Entries this day: -stuff skate

stuff

1:40pm Thursday 13 January 1900

I'm reviewing a CD called I am Telephoning A Star by Crawling With Tarts. Quite odd, noise-ridden wacked out stuff. Good for the show Genetic Memory on KTRU.

Got my car back from the shop this morning! Scott has 2 new engine mounts and new radiator now for $617. $618 more and he can get new power steering!

Worked on installing a new modem today. Should be a piece of cake, but the PnP (Plug and Pray) Microsoft BS wasn't working. So I got an ISA modem and was able to get it installed.

Yesterday Wende and I went to see Suzanne! She's my ex-downstairs neighbor of 6 or 7 years, who moved out a couple years ago. We helped her set up her new computer and got paid in ice cream from Baskin Robbins!!!

Had to wear shoes today at work; we're having a guest type person visit to see how secure our place is.

Very likely I'll go skating tonight! I haven't been in SO Long!!

With Love
- Rob permalink

skate

11:07pm Thursday 13 January 2000

Started as we normally do on Thursday nights, meeting at Texas Art Supply (very close to my house) This night, only Scott and I showed up. I was quite excited to skate, and a bit glad that it was only he and I; I haven't been out in so long that I didn't want to hold back a big group.

We set out toward downtown, and within 2 blocks, my legs were burning. oh no I thought, this is going to be a short night. I was really sucking wind by the time we crested the hill on Taft as it approaches Allen Parkway. I certainly didn't barrel down it this night, but just enjoyed the gravitational assist going down the hill.

By the time we got to downtown (two miles), however, my normal endurance was nearly back. I'm not sure how that happened, but I certainly appreciated my legs not screaming anymore.

We skated down some trails along Buffalo Bayou that I had never previously skated. They were nice and smooth, and okay for hills. (When I first started skating 6 years ago they would have been Great hills, but now they're just okay.)

To Brewery Tap, where we popped in for a second but found no skaters, and continued our trek toward UH Downtown. The hill up Main Street got me pretty well winded again; I had to sit down or I would have fainted at the top. (I thought wouldn't it suck if I was leaning over the wall and fainted and fell off..... So I sat down)

Upon my recovery, we skated down the other side of the hill and underneath the school, into the lower level parking garage, up an elevator to inside the building and got some water from the fountain.

The halls were deserted (winter break), and lovely smoooooth marble/granite tile stuff. Very nice. Skated outside and found ourselves back at the top of the hill where I had previously not toppled over the wall to my demise.

Instead, we skated down it really fast. I taught Scott how I time the light for it to be green once I reach the bottom, and we proceeded once the time was right. Zzzzoooommmmm!!!! lovely zzzzz zzzzzz zzzzzz sound as each skate pushed on the grooved pavement. Light turned green and I sailed through the intersection at the bottom. Still not enough speed for me. Hmmm.

Over to George R Brown Convention Center, and big unexpected tents filled the parking lot!! The Circus?? Yes! Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus in tents that I decided were smaller than I might have expected.. We tried to get in (not very enthusiastically) at all three entrances, but were politely declined entry. Ended up talking to a professional skater guy who skates in the circus. That's pretty cool.

Back toward home, we found ourselves down by Buffalo Bayou again, but on the other side. We came to a barrier in the sidewalk. On the right was the bayou, and on the left was a 45 degree rough concrete incline which I scaled on all fours about 40 feet up to the top. Scott did the same, but on the grass along the side. Then on my third attempt, I was able to jump/climb/scramble up and over a 5 foot vertical wall. Scott took his skates off to climb over.

Toward home and where I wanted to turn right, Scott wnted to go straight through 4th Ward. We've skated through it before with no problems, but I'm always a tad nervous. This night, after Scott had to kinda bail off the street to keep from getting squished by a car, I skated past a kid about 16 years old, who underhand-tossed a little tightly wound piece of paper or a cigarette butt up at me and said, "what's up officer?" as I whizzed by. It hit me above the eye, but I just ignored him and brushed my forehead like removing a drop of sweat. Nothing else significant happened.

Puhed the last couple of blocks to Texas Art Supply, where I streched while Scott took off his skates.

Oh!! That totally reminds me. I told him about Fred and unicycle and stuff and Scott had the best idea for learning how to ride! A shopping cart!! It's the correct height; it rolls; it's sturdy.. perfect! Scott has a unicyle that I may borrow from him on Tuesday.

Yay!

With Love
- Rob permalink