Global Warming? Just hot as hell!

Damn, as I took the kids to school this morning it was already 83 degrees and humid. My kids usually have on light jackets for the morning ride in the trailer, but today they just had on t-shirts. When I got to their school(6 miles one way) I was completely wet, and it is not even officially summer yet. The kids and I still had a blast and we were joined on the rode by quite a few other cyclist who commented on the heat. Gas has officially hit the $4/gallon mark nationwide and who cares because for the masses to really change it will need to hit the $10/gallon mark. Over the weekend I met a person who had actually received their stimulus check. I asked her what she planned on doing with it and she said put in savings for a rainy day. Oh well, so much for jump starting the economy. Let me tell you how ass backwards Baltimore, MD is. On Saturday the temperature was 100 degrees easily, so the kids and I went to the public pool in Druid Hill Park( That is where the band "Dru Hill"got their name from) to go swimming. I pull up to the the pool and it is completely full of water but no one was in sight. So I went to another pool across town and the same thing, full of water but the gates were locked. I asked a guy who was sitting on his porch across from the pool why was it closed. He informed me that the city of Baltimore does not open the pools, even on the weekends, until the school year ends. The pools have been filled since Memorial Day weekend. Stay cool!

Time's a changin, are you?

Wow, it's been a minute and so much has been going on. Celebrated National Bike Month during May here in Baltimore. I have been riding my bike in Baltimore consistently for the last 8 years and I have never seen this many cyclists on the road daily. I smile every time my kids who are transported to and from school in a trailer scream " hey daddy, he/she has a bike like you" as we rumble through the rough streets of Baltimore. History is being made on the political front as Obama will be the first Black presidential nominee in the history of this country. Al Green has dropped a great new album, produced by ?uestlove of the Roots. Speaking of the Roots, I am digging their new album titled "Rising Down". The murder rate here in the city is down 46 from a year ago and stands at 82 homicides. I guess people are just tired of killing, or maybe the recession has slowed the sale of firearms and ammunition. Do you know of anyone who has received his/her stimulus check? I haven't found a gig yet, but quite frankly I am enjoying the rest although the bills just keep on rolling in. I am looking forward to spending a lot of time with my kids this summer doing a little bit of everything. Hershey Park, swimming, kayaking,skipping rocks in the creek, baseball games(Orioles and Nationals) and riding bikes.
Last but not least, dictate your terms on life and not the other way around. Commute too long? Find a job closer to home. Gas too high? Ride a bike or take public transportation. Food to costly? Eat less, or eat smarter. Do not worry about things that you have no control over and take care of the things that you do!

What a week!

Last week was a tough one. I learned on Monday that a good friend of mine for over 25 years was killed a few years ago. I was online trying to track him down and came across his sister's Senior thesis at Yale University. I found an email address for her and communicated, and she told me that he had passed. Malik Gibson and I were friends since the 4th grade in a suburb of Cincinnati and we had kept in touch over the years even though he and his mom left during the 5th grade. I last spoke to Malik in late 2003 after the birth of my son and we laughed and joke at how we are getting old now. I had planned on visiting Malik in Denver in '04, but as usual, life just kept getting more and more hectic and I was unable to see him. Malik's sister stated that he died in early '05 and I immediately thought about the birth of my daughter who was born in February of '05. Why was I too busy to go and see a friend? An America West plane ticket would not have put me in the poor house and my wife would've given me a weekend pass to visit a friend.
I visited friends in Indianapolis this past weekend and it really cemented the notion of how important it is to keep your really close friends close. Work, bills, stress and life. Take a break and remember what is important. R.I.P Malik Gibson!

Welcome Back Spring!

I love the beginning of Spring. The sun gives off a lot of energy and you feel fresh from the cold months of winter(even though here in Baltimore, MD we had no winter this year). I rode everyday this week taking and picking the kids up from school in the bike trailer. It's interesting that people still look at you riding a bike like you came from outer space, but will look at a crack-head like he/she is normal. I am heading out now to take the kids to the park. Happy Earth Day!

RANDOM THOUGHTS

The sunshine was out today and the ride around town was perfect. I rode my single speed with the bull bars and gave the mountain bike a rest today. A brother is still unemployed(but sending out resumes like crazy), but the job market is crazy slow at the moment so it kind of sucks, but I give mad love to my wife for holding everything down while I am in transition(I love you Chandie!) Anyway, enough bitching, I just have some questions like why are people still buying SUV's? Why are students beating up teachers(Three HS teachers were beaten up in Baltimore City High Schools last week, see wjz.com), why are teenage mothers giving their babies soda in a baby bottle? Why does the radio suck? Why do black men over the age of 30 wear cornrows and do not own a suit or sports coat? Why is the tint on your car so dark? What the fuck are you hiding? Why does a large chain grocery store like Giant in Baltimore have a bag check(where the majority of the shoppers are black) and not one at any of the other local stores? While watching YO MTV raps 20th year anniversary celebration, why do all of the videos from the late 80's and early 90's look G-rated compared to what kids watch now? Why did Memphis choke last week in the men's national title game? How does Skip Bayless keep his job on ESPN? How did Isaiah Thomas keep his job this long with the Knicks? Why doesn't football season hurry up and get here? Why are people putting so much stock into this election? The US is all about BIG BUSINESS! Democracy these NUTS! The picture is large, get in where you can. I am off to pick up the kids from school!

Greetings,

No bike riding today, the wind is blowing around 50 miles an hour. I weigh around 220 and that is enough wind to stand me straight up going down hill while I am clipped into my pedals. Anyway, fresh off of the 5 year anniversary of the second invasion of Iraq and your boy W is still trying to justify the war. Damn it! The 80/20 rule is serious effect, I mean at least 80% of dumb ass Americans had to believe that Saddam was in a kayak floating his ass to US shores to wreak havoc in order to justify the invasion. Where are the weapons of mass destruction? Where is Hans Blix? Weren't the pilots of the planes on 9/11 Saudi? Have we attacked Saudi Arabia? I saw Bin Laden last weekend in Georgetown, D.C. coming out of Dean & Deluca snacking on some smoked almonds and humming Snoop Dogg's sensual seduction, while my 4 year old son said "Daddy isn't that the man from tv who is crouching on one knee and shooting an AK". I said "son you are right" as we walked into Coldstone Creamery to get some ice cream.
I am not mad about the war, but I am upset about broken glass in the street in predominately black neighborhoods. I was riding yesterday in the rain and in the street I had two choices to make quickly, either ride through at least six broken bottles of glass or try and bunny hop a frame shattering, rim bending, try not to flip over the handle bar pothole(anybody in Baltimore knows what I am talking about). I avoided the glass and hopped the pothole as I shouted "there is a garbage can on the corner" that fell on deaf ears.
I am off to pick up the kids from school.
Peace.

Slow Down :)

Happy Tuesday! I have been officially lunchin! Let's see, since my first entry my daughter celebrated her third birthday, I was laid off from my job and I went to Germany to visit my brother(much needed vacation). As I ride through Baltimore I see a look of pure stress on a lot of peoples faces. The US is in a state of pure chaos with the crumbling economy, the political bullshit in full swing, shitty public schools, Bin Laden still on the loose. Let me stop, I sound like CNN or worse FOX News. People need to take a deep breath and relax. Focus on your health and everything free or discounted. Can't afford a new book or CD? Visit your local public library and take a look around. People are complaining about the cost of gas, but if you figure that in Europe people pay 1.50/euro a liter, yes a liter, doesn't it take 4 liters to make a gallon? You do the math. I am off to pick up the kids from school, but remember to take it slow and watch out for Al-Queda(sp?)