this part of New Mexico who could not fluently talk Navajo.

I went into the Trading post with my dad and bought drinks for all of us.

Soon I left the Trading post and knew this was the moment to introduce myself to this biker.

I cannot remember what was exactly was said, but I asked if he was riding the Continental Divide. Readers, if I never met Colin during the Ride the Rockies I would not cared to talk to this bike rider, but since I learned something new about another core of bike riders in the world I was curious. Now, when I see a bike rider in the middle of nowhere along the Continental Divide I now know why there is a bike rider out in the middle of nowhere. As oppose to me just an ordinary bike rider and not thinking whom, where, what about that bike rider.

The bike rider nodded yes while he was eating some Nachos outside the Torrean Trading post in New Mexico.

He said yes and that he was riding South. Which of course made sense since it is probably getting too cold to be riding North on the Continental Divide.

I told him to be careful of Navajo Gangs at night, but otherwise he should be okay. I also told him to be careful of drunk drivers. He asked where he could camp – I said nowhere really. What about Chaco Canyon? I said that is bout 60 miles west and another 30 miles north from the path you are taking. Also, with the rains in the evening you make get stuck in the mud since the mud out in the part of Southwestern United States is slick and sticky.

We talked a bit and soon I told him that I met a Continental Divide Bike Rider in June this year in Colorado during the Ride the Rockies bike tour. His name was Colin (Amazing how I could re-collect his name without thinking about Colin since the first of August). He replied that he did not recall that name, but he said to me “he is not that crazyguyonabike is he?”

I replied “sure enough”

The Same. This rider outside the Torrean Trading post said he met him in Canada or Montana about a month ago.

What a fucking small world. Yet, Readers I would not know this information if my mother had not mentioned this particular bike rider outside the Trading post. Further more, if I had not mentioned this information to my Mother after the Ride The Rockies I did earlier this summer she probably would not have even mentioned this lone bike rider in the middle of nowhere in New Mexico. I probably would have never given this bike rider a second thought.

Knowing that I was talking too long with the bike rider and my parents waiting in the truck for me we had to get to Albuquerque. I soon bid him farewell and hope the best for the rest of his trip South.

On the way to Albuquerque I could not believe that I actually ran into some one that knew someone that I met months earlier.

Back to the story, we soon met up with my brother and had dinner. Dinner was nice, but our waiter sucked. He must have been new or did not want another table at the late hour we were eating at – who knows. We ate our dinner, which was great. We talked about this and that and soon the time for me to catch the Americanos Bus was approaching.

We left and soon they dropped me off at the bus station downtown and that part of my vacation was over.

Fast-forward – I went to the Colin’s website when I got back to Denver and sure enough on his website I spotted the picture of the rider I met at the Torrean Trading post in New Mexico. Wow. What a small world indeed. I am so grateful that my Mother pointed out this rider to me as well as I am grateful to myself for not being the typical me and introducing myself to a total stranger on a bike, which I probably in all honesty would never given him the time of the day. The link below is the link to see his journal and I have posted the only picture that I know of the guy I met that last day of my vacation.

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=RrzKj&page_id=126321&v=2I

And that my Readers was the re-cap of my short vacation.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Trashy or Frugal - Bike Shorts

Greetings Readers

Alright, as you can see from the picture you can partially see some of my ass through my heavily worn out bike shorts that I purchased last year.

It has been some time that I have posted a picture of my ass so I thought I better please a few of my Readers. Of course, the rest of you Readers can roll your eyes in the “I can not believe that he yet posted another picture of his ass, which is not that great anyway, but then again I can believe Mr. Charley would post another picture of his ass.”

That is not the subject of this post – my ass; or there lack of an ass.

To me those particular pair of bike shorts are still salvageable. Well, meaning I still can wear them without, I think, getting a ticket for indecent exposure. I have worn them a few times this year, but not much due to the holes in that part of the shorts. And I took that picture sort of bending over while standing up. Imagine that, well not imagine that, but imagine if I was on my bike, which my ass would be more visible especially if was biking out of the saddle. Those holes would be stretched even further show more of my so call beautiful ass that has been whistled at from time to time.

I did buy two new bike shorts this year so I have been wearing those new bike shorts.

Anyway, with Fall here I have had to wear my snug long leg bike shorts every now and then in the morning while going to work due to the low temperature in the early mornings. Or running errands if the day was cold enough to warrant the wearing of long leg bike pants.

However, I do not like just to wear those snug long legged bike shorts alone since they tend to show every outline on my lower half of the body. The shape of my calves as well as the shape of my thighs, but even more so some of the shape of my “package.” Granted, there is some shrinkage due to the coldness of the morning I still can see the outline my package in my snug long biking pants. I am self-conscious believe it or not.

To rectify this issue, I usually wear a pair of biking shorts over my snug long biking pants to conceal that part of my anatomy. With that being said I usually wear bike shorts that I cannot normally wear due to being so worn out and me unable to wear without the fear of indecent exposure.

Now, the question is. By me doing that - is that too trashy? Am I being too frugal? Am I being a C.B. (Cheap Bastard)? Or something else?

In my view, I am utilizing the use of my purchase of those bike shorts a bit longer. Granted, there are holes in them. Yet, those holes, which normally would show my bare ass (ets) are now being covered up by snug long biking pants underneath. In essence, the worn out bike shorts are just there, even though you can tell them they have seen there last days up Mother Earth.

On of my friends said I should wear that worn out bike shorts underneath my long biking pants. However, I cannot. What my friend pointed out was that even though I am covering up a certain part of my anatomy from certain eyes, I am also covering up to keep warm in that part of the body. After all, I am okay with my thighs and calves being real cold. I am not comfortable with being cold from my crotch up to waist. So, wearing the bike shorts underneath my snug long pants due two things. 1. Keep me warm in that area. And 2. I am not showing the world my well worn out bike shorts.

I agree, but then I have to remark that I have a certain image to uphold. At this point my friend remarks – a poor bike rider?! I respond no – that I am a hard-core bike rider and those worn out bike shorts support my hard-core image.

Needless to say, he would not bend from his view of this subject nor would I bend from my view on how I view myself. I cannot agree with him nor disagree with him. We are both right and we are both wrong.

In the end and as of writing this post I am going to continue that pair of worn out bike shorts throughout winter over my snug long biking pants when needed. Perhaps, one more this Fall and Winter I am going to wear those well worn out bike shorts just because I can. Not out of spite mind you – just because I am okay with wearing those worn out biking shorts without a second thought.

P.S. I just included a frontal shot of the same bike shorts. Not too bad - just a couple of holes on the right thigh, but otherwise very wearable looking from the front. This picture was just a model shot so you Readers do not need to point out the obvious skewed bike shorts I took a picture of.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Bike Rack Availability

Greetings Readers

I have run into this sort of situation more often than you Readers care to read about.

There are hardly any bike racks out there for us bikers to lock up our bike safely when we visit a place of business.

For example, Turin Bicycles off Broadway (in Denver, Colorado) is an excellent bike store as well as providing a bike rack to lock up your bike while you shop/browse inside their stop. I am very comfortable locking up my bike outside their store, even though the heart of central Denver is only a few blocks North of the store.

Now, I live on the south side of Denver – basically Centennial / Englewood suburbs. There is a bike shop up the road, well there are two bike shops, and the chain owned bike store couldn’t even accommodate a bike rack outside its store. I do from time to time visit and shop this store for bike patches and bike tubes and have to chain my bike to my bike rims so that no one can ride off with my bike. However, that does not stop any thief from just picking up my bike and carrying off my bike.

I do watch my bike when shopping, but sometimes I am out of view and often wonder is my bike outside.

The other bike store is basically an independently owned bike store and they have the courtesy to have a bike rack to chain up and lock up your bike while shopping in their store. Matter of fact that store is not in a visible area prone to crime, but at least the bike shop is able to provide a bike rack.

Kudos to independently owned bike shops.

Anyway, this blog post is about the time I had to go to the Wal-Mart up / down the road from where I live. I biked to the Wal-Mart and could not visibly see a bike rack to lock my bike up to. That being said I decided to lock up my bike to the shopping carts that are located in an area where all the shopping carts are.

Granted, I should have locked up my bike to a tree or a signpost, but damn it I was not going to bike / walk any further than I had to. I picked a row of shopping carts that was pretty full and I was in no danger of the carts being used due to the time of day and the day itself.

I did my shopping and about twenty minutes later I was walking out the front door and lo and behold there was a Wal-Mart employee moving shopping carts that were left from the parking lot to the area where the shopping carts are stored.

Readers, there are about 6 rows of shopping carts and my bike was chained up beyond the entrance of the shopping carts being stored. Meaning, I bet there was about 100 carts available before the cart I chained up to was available to be used. In addition to the row I had chained up to there were five other rows of shopping carts for the consumer to use.

In the short amount of time I knew that I was going to be in the Wal-Mart on a Saturday afternoon there was no Fucking way that I was going to cause an incident with my bike chained up to the last cart of the first row of shopping carts 100 carts deep on a Saturday afternoon.

No fucking way.

I saw the “shopping cart guy” and right away he said you couldn’t chain up here.

I did not acknowledge him from the distance I was at.

As I walked closer he re-iterated what he just said.

“You can not chain up your bike here” and then said “you are keeping my from doing my job.”

I did not say a thing nor argue with the guy taking care of the shopping carts.

I reached the shopping cart where I locked up my bike and proceeded to unlock my bike.

“Hey, you can’t lock up your bike like that”

I turned and acknowledged this guy for the first time.

“I heard you the first and second time,” I said.

Again he said you couldn’t lock up your bike there.

“So, where is the bike rack I can lock up my bike to?” I responded politely and monotone.

He again repeats, “You can not lock up your bike there.”

I replied, “I am not going to argue with you. I heard you the first time.”

“Thank you for coming” he then finishes up the conversation.

Readers, I have to give him and myself credit for this scenario that played out on a Saturday afternoon. I am sure that he was pissed off as much as I was pissed off. Yet, we both knew that we handled the situation as much as would could without cussing and confrontation – to a certain degree.

I said “Thank you” and then proceeded to ride out of the Wal-Mart parking lot.

I wanted there to be a confrontation, but yet I did not want to be the person to instigate the situation. I wanted him to get upset to the point he crosses lines of polite and not politically correct for a Wal-Mart employee.

In hindsight I am sure that he was waiting for me to curse him out as well as getting up in his face to him. I was not going to give him that nor was I going to be the one to lose my cool, in a manner of speaking. I do stick up for the “little people” from time to time and now was the time not to be condescending to a “little person.” After all, I do proud myself on sticking up for the “little people.” I know Readers; I do sometimes belittle the “little people” from time to time in my life. I am a hypocrite.

What it came down to was a showdown at high noon on a Saturday. Neither of us budged and as I left his presence that was the end of this incident. There was so much I wanted to add or to get into, but I did not want to make the first move Readers. Should have this incident got more in-depth then perhaps I would have acted like a “concerned” consumer and acted the way I should like any pissed off consumer at an employee.

But I did not. To me I was the bigger man. No argument and left Wal-Mart without so much an argument

Note - Patrick Swayze past away - a good actor I thought.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete