Monday, August 22, 2005
La Moto
I just finished my motorcycle safety course this weekend and I passed the test at the end! So, I'll be getting my license in a few weeks, as soon as I get the certificate and make a DMV appointment. I had a blast this weekend learning. The turns are tons of fun and swerving was my favorite. It was totally like riding a bicycle. The first day, one of the instructors was watching us practice quick stops, and when I stopped next to him, he asked how long I'd been riding. I said, "Today," with a grin, and he was astonished. The second day, we had the test. I was completely nervous, had low blood sugar and had to go first. I messed up terribly on the U-turns and on the curve we had to accelerate around. I expected the U-turn difficulty, as I had never done it properly, but the curves were my specialty. As I was braking to go into the turn, I accidently twitched my left foot, so that I changed into Neutral. So, as I was turning the throttle to accelerate around the turn, I slowed down and all anyone heard was a rev of the engine. Phooey! Twitchy nerves! I was certain I had failed the test. Fortunately, it takes a fall, an unsafe act toward others or a whole lot of points deducted to fail, so I passed. But, I still felt crappy afterward, like I sucked anyway. I just really hope I can purchase a cycle soon. I have a new addiction... ;)
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
Cell Phones and Driving
Yes, I know this topic has been beaten to death, dissected and then pulverized, but I have an observation that I believe to be a new spin on the issue. Oh, by the way, I remembered what my rant was and this is it, although it isn't much of a rant than an interesting observation while running/walking/biking. I started this on the date above, but now it is 8/20. I got really really busy and now I finally have some time to finish this.
First, people walked around with cellphones. It seemed like a neat and nasty invention. Neat in that one could contact anybody from anywhere, and nasty in that anybody could contact you at any time. Then, some company developed these earpieces, which made the cellphone users look like they were talking to themselves, or more embarrassingly, to you. At about the same time, more and more people started driving cars and talking on their cellphones simultaneously. One handed. But it doesn't end there.
Recently, I have had the pleasure of running lots and lots of miles on roads. On these runs, I usually share bike lanes with bicyclists. They are nice and don't run over me, and I try not to take up the entire lane. Give and take. Do you see where this is going? Well, about a month or so ago, I saw a bicyclist holding a cellphone in one hand, and the handlebars with the other. I thought that was a stupid person anomaly, but since then, I've seen at least 3 people on bikes talking on their cells! One handed steering and braking and weaving a lot, of course. Wacky! So, I just try to stay as far away as possible, but really, can't they stop and talk?
First, people walked around with cellphones. It seemed like a neat and nasty invention. Neat in that one could contact anybody from anywhere, and nasty in that anybody could contact you at any time. Then, some company developed these earpieces, which made the cellphone users look like they were talking to themselves, or more embarrassingly, to you. At about the same time, more and more people started driving cars and talking on their cellphones simultaneously. One handed. But it doesn't end there.
Recently, I have had the pleasure of running lots and lots of miles on roads. On these runs, I usually share bike lanes with bicyclists. They are nice and don't run over me, and I try not to take up the entire lane. Give and take. Do you see where this is going? Well, about a month or so ago, I saw a bicyclist holding a cellphone in one hand, and the handlebars with the other. I thought that was a stupid person anomaly, but since then, I've seen at least 3 people on bikes talking on their cells! One handed steering and braking and weaving a lot, of course. Wacky! So, I just try to stay as far away as possible, but really, can't they stop and talk?
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
Internet Update
This is your last chance to fix my computer! Last night I copied a ton of my files onto my spare hard drive, and tonight I will be formatting my Windows 2000 hard drive and installing XP. HOPEFULLY, by Wednesday, I'll have Internet!!!! I think I got everything. I have my music, documents, website, pictures, bookmarks, some downloaded executables, demo reel... Do I need to export my buddy lists? No, I don't think so... I think they are now stored on the server-side. All this discussion on the WIGD list I'm on and my mother reminding me that I'm missing out on pogo.com is making me miss my online game-playing, so I've become especially motivated to fix my darn computer!
I had something I wanted to rant about concerning running or biking, but I've forgotten. I'm going to write about my run on Monday evening in SpeedySamo, which contains a rant (and a nice surprise), but I'm pretty sure it isn't the same one as I wanted to write here.
I had something I wanted to rant about concerning running or biking, but I've forgotten. I'm going to write about my run on Monday evening in SpeedySamo, which contains a rant (and a nice surprise), but I'm pretty sure it isn't the same one as I wanted to write here.
