We perfected the weekend. We dialed it in right down to washing the last dish and changing the sheets. Everyone is sober and prepared for the week ahead. It’s kind of a letdown to get to this point. If only life could be bike rides, karaoke, and flea markets all the time. Things are never that easy. If I could load up on that Glitter Chariot and ride to that eternal after party I would, but some of us are left here on Earth to work hard and suffer.

I enjoyed one of those crystallizing crashes of clarity while flying down the Cadillac trail. A yellow-jacket punched into my exposed midriff and before I could choose otherwise my right hand was clasping its buzzing fury as my left hand gently pushed the bars past plane and I ejected thinking, “this is how it happens, just like this.” I mean injury of course, and pain, and a suspension of the good times in exchange for character-building opportunities.

The hornet escaped, or was crushed in the dust like me. I laid very still and conducted the physical inventory. Mystery was two beats ahead of me and unaware, just racing to the water fountain like a hundred other rides. All body parts passed visual inspection, with a few minor bloody scrapes. Hand, hand, knee, knee, foot, foot and I was standing. I felt euphoric, giddy, and most of all lucky. Sometimes you crash and nothing bad happens.

-Juancho

Today we implement austerity measures, to deal with our European crisis of gluttony. The only thing I rode this weekend was the party train to tired town. The birthday season is officially closed, but we certainly did it right. I feel like the lesser-known half of a celebrity couple, like Justin Theroux.

Many thanks to The Cake Shop, the Fermentation Lounge, Bell’s Brewery, the Glitter Chariot crew, and lots of friends old and new for coming out on a rainy Sunday afternoon.

One last time, Happy Birthday Melissa!

Juancho

Last weekend was graduation for the six or seven universities we have here in town. That used to mean that the town was about to get quiet. Quiet, and extremely warm. I don’t think that is true anymore. Legislative session seems to go on forever, and the diploma conveyer belt never shuts down. Tallahassee has become an 11 month town (We all run from August.) 10 years have passed since I received my last sheepskin (gross!) but I think graduation ceremonies are a ritual that reflect a natural process. I don’t need a student loan debt to tell me when class is over and it is time to move on to the next semester. I have earned many unaccredited degrees since my last large mailer envelope arrived with former governor Jeb Bush’s signature on it. Let me enumerate some of them for you, then you can tell us about your own scholastic achievements.

BA- Gravitational Enforcement earned while sprawled on the hot asphalt with arm pointing backwards.

PhD- Risk Management awarded for taking a chance on love and being rewarded beyond all expectations of success.

Crow Digestion (certification) for becoming a yoga practitioner after years of enlightenment avoidance.

MS- Assimilation– I own five pair of pants ranging in color from “bone” to “wheat.” I wear these pants to earn money.

You don’t have to pay anybody in cash, but there is always a price for education. We might not be on the academic calendar schedule, but life hands out degrees to all of us. It is usually pretty clear when it is time to flip your tassel.

Juancho

Remember Bo Jackson? If not, he is a former pro athlete who is known for playing two professional sports, football and baseball. An icon in the 1990’s, Nike promoted the first cross training shoe (unfortunately, a hybrid) with the “BO KNOWS” campaign in which he co-starred with Blues legend Bo Diddley. None of this is of much interest to me, or to most of you, unless you happen to be from Alabama or more specifically, Auburn University. What is of interest to me is that he is quietly riding his bike through the region of Alabama destroyed by tornadoes a year ago. His goal is to bring attention to a much forgotten tragedy and raise money to help those communities recover. This touches a sensitive nerve for me. I know what it feels like to put yourself out there for a cause. I’ve hosted a flopped fundraiser or two, and experienced the pride of handing over a bag of cash to someone who needed it. Carrying the flag for a cause is a tough and noble thing. That’s why I appreciate Bo Bikes Bama. His fame is mostly behind him. He is a hometown boy, trying to do the right thing. The numbers are both impressive and small. At last check, he raised $372,000 from sponsors and contributors. That’s a lot of money if it is not passing through large aid agencies, and a pittance if it is. He is riding 300 miles, which is a good weekend for some riders I know, and an impossible distance for others. Bo has the backing of the Livestrong campaign, one of the BRC’s favorite punching bags. Lance, his excellency his own self, showed up to ride a leg with BO. I am thinking maybe Bo Jackson brings out the best in folks. Bo may know some things, but I know some things too. I care about Alabama, and I care about bikes, and I’m going to give Bo Jackson some cash because I think he will spend it where it needs to be spent. Ride Bo ride! Juancho

Something good is happening. I have slept through 4 of the last 180 nights, and that is a big deal. I resigned myself to