I’ve been hit!!!

May 3, 2010May 3, 2010 meisajDaily Life

Biking home from work today a van hit me!!

Granted I was only hit on the shoulder, and also got my foot slightly ran over, but I was hit. And thankfully the mirror was collapsable (one of those ones that can be turned in so as to save space) because I would have been knocked off my bike otherwise.

I’m a pretty “rules of the road” bike rider. I ride in a bike lane when there is one (and there was one when I got hit) or near to the curb. I stop when there’s a red light (I do follow the bus lights sometimes, but I consider that following the lights). I use hand turn signals (really, do you know anyone who does that). I wear a helmet at all times. I don’t cut in and out of traffic and I always look both ways at cross sections even if I have the green light.

Today I’m coming down Euclid Ave in Cleveland when a white Ford van strikes me from behind. Immediately my left shoulder and foot start to ache. I don’t fall off my bike (or even stop) but am a little shooken up. I look up to see the van drive off. He hits the brakes a little hesistantly, keeps going, hits the brakes again a little, keeps going and finally stops at the red light a distance ahead (there was plenty of space to pull over). So he knows he hit me, but doesn’t pull over.

Near as I can tell he must have swerved in towards me or just wasn’t paying attention. The mirror struck my shoulder and my foot was dragged under the front tire a little (not under the tire, but the front tire must have hit my foot, and sucked it with it pinching it on its rotation).

I pull up along side him at the red light and he nervously asks if I’m ok. Which essentially I am, so I say I’m fine. I do make note of his licence plate as he drives away.

Upon inspection, I have two sharp red bruises (or at least what I assume will turn in bruises rather quickly) going up my left side starting below the should bone and ending up on top of my shoulder. My foot, other than being red from being pinched, is ok. It only took a year of biking in Cleveland before a vehicle tried to kill me. That’s not so bad.

Jumping on the Bandwagon

May 3, 2010May 3, 2010 meisajDaily Life

I’ve jumped on the exercise bandwagon again. Mostly cause its nice outside, partially because Sarah wants to run together.

So the last four days go as such:

Friday: Biked 20 miles (ok, 19), Did 70 pushs up and 70 sit ups
Saturday: Ran 2.5 miles (bought new running shoes, Yay!!)
Sunday: Ran 2.5 miles (with said new running shoes)
Today (Monday): Biked 20 miles (19), Did 70 push ups and 70 sit ups.

Not bad, right? The biking part is easy because I can bike to work (9 some odd miles each way). The running part is easy because I just don’t say no when Sarah asks if I want to run. She’s a little shocked at how I can just up and run and not be exhausted after having not exercised for months. The “memory pain” as I like to call it, that my legs recall from destroying them running in college seems to be subsiding.

My new morning routine is to get up at 6:10, look outside to see if its raining, check the temperature (that sacred 45 degrees Fahrenheit that it needs to be for me to get on my bike) and use that information to determine whether I get to sleep in for another 20 minutes or not. The only downside I see to biking right now is that work is out of coffee, and if I bike to work then I have a coffee-free day, and those are awful days.

Walking the Cat

April 28, 2010April 28, 2010 meisajDaily Life

I took Oscar for a walk today. I’ve had him for just over a year, and he oppressively meows at the doorway wanting to get out. Anyways, a few weeks ago I bought a leash. I put it on him and have let him meander around trying to get used to the leash. I’ve even taken in the hallway (although he just rolls on his back out there).

Anyways, I let him walk outside (his second outdoor trip since getting the leash) and took a little video to show how great it is to walk a cat.

Oscar Walk

After walking around for a bit (and sorry for the breathing noises that are there, haven’t taken many videos with my phone before), I put him in my car and we headed to the park. I got him out of the car for about two minutes before he came running back to the car. We had to sit there for a minute for him to get used to the noise. After that he had a solid twenty minutes of exploring the area. He ran away from everyone that was around, but had fun I think.

Chuppa’s Market

April 25, 2010May 3, 2010 meisajDaily Life

Sorry for the lack of posts. To be honest I’ve spent the last two weeks obsessing with the Hockey Playoffs. My beard is going well and the Sabres, despite not winning the last three games prior, did fantastic and played with a lot of energy Friday.

Anyways, Chuppa’s Market!! Friday morning I mentioned how we (Sarah and I) should go to the West Side Market on Saturday to do some shopping, and she said we should try out Chuppa’s Market in Parma because she had a gift certificate for them. Before she could say another word I went into a rant about how Chuppa’s Market sounds like the name of a kid’s show on Nickelodeon. From there my imagination just catapulted into what the show would look like. And at work I started sketching the show outlines and even got the kids to sing with me about Chuppa’s Market.

On an ending note, Chuppa’s Market is a pretty decent place to shop. Fresh foods, peanut butter made on location (Sarah went crazy for the Chocolate Peanut Butter. You could watch them make it, oil, peanuts, and chocolate chips. That’s it, three ingredients. I got myself some honey peanut butter, honey, oil, peanuts. Nice and fresh). If you are ever in the Parma area, go for it.

Blorpee McWhiskers

April 12, 2010April 12, 2010 meisajDaily Life

A little over a week ago Sarah and I were in a pet store. There we saw a Pacman frog that Sarah fell in love with. We named him Blorpee. Later we added the last name McWhiskers. Saturday we went back to the store to get Blorpee (the guy at the pet store didn’t seem as excited at the name as Sarah is).

We think Blorpee qualifies as an albino frog but we’re not sure. He has red eyes, and isn’t as pigmented as other Pacman frogs I’ve seen online. He is friendly and doesn’t seem to mind being held. Sarah and I spent a large chunk of Saturday just watching him, which is funny in itself to think about. Pacman frogs are apparently the laziest of all frogs. They sit in one spot for the whole day until they want to eat. Then they eat, and sit again all day. Not exactly an active frog.

Interesting Pacman Frog facts:

They grow as wide as they are long.
They have sharp teeth that are angled so they can’t let go of what they catch.
They will eat anything.
They often try to eat things as big as themselves, leading them to choke to death because they can’t let go.
They are called Pacman frogs because their mouth is almost as wide as their bodies.
The Hypnotoad from Futurama is a Pacman frog.
Sarah doesn’t like the idea of putting a dog collar on Blorpee like the Hypnotoad has.

And he has peed on me twice already. That’s a sign of affection right?

Playoffs

April 7, 2010April 28, 2010 meisajDaily Life

The Sabres made the playoffs securing the number one position in the Northeast Division. That means it is time for the playoff beard.

I stole this from Jeremy White’s column at WGR 550.

Growing a beard is a commitment…and you have less than a week to decide what level of commitment you’re willing to put in.

Here’s a loose set of rules for you (Keep in mind, there are special interpretations and circumstances with each beard).

1. If you plan on growing a playoff beard, it must in SOME way be different from your normal look. Having a goatee, and keeping a goatee is cheating. That doesn’t count. Beard up.

2. You may “manscape” if necessary. The more dedicated you are, the less you’ll do with trimming. That said, my neck gets disgusting in about 7 days. I’m going to try to hold out as long as possible this year.

3. If your girlfriend or wife hates it – TOUGH. For her.

4. You may begin the day of the playoffs, or the last day of the regular season, or today if you’d like. I have NO objections with calling today “training camp” for your beard. Get started if you need the push.

5. If you CANT grow a beard but CAN grow a mustache…mustache up.

That’s about it. I’m sure there are more intricate rules and rulings to be made but for me it’s simple. Grow a beard. If someone thinks you’re lame because of it, then just rub your face on them.

It rocks. And I’m totally growing out a playoff beard. I already forewarned Sarah. Let’s go Sabres!!