This is what I look like when I’m really suffering in a race!
Monthly Archives: July 2009
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
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).
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
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.
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 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!
Helping to keep food costs down, there is a garden nearby. The daughters of the family are in love with Jack, so tomatoes are readily available. I have been able to narrow my shopping down to the Turkish stores and weekly markets, which also have really fresh greens. This is how I have made use of some of the local produce.
Cook some rice, which can be bought in serious bulk at the local Turkish restaurant supply store.
Once rice is cooked, I set it out so it stays in a more usable shape and the emulsification maintains its adherence. Note the coffee stain, which is still there from the morning. Instructions on how to enjoy coffee in Belgium coming soon.
Look at the size of this delicious greenery! My hand is there for scale purposes.
Chopped and salted tomatoes! What could be better?
Apply just a bit of olive oil wrap it all up and enjoy!
I sure did!
Use the remaining rice to mix with some black beans, I also like to add onion (which I haven’t found a quality local source for yet.)
-Andrew
I think Scarlett Johansson might be one of the perfect females on this planet. Although I have met a few of the others’ and have never met Scarlett, she does have some “bonus” things going for her that might make up the difference.
First of which, I discovered that you can have your own YourNameHere@ScarlettJohansson.com. How many people have that going for them and are gorgeous?
Also, she is 5′4″, which is a great height for a women!…and married to a guy 6′2″! Smart, everyone knows guys over 6′2″ do it best. And can reach all sorts of stuff that shorter men can’t.
Also she was born in 1984! Great year, one of my favourites. The final year Volkswagen A1 Body style for the Golf (aka Rabbit) that also had the big motor. Also Alexi Grewal, a guy who used to live here in Gent, won the gold medal at the olympics in Los Angeles. Good year to be born Scarlett.
So until I see her at some bike race, or out at grocery store I’ll have to assume, based her acting performances, incredible posture and ancillary benefits I picked up from Wikipedia, that she too can join the ranks of perfect women on Earth.
Also taken from an email i typed earlier, when trying to explain myself to an old friend from my early racing years:
“Yep, back in Belgium.
Here is how it is done. Based on a few important premises.
1) I figured out what i like and what i want.
2) I don’t like to work, and I want to have unique experiences as long as I live.
3) I’m not into consumerism. I don’t need a lot of shit to be happy.
4) I have to be comfortable being alone for long periods of time, or even permanently.
5) There are a lot of people out there that make a lot of money, that are happy to pay a premium for a premium product of service.
6) I have accumulated a lot of debt.”
Based on that you can perhaps get an idea of how I make my living. Low cashflow, but relatively low burn rate.
JD leaves for the states today. The apartment building now has just one full time resident. Now I will wake up a bit earlier.
Strange being alone. Besides good times riding together, JD always had great things worth quoting. A guy from San Fransisco, he noted that the only hipsters or “those poor looking Portland-bound single gear fagots who drive Land Rovers” here are the idiots from the USA who think they know something about a bike just because they’ve ridden a fixed gear. I guess he ran into a few who thought Belgium would be a good place for that sort of thing, only to realise that it’s not for anyone soft. Mentioning hipsters really got him worked up. Jamie said she was “over California, and now really into Colorado”….mostly due to less scene-sters I would guess.
So next time you see someone trying a little too hard, remember that, “Douche-bag is the new black”. Get some real tight stonewash jeans, diesel shoes, punch out some holes in the ears, and stand for something meaningless!…But stay away from Belgium.
