Random thread: Where's your postcount now, (tpd) bitch

[rynne]

Aaron, do you have any experience with taking apart/rebuilding bikes? 

It turns out that my front rim is slightly bent. Not so much that it's unusable, but it'll have to be replaced eventually. I'm thinking that if I get new front and back wheels in the not-too-distance future, I can try to switch the wheels myself and get some experience with some mid-level bike maintenance (which I'd like if I'm going to get a nicer bike in the future). The thing is, I've never done anything that extensive before and I'd like to have somewhere to turn to for advice if I get stuck.

[Aaron]

I have not. If I understand what your saying. Are you asking about rebuilding the wheel it's self? Or just changing out the whole wheel for a new one? (If so I'd say that is pretty easy as long as you get the right sized parts...) If you mean a new wheel and having to change out the hub and spokes then no. I wouldn't even want to try. I'd take it to a bike shop. (also look for bike shop school/classes. I know there are a lot around here. Granted, Seattle is very bike friendly, but...)


My bike skills are very basic and does it work better then it did before, if yes, don't fuck with it any more. (AKA wait till payday and take it to the bike shop. Which I'm no on a first name basis with...)

[Aaron]

I had a friend that stayed here for a couple of weeks (2.5ish?) and we talked a lot. He told me that he had gotten 19k a year from FASFA (government aid to go to school, aka huge loan.) He was going to school in Idaho where it's cheaper to live and the schooling is also cheaper, so I might be able to get more. The good/bad thing about all that. I make a bit more then that, so if I go to school full time (which I would have to) and work part time I could have my wage there, and I wouldn't suffer to much. (I'd eat more potatoes then I do now.) BUT it looks like I'm going to be going back to school for realzies... I need to. I like my job, but I fucking hate were I'm at, and how much I make. I like the people, and the job I'm doing isn't hard, but...  Working for the biggest corporation in the world and getting paid shit wages, the more I think about it and the amount of time I have put in there is fucking depressing...

I'd try to get a degree in computers. Not really sure what, but a 2 year program would be better... Even if I hate my job after, I would still make a shit ton more money. And that would cheer me up a bit. (If not I could buy enough drugs to keep me happy. SO either way it's a win.)

[luna]

have you looked into learning a trade? that's where all the jobs are here plus it's much shorter time doing just schooling then you start doing on the job training so you make money while you learn

[Aaron]

Kinda, I don't know which trade I would want to learn, which is my biggest issue... But I will have to learn more that's for sure. Thanks.

[Aaron]

I got a bonus on this coming pay check. I'm going to buy a ball python. She will be both purty and fucking awesome. I'm super excited. 

Linky. (warning pic of snake.)
http://shop.kicksballs.com/100-het-Orange-Ghost-Female-2013-26-7.htm

She is born this year, so she will be very small. BUT I will get to have her for her whole life. (20ish years. I have read that 15 is really common and easy. So I will have her for a long while.) I have named her Lady Luci. She will be awesome. She should get to be 5-6ft. I will be buying the tank and stuff this week. (some from amazon, and then I'm going to a pet store for the tank and lid and some other stuff I need.)

Also since I'm getting a female now, I can buy a male down the road and breed them if I want. And if I get a good looking morph male I can have some cool babies come from it.

[Aaron]

So on my way from work to home. My right peddle felt odd, like it felt uh... Movey... So at one point I have to stop to cross a bridge and walk my bike. So I got off bike looked at peddle felt it didn't feel any different. Then I spun it. And BAM good sized crack on the crank arm... WHICH isn't the cheapest of things on a bike to fix. HOWEVER it could be much worse. I'm going to go to the bike shop tomorrow. (and hope it's less then 150 to walk out with it fixed.)

And then on the way home I fb emailed my mom about getting a loan for a new bike. Her and my dad both were cool with it. My dad just needed to know how much and when. My dad also said I didn't need to hurry to pay them back. (I was the one that brought it up. Like I'll pay you back 150 a month...) SO I'm getting a new bike. It's going to be the Trek Crossrip. It's a sexy beast. And I will ride it till it fucking breaks in two... BUT I will have a high end bike. My bike right now was 220 (not including all the shit I have done to it after the fact.) Bike I'm getting 1000 bucks. Also a road bike. I can't fucking wait. I'm so happy I'm SQUEEEEING inside like a school girl that gets to see Beiber and 1 Direction at the same time, while riding my brand new pony. 


This also means no snake for awhile. But new bike is a lot more important... I'm putting 100+ miles on mine a week. So I need something good and that will last... A pet can wait.

[Aaron]

So I have been at wm for 8 years (and I have managed to not kill anyone or my self. I'm a fucking saint) and I make shit for wages. That being said. I have looked into getting a warehouse job. There are two different options. One is Pepsi, and one is Columbia (they sell deliver pop beer wine and liquor.) BEST thing, both are close to me (well with in easy biking range.) one is 7 and the other is 12. (right now I do right at 10 or just under.) Columbia pays more but is further away... Best thing I can get recommendations from people at both places... And since I could get three recommendations for Pepsi, (One Merchandiser maybe two, and then a few of the drivers, one has been there for a long time, so him saying I'm good would be really awesome, and their sales rep.) Columbia I could get one, maybe two. (One of the drivers just got they employee of the year award there, so getting him to say I'm good would be super duper awesome,  and the warehouse manager is good friends with the driver I check in, so I might be able to get him to give me a good job.

Either way, I could be getting a new job sooner then later. And both jobs would be night jobs. Which is fine with me. I don't have a social life now so it won't hurt anything.

[Aaron]

Two weeks ago one of my friends asked me about my roommate moving back home. I said I hadn't heard anything from him. So when I got home (and he got home) I asked him about it. He said he isn't being kept on at his current job, (seasonal) and he can't find any other work so he is putting in an app at his old job at the casino there. Which hasn't called him back about a job... That being said he is still moving back home. So he is taking his cats. (other wise they would turn into out side cats. The one that pisses in the hall would find herself in a bag, in the river.) Which is awesome. he is also going to clean the hall before he leaves, so my folks will be willing to come see me again. He will be paying his half of everything (power and internet bill as well) which is gona be awesome. BUT ya, I'm happy I will have the place to my self, and really get to see what living on my own will be like... And I might be able to invite people over and not feel ashamed of how bad it smells.

[rynne]

Aaron, you inspired me to try to bike to work today (or rather, since it's Saturday, bike to my place of work, then turn around and come back). While I was able to do it without having to take a break, I think I need to get into a bit better shape before trying it on an actual work day.  The ride to work is largely downhill, but the idea of coming home uphill in DC rush-hour traffic isn't something I'm comfortable with at my current state of fitness.

I'll probably get a new bike early next year after I get some Christmas money, so I'm aiming to build up my strength/stamina over the next few months before then.

[Aaron]

*Blushes* That's awesome!

How far is the trip?   I ride on the side walk when I am on the road. Mostly due to not being confident enough to bike in the road with the traffic. (at lest in the afternoon, morning there really isn't much traffic at all.) And ya, Hills fucking suck. However even now I ride up two overpasses, and there is still a small since of victory and joy that I feel at the top. Which are the only real hills I have to do on my way to work.  But coming home I live on a steep hill. And I'm still way to fat to be able to peddle my self up it. I can do inclines and overpasses with ease. But fuck my hill... I still push it up there   But ya. Biking to and from work has been amazing. Even in the rain, and the cold. (well cold for fall...)

[rynne]

If I used this bike mapping tool correctly, my ride from work to home is about 8.5 miles with something like 885 ft total elevation gain.  And it's also got a fucking steep-ass hill not too far from my house.  It's like, you're almost finished and that last hill is like, "Nope. Fuck you, you're not getting home that easily."

I swear, I had to use lower gears to get through that trip than I've used in, like, five years.

[Aaron]

Hahah ya. I hear that. My hill is steep-ass fuck as well. My biggest issue with changing to a lot lower gear, is that I loose a lot of my momentum going up. And by a lot I mean pretty much all.  Most all my ride is flat. there are a few inclines, and a few under a bridge back up the other side of the bridge...

However after a few weeks the overpass was easier, and now I can go up it at a good speed. And the same with my hill. I still walk some, but I can peddle up more of it...

I bought some Chamois and i will be wearing them tomorrow for the first time... Saddle sores ain't no joke.

[Aaron]

Yesterday we (roommate friend, the one I go to shows with, and I) went to Beth's Cafe. The home of the 12 egg omelet. (and the standard 6 egg omelet.) I ate a 12 egg omelet. I felt horrible at the end of it. BUT I FUCKING DID IT! I'm still so fucking full I am not eating breakfast. (Normally I have two clif bars and a quart of water.) Today just some energy drink. BUT I did it. I also gained back all the weight I have lost biking to/from work...

And on that note. I bought a scale and I weigh my self right when I get home from biking home. Since I got it I have lost 5 pounds (ish?)  It's kinda hard for me to know for sure, but I know I have lost some weight. My belt needs a new hole to keep my shorts up better. And my thighs look better, I have a lot more muscle showing then just round shape. My calves are fucking rock hard, (Granted I'm fat so I have fat man calves. But they are made of Steel now. Like even the front of them flexes at times...

Also Rynne if you don't have them, I recommend bike short liners. They go under your normal pants/shorts, like underwear only with padding for your but and front. Which is really nice. 

[Aaron]

I have a bike app on my phone, and while I trust the speed and time distance seems a bit well fucked. I take the same route to work (when I time my self. I like to look around on my way home so I go slower.) And it has the distance change almost a mile. And I could understand like .01 miles. But not by that much... BUT I'm still hauling ass I have gotten faster.



I had a nightmare my roommate moved back in since he couldn't find a job at home... *Shudders*  hoping it doesn't come true...