Mountain Biking (aka Livia eats it... several times)

Yesterday was my first real attempt at mountain biking. I went with Will and Jesse to a place near Lake Allatoona called Blankets Creek. I started on the beginner trail, which was pretty easy and fun. I rode that many times, both backwards and forwards, while Will and Jesse did the intermediate course once. We met up, and since I was bored I decided to give the intermediate course a try.

Big. Mistake.

The first part went ok, considering. Some parts were not fun and I had many close calls but somehow managed to stay upright. I was happy that I had just made it over some logs when I washed out. For the first time. Then I did it again. And again.

I think fatigue was starting to creep in and I was having a hard time paying attention. Just call me Michael Rasmussen. I ended up just walking the rest of the trail (probably something around 1.5 miles) because I was rattled from all the falls and I thought that trying to finish on the bike wouldn't have gone well in my mental state.

I guess I need to spend some more time on the beginner trails. I don't know at this point if mountain biking is something that I'll grow to really enjoy and right now my main motivation for not giving up is the fact that I paid not a small sum for the bike and that I don't like to give up. We'll see what transpires.

One thing did occur to me, though, while I was hiking back with my bike.

I don't like hiking that much. Particularly with a bike.

New Wheels, New Start

I have a new baby, a mountain bike. (picture to be included when I get around to uploading the pictures on my camera).

The past few days/weeks I have been spending sometime reacquainting myself with my road bike and getting to know my newest acquisition. The roadie felt foreign to me the first time I got on it. It hadn't been the longest break, but certainly the break where I lost the most. But we're quickly getting to know each other again and I'm sure that soon we'll be back at it like old friends.

Things aren't going so well with the mountain bike. They say you shouldn't pick between your children, but I must admit I am partial to the road bike, perhaps completely based on perception. I don't like falling, I don't like jumping over things, I don't like how bumpy it is. In almost 2 years I have only fallen off twice. In several hours of "mountain biking" (read: riding around Will's parent's wooded yard) I quickly equaled that number.

Then why get one? Because I know that once I learn, it will become more enjoyable and my road riding will benefit as well. The learning curve is steep, but I like a challenge.

But for now, given the choice, I'll choose the road bike.

History Repeats Itself

I encourage everyone to go out and rent the movie Good Night and Good Luck. It is amazing. Definitely not in my usual style of "light and fluffy." But it is perfect given today's political climate.

Many lines in the movie hit me and I had to remind myself that it was talking about the past.

For example:

We proclaim ourselves,
indeed as we are...
the defenders of freedom wherever
it continues to exist in the world...
...but we cannot defend freedom abroad
by deserting it at home.

and

The American people realize
that this cannot be made a fight
between America's
two great political parties.

If this fight against Communism
is made a fight against America's
two great political parties
the American people know that one
of those parties will be destroyed...
and the Republic can't endure
very long as a one-party system.

Notice that we could replace the world communism with terrorism and it still works. I feel that things are reverting back to the way the were in the period addressed by the film, and not only that but becoming more extreme. There are people who are being accused of being terrorists and whose rights are being taken away, and this time they're being sent to prison without due process (ok, so maybe back then there was only the appearance of due process). There is a war being fought where evidence for it never existed. More and more social programs that Americans pay for with their tax dollars are being stripped away to pay for it. And finally, each of our lives is now monitored (that is, if you have Verizon, Bellsouth or AT&T) without warrant, and, in my opinion, is a waste of resources and will do no good.

What more will happen before people will stand up? It's been shown that history will repeat itself until the lesson is learned. Why haven't the lessons been learned? Are they even remembered at this point?

I guess this is what we get for electing a President who got a C in history.

Not that I had anything to do with that.

Quickie

I have no had the opportunity to post my many thoughts. Partly because finals week (although I had no finals) and graduation (although I was not graduating) was hectic and partly because I was in the middle of moving (also hectic). That, coupled with the lack of internet (due to comcast screw ups) and trying to see everyone I've ever known before they leave has kept me from writing.

New hookup time is Saturday... look for many updates then.

Congrats to all graduates... many of you I have known from day 1. Life will not be the same without you.