No internal monologue

Okay, well, I managed to not post anything yesterday, so I figured I’d post today to make up for it. It was about 45 degrees, so not too cold. Nothing exciting to report, standard commute. Since UPS didn’t leave my package, I actually had to go and pick it up, so I got to ride out to somewhere new.  It was quite fun, but I think I really need to get better at turning.  Luckily, I seem to have the power to deflect cars from driving around me as it seems whenever I am out riding, there are never any cars around me (although this could also have to do with the time of day that I usually ride).

While I was waiting at the UPS center for them to find my package, there was this woman who was picking up a COD package.  Apparently she had called and they supposedly had told her it was $234, so she got a money order for that amount; however, the real total was $235 and they would not accept cash to cover the $1.  Now this woman got seriously irate, to the point where she was going to give them $5 for the $1, which they still would not accept.  What was sad and hilarious at the same time was when the woman asked to speak to the manager, who just happened to be standing there also and he goes on to say that they do not accept cash no exceptions.  She then started saying that she was going to sue UPS, which the manager, almost cheerfully, told her to go ahead, they have a “battery of lawyers.”  eventually she ended up leaving to get a money order for $1.  Shitty situation all around.

Another cold morning.  I think it was about 40 degrees, so my hands got cold, but I was able to make it the entire way to work with only minimal discomfort.  Also, once I hit Grand Prairie, there was a train going through which was quite excellent because that changes all the lights to blinking yellow which let me ride straight without stopping all the way into Arlington. I remembered to throw my camera into my bag, but as luck would have it, the sunrise wasn’t anything spectacular this morning.

another cold morning.  Not as cold as yesterday, my hands didn’t really start feeling cold until after about 10 miles. Being able to listen to podcasts has definitely made it less monotonous; however, I hope I’m not seriously fucking up my hearing by having the volume up so high. Oh well, like my cousin, an audiologist told me, by the time my hearing is fucked, there will be technology available to fix it.  Another gorgeous sunrise this morning.  I’m gonna have to start bringing my camera with me so I can take pictures (even though it’ll most likely just be pictures from my parking lot, but oh well).

Onto other issues, after having received my annual stability pay check (which is pretty decent this year) I’ve decided that I’m going to upgrade my good ol’ freeiPod. After doing some research yesterday, I’ve settled on the Cowon A2. It’s a pretty cool device, about the size of a DS Lite, 4″ screen, 10 hours of battery life for videos. That’s outstanding, considering the 5.5g iPods can only do about 4 hours. It also has a buttload of codec support and can even play ac3 audio file.  The only thing I have against it is the fact that it only has a 30gb hard drive.  I suppose for the price it’s alright and it is still 10gb larger than my current iPod, but other than that, it seems like quite the little handheld.  My only other concern is that shortly after I obtain it, I just know they are going to release the A3.  As much as I’d like to have a single device that does everything I need or want, it will probably never exist. As it stands, once I have the A2 my standard device loadout will consist of the A2 for videos, long haul MP3 usage and text reading, the Ditty for podcast listening, and my SDA for PDA types of things, which still leaves with me 3 devices (used to be Axim 30 for video/text reading, T610 cell and 4g iPod).

Okay, while it’s not technically freezing, 41 degrees, with the wind chill factor, it sure as shit felt like it. Upon waking up and feeling how cold it was in my room alone, I seriously considered not going to work today; however, upon further contemplation, I realized I should probably come in today and save it for a colder day. I think this may be the coldest temperature I’ve ever ridden in and thank the gods that it is going to be in the 60s on the way home. It was so cold that my legs and feet even got cold, which they usually don’t.  I’m going to have to seriously research getting some cold weather gloves that actually work or else I’m going to be in some serious trouble.

Enough bitching, on to some observations. I’m definintely feeling more confident as a rider, even being able to swerve out of the way of some asshole who cut me off (although in my freezing state, I was barely able to signal and honk, and luckily, due to my superior situational awareness, I was pretty competent there was no one in the lane I was swerving into).

Too windy today, no riding for me. On the ride home yesterday, I discovered that I can listen to podcasts if I put the volume a little bit louder than normal, which is definitely a plus.

In the interest of keeping a record of my daily commute, which I realize is probably boring to everyone else but myself, I’m going to see if I can manage to maintain a record of the days I commute to work by motorcycle. By way of introduction, let me say that a little bit less than a year ago, I purchased my first motorcycle, which is a 2001 Suzuki GS500. I decided on this bike because it’s not too underpowered, but at the same time, not too overpowered and was within my price range of being around $1,500. I haven’t really ridden the thing seriously until about the last few months and that’s mostly because I’ve moved about 25 miles away from work, which means I can no longer bicycle to work which I had been doing when I used to live about 5 miles away.  (as an aside, one of these days, I have to bicycle to work at least once. Crazy, yes, but it will definitely be an adventure. Maybe I can take that as an opportunity to snap some photos, hmmm). The commute is completely straight forward, south on Inwood, west on Fort Worth Ave. until it turns in 180, and then straight on until I hit work.

This moring I had a bitch of a time trying to get the motorcycle turned around in the garage and I once again managed to have to Austin Power it around.  I’m probably going to end up poking a hole in the wall if I’m not more careful in the future, so I’ll have to continue to experiment.

For once, I think being jet lagged from Maui is a good thing because I popped right up pretty much at 5 when I woke this morning and didn’t really feel tired at all, but that will more than likely change as the week progresses.  I think if I can manage to get out the door by 5:45 that should work out the best, I got to work today at around 6:40, which gives me plenty of time to take off my gear and relax from riding.

The neatest thing happened as I was riding. When I left the house, it was relatively cold (about 55 degrees according to the internets), but just before I got to the intersection with 180 and Westmoreland, the air got slightly warm, almost as if I had crossed some type of temperature gradient. The ride for the rest of the way was rather pleasant, not being too cold. I have to say, I think 55 degrees is about the best temperature for me to ride in. It’s cold, but not too cold and my hands weren’t completely frozen by the time I got to work.

Finally, I’ve got to say, the sunrises in Texas are probably some of the most beautiful sunrises I’ve ever seen, beautiful vanilla sky.

1. The Be-Good Tanyas – the littlest bird

2. Aimee Mann – Deathly

3. Arab Strap – (If there’s) no hope for us

4. Asobi Seksu – New Years

5. Beulah – popular mechanics for lovers

6. Bloc Party – this modern love

7. Calexico – Deep Down

8. Albert Hammond – In Transit

9. Broken Social Scene – Da Da Dada

10. Broken Social Scene – Stars and Sons

11. The 6ths – Falling out of love (with you)

12. Cody Chestnutt – Boylife in America

13. James Figurine – You Again