September so far.

I was hired on full time at the messenger company that I was subbing for. Not much time to post lately. Here are some random photos from the last few weeks.

Bicycle Science Experiments

I’ve been filling in some of my unemployment time with messenger work. I don’t think I would go back to work full time as a messenger because the pay and conditions pretty much suck, but 2 weeks here, a month there, that’s alright by me if the alternative is sitting around not doing much.

The company I have been working for has a much larger bike delivery range than the company I worked for before. Now, it’s not uncommon for me to pick up a package and deliver it 8 miles away. My old company did legal stuff, so everything was in the downtown core for the most part. It’s been fun going on these long hauls, but definitely a bit challenging.

Here are a few random pics I snapped with the smartphone.

There isn’t much time to take random pics, but I’ve seen some crazy stuff just in the last few weeks. I saw two major car accidents. One involved a city bus. Just today, I saw this crazy weirdo standing on the Hawthorne Bridge. He was barefooted, wearing a cape, facing traffic with a vintage suitcase a foot away from him, and he was doing something creepy with a doll or a puppet near his face.

Because I am a nerd, I did a science experiment today and mapped out everywhere that I could remember that I went. It ended up being about 35 miles (I am forgetting a few stops, I’m sure, so it was probably closer to 40), which isn’t that brutal for a normal road ride, but the stopping and starting that happens in traffic really takes up a lot of energy. I wore my heart rate monitor today (I know, nerd), and I burned 3100 calories in 9 hours, which isn’t too shabby considering I am a tiny person.

This guy is my hero.

The Barefoot Bandit just signed a $1.3 million movie deal. All of that money will go to restitution for the victims of his crimes. I think he’s awesome. He taught himself how to fly planes by playing video games and then stole planes. I was disappointed when he got caught in the Bahamas.

I want to write him letters when he’s in prison.

New Place

Well, as much as I’ve liked living at the house where I’m at now, a turn of events has led to me finding a new place. I’m going back to apartment living, and I’m stoked. My new place is only $35 more than the last apartment that I lived at and it’s at least 200% better! There is an onsite manager, so that means I wont have to pick up dog poop in the laundry room, or call the alarm company to get the code to turn the building’s fire alarm off (yes, that is something I had to do).

The place that I’m moving into was a hotel in the 30′s and 40′s. It has sweet art deco charm. My apt is rather large (I think it is half as big as my house) and it has really great built-ins. They even left the old icebox in the kitchen. Also, there is a full-sized refrigerator and stove, which is unusual in studios. What makes me the most happy, is that there is a TON of sunlight (unlike my last place, which had none).

This seems appropriate

I’m selling my race bike on craigslist.

I got this email–

would you trade for hot tub work grate gets hot stays hot 3 man tub 110 with it own GFi just need outlet I also have some other things snowboards surfboards dirt bikes, enduro trying to get into shape and save gas if you would trade plz let me know thx

with this attached

No where in my ad did I mention trade. I need cold hard cash.

Oh shit!

This crash from the Sunday’s Tour de France stage is ridiculous. The driver of the TV car speeds up only to realize that there is a tree in the way. The car swerves, then hits Juan Antonio Flecha who eats it in front of Johnny Hoogerland which then catapults him into a barbed wire fence. Miraculously enough they both finished the stage. I’ve been sorta keeping up on the Tour via cyclingtorrents.nl Although, there are a few places to see it around town I should try to go check out.

Biiiiiill!

A young Stephen Moyer..

I sorta wish that HBO didn’t release the second episode online right after the premiere. I mean, I couldn’t NOT watch it. Waiting two weeks for the next episode has sucked.

I went to the library and got some random CD’s. Nada Surf Let Go was one of them. I forgot how hard I love this album.

Not bad for one-hit wonders.

Funemployment!

As you may or may not know, I quit my ridiculous job last week, without much warning/planning/savings or whatever. The sheer joy that permeates my life now that I no longer have to perform the thankless task of customer service is incommunicable. Sure, I may not be totally sure about how I’m going to pay “rent”, but I’ll figure it out. I’ve recently put all the bikes and bike parts that I have been hoarding on craigslist. If I sell all of that stuff I may be in the clear until December, haha.

There have been a lot of cool jobs advertised lately for Community Outreach Coordinator-types that seem really interesting and that I am totally qualified for. Fingers crossed that I am employed sooner than later.

Unemployment has been good so far. My pal Reilly visited last week. While she was here, I made the phone call telling my work instead of my last day being 3 weeks from when I gave notice, it was aaaactually effective immediately. So, that freed us up to go camping on the coast. We drove for miles looking for a decent campsite. Drank a surprisingly delicious Spruce Goose Pinot Noir that was $6 at Grocery Outlet. The vineyard is in McMinnville,OR which is also where the aviation museum that showcases Howard Hugh’s original Spruce Goose is located, and where Ryan Phillippe was recently spotted)

It’s so amazing to not have to deal with retail everyday anymore. NEVER AGAIN!

I felt compelled to share this gem

I’m pretty positive this isn’t real, but it made me laugh.