Fresh Air

I walked out of work, today, and the sky was finally possessed of that winter quality. I can't describe it to you, but if you have lived in Oregon for any amount of time, then you'll know what I mean. Slight overcast, low sun, damp chill. But I was warmed, this weekend. I was warmed.
~J

Music

Wow. I almost lost my life, today. I mean it, I really came close to dying. I was driving to work and a semi-truck ran a red light. Lucky for me he was empty or he would not have able to stop. As it was, he stopped about two feet from t-boning my driver-side door. I wanted to puke I was so shaken. I wish I could write something about realizing how important life is or how I will treat everyday as my last...but that's all bullshit. I came away thinking how fragile I am. Everything I have done, everything I am can be snuffed out in an instant. I love life already. As an atheist, I don't believe that when you kill someone, you send them to god. Death is tragic, and end. Doesn't matter if your government's death commando tortures and kills you, as in El Salvador, or a Mac truck plowes into you running a light...death is it. But that is part of life, you roll the dice and brave the impending, inevitable doom. And some of us, myself included, learn to smile, despite that fact.
~J

Takin it Back

This weekend was great. It was great to be out at Grant with the guys working ourselves over and calling it progression. I have a new combo; fire-hydrant to half bar switch to half-hike turbine. It is by far the most serious link I have tried and I am kinda stoked that I have rolled it at all. It is definately something I will pull soon, if I can get some hours in on it. After everyone left, Joe and I hung out for several hours. It was very cool. It reminded me of the first time I spent the night with Joe, well over ten years ago. Riding, talking and riding some more. Joe has always been one of my heroes simply because he has a good vibe. The session at Grant, in the nipple-hardening cold was one of the most mellow sessions I can remember. This weekend showed me that the core of why I ride ( and why Joe rides) has not changed at all. And I'm glad.
~J

Skin graph

It's kinda scary the power words have. Tonight my daughter wanted to make cookies because I told we would last night. She goes to bed at 8 and we got home at 7:30, so we didn't. She said I was a liar. I almost decided that she could stay up late and make cookies just because I didn't want her to say that anymore. There are some things which I cannot handle being said to me. Accusations are generally not a good way to persuade someone to listen to you or see your viewpoint. Of course I don't expect a five-year-old girl to understand that, but I do expect an adult to. You might say that I expect too much, but I don't think I do. I expect adults to treat eachother with respect even if they do not have much respect for that person (or anyone - including themselves). In America we don't have a rigid social structure to conform to. We deal with quite a bit of diversity on a daily basis, and that can mean alot of toes getting stepped on. Being politically correct is a behavior. Being respectful is a state of mind, in my opinion. People who know me pretty well, know that I am quite outspoken and not very p.c., but I hope that they know that I try very hard to be respectful. I disagree, but I try not to let myself think that I am right(eous). I hope that my words persuade, invite and debate, rather than sting and accuse.
~J
p.s. I have double-fronts, now. DAMN I love my bike!!

You decide

My car is my refuge. Music blasting, singing at the top of my lungs and I don't care that people can see me. Whenever I am down on life, that car will be where I let it all out. I'll take the long way home and belt out my tension. I am probably a horrible singer, too. I often times wish I had the balls or lack of self-respect to sing in public. I'd stand on a street corner and sing Incubus songs or Tool songs...whatever tapped the well. I'd be rocking out with an electric ukelele, letting the dreads fly, staring everyone down with one eye all white and one neon green. Gyrating my hips like Elvis...needle sticking out of my forearm. Hell yeah! Well, it's a nice daydream, but since I have self-respect, I keep the real me inside...unless I'm in my car.
~J

Knowledge

Knowledge is power. I'm sure we all have heard that before. I believe that it is true. Now, think of situations where you have willingly chosen ignorance over knowledge. I can think of a few situations in my life. I think that the more I read about the way this country and the powerfully wealthy encourage mass slaughter in various countries, the more guilt I feel. As Americans, we tend to get very upset about things which I think are ridiculous, like gay rights, abortion and gun laws, but don't know much about the economy, retirement, health care, etc. Liberals are told that the middle class pays the bulk of the taxes, but the vast majority of the country thinks it is middle class. The truth is that per houshold, the more you make, the greater percentage you pay to the federal government. We're talking over 28%! Now, of course, that doesn't apply to the top 1-2%. We all hear about Saddam, Osama...but nobody seems to ask themselves how these people come to power, or why we don't kill them. I think it's because we don't want to scare any future dictators away from dealing with us. I mean, if we started killing these monsters after we were through, we wouldn't have the future "Enemies of the State." And anyone who thinks Carter, Bush (ANY of them!) or Clinton were/ are humanitarians haven't read "Manufacturing Consent." Do yourself a favor, let go of your bliss.
~J

Date

I have a date with a hotty, tonight. This is going to be a great weekend. A date with a cool chick and then a weekend at Hagness's place full of riding and new flatland videos. What the hell more can a guy want?
~J