Addiction L8
05-28-16, 11:15 AM
#4778
INSERT_TITLE_HERE
Appreciate the concern, and I would never do a flambé. It is just a funny thought that brought back memories.
As a youth, I worked summers for the highway department. At the end of the day, we would clean all the paving tools and painting equipment essentially at the diesel pump. Most guys would have a cigarette going, we would be dousing shovels and burning off the tar on little rag fires. To anyone looking on, it would have looked insane. And maybe it was. But playing with combustibles reminds me of it.
As a youth, I worked summers for the highway department. At the end of the day, we would clean all the paving tools and painting equipment essentially at the diesel pump. Most guys would have a cigarette going, we would be dousing shovels and burning off the tar on little rag fires. To anyone looking on, it would have looked insane. And maybe it was. But playing with combustibles reminds me of it.
05-28-16, 11:17 AM
#4779
INSERT_TITLE_HERE
We used to get a lot of folks like your boss in the burn ward, from their stupidity came the somewhat callus phrase often heard in burn wards that their burns were well earned from their stupidity. Or something to that effect. I'll spare you the actual comment so cold is it.
05-28-16, 11:19 AM
#4780
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I thought so. I had in-laws in Sarasota at one time, and have seen and been across that bridge. Unfortunately I wasn't photographing bridges at the time.
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See, this is why we can't have nice things. - - smarkinson
Where else but the internet can a bunch of cyclists go and be the tough guy? - - jdon
05-28-16, 11:28 AM
#4781
INSERT_TITLE_HERE
Driving up it is weird because your eyes do that natural telephoto compression thing, where it's looks like you're about to drive right up a vertical wall as you approach it, especially from the south side.
Growing up over there, we went over the bridges all the time. The old one was 2 spans (one northbound and the other southbound). And then one fell and killed a bunch of people and both directions shared the bridge next to the fallen one while the new one got built.
It was creepy as hell. Instructions from my parents were along the lines of "hold your breath, we're going across!" That totally won't scar a small child for life.
Did mention the old bridge had a grate bottom, so while you were holding your breath you could look straight down at the water way down below?
05-28-16, 11:35 AM
#4782
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Yikes! 
__________________
See, this is why we can't have nice things. - - smarkinson
Where else but the internet can a bunch of cyclists go and be the tough guy? - - jdon
05-28-16, 11:37 AM
#4783
Speechless
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It's purdy, and big. I used to be able to see if from my office window (just barely) when I worked in St. Pete. That's saying something, because that bridge really starts many miles from any land, and my office at USF was by Albert Whitted airport (where they run the IndyCar race).
Driving up it is weird because your eyes do that natural telephoto compression thing, where it's looks like you're about to drive right up a vertical wall as you approach it, especially from the south side.
Growing up over there, we went over the bridges all the time. The old one was 2 spans (one northbound and the other southbound). And then one fell and killed a bunch of people and both directions shared the bridge next to the fallen one while the new one got built.
It was creepy as hell. Instructions from my parents were along the lines of "hold your breath, we're going across!" That totally won't scar a small child for life.
Did mention the old bridge had a grate bottom, so while you were holding your breath you could look straight down at the water way down below?
Driving up it is weird because your eyes do that natural telephoto compression thing, where it's looks like you're about to drive right up a vertical wall as you approach it, especially from the south side.
Growing up over there, we went over the bridges all the time. The old one was 2 spans (one northbound and the other southbound). And then one fell and killed a bunch of people and both directions shared the bridge next to the fallen one while the new one got built.
It was creepy as hell. Instructions from my parents were along the lines of "hold your breath, we're going across!" That totally won't scar a small child for life.
Did mention the old bridge had a grate bottom, so while you were holding your breath you could look straight down at the water way down below?
05-28-16, 11:46 AM
#4784
INSERT_TITLE_HERE
Locals generally don't swim in the bay itself (gulf beaches are better anyways). And we sure as hell didn't do that at dusk/dawn. I remember hearing about some idiot old guy who used to swim off his dock in the bay every evening... until a bull shark removed his mid section from his armpit to his hip bone (obviously didn't survive).
05-28-16, 12:23 PM
#4785
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I can just imagine the meeting between the engineers proposing that bridge design and the mayor(s):
E: So this is what we're proposing for your new bridge. Purdy, ain't it?
M: Um, you don't get it, son. We just had a regular bridge fall down, now here you come with this fancy smancy thing that's supposed to be better?
E: But ...
M: But nothing! I'm up for reelection soon and if another bridge falls down under my watch I'm through. Caput. Finished. Toast. Shark bait.
E: But ...
M: But my ass, boy! Now you take that flimsy crap the hell out of here and come back with a real design for a real bridge, or else.
E: So this is what we're proposing for your new bridge. Purdy, ain't it?
M:
Um, you don't get it, son. We just had a regular bridge fall down, now here you come with this fancy smancy thing that's supposed to be better? E: But ...
M: But nothing! I'm up for reelection soon and if another bridge falls down under my watch I'm through. Caput. Finished. Toast. Shark bait.
E: But ...
M: But my ass, boy! Now you take that flimsy crap the hell out of here and come back with a real design for a real bridge, or else.
__________________
See, this is why we can't have nice things. - - smarkinson
Where else but the internet can a bunch of cyclists go and be the tough guy? - - jdon
Last edited by BillyD; 05-28-16 at 12:29 PM. Reason: More cussing.
05-28-16, 12:27 PM
#4786
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Second meeting:
E: Well here's a sack of benjamins just for you, sir. Is our design looking any better to you now?
M: Why come on in, son, have a seat. So when can you get started?
E: Well here's a sack of benjamins just for you, sir. Is our design looking any better to you now?
M: Why come on in, son, have a seat. So when can you get started?
__________________
See, this is why we can't have nice things. - - smarkinson
Where else but the internet can a bunch of cyclists go and be the tough guy? - - jdon
05-28-16, 12:58 PM
#4787
Should Be More Popular
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Hard ride today. It was officially an A- ride. But there was no A ride posted (I suppose the usual A guys are racing) so we had some A riders, and as a result the pace was about 1 MPH faster than it should have been. My tri friend got dropped at around mile 40. I was able to stay with the group until the last mile when I cramped and had to sit up. Total distance was 65 hot sweaty miles, phew I am beat!
05-28-16, 01:07 PM
#4788
Serious Cyclist
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Did 36 miles today in NC without hitting a single Strava segment. That's a first for any ride I've ever done since I started using Strava. Guess there aren't many cyclists in these parts.
05-28-16, 01:41 PM
#4789
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Tampa Bay is the 3rd most shark infested body of water in the world. If you've swam in the bay just 3 times, your probability of being within 10m of a shark without knowing it is 100%. Brought to you by interesting marine science facts from a former marine scientist.
Locals generally don't swim in the bay itself (gulf beaches are better anyways). And we sure as hell didn't do that at dusk/dawn. I remember hearing about some idiot old guy who used to swim off his dock in the bay every evening... until a bull shark removed his mid section from his armpit to his hip bone (obviously didn't survive).
Locals generally don't swim in the bay itself (gulf beaches are better anyways). And we sure as hell didn't do that at dusk/dawn. I remember hearing about some idiot old guy who used to swim off his dock in the bay every evening... until a bull shark removed his mid section from his armpit to his hip bone (obviously didn't survive).
I dislike sharks.
05-28-16, 04:02 PM
#4792
cowboy, steel horse, etc
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It's purdy, and big. I used to be able to see if from my office window (just barely) when I worked in St. Pete. That's saying something, because that bridge really starts many miles from any land, and my office at USF was by Albert Whitted airport (where they run the IndyCar race).
Driving up it is weird because your eyes do that natural telephoto compression thing, where it's looks like you're about to drive right up a vertical wall as you approach it, especially from the south side.
Growing up over there, we went over the bridges all the time. The old one was 2 spans (one northbound and the other southbound). And then one fell and killed a bunch of people and both directions shared the bridge next to the fallen one while the new one got built.
It was creepy as hell. Instructions from my parents were along the lines of "hold your breath, we're going across!" That totally won't scar a small child for life.
Did mention the old bridge had a grate bottom, so while you were holding your breath you could look straight down at the water way down below?
Driving up it is weird because your eyes do that natural telephoto compression thing, where it's looks like you're about to drive right up a vertical wall as you approach it, especially from the south side.
Growing up over there, we went over the bridges all the time. The old one was 2 spans (one northbound and the other southbound). And then one fell and killed a bunch of people and both directions shared the bridge next to the fallen one while the new one got built.
It was creepy as hell. Instructions from my parents were along the lines of "hold your breath, we're going across!" That totally won't scar a small child for life.
Did mention the old bridge had a grate bottom, so while you were holding your breath you could look straight down at the water way down below?
05-28-16, 05:20 PM
#4795
Casually Deliberate
I didn't Strava this and I almost hesitate to post about it since it wouldn't be an accomplishment for anybody except me but I'm going to. Today, I rode to the Kum & Go market and back again.
Some people probably remember when I first started riding a bike. I learned to ride because I was frustrated with being unable to test-ride the bikes I worked on in the shop and because LoP went everywhere by bike and if I walked to the park then I'd get there 20 minutes after he did and he'd be very nearly bored and ready to leave. It was never my intention to win races or ride great distances. (I still think I might like cyclocross especially because there aren't as many women competing at my age so I'd be pretty much guaranteed a good finish if I finished at all. But people keep laughing and saying I'd kill myself, so we'll see.) I mostly wanted to be the kind of person who could say "Oh, look. There's a new Redbox movie at the store a mile away from here" or "I guess we're out of Cokes/Red Bull/creamer, I'll go get some".
And today, I rode most of the way to the store- I had to keep getting off to ask people where the store was because the maps app on my phone freaking lies- and all the way back except for when I had to cross a super-busy street. Even with the wind gusts, I had a good time. I rode down an alleyway for the first time which was excellent and which I will be doing more of. I rode a bunchy of non-pavement and it was uneven and there was gravel and mud and I will be doing a hell of a lot more of that in the future.
I bought some energy drinks and two of those 1893 colas, which are the bomb, and I sat in the sun and ate a hot dog and I rented "The Benefactor". Then I rode home to Cottonwood Central. Yep. Just like in those old movies where the whatever it is is inside the house, the allergens are right next to the house in the form of a whole bunch of Cottonwood trees. There are so many that when the wind blows, you can see those white floaty things drifting past the window as if it was snowing. But I started taking Allegra two days ago and today I made it through this ride with only a little panting so maybe things will get even better.
Some people probably remember when I first started riding a bike. I learned to ride because I was frustrated with being unable to test-ride the bikes I worked on in the shop and because LoP went everywhere by bike and if I walked to the park then I'd get there 20 minutes after he did and he'd be very nearly bored and ready to leave. It was never my intention to win races or ride great distances. (I still think I might like cyclocross especially because there aren't as many women competing at my age so I'd be pretty much guaranteed a good finish if I finished at all. But people keep laughing and saying I'd kill myself, so we'll see.) I mostly wanted to be the kind of person who could say "Oh, look. There's a new Redbox movie at the store a mile away from here" or "I guess we're out of Cokes/Red Bull/creamer, I'll go get some".
And today, I rode most of the way to the store- I had to keep getting off to ask people where the store was because the maps app on my phone freaking lies- and all the way back except for when I had to cross a super-busy street. Even with the wind gusts, I had a good time. I rode down an alleyway for the first time which was excellent and which I will be doing more of. I rode a bunchy of non-pavement and it was uneven and there was gravel and mud and I will be doing a hell of a lot more of that in the future.
I bought some energy drinks and two of those 1893 colas, which are the bomb, and I sat in the sun and ate a hot dog and I rented "The Benefactor". Then I rode home to Cottonwood Central. Yep. Just like in those old movies where the whatever it is is inside the house, the allergens are right next to the house in the form of a whole bunch of Cottonwood trees. There are so many that when the wind blows, you can see those white floaty things drifting past the window as if it was snowing. But I started taking Allegra two days ago and today I made it through this ride with only a little panting so maybe things will get even better.
05-28-16, 07:03 PM
#4796
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05-28-16, 07:22 PM
#4797
Mostly Harmless
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aw hell...you win. My leg was getting some muscle back into it after rehabbing for 6 months after the ORIF surgery when the doc said "we are pretty much gonna have to start all over again because your hardware is literally coming apart."
After he ordered and then I got a CAT scan done we found that my ankle was way worse than he and I thought. Struggling to decide to have a fusion done I spoke with 3 other otho docs ALL who called my leg a "Humpty Dumpty" and to either have the fusion done or think about a prosthetic ankle. That was 10 days before Christmas (My 51st birthday) 2014. I had the fusion done May 29 2015 and been back on my bike for 6 weeks now
After he ordered and then I got a CAT scan done we found that my ankle was way worse than he and I thought. Struggling to decide to have a fusion done I spoke with 3 other otho docs ALL who called my leg a "Humpty Dumpty" and to either have the fusion done or think about a prosthetic ankle. That was 10 days before Christmas (My 51st birthday) 2014. I had the fusion done May 29 2015 and been back on my bike for 6 weeks now
05-28-16, 07:24 PM
#4798
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That 928 was sweet. Tony Montana had his bullet-proofed 
1979 I remember my buddy worked at the Porche /Audi dealer in Fairfax, Va. where we grew up and his job was to swap DA's I think they're called drive away where he would drive (from the dealership in FFX) a new Porsche up to Baltimore or Philly, drop it off for a customer and drive another back from one dealership to the other.
I was in 10th grade and he was a senior. What a cool job that was. I'm 52 now and would love to do that now for like 10 BUCK AN HOUR!
1979 I remember my buddy worked at the Porche /Audi dealer in Fairfax, Va. where we grew up and his job was to swap DA's I think they're called drive away where he would drive (from the dealership in FFX) a new Porsche up to Baltimore or Philly, drop it off for a customer and drive another back from one dealership to the other.I was in 10th grade and he was a senior. What a cool job that was. I'm 52 now and would love to do that now for like 10 BUCK AN HOUR!
05-28-16, 07:25 PM
#4799
Mostly Harmless
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05-28-16, 07:26 PM
#4800
So it is
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