The Australian Open 2010 - Day 1

Greetings Readers

Welcome to

The First Grand Slam of the Decade

Not with a cheer, but a whisper

at the Australian Open.

Let me tell you I do not see this as an upset. Yet, Maria is ranked 14 in the world. Yes, she is known for winning. But.

I have to disagree that this was an upset. It was not an upset. Maria has been "scratchy"...

Ouch Readers, did I not type a while back that I would not use that word. I did not mean to type that specific word since I do not want to promote that word that gets overly used by Mary Carillo.

Maria has not been playing true to form nor in my humble opinion to what her ranking is. Yes, she had a downfall from 1st in the world to a ranking over a 100th in the world. Her shoulder, her serve and well I have to admit she has had some pressure from my words in the past - LOL.

She did have a good year last year coming back to her ranking now. Unforunately, her matches have reached quaterfinals and a couple of semi and finals - if I remember correctly. Matter of fact, she did win a title, but not a Grand Slam. WIth all that said that is why she is ranked 14th.

I do not make it any secret that I do not care for Sharapova - Her young ego, those Powershot(?) (Canon) commericals, her screams on hitting the ball on the tennis court (Matter of fact, I think she has the loudest decimal scream on the tennis court record), her "and ums", and her taking her time to get to line when it is not her serve. Yet, I do like the way she looks and I have to admit she is beautiful in way to me that is attractive. Perhaps because she is an athlete? I do not know.

Anyway, I wanted to say that Readers I was glad that Maria Kirilenko won, but I wonder what the finger to her lips means? Is it not to cheer for Maria being beaten? Or perhaps to indicate not to cheer for Maria on her way out of the Austrailian Open?

By the way Readers, as I was searching for that photo of the finger to the lips since that is what I wanted to show my Readers that was the image of Day 1 at the Australian Open 2010 I ran across this other photo of her. Wow is all I got to say - Oh so my type.

Onto other news - Nadal had a first set scare, but overcame, Clijster, Henin, Murray, Roddick all won this morning (United States Morning) or tomorrow's Australia time. Blake, Isner, Jankovic were delayed to tomorrow due to rain.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Happy Birthday to Me (& Mom)

Greetings Readers

Nothing really to say...

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Nip / Tuck - The Final Cuts

Greetings Readers

The Final Cuts. Readers, I knew that this was coming over a year ago. Unfortunately we faithful watchers are now down to the final cuts of Nip / Tuck. Nine episodes make up the Final Cuts. And Last night was the first of the final nine episodes.

I have blogged about Nip / Tuck and probably most of the characters on the show in the past.

Now, eight episodes to go. I am sadden to see Nip / Tuck ending.

Spoiler Alert - Last night episode - I am going to mention some parts so if you have not seen it then you may want to skip the rest of the blog entry.

I was sort of worried at the beginning of the show since it showed Dr. McNamara swinging a sledgehammer at a Marble wall and then shattering an award. I was worried that Nip / Tuck was going to borrow from Breaking Bad on how they did last season. By showing a bit of the end of the last episode of the season at the beginning of each episode during the season.

I want to be completely surprised and not be teased on what may or may not happened. Like the Soprano's - no hint given on the last episode and boy were we faithful watchers surprised and/or angry.

Back to Nip / Tuck - Last Night episode focuses on Sean and Christian getting an award, a prestigious award. Overall, very good and I think I like the flashback sequences to a young Sean and a young Christian when they were going to school. Those flashback scenes tied in together with the last scene of the episode played out last night. In addition to tieing in they have set up a story line that will I imagine go well, but will show the destruction of... well... I do not want to give you Readers what I think will be destroyed. What I am wondering about is Matt, Julia's mother, the loan Christian took out again the practice without Sean knowing. And I have a feeling that perhaps, just perhaps two characters from the past seasons, brother and sister, may make an appearance. And I am not talking about the Escobar (the drug dealer that was murdered 2 or 3 season ago) and now resides in Sean's memory and comes to light every now and then.

I laughed a bit in the episode last night, but mostly it was serious and I appreciate and glad that Nip / Tuck took that approach.

If there was a crowning moment in last night's episode it would be Christian meeting Sean in the Library and Pat Benatar singing "We Belong" in the background.

"...many times I tried to tell you
many times you cried alone
always I'm surprise on how well
you cut my feeling to the bones..."

and then there is one more line to the stanza, but the key part for me "...I've invested too much time..."

I have invested my time with Nip / Tuck and in a sense Nip / Tuck belongs with me - we belong.

I will go out on the line right now, due to the nature of the show and past season, I think, there is not going to be a happy ending. Meaning, that I think there will not be a final scene with the characters of Nip / Tuck laughing, talking and the camera shooting the table scene. I am not hoping for either, but I think there will be sad ending to Nip / Tuck. I will be content for both since I know either direction is very possible.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

More Pics From the Past Two Months

Greetings Readers

Here is a picture of the Library that is the closest to our ranch that I can access my blog, or the internet for that matter, while I am on vacation at our Ranch. It is about 60 miles away.

Not a bad place at all, but it is the closest for me to use since there is also a Walmart, a Lotaburger, and most of the time a pinon seller that I can buy some Pinons in Grants, New Mexico.

Grants, New Mexico is located off I-40 and is west of Albuquerque and east of Gallup, New Mexico. Actually Grants share it location with Milan, New Mexico and is located on historic route 66.

Grants, New Mexico has a grocery store - Smith's - that more often than not has the best and freshest meat available for buying. I do not know why that is. Also, their prices are reasonable and not "city prices." Could it be perhaps of the poverty level that is located in this part of New Mexico and the store must adjust prices according or risk customers and worse, closing its door? I do not know. Although, as long as the stores in this town can make a profit they have every reason to make necessary adjustments. Otherwise, the stores that have closed their doors have remained empty for years in this town.

Also, this is where my parents have a mailbox. The only place that they can get mail, in a manner of speaking, since no mail service is available where our ranch is. I know, I know sucks to be us.

Not much else I can say about this town.

This other pictures is of two (Koko and no name for the other dog) of the the three of our dogs and one of the two the cats (Michael or Jackson - I can not remember which one it may be) that are on our Ranch. Our cats and dogs get along very well together. All our animals do not fit the norm. Such as cats and dogs not liking each other. We introduced each of these animals to each other when they were young and none of the animal passed own hatred to each other since so they play and walk with each other as if the same animal. Matter of fact, the young calves are very, very scared of the cats. It is funny to see the cats stalk the calves as if the cats are really going to take down that calves. The only time the dogs get growling is when any animal is near their dog dishes. The dogs or cats do not chase the Guineas we have, which by the way Readers, we are only down to four Guineas as of today.

The dogs play with the horses, the Guineas are okay with our dogs and cats, the cows are okay with us. Not Eden close to Eden, but very doable since we do not have to worry about any unnecessary deaths.

P.S. By the way Readers, did you see the ad for the water? I did not mention this, but did you also see how/where the brunette hand is placed? Is it brushing against the blonde's breast? Is it just poised inside her shirt? I do not know.

P.S.S. Oh boy. Me and Lily Kissed the Earth on Sunday. I kissed hard and scraped my left arm up as well as bruised my left leg to be still hurting today. I turned a corner and hit some black ice and went down so fast and unexpected on Lily.

Tomorrow, I will show you Readers the empty ground silos in New Mexico that were emptied during the Reagan years when that nuclear agreement was made to downside the ICBM's stockpiles. I think, it is pretty neat to see - even from more than 20 years ago. What is more amazing...

until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Icelandic Glacial - H20

Greetings Readers

Well, well, well, I do not have a clue why I am showing you Readers this picture I took of some advertising of some water that was on the wall of a gas station in Grants, New Mexico when I was down at the Ranch over Thanksgiving Holiday.

Now, seeing this advertising just does not do anything for me. I know perhaps the goal of the poster was for me to associate the two "sultry" women (Well, the Blonde is doing it for me, but the brunette is not since she sort of looks, sort of, what a young Shannon Dorherty would have may looked like.) to the product advertised. Though, the blonde has the looks that do it for me and I would have to say very nice eyebrows that would make me look twice.

What I may have seen in the poster was suggestive advertising with one (or two women) woman. Typically I would not give this ad a second thought, but I saw that the bottle of water was at an angle that was pointing to her mouth. Perhaps suggesting that the bottle was a certain body part. Why? I only noticed this because I would have thought that the bottle would have been placed vertical. Such as those beer bottle ads - Corona on the beach - Bottle straight up on the table. MGD64 - Bottle placed straight up on the waiter's serving platter. And of course my favorite (yeah right) the Blue mountain activated beer - bottle being on a flat surface straight up showing the blue mountains appearing out of nowhere.

Going with that scenario your mind is probably taking in this subliminal advertising and then on top of that your mind sees the two woman who are basically leaning head to head perhaps suggesting a menage a trois. Perhaps. I am not suggesting that is what I thought, but after really looking at the ad I can see how that may be perceived.

Readers, I know I know, Why blog about this. I do not know. Well, perhaps I am excited to get all my SD cards, camera cable and flash drives back. And not because I did "get some" last week.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Christmas Day 2009

Greetings Readers

May today be what you wanted. I hope the best for you Readers.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

December Update 12/10/09

Greetings Readers

Excuse # 45

While on vacation I left an important bag that contains my camera USB cord, my three SD USB disc holders, 2 Sandisk memory cards, Ipod cable, 2 Flash Drives and bits and pieces of paper that contained this and that at our Ranch.

Needless to say, I am lost without that stuff. For the past two weeks I have been able to buy yet another flash drive 8G, but other than that I can not do what I need to do what I have been doing prior to last month's vacation. I am going to be back most likely at the Ranch this month so there is no reason to ask for the stuff to mailed to me; hence might as well make a back up bag so if something like this happens again then I will not be "shit out of luck."

I have pictures to share and more often than not I have been able to post a picture with each blog post. That being said posting a blog does not seem right without a picture I took.

Excuse # 24

I have been busy - month and year end close right around the corner.

Excuse # 63

I have been cold. C-O-L-D readers. Matter of fact, I have been able to get rides home from work or to the Light Rail Station due to people/friends concerned about me. Let me tell you Readers some people have those heated seats - wow. I was (and am) cold from the single digit weather currently happening the past week in Colorado.

Excuse # 26

I want to write about current topics too, but have been too busy.

Excuse # 4

Get home late, cook dinner late, watch one tv show, try to sleep and the next thing you know it is 4 AM and time for another day.

Anyway, I am going to try buy a camera USB cord and Mike's Camera and go to Park Meadows Mall for the Ipod cable so I can get on track with my blog.

Perhaps make you Readers laugh, but more likely shake your head and think who is this guy?

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Back From Thanksgiving Vacation

Greetings Readers

I welcome myself back to Colorado and to my blog, in a manner of speaking. And I have to admit that I did miss some of those blogs I frequent.

I do have a lot to write and catch up about, but then again it may be worthless information

The "Party Crasher", "Tiger Woods" and more importantly are you on "Team Jacob" or "Team Edward" - get the fuck out of here - I definitely could care less for that Burger King commerical

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Happy Thanksgiving Day 2009

Greetings Readers

Auto posting - I hope everyone was able to celebrate Thanksgiving.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Winter Hook - Winter Ale

Greetings Readers

Not much to say today, but thought to quickly show another beer by Redhook that this "Redhooktyrant" loves. This is an annual beer that only comes out at winter.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Me an "asshole?"

Greetings Readers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I see her mouth form “You fucking asshole!”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Tiesto at Club Beta

Greetings Readers

Well, well, well, I have to admit - I still fucking know how to dance the night away, hook up, and stay awake for 40 hours plus.

Flashback – Over a month ago I found out that one my favorite artist was coming to Denver. At that time I did not have a clue where that artist was going to be performing at until about three ago.

Tiesto was coming to Denver and was on this tour to promote his new release Kaleidoscope that was recently released in the past month. More specifically Club Beta is where Tiesto was going to be performing live in the beginning part of November.

I was ecstatic with this news. Basically, this was a no-brainer that I was not not going to go.

Yet, about a week ago I found out that tickets were limited and that tickets were $ 60.00 dollars. It is a lot of money, but with Tiesto coming to a Club and not to (“The Can,” the Fillmore, Paramount Theatre, or the Denver Coliseum) I knew that tickets could possibly sell out before the day of show.

Thinking that I changed my thinking. I thought about it is $ 60.00 – hard earned money these days. Also, the weather – I was not going to go if there was snow and/or rain that day. I started to think of reasons that I could use as an excuse not to go.

Monday morning – I went to my financial institution and withdrew some cold hard earned cash. I still was undecided at that point, but I wanted to at least have the money available should I change my mind.

Later that day I was talking about the concert and how I was unsure if I wanted to go. First - $ 60.00 and two – the concert is at a club.

Soon, the “Fred Flintstone” whistle went off and I was still at work an hour later than I should be. I was still unsure of whether or not I should go to Club Beta.

I left work, caught Light Rail, then stopped off the local liquor store to get a six pack of beer just in case.

I was committed not going to Tiesto about 80 percent. However, on the third beer I thought what the fuck. I can go downtown and at least try to see if tickets are still available for the show. Worst case scenario I am out Light rail fare both ways – basically under ten dollars. Justifiable cost considering the cost of the ticket itself. Before leaving my humble abode I drank another bottle as fast as I could – cheaper drinking now should I considering drinking at the Club where the price of one beer is going to the price of a six-pack I just bought.

I soon got to Union station and headed to part of downtown that I Googled Club Beta was located at.

I soon saw a lot of people, young people, at this stone building. I soon found out that this was Club Beta. I could hear the thump thump of the club music playing. That sound was pretty incredible to hear and I know that was not Tiesto, but Tiesto’s opening act; which was no concern to me.

I located security person and asked him

“Is this where Tiesto is playing?

“Yes” he replied.

“Sorry, I have not been here before, where do I go to inquire about tickets being still available?”

“Go up there.”

“Thanks” I replied.

Basically, no line at the entrance. Either most of the people were inside, or these people outside Club Beta were waiting for Tiesto to take the stage or worst - the concert was sold out.

I went up to the counter talked loudly to the girl behind the booth and asked are tickets still available. She nodded yes and said $ 70.00.

I did not hesitate on the ten-dollar increase due to day of show. I was there at Club Beta, tickets were available and I was being drawn to the music that was thumping from the entrance of Club Beta.

I got my ticket, got a wristband (over 21 yrs old) and then got stamped twice on the back of my right hand and soon I was walking into Club Beta.

Readers, I have not been to a Club (Night Club) in ages (you’ll sort of know later). The atmosphere, the people, the music and the ambiance all made me coming down to downtown Denver on Monday well worth this day in November.

I immediately looked for the restroom since the beers I drank at home were going through me. Thank goodness I drank before hand – I was intoxicated and also saving money since I did not have to spend much money on alcohol at the club.

After the restroom break I headed back to club level (1st Floor). Readers, there is a balcony (2nd story), but I wanted to be on street level; specifically the dance floor so I can experience Tiesto as close as I could.

Before finding a spot on the floor I headed to the bar. I ordered a Corona – and was immediately $ 5.00 lighter.

I then started to look for an area on the dance floor that I could claim as “mine.”

The opening act was just finishing up and I soon found myself a spot. Not far, but not near, but so acceptable for me to be in.

I would say there was a few minutes after the opening act finished went Tiesto starting playing his music.

Wow. Fucking wow. The music was loud, but when Tiesto started playing the music went even high. The thump thump got deeper. Matter of fact Readers, I could literally feel the sound wave through out my body. I actually wondered about the damage this decimal of sound was doing to my eardrums and to my internal organs.

Yes Readers, when you get my age you wonder about these types of things. Whereas, and I do remember when I was younger, I could care less about the decimals. Matter of fact, I think it was goal to see how deaf you would be the day after a concert. The good old days – not. As I mentioned the music was loud, I mean loud. What made the damaging decimals worst was that there were four huge speakers (that I could see) that were position in a square on each corner of the dance floor in a building that is really not that big; at all. I really started to think how much hearing loss am I going to suffer for the next couple of hours.

Then, I saw the first girl, young woman that caught my eye. Oh so my type – dirty blonde, slender, pink bra showing from her shirt. Jeans. All those thoughts of what I am doing to my hearing were immediately forgotten. She was so oh my type.

I soon began to notice other hot young woman. But then I started to notice the guys and then I started to notice the people on the dance floor. Everyone looked young. I know I can pass for late 20’s even though I am late 30’s so I know I did not look too out of place, but I sure noticed the age difference of me and the rest of the people on the dance floor.

I think it took me about two songs until I started to get into Tiesto’s music and starting dancing. I soon got swept into the music.

After midnight the music was still pumping and I was still dancing away. I was moving and dancing my way closer and closer to the front where Tiesto was. There was the usual bumping of elbows and bodies on the dance floor between me and other people. You tend to ignore since the dance floor is crowded with people and touching between other people is expected.

Well, at one point I felt a left breast against my left side of the back. Yes Readers, I know when a breast is pressed against my body. I thought nothing of it since there were so many people dancing. Then, I felt the right breast being pressed against the right side of my back. Again, nothing was thought of it – basically I thought that she was probably being pushed and accidentally pressed into my back. A third time, I felt the left breast being pressed into my back and then I felt her hips being pressed/grinded into my ass. At that point I knew that this was no accidental touching. Though, at this point I was hoping that it was woman doing the pressing. Readers, you never know these days. So, I turned around and there was a cute young woman smiling, looking and dancing at me. What a turn on.

I was working up a sweat from dancing and the heat as well as body heat.

Soon, 2 A.M. came around and that was the end of Tiesto. Well, I think, that there is a Colorado law that probably states that a club must shut down at 2 A.M. Tiesto did not want to quit, but we did and we dancers did not want him to quit either.

That November Monday night, in my ex-coworkers words, was “just so awesome”. I am glad that I made the decision to go to Tiesto. After all, I would have never thought any more of Tiesto than I do now. Seeing him in such an intimate setting was a treat. There was not the usual concert sound set-up. I think that is what made the difference. And I would not have met Katie… or should I say that Katie would have not met me.

I got to my humble abode around 6 A.M. and as I walked in the door I smelled something different. I did not smell/reek of cigarette smoke? Wow. That is how long that I have not been to a club since smoking was banned here in Colorado in establishments. Now my clothes and I only smelled of sweat and sex in the past six hours, which I soon only had a limited amount of time to get cleaned up and get to work. How in the fuck was I going to work at work being up all night? Back in my youth I know I could this, but now I am so much older and these types of nights are hard now. There was no thought of calling in a PTO day, but just make it through the day and then get home and go directly to bed.

Listening to Tiesto’s music on my Ipod now I have a better understanding of what I am hearing now is nowhere close to hearing Tiesto performing these same songs live.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Marlboro Man?

Greetings Readers

What do you think? Does the cigarette belong or not?

Until the next time

Daryl Charley

The Fallen Athlete

Two Weeks? Really?

Greetings Readers

“Two weeks”
Total Recall

Two weeks. I can not believe it, but I can believe that I have been riding the Mountain bike for Two weeks now.

First of all, I can not ride the all round road bike, Tracey, since she still has that fucked up flat tire I got a couple of weeks ago that forced me to ride Lily since then. Secondly, I cannot ride the other bikes since I do not ride those “good” bikes in the snow / rain. Perhaps lastly, I am actually enjoying riding Lily.

Though, there are plenty of drawbacks. The handlebars. The handlebars are wide and I have to be careful of turning corners and areas where there may be a tight turn. Most of time, I know what I can and cannot ride on my road bikes, without the fear of my handlebars hitting the corner of whatever I am turning into.

The gripping of the handlebars. I am used to gripping the handlebars in the traditional 0 to 180 degree direction. With the Mountain bike grips I am continuously gripping in a 270 to 90 degree directions (basically perpendicular to my body.) I find myself trying to grip as I ride a road bike, but quickly know that I cannot.

The weight of the Mountain Bike, excuse me, Lily. She is heavy. Matter of fact, I think that the tires combined weigh about the weight of any of my road bikes. She is a bitch to carry up and down stairs. She is a bitch getting off and on the Light Rail Train.

The crank Lily. The Crank has less “teeth” than a road bike crank, which means I have to pedal much, much more, than I do on a road bike. It sucks. What usually takes me no sweat and no gasping for breath on a road bike now makes me work up a sweat and breathing heavy in the same distance on Lily.

The Height of Lily. She is much taller than my road bikes, but I feel even taller since the pedals are attached to a smaller crank, therefore giving me more height on Lily. Not a problem usually, but when I sit up from the seat on Lily I am usually standing up straight on Lily. Whereas, if I am out of the seat on any of my road bikes I am out of he seat, but hunched over and forward and not much taller than just sitting on any of my road bikes. So, I sometimes find myself hitting the branches of trees that I would not worry about while on any of my road bikes.

The Appearance of Lily. The M.S.R.P was about $ 800.00 dollars, but I got her at a discount since the store was clearing inventory. I am sure Lily looks great, but to me she sort of looks plain in a manner of speaking. Not a bad thing, but some of my faithful Readers out there know that I like to look more than just “plain.” Yet, as Lily is based upon the real Lily – she may look plain, but to me she is a goddess.

On the opposite side of the spectrum – I love the disc brakes. I love the shocks; I love the feeling that I can now jump off and onto sidewalks from the street without worrying about bending/cracking a rim. I can go up and down grass/dirt hills. I can ride in the winter feeling much more safer than being on a road bike in winter. I can carry a shit load of items without worrying about the weight limit on my carbon road bike rims that is specified. And most of all – I love getting dirty. More to the fucking point I desire to get myself muddy to show everyone/no one that I am one bad ass hardcore mountain biker. As oppose to being just a badass hard-core road bike rider.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

"Force Flex"

Greetings Readers

Consumers – are we that gullible?

Last month I had commented on the “Cold Mountains” activator.

This month – “Force Flex Trash Bags”

I remember the commercial with a piano being pulled up to an apartment many stories high by two piano movers. All of a sudden the piano gets dropped and falls to the ground and eventually breaks into many pieces. The movers then pick up the pieces of the piano and stuff the broken pieces into the force flex trash bag. Where we consumers view the piano’s jagged pieces stretch the force flex bag, but never rips through the bag.

Now, there is a new commercial for the “force flex trash bags”

The lady in the commercial is throwing away food into the trash can (with the ordinary trash white bag.)

There is the first thing that is wrong – no woman that I know throws food away into the trashcan. All the women that I know use the garbage disposable. Period. There is also every three months “Oh, I got call my plumber.”

“Why?” I ask.

“The Garbage disposable is not working.”

“How did that happen?” I reply.

“Disposing of food – what else.” And I get the “why do you think” look.

Readers, I am sure that at least most of you will agree with that women will use the garbage disposal for grinding up food as opposed to throwing it away. However a man will throw away food into the trashcan without a second thought (unless we have a dog). And then we hear-

“You know you could have fed a whole village in Africa”

I digress.

As I stated the woman in the commercial throws away food in the garbage can and sure enough she throws the plate of food away with one hand about 5 inches in the air from the trashcan and into what can be assumed is a brand new trash bag. The other hand is nowhere to be seen.

Any consumer, and human consumer, knows to hold onto the trash bag with one hand while throwing away food with the other hand when throwing away anything into a brand new trash bag. Otherwise, if you do not then sure as shit the trash bag will collapse on itself and the bag will not be around the rim of the trashcan, but in a heap at the bottom of the trash can. Common knowledge to anyone throwing away food or anything else for that matter.

That is why we consumers just deal with it when the trash bag is new, or why we tie a knot on the excess trash bag so the bag will not slide into the trash can when throwing away trash.

However, we consumers are being lead to believe that “Force flex trash bags” are here to fix that problem of the trash bag not staying up on the trash can rim without holding onto the trashcan.

Note: some consumers have the trash cans with that plastic lid on top which actually secures the trash bag from falling into the trash can so the “force flex trash bag” is irrelevant to the bag collapsing at the bottom of the trashcan Readers.

Readers – don’t be suckers, your ordinary trash bag will be okay. As long as you use common sense that ordinary trash bag is just as good as the “force flex trash bag.” Hold onto the trash bag when first dumping trash into a new trash bag and two you are never going to put a broken piano into a trash bag.

I do not know how much more the “Force Flex Trash Bags” cost, but the next time I go to the store and remember I will get the price and compare that to the price of my ordinary trash bags. Oh by the way, I just went to the website and it appears that you can download a coupon for a dollar off so that is telling me that Force Flex Trash Bags must be expensive.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Finally the Bandanna Again

Greetings Readers

Finally Readers, I am finally able to wear a bandanna on top of my head.

As opposed to my Natalie Merchant Stocking Cap due to the cold weather this Autumn. The weather warmed up enough for me not to worry about losing about 80 percent of my boy heat through the top of my head.

Occasionally, I am smarter than the average bike rider.

Do not get me wrong. I love and do wear my Natalie Merchant stocking, but I also like not wearing a stocking cap. I want the bandanna on my head since that is the way people know me on the streets in my “hood.”

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Hoptober

Greetings Readers

Since becoming a Fat Tire drinker last year I see that there was a new brand type for me to try this year under Fat Tire.

Just as you can see the word – “Hop” in Hoptober I was actually excited to try this selection of beer from Fat Tire. I love the smell of hops, as well as the taste of hops.

Basically, in one word I thoroughly found the beer “delectable.”

“Delectable” – I do not think that I have ever shared this word with you Readers. The people that know me in person know that I am picky. Real picky.

If I think some food does not look good; 99.5 percent of the time I am not going to try that food. That’s stupid. That’s dumb. What a jackass. And so on. I have heard them all, but I am and will continue to stick to what I believe in.

Let me put this in another way. If I try something for the first time and I do not like the taste, the texture or even the smell I will spit that piece of food I ate right out. I have no reason to pretend to like that piece of food nor am I going to subject myself to misery trying to eat that bite I took.

Readers, I know there are a lot of delicious foods out there awaiting for me to taste, but I am okay without ever, I mean EVER, knowing what that taste may be. I have not lost sleep over a piece of food I have not wanted to try. I have not screamed myself awake from a terrible nightmare of what that food may taste like. I still sleep like a baby when I do not taste something I have never tasted before.

Getting back to the word “Delectable.” Should I ever try something for the first time out of curiosity; and not because of pressure and come to find out that I love that food – that gets the “delectable” label and soon word gets around like that old TV commercial for Life cereal “He likes it. Mikey likes it.”

Now, that is sort of an on going joke and whether or not I find something “delectable” to eat.

That food may be homemade, that food may be store bought, that food may be unique, and that food may be your best recipe, but if I do not like the way that food smells and/or looks I am not going to try. I am okay with that. That food could be free, but I still would not have a bite even if it were free to everyone.

Also, I eat and cook what I want to eat. I have basically not settled for something that I did not want to eat. That is not counting for when I was saving to buy those carbon road wheels the past two years. I still ate Uncle Ben’s white rice for 30 days as opposed to buying a cheap brand of rice and not being happy about the other brand of rice. Also, I think I have mentioned in the past I have not bought a cheaper brand of beer in the past year during this 21st century recession. I would and will continue to buy what I like and will not settle for something cheaper.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Things I Carry - Part 54

Greetings Readers

Let me see…

1 pair of Jeans (Levi’s zipper)
1 dress shirt (Van Huesen)
1 brief (underware exchange)
1 Running Shorts (Reebok)
1 Tie (Oakbrook)
1 Bandanna (Jack Daniel’s)
1 large bottle of Powerade (Mountain Blast - ?? oz.)
1 can of Green Beans (Del Monte - 14 ½ oz.)
1 regular can of Cream of Mushrooms (Campbell’s - ?? oz.)
1 Bottle of A-1 (Cracked Peppercorn - 10 oz.)
1 bottle of Sweet and Sour Mix (Mr. & Mrs. T’s - 33.8 oz.)
1 pork roast
1 crown of Broccoli (fresh)
3 Jalapenos (fresh)
3 lemons (small and fresh)

And

Then, in one hand (right)

1 – 2.5 Gallon of Water (Deep Rock)

Nope, I do not have a fucking clue how much the entire grocery store load weighed in at. Nor do I care. And I do not have a clue why I took inventory of this particular shopping excursion. And the distance was at about 1 mile - half down hill and the other half uphill was the total distance of carrying this load home

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Things I Carry - Part 53

Greetings Readers

1 pair of Jeans (Levi’s zipper)
1 white dress shirt (Van Heusen)
1 pair of dress socks (Geoffrey Beane)
1 red string bikini (Life)
1 brown belt (Eagle’s Nest)
1 bath mat
1 full size bath towel (JC Penney’s)
1 T-shirt (for running at lunch - Ride the Rockies T-shirt)
1 Bandanna (Jack Daniel’s)
1 tie (Oaktree)
1 Hairspray (Paul Mitchell – 16.9 oz)
1 six pack of beer (Deschutes – Black Butte Porter)

I had to take the bath mat and bath towel home to get them washed since those are the two I use at work. I change my towels every week to two weeks. I also had to take the hair spray since I used my last bottle of hairspray at work.

Readers, when I first started “a year of bike commuting” I was once green behind the ears. I carried a gallon zip lock bag to and from work that held all my bath supplies (Shampoo, soap, hair gel, hair spray, hair brush, toothpaste and toothbrush.) I have to admit Readers; I did this for a long time. Then it occurred to me, why don’t I just have two sets – one at work and then one at home. That way it frees up space in my bag. Sure it costs money to do that, but once you start having two sets then it becomes routine and you do not think about the two sets.

Yet, such as now, when I run out of hairspray and have not made the time to buy a new bottle of hairspray I have to transport my hairspray back and forth to and from work.

I remember back in the day when I happened to forget my bathroom shower supplies bag and my hair would be something else without gel and hairspray. The shampooing without a day was all right and for soap I used the liquid soap at work.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Happy Halloween 2009

Greetings Readers

Once again we Readers are at that time of the year that is looked forward to by so many children. I know that we all have sometime in our past. And perhaps some of us are now taking children out on this Halloween for the first time

Halloween

This is another time to stick up for the “little people.”

Literally.

What I mean is that I usually buy the full size candy and give them out to the trick of treaters in my part of the neighborhood. I do not know how I got into this ritual, but somehow I did and never have strayed from this Halloween tradition.

As traditions go – the other tradition is watch Halloween 3: Season of the Witches. Again, this is something that I do every year. This year will be no different.

For this year, I decided to get King Size Reese Peanut Butter Cup Candy. The price was 10 for 10.00, which was a perfect price for me to spend. To me a dollar a candy bar was worth my money. Not only am I saving money, making up for my sins; I will be making some very happy little children later this evening...

until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete