Letter from a dear friend.

I got this and almost fell over laughing.  Classic case of “what goes around……” 

This had to come in a hurry and it has left me in a devastating state. I’m in some terrible situation and I’m really going to need your urgent help. Some days ago,unannounced,I came to visit a resort center in Cardiff, South Glamorgan England, UK..but I got mugged by some hoodlums and lost all my cash,credit cards, I’m financially stranded right now and my return flight leaves in few hours time but I need some money to clear some bills, I didn’t bring my cell phone along since I didn’t get to roam them before coming over. So all I can do now is pay cash and get out of here quickly.I do not want to make a scene of this which is why I did not call my house,this is embarrassing enough.I was wondering if you could loan me some cash, I’ll refund it to you as soon as I arrive home just need to clear my Hotel bills and get the next plane home, As soon as I  get home I’ll refund it immediately. Write me so I can let you know how to send it.

Brian Doege…

Knowing full well it wasn’t a real email from Brian, I responded as if it was:

Of course, I understand that you are way too proud to publicly beg for money; I recognize this email is fake BUT: Only after you apologized to everyone you have fucked over (including the entire Carolina VW Cycling team, Ilan, myself, my ex, Marc Foster, your mom, your sister, Julie Conway, Matt, so many women, many past employers……), and paid back everyone you ever “borrowed” money from….would I even consider helping you again.  
 
Actually even then I would never help you again.  I’m fairly certain you will get lots of responses similar to this one. 
 
Go fuck yourself and remove my contact from your list. 
Andrew Raab

 

Considering a place for university?

Chapel Hill As one of the 3 towns that make up the Triangle, Chapel Hill is a bustling place to live, work, or visit. (The Triangle is made up of Raleigh, Durham, & Chapel Hill and is home to North Carolina’s three main universities.) Chapel Hill offers variety activities that can be enjoyed by all ages. No trip to Chapel Hill would be complete without a trek around the University of North Carolina campus. The 700 acre campus is well kept and guest will enjoy the walking tour while listening to a pre-recorded guide (available at the visitor’s center). As you amble across the campus, you can see the Morehead Paterson Bell Tower, visit the Carolina Athletic Memorabilia Room, see the Dean E. Smith Center on Skipper Bowls Drive, or spend time at the Morehead Planetarium. The Planetarium has been used by NASA as a training center for astronauts. The Planetarium has a rare projector that cast almost 9,000 stars onto the inside of the planetarium’s 68 foot dome. It has a 350 seat theatre as well as exhibits, art galleries, a science shop, rose gardens, and a sundial. Every weekend there are special shows for children.

Big moon on my walk home from the farmhouse. I will miss the company of my teammates when I leave Belgium….or when they leave Belgium. Today is my birthday, it was nice to start the day with them. And now i’m going to go to sleep.

new photo

Too lazy to post anything of consequence. here is a newer photo of me passing over the cobbles. I’m really hurting myself here.

This is what I look like when I’m really suffering in a race!

Lots of action on people’s blogs recently!  Must be lots of thinking going on.

“Nothing is nothing” by a former friend of mine.  Interesting that he said that, someone I was very very close with at one point.  Similar to someone else I was once very very close with, this guy refused to believe that anything unfortunate that comes about him is a result of his doing.

Let me back up.  New guy American living here now will not accept responsibility for his actions.  “Let me tell you C-l–n, everything that has gone to shit in my life, is my fault, or at least 50% my fault.  Nothing just happens to people.  We don’t just happen to land in these situations completely on our own.  Welcome to life is fucking hard work, racing is hard work, relationships are hard work.  It takes lots of dedication, and dads money can’t buy that.  And religion can’t provide that.  Solitude is a good route.  If you want it bad enough, nothing will stop you.  If you want to make excuses, then you’re responsible for the failure.  Congratulations and welcome to Belgium.”

Race was hard today, despite my good result last week, today I suffered way way more for a shit result in a race that wasn’t nearly as fast.  I slept 3, maybe 4 hours last night.  It is somewhat normal right now, heavy dreaming when I’m asleep, but unable to fall back once I awake.  I didn’t get paid today either.  I have 2 Euro 20 Cents….and I spent my other Euro on beers tonight so hopefully I will sleep.  That is coming up now.

Good luck and sleep well. Congrats to everyone who met their goals at 24HOB this past weekend!

Andrew Raab

snip snip snip!

Lucky my internet is too slow to upload photos, I think I may have just given myself the worst haircut I ever. HAHA. This is what i get for working without my three way mirror on Allen Street. The story of the clippers is a good one though.

It started with a conversation over Italian food lunch. I told Jack I needed to buy a set of hair clippers to cut my hair. Everyone seemed to be in disbelief that I do it myself, which I always do. We went into a local Turkish house hold goods shop. There were two women with at least twelve kids running around. They were all so excited to see us. Two tall, obviously non Belgian, men. I described what was in need of by making the “bzzzzzzzz” noise and moving my hand along my head. Two ten-ish year old girls eagerly grabbed me by the hand and led me to the back. One came back quickly and presented my options. I said “Which one do I take???” The younger looking one confidently responded with, “Kalorik is the best!” She handed me the Kalorik brand clippers and proceeded to tell me the price, take my money, and give me proper change. I rounded up Jack who was being shown clocks in another aisle. I expressed my gratitude and told the women they had beautiful families. Good experience. The Kalorik did the job a little too well though, things should be normal looking in about 11 days. Until then I have a new mesh hat that I am wearing around, as well as my trusty Sram Red hat that I normally wear when I ride (rather than wearing my helmet).

update!

Broken 2009 Cosmic Carbone and a shitty race.  At least I’m in Belgium, wait is it that good here?  Yes, for now, despite the frustration.

Go outside!

Andrew

news and notes

Every minute passing is another chance to turn things around.

Hopefully things are turning around for me.  I finally had a good race Last Sunday.  I even made a bit of money.  It is part of a two event omnium, so I will do the exact same race tomorrow, but they are expecting more people.  I am expecting to have a top 20 result.

My direction here could be changing a bit, although I am still waiting details, I may be riding from Russia through China with touring legend Bob Perkowitz.  The trip is planned for Mid-August so I will still have plenty more time to race.  This would be my third oppertunity for great touring adventures.  My first invite with Bob was 3.5 months across South America.  I didn’t go because I was scared of not working for so long.  Look at me now!  My second was with a local Myers Park “old schooler” to ride classic motorcycles across the USA, head north into Canada, and ride home.  Total time away would’ve been about 2.5 months.  I passed that one up because I was having problems with my [ex] girlfriend.  A lot of good that did!  I will not let this one slip away.  Hopefully things can be organised in time for me to join him.  I will buy a new card for my camera so I can document everything!

There must be something in the air.  Over pizza dinner tonight, the whole dinner, Jack and I discussed Christianity.  No tempers escalated, just a discussion with lots of agreements, and a few disagreements.
It would’ve been nice to have another Christian there, because his fundamental beliefs are different from every Christian I have ever encountered… actually that goes with every Christian I have ever encountered, and engaged on a personal level.  They always say that 99% of Christians aren’t real Christians.  The exception tonight was Jack, saying that he isn’t a good Christian either, but striving to get there… and he doesn’t hate me for not being one.  Interesting.

That is all from Belgium for now.

Andrew.

Jesus Jersey

It always gets a good reaction, my team jersey from Colombia has a Jesus on it. The best one so far was from Andrew, and Aussie that lives at the farm. He says, “Its never a bad idea having the Big Guy on your side when you’re riding your bike around here”.

I thought if I got out early enough today I would escape the rain. I was wrong. Last 10km was raining pretty hard, and its cold. I made a potato scramble and coffee to warm up.

Also, I have received a few emails stating that I need to post photos other than food. My phone camera doesn’t take great scenic photos, so close range is the best it gets for now. As for my digital camera, I don’t have a o
card reader but am working on solving that so that the blog may be graced with more Hi-res photos from outside my kitchen. Have a great weekend everyone!