ok, this is funny...

clear blue skies

yesterday, on the bike ride into work my new cycloputer rolled over to 1000 miles since its purchase on june 11. in celebration of the event, taking advantage of getting off work at 1pm on fridays throughout the summer, and the beautiful 81 degree temperature, i choose to take a short afternoon ride around baltimore. before i strapped on my cycling sandals, i peeked at google maps quickly and spied a park that i had not been to yet. it is about 20 miles out and is nestled on the shore of the chesapeake bay.

the ride was good, mostly flat, wrestled with cars trying to get out to the peninsula on which it is perched. once out there though, it was like a different world. thick woods and only birds chirping. meandering around the edge of the land, i investigated the roads until they dead ended and then retreated back toward home, arriving a few minutes before 6pm. amy was headed south with a pal, so that left me without an evening plan.

still full of energy and enjoying the weather, i left afoot for an easy run. went around druid hill park and peeled off south toward downtown. after a half-hour, i turned east and then back north again to head homeward. such beautiful weather, such diverse sights... oh baltimore...you stole my heart again.

wiki-giveth

i have been doing a good deal of research this evening trying to make sense of this. i found myself floating around wikipedia cross-referencing different articles related to islamic views and beliefs. this research has provided me with a stronger understanding of what islam is and involves, yet i am still perplexed about the current state of affairs. one resolution i did confirm, however, is that wikipedia is clearly the bomb. i always learn more about a topic i crave further knowledge about.

this evening i learned a new respect for this online open-source wealth of knowledge. and i read about the wikimedia foundation and its rather bare-bones structure and meager budget. another non-profit organization filling a service gap in the world. they have an online giving segment on their site for users wishing to ante up.

hunger

i love the clif bar. nary a day go by that i do not munch on a soy-protein packed goodie at some point. during the week, it tends to be my staple 2nd breakfast at work somewhere around 10am. i have been thriving on the recently released oatmeal raisin walnut ones as of late. i used to be a big fan of the carrot cake bar, until i over did it a bit. i also try to avoid the new banana nut one, as it pretty much sucks.

yes, they are a bit sweet, but i find that when i run in the morning my metabolism demands something extra shortly after arriving to work. i have tried fruit, nuts, oatmeal, granola, and good old starving it off til lunch-- but none of these futile attempts to curb what my body calls for has succeeded in any way like the clif bar does. i have even been reading raising the bar: the story of the cliff bar which the grocery store was giving away free to those purchasing a box of bars. the book hasn't been too bad. easy read and somewhat insightful in the ways of a rags-to-riches no-frills privately-funded "family" company. clif bar has retained its integrity and loyalty to a quality product that is fueled by natural demand. the very same demand that my stomach feels right around 10 every morning.

a life lesson to pay heed

bitchass dsl

everytime it rains, our dsl goes out. from the research i have conducted via google, it seems to be a problem that can be remedied by contacting the phone company and having them replace the phone wire coming from the service pole to the house. there must be a small crack in the wire's insulation and when water gets into the housing, it shorts out the dsl signal. the phone, however, continues to work. i have explained this symptom to the verizon tech a time or two, yet to no avail. alas, i am stuck waiting for the next morning to get the desktop connected back to the internet. luckily, we are able to sponge off of a neighbor's wireless network to get by in such inclement weather.

hundy plus

after a brief heat wave of a few days over 100 degrees, it is like a cold front moved it when it only hovers around 90. adaptable creatures, the humans are. went to widespread panic at merriweather post on friday night. dern good show at one of the finest venues around. we could see a clear strip of the milky way galaxy streaked through the sky it was so clear. yesterday, went to the international festival saw a good blues band, a mediocre reggae band, and gobbled up some tasty ethiopian grub and a 1/4 watermelon while basting in the afternoon sun. last night had an afs party at andy smith's place for amy. good people and good times in the back yard. my new favorite brew is crafted in louisiana, supporting their economy, and also contributes a buck per six pack to the restoration of new orleans. a hoppy ale with a consciousness.

allll the happiness