I am now in Chicago. I don't think I am going to make it to the memorial service in columbus. I feel alright with this decision. It would only make me sadder and put more strain on the people who are already very sad. I went swimming in the lake today. It was cold.

Off to Chi-town and maybe c-lumb

Well I’m off to Chicago Tomorrow. It should be fun. I had a great idea for a blog I was going to write today, but I forgot it. I must be getting senile. I just heard that a friend of mine from Columbus had a heart attack. I’m not sure if I should go back for the funeral or not. I guess I would go from Chicago. That would be cheaper anyway. We’ll see what is going on. It all happened very suddenly, as I guess heart attacks usually do. I’ll need to call some people when I’m not at work and sort out the details. I don't know what I will end up doing.

Chicago, Bikes, Transit

Time for another dula update. I’m back at my old job and things are going well. I’m happy to be back, but that means my addresses are changing again. No more packages at my old job please… Instead you can send them to my friend Jessica, who has a porch where the post man feels comfortable leaving packages that don’t have to be signed for, or to the apartment building office if it is material of a sensitive nature that needs to be overnighted or fed exed (I know how some of you just can’t wait to send me gifts). I’m thinking of looking into a PO box to see if it would help me avoid this problem (and perhaps cover for me if I decide to move into the city…shhhh don’t tell county council I’m even thinking about it).

There are trips coming up for me to Chicago from September 25-October 5, so if you are going to be around there and I haven’t contacted you, give me a call.

Last weekend is the big bike race, and boy are my legs tired. I rode the whole way down (75 miles), but had to stop after only 20 miles on the way back. I was broken. There was a bit of hurricane weather which made things fun on the way down. By fun I mean comically the opposite of fun. I hope to actually do some training for next year so I can finish the whole thing. It was tough competition such as this 60+ year old Japanese woman in high heels and a dress who finished the race unlike me. I’m going to beat her next year… I promise you that. Anyway, thanks to Amy, Josh, Liesl, Anna, Michelle, and my parents for your donations. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without you, quite literally as they don’t let anyone with less than $200 ride. You can still donate at the link to the side, but I’d recommend saving up for next year when I’m going to go the whole 150.

Also I have a favor to ask. I know with that other election going on there is a lot of political fervor out there, lets use it locally too. Pennsylvania is facing a budget crisis and there is a bill to help get transit funding. Basically it looks really bad if the senate bill 1162 & house bill 2697 don’t pass in November. SEPTA plans on eliminating weekend service and reducing weekday service by 20% while increasing fares. There is more information at this site http://www.savetransit.org. Most city representatives are cosponsors to the bills, but if you know anyone in PA please ask them to write their legislators to support this bill. Particularly if you know someone outside of Philadelphia or Pittsburgh. To find your legislator’s contact information go to (http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/find.cfm). www.savetransit.org has sample letters or you can just tell them to vote yes on SB 1162 & HB2697. Otherwise, I’ll probably have to look for a new home soon and you’ll have to change your address book and it will be a big mess.

I’m also looking to write postcards again, so please send your addresses, birthdays, and any other updated info to me so I can keep up to date.

I guess that is about all that is new with me, how about you?
-Justin

word

Work has been pleasantly mellow. I’ve worked on updating some friendster, myspace, and tribe.net lists. I’ve done some reading about first generation suburbs. Then the bike plan I had been working on reared it’s ugly head. Why does Microsoft word have to be so confusing. I have this giant document that needs only minor additions and it is renumbering all the chapters and pictures and I’m having trouble breaking it into subdocuments. Oh well the day is almost done.

This is Me from by surprise birthday party on July 26th. Don’t I look surprised. I’m trying to figure out the photo options of blogger for future reference with these pictures from the past. There will hopefully be some exciting pictures in the future.  

Biking

As many of you know I am doing a bike race for charity next weekend. I have been doing very little biking lately. I started doing some training this weekend and am a little sore. I rode from my house to the Schuylkill river trail to the Wissahickon trail and back again. It was estimated to be about 40 miles total for the round trip. I am just hoping the fact that it was hilly and I was on my folding bike means that the 75 miles to the shore will be easier for me. Frankly, I’m a little scared. I want to thank everyone who has helped donate to MS research and remind everyone else that it isn’t too late.

What I did on my summer vacation

Well I had a good run of unemployment. I traveled first to DC, where I hung out with my friend Dave for a bit before he moved out of that hole of a town for warmer environs. Actually we both left there (via Chinatown bus) and went to NYC for a little while. I saw some friends and made some new friends. Then I went with Leslie, her dad, and her cat on their way to Detroit. They dropped me off at a turnpike rest stop where I used to work and was greeted by my loving father. Then I spent some time with my parents, Kim and attended Brian’s wedding in Amherst. Then I had the chance to go to an Island with my friend Patty. I don’t know if you all know this, but I love islands (keep that in mind come holidays and birthday present shopping time). So we went up to Beaver Island in the middle of Lake Michigan just off of Charlevoix. It was lovely- sandy and cool and fairly good weather. Then I went to Kalamazoo for Greg and Steph’s wedding reception. Then I was on the train to Chicago and directly to the airport for my flight home. It is kind of fun going through Chicago without stopping, especially since I will be back at the end of this month for another wedding.

What I did on my summer vacation

Well I had a good run of unemployment. I traveled first to DC, where I hung out with my friend Dave for a bit before he moved out of that hole of a town for warmer environs. Actually we both left there (via Chinatown bus) and went to NYC for a little while. I saw some friends and made some new friends. Then I went with Leslie, her dad, and her cat on their way to Detroit. They dropped me off at a turnpike rest stop where I used to work and was greeted by my loving father. Then I spent some time with my parents, Kim and attended Brian’s wedding in Amherst. Then I had the chance to go to an Island with my friend Patty. I don’t know if you all know this, but I love islands (keep that in mind come holidays and birthday present shopping time). So we went up to Beaver Island in the middle of Lake Michigan just off of Charlevoix. It was lovely- sandy and cool and fairly good weather. Then I went to Kalamazoo for Greg and Steph’s wedding reception. Then I was on the train to Chicago and directly to the airport for my flight home. It is kind of fun going through Chicago without stopping, especially since I will be back at the end of this month for another wedding.