Boulder

I've been in Boulder a couple of weeks now. Spent a few days of that in Denver and then about a week going to and in Palm Desert, California for a Peak Potentials financial seminar. So I'm just now getting settled into Boulder. I got a new bank account at US Bank (first ever non-Iowa State Bank account I've had). Yesterday I did a spin class at a local gym and did some track time at the brand new velodrome, www.boulderindoorcycling.com. Very cool.

Disaster Strikes

So there I was finishing up a 60 mile ride in which my headwind died right about the time I started to make my way back (naturally). I had been cruising through the Loess Hills Southeast of Sioux City on my Pilot 5.0, jamming out to some Brandi Carlile, when I saw something that nearly broke my heart. There, in the other lane, was a squirrel that apparently had been involved in an "accident" moments earlier. Its hind legs were bloodied and useless. It was using what was undoubtedly its last bits of energy and its last breathes here on earth to senselessly drag itself off the road to safety. I now know what it must feel like to see the ravages of war. (Note to actual war veterans: I'm kidding about that part.) I wanted to help it, put it out of its misery, anything...but I chose not to intervene. Maybe I'm just a softie.

Mad Bike Skills

If this doesn't make your jaw drop, I don't know what will.

And another one of my heroes

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jgMnT9RtcjI5QlHigimnkDoXDqIAD92I9P900

Feminazis of Columbia

This guy makes me proud:

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2008/08/18/2008-08-18_feminist_columbia_demonizes_men_lawsuit_-2.html

Gas Saver

Here's a really cool webpage if you are thinking of trading for a more fuel efficient car. Just put in a bit of info and it shows how many months you need til you break even.

http://www.edmunds.com/calculators/gas-guzzler.html?mktcat=yahoo-homepage-marketplace&kw=ym+display+yahoo+homepage+gasguzzler&mktid=ym50703716

Mowing

Well, where do I start. My aunt broke her arm two weeks ago when she fell of the deck. The doctor said she "dusted it" which means there's nothing to put back in the joint. Well, she had a surgery and now I'm mowing their lawn. I don't mind - they live 22 miles away so it makes for a good bike ride. Except for the second time I went over there I decided to take a longer way there (of about 50 miles). I didn't take into account that the gravel roads get much looser and harder to ride on when it hasn't been rainy. Actually I just didn't know that (I'm not a very good country boy). Anyways, I got there and was completely wiped out. I need to do some more training though before Saturday which is a 100 miler at Okoboji.

I forgot to feed my cat last night. I have a habit of feeding him before bed so that he will let me sleep at night. It used to be that he would follow me around for a couple of hours before bedtime reminding me that I need to feed him. Well he hasn't been doing that lately. He woke me up a couple of times in the night including once when he bit me on the knuckle. For some reason it didn't register to me that he needed food until morning.

I went to GNC last week and got a "greens super food" powdered drink. It's a bit spendy but I would recommend it. I feel like my energy has been up.

Sunday I went "geocaching" for the first time here around Sioux Center. If you don't know what that is, it's basically like a scavenger hunt using your GPS. When you find the hidden item, you either just sign your name in a rolled up piece of paper inside of something like a pill box or you can trade items if the canister is larger. It is fun, but it should be done with two people so that you look slightly less suspicious. I'm sure it's way better in the woods as most of the spots here were near other people (at a park or next to a road). I don't need anyone calling the cops on me about "suspicious behavior."