Down I go

Leave it to me to find a way to trip myself on a bike.

Nothing too serious this morning but the tank got introduced to the asphalt of Lincoln Ave this morning as I tried to weave my way ahead of a bus. I wasn't paying attention and I kicked the back of the front fender, wobbled, and went down between some cars. It was slow enough that I caught myself and landed pretty lightly. Just had to get up, pick up the bike, and still made it through the light in front of the bus. Ha!

Usually after something like that I'd think about taking a day off the bike but screw it. If I'm working I'm riding.

Current beer-scale: 8.9

Ah, such a picturesque scene. You almost can't imagine nearly getting run over by the 66 Chicago bus. No, you're right ms. bus driver, honking and speeding by w/inches to spare is a fine way to handle traffic conditions.

Fuck you.

Current beer-scale: 8.1

To the driver of the 77 bus, #6743;

I wasn't sure you had seen me that first time, which is why I probably looked so surprised when you wagged your finger at me as I tried to get by while you were picking people up at Racine. Oblivious is one thing, rude is another.

So I may have over-reacted when I gave you a different finger when I passed in front of joey's brickhouse. Still, I don't think that was any reason to cut it so close as you passed again. I know it's my-turn-your-turn in situations like that, but me riding a bike and you driving a multiple ton bus means we should at least try to get along. But hey, if you're a rude dick instead of a clueless idiot, I should expect to practically get run off the road.

So why don't you go fuck yourself, and I'll see you back out there tomorrow. Fantatstic.

Current beer-scale: 8.1

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. After further thought, when I said "I'm going to go where I want to go," I meant "Actually, I'm allowed to ride in the street and you should know better." I wish I could have thought of a wittier response to a bus driver telling me to stay off the road, or even one that was more accurate than what I managed to blurt out. Unfortunately, the adrenaline of nearly getting crushed by a bus kind of got the better of me on that one. At least I managed to say something as I was shaking the urine off my leg.

Current beer-scale: 6.5 but dropping with each one.

Whew!

Much easier to be tired when your team ends up on the winning end. Of course they were inches away from another overtime game that would've went who knows which way but at the end of the night everything worked out. I can't quite believe that this is the first team captained by a European to win the cup, but no one's a better first than Nick Lindstrom. Great job Wings, and thanks for a fantastic season that was a blast to watch.

Speaking of blasts, I took one made of bus exhaust yesterday that I'm still coughing out. I think I reduced the 77's carbon footprint by a pound or two at least. It felt like there were chunks in it, literal chunks of carcinogens and pollutants that I had to stop and barf out before finishing my commute. Stopped on belmont, hunched over on the curb with drool and mucus dripping out my nose, I had to wonder if there was actually a point to trying to ride a bike or if I was just making as ass of myself. I did manage to keep everything off the bike though, and the rest of an uneventful ride was enough to remind me that biking doesn't have to have a point, it can just be biking. The goal at the end of the day is to just get home, and biking for me is the best way to achieve that. Still, if I could take a baseball bat to each and every bus in the entire city, I would be hard-pressed to say no.

Current beer-scale: 6.6 and rising.