Some fun stuff, and Life Plans!

I went camping and mountain biking and didn't even write about it!

I need a new front tire. Terrible traction equals several needless wipeouts!

There was lots of Hike-A-Biking. and it wasn't only because of downed trees.

I also hiked the tallest mountain in AZ last weekend. And had a snowball fight with Emma. And didn't write about that either!

And played pingpong at a bar in Flagstaff with Tracy and some of the Mennos. And didn't write about that either!

I'm also living in a great community house with four others, I have chickens and a back yard and a huge house that is a lot of work to take care of. We've got meetings and community meals.
But to top it all off I have a fixie!!! So now I guess I'm kinda writing about it:

One of my students works on car painting so I paid him to do the frame!

Then I bought some wheels off of craigslist. I think I paid too much, but I was getting anxious...

And soon I want to paint accents on these cool parts.

But actually, at this point it isn't even a fixie. Just a single speed with no brakes. Riding it to work the other day was a bit harrowing.
So now the count is up to four!
1. My trusty ol commuter, the great Windsor Dover. My first road bike. Trusty travel partner on several bike trips and now my heavy commuter.
2. The RockHopper! My college grad gift and source of many grand adventures. The bike that has been mtn biking all around Harrisonburg, at a trail park in downtown Houston TX, in Whitefish MT, all around Vancouver Canada, over the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, and of course on many trails here in Tucson.
3. The Fuji Newest. Its been my speedy steed. Taken me up and down Mt. Lemmon, and actually got me into cycling in a real way.
4. And now finally the newest member. The pretty bike, the barebones, fun bike. The pretty fixie. Keep your eyes peeled as it develops and gets some new accents!

But of course life isn't all about the bike. (sorry Rule #4) Its also about Brazil. For those of you who live under a rock and can't read this blog anyway, I'm determined to get to Brazil for the world cup in June! I'm not sure how its going to happen, (just kidding, I totally have a plan) but assuming I can get myself to stop buying cool things and get someone to come with me... wink wink. I'm totally going!!!

So now of course I find myself at the place in my mental monologue where I start thinking about what comes next in life. Even I, renowned traveler that I am, am not interested in traveling forever. Although I really can't say how long I might manage to putz around S America, eventually I'll need a place to settle down in again. Over the past while, of thinking and pondering and talking and more pondering, I've realized that Harrisonburg VA is where I think I will want to be next. At this point its really just a question of logistics. First and foremost, I'll need a job there. With my bike shop experience I might try to continue that line of work. Ideally I'll be able to magically time the ending of my S. America adventures with the start of a job in Harrisonburg. But I also recognize the potential difficulties. I'm afraid that means I'll have to save up even more before I leave.
But, assuming job things get worked out in someway or another, I find it pretty easy to imagine life in a pretty good light there. Assuming my friends and dear readers don't all up and move away too soon, and assuming nobody has too much faith and moves the mountains, I think I'll be able to find lots of great life giving things there again.

So thats pretty much the plan! Now I need to think about how to get back to the E. Coast for Christmas and Nicole's graduation!!!! wow. what a great thought.

Weekly Stats, plus some stuff!

TM: 9:07
AVS: 15.3
MXS: 35.3 (I didn't get any good box truck drafting in this week)
DST: 140.25
ODO: 440


I also want to say a bit about why you've heard so little from me lately. Contrary to what you might think it is infact not because there are no exciting things to share in my life. Largely it is due to a relatively small, but practically huge piece of technical equipment; my computer charger. It is M.I.A. and I have therefore not had regular or consistent access a good blogging device. In addition, I have not done a good job of photographing the goings-on around me. and so, while I really have been doing great and fun things and keeping busy, and biking a bunch, I dont have proof.  :-(
But! If you are interested in some of the (potentially hypothetical) things I have been up to here is quick run down:
- The Bizanteen Bikes program (my AmeriCorps job) sold a bunch of bikes at the GABA Swap meet last Sunday. It was a good time and lots of people were selling lots and lots of cool bike stuff. Although I didnt really have time to do much shopping since I was selling bikes.
- My student in Bizanteen is awesome and finished rebuilding a bike (that we sold at the above event).
- I've decided not to get a motorcycle, or a van, or anything else that awesome, but instead go for the smaller scale awesomnesses like bike parts and gear, and saving for Big Adventures.
- Saguaro East is a good ride. Even if it did make me a bit late for work... I'll have to do it again sometime soon.
- Stripping of the steel framed steed is going less than optimally. The deadly chemicals I bought to take off the paint for me didn't do a though job so now I'm hoping for someplace that can sand blast it. I'm excited for it to become a bike! I just think it might take awhile...

On the up and up!

The big new is... I have a job interview! Which is great! except that all of a sudden I begin to think about all the exciting things that I'm going to do next!!!
First I'm going to get a motorcycle!
Then I'm going to work like mad for a year! make a bunch of money and go to Brazil!!! As you all should know, the World Cup is being held there from June 12 to July 13 and I plan on being there. I dont know how I'm going to do that yet... maybe I can get Lucas to bring the good Ol Hippie Van and we can drive it a couple of miles, break down and then bus the rest of the way. Or maybe I'll bike! or maybe public transportation! the possibilities are endless! but it will happen. and I am super excited.

In other news, I'm going to be moving tomorrow. The Shed Life  is now behind me. I am moving on. The new place is going to have a pool and two roommates. They are a dating couple. I'm hoping that relationship drama isn't an issue. Originally I was only just a bit concerned. But then, just this past week the news came that Bailey is PREGNANT! WHAT?!?! yep. So we'll see what that means, but I think drama will be inevitable. www.tucson.craigslist.com/roo will still be one of my favorite websites.

And in closing, my good buddy David Rudy stopped by for bit! David is a skilled singer and has the honor of singing on Hesston's Choir. They just so happened to stop by Shalom Mennonite for some singing. It was very good stuff. It was extra cool to see David here because he and his brother were integral part of my Nov '12 travels. Also this one.
At one point a soloist sang this song. Its a good one.