Rest in Peace

Taken the night before our loss...

My trusty Bodum double walled espresso cup was lost in the porcelain pit of darkness that is the kitchen sink. It has served me well since I received it as a Christmas gift last year. At 5 months, it existence was shattered much to early. It is survived by its identical twin that will go on to continue the life work of espresso cup #1; mainly, keeping my espresso warmer, longer, but also being displayed publicly so I can smugly comment on my love for espresso.

Back to the Civil War...

Last weekend we decided to check out a reenactment of the "Battle of Columbia". Always wanting to see such a civil war reenactment, I was pretty stoked. Little did I know there would be LOUD cannons and guns and horses!! Plus a snow cone or two to fight the extreme heat that our city is well known for... Seriously, our slogan is "famously hot". Here are some pictures of our experience in the Confederate State...

The battle begins...

The Yankees fight back!

People begin to die...

Fear kicks in and the South sadly surrenders. What a sad day. However...

The South will rise again!!

On a side note, we also learned about the many changes the confederate flag went through to reach the flag that currently flies behind the state house today (seriously guys...). Here are some of the variations. The first flag looked a little too much like the american flag (and you can't have that...), the second flag looked a little too much like the flag they used to surrender (white, apparently not scary enough) and the final flag was a little more like it... What do you think?

Just a Sunday in the south...

2 Trains and EPO

My ride in this morning was stopped twice by trains. I wonder if it was one train twice or two separate trains? Nothing wakes you up in the morning like the blast of a mile long fright train directly across your path with no way around. Needless to say, I was late. Though, in my attempt to be more positive, I did appreciate the fact that the second train kept moving, as opposed to the first which was stopped on the track blocking all traffic. It wouldn't be quite as frustrating if it didn't happen all the time. Of course for you car types, the worst is when the train stops 50 yards from a crossing, but the crossing gates go down and stay down, despite the train having no desire to move (tip: cut your car off when your waiting for a train, it save gas, and if your from here you know they are NEVER short waits).



In cycling related news today (I care, you may not) in the Giro del Trentino, the top 3 riders at the finish today had all, in the last few years, received 2 year bans for blood doping, aka cheating. How can you take that seriously?

Doper, doper, doper. Wait, Basso (doper #3) said he only "intended to dope" and hadn't done so yet. Way to take the moral high ground.

2 Jargaritas and a broken tandem

Last night was the first Burrito ride of the year. Tandem bike, beer, 2 jargaritas, nachos (not burritos) and bluegrass. Ahhh, spring in the South. However, when the night ended and it was time to ride, it quickly became a hike home. Old tandem + tons of power between the Missuz and I = Broken chain. So a 5 minute bike ride became a 30 minute walk. You cant win 'em all, sometimes its Mexican and Bluegrass and sometimes its walking a 40 pound bike home. Also, I was happily intoxicated on the sounds of banjos (and tequila) and I really enjoy walking in that state. I'd love to tell you about the walk but it's really hard to smell the roses when your lugging a broken 6 foot long bike around.

In other news...

ELEPHANTS!

Its nice having a nice zoo close and even nicer when you get to go on a Friday. She's there and I'm stuck here in my climate controlled cube, crap (awesome alliteration).

Attack of the Spring

Last week was why I live in the Southeast. It may have been April but it was 90 degrees and sunny all week. LOVE IT.

The best part is that the Dogwoods are blooming and they are all over the neighborhood. The flowering Dogwood is my favorite plant/tree. Probably because A) It means its spring; B)Its the state flower of Virginia aka Home (and a bunch of other states but whatever); C) We used to have one in our yard at my house, Home again and D) Its a good looking tree-plant, no? We also had blooming Azaleas and Bradford Pears, but all of this led to the arch-nemesis of sinuses everywhere.

BICYCLES!!!! wait, no...

POLLEN!!!

Not normal, oh my allergies are acting up pollen, nope. Its like biblical plague pollen. Most people have snow, we have a dusting of pollen. You could see your footprints on the sidewalk, the percentage of yellow cars shot up 2 jillion percent, and I was wondering if something was going to start growing in my lungs after my bike commute home from work. I could taste it, and it is not good my friends. Fortunately after a t-storm it is almost gone now, or at least at manageable levels. So now all were left with is temps in the mid-70s, sunshine, and waning allergens. Things could be worse...

Sleepy Cat

More lunch shinanigans

Wandering around during lunch, aka:sanity time, I have found my new lunch spot. Sunshine, pine needles, quiet, sunshine... Its a great break from the cold, dark recesses of cubicle life. And since Spring has sprung here, its in the 80's, it makes a great place to take a nap at lunch.

It also makes is a nice place to read a serial novel from the 30's. Doc Savage : The Midas Man. Whoever wrote those books would be really dissapointed with the way life turned out. No flying cars, no mind reading machines, one day.... The books came from my grandfathers collection, and at 120 pages of easy reading where the good guy always wins, its a nice way to pass time.

Now its time to enjoy 85 degrees and big margaritas.