Teeter Skilled Foster Dog on Film is Up!

A few months back trying to keep up with the Joneses I mean Dillens actually affected our lives to the good when we became a volunteer foster home and family for the Charlotte Human Society. How this works is simple. The local human society is volunteer run and held together with wonderful folks who manage the well being of domesticated pets in need from the time they get in the door until they are permanently placed with a caring family. During the transfer from tiny puppy or kitten to an adoptable age the creatures need safe haven off the premises so that others can be adopted out which creates the space for the ones being fostered by dedicated folks like the Dillens. It is an awesome revolution to witness and I really think if you are looking to do something helpful that this is a great thing to be part of. The Humane Society is on the level to work with, the little ones need help and ultimately you give them back at the end of the prearranged time frame!

Karma is the 8 week old puppy in the above film who is one of the most naturally gifted K-9 young ens I have ever seen. She is I do believe an Akita breed with a fast little brain, extraordinary energy and wonderful color markings like she was painted by the Gods. Karma stayed with us for 10 really fast passing days and by the time she left she knew sit, See Saw and she was just about house trained. The day we dropped her off we came home with a litter of Mom-less kittens who are making even me laugh and I am not really a cat person.

I say if any of this is making you think about being a foster home then go for it because the more safe places for the little ones to go the more that will actually wind up in a good home with a safe future. Bell them up, fill out an application with true data and then enjoy what ever comes in to your home!

*Announced Late Edit: Sorry the film I spent time trying to load and that I referred to in the above draft is not there at all. Please feel free to check back soon for a special edition video post of the Teeter Totter Capable Dog.

Bike Commuter From Shannon

Back in early January after a mid week post work courier meeting I was commuting home in the darkness way deep on Commonwealth Ave when I passed a random bike rider. As I rolled by I blurted out, "I never see anyone else on my commute!" The rider looked over and said, "You just never know." A few miles later I passed an unrelated second rider pictured above saying the same thing, "I never see anyone else on my commute!" His response was the same as the first, "You just never know."

At that point I dismounted and started talking to George Edwards a die hard bike commuter from near Shannon in the country of Ireland. He was on his bike wearing a classic Yellow Captain Gordon the fisherman rain slicker grinning like he had just won the lottery. As it turns out George has been coming to America from Ireland 6 months out of the year for about the past decade. He explained to me that as he got older the cold, wet and windy winter became harder to deal with so he comes to the QC in the fall and works at a restaurant until spring when he flies home for another 6 month revolution. His only transportation here in America is his trusty steel Bicycle.

I have seen this Irishman on his bike regularly since that night as recently as last week when he told me he was flying home soon for the summer. I told him that it was a positive thing I saw in him and wished him well on his travels. Just before we parted I snapped the above picture of him proudly holding his bike and in his right hand clutching the latest edition of the Irish Emigrant. As I took the picture I felt like it may very well be the last time I would see George Edwards but he has left an impression on me that I will always remember as a positive force on a bicycle in the drab urban world that has become my existence.

NC State Primary

Yesterday 34% of registered Voters in Mecklenberg came out to rock the state primary and they chose Barack. Of course the American Voting process is very important especially at this time in history but the most important thing that I have learned politically during this presidential primary thus far happened when I met Simon this past Friday.

Sorry I do not have a picture of this lad from London but I will give you a brief description. He is taller than me with fair skin, short cropped reddish hair, blue eyes, a lean frame and he speaks with an educated thick British accent. He closely resembles my friend Nathan, mind, body and energy. I had the chance to chat with this fellow twice since Friday and what a story he tells. Simon came to America in December and made his way to the Iowa Caucus where he began his 6 month journey as a volunteer for the Hillary Clinton campaign. Since then he has been traveling across our fine nation staying ahead of each states primary canvassing for who he believes should be the next American President.

Why would a Briton be working hungry for free in this country helping to influence an election that he cannot even vote in you ask?

I did too. In 2000 Simon was in London watching the election in the USA as were most of the people in the European 'Free World'. Paris, Rome, Barcelona, Berlin, Lisbon, Dublin, Stockholm, Oslo and so on. On that day Simon and anyone else whose brain was functioning normally which simply takes paying attention watched in disbelief as America had it's Presidential election stolen from the people. How could America sit back and let it happen he thought, what direction would the regime of a nation that allows it's Presidency to be usurped without the actual winning vote take the most powerful nation in the world?

Simon is smart enough to know that whatever is going on here directly affects the world, from the streets of London where people are buying jeans right now to Haiti where mothers are adding dirt to supplement the rice they cannot afford to feed their families with. He and I agree that the only chance we, we being the entire world has is an immediate party change in the White House. Seems as if reality has grounded my thoughts because if it had been taken once it could be taken again to complete the written destiny of the Great USA.

I find Simon's presence in this country the quintessential definition of the state of our Nation and the true meaning behind free world. From his home across the Atlantic Ocean he was so concerned about the outcome of our 2008 election(which he cannot even vote in) that he came to America with no salary and a dream to help influence the people here to vote for who he thinks could give the world a better chance. That is serious business. What are you doing to help influence the direction of the most 'Free' country in the world?

Mom and Dad

these are the nicest wheels I have ever had! Over the weekend I set up my new I-9's on 29er Flows tubeless with new Dicky approved 2.3" Rampage front and 2.1" Ignitor rear. It was the first time I used Mr. Bontrager's green slick juice instead of the usual white Stan's liquid. I did not really make a choice it is what the shop had and I am Ultimately pleased with the way it worked. Bontrager green seemed cleaner and perhaps less toxic. On Saturday I tried to get a ride in which turned in to disaster on multiple levels including brake failure and broken saddle. Sunday I was able to get all fixed which left me open to be at Sherman last night where I ran in to the lovely and jovial Ms. Jenkins who belled me up from a few cars down in the parking lot just as I was putting my front wheel in.

Ars was riding new wheels different than the white ones she had on our last ride a week and a half ago. Yea, everyone has new wheels! We took off and as soon as I got in to the Single Track I could feel the advanced auto bike sized technology difference reacting under me. They are stiff, the engagement is instant and those two factors combined on that 29'er wheel give a mechanical confidence unlike anything I have known so far. When I got in the hard packed trail of the Roller Coaster section the speed just picked up. Descending fast, up and down the little rollers down at the bottoms before the up turn left and climb I thought to myself that I had never been through that so fast, this is why they call it the Roller Coaster section!

Blowing through the woods with light trickling in occasionally. Ars and I separated before the Lake Loop, she had dinner plans and I had some more time to kill so I kept on. Before Long I ran in to a Boy Scout Troop that knew my friend Scott Ballsberry, I sent a message with them which may or may not get back to him. I finished my ride and went home for some beans, peppers and onions. I know that a wheel set is just a bike part but these are the finest I have ever had a chance to roll under me. I thank Jeff at Industry Nine for sending me the top end technology that I not only need but well enough deserve. I will ride them far and near!

Enough About Bike Parts, I have to move on my Stay Alive.

What, You Don't Believe In Cosmic Hotdogs?

You must never have been on the road with me then. Jesse, Jordy: I am sorry that my blog caused hatred to come out, that is the last thing I intended as a product of my own outlet.

The other day an anonymous soul floating around out there in the world that does not exist left me a quite disturbing comment to be moderated for posting on the Dude's Big Jump story that I wrote over a week ago. I will not be specific in detail but the idea this person was trying to convey was related to his or her own personal anger and perhaps jealousy towards Dude at first then off on a tangent against Jordy. I feel compelled to let the reader know that he or she is missing the whole point of Physical Science which has learned well enough two constant rules. The first is that two people can look at the same 1 object from opposite sides and see 2 completely different things. The other fact is that one can not pass judgement on another without having all the facts related to that person's decision which is causing you to judge.

There are real factors in both cases that you judged which are justification enough for me to respect both of these individuals as friends and fellow sane humans. During contemplation of this bitter comment it was realized that the reader who left it may have taken the first comment as a step up to letting their own anger fly. I thought the first comment was Josh's light hearted voice poking a joke at Dude which is why I let it go by hoping Dude would pick it up and say something about Josh not riding very much. I should have got it when Dude did not respond back in timely fashion that it was he making fun of himself as comment 1 which wound up drawing the attention of thip energy and gave it the push it needed to spew out. Dude accidentally on purpose lured in his own cyber enemy hate mail. Revolution-the completion of a circle.

The box from Industry Nine was so important that it was delivered to me in front of the Bank of America Corporate Center this past Wednesday. Over the weekend I completed the install of my new wheels but when I went to ride them I lost all of my rear brake, then my saddle rail broke so I limped out of the trail. I did get both issues resolved but the way that life went the rest of the weekend I never got a chance to get on the trail with them. Maybe tonight.

Bicycling Flat Land Trick Video from Iraq!

Yesterday one of my office bound colleagues was very excited to share the above clip with me. I normally have trouble watching things like it but this flick's relevance and connection to the cycling world as well as the War in Iraq was so powerful that I knew I needed to share it with you my beautiful, intelligent and open minded audience. Turn it up Loud, the Persian sound should never be underestimated and is very positive feeling.

Have a fine physical and pastoral weekend, see you Monday!

May Endurance Magazine

click to see full screen

This Month's regional Endurance Magazine has printed a full page photograph with credit that I took a few months ago while I was working on an unrelated story. When none of my images were used for the March edition I felt sort of not exactly let down but curious as to what could have been wrong with the work that I did. Emotions change and shortly after seeing the story in print I realized nothing was really wrong with my pictures they were just not in line with the layout and theme of the article. At any rate this month's Martin 'Zimmy' Zimmerman article was in need of some photo balance which became complete when they used my image above. It is strange to see my picture big and know that other people in the area will be seeing it but not getting the same strange feeling.

There are 2 bicycles in the image, can you find them?

If so let me know, the first to reply correctly will get a grand prize of a longish black Salsa Stem. Those of you who I have already shown are disqualified from this blog run contest.