Ahhh...

Poorly drawn cartoon helps my simple mind.

Not perfect.

Not totally clear.

But at least approaching 20/50 instead of 20/1000...

A primer on the mortgage crisis

*link stolen from Doucheblog

Brother, can you spare $700 Billion?

Now I am far from the smartest pea in the pod, but I am totally tripping at the $700 Billion (some say it will reach $1.5 TRILLION) dollars we are going to pay all of these failed investment and banking firms.

Say what???

Kirby-you and I agree on some things, and your comment on my post below did not fall on deaf ears. I don't fully agree or understand the bank lending racist card. But I can grasp greed and lack of morals. Everyone is subject to it on some level-whether big or small. Now, MY  OPINION, is the majority of banks, lenders, mortgage folks and investors KNEW shit was not right and KNEW it was a get in and out scheme. I'm no market analyst, but I do know that it runs in cycles just as much as I know people on ALL levels were lacking ANY common sense...

I know because I was right in there.

Folks telling me, "Just do stated income-you'll be able to get a house", or "You need a house", or "Real Estate will keep going up-we live in a desireable area".

Their fault?

Nope.

Mine.

I accept MY responsibility (or lack there-of). But many, many folks on BOTH sides of the equation we are now staring down-do not.

I mean, come on...could you have afforded the house before? Did you know, really, what the cost was? Will you have a job, or if not, will you still be able to pay your mortgage?

What's scaring me the most is it all seems as simple (and also uneducated) as a 5 year old's mentality to just "get more money out of the ATM". The whole, "My bad, now can I have a do-over?"

So we are going to pay these folks that screwed up royally (Frannie, Freddie, Chase, WAMU, et. al)-these people that already MADE money on the ordeal--I am talking about the executives and folks in charge-who not only had to know (based on all that schoolin' and degrees)-yet also gave themselves bonuses and perks and retirements packages in the millions???  How is it that they are NOT going to be charged, just like Enron? Shit goes both left and right my friend. (And don't even get me started on republicans and their agenda to invade everyone's personal life-see wire tapping and freedom of speech/censureship of current administration,  cut taxes while spending 800x more, and generally leading us into an Orwellian/religious based state.)

Here's one for you republicans---

How do you cut revenue (taxes), spend more than ever imagined (that  includes those whopping $3000 or so tax rebate checks we received in the past 2 years), and not have a deficit?...Somebody smarter than me-please explain.

I don't see much in the way of helping the other end out. And I'm not talking about folks that put no money down, refinanced to buy SUVs and Flat screens, or got into a house they KNEW they could never afford.

 I'm talking about folks that put money down (one way or another), have made their payments. Not refinanced to buy toys. 

Granted I have no idea how to make it work. We were just as foolish to buy a house for $400,000 when 2 years prior it was $200,000. 

I just wish someone with a big ol' brain could show me how the common, middle class sap is gonna be helped out.

Cause I'm that middle class sap, and I don't want to be paying for all this...forever.

I'm rambling like a crazy coot, but this whole thing stinks on so many levels, I can't even begin to sort it out. For my part, I'm sticking to what I know I have some control over, I'll keep paying my bills as long as I have a job and most importantly I'll keep my focus on me, my son and our health...

Pretty Bird

Wednesdays are generally time for the Wednesday Worlds™ our own version of the Special Olympics road ride up and down Mt. Veeder. But the last two have been re-designated Parakeet™ explorations.

The Parakeet™ is a ride we are looking to put together that utilizes dirt roads and trails in areas we wish were legal while at the same time allowing for a healthy dose of exploration, fun and adventure.

Last night was quite nice.

Lakoya Road to our friends Jen's house. Home-made iced tea and cookies await. Oh yeah and an incredible view! She was kind enough to sketch out our route (alomost exactly as we had previewed/Planned on Google Earth) and, with the sun setting, we were off.

One word wouldn't suffice, but here goes...INCREDIBLE.

We mosey'd up some fireroady/double track as it got progressively darker. In the middle we were skirting a ridge overlooking both Sonoma AND Napa Valley. As it got totally dark 2 out of 3 riders switched on the appropriate lights (sorry guys, I will remember my real light next time) and we continued. Soon it was down, down, down. Followed by a little bush whacking and voila a dirt road leading us right to Cavedale road!

A stop at the firestation and some hearty congratulations and admiration of not only the ride, but where we were and how we did it.

As it was almost 8:45 we headed down Trinity and toward Veeder to climb home.

Totally surreal experience as we climbed all of Veeder in total darkness. Leaving the lights off and climbing by memory and a very (very) faint yellow line in middle of the road. I was getting worked as we climbed way faster (it seemed) than ever. What kept me going was not wanting to be last and all alone on Veeder in total darkness (I mean it was just last week Curtis and I saw a mountain lion out there).

Andrew utilized his supreme night vision skills to lead us as well as identify a skunk running in front of us.

Lights were again used for the descent as we returned home around 9:30.

The smile from the adventure hasn't faded yet...The Parakeet™ is taking shape!

**photos courtesy of A. Brooks

Sweet

Balsa Wood Glider Building...

BB Gun Target Shooting...

Dinner and Pie with PaPa and Yaya...

Helping me rake and clean up yard...

Riding bikes from college to downtown, ice cream at Ben & Jerry's, and riding back to college...

Checking out bearded dragons at Petco...

Glider flying at park...

Soapy mohawks during bath-time...

Reading about beardies and desert geckos--which one to get?---before bed-time...

Watching you sleep peacefully...

What an incredible time with my son...2 full weekend days of pure joy...

I have some pics to follow--most are in my memories.

Following Up on that Political Ass

OK, quickly...

My previous post, represented a portion of my frustration with the media today. The stories I have been seeing and reading, in multiple outlets both right and left leaning had Paulin and Co. reaching for new levels of muck-racking and BS slinging. The aforemetioned article came along when I hit the max I could stomach from the campaign. Do I stand for EVERYTHING it speaks of? No.

A little background might be necessary:

I am a white male

I am a single father

I make just enough to provide for myself and my son, savings currently are not an option

I work hard, I take pride in my work

I don't own stocks or bonds, have much of an IRA or money for that matter

I am responsible for myself-both my mistakes AND my successes

I recognize more clearly as I have been getting older that personal responsibility is NOT something a lot of folks in my country have or accept. It's way too easy to place the fault/blame/cause on someone else than to see it was YOU that made the choice (good or bad) and it is YOUR responsibility to handle it.

I am happy to live in the USA, at least we can (currently) continue to have these discussions, disagreements, alternative views and personal expressions. 

I spend most of my time outdoors-cycling mostly, although hiking and kayaking happen too. Main thing, I respect the outdoors, nature and the environment. Not enough to burn SUV's or Ski resorts, but enough to know that it is MY responsibility to do MORE to maintain them and their freedom/wild-ness/access. That includes recycling more, re-using more, being more mindful of my impact on the planet. That is MY impact. And that will be ever-evolving. I'm not perfect, but I am (daily, weekly, monthly) trying to do more, no matter how small. No preaching, but I will defend what I hold close and that is outdoors and my time in them (and my Jake's time in them).

I do not think one party is really that much "better" than the other. However, I will not stoop to immature name-calling, partisan BS, succumbing to media frenzy, close-minded, "that's how my parents voted-so will I"... I am not so naive that I think Dem or Rep. is going to solve the countries problems. Nor do I think either party really gives a rat's ass about me (middle class). I wasn't impressed with the current administration EVER. As a matter of fact, the last election really being the first  (sadly) I paid ANY attention to or voted in, pretty much destroyed my confidence in the system. It was devastating to see our current president win- on so many levels, that I made a pact to myself to learn more about the process and candidates and be more involved "next time". Well, I have-somewhat. Not sure I could ever REALLY get the whole, complete, true, un-adulterated version from EITHER party. But I make my decisions based on MY personal beliefs, needs and ideals---NOT (not ever) what a media outlet or 6 o'clock news story dictates.

I am in the rather large portion of America who impulsively (and in hind-sight--.isn't that always the case!?--regret allowing my impulses, family and societal pressures push me to purchasing it in the first place. But I do understand no-one forced me into it, and given that knowledge, understand it is MY responsibility-both to succeed or fail in its ownership) purchased a house for WAY too much on loan terms that pretty much guarantee that I will not own it anytime soon or ever. I pay a bank rent and hope that shit doesn't go too bad in terms of interest rates and such. I know that the "powers that be"-banks, mortgage brokers, lenders, knew shit wrong, but still raked suckers like me in hand over fist--it's the "American Way" dollars are almighty--while they could. Again, only in hind-sight could I even see what a mess I was entering and how folks with money would keep it and folks without, well they'll continue that way.

Where the hell am I going with this?

Reading my good friend's and my sisters reply to my previous post has me wondering if I am on the same planet. 

To blindly say as my sister says, "I wish more people could hear them instead of the negativity we get fed through the media in articles like these liberal hate pieces that do nothing to inform anyone of what either candidate stands for or what their character contains."

"Liberal Hate Pieces"--have you listened to YOUR candidates banter lately? I mean come on. That's what led me to the story in the first place. And that's what I took away from the piece as well--how one side can say all the shit they want and not substantiate it, and have it accepted as gospel-while the other is vilified? 

Think please. For yourself.

Anyway, that's kinda the point of all of this for me. We all are thinking for ourselves. I'm not one to say my thoughts/beliefs/ideals are any better than yours or his or hers. But I am entitled to them as much as you are to yours. That's the great thing about our country and the thing that makes me proud to be an American. We can agree to disagree and no one will die over it. 

The more folks (myself included) think—and I mean REALLY Think about what you stand for, why and how it affects not only yourself, but everyone/thing around you—the better off we will be as a country. 

time get political all over your ass

I'm done sitting back listening to the BS sound-bites and muck-raking done by...you guessed it..the Republican Party.

Stevil at Bummer Life had this link, and since some of my 6 readers might not know of the sweet site or Swobo for that matter, I am propagating the piece...

White Privilege

...I mean really. Before you jump on the band-wagon, shouldn't you know where it's going?

Here Kitty, Kitty

Curtis and I did some good exploring on cross bikes last night ... Partrick to dirt to Hess/Redwood and instead of heading into Hess we went right and followed a ton of jeep trails until we were about 1/2 mile away from Hess (to the right). Then more trails until we descended onto Redwood road, close to the bottom (of the Hess portion). A lot more to follow/find/make.

Headed up Redwood to meet with Pruitt. Waited around at top until 8PM, it was fully dark, headed down Veeder a bit, Curtis was cold (vest only), so I suggested hitting up recycling bins for newspaper to stuff under the vest and my wind breaker. As we cruised in near dark (only small lights) I heard something to the right. Deer?

We stopped at a recycling can, tore up some cardboard Swaddlers Diaper packaging and I heard more bush stomping and saw something in dark about 60' from us, crossing the road.

Swaddlers Box helps keep you warm

Used Curtis anemic light first, saw shape.

Switched to mine, saw mountain lion.

Sorta looked like Pete Puma, didn't stick around to see how many lumps he wanted...

Didn't really freak out until it was heading up hill on right side of road and then hearing Curtis worriedly say, "OK, let's go!" Did I mention that "Go" was directly toward the cat?

Funny seeing two grown men race to "survive". Descent down was semi-fast with Curtis passing me once further down the hill and saying "Did you hear that?...Something was running alongside of us back there..." Didn't hear it. Kept moving. Faster.

Got home a lot warmer thanks to the Swaddlers packaging.

Good times.

Sweet rides and sayonaras

Jake rocks it pro-style at Alston on his new Kona Mtn Bike

Quick post...

My Sweet new Surly Cross-Check came in from Surly (what an incredible and unknown gift for helping with SSWC)...swapped parts from trusty Cannondale XS800 and have put a few rides on Surly (Veeder, Partrick and commute to work)...really nice ride! Pics soon.

Meanwhile, my sell-a-thon has worked really well. Craigslist came through just fine as I sold the XS800 and Jake's basically mint-condition (blame it on over-excited Dad rushing into bike purchase) Redline Micro-Mini recently. 

Trusty Cannondale and Jake's mint Redline are off to new owners...

The Redline sold to make room for his sweet new Kona Shred 2-0. What an incredible little bike-20" wheels, shocks, Hayes Disc brakes....Luuuuckeeee! We were very fortunate to have some trmendous help from Curtis in procuring this sweet rig (Jake's bud Jeffrey was also the recipient of the same whip)...

Jake has done INCREDIBLY well on the shifting and disc brake operation. He and I spent 2 hours at Brown's Valley School trying it out and then today at Alston with his bud Jeffrey on a maiden dirt trip. It is so awesome to see his face light up as he rides!

I'm looking forward to my first long weekend with him in a while next weekend, I wonder what kind of adventures we will embark upon!

Is it really September?

I am totally trippin'--I can not believe it is already September. I mean, I used to think time was going fast, but this year, well there has been a lot of major things going down, but damn--September???

What's been going on? Most major bit the last month(s) was SSWC08.

The event we have been working on for almost a year, the gathering of 400 single-speed bike racers/riders/freaks/friends—it's done. Went off better than anything I have ever been a part of. Maybe it was the long time-line. Maybe the lack of formality. I dunno. I do remember sweating the details A LOT more for cross races we put on at King in Redding-and those were pulling like 30-50 riders, MAX!

There's plenty been written about the event, see our blog SSWC08 for more words and pictures than you can shake a stick at. 

Like I said, it was awesome-I met so many great folks-old friends (Kirby and Jason came from North Carolina, Grady and Johnoss up from Ess Eff, Squiggles  got out of Reddin' for a day, Steve Tam, Jack Fraser from Portland (if only for a minute), Mike DeSalvo made it down, and my new buds from Yerup--Olle, Boe, Patric and Co., heaps of riders from Cali and beyond---incredibly awesome-even for a somewhat jaded old-bike industry guy.

We did incredible rides each day before our event, each time seeing more people appear-raising my heart-rate, but also truly exciting. 60 people at Annadel, 70+ at Tamarancho, 100 for the ride over the GG Bridge to Kirby Cove...damn fine. Rocked Napa Bowl like they could never have expected and ate Michael and crew out of food at Azzurro 3 nights in a row...

The event went off spectacularly-the run around the corral, the extra loop I talked the team into adding, the spectators, the beer and the outfits! Even Jason, Mr. Serious Racer, rocked the tighty whiteys for 3 laps! (Who would have ever thought the underwear pics would be the favorite of male fetishists all over Flickr!). I did not race, no way, but I did heckle the shit out of folks. All in good nature of course, but so fun! Got to take the winner to the Tattoo parlor to see Carl and Rachel (newbies to ink) get their Scarlet Letters.

I was taken completely by surprise at the raffle, when Curtis and Co. called me onstage and gave me a certificate for any Surly frame I wanted-for volunteering! 

Curtis, Mitzi, Jefé, Sean, Andrew and everyone---I would have done it all for nothing. That shit was too cool for words. I just can't stop smiling and thinking how we did it...we freakin' did it right! Thanks so much for letting me be a part of the madness. What's next? Wildcat in Napa? Parakeet? CX in Napa?...

Then it was over.

From my end, it is somewhat bittersweet. Or as Mitzi called it-post-partem depression--the "baby" was born, now what do we do? 

Mostly back to business as usual, daily life, mortgages, relationships...funny thing, I like being driven by goals, large projects, so maybe I need to take the time to work on something(s) even bigger.

One I can think of that is highest priority-my son. I have some great plans for that one. One thing that my situation has afforded me, in it's deepest darkness, is clarity. He is the most important thing and I have a lot to do in that regard.

We got a 6th birthday coming up...a new big-boy bike on the way (with disc brakes AND a shock!)...new adventures to plan, a future to really start saving for and being a part of...

Freaking September! I  still can't believe it is 2008!